Best Pillows of 2024

How It Performed

Our side sleepers enjoyed the Latex Pillow’s high-loft profile. We’ve found people who primarily use the side position need thick pillows to fill the gap between their head and downward-facing shoulder, which in turn promotes even alignment. Some of our back sleepers also enjoyed the pillow, while the stomach sleepers on our team found it a bit too thick.

Shredded fill makes the pillow quite moldable and snuggly, but we also noticed decent shape retention due to the chambered design. Temperature control was another highlight during our tests. Air circulates nicely throughout the inner chamber to minimize heat retention, and the breathable cover also helps ensure consistent cooling.

What It’s Made of

The Saatva Latex Pillow features shredded Talalay latex in the core chamber, and down-like microdenier fibers in the outer chamber. Latex is highly responsive compared to foam, so the pillow shouldn’t sink too much beneath your head and neck, but the microdenier chamber keeps the surface invitingly plush. An organic cotton sateen cover encases the fill. After separating the three components, you can wash and dry the cover and microdenier in your household machines.

The Latex Pillow is competitively priced, and Saatva offers substantial discounts if you include two pillows with your purchase. Queen and king sizes are available. Shipping is free for customers in the contiguous U.S. and provincial Canada. Your order includes a 45-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty against structural and material defects.

How It Performed

Most of our testers enjoyed the Loft Pillow, though their opinions varied on how much fill felt most comfortable. Side sleepers preferred the pillow at or close to full volume, as this provided ample cushioning for their head and promoted even spinal alignment. Our back sleepers received adequate support when the pillow was at medium loft, whereas stomach sleepers emptied most of the fill to create a low profile that didn’t elevate their necks too much.

The fill is moldable and ideal for our testers who enjoy snuggling with pillows while they sleep. Temperature control proved to be another strength during testing, as the cover — made from a breathable and moisture-wicking fabric blend — offset excessive heat retention and kept us cool. The pillow’s outer cover is fairly easy to keep clean, though you’ll need to remove all of the fill before laundering the inner pouch.

What It’s Made of

The Loft Pillow contains shredded memory foam infused with cooling gel to help you sleep cool. An inner pouch holds the foam, and the pouch is encased in a cover made of polyester and moisture-wicking viscose derived from bamboo. Both the cover and pouch are fully machine-washable.

When all fill is used, the pillow measures 8 inches thick and is considered very high-loft. Removing the fill gradually reduces the profile. Each Loft Pillow comes with a bag of supplemental fill whenever the original supply needs to be replenished. Queen and king sizes are available.

The Sleep Is the Foundation Loft Pillow is exclusively available through Amazon.com. All orders include 30-night trial periods, and Amazon Prime members qualify for free ground shipping.

How It Performed

Most of the side and back sleepers on our team awarded the pillow favorable ratings, though these testers were divided about which loft felt most comfortable. Side sleepers appreciated the extra cushioning of the 5-inch pillow, while back sleepers preferred the lower profile of the 4-inch model. Some of our stomach sleepers also liked the 4-inch design, though others experienced neck strain on both pillows.

Our tests show the pillow excels at temperature control. The ventilated core promotes plenty of air circulation, and the cover is made of breathable Tencel for added cooling. Shape retention was another testing highlight. The pillow never needs to be fluffed, and the latex bounces back quickly when not in use.

What It’s Made of

The pillow’s core consists of solid Talalay latex. This material is more resilient than Dunlop latex, making it bouncier and less dense. The latex is ventilated with small holes allowing air to circulate throughout the interior. A Tencel cover encases the core. You can remove and machine wash the cover whenever it needs to be cleaned. The pillow is available in queen and king sizes, as well as lofts of 4 or 5 inches.

The Talalay Latex Pillow is affordably priced compared to the average latex model, and Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Your order comes with a 30-night trial period. If you decide to keep the pillow, it’s further backed by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.

How It Performed

To accurately evaluate the Silk & Snow Pillow, our tests involved multiple loft adjustments. The side sleepers on our team preferred the pillow’s fill at maximum volume, whereas our back sleepers needed to remove some of the foam to avoid neck strain. For our stomach sleepers, the pillow felt most comfortable when the core chamber was half full.

For the remainder of our tests, we evaluated the pillow at about 90% volume. The shredded foam and synthetic down outer chamber gave the pillow an exceptionally moldable feel, and the chambered design helped to distribute the fill evenly and maintain a full shape. Thanks to the cotton cover, none of our testers felt excessively hot.

