The 11 Best Down Alternative Pillows of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Slumber Cloud Core Down Alternative Pillow

4.8

View On Slumber Cloud

For a high-quality pillow that will last you years, the Slumber Cloud Core Down Alternative Pillow is worth your consideration. It comes in both standard and king sizes, and it’s filled with a hypoallergenic fiber fill that’s designed to mimic the warmth and fluffiness of down. The pillow is covered with a 300 thread count and 100 percent cotton shell for optimal comfort through the night.

This down-alternative pillow comes in two densities to suit your sleep style and preferences. The brand also boasts NASA-approved cooling technology designed to fight off heat night after night. Sure enough, the pillow kept cool and helped regulate body temperature all night long.

Each pillow is filled in the United States and all materials are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, so you can feel good about where you lay your head at night. What's more, Slumber Cloud provides a 60-night trial period so you can decide if this pillow is right for you.

Price at time of publish: $84

_{Sizes: Standard and King | Fill Material: Hypoallergenic microfiber fill | Cover Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: OKEO-TEX}

Best Budget

Amazon Basics Down-Alternative Pillows

4.5

View On Amazon

These comfy and budget-friendly pillows come in a set of two for an affordable option for stomach and side sleepers. The Amazon Basics down-alternative pillows come in standard and king sizes, and they’re filled with a down alternative that’s soft and plush. They also come in two densities, according to your personal preference.

Additionally, the pillow is Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX certified and can be machine washed. Though inexpensive, the down alternative stayed put and formed to the head and shoulder area during our tests. We also loved that the fill resets each day rather than quickly flattening after one use. What's more, it remained cool through the night, even though down pillows can often become hot when in use.

Price at time of publish: $34

_{Sizes: Standard and King | Fill Material: Down Alternative | Cover Material: Polyester microfiber | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX}

Best for Back Sleepers

Casper Original Pillow

4.2

View On Amazon View On Wayfair View On Walmart

The Casper Original Pillow has a unique pillow-in-a-pillow design that offers the perfect level of softness and support for back sleepers. You can choose from a mid- or low-loft design, as well as standard and king sizes, and the pillow is stuffed with a clump-resistant microfiber fill that mimics the softness of down. 

The inner layer of this pillow is more firm and supportive, while the outer layer is soft and cushioning. The cover is made of a breathable percale weave, and we found that it stayed cool and comfortable throughout the night.

Price at time of publish: $65

_{Sizes: Standard and King | Fill Material: Polyester microfiber | Cover Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: None}

Best for Side Sleepers

Sleep Number PlushComfort Curved Pillow

View On Sleepnumber.com

The unique curved shape of the Sleep Number PlushComfort Curved Pillow makes it a top choice for anyone who sleeps on their side—the contoured shape fits comfortably around your shoulder while still providing support for your neck and head. These pillows are available in standard and king sizes, and they’re filled with a hypoallergenic microfiber fill that’s silky soft. 

Sleep Number lets you try out this pillow for up to 100 days and return or exchange it as needed, which is helpful since there’s only one density option. The pillow can be machine-washed, but the brand recommends using a commercial-sized front-loading washer, such as ones you’d find at a laundromat.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Sizes: Standard and King | Fill Material: Hypoallergenic microfiber fill | Cover Material: Brushed cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX}

Best for Stomach Sleepers

Downlite Low Profile EnviroLoft Pillow

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target

If you sleep on your stomach, you’ll need an extremely soft pillow such as the Downlite Low-Profile Bed Pillow. This down alternative pillow is specifically designed for stomach sleepers—in fact, it’s not recommended for anyone else—and it has an extremely low profile that helps keep your spine in proper alignment while laying in a prone position. The brand even goes so far as to compare it to “laying your head on a comforter” to give you a sense of its height.

This pillow comes in standard, queen, and king sizes, and it’s filled with hypoallergenic polyester material. The cover is a 250-thread-count damask cotton fabric, and it can be machine washed and dried for easy maintenance.

Price at time of publish: $95

_{Sizes: Standard, Queen, and King | Fill Material: Hypoallergenic polyester | Cover Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: None}

Best Adjustable

Fern and Willow Down Alternative Pillow Set

View On Amazon

If you frequently find pillows to be too thick, you’ll like the Fern and Willow Down Alternative Pillows, which have a zippered cover that lets you take filling out to achieve the perfect height. The pillows come in a set of two, and you can choose from standard, queen, and king sizes. 

