12 Best Wedge Pillows to Elevate Your Sleep

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

How we vet brands and products

Austra Health only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

Was this helpful?

Sleeping with a wedge pillow may help with relieving back pain, snoring, or acid reflux. Read on to discover our top picks for the best wedge pillows of 2023.

wedge pillows

  • Most affordable wedge pillow:Mainstays Foam Bed Wedge Pillow
  • Best tall wedge pillow:Yorkshire Home Extra-High Wedge Pillow
  • Best CertiPUR-US certified wedge pillow:Brentwood Home Zuma Foam Wedge Pillow
  • Best gel foam wedge pillow:Helix Wedge Pillow
  • Best large wedge pillow:Medslant Wedge Pillow
  • Best adjustable wedge pillows:Xtra-Comfort Wedge Pillow, Hammacher Schlemmer Modular Bed Wedge
  • Best wedge body pillow:Contour Living Foam Bed Wedge Body Pillow, Avana Comfort Mattress Elevator
  • Best wedge pillow with headrest:InteVision Foam Bed Wedge Pillow

Wedge pillows have all sorts of benefits, from helping you sleep in a comfortable position to controlling acid reflux at night. But the number of choices available online can seem endless.

Major health insurance companies have faced legal trouble over their claim denial practices. In February 2018, the insurance commissioner of California announced plans to investigate Aetna’s coverage denial practices after a former medical director of the insurance company admitted that he never once looked at a patient’s medical records when deciding whether to deny claims over the three years he worked in the position, according to CNN.

To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of the best wedge pillows. We’ll also break down the features along with pros and cons to help make your choice easier.

Wedge pillows are triangular pillows that elevate your head and sometimes your torso to help with sleep. They can also be used to reduce back pain when placed under your knees. The diagonal position of a wedge pillow may help improve the quality of your sleep.

Pros

  • can reduce snoring
  • may alleviate acid reflux
  • can help prevent pooling of mucus in the throat while congested
  • can help ease back pain

Was this helpful?

Cons

  • can cause discomfort in the neck
  • may make sleep difficult if too inclined
  • you may roll off the wedge if you tend to toss and turn
  • not suitable for stomach sleeping

Was this helpful?

We chose these wedge pillows based on:

  • affordability
  • quality of pillow covering and stuffing material
  • allergy-friendliness
  • firmness
  • adjustability
  • ease of maintenance and cleaning
  • customer reviews
  • trustworthiness of manufacturer
  • certifications and endorsements

Each product we included was also vetted for business and medical standards by our vetting team. Read more about our process.

Pricing guide

Wedge pillows are a specialty item and, in some cases, considered a medical expense. They tend to be a little more expensive than regular bed pillows, but on average, you can find one for under $50 all the way up to $150 or more.

See also  Mucus Present In Urine

Here’s our quick reference guide to the price range for each of our pillow selections below:

Most affordable wedge pillow

Mainstays Foam Bed Wedge Pillow

  • Price: $
  • Type: flat-bottomed foam
  • Dimensions: 24.5 x 22 x 8 inches (in.)

It doesn’t get much simpler or more affordable than this wedge pillow from Walmart’s in-house Mainstays brand. It’s made of foam with a 100% polyester, machine-washable cover.

Measuring 24.5 in. long, 22 in. wide, and 8 in. high, this pillow can fit many sizes and configurations of mattress tops. You can use it easily with your other pillows.

This pillow can last for years if you take care of it, but its material quality is lower than other options. It may lose its firmness over time.

Pros

  • Offers smaller incline for sleepers not looking for drastic support

Cons

  • Some reviewers notice an unpleasant odor

Was this helpful?

Best tall wedge pillow

Yorkshire Home Extra-High Wedge Pillow

The Yorkshire Home extra-high bed wedge is an affordable wedge pillow with a simple design and firm memory foam interior. The cover is made of bamboo fibers.

Its standard 24- by 24- by 11-in. size makes it fit comfortably on almost any bed while also providing a large incline.

Because it’s on the lower end of the price spectrum, the outer materials may start to wear sooner than other, more expensive wedge pillows.