What It’s Made of

The core contains shredded memory foam that provides deep cushioning and close contouring for your head and neck. In the outer chamber, microfiber fill creates a down-like softness. The cover is composed of crisp cotton percale. You may machine wash the cover, but should avoid exposing the other components to water.

To adjust the loft, simply unzip the cover and inner pouch containing the foam. We recommend using a receptacle if you are removing foam, as the strands can create a mess. Silk & Snow does not sell additional foam fill in bulk.

Not only does the Silk & Snow Pillow carry an affordable price-point, but shipping is free of charge to all customers in the contiguous U.S. and provincial Canada. The company’s sleep trial runs for 100 nights, and you may return the pillow for a full refund after testing it for 30 nights. Those who keep their pillow also receive a 3-year warranty.

How It Performed

Not surprisingly, the side sleepers on our team all felt comfortable on the pillow. We were particularly impressed with how the pillow’s ergonomic shape promoted even spinal alignment — a constant struggle for side sleepers who use traditional rectangular pillows. Our back sleepers also enjoyed the pillow, though they preferred less fill and lower loft than their side-sleeping counterparts.

The fill didn’t retain too much heat during our temperature control tests and the cotton-blend cover is highly breathable, so we recommend the pillow to hot sleepers and those who reside in warm or humid climates. We also found that the pillow provides above-average support compared to adjustable models with foam fill. The latex has some springiness to keep your head aloft and prevent uncomfortable sinkage.

What It’s Made of

The Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow’s fill blend contains 75% shredded latex and 25% down alternative fibers. Although the higher ratio of latex makes the pillow feel responsive, the fibers add a touch of softness to cushion your head and neck. The oblong shape is designed to support your head and neck while bending around your shoulders to ensure even alignment for side sleepers.

You can unzip the cotton cover to add or remove fill as needed, and Eli & Elm sells extra fill if you want to replenish your supply. The cover is fully machine-washable. For added protection, you can purchase a matching pillowcase.

The Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow is reasonably priced, and you’ll receive a substantial discount if you order two pillows. Standard ground delivery is free for most customers in the contiguous U.S., but California residents must pay shipping fees. Each purchase is backed by a 45-night trial period and a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

How It Performed

Our testers found the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow quite soft, yet the silk fibers didn’t sink too much and overall support was excellent. A mid-range loft made the pillow best suited to the back sleepers on our team, though it also earned favorable ratings from some of our side and stomach sleepers.

During our temperature control tests, we found the pillow very breathable. Our testers attribute this to silk’s natural cooling properties and the moisture-wicking cover. Shape retention is another strong point. The silk shouldn’t clump or flatten even after years of use — in fact, this is a defect covered under Cozy Earth’s warranty — but the fill still gives the pillow a plush, moldable feel.

What It’s Made of

Long strands of mulberry silk comprise the pillow’s fill. Silk is an ideal pillow material if you enjoy soft surfaces for your head and neck, but also want consistent shape retention and breathability. The cover is made of viscose derived from bamboo. A sateen weave gives the cover fabric a silky-smooth feel that’s ideal if you have sensitive skin. You can machine wash the pillow if needed, but Cozy Earth recommends spot cleaning or dry cleaning instead. Standard and king sizes are available.

Shipping is free for orders in the contiguous U.S. Your order comes with a sleep trial spanning 100 nights in length. If you decide to keep your Silk Pillow, Cozy Earth backs your purchase with a 10-year warranty against shifting fill, pilling, and other material defects.

How It Performed

A medium feel and 5- to 6-inch loft made the Plant-Based Pillow a hit with our side and back sleepers. Our side sleepers found the profile thick enough to maintain proper alignment, while the plush down alternative fill cushioned the head and neck to relieve pressure. Our back sleepers also felt comfortable. If you sleep on your stomach, you may find the pillow cranes your neck too high and causes discomfort.

We also recommend the pillow for hot sleepers, thanks to the naturally breathable materials. Our heat guns detected very little heat buildup on the pillow’s surface. The fiberfill also made the pillow quite moldable during our tests, which is great if you prefer to snuggle your pillow at night.

What It’s Made of

The outer chamber is filled with plush fibers to give extra cushioning for the head and neck. Meanwhile, denser fibers in the inner chamber prevent the pillow from sinking too deeply. A breathable shell made from natural cotton keeps your head cool throughout the night. You can machine-wash the pillow for easy care. Simply wash on a gentle cycle and tumble dry on low heat.

