The Best Sit-Up Pillow

The 10 Best Sit Up Pillows

This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in April of 2015. Whether you're confined to bed rest for health reasons or just doing a bit of light reading, trying to wrestle standard cushions into a relaxing, yet supportive, upright position can be a losing battle. For something better suited to the task, the sit-up pillows in our selection feature durable materials and ergonomic designs that make things so much more comfortable. They come in fun colors, too. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. Skip to the best sit up pillow on Amazon.

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This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in April of 2015. Whether you're confined to bed rest for health reasons or just doing a bit of light reading, trying to wrestle standard cushions into a relaxing, yet supportive, upright position can be a losing battle. For something better suited to the task, the sit-up pillows in our selection feature durable materials and ergonomic designs that make things so much more comfortable. They come in fun colors, too. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. Skip to the best sit up pillow on Amazon.

10. Homca Inflatable

The Homca Inflatable (appx. $19) was designed for convenience, since you can take it along with you even when luggage or carrying space is limited. Some find it a little hard to blow up without a pump, though, which can make it annoying to use when you're tired or busy.

Lightweight at less than a pound Comes in a drawstring pouch Must be hand washed

9. BetterRest Deluxe Incline

The BetterRest Deluxe Incline (around $110) is so helpful when it comes to relaxation, you'll forget that it's also designed for therapeutic use as a palliative for both acute and chronic spinal pain issues. Its memory foam core is enclosed in a soft, terrycloth cover.

Two reclining positions Removable velcro neck roll Difficult to sleep on

8. Linenspa Reading Pillow

The filling of the Linenspa Reading Pillow (about $40) matches the contours of your body while providing excellent breathability, so you stay both cozy and serene. Its soft, plush velour cover is skin-friendly and fits in with any decor.

Durably finished seams Also available in extra-large size Emits a slight odor at first

7. Brentwood Originals Bedrest

The Brentwood Originals Bedrest (around $35) has a solidly constructed base and arms, and comes in a diverse range of colors that are attractive enough to fit in wherever you need a spot to kick back and relax. The big handle helps you move it from place to place.

Casual and affordable Very easy to spot-clean Tends to attract lint

6. Drive Medical Folding Wedge

Not only is the Drive Medical Folding Wedge (about $26) firm, supportive, and easy to store, it's also one of the most affordable choices you can make. It can help relieve back pain, respiratory congestion, pregnancy discomfort, and heartburn from acid reflux.

Convenient grip for carrying Generous 23 inches wide Doesn't have a lot of give

5. Brookstone Bed Wedge

The Brookstone Bed Wedge (about $131) is a versatile, firm support cushion that doubles as a leg rest and can also be used to gently elevate the head while lying down. It's covered in a soft, comfortable material and holds its shape well through frequent and extended use.

Adapts to various resting positions Great for reading or watching tv Expensive for the size

4. Yogibo Support

The Yogibo Support (around $99) works just as well as a nursing station for a new mother as it does a place to browse social media on your tablet. It is quite form-fitting, so whether in your bed or on the couch, you can snuggle into it and unwind.

Feels like a bean bag Long and ample armrests No neck support in sitting position

3. Keen Edge Home

Densely packed with shredded memory foam, the Keen Edge Home (about $24) measures 20 inches tall, extending its cushioning support beyond the lumbar region to the upper back. It has a flexible storage pocket on the arm along with a sewn-in handle.

Adjusts to body shape Stuffing is hypoallergenic Soft washable zippered cover

2. Husband Pillow Big Bedrest

A removable roll cushion perched at the top of the Husband Pillow Big Bedrest (appx. $80) provides that little bit of extra height to keep tension and discomfort from developing in neck and shoulder muscles, and a shredded memory foam filling makes it both supportive and plush.

Lots of color and fabric choices 36-month warranty Interchangeable covers available

1. Avana Kind Bed Orthopedic

The Avana Kind Bed Orthopedic (about $180) does far more than prop you upright. Its four-piece, contoured design can be configured in a number of different ways to provide therapeutic support of the spine, head and legs for hours of comfortable reclining.

Breathable antimicrobial materials Sturdy multilayer construction Covers can be removed for laundering

Editor's Notes

May 23, 2019:

Although it offers a soft cover, the Milliard Reading Pillow seems quite lumpy to a large number of users, so we decided to remove it. But we still think the Avana Kind Bed Orthopedic is the top choice for those looking for serious comfort, since it's more of a system and less of a single cushion. It's not exactly cheap, but if you want to spend a lot of time propped up, or if you have to, it may be worth the investment. It's soft against the skin, too, and not scratchy. There's also the BetterRest Deluxe, which gives you a similar incline, although it seems firmer. If you're looking for something less spendy, the Brentwood Originals Bedrest or Linenspa Reading Pillow might do the trick. The former comes in a number of colors, while the latter is currently only offered in blue and gray. The Linenspa comes in two sizes, though, so it suits both bigger and smaller users. Finally, we opted to add something a little different, the Homca Inflatable. You probably shouldn't expect to be too rough with it, but if you'll be traveling or camping and simply can't do without a sit up pillow, it's got your back — literally.

