The 9 Best Down Pillows of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Parachute Down Pillow

4.2

View On Parachute View On Zola

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Airflow
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

When it comes to bedding, Parachute is one of our go-tos—and, after weeks of in-lab and at-home testing, their down pillow doesn’t disappoint. This splurge-worthy sleeping companion flaunts a 750 fill power, with 85 percent down and 15 percent quill-free feathers encased in an Oeko-Tex-certified cotton shell. The natural feathers and down are certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). This means the materials are humanely sourced from farms that meet strict criteria for animal welfare.

Suiting a variety of sleep styles, the Parachute Down Pillow comes in two sizes (standard and king) and three levels of support, ranging from soft to firm. Our home tester, who’s a combination sleeper, opted for the medium-firm option and found it to be perfectly supportive throughout the night—despite occasionally having to flip it. “This product is really soft and comfortable to sleep on,” she said.“It cradles my neck, which I didn't think it would do since it does deflate a little.” Keeping that in mind, stomach sleepers might want to opt for the firm option.

Given its high price point, this pick does have a luxe factor: the sateen-weave cotton shell is breathable and smooth, slipping effortlessly into whichever pillowcase you choose to use. The pillow’s durability also impressed one of our long-term testers. “We love knowing that this product is made of quality materials that will stand up to many washes,” she said. It has a tight weave and double-stitched piping that work in tandem to help prevent any stray feathers from poking out, whether during use or in your washer/dryer Did we mention it’s machine-washable?

While this option certainly isn't the most affordable bed pillow, we’d say it’s worth the initial investment. In case you change your mind, there’s a 90-day sleep trial, along with a three-year warranty. 

Price at time of publish: $149 for a standard, medium fill

_{Sizes: Standard or King | Fill Material: Premium European white down | Shell Material: 100% sateen cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX, Responsible Down Standard}

Best Budget

Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather Bed Pillow

View On Amazon

Looking for something more wallet-friendly? Consider the puredown Feather and Down Pillow, which clocks in at just under twenty dollars. Unlike many other budget options, this product is RDS-certified, ensuring that its contents are ethically sourced. 

This affordable pillow comes in standard, queen, and king sizes, and is completely machine-washable. It has a breathable, 100 percent cotton shell that’s filled with a mix of feather and down, giving it a comfortable and plush feel that our testers loved. However, unlike 100 percent feather-down pillows, you might be able some of the feathers inside. “The pieces of feather crinkle a bit in your hands if you hold it,” one of our testers noted. Luckily, the cotton shell is thick enough to prevent any of the feathers from actually poking out.

Price at time of publish: $27 for a single standard

_{Sizes: Standard, Queen, or King | Fill Material: 15% down and 85% feather | Shell Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine washable | Certifications: OEKO-TEX, Responsible Down Standard}

Best Splurge

Kassatex European White Goose Down Pillow

4.5

View On Kassatex.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Airflow
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

If you have a bit more to spend on a new pillow, we recommend the Kassatex European White Goose Down Pillow. Filled with a mix of 80% down and 20% feathers, these 650 fill-power pillows have a lofty feel that offers hotel-style comfort. What’s more, the filling has been washed with environmentally-safe, Bluesign detergent, making it even cleaner than the government standard. 

The Kassatex down pillows are available in two sizes and three firmness levels, ranging from Soft to Firm. Our home tester, who describes herself as a combination sleeper, opted for the Soft version and found it to perfectly adjust to her movements throughout the night—a pleasant surprise after a Goldilocks-level hunt for the perfect pillow. “Until recently I haven't necessarily taken my pillow choices seriously,” she noted. “It was taking me a while to find the 'just right' pillow and this one is definitely it.” Our only note of caution with this pillow is that it's a bit challenging to fit the pillow into a pillowcase because it is so lofty! While certainly not a major fault, it's worth noting that you might want to size up when purchasing new pillow cases as to not squish this pillow's contents.

Price at time of publish: $200 for a firm standard

_{Sizes: Standard, King | Fill Material: 100% goose down | Shell Material: 100% organic cotton | Care: Machine washable on gentle, tumble dry | Certifications: Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX}

Best Down Pillow for Side Sleepers

Coyuchi Down Feather Pillow

View On Coyuchi.com View On Nordstrom

If you're part of the majority of people who sleep on their sides, Coyuchi's Down Feather Pillow is your best bet. Containing 80 percent goose feathers and 20 percent down, the medium-firm feel offers the perfect level of support: plenty soft but not too squishy. For stomach sleepers and those who want something more compressible, the brand's Down Pillow may be a better choice.

