Leg elevation is typically a home remedy for sprains and swollen ankles, but you can also elevate your legs to provide pain relief from serious conditions like varicose veins. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), leg elevation is one of the first recommended treatments for patients dealing with excess fluid trapped in their body’s tissues or edema.
You may wonder, how does it work? Leg elevation uses gravity to improve your blood flow. Elevating your legs above your heart prevents blood from pooling in your legs and helps it flow easily through the rest of your body. Using an elevation pillow is an easy way to elevate your legs without having to prop them up on the wall.
For the best overall leg elevation pillow, we’ve chosen DMI’s ortho elevated leg pillow. The pillow is light blue and has a machine washable cover made of poly cotton with zippers. The DMI leg pillow is also our choice for the best wedge pillow for leg elevation.
The pillow is available to buy at 32, 40, or 50 degrees, depending on what you need for your height. It’s incredibly well-rated, with a general 4.5 out of 5 stars and 13,290 global ratings. Customers mention how easy the pillow is to use as well as its durability and the level of support, comfort, and pain relief it provides.
The best leg elevation pillow is one that meets your physical needs without breaking your budget. Most quality elevation pillows are relatively affordable, though paying a higher price may provide you with a long-lasting pillow or one that can support both legs at once.
You can choose a leg elevation pillow for varicose veins, leg elevation pillows for edema and swelling, and pillows to help you recover from surgery. There are also leg elevation pillows for improving your circulation.
Keep reading for our reviews of the five best leg elevation pillows.
Best Overall – DMI Ortho Elevated Leg Pillow
The DMI ortho elevated leg pillow is versatile and has excellent reviews. If you’re not quite sure what type of elevation pillow to get, this one ticks all the boxes.
Features
The DMI leg elevation pillow measures 19.25 x 23.25 x 6 and also comes in 7 and 10-inch sizes. It’s lightweight at 2 pounds, making it easy to move around your home or travel. The pillow is made of cotton and boasts high-density foam firm enough to support both of your legs at once.
Who it’s for
The DMI ortho leg elevation pillow focuses on helping with knee and back pain, those who struggle with twisted and enlarged veins (varicose veins), and inflammation of the veins (phlebitis). It can also offer relief to those who deal with an uncontrollable urge to move their legs (restless leg syndrome).
Best for Circulation – AllSett Leg Elevation Pillow
The AllSett leg elevation pillow is our choice for the best leg elevation pillow for circulation and alleviating pain caused by lack of blood flow through the legs. The pillow is made of high-density memory foam and is designed not to flatten regardless of use and time.
Customers rave about the softness of the AllSett elevation pillow and its consistent sturdiness. The pillow has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating and is ranked #2 on Amazon’s list of leg positioner pillows. The pillow also has 4000 reviews mentioning the ease of cleaning and great value.
Features
This AllSett elevation pillow measures 24 x 21 x 7.5 inches and comes in one size. It consists of supportive high-quality memory foam. The pillow comes in soft grey to reduce the chance of stains and has a removable cover to allow cleaning. The cushion is 4.4 pounds, lightweight enough for easy travel or quick adjustment.
Who It’s for
We recommend the AllSett leg elevation pillow for those dealing with poor circulation and painful symptoms. However, AllSett also suggests the pillow be used as a post-surgery leg elevation pillow to help with pain or complications, swelling, and those who have knee, hip, or lower back pain.
You can also use the pillow for pregnancy-related lower back pain or swelling of the feet and ankles. If you aren’t struggling with a medical condition or dealing with post-surgery pain, you can use the pillow to improve your overall circulation and improve your sleep.
Best for Surgery Recovery – LightEase Memory Foam Pillow
Our recommendation for the best leg elevation pillow for surgery recovery has to be the LightEase memory foam pillow. The LightEase pillow consists of short and soft plush fabric, with a removable, porous, machine washable cover in dark grey.
The groove in the middle of the pillow is 20 percent larger than other leg elevation pillows. This feature allows your leg to fit inside even with a boot or cast protecting it. The pillow promises to support, elevate and stabilize your injured limb without flattening.
The LightEase pillow raises your leg or foot about 10-12 inches. Customers have rated it 4.6 out of 5 stars and praise the pillow’s softness, maneuverability, and stability.
Features
The LightEase memory foam pillow measures 29 x 13 x 9.5 inches. It’s long, with a curved middle groove to support one leg at a time. It’s made of superior high-density memory foam and hypoallergenic material to prevent any discomfort with high use.
