Everyone has different sleep needs, which also means everyone has a different ideal pillow. The best pillow for you supports your head and neck, keeping your body comfortable and your spine aligned through the night, regardless of your sleeping position. In general, stomach sleepers need a soft, low-loft pillow, while side sleepers should search for a firm, high-loft option. Back sleepers are somewhere in the middle, requiring a medium-firm, mid-loft pillow.
However you sleep, the sleep experts we spoke to recommend picking your pillow with the same care and research you would devote to selecting the best mattress for your room. "A good pillow is absolutely a top priority," said Rebecca Robbins, sleep researcher, author, and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. "No matter your budget, I really encourage people to splurge and invest in these products because they will help."
Our favorite pillow of all time is the Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow. Its cross-cut memory foam fill is fully adjustable, so it's the best pillow for every sleep position. For a budget-friendly option, we recommend the Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow. These moldable, stackable pillows stay cool thanks to a breathable polyester fill.
Our top picks for the best pillow
Best overall: Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow - See at Amazon
Best budget: Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow (Set of 2) - See at Amazon
Best down: Brooklinen Down Pillow - See at Brooklinen
Best for side sleepers: Casper Original Pillow - See at Amazon
Best for back sleepers: The Saatva Latex Pillow - See at Saatva
Best for stomach sleepers: Parachute Down-Alternative Pillow, Soft - See at Parachute
Best cooling: Coop Sleep Goods Cool+ Adjustable Pillow - See at Amazon
How we test pillows
Individual anatomy, sleep habits, and preferences profoundly impact how comfortable a pillow will be from person to person. Note that there is no one-size-fits-all best pillow. For that reason, our rating criteria for this guide relied heavily on the following considerations:
Return policy and trial period: It's impossible to know how comfortable a pillow is going to be for you until you sleep on it, despite how comprehensive our guide aims to be. "The most important thing is trying the pillows out to see what works for you," said Robbins, which includes being able to touch, lie on, and sleep with a pillow before deciding if it's right for you. For this guide, we only considered pillows that accept returns of used merchandise for a full refund with at least a 30-day trial window, which gives you ample time to decide if a pillow is right for you.
Adjustability: We prioritized adjustable pillows with removable inserts or shredded fill for dialing in your perfect loft. This creates a more custom pillow that would better suit your needs. We also favored pillows available in varying lofts and firmnesses if the removable fill was not an option.
Ease of use: We looked at how well each pillow fit a standard pillowcase, whether the pillow came with a case or protector, and whether all or parts of the pillow were washable for better hygiene and pillow longevity.
Comfort: I slept on all of the pillows for at least five (sometimes agonizing) nights. I also enlisted a side sleeper and a stomach sleeper to try the pillows for a couple of weeks.
Best overall
The Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow offers thoughtful features like adjustable fill, a washable pillow cover, and an unparalleled 100-night trial, making it the best choice for most people.
- Completely customizable with removable fill
- Comes with additional fill if you prefer a firmer pillow
- Washable encasement
- Hypoallergenic
- Not the best choice if you don't like memory foam
- On the firmer side
This is the best pillow for just about everyone. It's rare to come across a product as thoughtfully designed as the Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow. Made from hypoallergenic cross-cut memory foam, the Coop pillow has an adjustable fill that lets you customize it to the perfect loft for your sleep preferences. Other thoughtful features like a washable cover, 5-year warranty, and 100-night trial make it our top recommendation.
The fill is entirely adjustable. When you open the box, a bright yellow insert walks you through how to customize the pillow and suggests how much fill to add or remove (it's more than you think) based on your preferred sleeping position. While the pillow arrives almost overfilled, it also comes with a half-pound bag of additional stuffing in case you need even more support. I followed the package recommendations to remove about a third of the fill for back sleepers. The result felt deeply personalized, and it was very comfortable to sleep on with an outstanding balance of support and fluff.
