10 Best Meditation Pillows: The Ultimate Guide

Hi dear friend! I know that you are busy, so I have done extensive research for the 10 best Made In the USA meditation pillows on the internet.

Plus, with my experience of meditation for over 10 years, and trying on different meditation pillows, I’ve created an essential guide of different things to look for such as sizes, materials, shapes and more to help pick out the right one for you.

My goal with this ultimate guide is to help you understand the different aspects of a meditation pillow so you can make the best decision to buy yours. It’s very in depth since I want to help you save time from looking all over the internet.

A meditation pillow will be the perfect companion during your meditation journey, that’s why it’s important to select the right one for you.

So let’s begin to find YOU the perfect meditation pillow! 🙂

Here Are Our Top 3 Picks For You!

Table of Contents

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The Top 10 Meditation Pillows For You!

I know that when buying a meditation pillow it can seem a bit overwhelming with so many options. Not to worry! I’ve done all the research for you. So you can just sit back an relax. Plus, I’ve made sure that all of the items below are made in the USA.

I only include American meditation pillows in this list, since these ones will have higher quality than the most popular cheap ones made in China. Plus, the employees get fair wages and have better working conditions.

Also, the fabrics below don’t include any fabrics made from animals.

Below is a quick reference guide. You can scroll down, or click on some specific ones.

• Crystal Cove Oval Meditation Yoga Pillow – The best for the environment, comfort and wallet
• Hugger Mugger Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion – Best for beginners
• DharmaCrafts Zafu and Zabuton Set (ZZSet) Meditation Cushions – Best for deep meditators
• Carolina Morning Zafu Meditation Cushion – Best for tall people
• Bean Products Zafu Meditation Cushion – Best for people with long legs and wide hips
• Hugger Mugger V-Shape Yoga Cushion – Best for comfort
• Crystal Cove Square Meditation Cushion – Best for people with wide hips
• Waterglider International Zafu – Best for people on a budget
• Hugger Mugger Zen Yoga Meditation Cushion – Best for people who want to use it for meditation and yoga
• DharmaCrafts Buckwheat Zafu Round Meditation Yoga Cushion – Best for people who want to meditate for hours

#1 Crystal Cove Oval Meditation Yoga Pillow

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I chose this one as my #1 pick for several reasons:

• Beautiful modern design is inspired by the surf and lively tide pools found at California’s Crystal Cove State Park…So not only are you getting a great meditation cushion, but you are also getting a piece of art.
• Since this is 18″ long, there is plenty of space for people with wide hips.
• Also, at 6″ high it allows even tall people to use it.
• I love animals, so I’m happy that this brand went above and beyond and got certified by Vegan Action.
• Material are free of flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or phthalates.
• It has a reasonable price for those that are starting out or want to get a new one.

Try now your own Crystal Cove Oval Meditation Yoga Pillow!

#2 Hugger Mugger Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion

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• This is a good light weight meditation cushion. Not too heavy so it’s easy to carry to your meditation and yoga classes.
• There is also a good selection of 10 colors varying from light to dark, so there is a color that will compliment your decor at home.
• Traditional round shape, a great started one for beginners.

Start your new meditation practice with this Hugger Mugger Zafu Yoga Meditation Cushion!

#3 DharmaCrafts Zafu and Zabuton Set (ZZSet)

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DharmaCrafts has a special place in my heart since this brand made my zafu and zabuton set almost 10 years ago; and my husband’s 12 years ago. Let me tell you I love their products!

They are really high quality, and I truly believe that at this rate they are meant to last a lifetime. The fabrics are very strong and are doubled stitched.

The cushion is really strong, and it allows me to sit comfortably for really prolonged times. One hour, two hours, three hours…I can still sit down.

The zabuton is the rectangular companion of the zafu. This is equally essential since it gives my knees extra support.

I was very fortunate that right from the beginning I knew that my meditation practice was going to be an important part of my life. Therefore I wanted something really good to last me for a long time.

I did not list this one as #1 only because I know that some people are just testing the waters with meditation and are not that serious about it.

This is a high quality set that most beginners may not want to spend the money on.

However, if you are serious about your meditation practice I HIGHLY recommend getting this one

Let me try my own DharmaCrafts Zafu and Zabuton Set (ZZSet)!

#4 Carolina Morning Zafu Meditation Cushion

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Since 1984 Carolina Morning has not only been making sustainable meditation cushions, but also home furniture.

I love how this is a small woman owned business, that is taking care of our meditation and yoga needs in a way that is good for the environment and healthy for us.

These meditation cushions are crafted by a small team in Western North Carolina in a community called the South Toe River Valley. I like how there are pictures of the people who make these cushions, giving it a special personal touch.