Pros

  • Great option for people with acid reflux

Cons

  • Some reviewers complain it’s too firm

Was this helpful?

Best CertiPUR-US certified wedge pillow

Brentwood Home Zuma Foam Wedge Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Type: flat-bottomed memory foam
  • Dimensions: 24 x 24 and 7, 10, or 12 in. tall

The Zuma foam wedge pillow gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It has a CertiPUR-US certified memory foam interior and a rayon cover derived from bamboo fibers.

This pillow comes in three incline sizes: 7 in., 10 in., and 12 in. Larger incline sizes may be better for use with reflux, upper body pain, and breathing issues.

The memory foam used in this pillow has sometimes been reviewed as feeling too firm or hard after frequent use.

Pros

  • Excellent customer service
  • Quality materials

Cons

  • Too firm for many users

Was this helpful?

Find the Zuma foam wedge in our Best Pillows video roundup

Best gel foam wedge pillow

Helix Wedge Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Type: flat-bottomed gel memory foam
  • Dimensions: 24x 24 x 10 in.

Helix is a pillow brand well known for its proprietary gel-based memory foam and hypoallergenic pillow design, manufactured entirely in the United States.

This pillow comes in a standard 24- by 24- by 10-in. size that’s easy to use with any mattress size. It may work well for those with acid reflux or chronic pain.

This pillow may seem to have no frills for its somewhat high price. But it features a 100-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty in case you’re ultimately not satisfied.

Pros

  • Quality materials

Cons

  • Takes a while to dry after spot cleaning

Was this helpful?

Best large wedge pillow

Medslant Big Wedge Pillow

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: flat-bottomed memory foam, adjustable also available
  • Dimensions: 31 x 28 x 7 in.

Medslant is a larger wedge pillow measuring 32 in. by 32 in. It has a 7-in. incline that’s good for both side sleepers and back sleepers. There’s also a 24-by-32 folding version more convenient for travel or for tight spaces.

See also  Pepto Bismol Black Stool

The cover and pillow materials are all made of polyurethane that’s hypoallergenic and doesn’t emit a lot of factory odors, which are common in inexpensive wedge pillows.

Pros

  • Can help alleviate acid reflux issues
  • Folding version is convenient for travel

Cons

  • Some people with back issues say it’s uncomfortable

Was this helpful?

Best adjustable wedge pillows

Xtra-Comfort Wedge Pillow

The Xtra-Comfort bed wedge pillow has a steep incline that’s adjustable for use when sleeping as well as when sitting up in bed reading or using the computer. The steep incline is good for moderate to severe acid reflux.

The standard pillow measures 22 in. wide and 12 in. deep.

The pillow is stuffed with memory foam that retains its shape even after long periods of use. It also has a removable, washable cover and handle on top for easy carrying during travel, or even just moving from room to room.

Pros

  • Good for people recovering from surgery, and pregnant people with varying needs

Cons

  • Some users say it’s too small for their support needs

Was this helpful?

Hammacher Schlemmer Modular Bed Wedge

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: adjustable memory foam
  • Dimensions: 21.5 x 21.5 x 12 in.

The Hammacher Schlemmer is another adjustable wedge pillow that’s triangular-shaped when folded up. It’s made from a dense memory foam that helps maintain firmness and comfort.

The modular design makes this pillow good for adjusting the angle for lying down and sitting up. It even comes with a small piece that can be used as a headrest. The company also guarantees a lifetime warranty in case the product is defective.

The Hammacher Schlemmer company has a long history and is also employee-owned, meaning that your purchase supports those who work at the company rather than investors or shareholders.

Pros

  • Reviewers say it relieved pain when used for sleeping and lounging

Cons

  • Not great for smaller people

Was this helpful?

Best wedge body pillow

Contour Living BackMax Foam Bed Wedge Body Cushion

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: contouring adjustable
  • Dimensions: 70 x 20 x 15 (at highest point), also available in a 28-in. width

The Contour Living Foam Bed Wedge is a full-body wedge pillow that provides different levels of support up and down your body to reduce pressure and raise your upper body to reduce reflux.