It's earned the top spot in five of our guides. Because of its adjustability, the Coop pillow has earned top spots in our guides to the best pillows for side sleepers, best pillows for stomach sleepers, and best pillows for neck pain. Side sleepers typically have the most variability in pillow needs because there's a greater distance to close between shoulder and neck and this distance varies from person to person. Being able to add or remove fill to fill that gap makes this a truly one-size-fits-all pillow.
But memory foam isn't for everyone. If you favor a softer, more down-like fill, like I do, you may find the Coop Original pillow on the firmer side. In that case, we recommend taking a look at one of our picks for your sleep style below.
Read our full Coop Sleep Goods Original Pillow review.
Best budget
The Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillow is a budget-friendly option with a plush, premium feel and breathable cotton fabric.
- Sleeps relatively cool
- Soft and stackable
- Ideal for stomach and back sleepers
- Machine washable
- Hypoallergenic, breathable, down alternative fill
- Side sleepers will likely need two or more of these pillows
- Pillows are not adjustable
These pillows are soft and stackable. They're flatter than memory foam options, but the softness sets them apart from other inexpensive pillows I've tried. While they're more squishy than supportive, they're a good choice for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and anyone who likes to hug, fold, or stack their pillows at night.
They've earned a spot on my bed. I've spent several years sleeping with these pillows on and off, and they haven't gone flat or gotten lumpy. They are a little less lofty and bouncy than when I first got them, but I like that they have a more lived-in feel. The pillows are filled with hypoallergenic polyester fiber, similar to a down alternative in both feel and performance. Compared to denser materials like memory foam, the pillows stay relatively cool but stop short of actively cooling you.
It's sold in a pack of two. While these pillows aren't adjustable, each pack comes with two pillows, so you can easily stack them to your desired comfort level. The company also offers free 30-day returns through Amazon.
Best down
The mid-plush Brooklinen Down Pillow conforms well to different sleeping positions, making it the ideal pillow for people who shift throughout the night. It feels as good as pillows double its price.
- Comes in multiple support levels
- Soft yet supportive
- Good value
- Down smell is a little strong
- Return fee may apply
Down is luxurious, but can irritate allergies. While experts told us that down allergies are less common than we've been made to believe, people with dust mite allergies may sleep easier with a hypoallergenic pillow. That's why, for this guide, we mainly focused on memory foam and down-alternative pillows. If your heart is set on down, our top pick is the Brooklinen Down Pillow, which is plush and comfy for various sleeping styles.
Choose from three firmnesses. We tried the mid-plush and plush options. The mid-plush is a great middle-of-the-road option if you're unsure what kind of pillow you like best, while the plush is breathable and ideal for stacking to build on support.
It's squishy, fluffy, and stackable. This is a great option for those that love a pillow stack: it squishes down but bounces back up quickly and is easy to fluff. One of our four testers who've tried the Brooklinen pillow mentioned a noticeable down smell, but it did dissipate. Otherwise, we were pleased with the pillow's construction and feel.
Check out our guide to the best down pillow and read our full Brooklinen down pillow review.
Best for side sleepers
The Casper Original Pillow offers the loft and support that side sleepers need but with the soft and fluffy feel of a down alternative.
- Soft and fluffy
- 2-inch gusset provides good support for side sleepers
- Removable inner pillow
- Machine washable
- Loft is not adjustable
- Not as supportive as memory foam
- No trial period
Its height is perfect for side sleepers. Side sleepers need a lofty pillow to fill the gap between their neck and shoulder. Our top pick from Coop is ideal for all sleep styles, but if you like your pillow more soft than supportive, you may prefer the Casper Original Pillow. It's one of the best pillows for side sleepers with a thick, resilient loft to adequately bolster your neck.
I love the design. The Casper Original Pillow is made from down-alternative hypoallergenic fill with a percale cotton shell and features a 2-inch gusset (the strip of fabric between seams that gives the pillow a more boxy shape) to keep the pillow lofted.
Keep in mind that you can't return it once you use it. If you want a balance of support and softness, we recommend giving the Casper Original Pillow a try; however, it's not as customizable or adjustable as other pillows and is only available in a singular firmness. Unfortunately, Casper no longer offers a sleep trial on its pillows and only accepts returns within 30 days on unused bedding. Because of this, we're now testing for new options for this category.
