10 Best Pillows

• Best for neck and shoulder support: Tempur-Pedic Neck Pillow | Skip to review
• Best for vegans: Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow | Skip to review
• Best for side sleepers: Layla Kapok Pillow | Skip to review
• Best for different firmness levels: Parachute Down Pillow | Skip to review
• Best for adjustable fill: Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow | Skip to review
• Best for a latex pillow: Avocado Green Pillow | Skip to review
• Best for a silk pillow: Silk Bedding Direct Luxury Silk-filled Pillows | Skip to review
• Best cooling pillow: Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow | Skip to review
• Best pillow for neck pain: Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow | Skip to review
• Best pillow with multiple lofts: Purple Harmony Pillow | Skip to review

When choosing a pillow, it can help to consider a person’s preferred sleeping position, any allergies, and any pain they experience during sleep.

Below are some suitable pillows that a person may find comfortable.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Best for neck and shoulder support: Tempur-Pedic Neck Pillow

• Price: from $119
• Firmness: extra firm
• Fill: open-cell foam
• Hypoallergenic: yes

The Tempur-Pedic Neck Pillow features an ergonomic design that contours to the body. The manufacturer says it supports and helps align the neck and shoulders.

The pillow comprises hypoallergenic materials, including slow spring-back, open-cell foam. According to the brand, this offers better comfort, adapts to movement, and helps dissipate heat.

The pillow is suitable for back or side sleepers. It has an extra-firm feel with proprietary TEMPUR materials.

Buyers can choose from three sizes that differ in height between 3.5 inches (in) and 4.75 in.

Best for vegans: Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow

• Price: from $45
• Firmness: plush
• Fill: shaved microfiber
• Hypoallergenic: yes

The Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow consists of hypoallergenic shaved microfibers to mimic the feel of feather down. It may suit people with allergies and those following a vegan lifestyle.

The company says that the plush version of this pillow is for individuals who sleep on their stomachs. It should also keep the neck and spine in alignment during sleep.

The pillow contains an eco-friendly fill that the brand makes from recyclable plastic bottles. Its shell has a sateen weave with double stitching.

Best for side sleepers: Layla Kapok Pillow

• Price: from $109
• Firmness: plush
• Fill: kapok fibers and open-cell memory foam
• Hypoallergenic: no information available

The Layla Kapok Pillow may suit people who sleep on their side. The supportive plush filling consists of natural kapok fibers and open-cell memory foam. This helps the pillow conform to the shape of a person’s head and neck.

People can also adjust the amount of filling by unzipping the pillow and removing or adding material.

The covering contains copper fibers that help draw away heat from the body during sleep.

Best for different firmness levels: Parachute Down Pillow

• Price: from $129
• Firmness: soft, medium, and firm
• Fill: European down and feathers
• Hypoallergenic: not suitable for people allergic to down or feather

The Parachute Down Pillow consists of European down and feather fibers. It also comes in three levels of preferred support.

The brand recommends “soft” for stomach sleepers, “medium” for back sleepers, and “firm” for side sleepers.

Best for adjustable fill: Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow

• Price: from around $72
• Firmness: medium-firm
• Fill: shredded memory foam
• Hypoallergenic: yes

Coop Home Goods says that this medium-firm pillow should suit all sleeping positions. A person can fill it as much or as little as needed.

The filling consists of hypoallergenic shredded memory foam. The cover comprises of polyester and bamboo-derived rayon with CertiPUR-US and UL GREENGUARD Gold certification, meaning its construction has no harmful chemicals.

Best for a latex pillow: Avocado Green Pillow

• Price: from $109
• Firmness: medium-plush
• Fill: latex and kapok fiber
• Hypoallergenic: yes

This pillow has a cotton cover with latex and hypoallergenic kapok fillings. It has Global Organic Textile Standard and Global Organic Latex Standard certifications.

The Green Pillow has an adjustable fill, and the company sends people a bag of extra material to change the pillow’s height.

Additionally, this pillow is machine-washable and available in standard, queen, and king sizes.

Best for a silk pillow: Silk Bedding Direct Luxury Silk-filled Pillows

• Price: around $220
• Firmness: plush
• Fill: 22-momme mulberry silk
• Hypoallergenic: yes

This pair of pillows contain natural 22-momme mulberry silk inside with a 300 thread-count sateen cotton cover. The company states this product holds an OEKO-TE Standard 100 certification.

The company states that the natural silk may help reduce sleep lines and is suitable for people with asthma, eczema, and allergies.

Best cooling pillow: Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow

• Price: from around $62
• Firmness: plush
• Fill: cooling fiber
• Hypoallergenic: yes

This down alternative pillow is available in queen and king sizes and comes in a set of two.

It may be most beneficial for hot sleepers, as it contains cooling fibers. The company states these pillows may be suitable for people who overheat or have night sweats.

This pillow may also be beneficial for all sleeping positions, as its no-shift and bounce-back design helps maintain its shape after use.

The pillow is machine-washable and suitable for tumble drying.

Best pillow for neck pain: Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow

• Price: from around $145
• Firmness: adjustable
• Fill: latex and polyester
• Hypoallergenic: no

This pillow contains adjustable latex and polyester filling. It has a curved design, which may be best for side sleepers with neck pain.

