If you have a history of neck problems whether you’re at work, sleeping or when travelling, you may get some relief if you started using a neck roll pillow.
A small neck roll pillow shaped as a cylinder can comfortably support your neck during sleep by holding it in its natural position throughout the night. With your neck supported properly, including the nerves and bones in your spine appropriately aligned, you can wake up pain free. Under these conditions your muscles can relax, and your nerves and discs can avoid any pain-inducing agitation. This allows you to get a good night’s sleep, so you are well rested in the morning.
Neck roll pillows are also perfect for supporting the back and raising the knees, legs and ankles for better blood flow. They work well as a travel pillow or for office workers who spend their days sitting at a desk. Many hotel chains provide neck roll pillows to make their guests more comfortable.
If you want to find out how a neck roll pillow might help you get a better night’s sleep, keep reading to see our top selections for the best neck roll pillows sold today.
The Best Neck Roll Pillows
- Sachi Organics: the best buckwheat pillow option
- Cozy Hut: the most supportive cervical roll
- GreenMoon: the best air inflatable choice
- K Ka Ua: the best memory foam option
- Dot&Dot Twist: the best for travel
- AllSet Health: the most affordable option
- Sonoma Lavender: the plushiest choice
- Yoga Accessories: the best for yoga
Table of Contents
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Neck Roll Pillows Comparison Table
Picture | Product | Key Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | - Organic USA grown buckwheat hulls | ||
 | - Filled with high-quality memory foam | ||
 | - Fully adjustable firmness and loft | ||
 | - Comes with soft polyester bamboo blend cover | ||
 | - Comfortably soft and squishy | ||
 | - Budget-friendly price | ||
| - Soft and luxurious | ||
| - Lightweight, firm and comfortable |
Neck Roll Pillows Reviews
Sachi Organics Review: The Best Buckwheat Pillow Option
- Organic USA grown buckwheat hulls
- Breathable 100% organic cotton cover
- Handmade in the USA
Price:
The Buckwheat Cylinder Neck Pillow by Sachi Organics is filled with USA harvested organic buckwheat hulls for malleable neck support. This is a comfortable, breathable pillow that easily conforms to the shape of your head and neck to relieve muscle strain. Its therapeutic shape works really well behind the neck or to support other areas of the body.
Cylindrical shaped pillows can be used to relieve lower back pain, under the knees, and because they’re so small, they make great travel pillows. Many people use them while sitting up in bed reading a book or watching TV and even instead of a regular pillow for sleeping. Sachi Organics is made in the USA and comes with a zippered opening for removing or adding buckwheat hulls so you can adjust the firmness to your liking.
Cozy Hut Review: The Most Supportive Cervical Roll
- Filled with high-quality memory foam
- Comes with exquisitely soft velour cover
- Multi-use versatility
Price:
This is a flexible therapeutic semi-roll neck pillow made of high-density memory foam, which provides firm, yet luxuriously comfortable support. The special design helps sleepers avoid stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs. Because it acts as a pressure reliever, you can get a better night’s sleep.
This is a naturally antimicrobial pillow that resists allergens like mold, mildew, dust mites, and other forms of bacteria. It comes with a soft, breathable velour cover that is machine washable, so it’s easy to keep clean.
This cervical roll pillow is extremely versatile, so you can use it at home, at the office, or take it with you while traveling. It’s a perfect size, no matter what your sleeping position, body shape, and size are. You can use it to target pressure points, so you’re more comfortable while sitting or sleeping.
When placed under your neck when you’re lying down, it properly aligns your spine while sleeping. This relieves the pressure on your neck and back and reduces the discomfort that comes with a poor sleep position. Alternatively, it offers back pain relief for those who need firm lumbar support while seated at work, in the car, or on an airplane.
When you first open the package, you may smell the odor of new memory foam, but there is no need to worry because it is a normal and common phenomenon. This smell is healthy and not harmful, and it will dissipate in a few days.
GreenMoon Review: The Best Air Inflatable Choice
- Fully adjustable firmness and loft
- Provides heat therapy
- Comes with a portable travel case
Price:
The Air Inflatable Pillow by GreenMoon provides both cervical traction as well as heat therapy. While supporting your neck, it can stretch out your cervical spine to avoid pinched nerves and neck pain. The cervical roll pillow is very lightweight and also can be used to relieve lower back pain that commonly occurs in the sitting position.
