10 best bath pillows for a relaxing soak

What makes the perfect bath is a very personal thing. Some of us love the water steaming hot, while others prefer a radiant warmth. There are bath bomb devotees and then there are people who shudder at the thought of scrubbing the glitter from the ceramic afterwards.

The Mumsnet forums are full of chatter about how to create the ultimate spa experience in the home. Glasses of wine, fascinating books and flickering scented candles are all popular suggestions.

But one piece of advice is always shared with great enthusiasm: investing in a bath pillow. It will protect your skin from hard edges, support the neck and add a touch of decadence to your bathing. A bath pillow will transform your life, and you'll wonder how you ever had a bath without one.

To help you indulge in the most comfortable bath you've ever had, we've researched picks from health and beauty experts, sought out recommendations on the Mumsnet forums and consulted authentic customer reviews. Want more bathroom recommendations? Head over to our guides to the best shower squeegees, the best baby bath tubs and the best bath toys.

Here are the best bath pillows to buy.

1. Best overall bath pillow: Relux Premium Waterproof Bath Pillow

Price on writing: £16 | Buy now from Amazon

“I have this one. It works perfectly.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Impatientwino)

"This pillow creates the ultimate luxury spa experience at home. It's comfortable, easy to secure in place, and makes every bath super relaxing. I highly recommend it." (Rated by Mumsnet editor Natasha Gregson)

The Relux Bath Pillow is the ultimate combination of comfort and practicality. Made from a soft and velvety fabric that dries quickly and is easy to clean, this is a product that will transform your bath time.

Move as much as you need to grab your wine or run more hot water; seven strong suction cups placed evenly across the reverse of the pillow will ensure it stays in place until you carefully remove it for washing and drying.

If you want to relax in the bubbles but don’t want to wash your hair, this pillow is perfect as the waterproof outer cover won’t soak up water and wet your locks.

We loved the quality of this pillow too. It has been crafted by experts from robust materials, so it is remarkably long-lasting and at a great price.

Pros

• Anti-slip

• Comfortable

• Waterproof

• Easy to clean

Cons

• Suction cups need to be removed carefully - they won’t just ‘pop off’

Key specs

• Size: 4 x 36 x 30 cm

• Weight: 0.25kg

• Material: Plastic outer and foam inner

2. Best budget bath pillow: The Body Shop Inflatable Bath Pillow

Price on writing: £9 | Buy now from The Body Shop

“I have a lovely bath pillow from The Body Shop, it’s waffle fabric with an inflatable pillow inside. It takes the pressure off your neck.” (Vetted by Mumsnet user AnneLovesGilbert)

This cute pillow is a fantastic price when compared to similar products.  It would make a great gift or a small payday treat.

The pillow size would suit a small bath but it is still big enough to protect your head from the hard edge of the tub and support your neck.

Before using the pillow, it needs inflating, which gives the user control over how soft it is.

It’s so easy to clean too. Take off the washable cotton cover and throw it into the washing machine with your other whites, and then the plastic inner can be wiped clean with gentle anti-bacterial spray. Both elements are quick-drying, so they’ll be fresh and free of mould for ages.

Pros

• Soft

• Machine washable outer cover

• Portable size

• Wipe clean inner

• Reasonable price

Cons

• The inflatable inner needs topping up after every use

Key specs

• Size: 20 x 30 x 2 cm

• Weight: 0.3 kg

• Material: Cotton and plastic

3. Best baby bath pillow: Moonvvin Baby Bather Infant Bath Pad

Price: £25 | Buy now from Amazon

“We used one of those baby shaped sponges for ours. I couldn't work out how to hold them with one hand and bathe with the other. Found it easier to lie them on the sponge, in a shallow bath, and then had two hands free.” (Type of pillow recommended by Mumsnet user BiscuitTea)

Bathing a newborn baby is nerve-wracking. They are wiggly and slippery, and it’s tricky to cradle them with one hand while washing with the other. The Baby Bather Bath Pad is a brilliant solution.

Lay your baby onto the soft and supportive pillow in shallow water, and then your hands are free to wash and entertain them.

This unique bath pillow will keep your little one cosy with the warmth of the water it soaks up. It is then easy to roll up tightly, squeeze the water out and hang it on the handy hook to dry.

You’ll find that this bath pillow fits most bathtubs, is easy to transport and, unlike freestanding baby baths, won’t take up room. It is suitable from birth to six months.

Pros

• Fast to dry

• Soft fabric

• Warm to touch

• Drying hook

• Fits most baths

Cons

• The colour will fade over time

Key specs

• Size: ‎31.1 x 30 x 17.3 cm

• Weight: 0.240 kg

• Material: Elastane and styrofoam

4. Best full body bath pillow: Evahom Full Body Bath Pillow

Price on writing: £28 | Buy now from Amazon

The Evahom Full Body Bath Pillow cushions and supports the entire body rather than just the head and neck. It has an ergonomic design that delighted the reviewers who enjoy spending hours rather than minutes in the tub.

This fantastic product is more like a bath mattress than a pillow with thick padding, a soft outer shell, and a textured, massage effect foam inner. We loved the spa feel it gave to domestic bathrooms.

Crafted from breathable, 3D Air Mesh fabric so that bathwater continually flows through it, this amazing pillow is kind to even the most sensitive skin. It’s fast-drying too; just be careful when removing the anti-slip suction cups as they will attach firmly to your bath.