The cover on these pillows is made from 100 percent cotton, and it has piping along the edges for a neat and tailored appearance. The pillows can be machine washed and air-dried for easy maintenance, but the only downside is that they don’t come with extra fill, so you can’t make the pillow denser.

Price at time of publish: $35

_{Sizes: Standard, Queen, and King | Fill Material: Microfiber | Cover Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: None}

Best Soft

Parachute Down Alternative Pillow

4.9

View On Parachute

Light and squishy with a sunken plushness, the Parachute Down Alternative Soft Pillow is an ideal pick for those who tend to sleep on their side or just prefer a plusher pillow. It looks and feels supremely comfortable, and the 100 percent cotton sateen shell makes for a luxurious night’s rest. The pillow is made with a microfiber fill meant to mimic the loft and support of down, which is helpful if you’re used to sleeping on traditional pillows. Reinforced with a double-stitched piping seam, we’re impressed with its high-quality construction.

We also love that it’s machine washable, so you won’t have to worry about tedious or complicated care instructions. However, it’s important to note that although many people love sleeping on a soft pillow, it might not be supportive enough for side and back sleepers who may require more support. Luckily, Parachute also offers the Down Alternative Pillow in medium and firm densities as well. 

Price at time of publish: $79

_{Sizes: Standard, King | Fill Material: Microfiber | Cover Material: Cotton sateen | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100}

Best Firm

The Company Store Company Essentials LoftAIRE Down Alternative Pillow

View On Home Depot View On The Company Store

One of the firmest down alternative pillows you’ll find is the Company Essentials LoftAIRE Pillow, which comes in both firm and extra firm options—both of which are ideal for side sleepers. The pillows are filled with the brand’s proprietary LoftAIRE synthetic fiber, which mimics the loftiness and insulating properties of down, and they’re covered in a 300-thread-count cotton sateen cover. 

These pillows come in standard, queen, and king sizes, and they can be machine washed, though the company recommends a front-loading commercial machine, if possible. Plus, the product is backed by The Company Store’s lifetime guarantee, which means it can be returned at any time for an exchange or merchandise credit.

Price at time of publish: $64

_{Sizes: Standard, Queen, and King | Fill Material: LoftAIRE synthetic fiber | Cover Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: None}

Best Organic

Boll & Branch Down Alternative Pillow

View On Bollandbranch.com

Boll & Branch is known for its high-end organic bedding products, and its Down Alternative pillows are no exception. These pillows are wrapped in a 100 percent organic cotton shell, and they’re stuffed with the brand’s signature Primaloft filling, an allergy-friendly synthetic fiber designed to mimic the lightweight loft of real down. 

These pillows are crafted in Mason, Ohio, and you can choose from standard or king sizes, as well as three firmness levels. The brand offers a 30-night sleep trial, as well as free returns, and the pillow can be machine washed as needed.

Price at time of publish: $88

_{Sizes: Standard and King | Fill Material: Primaloft synthetic fiber | Cover Material: 100% organic cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX} 

Best Breathable

Saatva Down Alternative Pillow

View On Saatva

If you’re prone to night sweats or tend to overheat at night, you may want to consider purchasing a breathable pillow to help regulate your temperature and keep you comfortable all night long. The Saatva Down Alternative Pillow is a great option that offers cloud-like comfort while providing enough airflow to prevent overheating. The 100 percent hypoallergenic pillow is also made with an organic cotton shell, which contributes to its top-notch comfort and breathability. What’s more, the pillow’s quality construction is evident through the elegant satin piping. It also boasts the perfect balance between plushness and support, as the fill contains a resilient micro-denier fiber with small air pockets throughout.

Note that the pillow is spot-clean only, which may not be suitable for households with children or pets. But with proper care, the spring-like fill should keep its loft and last you for years to come. And although the pillow might come at a steeper price point than many of the options on this list, we think its quality construction and durable fill make it a worthwhile investment. 

Price at time of publish: $115

_{Sizes: Queen, King | Fill Material: Microdenier fiber | Cover Material: Organic cotton | Care: Spot clean | Certifications: None listed}