Best Knee Pillows: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide
It seems like there’s a pillow for everything these days— lumbar support, traveling, neck pain, pregnancy. There’s even pillows for your knees! Knee pillows come in many shapes and sizes and can alleviate a variety of common sleep issues, such as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), back pain, sciatica, and more.
You can always place a supportive pillow between your knees, but pillows made especially for this purpose offer additional support and contouring beyond what a normal pillow can provide. This article will go over some of the top knee pillows on the market today, who can benefit most from using them, as well as what you should expect from your knee pillow.
Best Knee Pillows
| Pillow | Highlights | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ABCO Memory Foam Knee Pillow | The ABCO pillow has a machine washable cover and is made using 100% hypoallergenic materials. | $49.99 |
 | Primica Premium Pain Relief Leg Pillow | The Primica pillow uplifts your knee and stabilizes the spine. Its heat responsive memory foam adjusts to your shape. | $13.97 |
 | ZIRAKI Memory Foam Wedge Contour Knee Pillow | The ZIRAKI pillow is medium-firm and features contouring memory foam. It also has a machine-washable cover. | $11.49 |
 | Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow | The Everlasting Comfort pillow comes with a removable strap and ear plugs. It's also backed by a Lifetime Limited Warranty. | $26.95 |
 | AERIS Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers | The AERIS pillow has lemon-scented foam and a machine-washable cover. | $24.40 |
 | Cushy Form Knee Pillow | The Cushy Form pillow encourages proper spine and hip alignment. It's made with hypoallergenic memory foam. | $24.90 |
 | Comfi Life Orthopedic Knee Pillow | The Comfi Life pillow is made with premium high-density memory foam and machine-washable cover. | $27.95 |
1. ABCO Memory Foam Knee Pillow
The ABCO Memory Foam Knee Pillow comes in an hourglass, wedge shape for right spine alignment. It’s best for side-sleepers, pregnant women, or those with hip, back, leg, or knee pain.
Made with 100% hypoallergenic materials, the pillow also comes with a zippered cover and storage bag for easy travel. It ships free and comes with a money-back guarantee.
The support core of the ABCO Knee Pillow is made of visco-elastic memory foam, a plus for those recovering from hip-replacement or knee surgery because it’s soft and supportive. ABCO also claims that this pillow can help alleviate muscle cramps, varicose veins, and sciatica.
The ABCO Memory Foam Knee Pillow is available through their website or on Amazon.
If you regularly suffer from chronic aches and pains, the best memory foam mattress can make a world of difference.
2. Primica Premium Pain Relief Knee Pillow
Like most knee pillows, Primica’s Premium Pain Relief Knee Pillow is hourglass-shaped so you can conveniently rest your knees on either side. The support core is made using high-density memory foam.
This pillow lifts your knees and stabilizes your spine while easing the pressure on your joints.
The pillow weighs about 1.5 pounds, so it’s a nice, light choice fit for most sleepers.
Primica offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee with their pillow, and you can buy it on Amazon.
3. ZIRAKI Memory Foam Wedge Contour Knee Pillow
This orthopedic knee pillow is built to relieve pressure on your spine and back. If you sit at an office desk all day, this pillow might be perfect for you. The zippered cover is machine-washable, keeping your sleeping space clean and hygienic.
ZIRAKI recommends using their high-quality memory foam pillow at “room temperature” for optimal comfort and performance.
This pillow weighs less than a pound, so it’s probably best for petite sleepers. You can buy it through Amazon and the company offers a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
4. Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow
The Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow is an hourglass-shaped pillow with a strap, so you can rest assured the pillow won’t slip off in the night. The ergonomic curved design keeps your knees separated, aligning your spine, hips, and legs.
If you’d rather not use the strap, it’s removable. On top of that, this pillow comes with free earplugs in case you’re struggling with other sleep issues like a snoring partner.
The pillow is protected under Everlasting Comfort’s lifetime replacement guarantee and you can buy it on Amazon.
While knee pillows can help you get more comfortable sleep, adjustable beds boast even more sleep-promoting benefits. Read our guide on finding the best adjustable bed frame to upgrade your night’s sleep.
5. Aeris Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers
The Aeris Knee Pillow is designed for side-sleepers needing back pain relief. The breathable bamboo cover is hypoallergenic and machine-washable. On top of that, the memory foam core is lemon-scented, reducing the risk of an off-gassing chemical smell common with memory foam.
Aeris backs their pillow with a Lifetime Replacement Guarantee, so if it doesn’t ease your sciatica pain, help with proper alignment, or support your lower back, you can send it back for a refund.
