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Like mattresses, pillows play a major role in how well you sleep – and finding the right one can be challenging. Shoppers today have a lot to consider in terms of composition and fill, thickness, durability, temperature regulation, and pain relief. You should also take personal factors into account when searching for a new pillow. People with neck and shoulder pain may need a pillow with an orthopedic shape, while heavy snorers often require a high-loft pillow to keep their heads upright. Your sleeping position, weight, and body mechanics can all affect how your pillow feels.
Our top picks listed below are based on our own in-house testing, which examines fill, construction, and quality among other factors. Our testing team includes side, back, and stomach sleepers with varying weights and sleep habits. Our selections for the best pillows are chosen using our testers’ scores along with in-depth research and analysis.
Below our top picks you’ll find a buyer’s guide that can help you learn tips for finding your perfect pillow. This guide includes a complete rundown on pillow types and important criteria for shoppers. We’ll take an extensive look at pillow materials, loft, firmness, and shape so that you can choose the best one for your personal preferences. You can also find helpful information on what to expect when it comes to average costs, cover materials, and sizing.
Best Overall
Many sleepers appreciate the cloud-like plushness of down pillows – but for others, down feels too soft and sinks excessively beneath their heads. If you belong to the latter group, the Boll & Branch Down Pillow might be a good option. The pillow is available in three densities, each with a distinct feel. You can choose between a soft, medium, or firm feel for the pillow. Each density also has a different loft, making the pillow suitable for side, back, or stomach sleeping.
The pillow is constructed with three chambers. The core contains a blend of down and feathers, while the two outer chambers are padded with pure down. Feathers are more supportive, so the core is intended to prevent excessive sinkage. The cover is made of organic cotton and touched up with embroidery and piping to give the pillow a luxe appearance.
While people with down allergies may still experience symptoms if they use this pillow, the fill is washed with environmentally safe detergent to reduce allergens. The pillow has also received certification from the International Down Standard, indicating animals are never harmed or mistreated while their plumage is extracted. The pillow is completely machine-washable.
The price of this pillow depends on the selected size and density, but all options are competitively priced. Boll & Branch offers free shipping for all U.S. orders and backs each purchase with a 30-night trial period.
Best Value
The Casper Original Pillow is a down alternative pillow filled with polyester microfiber. It mimics the soft feel of down, but doesn’t contain animal products. The pillow shares a similar construction with many down pillows in that it has a softer outer pillow surrounding a firmer core.
Although polyester microfiber feels similar to down, it doesn’t contain any feathers, making it suitable for those who avoid animal products. Casper doesn’t claim their Original pillow is hypoallergenic, but it is likely a good choice for people who experience allergy issues with down.
This pillow comes in one firmness level, which is medium-soft. Its firmness and loft make the pillow most suitable for side and back sleepers. Stomach sleepers might find that the Casper Original Pillow elevates their head too high, which can lead to neck discomfort.
The Casper Original Pillow is constructed with a gusset, or a 2-inch panel that circles the outer edge of the pillow. This gusset increases the pillow’s loft and adds structure.
Due to the gusset and other aspects of the pillow’s construction, sleepers will find that the contents of the Casper Original Pillow stay put and do not shift throughout the night. Although some down and down alternative pillows can become lumpy over time, lumpiness shouldn’t be a problem with this pillow.
Casper offers a 100-night sleep trial and 1-year limited warranty on their Original Pillow.
Most Comfortable
Talalay latex is a popular choice for pillow fill because it cushions and conforms to the head and neck, but also feels more responsive and supportive than foam. The Saatva Latex Pillow contains a core of shredded Talalay latex that creates a medium soft feel. This plushness is enhanced by an outer pillow padded with down-like microdenier fibers and a cover made of smooth organic cotton.
Your head may sink a bit into the pillow, but a thick profile ensures adequate elevation for most side and back sleepers. The outer pillow can be removed, which reduces the loft and makes the pillow more comfortable for stomach sleeping. This customizable design can also be useful for combination sleepers who usually switch between two positions while they sleep.
Above-average temperature control is another benefit to the Saatva Latex Pillow. Latex won’t trap heat quite like foam, and the same is true of the microdenier material when compared to real down. The cotton cover also enhances the pillow’s breathability. The cotton has received certification from the Global Organic Textile Standard, ensuring the fibers are sustainably grown without chemical pesticides. The cover and outer pillow are machine-washable. You can also add two silky-soft sateen pillowcases to your order for a small surcharge.
