The 5 Best CPAP Pillows [Ranked]
Are you going through CPAP therapy to get relief from sleep apnea but struggling to adjust to it?
If yes, it might be time to consider using a CPAP pillow. These specialized bed pillows are designed to help patients to sleep comfortably with a CPAP mask and hose.
Patients going through CPAP therapy often experience difficulties in positioning their regular pillow so that it doesn’t move the mask around, blocking the exhale port or pushing it into the face.
In this scenario, replacing the regular pillow with a CPAP pillow can help them greatly in terms of making most out of the sleep apnea treatment (Source).
Comparing Them
- FSA/HSA ELIGIBLE: Use your FSA or HSA to buy this pillow for yourself or qualified family members. WORKS WITH VARIOUS CPAP MASKS: The unique cut-out design on both sides keeps CPAP tubing neat and organized, effectively reducing air leakage while minimizing facial pressure and eye soreness when using CPAP masks. Whether you wear a full face mask, nasal mask, or other types, this CPAP pillow helps you sleep soundly through the night — a better sleep awaits you
- REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR SLEEP WITH THE INNOVATIVE HOLLOW CONCAVE DESIGN - Tired of waking up with neck pain and discomfort? Look no further! By combining the benefits of a traditional bed pillow and a contour pillow, Our ergonomic hollow contour pillow is here to transform your sleep experience. The hollow concave surface, tilted at a 15-degree angle, skillfully cradles your head, while maintaining the natural curve of your neck and aligning your spine flawlessly. Wake up feeling refreshed!
- For Memory Foam Lovers: slow-rebound foam that gently conforms to your head and neck. If you’re used to standard or down pillows, it will feel firm—if you prefer a softer feel, choose our NEW Down-Alternative Parkin CPAP Pillow instead.
- Universal CPAP Mask Fit: Compatible with nasal, full-face, and other CPAP masks, this cervical neck pillow is specially engineered with side cutouts to create a dedicated space for your mask and hose. It helps reduce tangling, minimize air leaks, and ease facial pressure so you can move more freely and enjoy uninterrupted sleep.
How To Sleep With A CPAP Pillow
According to this YouTuber, “When people use CPAP and sleep on a normal pillow, they’re going to have mask leaks because when they move to one side, the mask will tend to position itself on the opposite side causing leaks and sleep discomfort. Using a CPAP pillow can greatly increase their CPAP compliance.
CPAP masks have very unique feature in that it is shaped in a certain way where if you turn to your side, the tubing on your CPAP mask can easily move along with you and not get caught on the pillow.
The CPAP pillow provides more CPAP compliance, sleep comfort, will reduce mask leaks and discomfort as well as reducing frequent tossing and turning.”
Buying Guide
When you’re using a CPAP machine, buying the right sleep accessories like a CPAP pillow plays a crucial role in helping you to get accustomed to the device. If you’re planning to buy a CPAP pillow and looking at different brands and models, there’re a couple of variables you need to consider.
- Analyze Your Mask: First of all, consider the CPAP mask you’re using. If you’re using a full face mask, which is considered to be the largest, you’d need to purchase a pillow with deeper recesses. If you’re using a nasal mask, a standard CPAP pillow should be good to go with.
- Fill Material: Next thing you should consider is the fill material of the pillow. The best products usually come with either fiberfill or memory foam. You’d need to select the material you’re more comfortable with. Remember that the material will determine how the pillow retains heat and its firmness. Ideally, you should go for a pillow that would let you adjust the amount of the fill so that you’d be able to adjust it according to your requirements.
- Adjustability: If you’re planning to buy a product that isn’t adjustable, you’ve to ensure that the pillow is firm enough to maintain a good seal by keeping your head and the mask in the same line. If you want to learn more about the factors you should consider at the time of buying a CPAP pillow, you can have a look at this guide.
More Info
Patients, who use a CPAP machine, often experience discomforts when sleeping with standard bed pillows.
For instance, if they’re apt to move around during sleeping, they’re more likely to encounter mask leakage.
And if it happens, it lowers the air pressure and minimizes the benefits of the therapy. Mask leakage may also lead to pressure sores and red marks sometimes. All these can be prevented by using a CPAP pillow.
In addition, when you combine a standard pillow with the CPAP gear, it usually tilts the head back a little, which often leads to jaw pain. By using a CPAP pillow, you’d be able to forget this issue completely.
These pillows not only support the head but tilt it slightly forward to avoid joint pain and lower the mask pressure.
These specialized products come with a different texture and shape – generally dimpled and feature cutouts that can accommodate the mask and hose.
These pillows are also an ideal gear for CPAP machine users who experience pain or discomfort from side/stomach sleeping triggered by sleeping on a standard pillow or use dental appliances.
It’s also important to note that though CPAP masks are available for all sleeping positions, CPAP pillows are ideal for side and stomach sleepers.
CPAP Nasal Pillows
- CPAP Nasal Pillow: The AirFit P30i Cushion features a silicone cushion for a comfortable fit and secure seal during sleep
If you’re advised to go through CPAP therapy, you may be left wondering what CPAN nasal pillows are.
This is a type of CPAP mask that contains plastic inserts which look like headphone earbuds that can be slipped into the nostrils directly.