You can purchase the Aeris pillow through Amazon.
6. Cushy Form Knee Pillow
If you’re pregnant or suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome, the Cushy Form Knee Pillow might be best for you. This pillow comes with a washable cover and the support core is made with 100% visco-elastic memory foam.
Cushy Form claims that their knee pillow is recommended by physicians, chiropractors, and physical therapists because of its superior design. Doctors who use this pillow for patient treatment report improved joint pain symptoms, better sleep, and more energy.
Cushy Form can be found on Amazon and is backed up with their Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee.
7. Comfi Life Orthopedic
The contoured Comfi Life Orthopedic pillow is perfect for hip pain, sciatic nerve pain relief, and improved blood circulation. The support core is made of high-density, pure memory foam that shouldn’t sag or deteriorate over time.
The Comfi Life pillow has a machine-washable, breathable cover, potentially alleviating heat accumulation in your legs. This pure memory foam knee pillow is designed to retain its shape over time, easing back pain and keeping your posture straight all night.
You can purchase the Comfi Life Orthopedic Pillow on Amazon and it comes with a 100% money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied.
If you sleep on your side and have frequent lower back pains, we recommend pairing a knee pillow with the best mattress for side sleepers to promote better spinal alignment.
What Is a Knee Pillow?
Knee pillows are usually quite small and most come with an indent for your knees to rest on. The pillow not only prevents your legs from touching, which can cause aches and pains for some, but it also aligns your spine and hips, leading to healthier sleep.
Most knee pillows are made using memory foam because it conforms easily to the shape of any body. Some knee pillows use similar materials, like latex foam or poly-foam. Knee pillows work to ease the pressure that sometimes builds in the legs while sleeping and they help you maintain a neutral, healthy posture while sleeping. They are especially useful for those suffering from sciatica, bursitis, Restless Leg Syndrome, back pain, or pregnant women.
Benefits of Knee Pillows
Knee pillows work best in the side-sleeping position, which is the overall healthiest way to sleep. Side-sleeping gets a lot of praise because it aligns your spine and hips while also keeping you from straining your neck too much. However, for those suffering from health problems that can disrupt sleep, a knee pillow can make side-sleeping much more comfortable.
To understand how knee pillows work, just imagine the mechanics of sleeping on your side. Most people that choose this position sleep with their knees slightly bent upward in the fetal position. Placing a pillow between the knees gently shifts them into a more neutral posture, thus aligning the hips, back, and spine.
Knee pillows also improve circulation through the legs and eliminate pressure on the limbs, reducing the risk of paresthesia (pins and needles). Additionally, a knee pillow can prevent hip rotation and reduce knee pain.
Potential Downsides of Using Knee Pillows
Knee pillows may not work for you if you sleep on your stomach. That’s because a pillow between the legs elevates the lower body to an uneven position, causing pain or discomfort. Sleeping on the stomach already comes with the risk of improper support, so adding a knee pillow would only increase this risk. In general, Sleep Junkie recommends against stomach sleeping whenever possible.
Because most knee pillows are made of foam, they can cause the user to sleep hot. While this isn’t so much a concern when the pillow is between your legs, the potential for heat buildup anywhere on the body can disrupt sleep. If sleeping hot is a worry for you, look for a knee pillow made with cooling properties like gel or open-cell foam.
If you change positions a lot while you sleep, the knee pillow may fall out of place, negating all the benefits. Knee pillows work best in the side-sleeping position, but back sleepers can use them as well, albeit a little differently. If you sleep on your back and want to use a knee pillow, simply place it below both knees to alleviate tension and pressure. This acts similarly to an adjustable bed by increasing circulation and improving alignment.
Who Should Use a Knee Pillow?
Knee pillows can benefit almost anyone who decides to use them, but they are made for specific health concerns.
Pregnant women may enjoy a knee pillow to give their body some much-needed support. The American Pregnancy Association recommends pregnant women sleep on their sides, and while it is a popular position, it’s not always comfortable if you’re pregnant. Knee pillows can reduce the pressure build-up in your achy limbs and ease any inevitable back pain.
If you just had surgery and you want to keep as much weight off pain-prone areas (hips, back, spine, and legs), a knee pillow is an excellent way to boost recovery.
Perhaps you suffer from bad posture, which can lead to other chronic issues like back or knee pain. A knee pillow can help! Your posture is a delicate thing, and sleeping positions can throw it out of whack. Knee pillows work to keep your posture neutral and straight so you’re not straining anything.