It’s perfect for surgery recovery with dual straps to make adjustment easy. One strap attaches to the side of the pillow for easy carrying up the stairs. The second is attached to the side of the pillow facing you, allowing you to make minor adjustments and move the pillow from leg to leg.
The LightEase pillow is lightweight at only 2.74 pounds. With a 45 degree incline, this pillow should elevate your leg well above your heart without causing stiffness or irritation.
Who It’s for
If you are looking for the best leg elevation pillow post-surgery or dealing with serious injuries and you’re now in a cast or boot, this leg elevation pillow is for you. LightEase endorses the pillow for posterior tibial tendon surgery, fibula surgery, knee and hip replacement, femur replacement, or ACL surgery.
Best for Side Sleepers – NATUMAX Knee Pillow
The NATUMAX knee pillow specifically focuses on side sleepers. It elevates your knee, back, leg or ankle during sleep to keep blood flow circulating and provide alignment for your joints. The pillow can go under or in-between your legs to elevate it, and it’s held by an attached strap.
The NATUMAX knee pillow has over 2000 positive reviews, 4.3 out of 5 stars and comes with an attached soft eye mask and pair of earplugs.
Features
The NATUMAX leg elevation pillow weighs 12.6 ounces and measures 11.26 x 8.9 x 7.91 inches. It’s made of dense memory foam and has a breathable machine washable cover that easily unzips for washing. It comes in dark blue with a flexible strap attached.
Who It’s for
This pillow is the best leg elevation pillow for side sleepers. While a regular leg elevation pillow won’t allow you to turn on your side while using it, the NATUMAX pillow goes between or underneath your joints or back while you sleep on your side.
Best for Swelling – Ebung Leg Elevation Pillow
The Ebung leg elevation pillow is our recommendation for a leg elevation pillow for swelling. It can support both of your legs at once and consists of white memory foam. Manufacturers made the Ebung pillow to fit on your sofa, bed, or anywhere else you need to use it.
Features
Ebungs leg elevation pillow is a wedge-shaped leg elevation pillow with a machine washable cover made of hypoallergenic fabric. The pillow is a dense memory foam and remains sturdy throughout multiple uses.
Who It’s for
Ebung promises this is the best leg elevation pillow for reducing swelling and pain. It also mentions that it’s the best leg elevation pillow for edema and plantar fasciitis. It’s also recommended for anyone with leg, knee, or back pain, sciatica, or dealing with swelling from pregnancy.
Buying Guide
It might not be easy to establish what you need to look out for when buying your first leg elevation pillow. Here are some of the top things to consider before you buy a leg elevation pillow.
What to Look for When Buying a Leg Elevation Pillow
Even if you don’t like any of our top picks, we want you to be armed with the knowledge you need to pick the best product for your needs. Check out our buying guide below for some points to consider before making a purchase.
Uses
Buying the right leg elevation pillow depends on why you need it. If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll need the best leg elevation pillow for side sleepers rather than one that allows you to sleep on your back. If you’re recovering from surgery, you may want a leg elevation pillow that has a deeper groove to allow room for your boot or cast.
Features
A good leg elevation pillow will be dense enough to support your leg without becoming flattened after frequent use. It should be lightweight enough to carry and fit easily in the space that you want it. It should also be soft and comfortable as you may have to use it regularly.
Problems
Common problems with finding the right leg elevation pillow can be finding one that is both dense and comfortable, or that’s large enough to fit your leg or ankle if it’s injured. If the pillow is low quality, it may start to lose its shape after several uses.
So, Which is the Best Leg Elevation Pillow?
The best leg elevation pillow by our standards is the DMI ortho leg pillow. The pillow is wedge-shaped and made to fit on couches, beds, and even recliners. It’s lightweight at only 2 pounds, making it easy to carry up the stairs or travel with it.
The pillow has a permeable poly cotton cover which is machine washable and easily removed and reattached with zippers. The DMI leg elevation pillow provides firm support and is very dense to prevent flattening or wearing out. The platform is extra wide at 20 inches.
The DMI ortho leg pillow comes in three convenient slopes, 32, 40, and 50 degrees. It’s also highly rated with more than 13,000 reviews and a 4.5 out of 5 customer rating. Mentioned highlights are the firmness and durability of the pillow and its measurements.
Even if you don’t go with our top pick though, we hope you at least learned what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for a leg elevation pillow! Don’t forget to be picky about the height, support level, and specificity of what you need your pillow to do, especially for injury recovery.