While this product isn't RDS-certified, the feathers and down come from humanely raised ducks on an Indiana farm, and the 100 percent cotton shell is certified organic. This pillow is technically machine-washable, but only in an oversized machine without a center agitator. And you're supposed to tumble-dry it very slowly on low heat, which may take up to three hours.

Price at time of publish: $138 for a standard

_{Sizes: Standard, queen, king | Fill Material: Feathers, down | Shell Material: Organic cotton | Care: Machine-wash delicate, tumble-dry | Certifications: None listed}

Best Down Pillow for Back Sleepers

Tuft & Needle Down Pillow

4.2

View On Target View On Tuft & Needle

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Airflow
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

If you tend to doze on your back, the Tuft & Needle Down Pillow has your name on it. Filled with responsibly sourced North American down fill, the medium-firm density offers adequate support for your head and neck. Our tester, who's a combination sleeper, found it performed best when sleeping on her back, as it has a high loft that might be too much for stomach or side sleepers.

The organic cotton cover is reinforced with a double-stiched edge for extra durability and is also Oeko-Tex certified, meaning it's safe from potentially harmful chemicals and substances. The entire pillow is machine washable, which our home tester greatly appreciated. "The laundering process was super easy," she said. "The pillow did not really smell much after getting it, but it definitely freshened it up [well]."

Price at time of publish: $140 for a standard

_{Sizes: Standard or King | Fill Material: North American Down | Shell Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine wash, cold | Certifications: Oeko-Tex, Responsible Down Standard}

Best Soft Down Pillow

Boll & Branch Down Chamber Pillow

4.2

View On Bollandbranch.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Airflow
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Durability
  3/5
• Value
  4/5

You’ll feel like you’re napping on a cloud when you sink your head into the Boll & Branch Down Chamber Pillow. One of three density levels, the soft version of this pillow is filled with down responsibly sourced from American farms. The pillow has an Oeko-Tex certified, 100 percent organic cotton cover, and it comes in Standard and King sizes. 

While our home tester tried the medium-firm option, many of her insights still apply to the soft version—namely, the ease of cleaning and the quality of the down, which she says is "not lumpy at all." "It's very smooth and even and doesn't get bunched up at all," she adds. "I feel great about the fact that it's easily machine washable and dryable. Also, I feel like it's a little cooling, as my head doesn't sweat at all while using it."

Price at time of publish: $158 for a standard

_{Sizes: Standard or King | Fill Material: White down feathers | Shell Material: 100% organic cotton | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Certifications: OEKO-TEX, International Down Standard}

Best Medium Firm Down Pillow

Three Geese White Goose Feather with Polyester Bed Pillow

4.3

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Airflow
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  3/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

The Three Geese White Goose Feather with Polyester Bed Pillow provides a medium level of support that’s ideal for back and side sleepers (especially those who don’t like to be propped up too high). It's also a great pillow for combination sleepers. It’s designed with three chambers—the inner chamber is comprised of 60 percent goose feathers, while the outer two are filled with polyester fibers to add extra volume and fluff. It’s encased in an Oeko-Tex-certified cotton cover, which is down-proof to prevent any pesky feathers from poking out.

After one month of sleeping with this pillow, our home tester found it to be a worthy addition to her nightly routine. “This pillow is very supportive but not overly firm,” she notes. “I change positions a good bit during the night and [it] holds up to the challenge.” Just note that the cotton cover can be a bit hard to wrangle inside a pillowcase—but once it’s in, it’s in.

Price at time of publish: $33 for a queen

_{Sizes: Queen, or King | Fill Material: Premium white down | Shell Material: 100% sateen cotton | Care: Dry clean only | Certifications: Oeko-Tex, Responsible Down Standard}

Best Firm Down Pillow

Pottery Barn Classic Feather-Down Pillow

View On Pottery Barn

The Pottery Barn Classic Feather-Down Pillow is a top choice for anyone who likes their pillows to be firm and supportive. These pillows are stuffed with 100 percent down feathers (which tend to be more supportive than down clusters), and you can choose from soft, medium, or firm densities. While we haven't had the chance to test this specific pillow from Pottery Barn, we have tested the Pottery Barn Supreme Down Pillow, which was well-constructed and filled with clusters.

The classic feather-down pillows are covered in a 300-thread-count cotton fabric with a subtle damask stripe, and the filling is put through a cleaning process that guarantees feathers are meticulously cleaned and free of dust and odor. While we appreciate how well-priced these pillows are, we wish they didn't have to be washed in a commercial-size washer and dryer.

Price at time of publish: $99 for a soft standard

_{Sizes: Standard or King | Fill Material: 100% down feathers | Shell Material: 100% cotton | Care: Commerical machine washable | Certifications: Responsible Down Standard certified}