The 8 Best Knee Pillows for Back and Side Sleepers

If you’re struggling to catch some Zzz’s because your fave sleeping position is causing aches and pains, it might be time to welcome a new bedmate into your life: A knee pillow.

Sticking a pillow between or underneath your knees can help relieve some of the pressure caused by snoozin’ on your back or side. They’re also helpful if you’re preggers, have sciatica, or have back or hip pain.

Since pillow shopping can be a drag, we’ve put together this helpful list of knee pillows to help you find your next bedtime BFF. You can never have too many pillows, amirite?

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We try to cast a wide net when putting together these lists. That means weighing all the options out there. We also considered:

• Material. Because foam provides ultimate pressure relief, we gravitated toward knee pillows made of squishy, body contouring foam.
• Ease of cleaning. Foam is tough (or impossible) to wash, so we made sure to choose pillows with handy removable covers that you can unzip and toss into the wash.
• Reviews. We only included products with rave reviews from customers. No duds to be found here!
• Vetted products. We put all of our products through a thorough vetting process that checks if brands are making unsupported health claims (like OMG this pillow will stop arthritis in its tracks!) or engaging in shady business practices. Only brands that passed our vetting process made this list.

Best rated knee pillow

Contour Legacy Leg & Knee Foam Support Pillow

• Price: $
• Firmness: firm
• Materials: memory foam
• Pros: washable cover, breathable foam, comes with a 1-year warranty
• Cons: too thick for some people

This between-the-knee pillow is made of ventilated memory foam for more breathability and less s-w-e-a-t. The ergonomic shape supports your knees and legs.

The pillow has a removable, washable cover — yay for easy cleaning! It also has over 20,000 positive reviews on Amazon (!!!), making it our best-rated knee pillow pick.

A handful of people complain it’s too thick. Still, most people (many of them with chronic pain or recovering from surgery) say it helps them sleep better.

Best adjustable knee pillow

Coop Home Goods Knee Pillow

• Price: $$
• Firmness: medium firm
• Materials: memory foam filling and bamboo-derived rayon and polyester cover
• Pros: adjustable, washable cover, 100-night sleep trial
• Cons: not supportive for people in larger bodies

Coop Home Goods is known for its adjustable pillows and this knee pillow has the same adjustability reviewers love. If you want to make it thicker, all you need to do is add the removable foam insert and BAM — you’re all set.

Reviewers love it and say it sleeps a lot cooler than traditional memory foam, but a few people say it’s not supportive enough for people in larger bodies.

The best news? Coop offers a 100-night sleep trial, so you can return this baby for free if you don’t love it.

Best knee pillow with organic materials

Gateway Sleep Memory Foam Knee Pillow

• Price: $
• Firmness: firm
• Materials: memory foam filling and organic bamboo cover
• Pros: organic cover, comes with a storage bag
• Cons: not supportive for people in larger bodies

This hourglass-style memory foam knee pillow features an organic bamboo cover that’s soft and breathable. It also comes with a zippered storage bag. The eco-friendly cover is machine washable, too.

The firm shape provides plenty of support that customers say helps loads with pain relief. Reviewers also like that the pillow isn’t too bulky.

One reviewer, though, does mention that it’s not supportive enough for people in larger bodies.

Best knee pillow for leg and knee injuries

PureComfort Adjustable Elevation Pillow

• Price: $$$
• Firmness: firm
• Materials: memory foam
• Pros: supportive and adjustable
• Cons: not the most durable option

If you have a leg or knee injury, this is the pillow for you. The behind-the-knee wedge pillow keeps your leg and knee elevated, which is widely considered a key component of treating certain injuries.

The pillow comes with a soft, hypoallergenic bamboo cover and is made with CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam — so you can rest easy knowing there aren’t any nasty chemicals lurking in your pillow.

This pillow is perf for use post-marathon or after surgery. You can also play with the height by using the included insert. And it’s available in two sizes (standard and large).

Several reviewers say the pillow was a total lifesaver after knee surgery and helped keep them comfortable during recovery. They describe it as soft and supportive. People also really appreciate the excellent customer service.

A few people note that it’s probably not a good option for long-term use, though.

Best knee pillow for pregnancy

Meiz Full Body Pregnancy Pillow

• Price: $$$
• Firmness: medium-firm
• Materials: polyester fiber filling, brushed fabric cover
• Pros: soft to the touch, full body support
• Cons: tends to trap heat

When you’re pregnant, it’s not just pressure between the knees that can cause additional stress on your body. Your growing belly can make it tough to find a comfy position in bed. A pillow like this one provides support for your whole body.

And newsflash: you don’t need to be preggo to cozy up with this oversized pillow.

The u-shaped pillow features a polyester fiber filling and a brushed fabric exterior. The cover is removable, antibacterial, and hypoallergenic.

Reviewers find it hella comfortable. But the biggest downside, according to reviewers, is that it sleeps hot. And it takes up a lot of room, so be prepared to lose some bed real estate.

Best knee pillow for sciatica

ComfiLife Orthopedic Knee Pillow

• Price: $$
• Firmness: firm
• Materials: high density memory foam
• Pros: lifetime warranty, washable cover, ergonomic design
• Cons: some people find it too firm

This ergonomic memory foam knee pillow is designed to maintain spinal alignment and help prevent sciatica pain. ComfiLife uses high density foam, which is known for being more durable than lower density foams — so this pillow should hold its shape pretty well.

It also has a washable cover to keep it nice ‘n fresh. Oh — and it comes with a lifetime warranty. In the words of Eleanor Shellstrop: NOICE!

Reviewers like that it stays put while sleeping and is super supportive, but a few peeps note that it’s almost too firm.