Check out our guide to the best pillows for side sleepers and read our full Casper Original Pillow review.
Best for back sleepers
Luxuriously plush, The Saatva Pillow offers an ultra comfortable, hotel-like experience and is particularly well-suited to back sleepers.
- Plush like a hotel pillow
- Supportive latex core
- Moderate height that's ideal for back sleepers
- Pillow cover and outer pillow are machine washable
- Not adjustable
- Too lofty for stomach sleepers
Back sleepers are the Goldilocks of sleepers. Back sleepers need a pillow that's not too tall and not too short. The Saatva Pillow has a supportive shredded latex core surrounded by a plush, down alternative layer and a sateen cotton liner. Its unique construction makes it different from any pillow I've ever felt — it's got the hefty weight and support of a memory foam pillow but with the plush, cool feel of a down pillow.
As a back sleeper myself, this is my go-to pillow. I kept coming back to it throughout testing, and I've now been sleeping on it for years. I love how my head sinks into this soft pillow, but it's still supportive enough to keep its shape all night long. When I wake up, the pillow looks just as plush as when I fell asleep.
It's great for active and combo sleepers. I'm a very active sleeper who likes to move around a lot in bed and take my bedding with me, so I love that the pillow is equally plush and comfortable from all sides and angles. It's still soft and supportive when I fold, scoop, or hug it throughout the night. It's dense but quickly goes back to its original shape. Finally, it's hypoallergenic, a must for allergy sufferers like myself.
Best for stomach sleepers
Soft but not too thin, the Parachute Down-Alternative Pillow has the perfect loft for stomach sleepers who want just a bit of cushion.
- Soft and pillowy
- Made from hypoallergenic down alternative
- Folds easily for added support when lying on your side or back
- Stays cool
- Needs to be fluffed regularly to retain its shape
- Poor support for sleepers who spend the majority of the night on their back or side
- Not the best choice for guest bedrooms
- Fill cannot be adjusted
Stomach sleepers need a soft, low-loft pillow. Stomach sleepers generally require the least amount of pillow support, since your head and spine are already pretty close to alignment when lying on your stomach. Most stomach sleepers would benefit from a soft pillow with just a bit of loft, and for that, the Parachute Down-Alternative Pillow is our top choice.
It offers the perfect amount of support. Our stomach sleeper testers thought this thin pillow offered a balance of comfort and mild support, with a fluffy feel. The Parachute pillow elevates the head just enough to alleviate any neck strain, and the sateen cotton encasement keeps the pillow remarkably cool all night long, ideal for those who run hot.
I recommend stacking, if you're a combo sleeper. While the fill is thin enough that the pillow easily folds over for some support if you occasionally flip to your side or back during the night, it doesn't provide enough for those who spend most of the night in those positions. The pillow also won't offer much lift if you're looking to prop yourself up to read or watch TV while lounging in bed. Still, it's a great personal pillow for any stomach sleeper who has found other pillows too lofty. I recommend the soft density for stomach sleepers, but they're also sold in medium and firm densities, if you're looking for something a little firmer.
Read our guide to the best pillows for stomach sleepers.
Best cooling
The Coop Cool+ Pillow keeps you cool with its gel-infused foam, offers two sides for different feels, and adjusts to your liking.
- Infused with cooling gel designed to regulate temperature effectively
- Dual-sided design features one side with a cooling and plush feel and a firmer side phase change gel
- Adjustable for personalized support
- Adjusting the fill can lead to lightweight microfibers floating around and sticking to nearby surfaces
- Sleek pillow surface may cause it to slide around in pillowcase
- Only pillow cover is machine-washable
It's stuffed with cooling memory foam and polyester. The Coop Sleep Goods Cool+ Adjustable pillow blends cooling gel-infused memory foam and recycled polyester fibers to create a comfortable and adjustable pillow.
