Best memory foam pillows: Quick Menu
If you're in the market for a memory foam pillow, then look no further. We've been tasked with the super tiring job of testing a whole bunch of the best pillows, from memory foam picks to latex and down alternatives, and we've decided on which ones are our favorite when it comes to comfort and convenience. Here, you'll find our favorite memory foam picks, all of which wowed us in testing and let us have the most dreamy night's sleep possible.
Why memory foam? Not only does it contour around your head, shoulders, and neck and mold to your shape, but this type of pillow tends to be soft yet supportive. It's also super popular among side and back sleepers — front sleepers need something a little more solid and less sinkable. Memory foam is often a love or hate situation, since it's so plush. If you fall into the first camp of people, then here are some great picks with prices from $40. We've reviewed half of the pillows in this guide — the last three have been featured based on their incredible customer ratings.
The best memory foam pillows to buy in 2023
Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Memory foam pillows we've reviewed
We've slept on all of these pillows for a minimum of four weeks in order to reach a verdict.
Firmness: Medium
Cover: Bamboo-derived viscose rayon and polyester
Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low
Price: $72
+ Adjustable height
+ 100-night trial
+ 5-year warranty
+ 2 sizes
+ Hypoallergenic
+ GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US® certified
- Not the most affordable
Made from shredded memory foam, our reviewer Annie found this breathable pillow to be super comfortable. It comes with extra filling so you can add or remove foam as required, depending on your sleep position. It's non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and particularly great for anyone who often changes their sleep position. You get a 100-night trial and can wash the whole pillow and its cover in your machine. You get more money off the more pillows you buy — just be aware that it's not the thickest pillow out there.
Read our Coop Home Goods Original pillow review.
Firmness: Medium-firm
Cover: Viscose polyurethane foam w/gel and polyester fiber
Care: Spot clean/machine wash, tumble dry cover on low
Price: $139
+ Adjustable height
+ 100-night trial
+ 5-year warranty
+ Hypoallergenic
+ 2 sizes
+ GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US® certified
- Spot clean only
- High price
If, like our reviewer, you're a hot sleeper, then you will love this adjustable cooling pillow. Its 100% virgin foam fill will really help on hot summer nights and it's cool to the touch. It has two different sides to it — one firm and the other more plush. It's a really thick pillow, even without the extra fill, making it a great single pillow if you prefer to sleep with just one. That being said, our reviewer, who is a side/back sleeper, added all of the extra filling. Unfortunately, it's spot clean only but its cover is machine washable and tumble dryer friendly.
Review coming soon.
Firmness: Medium
Cover: 100% polyester
Care: Machine wash pillowcase, spot clean inner
Price: $39
+ Adjustable height
+ Affordable
+ Good for snorers
+ OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified
+ 100-night trial
- No warranty
- Difficult to find a cover for its shape
Our reviewer Christina found that this pillow helped cure her neck pain thanks to its unique shape. It's suitable for all sleepers (you just need to use it in slightly different ways, as instructed in the manual). It's also nice and budget-friendly at less than $40. Snorer? It's worth a try as it claims to help. It also comes in three sizes. The only thing we disliked is that it's nearly impossible to find a pillowcase that will fit it perfectly, so it won't look the most aesthetically pleasing on your bed. The pillow can't be washed but its cover can. If you sleep with just one pillow, this is ideal but if you want extra depth this might not be the pillow for you.
Read our Zamat Contour Pillow review.
More memory foam pillows
We haven't yet got our hands on these pillows to review them, but customers rate them highly and really rave about them for quite a few reasons.
Firmness: Adjustable
Cover: 100% 330-TC cotton
Care: Machine wash and tumble dry cover only
Price: $59
+ Adjustable
+ Temperature regulating
+ Reasonable price
+ Lifetime guarantee
+ OEKO-TEX Certified
- One size only
- Not machine washable (cover is)
This dual-sided reversible pillow gives sleepers the best of both (sides of the pillow). It features a cool gel fiber fill on one side and a cozy memory foam on the other that's encased in 330-TC cotton. It takes flipping your pillow over in the middle of the night to a whole new level. Customizable for all kinds of sleepers, but it's particularly great for anyone who needs extra neck and head support as they sleep.
Firmness: Medium
Cover: Bamboo-derived viscose rayon and polyester
Care: Washable cover
Price: $31.99
+ Temperature regulating
+ Great price point
+ 3 sizes
+ 3-year manufacturer's warranty
+ CertiPUR-US® certified
- Not machine washable (cover is)
- Not great for front sleepers
The Weekender pillow addresses a common complaint about memory foam: overheating. The gel-infused foam and ventilated design are made to keep you cool with a thick 5-inch loft. FYI: It's great for back and side sleepers, but it may be too high for stomach sleepers to keep their spine aligned. It has more than 36,000 reviews backing it, with a 4.4-star overall rating, plus it's Amazon's Choice pillow.