• With a height of 7 inches, it’s the most suitable meditation cushion for tall people.
• Large one has 17″, which is perfect for someone with wide hips.
• They also have the most color selection than any other meditation cushion that I’ve seen. 14 different colors to chose from!

Try this comfortable Carolina Morning Zafu Meditation Cushion!

#5 Bean Products Zafu Meditation Cushion

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Since 1987 Bean Products has been making Eco-friendly meditation cushion in Chicago, IL.

• You can choose between the traditional round (13″x7″) or for extra sitting space the oval (14″x18″)
• 7″ tall perfect for people with long legs.

Try this Bean Products Zafu Meditation Cushion!

#6 Hugger Mugger V-Shape Yoga Cushion

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• With this unique V shape is perfect for sitting cross-legged allowing better posture.
• Ideal for long meditation sessions.
• It’s economical, comfortable, and portable.

Get your own Hugger Mugger V-Shape Yoga Cushion!

#7 Crystal Cove Square Meditation Cushion

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• Organic cotton inner liner holds fill, making it easy to remove and clean the outer cover.
• With 27″ this is the most ideal meditation cushion for people with really wide hips.

Get your own Crystal Cove Square Meditation Cushion!

#8 Waterglider International Zafu

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• Waterglider International offers something very unique. It employs 100% refugee labor to assemble each and every cushion. Giving them fair wages, plus they are part of a profit sharing program.
• Each meditation cushion is overstuffed so you can adjust its height. This allows you to keep the extra stuffing to add if you need to down the road.

Get your own Waterglider International Zafu !

#9 Hugger Mugger Zen Yoga Meditation Cushion

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• You can use it for meditation and yoga.

Try now this Hugger Mugger Zen Yoga Meditation Cushion!

#10 DharmaCrafts Buckwheat Zafu Round Meditation Yoga Cushion

Yes, I want to meditate in comfort with this DharmaCrafts Buckwheat Zafu Round Meditation Yoga Cushion!

1. What Are Meditation Pillows Called?

I know that when you search over the internet you can see different terminology, and it can get confusing. You may even think that they are talking about something completely different. So let’s start with the basics.

Meditation pillows can have the following names:

• Zafu – which is round, typically used for zen practices.

• Meditation cushions – comes in different shapes used both for meditation and also for yoga.
  
  
• Yoga pillow – same thing as a meditation cushion, available in different shapes used for meditation and yoga.

Also, the following ones below are mainly used under the meditation pillow to help support the knees and add extra support.

• Zabuton – a rectangular shape pillow that is placed on the floor, usually in conjunction with a zafu.

• Meditation Mat – basically the same thing as a zabuton, it’s a large rectangular pillow used with a meditation pillow on top.

2. How Do You Use Meditation Pillows?

It’s important to know how to use your meditation pillow since this will help support your body during your meditation practice.

Let’s review some basic info…

Cleaning The Surface:

To use it, first place it on a clean and dry surface on the floor. You don’t want any dirt, hairs, or anything else around it. This is especially important if you are wearing shorts, and your legs and knees will be touching the surface. Having a piece of debris on your skin can feel uncomfortable and distract you from your meditation.

Tags:

Not all the tags are going to be the same, but take the following into consideration. If there are any tags on the pillow, make sure to put the tag facing towards the back. When I wore shorts and the tag was next to my leg, if felt itching and distracting.

Sitting Position:

Sit right in the middle of cushion. This will allow your hips and butt to be fully supported.

Gently cross your legs, and your knees you should rest comfortable on the floor with one foot up, this is the half lotus posture. The idea of the meditation pillow is to help you lift your hips so you can easily straighten your back, which allows you to concentrate better.

If you are not flexible, and your knees are not able to touch the floor, you can place a support cushion on each knee so they can rest comfortably. Don’t force this posture, otherwise it can cause pain on the knees and hips.

Then there is a more advance posture called lotus. With this position you cross your legs and both feet are facing up. It takes time to develop this sitting posture, so don’t be hard on yourself.

Less common, are also some kneeling positions used in some zen practices using a zafu.

It has taking me years of practice to be able to sit down for an hour or more without having to get up. Meditation is a practice it takes time. You can start with a half lotus posture since it’s less straining on your body (personally that’s the one I like to do).

3. What Makes A Good Meditation Pillow?

There are 3 important aspects to determine which meditation cushion to get.

These are:

• Size
• Shape
• Material:
  • Cover
  • Filling

I’ve tried different meditation cushions, and let me tell you they are not all the same.

Not having the right meditation cushion can heavily affect your meditation practice.

The saying “You get what you paid for” is very true. A cheaply made meditation cushion may make more sense for your wallet at the moment, but on the long term it can deeply affect your meditation practice making you feel uncomfortable.