Anyone that deals with poor circulation could benefit from a knee pillow as it prevents too much pressure build-up on the limbs, which can cause that awful pins and needles feeling.
Different Knee Pillow Types
Knee pillows come in diverse shapes and sizes. Most are about 10 inches wide and between 4-6 inches thick. The average knee pillow only weighs about 1 lb. If you need something more substantial for pain or discomfort, you can try a cervical pillow, body pillow, or wedge pillow.
Hourglass Knee Pillow
Most knee pillows today are an hourglass shape, which is most compatible with side-sleepers. Because it is the most common pillow shape, it’s also the cheapest. Thanks to its curvature, it should hold your knees and legs in place all night.
Wedge Knee Pillow
Not to be confused with wedge pillows for the head (meant for acid reflux relief), wedge-shaped knee pillows are best for back sleepers. These pillows go directly under both legs, not between them, and provide some elevation and increased circulation. Wedge pillows are usually shaped like a triangle or a half-moon.
Long Knee Pillow
As you might have guessed, this type of pillow is longer than a typical knee pillow— instead of fitting just under the knees, it extends down to the feet. The longer length can be helpful for those with knee injuries, bunions, or other foot injuries.
Strap-On Knee Pillow
These nifty knee pillows come with a strap to keep the pillow in place all night. If you’re a combination sleeper or just find yourself shifting around a lot while you sleep, this might be a good option to pair with a mattress for combination sleeping.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Knee Pillow
Knee pillows, while incredibly advantageous for most, can be incompatible for others due to a few different factors. Consider these before you go out and buy the first knee pillow you see.
Bearable weight: As with most pillows, the weight you put on them can flatten them or distort the shape over time. Heavier people should consider a thicker pillow, and some knee pillows may not be thick or supportive enough. Look for pillows that use a high-density foam or pillows marketed especially for heavyweight sleepers.
Pregnancy: Pregnant women are sleeping for two— that means they have to be especially careful of their posture while sleeping. As previously mentioned, side-sleeping is the healthiest position for pregnant women. In addition to knee pillows, pregnant women may benefit from using body pillows or wedge pillows.
Design: A good knee pillow will have a core support layer and then a softer, outer layer for cushioning. Because most are made using memory foam, the pillow should soften with your body heat and contour to your specific shape.
Care and Maintenance: Most knee pillows are not machine-washable, but their covers are. If keeping your pillow clean is a priority, look for knee pillows with an easily removable cover.
Cost: Knee pillows usually cost $25-30 on average, but pricing can vary based on a few factors such as material, size, durability, and brand reputation.
Return Policy & Warranty: Some knee pillows come with sleep trials, but it’s not that common. Most companies will offer a satisfaction guarantee, letting you return the pillow for a refund at any time– however, if they offer a guarantee like this, it’s probably in place of a warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a knee pillow do?
Knee pillows keep your legs apart, reducing pressure and improving circulation. The pillow can also keep your hips and spine aligned, reducing or even eliminating any morning pain you might otherwise feel. Knee pillows are ideal for pregnant women, people who recently had surgery, and those with bad posture or poor circulation.
Do knee pillows help with knee pain?
Many sleepers find that sleeping with a knee pillow does minimize how much pain they wake up with. Using a knee pillow reduces pressure and increases blood circulation, promoting healing. Knee pillows can also help if you experience back pain or pregnancy pains.
Where do you place a knee pillow?
How you should use a knee pillow depends on your preferred sleeping position. The traditional side sleeping method is to squeeze the pillow between your legs. Back sleepers may find that their knees feel better if they place a pillow underneath each knee before falling asleep.
Where should I put my arms when sleeping on my side?
It may take some experimenting to find the perfect position for your arms. Some sleepers like to hug a soft pillow as they drift off into sleep. Others like to stretch out their arms as if they’re reaching out for something or tuck their arms close to their bodies.
Should your shoulders be on your pillow?
You want to avoid having your shoulders on your pillow. A pillow’s purpose is to support your head and neck. When your shoulders rest on the pillow, it creates distance between your neck and the pillow. You’re liable to wake up with a stiff or sore neck when that happens.
Did You Find The Right Knee Pillow?
Suffering to get a good night’s sleep is a problem for many of us, but it doesn’t have to be. Investing in a knee pillow can improve back pain, sciatica, circulation, and other potential sleep disruptors. It also gives your legs a rest, and after all they do for you, they deserve a break!
Do your research and get ready for a much more comfortable night of rest. Remember, the best quality knee pillow will offer great support, increase blood flow, and give superior spinal alignment to those that need it.
