Lunderg CPAP Pillow for Side & Back Sleepers (Memory Foam) review

The Lunderg is one contoured block of memory foam with mask cutouts along its edges and a separate foam layer underneath. Lunderg describes a patented shape with two neck sizes and contoured cutouts^[1]. In practice that means one long edge is taller than the other. Sleepopolis describes them as a large side and a thinner side, and says the pair lets people of different sizes use the same pillow^[2].

The height adjustment is a 1.1-inch (2.8 cm) memory foam layer at the bottom. With it in, Lunderg lists the pillow at 5.5 inches (14 cm) tall. Without it, the pillow is 4.4 inches (11 cm)^[1]. Mattress Clarity's Marten Carlson describes it a little differently: roughly 6 inches at the tallest point, about 4 inches on the shorter side, and an insert about 1 inch thick^[3]. Treat his numbers as a tester's estimate and the maker's as the setup guide.

The Amazon listing gives the footprint as 21.65 by 13.78 inches (55 by 35 cm) and the weight as 5.1 pounds (2.3 kg). It also describes the foam as CertiPUR-US certified, high-density memory foam^[4]. That seal means foam samples passed independent lab tests for content and emissions, with emissions measured after 72 hours in a test chamber^[5]. It doesn't promise a pillow with no smell on day one. Lunderg says any odor comes from the packaging and should clear if you air the pillow out for a day^[1]. Carlson suggests 24 to 48 hours in a well-ventilated room, though he didn't notice a smell himself^[3].

If you have broad shoulders, start with the layer in and the taller edge under your neck. If you're smaller, start low. On your side, the pillow has to fill the gap between your ear and the mattress, and that gap grows with shoulder width. Our guide to choosing a pillow explains how to measure it.

Carlson describes himself as a tall man with broader shoulders than most. He chose the taller side, kept the insert in, and found that setup worked best for side sleeping. For lighter sleepers and people with narrow shoulders, he recommends removing the booster and using the shorter side. Stomach sleepers should do both, though he wouldn't make it a first choice for that position^[3]. The Sleepopolis tester found the full-height pillow ideally suited to side sleeping and took the insert out to make it comfortable on his back^[2].

That points to the main limit of a one-insert design. Each edge gives you two heights, four combinations in all, with nothing in between. The Contour CPAPMax has more layers to play with.

Test the setup the way you'll sleep: on your side, mask on, machine running. Your head should rest level, not tipped down toward the mattress or up toward the ceiling, and the mask cushion should sit over the cutout rather than on the foam. If your head tips down, add the layer or turn the pillow to the taller edge. If your lower ear feels pushed up, do the opposite.

Lunderg lists every common mask style, but the hands-on reports we found are for nasal masks. The maker says it works with nasal, nasal pillow, full-face, hybrid and face or mouth masks^[1]. The Amazon listing names Philips Respironics, ResMed AirFit and AirTouch masks as compatible^[4]. The Sleepopolis tester, who has sleep apnea and uses CPAP, wore a nasal mask and said, “The cutouts left room for my face and nasal mask, so nothing was getting knocked out of place”^[2]. Carlson napped on his side with his mask on and didn't notice any air leaks^[3]. Neither review says it was tested with a full-face mask.

A leak-free nap is encouraging, but it isn't a leak test. In the only controlled trial we found of CPAP pillows with side cutouts, leak and hours of use didn't change compared with people's own pillows^[6]. Our CPAP pillow guide covers what that small study can and can't tell you. Buy the Lunderg for comfort with your mask on. If your mask keeps leaking on any pillow, ask your sleep clinic or equipment supplier to check the fit.

Mask size changes how much the cutouts matter. ResMed notes that bulkier masks can feel uncomfortable pressed against a pillow^[7]. A full-face mask sticks out furthest, and the Lunderg's edge cutouts give it some room, but the EnduriMed was built around full-face masks with a gap at each corner. With a small nasal pillows mask, you may not need cutouts at all.

The Lunderg has no hose tether or clip. Bring the hose in from above, over the headboard or from a hose hanger, so it doesn't drag the mask when you turn. Our hose management tips cover the rest.

It's firm, and Lunderg says so plainly. The maker calls the pillow “quite firm” and warns that if you don't like memory foam in standard pillows, you won't like this one either^[1]. We rate it 7 out of 10 for firmness, the firmest of the three CPAP pillows we review.

If that sounds too hard, the Amazon listing points people used to standard or down pillows to Lunderg's down-alternative Parkin CPAP pillow instead^[4]. Lunderg's own comparison chart lists the Parkin as soft and fluffy, with a cotton and down-alternative fill you add or remove to set the height, on a larger 17.4 by 26.4-inch footprint. The same chart lists a travel-size version of this memory foam pillow, 11 by 17.3 inches, which comes with a travel bag^[1].