The pressure, which is prescribed to keep your airway open, is delivered via this mask. The small cushions will rest at the end of your nose and may aid to relieve problems like claustrophobia (Source) and air leak.
For people suffering from claustrophobia, sometimes it becomes difficult to tolerate having a big mask across the face.
Also, for many users, it becomes upsetting to have a mask blocking the eyes. In this scenario, CPAP nasal pillows may be highly helpful as they minimally obstruct the vision and offer a little direct contact with your face.
In addition, people with facial hair like large beards or mustaches may have difficulties getting a perfect seal with standard CPAP masks which fit around the mouth or over the nose.
CPAP nasal pillows eliminate this issue by applying the CPAP pressure into the nostrils directly.
Memory Foam CPAP Pillow
- For Memory Foam Lovers: slow-rebound foam that gently conforms to your head and neck. If you’re used to standard or down pillows, it will feel firm—if you prefer a softer feel, choose our NEW Down-Alternative Parkin CPAP Pillow instead.
It’s commonly believed that using a CPAP pillow made of memory foam can help you maintain proper spinal alignment, allowing easier breathing. In addition, the lack of pressure points with these pillows results in less turning and tossing, which leads to restful sleep.
Unlike traditional pillows, these memory foam products don’t go flat. Memory foam conforms to properly fit the head and neck, but as it cools, it comes back to the original shape. You can learn more about the benefits of using a memory foam product here.
How Does A CPAP Pillow Work?
Apart from increasing sleeping comfort, CPAP pillows prevent some of the most common problems triggered by the use of a CPAP machine (Source).
First of all, they prevent mask leaks which lower the effectiveness of the therapy. Second, these pillows eliminate the pressure on the CPAP mask and the face.
Reduced pressure results in better treatment outcomes and increased comfort. And finally, these products help to prevent mask inconvenience, which is one of the biggest reasons people often stop using CPAP machines as directed.
If you want to learn more about how a CPAP pillow helps to improve sleeping, you can watch this video:
CPAP Pillow For Stomach Sleepers
- FSA/HSA ELIGIBLE: Use your FSA or HSA to buy this pillow for yourself or qualified family members. WORKS WITH VARIOUS CPAP MASKS: The unique cut-out design on both sides keeps CPAP tubing neat and organized, effectively reducing air leakage while minimizing facial pressure and eye soreness when using CPAP masks. Whether you wear a full face mask, nasal mask, or other types, this CPAP pillow helps you sleep soundly through the night — a better sleep awaits you
While a good CPAP device can certainly provide you with the ability to breathe naturally during a good night of sleep, you’d also need to figure out the proper combination between mask and pillow – which can be a difficult task, especially if you belong to the group of stomach sleepers (Source).
For most of the long-term stomach sleepers, it might be the most inconvenient sleeping position with a mask.
You long to sleep on the stomach, resting the cheek on the pillow, and stretching the back, but the mask could get in the way, causing sore pressure points on the face.
This is when you should look for a specially designed CPAP pillow for stomach sleepers. There’s a good number of these kinds of pillows are available in the market.
These products come with separate contoured spaces on either side of the pillow to fit the CPAP mask. These pillows also help to maintain the neck’s natural curve with the cervical contour to offer proper support to the neck.
The majority of these pillows can perfectly accommodate almost every type of CPAP mask, so won’t need to even think about changing your favorite sleeping position.
CPAP Pillow For Side Sleepers
Many people, who’re suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, are advised to sleep on their sides to get relief from the condition, in addition to utilizing a CPAP device.
Side sleeping can provide you with a multitude of benefits, especially when you’re going through CPAP therapy.
From increasing comfort levels when you’re using a bulky CPAP device all night to increasing airflow to reducing the likelihood of sleep apnea events and snoring – a lot can be gained by sleeping on your sides. If you belong to the league of side sleepers (Source), it’s important to choose your CPAP pillow accordingly.
Most of the products designed for side sleepers come with butterfly cutouts that let the user mold himself/herself to the pillow. These pillows not only relieve the pressure points but prevent any leaks in the mask as well.
Best CPAP Pillow
Lots of CPAP pillows from reputable manufacturers are available in the market, which often makes it difficult to select the product that would cater to your purpose the best way possible.
Therefore, it’s extremely important to purchase a pillow that would not only fulfill your sleep needs but perfectly accommodate the sleep apnea therapy too.
For instance, you may be interested in CPAP pillows with neck support or looking for a product ideal for side sleepers.
Consider the issues you’re experiencing with using the CPAP machine and mask, and your personal sleep needs before you head to buy the pillow. It’s also important to consider whether you’d be able to wash the CPAP pillow.
If the pillow needs to be sent to the dry cleaners or isn’t machine washable, you should replace the pillow every six months.
Remember that while you can keep a standard pillow for years, a CPAP pillow has to remain clean for optimal results. This is also crucial for the integrity of the CPAP machine and the overall results of the CPAP therapy.
CPAP Pillow Covers
While a CPAP pillow helps you to get relief from discomforts when using a CPAP device, you can consider buying a CPAP pillow cover for added comfort. Usually, these products come with quilted padding along the shoulder area and in the pressure-free zones that allow the mask to glide over the pillow when you move in your sleep.