It has a USB heating pad inside with time setting(1-5 hours) and LED temperature (38°C-55°C) switch, so the pillow also can be used as heat wrap to increase flood flow, relax muscles and relieve neck, back, abdominal, knee and wrist pain as well as relax your tired eyes, neck and body parts. Because it’s so portable, you can take it anywhere it’s needed, at home, at work, on an airplane, in the car, hotel or even at camp. People use these on their noon break at work, when they’re watching TV or reading a book in bed, during travel, and etc.
There is a rubber air-core as well as a layer of foam inside the pillow that can be adjusted to your preferred loft or thickness. The rubber core offers springy support as well as cervical traction. The heating pad and air-core can easily be detached from the pillow.
This portable pillow comes with a machine-washable pillowcase and can conveniently be rolled up and placed into the carry bag for traveling. The heating function works wherever there is a USB port so you can relax your neck and other areas of your body anytime, anywhere.
CAUTION: When you have the heating function turned on, the heating pillow cannot safely be placed inside the outer pillow. Also, it cannot be covered with another material like a blanket or quilt, as it will get too hot.
K Ka Ua Review: The Best Memory Foam Option
- Comes with soft polyester bamboo blend cover
- Durable and long-lasting
- Conforms to your neck for the great support
Price:
This soft cervical roll pillow is made of memory foam to gently support your neck, cervical spine, and back by conforming to the shape of your body. The K Ka Ua pillow has a core made of a solid chunk of memory foam, which makes it very supportive. You cannot get this level of support from a cheap spongy foam or a shredded foam pillow. They may be soft and cushy, but if you’re looking for proper neck support, you should spend your money on a quality neck roll pillow like the K Ka Ua.
People often need to relieve pressure in other parts of the body, as well. You can place this 4” pillow between your legs or knees for the perfect elevation. Many K Ka Ua Pillow users keep it in the car, so they have it wherever they go because it offers quick and effective lumbar support.
It has a soft hypoallergenic polyester bamboo blend zippered cover that is machine washable for easy cleaning. These pillows are specifically designed to give you firm long-lasting support, whereas other pillows are very often too soft to give you the support you need. The K Ka Ua Cervical Support Pillow strikes a balance between effectiveness and comfort.
Dot&Dot Twist Review: The Best for Travel
- Comfortably soft and squishy
- Perfectly holds its shape
- Extremely versatile
Price:
The Dot&Dot Twist is perfect for travel because of its size and versatility. Unlike most travel pillows, this cervical roll pillow twists to conform to practically any shape or position that will give you the pain relief and support you need. You can use it during a nap, while reading or watching TV in bed or relaxing while sitting on the sofa to properly support your head, neck, cervical spine, shoulders, and upper back. You can sleep comfortably with this neck pillow, whether you are in a car, on a train or plane, or traveling by bus. The high-quality memory foam will cushion your body to relieve pressure points so that you can totally relax.
This pillow is highly durable and long-lasting, made with an inner core of memory foam, which conforms to the shape of your body to provide firm support.
The Dot&Dot Twist comes with a machine-washable, breathable 100% cotton cover, so you can easily keep it clean. It also has a snap closure so that you can easily attach it to your backpack or carry-on case or secure it around the headrest in your car or chair.
AllSet Health Review: The Most Affordable Option
- Budget-friendly price
- Made of high-quality foam
- Machine-washable bamboo fabric cover
Price:
The Round Bolster Pillow by AllSet Health is the perfect size and density for a neck support pillow if you want a good night’s sleep. It also provides the perfect amount of cushioning and support, which is why we included it in our list. This ergonomically designed pillow can help you achieve a therapeutic sleep posture in terms of spinal alignment so that you can wake up pain-free with no stiffness.
This bolster-shaped pillow is filled with premium quality foam and has a removable bamboo cover for easy cleaning. You can place it behind your back or under your knees or ankles for extra support. While seated, you can use the Round Cervical Pillow for lower back support. Some users even slide this pillow into the pillowcase of their regular pillow for added neck support. It’s very versatile and less expensive than many other neck roll pillows.