Standard and king sizes are available. Sweet Zzz ships free to customers living in the contiguous U.S. The pillow comes with a 50-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty against structural defects.

How It Performed

Our testers evaluated all three of the Brooklinen Down Pillow’s density levels. The Plush pillow is the softest option, resulting in notable sinkage and minimal neck strain for our stomach sleepers. If you sleep on your side, we recommend the Firm pillow for its high loft. Our back sleepers awarded the highest ratings to the Mid-Plush feel, but this pillow is suitable for anyone who wants a compromise between soft cushioning and strong support.

Each density has a different construction, but we found all three pillows quite moldable and snuggly. The chambered design also helps maintain a full shape. That said, Brooklinen recommends daily fluffing to distribute the fill. While the down retains some heat, the breathable cover promotes cooling and none of our testers found the pillows overly warm.

What It’s Made of

Each of the three Brooklinen Down Pillows has a unique construction. The Plush design only contains down, creating an exceptionally soft surface for your head and neck. Mid-Plush pillows are structured with feather cores and down outer chambers. Since feathers provide better support, this design provides excellent cushioning without sinking too much. The Firm pillow also has a chambered design, but with a higher ratio of feathers to elevate your head even further.

Silky-smooth cotton covers encase the fill. To avoid damaging the down and feathers, you should only spot clean the pillow if stains occur. Dry cleaning is another option. Standard and king sizes are available.

The Brooklinen Down Pillow is reasonably priced and you’ll receive a discount when ordering two or four. Shipping is free for all customers in the contiguous U.S. Brooklinen’s 365-night sleep trial is one of the longest in the online bedding industry, and the pillow is backed by an additional year of warranty coverage against structural defects.

How It Performed

Our team tested most of the LAYR’s insert combinations to get a sense of the pillow’s overall performance. Side sleepers on our team felt comfortable with most or all of the inserts in place, and preferred the shredded foam or down alternative inserts on top. Our back sleepers were a little more divided between using both solid foam inserts or the shredded foam and fiber inserts, but all agreed two was ideal. For our stomach sleepers, a single insert — down alternative, in most cases — felt most comfortable.

How well the pillow performs largely depends on which inserts you use. The down alternative insert retains less heat than the others, so this may be the best top layer if you’re a hot sleeper — though the vented, moisture-wicking cover kept most of our testers cool and comfortable no matter which inserts they used. Those who feel pain and pressure points in their neck and shoulders should get adequate relief from the solid foam or shredded foam inserts.

What It’s Made of

Each LAYR comes with inserts containing down alternative fibers, shredded memory foam, and solid memory foam. For the latter, you’ll receive inserts measuring 1 inch and 2 inches thick. You can add, remove, and rearrange the inserts to achieve the most comfortable configuration. Each insert is encased in a pouch to keep the materials hygienic and easy to separate.

A cover made of bamboo-derived viscose encases the inserts. This fabric is highly breathable and has moisture-wicking properties. Ventilated side panels provide additional cooling. The cover and insert pouches are fully machine-washable, but you should avoid laundering the inserts themselves. Standard and king sizes are available.

The LAYR is very reasonably priced compared to other customizable pillows we’ve tested, and you’ll receive a significant discount if you order two pillows. Standard shipping is free for customers in the contiguous U.S. Luxome allows you to return undamaged pillows within 30 days of delivery.

How It Performed

The pillow’s soft, all-down design compresses very deeply. Our tests show stomach sleepers are the best candidates for this model — a flatter profile helps prevent neck strain for people who prefer the stomach position. Back sleepers on our team preferred the mid-range height and semi-plush feel of the medium pillow, while our side sleepers appreciated the full loft and sturdy support of the firm design.

Although you may need to fluff it from time to time, the chambered construction allows the pillow to retain shape better than many competing models. The fill also retains minimal heat and the shell is composed of breathable organic cotton, so the pillow should sleep nice and cool. We noticed a fair amount of initial odor, which is common for pillows with down and feather fill. These smells may persist for several nights, but washing the pillow can mitigate this issue.

What It’s Made of

The soft Down Chamber Pillow contains pure down in all three compartments, whereas the medium and firm models contain feathers in the core chamber and down in the outer chambers. A shell made of smooth organic cotton encases the fill. An International Down Standard certification indicates the fill meets strict animal welfare guidelines at each stage of its supply chain.