The pillow has a temperature-regulating design and a breathable cotton cover. Eli & Elm states this cover is dust-mite resistant.

Best pillow with multiple lofts: Purple Harmony Pillow

• Price: from $179
• Firmness: medium
• Fill: Talalay latex
• Hypoallergenic: no

This pillow contains Talalay latex, which may be more breathable and durable than other types of fill. While the company states this product is hypoallergenic, people with a latex allergy should avoid the pillow.

People can choose between different lofts: low, medium, and tall. Purple recommends the short pillow for stomach and back sleepers, the medium for side or combination sleepers, and the tall for side or combination sleepers.

The following table provides a comparison of the pillows in this article.

In general, a good pillow provides comfort and relief for pressure points while supporting the head and neck. In contrast, an unsuitable pillow loses its shape quickly and does not provide comfort or support throughout a person’s sleep.

When shopping for a pillow, people may wish to consider the following:

• Sleep position: Side sleepers may benefit from a box pillow with elevated edges to support the neck, while back sleepers may prefer one featuring tapered edges to reduce head elevation.
• Neck support: Anyone who experiences neck pain should look for a pillow that provides extra neck support.
• Snoring: A pillow that elevates the head more may help reduce snoring.
• Cooling technology: An individual who regularly overheats during sleep may prefer a pillow consisting of natural fibers, such as wool or cotton, or one that contains cooling materials, such as copper fibers.
• Allergies: People with allergies should look for pillows with hypoallergenic certifications.

Pillows can contain various materials, and what works for one person may not for another. A pillow may comprise the below materials.

Microfiber

Microfiber pillows contain fine strands of synthetic material such as polyester or nylon. These may be a more affordable option and are easy to take care of at home, but they may need replacing every few years.

Microfiber pillows come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. However, they are not the most breathable type and may not be suitable for people who get too warm during sleep.

Feather down

Down is a filling consisting of feathers. Down pillows are durable, but they flatten over time, and a person needs to re-fluff or reshape them regularly.

Down pillows require professional cleaning, which can be expensive.

Additionally, down pillows do not suit individuals following vegan lifestyles, and they may not be right for people with allergies.

Memory foam

This synthetic foam aims to conform to the shape of the body. Memory foam pillows may benefit people with neck pain or discomfort at pressure points.

However, memory foam can retain heat, so it may not suit individuals who become too hot during sleep.

Wool and cotton

Pillows comprising wool or cotton may regulate heat. However, they may be an attractive environment for dust mites.

Additionally, wool and cotton lose shape more quickly than other types, so they may need regular reshaping.

Latex

Latex foam consists of rubber tree sap and is one of the more expensive pillow materials. The feel of this material is similar to memory foam, but latex foam is less likely to retain heat when a person sleeps.

Latex foam is also durable and holds its shape for a long time.

People may wish to consider the pillow size they prefer to purchase. The following table provides the measurements a person can expect when buying different pillow sizes.

Some companies may offer pillows with slightly different measurements. Therefore, individuals should check the size of their pillows before purchasing any pillowcases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the following recommendations for better sleep:

• Follow a regular schedule by going to sleep and waking up at consistent times each day.
• Keep noise to a minimum.
• Keep the bedroom as dark as possible.
• Exercise regularly.
• Cut down on stimulants such as alcohol and caffeine.
• Avoid eating large meals before bed.
• Avoid using smartphones or computers in the bedroom.
• Keep the bedroom cool — a person’s body temperature naturally decreases to encourage sleep, so a bedroom temperature of 60–67°F (15.5–19.4°C) is ideal.

Below are some common questions about pillows.

Is a firm pillow better than a softer pillow?

A person should purchase a pillow with the firmness they find most beneficial. Some people may prefer the extra support to the neck and shoulders that a firmer pillow offers, while others may find a softer pillow leads to better sleep.

However, pillows lose their shape and firmness after extended use. With this in mind, individuals should purchase a new pillow if their current one no longer gives them the support they need.

Should a pillow be a certain height?

Like a pillow’s firmness, pillow height is a matter of personal preference. However, back and front sleepers may wish to buy a flatter pillow to reduce neck and shoulder strain from elevating the head. In contrast, side sleepers might prefer higher pillows that align the head with the rest of the body.

Can pillows stop snoring?

The NSF states that a raised or thicker pillow may ease snoring. When people sleep on their backs, the airways narrow due to gravity. Therefore, a higher pillow position could help keep the airways open during sleep.

Learn more about snoring home remedies.

However, some people may have sleep apnea, where a person’s breathing pauses during sleep. If people believe they have this condition, they should speak with a doctor to discuss treatment options.

Is it better to sleep with one pillow or two?

Sleeping with two pillows may disrupt spinal alignment, leading to an increase in neck pain due to the loft of the two pillows.

If a person finds that their existing pillow has too low of a loft to feel supportive, they may wish to purchase a thicker pillow.

The best type of pillow for a person depends on a range of factors, such as sleeping position, snoring, pain, and any allergies.

Finding a pillow that provides optimal support may improve sleep quality, resulting in better overall health and well-being.