Firmness: Soft/medium
Cover: 100% cotton
Care: Wash on cold and air dry
Price: $61.37 for 2
+ Cooling gel layer
+ OEKO-TEX Certified
+ 2 sizes
- May need to re-plump
- Not tumble dryer friendly
- No warranty
This ever-popular gel memory foam pillow from Beckham Hotel Collection is a great Amazon find at around $60 for two (sometimes they're on sale, too). They're backed by a whopping 230,000 reviews, with a 4.4-star rating. They're said to be the perfect pillow for dorms, spare rooms, or if you've recently just moved out. Reviewers love them for their premium feel, and because they're fully machine washable. Back and side sleepers rave about them, but they're not the best if you like a firm pillow as a front sleeper. Its foam is also said to be a little cooling, so if you want a breathable pillow this pack is perfect.
What to consider when buying a memory foam pillow
There are just a couple of things to consider when choosing a memory foam pillow, beyond your sleep position and whether you prefer a plush or firm pillow.
1. Is it washable? Or does it have a washable cover?
Some memory foam pillows are totally machine washable and can also be popped in a tumble dryer on low. Others are spot clean only but have a washable cover. Depending on what you need, choose wisely and always check the washing instructions on the pillow. And here's exactly how to wash your pillow, BTW.
2. What is its cover made of?
Most pillow covers are cotton, but some have a high thread count and will feel a little more luxurious. Because you will be putting a pillowcase over this cover, it's not really the end of the world if it doesn't feel super high quality. So long as it's washable.
3. How much is it? And will you need to buy two?
A new pillow can pretty much be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. If you want your bed to look symmetrical, you'll probably want two. If you're on a budget, you might want to go for a two-pack like the Beckham Hotel Collection Pillows from Amazon. Otherwise, some brands offer a discount on the more pillows you buy. As a rule, if you sleep with more than one pillow, we'd say to ensure that your top pillow is high quality as the others are mostly there for depth. So, if you sleep with three pillows there's no need to buy three of the same if they're all expensive.
4. Does it hold any certifications?
This is a biggie, and one that all of the pillows we recommend will have. There are a few certifications you want to look out for but the main ones are OEKO-TEX and CertiPUR-US. These certifications mean that during the process of making and filling your pillow, nothing has been used that's harmful or toxic to you.
5. Is it cooling?
This only really matters if you tend to be someone who sleeps hot, or if you live somewhere with super warm summers. A couple of pillows in this guide are nice and breathable and feature some sort of cooling layer inside them so that they are cool to the touch. This means no more pillow flipping during the night, woo hoo!
6. How many sizes does the pillow come in?
Most pillows come in a standard size but if you do prefer a larger pillow, a few in this guide come in queen and king sizes. This often comes with a higher price, and you'll likely need larger pillowcases.
7. Does it come with a trial and/or warranty?
Not all pillows will come with these things, especially those that are on the cheaper side. Our first three pillows, the ones we've reviewed, all come with trials so that if you don't like them, you can return them and get your money back.
FAQs
Is memory foam the best pillow?
If you've read our five-step guide to choosing the perfect pillow, you'll know there are a few things to look out for: material, sleep style, filling, size, and budget. Memory foam can be a love-it or hate-it material, so it's really down to personal preference.
Memory foam can generally make a pillow hard and boxy, as opposed to a plush feather-filled option. Once resting your head, it sinks and molds around your neck for cushioning and support. It's usually best for back sleepers since it cradles the head without your neck hitting the mattress. It's also okay for side sleepers as the thickness and height can work well to keep your spine aligned. We recommend front sleepers avoid them.
Wondering if you can wash memory foam pillows in your washing machine? The short answer is yes, but there is one rule to remember.
How we test memory foam pillows
Coop Home Goods Adjustable pillow in review
We've tried to sleep on all of the pillows we recommend in this guide, but we are still working our way through them. As of this update, three out of six of these pillows have been slept on, and the other three have been featured based on their incredible reviews. The pillows we have given a star rating are the ones we've tested, FYI.
For the pillows we have slept on, a member of the team has used it for four weeks minimum on their bed, being careful not to change anything else about our sleep setup during this time. We consider everything, including price, care, how easy they are to clean, and comfort, which is key. We try to sleep on them in different positions to get a good feel. We recommend each pillow based on the way that certain people sleep, so what is good for a side sleeper probably won't be the best for a front sleeper — unless it's adjustable!
For the pillows we haven't reviewed, we researched, read reviews, and compared products that claimed to be ultra cozy. We're working to review them over the coming months, don't you worry!
Meet our memory foam pillow reviewers:
Annie has been testing products for Real Homes since 2018 and has tested 10+ pillows. She sleeps on her side mostly, as she's currently pregnant so can no longer sleep in her normal sleeping position — on her stomach. Right now, she's sleeping on the Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow and she has her husband testing the Coop Home Goods Eden Cool + Pillow.
Christina has been writing for Real Homes since 2021 and has tested everything from pillows to air fryers for us. She usually sleeps on her side and her front and is currently reviewing the Zamat Contour Memory Foam Pillow.