You may wash the pillow in cold water on a gentle cycle. Tumble drying on low heat helps extend its lifespan, but this may require multiple cycles to remove all moisture. Standard and king sizes are available.

The Down Chamber Pillow is reasonably priced given its luxurious design, and Boll & Branch offers free ground shipping for domestic U.S. orders. The company’s standard return and exchange window runs 30 nights from the delivery date. This trial period is extended to 100 nights during the winter holiday season.

How It Performed

Our team tested both of the GlacioTex Cooling Memory Foam Pillow’s profiles. Back and stomach sleepers largely preferred the lower 4.75-inch design, which offered just enough support to prevent uncomfortable sinkage without lifting the neck to an excessive degree. Combination back and stomach sleepers also felt most comfortable on this design. If you’re a side sleeper or a combination sleeper who sometimes uses the side position, we recommend the 5.25-inch profile instead.

During our tests, thermal mapping technology revealed little to no heat buildup on the pillow’s surface — a rare quality for a solid foam model. The GlacioTex cover gets most of the credit for this pillow’s above-average temperature control. Shape retention is another major strength. Since the core contains a single piece of foam, you should never need to fluff the pillow for shape recovery.

What It’s Made of

The pillow’s memory foam core is soft, squishy, and adaptive. This material responds slowly to movement, creating a cloud-like effect as your head and neck sink into the pillow. Copper fibers infused into the foam are intended to offset heat retention, but the GlacioTex phase change cover is the star of the show when it comes to regulating temperature. This proprietary fabric is engineered to capture and release body heat on contact. The cover is removable and fully machine-washable for easy care.

Standard and king sizes are available. Price-points are below-average compared to other memory foam pillows on the market, and Helix offers free ground shipping to shoppers in all 50 states. The company’s sleep trial runs for 100 nights, and those who keep their pillow receive an additional year of warranty coverage.

How It Performed

Our team tested all three of the pillow’s density options. The soft/medium design feels quite plush and compresses deeply, making it a solid choice for stomach sleepers. Combination sleepers who switch between their stomach and back should consider the medium/firm pillow, which resists deep sinkage without elevating the head and neck too much. Since side sleepers need extra cushioning to fill the space between their head and downward-facing shoulder, we recommend the firm/extra firm for any combination sleeper who sometimes lies on their side.

The pure down fill makes this pillow feel quite moldable and snuggly. At the same time, you may need to fluff the pillow frequently to maintain a full shape. Down has a tendency to absorb and trap heat, but in this case, a breathable cotton cover helps to offset heat retention and keep you cool.

What It’s Made of

European white goose down with 700 fill power gives the pillow a luxuriously plush and lofty feel. Many of our testing team members described the pillow as “cloud-like.” How dense or firm the pillow feels depends on which density you select, but all three feel somewhat soft — especially compared to models with other fill materials like memory foam or latex.

A shell made of smooth cotton sateen encases the fill. Thick piping along the seams helps protect the fabric from rips and tears. Standard and king sizes are available. The pillow is technically machine-washable, but may be too large for washers with agitators — dry cleaning is an alternative care method.

The Luxe Goose Down Pillow is approachably priced and standard ground shipping is free for all orders. Quince’s 365-night sleep trial is one of the longest in the online bedding industry, ensuring plenty of time to test out the pillow and decide if it’s right for you. During this time frame, you may exchange the pillow for a model with a different density if your initial selection doesn’t meet your needs.

How It Performed

Depending on the size you choose, you can change the loft anywhere from 1 to 10 inches and sleep comfortably in the side, back, or stomach positions. The Head Pillow is also available with three types of fill. We recommend the shredded memory foam for those who prefer a plush, adaptive feel. If you want some light cushioning without a close hug, the shredded latex fill may be more comfortable. The shredded wool fill is fairly firm, and also has natural moisture-wicking properties to help prevent night sweats. Your Head Pillow is fully adjustable regardless of which fill you choose.

What It’s Made of

A machine-washable organic cotton cover is included with your order. The fabric has Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification, as does the wool fill, while the latex has earned certification from the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS). These credentials ensure the materials have been sustainably sourced. Noble also allows customers to opt for plastic-free shipping containers during checkout.

Standard ground delivery is free of charge for customers in the contiguous U.S. You may test out the pillow for up to 30 nights. Exchanges for size and fill type are also available during the trial period. A manufacturer’s warranty covers structural and material defects in the Head Pillow for up to five years.