8 of the best hypoallergenic pillows

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By reducing or preventing these reactions with the help of this type of pillows, people may find that they have a more restful sleep.

This article discusses why people may need a hypoallergenic pillow. It also lists some of the best hypoallergenic pillows currently available to buy.

A quick look at 8 of the best hypoallergenic pillows

• Best support for all sleep positions: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Symphony Pillow
• Best bamboo pillow: Snuggle-Pedic Original Bamboo Pillow
• Best down-alternative: Parachute Home Down Alternative Pillow
• Best memory foam pillow: Coop Home Goods Original Pillow
• Best vegan pillow: Avocado Green Pillow
• Best latex pillow: Saatva Latex Pillow
• Best cooling pillow: Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillows
• Best for a range of firmnesses: Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow

Medical News Today does not rank products in any order and does not recommend one product over another. A person should choose the product that best fits their needs.

MNT chooses mattresses, sheets, pillows, and other bedding that meet the following criteria:

• Certifications: MNT will choose products that have CertiPUR-US or other certifications. This means that the products are low in pollutants and free from heavy metals and volatile organic compounds.
• Size: MNT chooses products that are available in various sizes.
• Materials and fill: MNT selects products made from different materials and fills, such as memory foam and latex, to suit a range of sleep and lifestyles.
• Budget: MNT features products to suit a wide range of budgets.
• Firmness: MNT selects mattresses that are available in a range of firmness options to suit most people’s sleeping styles.
• Sleep trials: MNT chooses companies that offer a sleep trial.
• Shipping: Where possible, MNT will include shipping information, such as where the company delivers to and whether shipping is free.
• Warranties and return policies: MNT will include products that carry warranties and clear returns policies.

Below are eight of the best hypoallergenic pillow options people with allergies can consider.

Best support for all sleep positions: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Symphony Pillow

• Price: $119
• Sizes: One size

Tempur-Pedic has CertiPUR-US certification, meaning its foam does not contain harmful chemicals.

Additionally, the company minimizes its energy consumption and waste and has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The TEMPUR-Symphony Pillow has a gently arched side designed to provide additional support for the head and neck, which the company states is suitable for back sleepers.

According to the company, the other side has a flatter shape that may be more suitable for side or stomach sleepers.

Tempur-Pedic writes that this pillow has a soft feel and comes with a removable and washable cover. This cover is 100% polyester knit hypoallergenic.

The company offers a 5-year limited warranty on its pillows. However, it does not accept returns on pillows.

Best bamboo pillow: Snuggle-Pedic Original Bamboo Pillow

• Price: $40.99–44.99
• Sizes: Standard, queen, and king

Snuggle-Pedic is a mattress company that designs and manufactures mattresses in Southern California using materials sourced from the United States.

The company uses a combination of Biogreen foam and CertiPUR-US-certified foam that is low in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. According to the company, the foam and coverings are hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant.

The Original Bamboo Pillow contains shredded foam, which the company claim gives the same support as high-density memory foam and contains hypoallergenic down alternative fiber that does not go flat with use.

The company states that the foam used in this pillow has a smooth texture that does not form lumps or bumps.

Additionally, this pillow adjusts with movement, which may make it suitable for side, back, and stomach sleepers and people who change positions overnight.

The company offers a 120-night sleep trial with free returns and customizations. Additionally, each pillow comes with a 20-year warranty.

Best down-alternative: Parachute Home Down Alternative Pillow

• Price: $79–109
• Sizes: Standard and king

Parachute Home has been manufacturing home goods since 2014.

The company has OEKO-TEX certification, meaning it makes its products without harmful chemicals or synthetics.

Parachute Home also partners with the United Nations Nothing But Nets campaign, sending malaria prevention bed nets to at-risk people.

The pillow contains 100% hypoallergenic microfiber fill and has a 100% sateen cotton shell.

The company claims this pillow provides the support and softness of down without the risk of triggering an allergic reaction to dust mites.

The pillow is available in three densities: soft, medium, and firm. The company recommends the soft pillow for stomach sleepers, the medium pillow for back sleepers, and the firm pillow for side sleepers.

This product has a 3-year warranty.