Saatva provides free shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Your order includes a sleep trial that allows you to test out the pillow for 45 nights. Those who decide to keep it will also receive a 1-year warranty.
Best for Side Sleepers
The Layla Kapok Pillow combines shredded memory foam fill with kapok fibers. The kapok fibers are sustainably harvested from the seed pods of the kapok tree, which grows in Indonesia. These two materials come together to provide a mix of cushioning and support.
The pillow also features an innovative cover that is woven with copper fibers that are designed to draw heat away from your face and neck to prevent uncomfortable heat build-up over the course of the night. Copper is also naturally antimicrobial.
The cover also has a zippered opening so that users can remove the cover for washing. This opening also allows for loft adjustments. The pillow arrives overstuffed, which may be perfect for larger side sleepers, but those who sleep on their backs or stomachs will want to remove some fill to achieve the appropriate loft level for proper spinal alignment. This customization enables the pillow to suit a wide range of sleepers.
Layla backs the pillow with a 120-night sleep trial and a 5-year warranty.
Best Cooling
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The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Dual Breeze is made of a single layer of TEMPUR material, which is a type of memory foam. Since memory foam tends to trap heat, there’s a layer of TEMPUR-Breeze Gel surrounding it, to promote cooling.
This pillow comes with the traditional memory foam feel associated with Tempur-Pedic mattresses. Sleepers can expect a highly conforming pillow that “hugs” the body. The feel of the TEMPUR-Cloud Dual Breeze differs greatly from the feel associated with down and down alternative pillows.
The TEMPUR-Cloud Dual Breeze comes in one firmness level, which is medium. This firmness level makes the pillow most suitable for side and back sleepers. Most stomach sleepers tend to prefer a thinner pillow.
The cover of the TEMPUR-Cloud Dual Breeze is removable and washable. Made of 100 percent cotton, the cover adds to the pillow’s breathability. Although the cover can be washed, the pillow’s inner contents cannot be washed.
Tempur-Pedic doesn’t have a sleep trial and does not allow pillow returns. They do offer free shipping and a 5-year warranty on the TEMPUR-Cloud Dual Breeze Pillow, however.
Best Down
Many people enjoy the luxuriously plush feel of down pillows, but some sleepers complain of insufficient support and excessive sinkage around the head and neck. The Brooklinen Down Pillow is a standout product because three different designs are available, each with a distinct feel and support level.
The Plush pillow contains pure white down for exceptional softness that may be ideal for stomach sleepers. The Mid-Plush option is chambered with a feather core and an outer down layer for added support without sacrificing the plush feel. The Firm option is also chambered, but contains more feathers and less down for extra reinforcement around the head and neck. All versions of the pillow are encased in shells made of smooth, silky-soft cotton sateen.
The pillow is given an antimicrobial treatment intended to stave off harmful bacteria, though you can also spot-clean or dry-clean the pillow as needed. Double-stitching along the perimeter ensures above-average durability and reduces the potential for fill escaping. Standard and king sizes are available. All Brooklinen Down Pillows are made in Canada.
While Plush pillows cost more than the Mid-Plush or Firm ones, prices are reasonable across the board. Brooklinen provides free ground delivery for U.S. customers, and international orders qualify for affordable flat-rate shipping. Each order includes a 365-night sleep trial, giving you plenty of time to decide whether to keep or return the pillow. Exchanges are also allowed if you aren’t satisfied with your initial firmness selection.
Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers
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The ideal pillow thickness for any given sleeper depends on their preferred position. Side sleepers usually need more thickness to keep their neck and shoulders aligned with the spine, while most back and stomach sleepers require less volume to sleep comfortably. The GhostBed GhostPillow Shredded caters to all three positions thanks to its adjustable design. The fill consists of shredded memory foam, polyfoam, and down alternative clusters that can be added or removed from the pillow whenever you like, creating the profile needed for your sleep position – or positions.
Regardless of your chosen loft, the plush fill gives the GhostPillow Shredded a balanced medium feel. The pillow contours closely to cradle the head and neck and alleviate pressure, but it shouldn’t sink too much. The cover is composed of proprietary Ghost Ice fabric that feels cool to the touch. The material helps to offset some of the foam’s heat-absorbing properties, resulting in less heat buildup and cooler sleep.
The cover can be removed and machine-washed whenever the pillow needs to be cleaned. Each GhostPillow Shredded purchase includes two pillows, and you can add a pair of mulberry silk pillowcases to your order for an extra charge.
