The 13 Best Pillows of 2022, Tested for Comfort

Best Overall: Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Memory Foam Pillows

5

View On Amazon

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Temperature/Airflow
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Overall Value
  5/5

Some expensive pillows are full of fluff (literally!) but not worth the price. That’s not the case with Snuggle-Pedic’s memory foam pillow that has a slightly higher price tag, but is well worth it for anyone who sweats or runs hot while sleeping. The pillow features Kool-Flow technology in the bamboo cover, which is said to keep sleepers cool and sweat-free. Our testers noticed a slight change in temperature (four degrees) after 15 minutes, but the coolness of the pillow never changed. Also, the firmness provided great support for our testers neck, leading to a more more relaxed experience and less pressure on the neck.

The pillow, which has a memory foam outer layer and a zippered compartment with foam fill, comes with an additional bag of foam filling if you want an even firmer feel. Also, there’s the option to choose shredded memory foam or a gel-infused memory foam. Testers attest that this is truly an adjustable pillow experience to suit a range of needs.

Jut keep in mind—after one month of testing, one of our testers reported that she needed to fluff the pillow up every morning to maintain its loft, otherwise it starts to get flatter overtime. But otherwise, she's still very pleased with the pillow.

Best Latex: Saatva Latex Pillow

4.7

View On Saatva

Our Ratings

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

After extensive testing, the Saatva Latex Pillow stood out as our all-around favorite for its durability and support for sleepers of all types. This pillow has a shredded latex core that’s surrounded by a plush microdenier fiber, all wrapped in an organic cotton cover, and it offers the perfect combination of support and comfort for multiple sleeping positions. Our testers loved the way this pillow cradles your head without being too squishy, and its slightly oversized form makes it feel luxurious on your bed. 

This pillow also stands out thanks to its superior materials and construction. The shredded latex is hypoallergenic and doesn’t experience any off-gassing like foam, and the organic cotton shell has gusseted sides with elegant piping details that help the pillow keep its shape. The outer cover and fiber portion of the pillow can be machine-washed and dried, and we found that the pillow stayed at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. 

Though the cover can be removed and washed, our tester recommends drying it on low, as there was slight shrinkage post-wash, which made placing the pillow back in the case slightly challenging. Even after a month of testing, our tester reports that the pillow still provides plenty of support and feels cool to the touch.

Best Down Alternative: Amazon Basics Down-Alternative Pillows

4.5

View On Amazon

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Temperature/Airflow
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  3.5/5
• Overall Value
  5/5

Don’t let the wallet-friendly price fool you. Amazon Basics pillows have a smooth microfiber exterior and is packed with just enough down alternative fill, making it a great choice for back or stomach sleepers. Our testers noted the firmness provided support for neutral spine alignment and neck support. In addition to the comfortable feel, it was one of the pillows that maintained the most consistent temperature. 

Our testers noticed minimal shrinkage, just half an inch, when washing and drying the pillows according to the manufacturers instructions and additional fluffing was necessary. However, testers also reported that the pillow kept its shape and offered support even after a month of use.

Some individual pillows cost more than this set, which includes two pillows. So for great value at a wallet-friendly price, this can’t be beat. 

Best Splurge: Boll & Branch Down Pillow

4.9

View On Bollandbranch.com

One problem with some down pillows is the feathers annoyingly and uncomfortably poking through, but luckily our testers didn’t experience that with Boll & Branch’s down pillow. Another common issue with down pillows is the lack of support, but testers were surprised to find a pillow with a higher amount of filling, sturdy construction, and even enough support for a side sleeper. 

The down filling is triple-washed and covered in 100 percent organic cotton. Our testers experienced the medium density pillow, but there’s also a soft and firm option for those who want less or more support, respectively. There’s no denying the higher price tag attached to this single pillow, so it’s probably a better solution for someone who’s tried a few other options and is clear on what specific pillow type they desire. The company’s 30-night trial also adds a bit of comfort knowing you can make a return if necessary. 