On Making Bed Even More Of A Comfort

If you're going to be sitting still for a long period of time, though, you might as well do so in the heights of comfort.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average adult between the ages of 26 and 65 should spend anywhere from Seven to nine hours asleep in his or her bed each night. In practice, many studies have concluded that at least forty percent of Americans get less sleep than their bodies probably need, which can lead to chronic Sleep debt, a condition in which the brain and body are habitually fatigued and usually unable to perform at their peak potential.

There are myriad ways to add to the duration and improve the quality of sleep you get each night. These included minimizing nighttime distractions like television, phone or computer usage, or game playing. Establishing a quiet, dark environment free from flashing lights or other distractions is also important. And then of course you simply have to provide yourself enough time for adequate sleep, including the time it takes for your mind to unwind and descend into slumber.

When not sleeping, many people still spend a lot of time in bed. As long as it does not interfere with your bedtime and sleep schedule, your bed is a great place to relax while you watch a movie, do some work, talk on the phone, read a book, or kill time browsing a website or social medial platform. If you're going to be sitting still for a long period of time, though, you might as well do so in the heights of comfort.

And for those confined to bed for reasons of age, illness, or recovery after a surgery or injury, a bed is more than a place to relax, it is the only safe place to be. Whether you are relegated to bed rest for medical reasons or you simply want to take it easy in comfort, a dedicated sit up pillow will always beat a pile of random quilts and pillows stuffed behind your back.

The Sit Up Pillow For Comfort

If you love spending time sitting in bed watching movies or Binge watching shows on Netflix, gaming, reading, or chatting on the phone, then you owe it to yourself to get a great sit up pillow. Not only will the use of a sit up pillow make you immediately more comfortable thanks to their padding and support, but it will also help prevent stiffness and soreness after extended time spent sitting in bed.

Remember, your bed was designed for use while lying flat. Comfortable, long term sitting up in bed requires a reconfiguration of this purpose-built piece of furniture. Swap out the pillows you use for sleep and prop yourself up with a sit up pillow to avoid back aches, neck strain, and other discomforts. As for the right sit up pillow for use as you relax in bed, first consider whether you are more comfortable resting against a soft, cushiony surface, or if you like some firm support. (Think of it as the difference between a plush recliner and an ergonomic office chair, e. g.) Then decide what material you will find the most comfortable: a plush shaggy cover, a soft and smooth microfiber, or a warm fleece, to name a few.

And, finally, consider the other attributes a sit up pillow can offer that you might appreciate while relaxing in bed. Some units have built in cupholders, for example, while others are high-backed and feature excellent neck support thanks to attached headrests or pillows.

The Sit Up Pillow For Medical Purposes

There are multiple Medical conditions that can land a person on extended bed rest. Some of the most common include a complicated or sensitive pregnancy (or the recovery period following the birth), the recuperation period following a surgery or injury, or an illness that saps a person of his or her strength and requires minimal activity, such as a bad flu, mono, or any of the other multitude of sicknesses out there.

Sit up pillows can also provide welcome relief to those who suffer from acid reflux disease.

Being confined to bed can be frustrating, and it can actually become quite uncomfortable after an extended period of time. The human body was not designed to sit halfway supine for that long. Sitting in bed without proper support can put undue pressure on a person's coccyx, lumbar region, spine, and other parts of the body. Prolonged periods of relative inactivity in improper positions can also cause nerve compression that leads to issues ranging from "pins and needles" to more painful conditions like "entrapment neuropathy", also known as nerve compression syndrome.

A sit up pillow can be used to help position the body properly while a person is confined to bed. By establishing relatively neutral pressure on the spine, by supporting the lower back, and by allowing for a comfortable angle of reclining that permits proper blood flow throughout the body, these pillows maximize the comfort of their users. This is of critical importance for those who will be forced to spend extended periods of time in bed, especially for the elderly who might have a skeletal, neural, or muscular system already compromised by age.

Sit up pillows can also provide welcome relief to those who suffer from acid reflux disease. If sitting relatively upright is the only way to prevent the pain and suffering associated with gastrointestinal acid making its way up from the stomach and into the esophagus, then a sit up pillow can provide the comfort needed for reflux sufferers to actually get some rest (and ideally even some sleep) while ameliorating their condition.