The 13 Best Pillows of 2022, Tested for Comfort

Best Overall: Saatva Latex Pillow

4.8

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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.

Best Overall Runner-Up: Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Memory Foam Pillows

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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. Truly an adjustable pillow experience to suit a range of needs. 

Best Budget: Amazon Basics Down-Alternative Pillows

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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. 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

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

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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.

Best Adjustable: Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Comfort
  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 for a range of 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

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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

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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 Neck Support: Casper Foam Pillow

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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. 

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

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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

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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.

Best for Combo Sleepers: Marlow The Pillow

5

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Overall Value
  5/5

Even some adjustable pillows that come with additional filling can be a bit messy when you have to add or remove the inserts. However, Marlow offers adjustability that’s mess free and simple. How simple? Just fully unzip for a softer feel and keep the zipper fully closed for firm support. Even when unzipped, the chopped memory foam remains enclosed in the case. Regardless of the zipper position, our testers felt the pillow was always firm, which is great for a back or side sleeper, but might not be optimal for stomach sleepers who prefer something softer.

The brand highlights the pillow’s continuous air flow and cooling-infused foam. However, testers didn’t find it to be any better at cooling or maintaining its temperature than any other pillows. The pillow is moderately priced and when purchased in a bundle of two or four, there’s a discount