Sonoma Lavender Review: The Plushiest Choice
- Soft and luxurious
- Scented with lavender for a calming effect
- Machine-washable cover
Price:
The Spa Bolster Roll by Sonoma Lavender is the most luxurious and relaxing of all cervical roll pillows on the market because it provides the ultimate heat and aromatherapy. You can heat the pillow up in your microwave or dryer for long-lasting pain relief. With lavender flower petals and flaxseed in the removable insert, you can have a relaxing aromatherapy session. This pillow is scented with either lavender or eucalyptus.
The Sonoma Lavender Spa Bolster Roll can be used wherever you feel pain, behind a sore neck, lower back, or under your knees. Although this neck support pillow may be softer than many, it’s perfect if you like to read or watch TV in bed and if your neck tends to tighten up.
Aside from being able to heat this pillow up, you can also put it in your freezer to chill it out if that would make you more comfortable. The Spa Bolster Roll measures 13” x 6”, so it’s the perfect size for travel. It comes with an ultra-soft cover that can be easily removed and tossed in the washing machine. Sonoma Lavender products are all inspired and made in California, USA.
Yoga Accessories Review: The Best for Yoga
- Lightweight, firm and comfortable
- Comes with carry handles
- High-quality adjustable cotton filling
Price:
This yoga cervical roll bolster pillow provides the perfect amount of support for a good number of yoga postures. However, it can also be used when relaxing around the house - for pain relief if you’re experiencing discomfort in your neck, shoulders, upper back, and lower lumbar region, legs, and feet. You can also use it to support your neck and cervical spine when sleeping. Its level of firmness offers full support, yet the pillow is soft and lightweight enough to be very comfortable.
Yoga Accessories offers this cervical roll bolster pillow in a broad range of colors to complement the décor of your home or studio. It’s cylindrical in shape and quite long, measuring 28” x 10” and weighing about 6 lbs. The filling is 100% cotton, with a soft 100% cotton cover. The cover has a zipper so it can be easily removed and tossed in the washing machine for easy cleaning. Each end has a carry handle to assist portability.
Note: This bolster is filled with cotton rather than foam, so the measurements may be a bit larger because of the fluffy nature of cotton. The measurements provided above are seam-to-seam. Cotton tends to settle in time, so you can add more fill later on if you wish or even remove some for your desired level of firmness.
What is a Neck Roll Pillow?
A neck roll pillow (a.k.a. bolster pillow) is typically a long narrow pillow filled with either synthetic fibers, buckwheat, memory foam, or cotton. Neck rolls are used to firmly support the neck, back, arms, or legs while conforming to the shape of your body. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and usually have a zippered opening or hook-and-eye closure.
Neck rolls can comfortably align the head, neck, shoulders, back, and hips while sleeping if placed between the legs as a knee pillow. They’re also quite pretty, so they are often used for decorative purposes as well.
What Are Neck Roll Pillows Used For?
Neck rolls or bolster pillows were first primarily used by wealthy people and have been discovered buried in the ancient tombs of Egypt. They initially provided comfort to people of the Far East and were often referred to as the “bamboo wife”. They got this name because women made these cushions out of bamboo for their men to take them on their travels so they wouldn’t feel lonely at night away from home.
Cervical roll pillows are designed for comfort and support that extend well beyond just providing neck pain relief, as follows:
Arm Rest
Neck rolls work well, supporting your arm while you’re seated in front of your laptop or just reading.
Yoga Bolster
While you’re doing yoga at home or at your local studio, you can place your neck roll pillow under your neck or knees or behind your back. They are great at supporting many yoga postures.
Travel Pillow
Because neck rolls are so much smaller than standard bed pillows, they’re perfect for travel, whether in a car, train, airplane, or boat. They can be wrapped around your neck so you can rest your head more comfortably. They are a better alternative to the u-shaped pillows you see being sold at airports.
Orthopedic Pillow
These cylindrically shaped pillows can be used with other types of pillows to realign uncomfortable or painful body postures. They are great for providing the head and neck with much-needed support and are often used to elevate the legs to improve comfort and blood flow.
Arm Support if You Sleep on Your Side
Much the way a body pillow can help support you in bed, a cervical roll pillow helps support the upper body of side sleepers to keep them from rolling over onto their stomach.
Added Support
A neck roll can provide added support if you place it inside the pillowcase of your regular bed pillow, either under or on top of it. This increases the thickness, giving your pillow more loft. If you like to read or watch TV in bed, you can be more comfortable resting back on a thicker, more supportive pillow.