Pros

• Soft fabric

• Breathable

• Easy to clean

• Non-slip

• Quick to dry

Cons

• Attaching this to the bath takes time and technique

• Will take up more room storing than other bath pillows

Key specs

• Size: ‎124.46 x 35.56 x 3.05 cm

• Weight: 0.54 kg

• Material: PVC foam

5. Best ergonomic bath pillow: TranquilBeauty Ergonomic Bath Pillow

Price on writing: £20 | Buy now from Amazon

The Tranquil Beauty Ergonomic Pillow is a triumph of bath time luxury. Designed to fit the contours of your body as you relax, it ensures you’ll be soaking blissfully for hours. The extra-thick padding is also a helpful boost for people who struggle to prop their feet on the end of the bath.

The soft mesh fabric allows water and air to flow so that mould won’t be an issue. However, it does still need to dry completely between uses, and there’s a hanging loop to make that easy.

Durable suction cups provide a sturdy attachment to the bath surface, so you won’t have to wrestle it back behind your head every time you move.

This lovely pillow would also make a wonderful gift as reviewers have reported that it arrives in an attractive and sturdy gift box. While the cushion itself is hand wash only, you also receive an elegant wash bag in the package.

Pros

• Ergonomic design for comfort

• Breathable

• Non-slip

• Hanging loop

• Wash bag included

Cons

• The mesh fabric is slightly scratchy when dry

• Hand wash only

Key specs

• Size: ‎39.5 x 35 x 10.4 cm

• Weight: 0.5kg

• Material: Foam and polyester

How to choose the best bath pillow

You want a bath pillow that will upgrade your soak to spa-luxury levels. Here are a few things to consider before you buy:

• Fabric: Bath pillows are usually made from either PVC or fabric. They may also have an inflatable or foam inner. Pillows made from PVC will be waterproof and will dry out quicker. They are a great choice if you won’t always want to get your hair wet as they don’t soak up water. A fabric bath cushion will feel softer against the skin and contour around the body better. It might be machine washable which is handy but will take longer to dry out so mould is more of a possibility.

• Breathability: Breathable materials should be used for bath pillows as air and water can flow through them more easily. This feature will prevent the build-up of mould and bacteria, which will irritate your skin, smell unpleasant and discolour the pillow. Look for mesh outer covers and the mention of 3D or even 5D fabric in product descriptions.

• Size: Compact bath pillows will support your head and neck and fit into a smaller bath, such as a Victorian free-standing model. They will also be portable, quick-drying and easier to store. Larger bath pillows are for the shoulders and back and will fit better into modern, straight-edged baths.

• Maintenance: Machine washable fabric bath pillows are the ultimate for easy cleaning, but they tend to be thinner and less comfortable to lay upon. A wipe-clean and quick-drying PVC pillow is a good option if you’re worried about maintenance and preventing mould.

• Anti-slip: Large suction cups on the bottom of the bath pillow should keep it securely in place, though you do need to get them wet a little before sticking them down. Be careful when removing them too. The strong suction will need to be released before pulling them off to prevent the material from ripping.

Are bathtub pillows worth it?

If you’re a lover of a long soak in the tub, then bath pillows are a must. Whether cast iron and vintage or plastic and ultra-modern, the edge of your bath will be hard and uncomfortable to lay your head upon.

Bath pillows provide softness and support for your neck as you relax. Some are explicitly designed to extend that comfort to your shoulders and back.

Do bath pillows get mouldy?

Mould grows in moist and humid conditions. If your bath pillow isn’t regularly washed thoroughly and allowed to dry, it will grow dark green with black spores and start to smell unpleasant.

To keep your bath pillow clean and fresh, it is essential to wash it regularly and find a place to dry it entirely between each use. Leaving it propped up against the tiles isn’t a great idea for storage as the air needs to circulate around the pillow freely.

If you do see mould forming, all is not lost. A mix of vinegar and baking soda is a fantastic stain-removing concoction. Baking soda is reactive, and when mixed with vinegar, a natural and gentle cleaning fluid, it will bubble up and fizz the mould away.

What is the best bath pillow?

We chose the Relux Premium Waterproof Bath Pillow because of its excellence for such a fantastic price. We loved the combination of luxurious decadence and practicality. The velvet touch PVC fabric is soothing to the skin while being easy to clean and fast to air dry.

How we chose our recommendations

We know all too well the importance of getting a product that's right for you, particularly when you're wanting to buy something to help you relax and make the day easier. We focused on the softness, breathability and comfort of each of the bath pillows to ensure all our suggestions will bring a touch of luxury to your bath time and allow you to lounge for longer. Here's how we whittled our list of the top bath pillows down to just 10.

Products tried and tested by real Mumsnet users

The first stop on our quest to find the best pillows for your bath was the Mumsnet forums. We know our trusted users give useful, independent reviews on the products they love, and are honest about the ones they don't rate. We also consulted MNHQ editors for their opinions on the pillows they recommend too.

Bestsellers and celebrated products

We then consulted independent review sites, bestseller lists and other reputable best buy lists for trusted product opinions to make sure all the pillows we recommended were highly rated across the board.

Authentic customer reviews

Finally, we thoroughly researched consumer reviews on retailer websites to weigh up the merits and disadvantages of each product, to bring you an honest and in-depth summary of the most relaxing bath pillows this year.

Why you should trust us

We strive to provide honest and independent advice you can trust, and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find amazing products that real parents love.

Transparency is vital to us, and that's why we're always honest about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their friends and family.