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If you're looking for a solution to keep you comfortable when sitting up in bed or on the sofa, then a reading pillow may be the answer!
People who try propping themselves up with regular pillows often slouch, resulting in bad posture, a sore neck, and back ache.
But most reading pillows are covered in nylon and stuffed full of polyester or polyurethane memory foam. They're bad for the environment, and can also pollute the air in your home with harmful VOCs.
That's why my team and I have been busy testing the best reading pillows of 2025. They're all either fully organic, certified non-toxic, or both.
Our top picks offer all the comfort and support you need, without the toxic chemicals or flame retardants...
Why It's the Best Latex Pillow: Avocado's latex wedge pillow provides excellent back support for reading due to its wide, sloped wedge shape that aligns the spine.
The breathable pin core design also helps regulate temperature so you stay cool. It's fully organic, made from only GOTS-certified organic cotton and GOLS-certified organic latex, so you get complete comfort without any chemical exposure.
Personal Experience: The first thing I noticed after unboxing was that there were no odd chemical smells that many other foam pillows tend to have. The organic cotton cover felt very soft against my skin.
I mostly used the wedge on my bed, placing it upright against the headboard to read before sleep, and was really pleased with the pressure relief and the way the gradual slope aligned my neck and back.
I also tried using it a few times on the floor next to the couch which worked great for me, although my wife felt the pillow was a little wider than ideal for her frame. Still, the elevated support it provided allowed me to read for over an hour without any strain on my back or neck. When it came time to wash the cover, it was easy to remove and put back afterward.
If you want a foam-filled wedge without the synthetics, then organic latex is the perfect material. Because of the quality and peace of mind it offers, I think the Avocado wedge pillow is a good value despite the above-average price. I'd recommend it to anyone seeking an organic elevated reading experience.
✔ Gel-Infused Cooling Foam
✔ Offers Spinal Alignment
✔ Washable Cover
Why It's Best For Cooling: The Oceano's gel-infused memory foam and open-cell design provide exceptional breathability and heat dispersion. This allows the wedge to maintain a comfortable temperature even during longer reading or sleeping sessions. The gradual slope also properly aligns the neck and spine to prevent strain.
Personal Experience: After testing the Oceano Wedge Pillow, I can say it does keep me cooler than average foam pillows thanks to the gel-infused memory foam. I never overheated even during longer lounging sessions.
The foam felt nicely contoured yet retained its shape well over time. I also appreciated how the slope aligned my neck and back without causing strain while reading or watching TV in bed. The soft Tencel cover felt gentle on the skin.
It's fully certified non-toxic, but the materials are not organic, so if you're looking for a fully natural pillow you should buy the Avocado wedge. I also noticed some odor initially. Letting it air out helped, at least the certifications gave me confidence that it wasn't harmful.
Also, it's worth noting that this isn't really designed as a sleeping pillow. So if you do end up falling asleep, you could find yourself slipping down the slope of the wedge.
But overall this is a quality cooling memory foam choice and although not perfect from an environmental perspective, it does offer good value for money.
Why It's Best For Lumbar Support: The Cushion Lab Lumbar Pillow is specifically designed to support your back and relieve pressure, especially when sitting for long periods.
It's easily portable and can be used when driving, sitting at a desk chair, on a sofa, or for reading in bed. The multi-region support does a good job of cradling your spine, upper and lower back to provide all-over pain and tension relief.
Personal Experience: This is a multi-use product and although I evaluated it mainly for use in bed, I also really liked it as an office chair and driving support aid. You can immediately feel the difference when you start to use the pillow, and it becomes obvious that you weren't sitting correctly before!
The pillow is available in multiple color options. I tested the grey, which I liked, but you can easily find one to match your upholstery wherever you plan to use it.
I'd consider this to be the best budget option I tested, but this comes at the expense of some eco-friendliness. All materials are certified as non-toxic, but none are organic. Also note that while the cover is recycled, the fill material isn't.
For the price, this is a cheap and easy way to upgrade your sitting position in just about any situation where you sit for prolonged periods.
Why It's Best For Customization: I would recommend the CottonedShop pillow as the premier customizable option because you can request any size and shape needed to fit your body and reading posture perfectly.
Crafted from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton throughout, it also provides chemical-free comfort. With an inner zipper to add or remove fill, you can customize the exact loft and firmness you need for optimal support and comfort.
Personal Experience: This is the only product I tested that offered the option to have it handmade to my exact size and specifications The seller was responsive and able to offer advice on what would suit me best.
After unboxing, my first impression was that the organic cotton felt soft and breathable against my skin without off-gassing odors. However, the materials did still absorb some heat compared to cooling gel options.
The pillow did come with a lightweight removable cotton cover, but keeping even this unbleached fabric pristine with use was still a challenge. And given the product ships internationally from Bulgaria, returns are complex, and custom orders cannot be refunded at all.
Also, this is expensive - more than 3 times as much as some other products I tested. You'd expect a markup for handmade goods and quality materials, but this isn't an option if you're on a budget.
Still, for anyone wanting a fully organic pillow tailored to their precise posture needs no matter the cost or shipping complexity, you might find the customization justifies the high price tag.