Best Down: Snowe Down Pillow

4.3

View On Snowehome.com

While this pillow is listed to be on the firmer side, our tester found that it was more medium-soft and said it kept her comfortable throughout the night. She reported that even after a month's use, the pillow still felt just as fluffy, high quality, and kept its shape from when she first received it. She also appreciated that she never felt the urge to turn the pillow ever.

We like that you can machine wash this pillow—our testers were pleased when trying this out. While they found minimal shrinkage post wash and dry, the pillow still came out fluffy with no deformity.

And while the pillow isn't necessarily marketed as cooling, our testers found it to be relatively cooling even after a month's use, which might be due to the sateen shell.

Best Down: puredown Goose Feathers and Down White Pillow Inserts, Bed Sleeping Hotel Collection Pillows Set of 2 King Size

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For a pillow that’s not hard on the wallet and works for sleepers of all types, puredown is a solid choice. Our testers described the pillow as balancing the line between perfectly forming to the body, but without being overly firm. That feather-like feel comes from a combo of 85 percent grey goose feathers and 15 percent grey goose down. During testing, there was a 10 degree temperature increase after sleeping on it for 15 minutes. However, this was surprising to testers who didn’t notice the temperature change or feel hot, which was attributed to good airflow of the pillow. Making this a great option for those who tend to get hot while they sleep. 

In spite of this being a great pillow for those who appreciate a soft-ish feel and having great airflow, there was one hiccup testers experienced. Though the pillows claim to be machine washable, even when following manufacturers instructions (wash on cold and tumble dry on low), the post-wash pillows had individual feathers that could be felt poking through the covering. So this might be best suited for a spot clean.

Best Budget: Rest Haven Shredded Memory Foam Bed Pillow Set of 2

4.5

View On Walmart

The Rest Haven Shredded Memory Foam Bed Pillows come in a pack of two for a reasonable price, and we think they’re a great budget-friendly alternative to more expensive shredded memory foam pillows. These pillows come vacuum sealed and need to be put in the dryer for several minutes before they’ll fluff up to their full height, but after that, we found them to be plush and comfortable, molding to your head nicely throughout the night. Our tester immediately noticed the crosshatch texture that gave the pillows a more luxe look and feel. And though it’s not advertised as a cooling pillow, our tester was surprised to experience a consistently cool temperature.

These pillows come in standard, queen, and king sizes, but we did notice that the standard size pillows are significantly smaller than your average pillow. They’re filled with CertiPUR-US shredded memory foam and wrapped in a polyester cover, and they can be machine-washed for easy maintenance. Our tester did note the frayed seams at the edge, which could possibly lead to tears over time and with steady washing.

After about a month of use, our tester found that the pillow still held its shape. Just take note that she says she wishes it molded her head and neck more when she sleeps.

Best for Back Sleepers : Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow

4.8

View On Amazon View On Coophomegoods.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Overall Value
  5/5

If you often find pillows to be too thick or too thin, you’ll like the Coop Premium Adjustable Pillow. It’s filled with a mixture of shredded memory foam and microfiber, which doesn’t feel lumpy under your head, and it has a side zipper that allows you to remove or add fill to suit your individual sleep preferences—it even comes with an additional ½-pound bag of fill for those who like an overstuffed pillow. In testing, we found this pillow to be extremely comfortable yet supportive, especially for back sleepers. Our tester, a back and side sleeper, found the medium firmness to work the best, noting stomach sleepers might desire a softer feel, which is easy to do with the removal of some stuffing.

Also, a pre and post-wash of the cover saw no change in size and there were no wrinkles to the cover, which was easy to place back over the pillow. The materials are both CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified, and the product is backed by a five-year warranty.

Best for All Sleep Types: Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow

4.5

View On Amazon View On Target View On Tuft & Needle

Our Ratings

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

Firm, but soft, but not too soft is how our testers describe the experience with this pillow. Tuft & Needle’s Original Foam Pillow includes custom cut (not shredded) foam that offers support for side, back, or stomach sleepers. Our testers immediately observed it has a cushy feel when you press on it, but the pillow continues to maintain its shape. Also, the pillow molded to their head without being smooshed down and still maintaining sufficient head and neck support.

