Wedge pillows are orthopedic pillows designed in a sloping triangular shape to compensate for bad back conditions and other health problems such as sleep apnea, sciatica, acid reflux, and GERD. Most often you’ll see these pillows in doctors’ offices or at the therapists, but many professionals and sleep experts suggest you buy one for your home. We’ve designed our guide to help your purchase the best wedge pillow.
The right wedge pillow for you depends on your personal health concerns and demands, in this review of the best wedge pillows we’ve taken a look at all the features which are essential to fulfilling this purpose. These include the weight and size of the pillow, as well as the pillows overall incline and materials – memory foam, soft gels, cotton, down, etcetera. For instance, the best wedge pillow for someone suffering from sleep apnea would be one with a gradual or even steep incline. The ideal incline for you should be discussed with a practiced sleep expert or your doctor.
Our research included going to manufactures with our question and concerns, as well as asking verified customers their opinions about wedge pillows they bought. For the easiest reading we’ve condensed our findings into tables which list each product with detailed specifics and a buying guide which explains certain health concerns and elaborates further on pillow features; frequently asked questions are answered at the end. It’s our hope you’ll put this information to use and have no problem choosing the best wedge pillow.
More features: machine washable polyester cover
For your acid reflux and GERD – which are both conditions of gastroesophageal looseness and lead to frequent heartburn – this 3 in 1 design wedge pillow will do a huge amount of miracles.
It lets you choose just the right amount of incline that can fit to any bed and provide support and comfort while either sitting or sleeping. After a large meal you often need to adjust the incline of your back to tighten your stomach muscles, though often that perfect incline can very, this wedge will help you avoid heartburn every time.
Its gradual slope will also support your head to elevate and reduce pressure on your neck and finer pressure points, it can also be used to elevate your feet and ankles after a long day standing and walking around.
This wedge comes with a carrying handle and even folds fully down when not in use (great for storage). The design incorporates high-density memory foam so that the wedge can conform around your body for optimal support, it also comes with a zipper removable and washable polyester cover.
More features: made in USA, antimicrobial machine washable bamboo cover
Much like a hospital bed, this bed sized wedge offers support and relief through elevation. It relieves loose stomach muscles (products of GERD and acid reflux), lowers heartburn, and assists with sinus congestion by gently lifting the torso on the soft foam and providing an ideal sleep surface.
The precise angles of this wedge specifically help with sinus congestion and chest conditions and even help to diminish swelling and aching. Depending on your bed size this wedge can be purchased to fit a Queen- or King-sized mattress.
Materials include comfortable medium-density polyurethane foam along with an added layer of 1-inch thick memory foam contouring for cradling your body while you sleep. Other features include an antimicrobial cover with a stylish bamboo-knit pattern, cover is removable and machine washable.
For couples with different sleep styles, this wedge even fits in the bed alongside another person without taking up the whole space.
More features: machine-washable microfiber cover, moisture resistant liner
The liberator wedge offers a unique design that’s ideal for limitless positions and better working together with your partner for more variety and spice in your sex life. It’s not necessarily the pillow for sleep apnea or other conditions, though it does prop your head and neck very nicely while staying up late and reading or working on a laptop.
Mainly, however, this wedge and ramp combination were created to provide optimal comfort and satisfaction by taking weight off of you and your partners knees, backs, and necks, it also gives you all the perfect angles and even some unique ones.
Unlike sinking into a bed or couch and the obvious angle complication that can create, the liberator wedge is made from high-density foam that supports your body and grants great access for maximum satisfaction as well as relaxation. In fact, the foam can easily support 250 pounds without compressing.
Other features which are great is the inner moisture-resistant liner that constantly protects the foam and the removable machine-washable microfiber cover which is soft to the tough every time.
More features: 3 separate foam wedges, anti-skid bottom design, washable cover
The Contour BackMax Foam Bed Wedge Sleep Support System is a full-body wedge design that offers multi-functional orthopedic body support.
The design incorporates three separate foam wedges along a zipper design to attach all three parts or separate them for different areas of support. An incline wedge offers support for your legs, knees, and feet; the ergonomic bed wedge pillow relieves stress along the lower back, specifically the ligaments and muscles in the lumbar region, finally, the middle wedge is for your legs and rear comfort, it elevates and relieves symptoms associated with acid reflux, GERD, indigestion, and even respiratory issues from being sick.
Fully put together the foam bed wedge places your body in a 120-degree zero-stress optimal comfort zone over a high-density foam core. The bottom features anti-skid technology to ensure each wedge stays positioned while sleeping, this bed also comes with a washable cover and carry case for all parts.
More features: hand held remote included, lifts up to 1000 lbs, illuminated controls
Where many opt for very expensive wedge designs or even more costly adjustable bed, the mattress genie offers an affordable neck and back solution which can actually accompany you to hotels, out camping, to friends’ houses, and wherever else you might go. It’s allows you to sleep comfortably in an inkling position that will help reduce heartburn, indigestion, snoring, and even the pains from recent injury or old age.