It's adjustable, just like our best overall pick. This means you can dial-in the exact support you need. Our tester, a side sleeper, reported that the pillow helped her maintain ideal spinal alignment without shoulder tension or headaches. You can add or remove fill to get the loft you need to sleep comfortably.
It's dual-sided. One side features a cooling and firmer phase change gel layer, perfect for those warm nights, while the other side offers a softer, plush feel. Both sides feel incredibly refreshing. During testing in the middle of summer, our tester didn't notice any significant heat build-up and found that any warmth dissipated quickly.
For more options, check out our guide to the best cooling pillows.
Other pillows we recommend
- Avocado Molded Latex Pillow: We recommend this pillow for back and side sleepers who want a firmer pillow. It features a molded charcoal-infused latex core, which helps regulate temperature, and comes with a 100-night trial.
- Belly Sleep Stomach Sleeper Pillow: This unique pillow has an ultra-low loft, a mere 2.5 inches tall. It's flat enough for stomach sleepers to stay comfortable, while hot sleepers will appreciate the squishy cooling-gel surface.
- Boll and Branch Down Chamber Pillow: Available in soft, medium, and firm densities, Boll & Branch pillows have a three-chamber design that resists shifting and keeps pillows from going flat. The down is ethically sourced from farms in the US.
- Brooklyn Bedding Latex Pillow: I loved this pillow's bouncy, moldable feel. and enhanced breathability. It comes in low and high lofts for stomach and side sleepers, respectively.
- Coop Essence Down Alternative Pillow: This is the budget (and softer) version of our top pick, using a down alternative fill instead of shredded foam. Unlike other adjustable pillows I've used, I found the most comfort when I added half of the extra-fill bag, essentially maxing out the comfort.
- Cozy Earth Bamboo Down Alternative Pillow: This pillow was too lofty for me as a back sleeper, but it may be a good option for side sleepers. It has a nice buoyancy to it, but sleeps hot.
- Cozy Earth Silk Pillow: This is one of the most luxurious pillows I've slept on. It's insanely breathable and cloud-like soft, filled with strands of mulberry silk. It's airy, light, and highly moldable. However, the cover pilled after a few weeks, which made us question its longevity for such an investment piece.
- CozyLux Pillow: Our reviewer was pleasantly surprised by the softness and loft of these budget pillows. They're a great buy for a guest room bed.
- FluffCo Down Alternative Pillow: We liked this pillow's soft fluff. It's a solid option if you're looking for simple, high-quality pillows at a moderate price point.
- FluffCo Down Feather Pillow: Like FluffCo's Down Alternative Pillow, its Down Feather Pillows are soft and fluffy. The Firm Fluff version offers a decent balance of support and cozy softness.
- Helix Glaciotex Cooling Pillow: Helix's pillow stays cool thanks to the gel grid on the top, plus the breathable, cool-to-the-touch cover. It has a firm feel that's best suited to side or back sleepers.
- Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow: Like our best overall pick by Coop, this pillow is stuffed with shredded foam or latex that makes it easily adjustable to your sleeping preference. However, it lacked many attributes that made our top pick a standout, like a pillow protector, a longer trial period, and additional foam right in the box for those who need even more loft.
- Pillow Cube Side Cube: A rectangular version of the popular cube-ish pillow, the polyurethane block is meant to keep your neck well aligned (if you sleep on your side). It's available in a few heights but lacks the adjustability of some of our other picks. Read our full Pillow Cube Side Sleeper Pro review.
- Pluto Personalized Pillow: Pluto uses a questionnaire and data from a special algorithm to help build a pillow tailored to you, with 40 possible variations. It's a unique concept, but it's expensive, and we think you can get similar results from an adjustable pillow. Read our Pluto Personalized Pillow review.
- Purple Harmony Pillow: This buoyant and responsive pillow from Purple is ridiculously cooling, comfortable, and pressure-relieving, with a well-rounded medium firmness. It's available in three lofts (5.5", 6.5", and 7.5") to suit your sleeping position and body size for the most support. It also comes with a 30-night trial.
