The 11 Best Pillows of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Memory Foam Pillows

5

View On Amazon

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Airflow
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• 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 Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow, which has a slightly higher price tag but is well worth it. It's an especially comfortable pick for anyone who sweats or runs hot while sleeping. This pillow features Kool-Flow technology in its bamboo cover, which is designed to keep sleepers cool and sweat-free. In our testing, we noticed a slight change in temperature (4 degrees) after 15 minutes, but the coolness of the pillow never changed. The firmness supported our head and neck nicely, leading to a more relaxed sleep posture 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 to increase its firmness. You can choose shredded memory foam or gel-infused memory foam for your extra fill. And in our testing, we found that the adjustability is key in allowing this pillow to suit a range of needs.

Just keep in mind that after one month of testing, we found that we needed to fluff the pillow up every morning to maintain its loft; otherwise, it started to flatten over time. Overall, though, we're still highly pleased with the pillow's support for any sleep position.

Price at time of publish: $48 for a Standard

_{Sizes: Standard, queen, king | Fill Material: Memory foam | Cover Material: Bamboo viscose | Care: Machine-washable | Certifications: CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold}

Best Budget

Rest Haven Shredded Memory Foam Bed Pillow Set of 2

4.5

View On Walmart

Our Ratings

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

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 do 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 one's head nicely throughout the night. We immediately noticed the crosshatch texture, which gave the pillows a more luxe look and feel. And although it’s not advertised as a cooling pillow, we were surprised to experience a consistently cool temperature.

These pillows come in standard, queen, and king sizes, but we did notice 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. In our testing, we 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, we found the pillow still held its shape well. Just take note we wish it molded to our head and neck more when asleep.

Price at time of publish: $19 for a pack of two (Standard)

_{Sizes: Standard, queen, king | Fill Material: Shredded memory foam | Cover Material: 100% polyester | Care: Machine-washable | Certifications: CertiPUR-US}

Best Down Alternative

Amazon Basics Down-Alternative Pillows

4.5

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Our Ratings

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

Don’t let the wallet-friendly price of these pillows fool you. Amazon Basics pillows have a smooth microfiber exterior and are packed with just enough down alternative fill, making them a great choice for back or stomach sleepers. In our testing, we noted that 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 throughout the night. 

We also noticed minimal shrinkage (just half an inch) when washing and drying the pillows according to the manufacturer's instructions, and additional fluffing was necessary. However, we also found the pillows kept their shape and offered support even after a month of use, making them nicely durable.

And when it comes to price, it's tough to top the value of this duo. Many individual pillows cost more than this set, which includes two pillows—so, for great value at a wallet-friendly price, these can’t be beat. 

Price at time of publish: $37 for a pack of two (Standard)

_{Sizes: Standard, king | Fill Material: Down alternative | Cover Material: 100% polyester microfiber | Care: Machine-washable | Certifications: OEKO-TEX}

Best for Side Sleepers

Coop Sleep Goods The Original Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow

4.8

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Our Ratings

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

If you often find pillows to be too thick or too thin, you’ll like the Coop Home Goods Original 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. In fact, it even comes with an additional half-pound bag of fill for those who like an overstuffed pillow. 

In our testing, we found this pillow to be extremely comfortable yet supportive, especially for side sleepers. We tested Coop Home's pillow as a back and side sleeper, and we found the medium firmness to work the best. But this adjustable pillow can be adapted to work for back and stomach sleepers, too. For example, stomach sleepers might desire a softer feel, which is easy to achieve with the removal of some stuffing.

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. This pillow is well-made, soft, and durable, and easily conforms to your sleeping style, ensuring a more restful night’s sleep. Plus, with such a comprehensive website and care instructions, you’ll be able to truly benefit from the pillow’s customization options. The materials are both CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified, too, and the product is backed by a five-year warranty.

Price at time of publish: $72 for a Queen

_{Sizes: Queen, king | Fill Material: Shredded memory foam and microfiber | Cover Material: 60% polyester, 40% viscose rayon | Care: Machine-washable | Certifications: CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold}

Best Latex

Saatva Latex Pillow

4.3

View On Saatva

Our Ratings

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

After extensive testing, the Saatva Latex Pillow stood out as one well-constructed, highly supportive option. Its durability and support for sleepers of all types were standout features, and as an added perk, it's made with natural materials. This pillow features a shredded latex core that’s surrounded by plush microdenier fiber, all of which is wrapped in an organic cotton cover. It offers the perfect combination of support and comfort for multiple sleeping positions.

In our testing, we loved the way this pillow cradled our heads without being too squishy. Its slightly oversized form even makes it feel luxurious. That's partly thanks to the pillow's superior materials and construction. The shredded latex inside is hypoallergenic and doesn’t experience any off-gassing like foam, and the organic cotton shell features 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. 

Although 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, we found the pillow still provided plenty of support and felt cool to the touch.