This ergonomic blow up wedge inclines up to a 26-inch height (depending on your mattress) with a maximum comfort friendly 40-degree angle. One of the most impressive things about this design is that it’s super lightweight (deflates and flattens when you’re done) and yet has a possible weight capacity of 1,000 pounds!
Product comes with handheld remote to adjust the density, height, and angle of your wedge at the click of a button, it also comes with a cord pump and simple directions. Upon arrival this product is easy to place under your mattress – with no damage to the bed itself – and start inclining your sleep habits with no trouble at all.
More features: antimicrobial cover made of breathable bamboo-rayon fabric, machine washable cover, CertiPUR-US certified
For those who sleep most comfortably on their sides rather than their backs, this contoured wedge support pillow offers natural elevated relief while laying at an angle yourself.
It’s designed from ultra-comfortable polyurethane foam for added density that hits all the right pressure points, along with an added 1-inch layer of memory foam to cradle your muscles and support your comfortably.
Materials are also 100% CertiPUR-US approved for being made without Ozone depleters, flame retardants, mercury, lead, phthalates, and no chlorofluorocarbons. Foam is also designed with slight perforations (smaller than the human eye) to create maximum cooling airflow for your face and body.
With an 8-inch incline and a foam structure this support only weighs 6 pounds, and it comes with a removable machine-washable antimicrobial cover with a bamboo-ranyon fabric top.
More features: machine washable breathable cover
Where beds won’t do the trick and can’t possibly help you in post-surgery recovery without that ideal incline, this bed-wedge pillow easily hugs your lower and upper back as well as your head and neck.
This pillow is made with two foam layers, the bottom denser layer for added back support along your lumbar, and the top layer made from high-density memory foam to maximize comfort by conforming to your bodies shape. Together these foams feature a riser along the wedge to promote a better sleep position that will assist orthopedic health issues with your neck, shoulders, and spine. As well, this wedge is very firm and can easily hold up to 300 pounds without collapsing underneath.
At a 10-inch incline it’s ideal for offering a uniquely restful experience without snoring, and is also a great option for propping your head while reading or watching television. Product comes with a breathable and washable cover which will maintain your temperature throughout the night and is easily removable for each wash.
More features: machine washable hypo-allergenic bamboo cover
This rather large elevating bed wedge easily takes up a queen-sized bed and offers support and comfort essential to alleviating acid reflux, GERD, heartburn, sleep apnea, and allergies.
It promotes good circulation and comfort by supporting the back, neck, and shoulders with industry best 1.5-inch memory foam molded and aligned along a firm base foam that ensures torso elevation while sleeping.
At a 12-inch non-adjustable incline, it’s most ideal for severe back problems and those majorly suffering from sleep apnea, though for other sleepers such a steep incline may be unnecessary. It’s quite ideal for propping up in bed or on a couch while watching TV or reading a good book.
Additionally, purchase includes a machine washable bamboo cover with easy zippered removal, it’s also hypo-allergenic and completely dust-mite resistant.
This a very cost-efficient choice for around your home and even includes a lifetime ‘no questions asked’ warranty.
The remainder of this guide was designed to provide further support in the buying process by explaining how to get the most out of a wedge pillow along with explanation for many of the features which will come with your purchase. These features essentially are: size, weight, incline, and materials; knowing more about any one of them should greatly assist in making the best purchase.
Getting the most out of a wedge pillow means understanding what type will assist you best in the way you need it too. Different inclines and materials are better for breathing problems or back problems, but it depends on the surface, density, and degree of the wedge’s slope. Many of the following sleep types are listed, as well as information for how different inclines and materials will assist different health concerns.
Back sleeper! You’re going to want a wedge pillow with a lower incline (at least 7 to 8 inches) if you prefer to rest your shoulders, neck, and head at an angle. Otherwise, you’ll practically be sitting up as you sleep, and if you wanted to sit while you slept than you would have purchased a chair. Side sleepers! You must pick a wedge with contoured edges, this way you don’t slide off while you’re sleeping; also contoured wedges will better follow the side curvature of your spine. Side sleepers can especially benefit from wedge pillows which cradle the developed pressure points along their neck and shoulders.
Snoring or Sleep Apnea! Those who suffer conditions such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) there is no exact cure for your condition and you should certainly consult your doctor, however elevating your head and neck has been proven to greatly reduce snoring while also increasing natural airflow. Acid reflux or GERD! Elevating your head and neck will minimize acid reflux by limiting or cutting off the upward flow of stomach acids, it does this by making you sit more upright while sleeping and therefore forcing your stomach muscles to contract and tighten the way they naturally should. Many people can train their muscles to contract naturally by using a wedge pillow and then later move on to a regular pillow.
