Whether you can’t help the aches and pains you feel, or the chair you sit in is the likely culprit, you don’t have to suffer through it. Lumbar support pillows are designed to provide the stability that most regular seats just don’t offer, along with some extra padded comfort.
The lumbar section of the spine is located at the small of your lower back, above your tailbone. Using a lumbar support pillow in this area can help to support the lower back and keep the spine in a more neutral alignment so that you are not in a slouched posture for a prolonged period of time. A 2013 study even found that lumbar support pillows greatly improve the pressure on the spine, as opposed to sitting in a non-ergonomic chair.
You don't have to have a medical condition to use one, although you should always follow your healthcare provider's recommendation if they've given one to you.
Lumbar support pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the key to finding the best one for you depends on how and when you plan to use them.
If you sit for long stretches at an office chair, in your car, or in a wheelchair, you may want to get a pillow that's designed for permanent placement in those spots. Other types are designed to be used in bed, on the couch, or even while traveling, and these may be smaller and lighter.
The pillow will be much more supportive than soft, so don't expect the feeling to be cozy necessarily. Depending on your condition and level of pain, a lumbar support pillow may not be able to eliminate your body pain. But for most, it will help provide a more stable place for your back to rest so that you're not feeling any unnecessary strain.
Check out our guide to learn more about the best lumbar support pillows.
This lumbar support pillow doesn't just support the lumbar section of the spine — it also cradles the rest of your back, nearly up to the neck. It's made of memory foam and includes adjustable straps that keep it right in place.
It has a sloped, contoured shape that conforms to the natural curvature of your back, making sitting up straight feel more comfortable than slouching into your chair.
Those who live with chronic pain may be recommended a firm lumbar roll to provide unyielding support to a vulnerable area. Many reviewers who are recovering from surgery or an accident, or those who suffer from sciatica or bulging discs, have attested that this lumbar support pillow is a must-have addition to their car, office, or airplane chair.
Some say that its dense foam is as hard as a rock, but others tout that it doesn't warp, sag, or degrade over time, making it a fantastic value.
It may look simple, but over 15K reviewers on Amazon say that this support cushion is a game changer. Its two horizontal straps help keep it firmly affixed to a chair so that it stays in place more securely. Some single-strap products do have the tendency to shift over time.
This cushion cradles not just the lumbar region but the mid-back and sides of the body. Because of this, it feels more like an extension of the chair you're sitting in rather than an add-on. It's a fairly firm piece, but if your back is hurting, you need something solid.
It also comes in eight different colors to either blend in or stand out wherever it's situated.
Truthfully, you're not buying a lumbar support pillow for looks. But, still, it couldn't hurt to have one that is a little more ergonomic-chic.
This kidney-shaped, memory-foam lumbar support pillow from Cushion Lab fits the bill with its impressive spectrum of 13 stylish color choices, including peach, mint, and navy. It straps to any chair back, or you can sit against it without the strap if you want more support while sitting up on the sofa or in bed.
Not everyone is a fan of memory foam, which can retain heat and feel a little stiff, so this lumbar support pillow from Purple is an excellent alternative. Its Grid Hex surface is made of a proprietary polymer that has a gel-like, elastic feel.
This cushion's curved shape fits right against the small of your back, offering just enough pushback to keep your spine happy. It's also an excellent complement to the brand's seat cushion.
This back support pillow may be one of the priciest, but that's because once you buy it, you can have it custom-fit to the curvature of your back or even to the specifications of your car seat or wheelchair. It is also portable, so you can take it with you while traveling on an airplane or to any venue where you'll be sitting in place for several hours.
The memory foam in it helps absorb shocks from exacerbating pain in your spine, pelvis, or tailbone. It comes in four colors for a better match with its main surroundings.
Lumbar rolls that have a half-moon shape like this one from Coop Home Goods are sneakily versatile. You can use them in bed to prop up your knees and ankles or behind the back and neck for added support.
We recommend this one for bedtime, mainly because it doesn't come equipped with the chair-back strap that others have, and also because its soft, cozy outer material (that also covers the brand's best-selling Eden pillow) is really nice to snuggle up with.
If you don't have serious pain in your back but love getting your knots and tension worked out through massage, this lumbar-support pillow is for you. It is about the size of a small throw pillow, and it comes equipped with adjustable chair straps.
Its four red massage balls rotate to administer a rhythmic, shiatsu-style massage to the area of choice, changing direction every minute. Plus, the device is heated for added relief. Users love how simple and helpful it is at giving firm — but not painful — 20-minute-long massages.
Melanie YatesSenior Home Decor EditorMelanie is the senior home decor editor of Best Products, where she's been researching and testing out home and bedding products since 2015 — her work can also be found on House Beautiful and Women's Health.
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