Price at time of publish: $165 for a Queen

_{Sizes: Queen, king | Fill Material: Shredded latex and microdenier fiber | Cover Material: 100% organic cotton | Care: Cover and fiber insert are machine-washable | Certifications: None listed}

Best Splurge

Boll & Branch Down Pillow

4.3

View On Bollandbranch.com

Our Ratings

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

One problem with some down pillows is the feathers annoyingly and uncomfortably poking through, but luckily we didn’t experience that when we put Boll & Branch’s down pillow to the test. Another common issue with down pillows is the lack of support, but we were surprised to find a pillow with a higher amount of filling, sturdy construction, and even enough support for a side sleeper. If you've been disappointed by down in the past, this pillow will offer you better comfort and better all-night support no matter how you prefer to sleep.

The down filling inside this pillow is triple-washed and covered in 100 percent organic cotton. During testing, we experienced the medium-density pillow, but there’s also a soft and firm option for those who want less or more support. There’s no denying the higher price tag attached to this single pillow, so it’s probably a better solution for someone who has 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 that you can make a return if necessary. 

Price at time of publish: $158 for a soft Standard

_{Sizes: Standard, king | Fill Material: Triple-washed down | Cover Material: 100% organic cotton | Care: Machine-washable | Certifications: International Down Standard, OEKO-TEX}

Best for All Sleep Types

Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow

4.5

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Our Ratings

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

Firm but soft, but not too soft, is how we would describe our 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. In our testing, we immediately observed that these pieces of foam have a cushy feel when you press on them, but they continue to maintain their shape with use and weight. The pillows molded to our heads without being smooshed down, and they still maintained sufficient head and neck support.

The pillow also contains another "cool" feature: graphite and a cooling gel that’s meant to pull body heat away. We noticed a near 10-degree increase after using the pillow for 15 minutes, but that difference wasn’t actually felt while lying on it. Although the pillow itself isn’t washable, the cover can be easily removed, washed with light colors, and hung to dry. We did see a slight change in size after washing, from 25 x 16 to 24 x 15.1 inches, but the pillow still easily fit into the cover. 

Price at time of publish: $80 for a Standard

_{Sizes: Standard, king | Fill Material: Cut foam and graphite | Cover Material: Micro polyamide and polyester | Care: Machine-washable cover | Certifications: CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold}

Best Down

Snowe Down Pillow

4.3

View On Snowehome.com

While Snowe's Down Pillow is advertised to be on the firmer side, we found that it was actually more medium-soft when we put it to the test. That balance of softness and support did keep us comfortable throughout the night–and even after a month's use, the pillow still felt just as fluffy and high-quality as when we first received it. This down pillow maintained its shape well, so much so that we never felt the urge to turn the pillow, either.

We also like that you can machine-wash this pillow—it's easy to toss in your washer and dryer without worrying about the fill. We found minimal shrinkage after washing and drying, and the pillow still came out fluffy with no deformity. However, do keep in mind that this down pillow, like many others, can shed feathers over time and with use.

We did uncover another great perk: While the pillow isn't necessarily marketed as cooling, we found it to be relatively cooling in our testing. It remained breathable and comfortably cool, even after a month's use, which might be due to the sateen shell.

Price at time of publish: $145 for a soft Standard

_{Sizes: Standard, queen, king | Fill Material: 85% grey goose feathers and 15% grey goose down  | Cover Material: 100% cotton | Care: Machine-washable | Certifications: Responsible Down Standard, OEKO-TEX}

Best Adjustable

Marlow The Pillow

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  4.5/5
• Airflow
  4.5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

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's The Pillow offers adjustability that’s mess-free and simple. How simple? Just fully unzip for a softer feel, or 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, we felt after testing this pillow that it was always firm, which is great for a back or side sleeper. However, it's likely not optimal for stomach sleepers who prefer something softer.

Marlow highlights the pillow’s continuous air flow and cooling-infused foam. However, we didn’t find it to be any better at cooling or maintaining its temperature than any other pillows during our testing. The pillow is moderately priced, and when purchased in a bundle of two or four, there’s a discount, which can make it a more value-rich investment.

Price at time of publish: $65 for a Standard

_{Sizes: Standard, king | Fill Material: 85% down, 15% down and feather fibers | Cover Material: 100% sateen cotton shell | Care: Machine-washable or dry clean | Certifications: Responsible Down Standard, OEKO-TEX}

Best Memory Foam

Casper Foam Pillow

4.7

View On Casper

Our Ratings

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

Casper is pretty well-known as a mattress brand, but its Foam Pillow also scores high marks in our testing process. We were impressed with the neck support it provides, making it well worth its price. We also found that the pillow was comfortable in any sleeping position and maintained its shape. The comfort and malleability can be attributed to the pillow’s three layers of foam.

If you've never invested in a high-quality pillow before, this one will make a noticeable difference in your comfort while sleeping. In our testing, we found that its memory foam construction helped a lot with tossing and turning at night; there was no need for constant re-fluffing or flipping. It can help you stay cool, too. One of the layers, an AirScape foam, has perforations in the material that are designed to move heat away from the body. There’s also 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.

We did notice that the pillow absorbed some heat, but we still enjoyed a comfortable sleeping experience throughout the testing period. Keep in mind that this pick works best for back sleepers and may be a bit firm for those who prefer their side or stomach.

Price at time of publish: $89 for a Standard

_{Sizes: Standard, king | Fill Material: 77% polyurethane foam, 23% viscoelastic polyurethane foam  | Cover Material: 88% polyester, 12% spandex | Care: Machine-washable cover | Certifications: None listed}