- Quince Premium Down Pillow: Starting at $80, the Quince Premium Down Pillow is a steal. It has the same fluffy feel as other down pillows for a fraction of the price. If you're sensitive to down, we recommend Quince's Down Alternative Pillow, too.
- Saatva Memory Foam Pillow: Previously our pick for "best luxury pillow," we still think this is a great option, but feel you can get a "luxury" experience from any of our top picks. This pillow isn't adjustable, but it's supportive and firm and has a tremendous spa-like feel.
- Sijo FlexCool Memory Foam Pillow: This pillow comes overstuffed with a shredded, adjustable memory foam polyester fiber blend that feels plush like our top pick, the Coop Original Pillow. It did have a slight odor that dissipated after a few days.
- Sijo Fluffbase Eucalyptus Pillow: A great cooling pillow to snuggle with, for side and back sleepers. However, it's not adjustable and is quite flat for side sleepers. After almost a year of use, it's noticeably flattened as well.
- Turmerry Buckwheat Pillow: This pillow is made with buckwheat hulls, a traditional pillow fill used in many Asian countries. I love how malleable and yet supportive the pillow is. It sleeps cool, is completely adjustable (just add or remove hulls to find your ideal loft), is sustainable and hypoallergenic, and works for all sleep styles. The feel of the hulls does take some getting used to.
- Zoma Pillow: Unlike other memory foam pillows I've tried, this one wasn't too hot or stiff and is a nice, moderate loft that works well for both side sleepers and back sleepers.
Pillows we don't recommend
- Amerisleep Dual Comfort Pillow: This memory foam pillow has a "comfort" side and a "support" side, but I found little difference between either. Both sides were quite stiff. It may be a good option for those who like a pillow that lies flat and provides a lot of support.
- Earthfoam Organic Pillow: This pillow has a bouncy feel that's supportive but not exactly cradling. Its 6.5-inch loft is best suited for side sleepers, but it'll be too lofty for back and stomach sleepers.
- LAYR Pillow: This adjustable pillow offers three layers that can be added, removed, or independently adjusted for your perfect pillow. However, it feels underfilled with layers removed.
- Ralph Lauren Lauren Logo Pillow: These budget pillows had no give and didn't have the traditional, fluffy down alternative feel. The stock is also extremely volatile, and you can't find them anywhere but Macy's.
- Royal Hotel Down Pillow: This down pillow was featured and recommended in previous iterations of this guide, but we ultimately excluded it this time around because the company's return policy is unclear.
- Saatva Down Alternative Pillow: We've had great experiences with Saatva's other pillows, so I was surprised this one was such a miss. It was far too lofty, even for side sleeping, and left my neck in an uncomfortable position.
- Sleep Number PlushComfort Ultimate Pillow: This pillow has an adjustable pillow-in-pillow design to change the loft. Unfortunately, we didn't find any loft comfortable in any sleeping position.
- Tempur-Symphony Pillow: This is a two-sided pillow — one side is arched for stomach sleeping, while the other is flat for back sleeping. It doesn't feel supportive for any sleep style.
What to look for when choosing pillows
Experts we spoke to recommended prioritizing three main criteria when shopping for a new pillow: sleep position, material, and trial period. To learn more about what to look for in the best pillows, we spoke with Rebecca Robbins, sleep researcher, author, and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and associate scientist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Below, find our recommendations for each consideration. Read our guide on how to choose a pillow for more in-depth information on finding the best fit for you.
Sleep position
Robbins told us the most significant consideration when picking a pillow is your preferred sleep position: side, back, or stomach. The goal of your pillow is to support your neck in a neutral position aligned with the rest of your spine. That alignment shifts depending on the position you're sleeping in. While we all move around during sleep, most of us spend the majority of our sleeping time in one position.
Not sure what your sleep position is? Consider what position you typically fall asleep or wake up in. Robbins also has an exercise she performs with her clients: Imagine you've been up for 24 hours and are presented with a big, luxurious hotel bed; how would you lie down on it to go to sleep? The position you envision is likely your preferred sleep position and plays a significant role in what type of pillow will work best for you.