Best knee pillow for back sleepers

5 Stars United Half Moon Bolster Pillow

• Price: $$
• Firmness: medium-firm
• Materials: memory foam
• Pros: multi-purpose, comfortable
• Cons: some people say it’s too soft

Back sleepers, rejoice! You can place this half-moon pillow under your knees or behind your back, depending on where you’re dealing with aches and pains.

Side and stomach sleepers and pregnant people can also put it between their legs for pressure relief.

And… instead of a stinky off-gassing smell, the company claims this pillow smells like 🍋🍋🍋 . It also has an easy-to-clean zippered cover.

Reviewers say the feel of this pillow is just right and that the pillow provides excellent support. A few people didn’t find the half-moon shape comfortable for putting between their knees.

Best knee pillow for combination sleepers

Back Support Systems Knee-T Leg Pillow

• Price: $$$
• Firmness: firm
• Materials: poly foam
• Pros: hypoallergenic cover, 10-year warranty
• Cons: lacks durability

If you change sleeping positions multiple times during the night, a regular knee pillow might not work for you.

This option features a strap that keeps the pillow in place, so you don’t have to worry about it getting dislodged while you sleep. The pillow is CertiPUR-US-certified and comes with a washable, zippered cover.

Reviewers say it helps provide pressure relief but complain that it’s not as durable as it should be for the price.

You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a knee pillow to keep you comfy while you head to dreamland. But here’s what to keep in mind when shopping:

Shape

Like 1950s pin-up models, most knee pillows have an hourglass shape. This shape provides a little nook for your knees to rest and is ideal for side sleepers.

Wedge-shaped knee pillows go under the knees, so they’re perfect for back sleepers. You can also use these for moments when you’re chillaxing with a book.

And finally, body pillows work well for both side and stomach sleepers, providing pressure relief from (almost) head to toe. These are also great for pregnant people.

Size

The larger your bod, the thicker you’ll need the knee pillow to be. If it’s not thick enough, it won’t be taking all the pressure off of your low back while you’re sleeping.

There isn’t really a rule of thumb for this, so we suggest checking out reviews to see what real customers think about the size of the pillow you’re considering. Look for people saying it’s too thick or not quite wide enough.

You can also opt for an adjustable option with removable inserts — like our pick from Coop Home Goods.

Materials

Most knee pillows are made of foam because it provides excellent pressure relief. There are a few diff types of foam:

• Memory foam. That super squishy, body-contouring foam we all know and love. The biggest downside is that it traps heat.
• Gel memory foam. Memory foam’s fraternal twin, gel memory foam is infused with — you guessed it — gel to help cool things down.
• Polyurethane foam. Similar to memory foam, but usually lower quality and cheaper. It doesn’t hold up as long as actual memory foam either.
• Latex foam. Latex foam can either be natural or synthetic — it’s known for being more durable and bouncier than memory foam. It’s also less likely to trap heat and usually costs more $$$.

As for the pillow’s covers, natural materials like organic cotton and bamboo are great choices because they’re breathable and durable. Synthetic materials are good too — and they’re usually cheaper — but they’re not as breathable, so you might get a little hawt at night.

Support

The firmer the pillow, the higher the support level. Too much support isn’t necessarily a good thing, though. It can actually have the reverse effect and increase pressure on your knees and legs.

A pillow should provide a happy medium, soft yet firm enough to keep your knees and body aligned.

Comfort

Any pillow should enhance your sleep, not ruin it.

Having a pillow between your legs might take some getting used to. But if it’s interrupting the dreams, you’re having about that Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain red-carpet moment…

Yeah, no thanks.

Extra features

Knee pillows don’t have many bells and whistles, but some have straps to keep the pillow in place between your knees. This is a must if you tend to toss and turn.

Some pillows are also adjustable, which can be a big relief if you’re not sure what size pillow works best for your body type.

Care

If you want something that is super-duper easy to wash, go with a pillow that has a removable cover.

FYI: Most pillow interiors aren’t washable. That’s because foam or other materials take a long time to dry. If they get wet, say goodbye to your pillow and hello to mold and mildew.

Return policy

Can you return the pillow if you hate it? Make sure to check the company’s return policy before committing.

Side and back sleepers get the biggest benefits from using a knee pillow:

• Side sleepers. If you sleep on your side, wedging a pillow between your knees helps keep your spine aligned. It also takes stress off of your hips and lower back.
• Back sleepers. If you sleep on your back, you’ve prob heard the recommendation to sleep with a pillow under your knees. This placement helps take stress off of and supports the natural curve of your spine.

People with back and hip pain or sciatica can also benefit from using a knee pillow, since a pillow can help reduce pressure in these areas.

What is a knee pillow?

A knee pillow is a pillow that you put behind or between your knees. It offers support and pressure relief.

Do I need to buy a special pillow to use as a knee pillow?

You could put just about any pillow between your knees — or even a small, folded blanket — but knee pillows are specially designed to provide comfortable support in that specific area. Plus, knee pillows are less likely to move around while you sleep than a regular pillow lodged between your legs because of their shape.

Are knee pillows expensive?

They’re available at all different price points. So that means you can find a comfy knee pillow regardless of your budget. Yayyyy!

Are knee pillows durable?

They’ll last a little longer than a regular pillow — your noggin’ and upper body put a lot of pressure on a typical pillow, after all.

You’ll know it’s time to replace your knee pillow if it no longer feels supportive or starts to become misshapen.

A crummy night’s sleep can seriously ruin your day. And if you’re consistently getting terrible quality Zzz’s, it might be time to throw a new pillow into the mix.

Improve your comfort levels and sleep quality with the help of a knee pillow. These pillows are ideal for side and back sleepers who need extra pressure relief.