These discomforts include:

• Legs falling asleep more often
• Back pain
• Tension on the shoulders
• Knee pain
• Pain in the hips
• Legs hurting

Then it will lead to:

• Not being able to concentrate since the meditation pillow is uncomfortable.

• Not wanting to meditate because you already know that you will be suffering in that meditation pillow.

• Wanting to just hurry up, and not truly enjoying your meditation since you just want to get up.

A good meditation cushion helps you lift your hips off the ground. It should allow you to sit with a straight back comfortably.

So let’s check these 3 aspects in the sections below…

4. What Size Meditation Pillow Should I Get?

They come in different sizes and shapes and they fit most people. As long as there is plenty of room for your butt and hips you are good to go.

The Widths can range from:

• 13″-17″ for rounds
• 17″-18″ for ovals

Heights ranges from:
4.5″-8″ (5″-5.5″ being the most common height for most meditation pillows) (8″ very rare)

A quick way to determine which one to get is to measure your hips with a measuring tape.

Hold it in front of you in a straight line (almost like a ruler) from the left to the right side of your hips. Make sure not to curve the measuring tape since this will add more inches (This is not the same as measuring your hips to buy clothes). This is not a bullet proof technique, but it will give you a rough idea.

So for instance when I measured my hips it’s about 14″, so I have a meditation pillow that is 15″ wide.

Let’s take a look at some special considerations.

If You Are Tall:

Special attention is needed if you are tall since you’ll need a higher one to accommodate the legs better.

If you are over 6ft tall you will need one that is high enough to give your legs room to rest. Otherwise you might need to add an extra pillow below your meditation cushion to make it tall enough to give you the support that you need.

Also, note that meditation pillows that have cotton or kapok filling will flatten faster over time. This will cause your meditation cushion to “shrink”. So one with buckwheat hulls would probably be a better choice since it’s firmer and can maintain its height longer.

Check out these tall meditation pillows:

If You Are A Plus Size:

A wider meditation pillow will feel more comfortable since it will have more room to sit on.

Also, one filled with buckwheat hulls can hold on to its shape longer. There are some filled with kapok or cotton and these materials flatten faster.

Above all my dear friend, love your curbs! You are beautiful just the way you are.

Here are some extra wide meditation pillows:

5. What Are The Shapes?

Round – These are the most common types and they come in different styles. They usually have a carrying handle on the side, which is convenient for moving it around.

Also, they may have a zipper allowing you to wash the cover. The inside will contain a shell with different types of filler. For some less expensive models, it will only have the cover.

Oval – Perfect for added wide support.

Half moon – Shape helps support cross-legged postures

Rectangular– Firm to help support the body and can be used for yoga poses.

Special Notes:

Square – I’m including this one in here since I’ve seen some advertiser using the term “meditation pillow” for a floor pillow. These will be wider and allow more room for seating. However, please note that these are not specifically design for meditation in mind, and have multi purposes.

Unless you are planning on just meditating for 5 minutes or less, keep the following in mind.

They will be more comfortable than sitting on the bare floor, but your knees and butt will be at the same level. Ideally you want your hips sitting higher than your knees so you can maintain a straight back easier. Also, they are flatter (about 3″ tall before sitting down) that an actual meditation pillows. Once they flatten even more you can’t refill the inside and will need to get a new one.

6. What Materials Are Used For The Covers?

Most Common:

• Cotton
• Polyester

Less Common:

• Silk
• Velvet
• Wool
• Hemp

7. What Is Inside The Meditation Pillow?

Buckwheat Hulls

These are the outer shells from the seeds of buckwheat grain. Please note that this material cannot be wash since it will ruin it. There are some meditation pillows that will allow you to empty the buckwheat hulls so that way you can wash the inside shell.

This material makes the meditation cushion really firm. Personally this is my favorite since after many years (about 10), my cushion has maintains most of it’s shape. I don’t have to keep readjusting it when I’m seating down, it really keeps it’s form.

Most high quality meditation cushions are filled with buckwheat hulls.

Kapok

It’s obtained from the Kapok tree which grows in tropical climates. This material is white and fluffy, similar to cotton. It is non-toxic and it’s hypoallergenic.

Note that over time, this will flatten and the cushion won’t be as firm.

Cotton

Cotton comes from the natural fibers of the cotton plant. This material is very breathable, perfect for those hot summer days. Please note that over time it will flatten.

Polyester Filling

This is a synthetic material usually derived from petroleum. It’s a very cheap fabric and can be found on very inexpensive meditation cushions mainly made in China. Please note that this material is not breathable. Also, just like plastic, it’s not environmentally friendly and once you are done with your meditation cushions it will take years to decompose.

8. How Much Does A Meditation Pillow Cost?

Let’s review from lowest to highest and see what makes the difference. Please note that these are just some general ideas from the observations I’ve made, and nothing is set in stone.

