Body pillow shapes compared: crescent, U, C, straight and wedge.
Body pillows come in five common shapes: crescent, U, C, straight and wedge. A crescent supports your head, back and knees in one curve and leaves room for a partner. U and C shapes wrap more of the body but take more of the bed, and straight or wedge pillows support one spot.
The five shapes
Crescent
U shape
C shape
Straight
Wedge
How they compare
| Shape | Best for | Bed space | Positions | Pregnancy | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent | Side sleepers who want head, back and knee support from one pillow | Half the bed or less | Side, reclined, sitting up | Yes, with the full middle under the bump | $60 to $200 |
| U shape | People who want support on both sides at once | Most of a full or queen bed | Side, back | Yes, often sold for pregnancy | $50 to $150 |
| C shape | Wrapping the head, back and knees on one side | More than half the bed | Side, reclined | Yes | $40 to $120 |
| Straight | Hugging, or between the knees | A narrow strip | Side | Partly: knees or back only | $20 to $80 |
| Wedge | Raising the back or head a little | Very little | Side, reclined | Partly: under the bump or back | $20 to $60 |
Typical prices are ranges seen at major US retailers in October 2026, not quotes for any one product.
Why we make a crescent
It is the one shape that reaches the head, back and knees and still leaves half the bed free. See The Cove Pregnancy Pillow or use the size guide.