GhostBed ships the pillows for free anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Your purchase includes a sleep trial that spans 101 nights, which is quite lengthy for a pillow, and you’ll also receive a 5-year warranty against structural defects.
Softest
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The Amerisleep Comfort Classic Pillow is a great choice for sleepers who prefer soft, contouring surfaces for their heads and necks. The core contains a single piece of Bio-Pur memory foam. This proprietary material has a medium-density, so it will conform closely without losing shape and sinking excessively. The 6-inch loft of this pillow makes it particularly well-suited to side sleepers, as well as back sleepers who like to sleep with their heads elevated.
Bio-Pur also has an open-cell composition that helps the foam combat heat retention, so the pillow sleeps fairly cool compared to other memory foam models. In addition, the cover is ventilated for enhanced breathability. The cover can be removed and machine-washed for quick and convenient care.
The Comfort Classic Pillow is available in queen and king sizes. Amerisleep ships for free anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Although returns are not allowed, every customer receives a manufacturer’s warranty that covers defects in the pillow for up to 5 years.
Best Luxury
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The Chamber Down Pillow by Standard Textile, also known as the Chamberloft pillow, is constructed with two outer chambers filled with hypoallergenic polyester surrounding an inner chamber filled with sterilized feathers. The cover is made from breathable 100 percent cotton and is double-stitched for durability.
Standard Textile is known for supplying luxury hotels around the world with quality bedding, and as a result, their pillows are built to withstand regular washing and drying without losing their loft. The three-chamber construction of the pillow ensures that the fill remains evenly distributed through the laundering process. The outer chambers of polyester provide plushness, while the inner chamber of natural feathers provides support to help keep the sleeper’s neck properly aligned.
The pillows are sold as a set of two and are available in standard and king size. They have earned the OEKO-TEX certification, ensuring that all components are free of harmful substances. Standard Textile offers a 90-day return window, during which unsatisfied customers can receive a full refund, minus any applicable shipping and handling fees.
Best for Neck Pain
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The EasySleeper Pillow from SleepEasy helps side and back sleepers achieve proper spinal alignment, which in turn helps alleviate neck pain. The pillow is made from memory foam, which provides contouring and pressure relief. Using an ergonomic design, the pillow features contoured cut-outs to adequately support the head and neck whether you prefer to sleep on your back or your side.
The cover includes a full length zipper, which allows you to easily remove the cover for machine washing. SleepEasy sells the pillow either alone as a single pillow, as a partner pack (two pillows), or as a family pack (four pillows). The pillow comes in one standard size.
SleepEasy ships internationally and offers a 30-day return policy for products in their original condition.
Best Feather
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The Luxe Pillow is constructed with down and feathers. It contains a firmer, structured core of small-game waterfowl feathers. Surrounding the core are two chambers of soft, white goose down. This construction provides a mixture of support and plushness.
Generally, down and feather pillows aren’t recommended for people with allergies. However, the Luxe Pillow is certified hypoallergenic. The down and feathers they use undergo extensive washing, so they are less likely to bother people with allergies.
Also, the Luxe Pillow comes with a high-quality pillow protector. Pillow protectors help keep pillows in good shape. They also tend to help protect sleepers from inhaling allergens that might develop in the pillow over time, such as dust mites.
The Luxe Pillow comes in one firmness level, which is medium. The loft and medium firmness of the Luxe make it a strong option for side and back sleepers. Stomach sleepers might find that this pillow is too thick or firm for their liking, however. Stomach sleepers often prefer softer, less lofted pillows that allow them to maintain spinal alignment.
The Luxe Pillow comes with free shipping and a 100-night sleep trial during which customers may return the product at no cost.
Best Buckwheat
The Hullo Pillow is a supportive, adjustable pillow with a Buckwheat fill. Buckwheat pillows, which are pillows filled with the outer casings of buckwheat kernels, are known for their advanced support, breathability, long lifespan, and comfort. The Hullo is one of the most popular buckwheat pillows on the market.
The cover of the Hullo is made of a 100% organic cotton twill. The buckwheat hulls that make up the inner fill are carefully sourced and grown in the US. Users can adjust the firmness, malleability, and loft of the Hullo by easily adding or removing buckwheat halls from the pillow. This allows you to carefully tailor your pillow to suit your sleeping position, weight and personal preference. For example, back sleepers can adjust the amount of buckwheat hulls in the Hullo so the pillow has a lower loft, while side sleepers can add more hulls to achieve a higher loft.
