The 10 Best Sit Up Pillows

Most adults who sit up in bed for hours will be comfortable against the Husband Pillow Medium, the middle size of a well-known backrest. Its firm memory foam holds you upright instead of folding over, and the neck roll at the top comes off when you don't want it. The plush cover zips off for the washer, and side pockets keep a phone or remote close. It's bulky to move around, and very tall people may want the bigger size.

Sleepopolis named the Linenspa Reading Pillow its top reading pillow, and it's a soft, sculpted backrest with arms for a modest price. The shredded memory foam inside is CertiPUR-US certified, a program that screens foam for certain chemicals. It arrives vacuum packed and needs up to two days to puff up. The cover doesn't come off, so spills mean spot cleaning, and there's no neck support unless you add the optional roll.

Big frames and big beds suit the Enitya XL Back Pillow, a tall backrest built from two layers of solid foam: a dense core for support and a springier layer on top. The headrest adjusts, and deep pockets on both arms swallow a tablet, glasses and a remote. The cover zips off. It takes up a lot of room on the bed and in a closet, and some find the back too upright for lounging.

Reflux, snoring and recovery from surgery call for raising the whole upper body, and the Bedluxe Wedge Pillow Set does that with a foam wedge that gives two heights, plus a neck bolster. Flip the base for a gentler or steeper slope, or slide it under your knees. Memory foam sits over a firmer core, and the covers go in the washer. It can feel harder than expected, and there are no arms for reading upright.

You set the firmness of the Nestl Reading Pillow yourself: unzip the inner liner and pull out shredded memory foam until the back feels right, or keep it all in for a firmer sit. A plush cover comes off for the washer, and it has three pockets plus a carry handle. It's a standard size, so tall adults can find it short, and at full fill it can be firmer than some like.

Stacking bed pillows behind your back stops working after ten minutes, and the Sasttie Reading Pillow is a cheap fix. It's stuffed with polyester fiber rather than foam, which makes it soft enough to doze against, and a wide zipper lets you add or pull out stuffing. The outer cover goes in the washer. Fiber packs down faster than foam, and it runs smaller than many expect.

Solid foam instead of loose shreds keeps the Kolbs Wedge Reading Pillow in the same shape day after day, with a sloped back, separate armrests and a head pillow that comes off. It works for reading, gaming or nursing in bed, with a one-year promise from Kolbs against defects. The pieces strap together, and the joins can feel flimsier than the foam itself. Its back is compact, so broad shoulders may hang over the sides.

Weeks of bed rest are what the Avana Kind Bed is built for. It's a set of foam pieces, including a curved back wedge, a lumbar insert and a leg wedge, that hold you in a reclined, knees-up position much like a hospital bed. The covers are soft against the skin, and Avana makes it in Georgia. It's heavy, it takes over the bed, and it's an expensive way to sit up.

The Drive Medical Folding Bed Wedge comes from a big name in home medical equipment and does one job: it lifts your head and chest on a steady incline. When you don't need it, it folds into a compact block for the closet, and the zippered cover comes off. It's plain firm foam with no softer top layer, so it can feel hard to sleep on, and it isn't shaped for sitting fully upright to read.

Lounging on a couch, the floor or a bed is where the Yogibo Support fits in. It's a big U-shaped cushion full of tiny beads that shift to cradle your back and arms, a lot like a beanbag you can lean into. The stretchy cover comes off for washing. It won't hold a firm upright posture, the beads can settle and need topping up, and it's a lot to spend on a cushion.