Best Pillow For Allergies

Why It’s Best Overall

Sleepers looking for a pillow that strikes an even balance of cushioning and support should find what they need in the Saatva Latex Pillow. This model is available in two lofts that cater to a wide array of sleep preferences and positions. While not suitable for sleepers with latex allergies, the pillow resists dust mites, mold, and other common allergens.

How It Performed

During tests, this pillow performed extremely well for back and side sleepers. The high-loft option measures 6 to 7 inches thick and fared better with side sleepers, who tend to enjoy thicker pillows to fill the space between their neck and the bed surface. The low-loft option is 4 to 5 inches thick and felt most comfortable to back sleepers, or side sleepers who prefer pillows with mid-range lofts. Both models provided plenty of cushioning to cradle the head and neck, while maintaining the support needed to keep the head aligned with the spine without straining the neck.

What It’s Made Of

The pillow is designed with two chambers. The outer chamber is filled with microdenier fibers that mimic the feel of down, while the inner chamber is composed of moldable shredded latex that promotes contouring. The cover is made of machine-washable cotton with a breathable quality that helps keep the pillow cool. The latex has natural cooling properties that further promote thermoregulation. Saatva recommends spot cleaning the pillow if stains occur. You can choose between a queen or king size.

Shipping is free of charge to addresses in the contiguous U.S. Saatva offers a 45-day sleep trial to test the pillow at home. The pillow is further backed by a one-year warranty.

We enjoyed the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow for its balance of cushioning and responsiveness. The latex core contours gently to the head and neck without too much hugging or sinkage, and two loft levels make the pillow equally suited to side and back sleepers. Our tests also showed the pillow excels at temperature control and shape retention.

How It Performed

Most of our testers found the Talalay Latex Pillow comfortable, though their preferences differed in terms of the best loft. Our side sleepers received ample cushioning from the 5-inch pillow, resulting in even alignment for the head, neck, and shoulders. Back sleepers preferred the 4-inch loft instead. Both lofts were too thick for stomach sleepers on our team, but the 4-inch pillow didn’t crane their necks as much as the 5-inch model.

Our heat guns and thermal imaging software revealed excellent temperature control for the Talalay Latex Pillow. A breathable cover combined with a ventilated latex core makes the pillow suitable for hot sleepers. Since the latex is solid, not shredded, the pillow also retains a full shape and doesn’t need to be fluffed.

What It’s Made Of

The pillow’s core is composed of solid, ventilated Talalay latex. This material has a springy, responsive feel and doesn’t contour as closely as memory foam or polyfoam. A cover made of Tencel encases the latex, adding softness to the surface. The cover is fully machine-washable, but sleepers should only spot clean the latex core with light dabbing if stains occur. You can choose from a 4- or 5-inch loft as well as queen and king sizes.

The Talalay Latex Pillow carries a below-average sticker price compared to other latex pillows, and Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping to customers in the contiguous U.S. Your purchase includes a 30-night sleep trial. If you decide to keep the pillow, it’s also backed by a three-year warranty.

Sleepers looking for a soft, plushy pillow should find the Buffy Cloud Pillow meets their needs. The fill consists of down alternative clusters that mimic the softness of real down without triggering allergies or retaining excess heat. Buffy offers a discount for shoppers who purchase more than one pillow, making it an excellent value for shoppers on a budget.

How It Performed

Among all three of the Cloud Pillow’s firmness levels, our side sleepers felt most comfortable on the firm pillow. This model offers the highest loft, ensuring plenty of cushioning between the head and shoulder to promote even alignment. Our back sleepers were torn, with some preferring the firmer pillow and others finding the medium model more suitable. Stomach sleepers found the soft pillow provided enough cushioning without straining their necks.

Tencel is known for excellent temperature control. Since the cover is composed of this material, we weren’t surprised to find the Cloud Pillow slept cool throughout our tests. The down alternative clusters also make the pillow highly moldable, though routine fluffing may be needed to maintain a full shape.

What It’s Made Of

The Cloud Pillow’s PET down alternative fill is derived from recycled plastic bottles — up to 30 bottles are used to produce a single pillow. A cover made of moisture-wicking Tencel encases the fill. The fabric is luxuriously smooth and chemical-free, so the pillow should be suitable for people with sensitive skin. Buffy recommends spot cleaning the pillow if stains occur and using a washable pillowcase to keep it hygienic.

Standard shipping is free to addresses in the contiguous U.S. Buffy allows you to test the pillow for a week before charging your credit card, and returns are accepted within 50 days.

The Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow is a great option for those who sleep on their side, back, or stomach and prefer animal-free products. The pillow is available in three unique firmness levels, each of which caters to a different sleep position. All pillows are wrapped in a breathable organic cotton shell, and the machine-washable design makes the pillow easy to keep clean and free of allergens.

How It Performed

Our team tested all three firmness levels of the Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow. For our side sleepers, the firm pillow provided enough cushioning to keep their heads and necks aloft. Some back sleepers also felt comfortable with this model, but most preferred the medium option because it propped up their heads without causing neck strain. Our stomach sleepers found that the low-loft soft pillow worked best for them.