Ideal pillow by sleep position
| Sleep position | Support | Loft |
| Side | Medium to firm | High (or with adjustable fill) |
| Back | Medium-soft to medium-firm | Medium |
| Stomach | Soft | Low |
- Side sleepers: Around 65% of the US population are side sleepers, according to Robbins, and this position requires the most loft and support to bridge the wide gap between the side of your head and where your shoulder rests on the mattress. If you're a side sleeper, choose a lofty pillow — ideally with an adjustable fill since there can be a lot of variability in the size of that shoulder gap from person to person. Robbins said hotels and sleep clinics outfit rooms with side sleepers in mind, so if you're buying pillows for a guest bedroom, a side-sleeper-friendly pillow is usually a good bet.
- Back sleepers: Back sleepers are the Goldilocks of pillow hunters — they need a pillow with just enough support to lift the back of the head to align with their shoulders. Back sleepers tend to benefit from a medium pillow made from down or down alternative, though an adjustable pillow with at least one-third of the fill removed may work as well.
- Stomach sleepers: In the minority are stomach sleepers, who need the least support from their pillow. Typically, a thin, very soft pillow works best for stomach sleepers — just enough fill to cushion their face from the flat surface of the mattress.
Fill
The material a pillow is filled with has a big impact on the feel of your pillow. Here's an overview of the major fill types:
- Down: Down consists of feathers taken from the underbelly of a goose or duck. It's an incredibly soft and comfortable material for pillows. While most modern down is triple-washed to remove dander, some allergy sufferers may want to avoid this material, as animal fibers are more prone to dust mites (which can exacerbate allergies) than synthetic fibers. You can read about our favorite down options in our best down pillows guide.
- Down alternative: Down alternative is typically any fibrous material that mimics the feel of true down. Microfiber is a popular and common down alternative, but bamboo or viscose fibers would also fall into this category, as well as polyfiber. The majority of the pillows in this guide are made from microfiber, which is generally hypoallergenic and breathable.
- Memory foam: Another popular fill is memory foam. We prefer pillows with shredded memory foam, which offer a more traditional and malleable pillow feeling. A solid block of memory foam may be preferred if you suffer from back and neck pain and need to keep your head immobilized during sleep. Read more about the best pillows for neck pain.
Trial period
The only way to know if a pillow is right for you is to sleep on it. We recommend looking for pillows that offer at least a 30-day trial with a money-back guarantee. This will allow you several weeks to decide if the pillow is right for you
Pillow FAQs
How long do pillows last?
The National Sleep Foundation recommends replacing a well-used pillow every few years, but it depends on the material. A lumpy or compressed pillow is definitely in need of an upgrade.
What are the best pillows for people with allergies?
For those with allergies, Robbins recommends looking for a hypoallergenic pillow with a synthetic filling like polyester. She recommends avoiding pillows with animal products, like down or wool.
What are the best pillows for hot sleepers?
If you sleep hot, look for breathable, cooling materials like down, down alternative, latex, or shredded memory foam. For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best cooling pillows.
Why do pillows turn yellow?
Pillows turn yellow due to built-up sweat, oil, or skincare products. If your pillow is turning yellow, it's probably time for a replacement.
How often should I wash my pillow?
Generally, you should wash your pillow ever three to six months. Robbins recommends adding a pillow protector (an encasement that adds another level of protection from allergens, body oils, dust mites, and other pests), too. For more details, read our article on how to wash pillows.
What is pillow loft?
Loft refers to the height of your pillow. Low loft (short) pillows are best for stomach sleepers, while high loft (tall) pillows are ideal for side sleepers.
What are the different types of pillow sizes?
Most pillows for sleeping come in two sizes: standard and king. Standard pillow sizes measure 20" x 26" inches, and king-sized pillows measure 20" x 36" inches. We recommend a standard-size pillow for twin, full, and queen mattresses and king pillows for king or California king mattresses.
What pillows do hotels use?
Generally, hotels use down or down alternative pillows for the signature, fluffy feel.
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