Testers agree on the firmness but describe the foam differently. The Sleepopolis tester felt some of the slow-moving feel typical of memory foam, found it quite firm overall, and added, “I like this, but it may not work for everyone”^[2]. Carlson found that it doesn't behave like most memory foam: it springs back as soon as you lift your hand, so you don't sink far. He found that made it easy to switch from his side to his back^[3].

Firm foam keeps your head at a steady height through the night. The cost is give. If you like to sink into a pillow, the Lunderg will feel like a block. Carlson also points out that the shape is made for lying down: it doesn't let you prop yourself up to read in bed^[3].

You get two washable cases, which matters more on a CPAP pillow than on most. The pillow ships in a premium-comfort case, with a cooling-fabric case in the box, so you still have a cover on the night the other is in the wash^[4]. The Sleepopolis tester confirmed both are machine washable^[2]. That was rare on Sleepopolis's list, which noted that its EnduriMed, Contour and Ikstar picks each come without a spare^[2].

The foam itself can't be washed^[1], so the cases are your only barrier against skin oil and sweat. Lunderg's warranty also excludes damage from care or maintenance that doesn't follow its instructions^[8]. Wash the cases on rotation and let the foam air out when you change them. Your mask and hose need their own routine; see cleaning your mask and hose.

For heat, there's no gel or other cooling infusion in the foam. Carlson didn't notice much heat buildup but suggests hot sleepers use the cooling cover^[3]. Solid memory foam can hold heat and restrict airflow^[9], so if you already wake up sweaty under your mask, compare the CPAPMax's gel face and mesh cover before you buy.

Two reviewers who use CPAP themselves liked the Lunderg, but neither shares any data from their machines. Sleepopolis named it the best CPAP pillow overall in its September 2026 update. Its tester gave it perfect scores in all four categories the list was judged on: comfort, versatility, ease of care and price. He called it “a super-comfy CPAP pillow” and said “It cradled my head and even gave me some nice neck support”^[2]. Carlson tried each position without his mask first, then took a nap with it on^[3].

That's one person per site, on sites that earn affiliate commissions, and Carlson's test with his mask on was a nap. Mattress Clarity says it receives free products to review^[3]; its sample of this pillow came from Amazon. Neither review reports leak figures from the CPAP machine. Read the reviews as evidence that the pillow is comfortable for some CPAP users who sleep on their side, not as proof that it works better than the alternatives.

Lunderg's 30-day money-back guarantee is not a sleep trial. Its policy lets you start a return within 30 days of delivery, but only if the pillow is in its original or unused condition and in its original packaging. You pay the return shipping^[8]. The FAQ is stricter still: it counts 30 days from purchase and says the package must be unopened^[10]. Mattress Clarity reported free returns^[3], but Lunderg's current policy says otherwise, so confirm the terms before you order. If you buy on Amazon, check the return window on the listing for that order.

The warranty covers manufacturing defects for one year once you register the pillow. It applies to pillows bought from Lunderg.com, Lunderg's Amazon stores in the US, Canada and the UK, and Walmart US. It doesn't cover normal wear and tear, including deterioration from regular use, and you may have to pay to ship a pillow back for inspection^[8]. Foam that slowly softens over a year of nightly use is unlikely to count as a defect.

The listing says the pillow is FSA/HSA eligible^[4]. Check what your plan accepts before you count on it.

Pick the Lunderg for firm, tall support and a spare cover. Pick the EnduriMed for a full-face mask, and the CPAPMax for a softer side, more heights and a hose tether.

• EnduriMed: gaps at all four corners, and marketing aimed at full-face masks^[11]. It's lower: EnduriMed lists it at 4.5 inches tall on its own store^[12]. Sleepopolis's tester gave it full marks for comfort but found the cover loose and the inserts basic, and it comes with one cover^[2].
• Contour CPAPMax Cooling: removable layers from about 2 to 5 inches^[13], a gel-topped foam face, a fiberfill face and a strap for the hose^[14]. Sleepopolis's tester liked the strap and the value but scored comfort 3 out of 5 for limited contouring^[2].

Buy the Lunderg if you sleep mostly on your side, have average to broad shoulders, like a firm pillow and wear a nasal or nasal pillows mask. It also suits you if you want a spare cover in the box.

Skip it if you like soft pillows, want to sleep on a pillow for a few weeks before deciding whether to keep it, or need something to hold your hose in place. Lunderg's Parkin model or the CPAPMax's fiber side are the softer routes. If you aren't sure you need a CPAP pillow at all, read do you need a CPAP pillow first.