A body pillow is a long pillow you hold along the length of your body, so your arms, chest and knees rest on something while you lie on your side. There are six here: a straight fibre bolster of about 122 cm, a feather and down bolster of about 48 x 137 cm, a 130 by 70 cm U, the G Cloud, a 170 by 70 cm G shape, and the Long U, a UK-made U in a 9ft (about 274 cm) or 12ft (about 366 cm) length. Every size below comes from the product specification.
A straight body pillow is one long bolster. You hug the top half and trap the bottom half between your knees. A U shaped body pillow wraps around you: one arm in front, one arm behind, and a curve at the bottom. The bolster supports your front. The U supports your front and your back at the same time, so you do not have to rebuild the arrangement when you turn over.
| The Body Bolster | The Full Body U | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Straight | U |
| Size | About 122 cm long (measured before filling), diameter not published | 130 cm long, 70 cm across |
| Filling | Virgin hollowfibre | Fibre |
| Cover | Not published by the manufacturer | Removable |
| Width it adds in bed | Little, it lies along your body | 70 cm |
| Price | £12.49 | £23.49 |
Long enough to run from your shoulder to below your knee when you lie on your side. Shorter than that and you choose between hugging it and keeping it between your knees. The Bolster is about 122 cm, which covers chest to knee. The U is 130 cm long, and shaped around you. The Long U is one long pillow bent into a U, about 274 cm in its 9ft version and about 366 cm in the 12ft: the longest we sell.
A standard UK single is 90 cm wide and a double is 135 cm. The Bolster lies along your body and adds little width, so it works on a single. The U is 70 cm across when laid flat, which is just over half a double. On a double it takes your side and a little of your partner's. On a king it is comfortable for both of you. The manufacturer of the Long U does not publish its size once bent; the 12ft takes more of the bed than the 9ft.
All but one are fibre-filled. The Bolster and the Long U use 100% virgin hollowfibre inside a microfibre shell, as listed by the manufacturer, and the U a fibre filling under a zip-off cover. Fibre is springy, closer to a duvet, and plumps back with a shake. The exception is the Feather Bolster: duck feather and down in a cotton cover, softer and more mouldable, and not for anyone allergic to feathers.
No. People who sleep on their side use them to have something to hold and something between the knees. Pregnancy is simply when most people discover them. The pillows here are sold as pregnancy pillows because that is our shop, but nothing about them is specific to a bump. If you are pregnant, our maternity pillows page compares all the shapes we sell.
It is a comfort product, not a treatment. The NHS suggests putting a pillow between your legs for extra support in bed, and Tommy's suggests a pillow behind your back to encourage side-sleeping. A long body pillow can do both at once. If pain persists, speak to your midwife or GP.
The cover of the U zips off; check its care label before washing. For the Bolster the manufacturer does not publish washing instructions, and the Long U is sponge clean only; for the 9ft there is a cotton cover you can machine wash. Keep the inner pillows out of the machine; air them and spot clean them.
Not really. The Bolster sits higher than a normal pillow. Keep your usual head pillow and use the body pillow alongside it. The U is different: it is shaped to take your head as well as your body.
The U arrives vacuum packed and needs 2 to 3 days to recover its volume; shake it out a few times. If the Bolster arrives compressed, the same patience applies.
Every pillow has a 90-night trial. Email us and we send return instructions. You cover return postage. The details are on our returns page.
What every order gets. Free tracked delivery anywhere in mainland UK, no minimum spend, 2 to 11 working days depending on the pillow. A 90-night trial. You cover return postage.
Pregnancy Pillow UK sells comfort products, not medical devices. Last reviewed 23 September 2026.
