Best pillows: 7 buys for a comfortable night's sleep

Finding the best pillow for you can improve the quality of your sleep, your spinal position, and even aches and pains. But with so many different factors to consider, from how hot a sleeper you are to your default sleeping position and any special requirements or concerns (neck pain or pregnancy, for instance), finding 'the one' can seem like a daunting task. 

Bearing all of this – and more – in mind, we did the research and rounded up the best pillows to suit a variety of sleep preferences. We considered everything from material, to sleep position, to user reviews, and more, and whittled down a seemingly infinite field of contenders into a list of seven top pillow picks. 

Scroll down to check out our short list (or if you need a little more guidance, jump to the end of the article for a primer on what to look for in a pillow). 

And, if you still can't sleep well after this, it might be time to find the best mattress, too.

What is the best pillow?

Our choice of best pillow you can buy is the COOP Home Original Adjustable Pillow. You can add or remove the stuffing to suit the height and firmness level you prefer. See more below about why we've chosen this as the best pillow and to see all our other picks. 

If you are looking to invest in a top notch pillow that marries support and comfort, then this is the best you can buy. This COOP Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow has been engineered to give you the best night’s sleep with an adjustable height, but forget all that. It's just really great to sleep on, particularly if you're a side sleeper. 

Buy the COOP Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow.

What are they like to sleep on?
Adjustable height = perfect alignment. So, first, the adjustable height feature, which should allow you to achieve perfect alignment: the pillow comes with a zipper that allows you to access its interior and remove (or add back) the memory foam. The more foam is inside the pillow, the higher and firmer it feels. Our tester removed around three handfuls to get the desired height and level of firmness. 

Will it suit your sleep position?
This is a medium-firm pillow that's perfect for side sleepers who like a single pillow, but because you can adjust the pillow's thickness it works for back sleepers who need a shallower pillow, too. It has more of a sink-in quality than the memory foam pillows we tested, but won't give you the same soft sensation that a down or feather pillow will. That said, unlike down or feather, it holds its shape and barely needs re-plumping. Unlike traditional memory foam pillows, it's a cool place to lay your head each night. 

Ease of care
Remove the fillings, pop in the washing machine. Job done.

The Weekender pillow is one of the most budget-friendly pillows on our list, and it addresses one of the more commonly cited drawbacks of memory foam: overheating. 

Buy the Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow.

What's it like to sleep on?
Users mostly rate it as excellent; others say it's too firm, but in our experience, memory foam pillows do feel firmer than any other pillow type, and take a little getting used to (we'd rate it medium to firm). 

Once you've adjusted, though – if you can, not all our sleepers could get used to the initial firm feeling – you may never want to go back to traditional fillings, whether natural or synthetic. Either way, there’s a 30-day trial, so you can send it straight back if you don't get on with it. 

What else? The gel-infused foam and ventilated design is are designed to keep you cool. 

Will it suit your sleep position?
The Weekender is designed for back, side, and stomach sleepers, but we'd rate it best for back sleepers, and good pick for side sleepers as well. 

Ease of care?
The cover can be removed and washed. The pillow itself cannot.

Manufactured in the U.S., this Boll & Branch traditional down pillow is soft and luxurious, and features an organic cotton cover. It also comes in two firmness levels, soft and medium-firm, so you can pick your preference. It is however, one of the most expensive pillows on our list.

Buy the Boll & Branch traditional down pillow

What's it like to sleep on?
As you'd expect with this natural filling, it's soft and cozy to lie on no matter which firmness you choose, though the medium-firm pillow is noticeably more supportive than the soft option. Still, don't expect your head to sink right back to the mattress with either option like it might on poorer quality pillows. Three-chamber construction helps the pillow keep its shape both through the night and over time.

What else is there to like about it? The cover is made from 100 percent organic cotton, and it's made and assembled in Ohio. Plus, the down is sourced from a cruelty-free farm.

Will it suit your sleep position?
Its supportive sink-in qualities means it's perfect for stomach sleepers, though side sleepers have reported loving the medium-firm version.

Ease of care
All it needs is a good shake every now and then to plump it up and improve the loft. Down pillows can be machine washed and tumble dried on low (we recommend throwing in a few clean tennis balls to fluff them up, too).

At just under $24 for two, these Amazon Basics pillows are a fantastic budget anti-allergy buy. 

Buy Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillows.

What is it like to sleep on?
Great for allergy sufferers. The soft hollowfibre filling is antibacterial, and actively protects the pillow from dust mites. This helps to prevent allergies and keeps your pillow feeling fresh and clean. The cover is easy-on-skin microfibre polyester, and 

In case you were wondering just how good they could be at the price they're selling for, Silentnight anti-allergy fibres are approved by the British Allergy Foundation, which means they have the ultimate seal of approval. Buy them for yourself, an allergy-suffering partner or the kids, to eliminate those mysterious night-time coughs and itches. 

Silentnight rates the firmness of their pillows from one to 10, with one being very soft and 10 being extra firm. These anti-allergy pillows are rated as a four, which means they are of a medium comfort. 

Will it suit your sleep position?
In theory, this comfort rating makes them suitable for all sleep positions. But, compared to hybrid, memory foam and plumper feather and down pillows, we think this is a very soft pillow that’s ideal for front sleepers (see our mattress guide for stomach sleepers for more). For those in search of more support, perhaps side sleepers, or for anyone who like a pillow with more firmness, see the pillows above, or consider the Dunlopillo Super Comfort (reviewed below). 

Ease of care
The whole thing can be popped in the washing machine for easy cleaning. Use our guide to find out more about how to get rid of dust mites, too.