Temperature control was a highlight during our tests. The fill retains minimal heat, and the breathable cover promotes plenty of airflow. You may need to fluff the pillow somewhat frequently, but the down alternative clusters make it moldable and great for snuggling.

What It’s Made Of

All three versions of the Down Alternative Pillow contain clusters of PrimaLoft, a down alternative material derived from polyester. The shell is composed of organic cotton. The pillow is machine-washable, though Boll & Branch notes you may need up to three drying cycles before it’s completely free of moisture. Dryer balls may help speed up the drying process.

The pillow is competitively priced, and you’ll receive a 5% discount if you bundle your purchase with other Boll & Branch bedding items. It’s worth noting that the three firmness options differ slightly in price. Standard ground shipping is free for domestic U.S. orders. Returns are permitted within 30 days of delivery as long as the pillow is in its original condition with tags intact.

Your ideal pillow loft largely depends on your primary sleep position. With the Avocado Green Pillow, you can add or remove fill to make it feel fuller for side sleeping, flat for stomach sleeping, or something in between for back sleeping. The fill combines shredded latex and soft kapok fibers, resulting in gentle contouring and a bit of responsiveness.

How It Performed

The majority of our team members gave positive ratings to the Avocado Green Pillow, though their loft preferences differed. Our side sleepers felt most comfortable with all of the fill intact, with some adding additional fill included with each order. Back sleepers removed about 20% to 30% of the fill in order to achieve their ideal loft, while stomach sleepers needed to remove at least 50%.

Due to fill that retains minimal heat and a breathable cover, the pillow performed well during our temperature control tests. Other tests, such as shape retention and moldability, yielded variable results because these factors largely depend on how much fill you use.

What It’s Made Of

The fill consists of shredded latex blended with fibers from the kapok tree, which have a soft, lightweight consistency reminiscent of real down. Both the outer cover and inner fill pouch are composed of organic cotton. You can machine-wash the outer cover, but you’ll need to remove the fill pouch first. The latex holds certification with the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), and the cotton and kapok fibers are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

Shoppers can opt for one pillow at checkout or purchase two and receive a small discount. Each pillow comes with an extra fill bag at no additional cost. Avocado sells fill bags separately if you ever need to replenish your supply. Shipping is free throughout the contiguous U.S. The Green Pillow is backed by a 100-night trial period and one-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow contains long-strand mulberry silk, a bedding material prized for its natural softness and longevity. Since the strands are densely packed into the core, the pillow has a supple yet supportive feel and maintains its shape exceptionally well. 

How It Performed

Pillows this soft tend to flatten and lose shape somewhat easily, but the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow maintained a full shape throughout our hands-on tests. At the same time, the pillow was very moldable and perfect for snuggling. We were also impressed with the pillow’s cooling abilities, which come from both the naturally breathable silk and the moisture-wicking cover.

The Silk Pillow earned favorable ratings among our testers across most weight and sleep position groups, with side sleepers awarding the highest marks. Back sleepers on our team also felt comfortable on the pillow, as did some of our stomach sleepers.  

What It’s Made Of

The pillow contains thousands of individual mulberry silk strands, making the pillow dense and plush. A cover made of viscose derived from bamboo encases the silk. Cozy Earth’s 10-year warranty considers shape loss a coverable defect, so the pillow shouldn’t flatten or compress with use.

Cozy Earth recommends spot cleaning or dry cleaning the pillow, as machine-washing can permanently damage the components. We recommend investing in a washable case or protector to ensure your pillow stays hygienic and free of allergens. 

In addition to the 10-year warranty — one of the longest in the online pillow industry — each order includes a generous 100-night trial period for testing the pillow and deciding whether it’s right for you. Standard ground shipping is free of charge for customers in the contiguous U.S.

The Sweet Zzz Plant-Based Pillow proves you don’t need to spend a lot for high-quality bedding. With natural materials in the fill and cover, the pillow has a soft feel that is well suited to people with sensitive skin and is highly resistant to dust buildup.

How It Performed

The Plant-Based Pillow stood out in temperature control during our tests. The fill doesn’t retain as much heat as real down and the breathable cotton cover provides additional airflow. Although you may need to fluff the pillow regularly to maintain a full shape, the down alternative fibers are moldable and the pillow’s plushness makes it ideal for snuggling.

While the pillow is on the softer side, the chambered design features denser fibers on the bottom and plusher fill on top. Side sleepers on our testing team received adequate cushioning between their head and shoulder, and our back-sleeping testers felt comfortable and didn’t experience any neck strain.

What It’s Made Of

As its name implies, the pillow contains down alternative fibers made from plant-based material. A natural cotton cover encases the fill. Although the pillow compresses a bit under the weight of your head and neck, the chambered design helps maintain a loft of roughly 5 to 6 inches. Sleepers can wash and dry the entire pillow in their household machines.

In addition to carrying a relatively low price-point, the Plant-Based Pillow qualifies for free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Customers in Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and Canada pay additional delivery charges. You may test the pillow for up to 50 nights before deciding whether to return it for a full refund or keep it. If you opt for the latter, Sweet Zzz backs your purchase with a one-year warranty.