Best memory foam pillow: Coop Home Goods Original Pillow

• Price: $71.99–76.99
• Sizes: Queen and king

Coop Home Goods uses memory foam filling that GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US have certified as safe for children and adults.

This company manufactures pillows designed to maximize airflow to help prevent people from overheating at night. Each pillow comes with a hypoallergenic liner that can protect users against dust mites and other allergens.

Each pillow has a polyester and bamboo-derived viscose rayon cover that promotes airflow during the night.

The company states that this pillow has a firm feel and is best for back and side sleepers, those who toss and turn during the night, and those who snore. Learn how to stop snoring.

However, this pillow is adjustable, so people can add or remove the medium-firm density fill to suit their preferences. The company includes a 0.5-pound (lb) bag of foam filling with every purchase.

Coop Home Goods makes its pillows in the U.S. and claims its manufacturing process is cruelty-free.

The company offers a 100-night sleep trial and free shipping in the U.S.

Each pillow comes with a 5-year warranty.

Best vegan pillow: Avocado Green Pillow

• Price: $99–119
• Sizes: Standard, queen, and king

The Avocado Green pillow has a certification from the Vegan Awareness Association. This indicates that animal products are not present in the pillow or the manufacturing process.

The fill is a mixture of Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)-certified organic latex and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic kapok. This fill is adjustable, so a person can add or remove it to suit their firmness needs. A person will get an extra bag of filling with each purchase.

The outer cover features machine-washable organic jersey cotton.

This medium-plush pillow also has GREENGUARD Gold certification and is handmade in the United States.

The company claims that the materials ensure a person sleeps cool. It also claims that the pillow is suitable for sleepers of all positions.

However, as the pillow contains latex, it is unsuitable for people with a latex allergy.

It is available in three sizes, has a 100-night trial, and a 1-year warranty.

Best latex pillow: Saatva Latex Pillow

• Price: $165–185
• Sizes: Queen and king

The Saatva Latex Pillow has a shredded 100% natural latex core. Saatva claims that this provides support to the head and neck. The company also claims that chiropractors and orthopedists recommend this material in pillows. The product has OEKO-TEX certification.

The inner pillow fill is a down-like fiber material, and the cover is 100% organic cotton sateen.

The company claims that the outer cotton layer is breathable and moisture-wicking. It also says that latex is more durable than memory foam pillows.

The pillow is available in a queen or king size.

Saatva provides a 45-day returns window, free shipping, and a 1-year limited warranty.

Best cooling pillow: Beckham Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillows

• Price: $42.99–65.99
• Sizes: Queen and king

The company states that the breathable cotton used to make this pillow can help keep a person cool overnight.

The company states it is suitable for back, side, and stomach sleepers.

The fill is a plush down alternative material which has an OEKO-TEX certification. The outer cover is 100% cotton sateen.

The company also states that the color is fade-proof and machine washable. It also says it has a bounce-back design to help mold to a person’s shape as they move during sleep.

The product is sold in a pack of two and includes free shipping and returns, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for a range of firmnesses: Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow

• Price: $68–118
• Sizes: Standard and king

When purchasing this product, a person can choose between three firmness options: soft, medium, and firm.

The fill of this pillow uses a material called Primaloft, which the company claims is allergy-friendly. Primaloft is a synthetic fiber that offers a similar weight and loft as down.

The outer layer of the pillow is 100% cotton.

The pillow has an OEKO-TEX certification.

Boll & Branch provides a 30-night trial, free shipping, and free returns. It does not offer a warranty on its pillows.

People may benefit from using a hypoallergenic pillow if they experience allergic symptoms, such as asthma, runny nose, or eczema.

Hypoallergenic covers or pillows may help reduce or prevent an allergic reaction to dust mites and pets. Hypoallergenic covers or pillows often have variable pore sizes that can block dust mites and pet allergens.

Eczema

In some cases, people with eczema experience overheating and sweating as triggers for eczema flare-ups. According to the National Eczema Society, using bedding made of silk, bamboo viscose, cotton, or other fabrics can help people regulate their body temperature and may help prevent flare-ups.

However, the National Eczema Society notes that fabrics that work well for some people may not work well for others.

It recommends washing bedding twice per week and pillows and duvets every 4–6 weeks at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) and tumble drying on a hot temperature setting to help remove dust mite droppings.