Willing to splurge for a good night's sleep? Then The Saatva Pillow could be the perfect pick. This pillow comes in at just under $150, but it gets rave reviews from nearly anyone who tries it out. Plus, it's eco-friendly and made in the U.S.A.

Buy the The Saatva Pillow.

What's it like to sleep on?
At night, it remains cool, dry and breathable in the summer, as you'd expect from latex; and it’s naturally mildew and dust mite-resistant, making it a really great choice for allergy sufferers, too. If you like a squishy, sink-in pillow, however, you may want to skip this one, as some reviewers call it "dense."

Will it suit your sleep position?
Its medium firmness and lofty depth make this pillow an excellent choice for side-sleepers or back sleepers that prefer a slight incline, but stomach-sleepers may find it too high for comfort.

Ease of care
This latex pillow is covered in a luxury removable organic cotton cover, which makes it easy to keep clean.

If you like the softness of down, but suffer from an animal allergy or asthma, object to using animal products, or just don’t appreciate being poked by feathers when the pillow starts to wear? Try this L.L. Bean pillow instead.

Buy the L.L. Bean Down Alternative Pillow.

What's it like to sleep on?
This pillow offers allergy-friendly support thanks to its hypoallergenic PimaLoft fill. Plus, it's a comparatively budget-friendly buy, so if you want a high-quality pillow without spending $100 – perhaps something for a spare bed – it's a good choice. 

Will it suit your sleep position?
This pillow comes in soft, medium, and firm fill options so you can choose the one that's best for you. We recommend the soft pillow for stomach sleepers or those who move a lot in their sleep. The medium is a good choice for back-only sleepers, while the firm version is the best bet for side sleepers 

Ease of care
It's machine-washable. 

If you love the squishiness of down but find that you're constantly searching for the cool side of the pillow, the Cirrus Pillow is the one you've been waiting for. It's filled with down, but the cooling fabric shell is made with a NASA-engineered technology designed to prevent overheating. Prefer a synthetic fill? It also comes in a polyester option.

Buy the SlumberCloud Cirrus Pillow.

What are they like to sleep on?
This pillow sleeps like a traditional down pillow despite its high-tech outer layer. If you like a plush pillow you can sink into, you'll like the Cirrus Pillow. 

Will it suit your usual sleep position?
Down pillows in general are typically best for stomach sleepers since they tend to lose their "fluff" throughout the night. But, this pillow can be ordered in three firmness levels, so even back sleepers can get comfortable with this pillow simply by ordering right. The company recommends the soft pillow for stomach sleepers, medium for side sleepers, and firm for back sleepers.

Ease of care
It doesn't get much easier than this: Pop the pillow in the washer and dryer to bring it back to life.

How to buy the best pillow

Follow these simple steps to get the very best pillow for you:

1. How do you sleep?

Side sleepers will need a plump, firm pillow: think hybrids or memory foam; back and stomach sleepers will need much softer, thinner pillows to hold their necks in perfect alignment.

Now think about where your pillow will sit beneath your head while you sleep. If you prefer it completely beneath your head, you'll get on best with a low- to medium-loft pillow; if you sleep with your pillow only partially beneath your head, you may find a pillow with a higher loft to feel supported.

2. How thick is your preferred pillow? 

This is called 'pillow loft', and when you're buying new, you might see it written on the side of the packaging. Experiment at home to get your preferred thickness right. Low loft pillows are around 7cm thick; medium loft pillows are 7cm to 12cm thick; high loft pillows are 12cm+ thick.

3. Remember, it's personal

The pillows below have been rated by our experience of them, but it's vital to remember that we all have different preferences that don't necessarily relate to their sleeping position, as mentioned above. Some of us prefer to sleep with two pillows (even though sleep experts suggest that sleeping with one is the best option); others prefer the feel of synthetic fillings over natural... and so on. 

Also important to consider: unless you and your partner both sleep soundly, it shouldn't be a case of buying matching pillows 'just because'. What you find comfortable might not work for your other half, so your pillow choices should be entirely independent. 

4. How do a pillow's fillings feel to sleep on?

Natural fillings, including duck and goose feathers and down, feel soft and luxurious, giving you that extra-cozy sensation of sinking into your pillow. They, along with sheep’s wool, are naturally heat-retaining, which makes them ideal if you get chilly at night, but not for those who are constantly in pursuit of the cool side of the pillow.

If you like the softness of down but not the heat, or you suffer from allergies or respiratory diseases, you can get synthetic fiber fillings that mimic the feel. And speaking of allergies, pillow manufacturers are very much up to speed with the needs of their users these days, so you can expect to find anti-allergy fillings and coverings, plus keep-clean machine washable constructions, for a reasonable price.

Finally, for those of us who need more support in bed, or just prefer the feel of a firm pillow, there are latex, hybrid and memory foam. Helpful for sufferers of neck or back pain, they keep the spine and muscles correctly elevated and aligned for a deep sleep and a pain-free morning.

5. Are you pregnant?

When you are pregnant the best sleeping position is on your left side as it helps increase the flow of blood (and nutrients) to the placenta. If you aren't used to sleeping this way, the best pregnancy pillow will help you lie in comfort.

If you still can't decide what to buy, find our more in our complete guide to choosing a pillow.

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Our pillow testing process:

Our pillows are each tested over a few weeks by our Ed in Chief, Lucy Searle, who then passes them around her family and friends to bring you real-life opinions on what each one is really like to sleep on.

Each sleeper chosen has different preferences and sleep positions, and as a group they range in age from 12 to 52. Plus it's not a one-night opinion you're getting: each pillow is given at least a week per person, unless, of course, they find it unbearably uncomfortable.

More about sleeping soundly:

• How to choose a mattress
• The best cheap mattress deals
• How to wash pillows