The Hullo comes with a 60-night trial. During that time, pillows may be returned, but the customer must pay the cost of return shipping.
For some people, finding the right pillow can be just as conducive to good sleep as finding the right mattress. That’s why we at Sleep Foundation have tested over 300 pillows to determine which models will help you get the best night’s sleep. Since sleep position is a common factor in finding a comfortable pillow, we draw on feedback from side, back, stomach, and combination sleepers on our testing team.
To evaluate pillows, our testers lay on each model and moved around the surface to assess qualities such as firmness, feel, contouring, and breathability. Based on our hands-on testing, we determined that the above list of picks represents the best of the pillows on the market today.
For more personalized pillow guides, check out the following pages:
There is no single perfect pillow for everyone. To find your ideal pillow, you must consider your sleep position preferences, as well as many aspects of pillows you’re considering.
This section guides you through the various pillow qualities to evaluate while pillow shopping. Once you know what to look for, you can feel confident that you’re truly buying the pillow because it fits your needs.
Marketing hype shouldn’t drive your decision-making as you shop for the perfect pillow. Companies may claim that their pillow feels like sleeping on a cloud, works well for all sleepers, and stays cool all night. Instead of being swayed by advertising, it’s best to evaluate the facts.
You should consider many factors when pillow shopping. First, your personal sleep position preference heavily influences which pillows best fit your body. Of course, many shoppers are limited by a budget. Keep these factors at the forefront of your mind while examining your pillow options.
Also, learn each pillow’s loft and firmness level to determine if it’s a good option for you. Identify the materials each pillow is made of, if it has cooling properties, and if it will relieve pressure in your neck and shoulders.
In this section, we provide more information about the factors to consider when pillow shopping.
Pillows are constructed with a variety of materials. Understanding what these materials are and how they generally perform will help you determine which pillows best fit your needs.
Pillow covers also come in a variety of materials. Most pillow covers are made of cotton, polyester, or a cotton-poly blend. Some are made of other materials, such as bamboo-derived fabric or satin.
Cotton covers tend to be more breathable than polyester. Different cover materials feel different to the touch, but the feel is less important since most customers use pillow cases over their pillows.
A pillow’s “loft” refers to its height when it is lying flat with nothing sitting on top of it.
Pillows are generally divided into low, medium, and high lofts. A low loft pillow measures 3 inches or less in height. A medium loft pillow measures between 3 and 5 inches thick. A high loft pillow measures over 5 inches in height.
Unfortunately, these measurements haven’t been universally adopted across pillow companies. Some companies might call their pillow “low loft” or “high loft” when it is in fact medium or average in height.
Check actual pillow measurements rather than descriptions whenever possible. Though some companies provide an exact measurement of their pillow’s loft, many do not.
The ideal pillow loft varies from sleeper to sleeper. Your sleep position preference, head size, body weight, and mattress firmness are all factors that influence which pillow loft is ideal for you.
Pillows come in a variety of sizes to fit beds of different sizes and people of different body weights and sleeping habits. Pillow size can be as important as firmness and loft when it comes to finding the pillow that best fits you.
Side sleepers generally prefer pillows with medium to high loft, or about 4 to 6 inches thick (if not thicker). Due to the nature of this sleep position, extra padding is needed to cushion the head, neck, and shoulders and ensure even alignment.
Side sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds may prefer mid-loft pillows because they will sink more deeply into their mattress than lighter individuals, and thus not need as much padding. Specialty pillows for side sleepers often have contoured shapes or cutouts that mold around the shoulders and cushion the head without sacrificing loft elsewhere.
The best pillow for any given sleeper should promote even spinal alignment by providing optimal cushioning for the head, neck, and shoulders. This factor is especially crucial for people with back pain, many of whom experience discomfort due to alignment issues in the first place.
Stomach sleepers with back pain should choose a low-loft pillow that won’t elevate their head to a significant extent. The same is somewhat true for back sleepers, though they may need a bit more loft to prevent their heads from falling back too much. Side sleepers with back pain may want to consider a medium- to high-loft pillow to ensure adequate cushioning for the head, neck, and shoulders.
The best pillows for people with neck pain will provide sufficient support without feeling too stiff or sinking excessively. In terms of composition, materials like solid memory foam, latex, and buckwheat hulls reinforce the head and neck quite well.
The pillow should also be firm and thick enough to maintain a full shape throughout the night. Pillows that contain down, feather, or down alternative fiber fill tend to be quite soft and overall support is fair at best, so sleepers with neck pain may want to bypass these products.
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