I just want to help you understand better what may contribute to the price of a meditation pillow.

Least expensive:

• Materials: The pillow cover may be made with polyester or any other type of synthetic material. They may be filled with polyester as well.

• Labor: Mostly made in China.

• Durability: Due to the cheap material used in the process they will tend to flatten faster. Plus, since they are made in mass productions some of the seams may come off. Also, on some of them the zipper may stop working properly.

• Environmental Impact: Due to the synthetic materials used once they end up in a landfill, it will take years for it to decompose.

• Cost: It can varied, but a cheap meditation pillow can cost under $25.

Special Notes:

Meditation Pillow Covers: Make sure to read the product description really carefully. I’ve seen that many of the really cute boho looking meditation cushions are actually just the case. Therefore, you would have to buy the pillow insert separately.

Also, keep in mind that these pillow insert tend to be made out of polyester, which don’t offer much support and they flatten fast over time. Plus, since this material is not natural it takes many years to decompose.

Bugs: I’ve review many mediation cushions, and on different cheap brands there are some people complaining about bugs. So make sure to read the reviews carefully.

Chemical Fumes: Due to the synthetic material used, some of them may give off some harmful chemical fumes.

Medium Price Range:

• Materials: The outside may be made from polyester or other synthetic materials. Some may have non organic cotton for the cover and polyester for the inner shell containing the buckwheat hulls. The filling may have cotton, kapok or buckwheat hulls.

• Labor: Made in China, India, Thailand, USA

• Durability: They may last a decent amount of time. The ones containing cotton or kapok will flatten faster that the ones with buckwheat hulls.

• Environmental Impact: Non organic cotton can contain pesticides. Also, the polyester filling takes many years to decompose once it has ended its lifespan.

• Cost: Prices can range from around $25-$50

High Price Range:

• Materials: The outside may have organic cotton, velvet, silk or wool. Filling mainly has organic buckwheat hulls. The interior shell containing the buckwheat most likely made out of cotton.

• Labor: Many are made in the USA, and they will make a point to be clear about that on the product descriptions. Also, many are made in small companies where there is only a handful of craftsmen working on the meditation pillow, therefore paying extra attention to detail. Plus, offering their employees safe working conditions and fair wages.

• Durability: They have durable zippers. Double stitched in some cases. High quality cotton fabric, meant to last a lifetime.

• Environmental Impact: Many are made with organic cotton. Also with organic and pesticide free buckwheat hulls. These will offer the most Eco-friendly options.

• Cost: Considering all the factors such as higher quality materials, dedicated craftsmanship with fair wages, Eco-friendly options these will cost the highest. Prices can range from $60 and up.

Special Note:

After many years of use, your meditation pillow with buckwheat hulls can shrink a bit (I notice this happening on mine after about 8 years of having it). No problem, they do sell buckwheat hulls by themselves.

To refill just open the zipper from the main cover, inside is the shell containing buckwheat hulls, empty them out and fill in with the new ones. You can use the old one as mulch in your garden, or you can put them in the compost bin.

9. Vegan Meditation Pillows

There are some good vegan meditation pillow out there. These are the ones that don’t include:

• Wool – obtained mainly from sheep that are painfully sheared, beaten and sometimes even killed.
• Silk – collected from the process of putting live caterpillar cocoons in hot boiling water.
• Velvet- made out of silk.

Please note that sometimes different sellers might use the name silk in their descriptions, but when you look at the material, is actually polyester which comes from petroleum not animals.

Also, I’ve seen some that use velvet in the tittle of the product, but it’s also made out of polyester.

Here are some good vegan meditation pillows:

The fabrics mentioned above where the most common non-vegan ones that I’ve seen. However, if you come across a meditation cushion with a fabric you are not familiar with, you can take a quick look at compassionatecloset.com for a cruelty-free fabric guide.

10. How Can I Clean My Meditation Pillow?

Read the instructions provided by the maker of your meditation pillow. If they come with removable covers most likely you can wash it in cold water in the delicate cycle, then just hang to dry.

Other meditation cushions that don’t have a removable cover, may require spot cleaning.

If you have any pets and your pillow has hairs all over, you can also use the tube of the vacuum to clean it; or some vacuums come with a special furniture extension, which has a smaller head that you attach to your tube and gently cleans the surface.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Now you are prepare to buy your meditation cushion.

Please note that if you have a meditation pillow, and are thinking of getting a new one, you can donate your old one to monasterystore.org for their Meditation Cushion Donation Program.

I hope that you were able to find the perfect meditation pillow for you. Remember this will be your companion on your meditation journey for many years to come. So as much as you can, make sure to get one with the highest quality.

Love,

Carmen Alfaro
Your Peaceful Meditation Space Designer

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