The pillow contains graphite and a cooling gel that’s meant to pull body heat away from the body. Our testers noticed a near 10 degree increase after using the pillow for 15 minutes, but that difference wasn’t actually felt while laying on it. Though the pillow itself isn’t washable, the cover can be easily removed, washed with light colors, and hung to dry. Testers saw a slight change in size, 25 x 16 to 24 x 15.1 inches, but the pillow still easily fit into the cover. 

Best Organic : Avocado Green Pillow

5

View On Avocadogreenmattress.com

For a pillow that’s made solely using organic materials, we recommend the Avocado Green Pillow. It has an organic cotton shell stuffed with shredded organic latex and organic kapok, and the fill level is adjustable to suit your sleeping position. During testing we liked that it came with a bag of extra fill (and you can purchase additional bags from Avocado, if needed), and the firmness was extremely supportive, providing comfort for the neck, while molding to the head. Also, our tester observed a consistent temperature, with the pillow remaining cool to touch before and after use. 

In terms of safety certifications, this pillow is one of the best we tested—all its ingredients are certified organic, and the pillow is GREENGUARD Gold and Made Safe certified, as well, verifying that it doesn’t give off any harmful VOCs and is non-toxic. The brand offers a 100-night sleep trial on the pillow, and our testers noted that the adjustable design is well-suited for any sleep position.

Best Memory Foam : Casper Foam Pillow

View On Casper

Casper is pretty well known as a mattress brand, but their pillows also score high marks with our testers who were impressed with the neck support it provides, making it well worth the price tag. It was also observed as being comfortable in any sleeping position and maintaining its shape. That comfort and mold-ability is attributed to the pillow’s three layers of foam. 

One of the layers, an AirScape foam, has perforations in the material that are designed to move heat away from the body. Also, there’s the option to purchase the pillow with what the brand calls Snow Technology, which consists of a cool touch to the exterior and bands that direct heat from the head and neck. Our testers noticed the pillow absorbed some heat and had a comfortable experience throughout. However, they did note that this pick works best for back sleepers and may be a bit firm for those who prefer their side or stomach.

Best for Back Sleepers: Wayfair Encased Cooling Shredded Memory Foam Medium Support Pillow

View On Wayfair

Support is the name of the game for this pillow that our testers were initially skeptical of. Wayfair’s pillow seemed a bit too thick at first glance, but it proved to offer optimal support while laying on the side, as well as when on the back. The shredded memory foam gives support and can be fluffed or slightly smushed to fit your specific sleep needs and support the head and neck. Our testers noted this as being a pillow that can hold up throughout the night without needing to be refluffed or adjusted. 

The pillow features cooling technology and testers confirm the pillow maintained its temperature and it never felt too hot. The 100 percent cotton, zippered cover was easy to machine wash. In spite of an inch of shrinkage after hanging to try, the cover had a few wrinkles but was easy to place back over the pillow.

Best Down Alternative: L.L. Bean Down-Alternative Damask Pillow

View On L.L.Bean

Though some pillows come with an extra bag of filling so you can optimize the firmness to your liking, L.L. Bean’s down alternative comes pre-stuffed in three densities. There’s soft, medium, and firm, with our testers trying out the medium fill. Though this was the medium fill, they noted the pillow sunk quite a bit, not exactly making it the best fit for a heavy head or someone who needs a lot of support. But stomach sleepers might find the softer feel to be comfortable. And those who need more support might opt for the firm fill. Luckily, L.L. Bean has a generous one year return policy so you can find the pillow that’s just right. 

In addition to density, testers also felt the pillow held some heat, but it was never hot or uncomfortable. The entire pillow can be washed and testers were glad to report the pillow was perfectly formed and fluffed post-wash.