Neck, shoulder, and back pain! Often caused by old age, diseases, and previous injury, these medical conditions can only worsen on a regular unsupported pillow. Wedges are designed specifically to improve a person’s spinal alignment while also alleviating pressure on certain pressure points. Additionally, this can help improve circulation, promote healthier posture while watching TV or reading, and even provide relief for your feet and legs when wedged under them.
Many of the following features were listed in the product reviews above, here we take a hard look at each aspect and highlight what makes a good product along with examples of certain products which fit these criteria. It’s our hope you’ll put this information to use in your purchasing process.
Wedge-type pillows are not all created equally, especially when it comes to terms of length, width, and height. Many of these pillows are not full-body pillows, and will mainly cradle your back, arms, neck, and head; on average these wedge pillows measure about 20×20 (length times width). There are some full body options, such as the BackMax Full Body Foam Bed Wedge Pillow System which will assist in supporting your feet, calves, and knees; its total measurements are 70 x 20 x 14 inches, well over the length of a queen-sized mattress. What this should tell you is that if you already own a mattress you should pick the right wedge that will fit that space (especially if you sleep on a twin or a full mattress). One great fit-all pillow is the Xtra-Comfort Bed Wedge.
With a sloping shape for your back and head you can expect most wedge pillows to be triangular, though there are some beds which break the norm. The Liberator Wedge/Ramp Combo actually has a range of shapes most ideal for different positions with your partner, and where it can also fit the standard triangle for your back, it also offers a variety of angles around a ramp-type shape. Other shape concerns depend on the modeling of the pillow and whether or not it’s flat or contoured. Side sleepers should definitely consider a wedge with added contouring; a great example is the Avana Contoured Bed Wedge Support Pillow.
An incline is the main reason anyone would purchase a wedge pillow, and mainly this is because the incline level assists with various health problems which have previously become exacerbated while sleeping. Some models provide an incline of up to 10 or even 12 inches, and where these wedges are great for reading a book or watching television, they may not be the best options for your rest. Consider pillows around and 8-inch incline or less, and if they’re adjustable that’s even better! Our blow-up option, the Contour Products Mattress Genie, fits under the bed and expands the incline of your mattress as much as you want with the push of a button; it also comes with a remote that you can keep with you in bed.
The ideal firmness should actually be a combination between a firm base layer of foam – typically polyester – and a top layer of foam that contours around your body (around 1-inch of memory foam). This combination means your body will get the support it needs while sleeping, but you also won’t feel like you’re sleeping on a triangular stone slab. Lower firmness will hug your pressure points and help with realignment along your spine, where the top layer will keep you sleeping with little discomfort all night long.
Weight mainly effects how you can store your wedge pillow and how it travels. Full body pillows and longer wedges, like the Avana SuperSlant Full Length Bed Wedge Pillow, take up a lot of room and typically weight around 10-12 pounds. One perk of having these heavier wedges, however, is that they shift less during the night and keep you pretty much in the same position and same place. If you toss and turn you really wouldn’t want a 3-pound pillow.
The best wedge pillows typically employ medium- or high-density memory foams, though some have synthetic fabric foams as a base layer (bamboo or polyester). For a range of back problems and health concerns, the best pillows are those which employ dual layers, the bottom for support and top for added comfort.
The durability of your wedge pillow depends on how often you wash its case – the more frequent the washing the less durable the case, and therefore pillow, will be – and also on the type of foam used in the product’s design. Memory foam is the best and most durable foam on the market, and your wedge pillow should ideally include this material.
A great cover will protect your pillow from all the messes you expect it to experience, so if you’re eating while propped up or you expect a lot of dust, choose the right cover accordingly. Additionally, not all the pillows on this list offer hypo-allergenic cases to assist with your breathing at night, one such pillow is the Relax Home Life – Foam Bed Wedge Bamboo Pillow with a hypo-allergenic bamboo cover.
The best warranties are typically 30-60 days for wedge pillows, although we do have two pillows which offer full lifetime coverage with no questions asked: the budget-friendly Cushy Form Bed Wedge Pillow and the Relax Home Life – Foam Bed Wedge Bamboo Pillow. Depending on the manufacturer, however, warranties tend to differ and may not even be included with the product. Make sure to ask the pillow distributor before making a final purchase.
IF you’re looking for products which demonstrate really great features along with fantastic prices that match their overall qualities and design, we’ve listed our top three favorite wedge pillows below. These are easily the market’s best wedge pillows.
Xtra-Comfort Bed Wedge. With a variant of inclines this is easily the best wedge pillow if you’re suffering any kind of stomach pain, heartburn, and especially acid reflux/GERD.
Avana SuperSlant Full Length Bed Wedge Pillow. This is a comfortable full body pillow which will pair nicely with the mattress you already own and also not kick your partner out of bed. It offers impressive health results using technology based around the elevated beds in hospitals.
Cushy Form Bed Wedge Pillow. Our budget pick for this list, this wedge pillow offers affordability with impressive high-quality materials. It comes with a great breathable cover to regulate your body heat as well as a lifetime ‘no questions asked’ warranty.