✔ Shredded Memory Foam Fill
✔ Adjustable Loft
✔ Machine Washable Cover
Why It's Best For Backrest: I'm recommending the Husband Pillow XXL as the premier backrest-style reading pillow because its extra tall design and built-in detachable arms provide complete upper body support unmatched by compact wedge shapes. It's filled with cushioning shredded memory foam you can add or remove through an inner zipper for customized comfort zones.
Personal Experience: While the Husband Pillow offers exceptional support customizable to each user, the materials will fall short for anybody prioritizing sustainability or strict safety standards.
The shredded memory foam retains heat and isn't breathable. It does have OEKO-TEX certification, proving it has been tested for harmful chemical emissions. But the synthetic materials aren't biodegradable and can never be described as environmentally friendly.
The microplush cover also pills over time from friction. For these reasons, eco-conscious shoppers or those sensitive to synthetics may want to consider alternative backrest styles using natural fills like organic cotton.
However, if you want the upright style, there aren't any fully organic pillows available right now. So at least this option is non-toxic, and there are a few other positive points.
You get a detachable neck roll, a large and fully adjustable back support structure, and a handy side pocket for storing TV remotes, glasses, or e-readers.
If this is the pillow shape you want, then you'll find that the original (this version) is still the best.
Each reading pillow was fully tested in real-world scenarios by our team for a minimum of 30 nights.
We asked our testers to evaluate the products using the following criteria:
We assigned each product a score between 1 and 5 stars for each of these criteria, then weighted and combined these scores to provide a quantitative score to use for comparison.
Note that not all products tested made the final list. Only the highest-scoring products are recommended.
A wedge pillow is a triangular-shaped pillow designed to provide inclined support. It's versatile and can be used for sitting up in bed, reading, or elevating legs to improve circulation.
A husband pillow, also known as a backrest pillow, is large and supportive, featuring a tall back with armrests. It resembles a chair without legs.
This pillow is designed for comfort while reading or watching TV in bed. Its distinctive feature is the high back and arms that offer full back and arm support. It often includes a removable neck roll for extra neck support.
A neck support or neckroll pillow is a cylindrical pillow that provides targeted support to the neck. It's designed to maintain proper neck alignment, reducing strain while reading in various positions, such as sitting up in bed or in a chair.
This pillow is especially suited for long reading sessions, in terms of its ability to prevent neck pain. Its compact size and shape make it easy to adjust and position exactly where support is needed.
A flip pillow is a versatile type of pillow designed to accommodate various positions and uses. It's unique because it can be 'flipped' or adjusted into different shapes and angles.
This adaptability allows it to serve multiple purposes, such as a bed wedge for sitting up, support for the back or neck while reading, or even for elevating legs.
Regular bed pillows can be used for reading, but they're not ideally suited for the job.
Regular pillows are softer and may not provide enough support for the back and neck. This can lead to discomfort, poor posture, and strain in the neck and back.
That's why many people who watch TV or read in bed regularly choose to invest in a dedicated reading pillow.
The criteria I outlined in the "how we tested" section above are the same ones you should be looking at when choosing a reading support pillow. These steps will help you find a supportive pillow that's perfect for you.
Buying a good pillow isn't the only thing you can do to improve your reading experience. Here are some other ideas that can help.
Following these tips, you'll be able to enjoy a more comfortable reading position, avoid physical strain, reduce eye fatigue, and maybe even drift off to sleep more easily.
A reading pillow is a specialized pillow designed to provide support and comfort while reading. It's typically used when sitting up in bed, on a couch, or on the floor. They offer support to the back, neck, and (depending on the design) arms, reducing strain during reading sessions.
A backrest pillow, often called a husband pillow, is good for sitting posture. It has a tall back and armrests, supporting the spine and arms. This design encourages an upright position, reducing strain on the back and neck.
Try the Cushion Lab Back Relief Lumbar Pillow for back support in a variety of sitting positions.
Neck pillows can be good for reading since they help maintain proper neck alignment, which is important when reading for long periods. However, they might not provide comprehensive support for the back or arms like other types of reading pillows.
No, reading pillows are not typically designed for sleeping, and using them could lead to discomfort or neck and back strain. They are structured to support sitting up, with features like a high back and armrests. For sleep, a flatter pillow that aligns the head and spine is better.
However, there are some cases in which a wedge-shaped pillow can be beneficial, such as its ability to help cure apnea (snoring).
Yes, reading pillows are generally good for your back. They are designed to support the spine while sitting in bed or on a chair. This support helps maintain proper posture, reducing strain on the back muscles and spine.
If you like to watch TV or read in bed, but often end up with a sore neck, a bad back, or problems with posture, then a reading pillow can make a huge difference.
You need to consider what design suits you best, and the materials the product is made from.
Wedge pillows are versatile and can be used for reading while sitting or lying down, and also used for leg support.
The best wedge pillow overall is the Avocado Wegde which also has the benefit of being fully organic.
If you prefer to sit upright, a backrest support may suit you better.
The original husband pillow is popular but not organic, while the Cushion Lab Back Relief Lumbar Pillow is made from partly recycled and 100% non-toxic materials, but lacks some of the extra features.
We've recommended different options that cater to a variety of needs and budgets. All our picks come from genuine companies that we know and trust, so you can be confident you're getting a genuine product at a fair price.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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