Bed Pillow
Many people love the cylindrical shape of these pillows and prefer sleeping with one over a standard bed pillow. They are particularly well suited for smaller-sized people and those who sleep on their backs.
The Many Health Benefits of Cervical Roll Pillows
There are a number of health benefits that can be derived from making use of a cervical roll pillow.
People who regularly suffer from neck or joint pain often find relief in using these narrow cylindrical-shaped pillows as they can help restore the natural curve of the neck. The round design helps the muscles relax, which then relieves pressure to improve cervical spine alignment.
Your neck is made up of seven bones that comprise the cervical spine. Between each bone, there is a spongy cervical disk that acts as a cushion between them. The muscles and tendons surrounding the disks act as their support structure. The cervical spine is gently shaped in a curve known as the lordotic cervical curve. If something causes the neck to lose its natural curve over a long period of time, such as sleeping with your neck bent or extended, this will put stress on your spine and the supporting structures around it, leading to neck pain.
Where there hasn’t been a lot of research done on neck pillows, the results of the studies that have been done show that the firm support they provide can reduce morning neck pain better than a regular bed pillow.
Also, neck rolls can be effectively used on other parts of the body, including the joints. Many people have found that they can relax more easily when using them on their shoulders, upper and lower back, legs, knees, and ankles. You can use these types of pillows while driving or sitting at your desk at work. Plus, during the day, your neck can get tired and stiff, and by just using one of these pillows for at least 10 minutes or more, you can reduce the pressure and pain.
Will I Sleep Better with a Neck Roll Pillow?
Many people get a sore neck while sleeping, and the most common cause is age. So, as we get older, this is something a lot of us will be dealing with.
However, adults aren’t the only ones prone to neck pain. Children often bend their necks awkwardly while sleeping so they can wake up with a sore neck as well. Adults can experience neck pain while traveling because they have to sleep with a different pillow than they normally use. As we’ve been discussing, a cervical roll pillow helps your neck muscles relax, which keeps you from getting a stiff neck.
Because we spend the longest period of time immobile when we’re sleeping, this is when we’re most prone to neck pain. The solution for many is using a supportive neck roll, which keeps your cervical spine aligned throughout the night, so when you wake up in the morning, you feel well-rested and energized.
However, for a neck roll pillow to provide maximum comfort and support, it must be properly placed. The proper positioning is under the main outward curve of your neck, with your head resting on your regular bed pillow.
Neck rolls are very versatile and can be used in numerous ways. As mentioned earlier in this article, you can use it as a body pillow if you put it between your legs. You can place it below your knees to remove the pressure on your back so you can relieve the ache in your lower back. If you’re going to be seated for an extended period of time, place it behind your lumbar region to relax your lower back muscles. Last but not least, take it along with you on long car rides or flights, so that you can rest your head and neck while napping.
Things to Consider Before You Buy
When shopping for a neck roll pillow, you would be wise to keep a few things in mind, as follows:
Size
In determining which size to buy, you need to consider where and how you plan to use your pillow, your size, and preferred sleeping position.
Intended Use
If you are considering a neck roll pillow for pain relief or a particular function, you will want to focus on support, comfort, and texture. But if your intended purpose is as a decorative accessory, you will want to focus on how it fits in with your décor and perhaps its lushness.
Type of Filling
There are several different types of fillings that are used in these pillows, including memory foam, cotton, buckwheat, and synthetic fibers. It’s always crucial to be sure that the filling provides sufficient support while offering maximum comfort. You will want to strike a balance between compressing too much and feeling too firm.
Cover Fabric
The best pillows come with soft, comfortable, strong, smooth, and luxurious covers that can be easily removed for machine-washing or dry cleaning. The most common options are brocade, cotton, faux fur, leather, polyester, satin, or shuttle-weave.
Other Factors
There are a number of other factors that you will want to consider as well, which include brand reputation, color, density, design, easy maintenance, shape, price, and warranty. An ideal pillow will provide maximum support while still being comfortable. It should provide stress and pain relief and look great in your home.
Conclusion
By using a neck roll pillow, you can expect to receive a number of health benefits, which include proper spinal alignment, increased relaxation, and a good night’s sleep. Most people can benefit from using cervical roll pillows, but the individuals who benefit most are the ones who suffer neck pain while sleeping, during travel, and/or at work. If these symptoms sound familiar to you, you may want to consider getting one of these therapeutic to enhance your health and wellbeing, as well as your sleep!
