The 7 Best Memory Foam Pillows of 2020

For a memory foam pillow that accommodates every sleeping position and every preference for firmness, the Snuggle-Pedic Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is our overall top pick.

This much-loved memory foam pillow is filled with shredded, non-toxic, low VOC foam. The benefit of shredded foam is the ability to fluff and adjust the pillow to your liking, and the company’s proprietary foam blend is designed to never go flat. The pillow and its components are all made in the United States, which provides some peace of mind to customers concerned about phthalates and metal contamination. A few people do comment on the initial smell of the pillow, but most find that a day or two of airing it allows for any smell to dissipate.

What really makes this pillow rise to the top is the fact that the fill is adjustable. The Snuggle-Pedic pillow has a side zipper that allows you to remove or add foam to suit your desired level of loft. And if the pillow just isn’t suiting your needs with these minor adjustments, the company offers complimentary adjustments by sending the pillow back to the facility for more tweaking. Many people love this pillow for its adjustability, and it seems to suit everyone from side sleepers to back and stomach sleepers. If you’re concerned about finding a memory foam pillow that is just right for you, the Snuggle-Pedic Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is a great place to start—thanks to its adjustability and customization options.

If you have a small budget but want big results from a memory foam pillow, this basic version from Mainstays is a great choice.

The Mainstays Memory Foam Cluster Pillow is affordable and features memory foam clusters for a supportive feel. The clusters may be a bit denser and contribute to the heavy feeling of this pillow, versus memory foam pillows with shredded fill. Still, people find this basic memory foam pillow to be highly satisfactory.

In fact, many people report that this pillow became an instant favorite—even beating out pricier versions of memory foam pillows. The pillow is described as being best for back and side sleepers—stomach sleepers may find it too thick to be comfortable. For an affordable memory foam pillow, don’t hesitate to try the Mainstays Memory Foam Cluster Pillow.

A contour pillow is a great choice for side and back sleepers, and the Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam Contour Pillow is a popular choice.

This memory foam pillow features two contoured edges to accommodate either back or side sleeping positions. Even better, the memory foam is made with two-layer construction. The top layer includes gel beads that assist in dissipating heat away from your head and neck as you sleep. While memory foam pillows are known for sometimes retaining heat, the gel memory foam layer does assist in keeping the pillow cooler.

People have found this pillow to be very comfortable for back or side sleeping, and it has also been reported to reduce snoring and eliminate headaches and back pain. Choose the Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam Contour Pillow if you like to have options in terms of sleeping position and want to experience less snoring and back pain.

A thin profile memory foam pillow is excellent for stomach sleepers, and the Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow is a great choice.

If you’ve been searching for a pillow that will allow you to comfortably sleep on your stomach without putting your head at awkward angles, then this version from Elite Rest may be perfect for you. This ultra-thin pillow is flat on the bottom and slightly rounded on top, with an overall height of only about 2.5 inches. Inside is hypoallergenic memory foam that will contour to your head and neck.

People that are serious stomach sleepers and have an aversion to fluffy pillows will enjoy this low-profile pillow. It offers just enough support to avoid neck pain without being uncomfortable. Many customers also comment on the length and width of the pillow being just right. Sometimes thinner pillows are also smaller in other dimensions, but this pillow is of standard size. For stomach sleepers looking to lay their head on just the right pillow, give the Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow a try.

Neck pain can keep you from waking up refreshed, but the right pillow can save the day (and night!). The Cradle Me Orthopedic Contour Pillow is one to consider if neck pain is keeping you up at night.

This memory foam pillow comes in an unusual shape that resembles a butterfly. The multiple ‘wings’ of the pillow offer varying heights and multiple positions to cradle your neck and head. The pressure-relieving memory foam is contoured to relieve pressure points and allow for spinal decompression.

While this pillow may not be an instant fix for anyone experiencing neck pain, many people have found that the pillow does alleviate their discomfort. The center of the pillow supports the back of the head well and the neck is supported with a gentle tapering cushion. Many people reported that this pillow allowed them to sleep through the night without any discomfort and also found it be odorless. As a bonus, it has been noted that the ‘wings’ of this pillow are useful in keeping tubes from a CPAP machine away from the face while sleeping. For a memory foam pillow that will assist in relieving neck pain and provides multiple sleeping positions, the Cradle Me Orthopedic Contour Pillow is one to try.

Some memory foam pillows are known for being hot and stuffy, but the addition of gel memory foam to the LinenSpa Shredded Memory Foam Pillow makes this a popular choice for a cooler night of sleep.

This LinenSpa pillow is filled on the inside with shredded memory foam, which allows for better air circulation and breathability than solid memory foam cores. But what really sets apart the LinenSpa pillow is the outer layer of memory foam surrounding the shredded foam. This outer layer features foam-infused with gel beads that assist in dispersing heat. The result is a pillow that stays cooler to the touch and won’t retain body heat.

Many people found that this pillow did indeed stay cooler when compared to other pillows, but sometimes the pillow did need to be flipped to the other side for a cooler surface. One thing to note about this pillow: the gel memory foam encasement makes it so that the fill level is not adjustable inside this pillow, unless you tear the seams open. Still, the pillow has a fill level that most people find to be suitably supportive. For a cooler version of a memory foam pillow that is still comfortable, choose the LinenSpa Shredded Memory Foam Pillow.

If you don’t want to sacrifice comfort while you’re on the go, choose a memory foam neck pillow designed for trips like the Aeris Travel Pillow.

This memory foam travel pillow really stands out thanks to its ventilated cover. The tiny holes in the cover allow for circulation and keep the pillow from becoming overly warm and stuffy. This is a nice feature, as many other memory foam travel pillows draw complaints due to the fact that they trap body heat and become stuffy.

Travelers report that this pillow is very soft and supportive. An added feature that people appreciate is the fact that the toggles keep the pillow in place, rather than allowing the pillow to slide around. If you want a travel pillow that will mold to your head and support your neck while on the road or in the air, pick the Aeris Travel Pillow.