Each section of this bed wedge can be pulled apart or zipped together for customizable support or easier travel. It’s made of polyurethane foam with a fleece cover that’s removable and washable.

This pillow may be difficult to take apart or put back together, especially if you have chronic pain that limits movement in your shoulders or upper body.

Pros

  • Can be used in a number of ways to support your entire body

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of bed space

Was this helpful?

Avana Comfort Mattress Elevator

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: flat-bottomed memory foam
  • Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 7 in. (queen size, other sizes available)

The Avana Comfort Mattress Elevator is a similar mattress-sized wedge pillow that’s adjustable from 1 in. to 7 in. for various degrees of incline for moderate to severe GERD and reflux.

The foam inside the pillow is CertiPUR-US certified. You can buy optional washable covers to help protect the pillow.

As with other mattress wedges, you may shift toward the foot of your mattress while you’re sleeping, or the pillow can firm up your mattress too much for your liking.

See also  How To Stop Coughing At Night

Pros

  • Elevates entire mattress

Cons

  • May cause you to slide toward the end of the bed

Was this helpful?

Best wedge pillow with headrest

InteVision Foam Bed Wedge Pillow

The InteVision Foam Bed Wedge Pillow has an adjustable cooling gel memory foam headrest designed to maximize comfort as you sleep at an incline.

Like most wedge pillows, the pillow is made with the intention of reducing snoring, GERD symptoms, allergy symptoms, and any other discomforts that might prevent restful sleep when lying flat.

This pillow arrives vacuum-sealed. Some reviewers complain of a lingering off-gassing smell.

Pros

  • Cooling gel headrest included

Cons

  • Strong off-gassing smell

Was this helpful?

Pillow Price Material Why we recommend it
Mainstays Foam Bed Wedge Pillow $ foam Easy to care for
Yorkshire Home Extra-High Wedge Pillow $ memory foam Antibacterial and mildew-proof
Brentwood Home Zuma Foam Wedge Pillow $$ memory foam Comes in three incline sizes
Helix Wedge Pillow $$ gel memory foam 100-night sleep trial
Medslant Wedge Pillow $$$ memory foam Hypoallergenic
Xtra-Comfort Wedge Pillow $$ adjustable memory foam Easily portable for travel
Hammacher Schlemmer Adjustable Wedge Pillow $$$ adjustable memory foam Lifetime warranty
Contour Living Foam Bed Wedge Body Pillow $$$ foam Highly versatile
Avana Comfort Mattress Elevator $$$ memory foam Adjustable
InteVision Foam Bed Wedge Pillow $$ adjustable memory foam Cooling gel

Still searching for the right sleep products?

Let us help. Shop our top picks for pillows by condition or sleep position to get the sound sleep you deserve.

Was this helpful?

There are several types of wedge pillows. They vary in shape, material, and purpose. Some of the most popular wedge pillows include:

Flat-bottomed wedge pillows

These pillows are typically triangular with a flat bottom that lies flush against your mattress. Some may come equipped with straps to prevent sliding during sleep.

Contour wedge pillows

Curved for comfort, these wedge pillows are most popular with side sleepers to aid in spinal alignment.

Memory foam wedge pillows

Memory foam is the most popular material for wedge pillows because it withstands weight while maintaining its shape.

Memory foam can trap body heat and become uncomfortable. However, some types of memory foam are made with gel to help reduce heat buildup. You can also try adding a cooling pillowcase.

Latex wedge pillows

While latex isn’t often used by itself, memory foam and latex are often combined to make durable, breathable wedge pillows that don’t create as much of a sinking in feeling.

Latex is a more expensive material, but it’s also more long lasting than memory foam.

Adjustable wedge pillows

Adjustable wedge pillows come with one or more removable layers of foam. They may also be folded into different configurations. The advantage of an adjustable wedge pillow is that you may change its firmness or height depending on your needs.

Who should use a wedge pillow?

People with certain health conditions, symptoms, or sleeping patterns, like:

  • gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
  • laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
  • sleep apnea
  • neck pain
  • snoring
  • sinus congestion and drainage
  • following a shoulder surgery
  • side sleeping that may make some sleep-related symptoms of certain conditions worse