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. The right pillow can make all the difference when it comes to getting some shut-eye, or tossing and turning all night long.
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 even wash instructions, and whittled down a seemingly infinite field of contenders into a list of nine top pillow picks.
Keep scrolling for our short list, or if you need a little more guidance, jump to the end of the article for a primer on how to choose a pillow.
And, if you still can't sleep well after this, it might be time to find the best mattress, too.
Best pillows of 2022
The Casper Original Pillow is everything you could ever want in a pillow. Built to suit all sleep styles, a truly daunting feat, the Original Pillow is the right combination of fluffy comfort and support, easy to care for, doesn't seem to lose its loft or fill over time, sleeps cool... shall we say more?
What's it like to sleep on
A cloud that doesn't lose its loft, and lightly surrounds your head. It perfectly cushions my head and is pretty decent at raising back up again, without needing to re-fluff come morning. It also sleeps cool, is great for squishing together, and has kept my head well-supported.
Who will it suit?
The medium pillow is well-suited for all sleepers, whether you find the most comfort on your back, front, or side, you'll still feel support. As a back and side sleeper, the pillow is a bonafide winner in my book but I could see the pillow being too voluminous for a strict stomach sleeper.
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.
What's it 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.
Out of the box, you're instructed to let it plump up on low in your dryer with dryer sheets, or give it some pumps. We didn't have any dryer sheets on hand, but we imagine they could help the unboxing odors dissipate faster.
Who will it suit?
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.
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.
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 are designed to keep you cool.
Who will it suit?
The Weekender is designed for back, side, and stomach sleepers, but we rate it best for back sleepers, and a good pick for side sleepers as well.
Manufactured in the U.S., this Boll & Branch traditional down pillow is soft and luxurious and features an organic cotton cover. It's available in three firmness levels, soft, medium, and firm, so you can pick according to your preference. It is, however, one of the most expensive pillows on our list.
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.
Who will it suit
Its supportive sink-in qualities mean it's perfect for stomach sleepers, though side sleepers have reported loving the medium version, and back sleepers found comfort with the firm.
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).
If you like the softness of down, but suffer from an animal allergy or asthma, object to using animal products, looking to keep costs down or just don’t appreciate being poked by feathers when the pillow starts to wear? Try this Company Store Down Alternative pillow instead.
What's it like to sleep on
This pillow offers allergy-friendly support thanks to its hypoallergenic LoftAire fill that mimics the loftiness and insulating properties of down. That so, it will likely flatten and shift over time, but can easily be fluffed with a quick dryer cycle or a good shake. 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.
Who will it suit
This pillow comes in four fill options from soft to extra-firm 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 and extra-firm versions are the best bet for side sleepers.
And if you need an idea of each pillow support, peep the listing photos to see the cutest pug model for each pillow's density. Trust us, it's adorable.
Typically costing under $35 for two, these Amazon Basics pillows are a fantastic budget buy, and won't spark any allergies.
What's it like to sleep on
Great for allergy sufferers. The down alternative 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 pillows are available in two densities: soft for stomach and back sleepers or medium for back and side sleepers.
Who will it suit
Amazon Basics offers a down alternative for all sleep types. It's also budget-friendly and hypoallergenic.
What else?
Reviews have been pretty mixed on this, but most critics call out that the pillow goes flat and it doesn't offer much support. The pillows are sold as a set, so the solution could be as simple as doubling up on pillows.
Willing to splurge for a good night's sleep? Then the Saatva Latex Pillow could be the perfect pick. It gets rave reviews from nearly anyone who tries it out. Plus, it's eco-friendly and made in the U.S.A.
What's it like to sleep on
At night, it remains cool, dry, and breathable, 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."
Who will it suit
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.
If you love the squishiness of down but find that you're constantly searching for the cool side of the pillow, UltraCool down alternative 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.
What's it like to sleep on
This pillow sleeps like a traditional pillow despite its high-tech outer layer. If you like a plush pillow you can sink into, you'll like the UltraCool. One user described it as sleeping on nice cool clouds. Even better, every side is the "cool side" of the pillow.
The cover, featuring what Slumber Cloud calls Outlast, can absorb, store and release excess heat. This helps reduce overheating, but will also restore heat should you become cold.
Who will it suit
Down-alternative 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 two firmness levels, so even back sleepers can get comfortable with this pillow. The company recommends a soft pillow for stomach sleepers, medium for side sleepers, and firm for back sleepers.
Allswell introduced a unique concept last year: a reversible pillow. Contrary to most adjustable pillows that require you to take out the filling, the reversible pillow switches between your traditional down-alternative to a memory foam pillow on the other side.
What's it like to sleep on
Allswell described its pillow as cool on one side, comfy on the other. It also utilizes an anti-microbial treated cover to keep the pillow fresh. The memory foam molds to your head and is encased in a separate cover with a phase-change material (PCM) which reacts and adapts to your body heat to help maintain an optimal temperature while you sleep. Flip over to the down-alternative side for a more traditional pillow feel with a baffle box construction. The dense firmness of the memory foam seems to come through the most, with the thin cushion of the down alternative side creating a slight cushion. It doesn't require any plumping or fluffing like most down pillows do, nor does it deflate.
Who will it suit
Unsure whether you want memory foam or the traditional down pillow feeling, or perhaps your comfort needs to switch throughout the night? A reversible pillow! It also makes for a great guest room pillow to please guests with their preferred pillow type without having too many pillow options. With a relatively low profile, stomach sleepers will enjoy stable support, while back sleepers will find their head and necks aligned and supported.
How to choose the best pillow
Follow these simple steps to find the very best pillow for you, because in all seriousness, you want to find the best match for your needs
1. Consider how you sleep
Side sleepers will need a plump, softer pillow: think cushy fill or softer memory foam; while stomach sleepers will need firmer, thinner pillows to hold their necks in perfect alignment. Back sleepers can find comfort on both sides of the spectrum with a medium-soft or medium-firm pillow, or even memory foam pillows that meet the contours of the neck.
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. Think about thickness
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 3" thick; medium loft pillows are 3" to 5" thick; high loft pillows are at least 5" thick.
3. Discover the best pillow filling for you 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 is latex and memory foam to consider. Helpful for sufferers of neck or back pain, they keep the spine and muscles correctly elevated and aligned for deep sleep and pain-free morning.
4. Remember, it's personal
These pillows have been rated based on our own team members' experience with 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.
If you still can't decide what to buy, find out more in our complete guide to choosing a pillow.