It also recommends vacuuming the mattress whenever a person removes their sheets to wash them.

Learn more about eczema here.

Dust mite allergy

A dust mite allergy, which some people may know as a house dust allergy, is an allergic reaction to dust mites that live in household dust.

Dust mites are the main cause of indoor allergens. Having an allergy to dust mites produces symptoms such as:

• watery eyes
• asthma
• eczema
• itchy nose, mouth, throat, and skin
• cough
• trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing

People with a dust mite allergy usually develop it during childhood or adolescence, generally experiencing symptoms before they are 20 years old.

The fecal matter of the dust mites is a common trigger. These particles are around the size of a pollen grain, and people can easily inhale them by accident. Dust mites tend to live in bedding, carpets, and soft furnishings that trap moisture and allow dust mites to breed.

Learn more about dust mite allergies here.

Pet allergy

Pets are another common source of allergens.

When people are allergic to cats, they often react to a product of cats’ sebaceous and salivary glands called secretoglobin, which is present in cats’ skin and fur.

People allergic to dogs may be allergic to a protein lipocalin that dogs produce. People can come into contact with this in dog hair, dander, and saliva.

The table below compares each hypoallergenic pillow included in this article.

• Allergies: If a person has allergies, they should purchase a pillow that does not contain down or feathers. Research suggests that bedding containing down and feathers are more allergenic as they contain chemicals and microorganisms. Additionally, people with latex allergies should check if their chosen pillow contains latex and choose an alternative if it does.
• Materials: Companies make pillows using a wide range of materials, including cotton, latex, memory foam, down, and bamboo. A person should consider their allergies, the softness and durability of the materials used in their chosen pillow, and how easy they will be to wash and care for.
• Firmness: A person should consider their firmness preference and any health conditions that may affect how firm they should have their pillow. Some companies may offer a choice of firmnesses and provide extra filling a person can add or remove from their pillow. Others come in one firmness option. A person’s sleep position and personal preference will influence which firmness will be best for them.
• Certifications: Many pillow manufacturers hold environmental certifications confirming the quality of their materials and manufacturing process, highlighting whether their pillows are free from harmful chemicals or substances. A person may wish to consider companies that hold these certifications to ensure they purchase a product that has a minimal environmental impact and will not harm their health.
• Warranty and trials: Sleep trials allow people to try their chosen pillow. If users decide the pillow is not for them, they can send it back to the company for a refund. Some companies offer longer warranty periods than others, and a person should check what each company covers in its warranty offers.
• Price: A person should check whether their chosen pillow comes in a single or double pack. Often, a person will have to buy two pillows separately if they need more than one, making the purchase more expensive. People should consider the features they want in their pillow and research companies that offer those features at a price that suits their budget.

People can also purchase mattresses suitable for allergies and hypoallergenic duvet covers.

For information on hypoallergenic duvet covers, click here.

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the best hypoallergenic pillows.

What is a hypoallergenic pillow?

Hypoallergenic pillows can be more resistant to allergens, such as dust mites, than non-hypoallergenic pillows. This means they may be more suitable for people with allergies as they can be less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. As a result, a person may have a more restful sleep.

Do hypoallergenic pillows help with allergies?

Hypoallergenic bedding can help people reduce their allergic symptoms as they act as a barrier between a person and the potential allergens inside their pillow. A person with allergies may also benefit from using a hypoallergenic pillow as it can repel allergens that often become trapped in other types of pillows. However, a person should take other steps to reduce their allergies, such as limiting their exposure to dust mites, pet hair, and other known allergens.

Can you wash hypoallergenic pillows?

A person can wash hypoallergenic pillows. People should take note of the instructions on the pillow’s label before washing it, as each pillow will have different washing requirements according to its materials. Sometimes, a person will not be able to wash the pillow’s filling, but they may be able to wash the cover or case.

Using a hypoallergenic pillow may help prevent or reduce a person’s allergic reactions to common household allergens, such as dust mites and pets.

A person can choose from a wide range of hypoallergenic pillows online.

On top of buying a hypoallergenic pillow, a person can also consider how else they might reduce their allergy symptoms, such as vacuuming or dusting more regularly to reduce the risk of dust mites or regularly washing their bedding.