The 8 Best Pillows of 2020

• 01 of 08

  Best Overall: Xtreme Comforts Hyperallergenic Bamboo Pillow

  

  Excellent

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  There are many types of bed pillows on the market, but one of the best products available is the Xtreme Comforts Hypoallergenic Bed Pillow, which uses adjustable bamboo memory foam to cradle your head all night long. This pillow comes in standard, queen, king, and body pillow sizes, and because it’s adjustable, it can be used in a variety of sleeping positions.

  This pillow has an inner zipper that allows you to remove or add its shredded memory foam fill to meet your needs. Plus, the fill will bounce back each day, ensuring your pillow isn’t flat after a few months. The Xtreme Comforts Pillow also has a micro-vented bamboo cover that provides superior air circulation, regulating your temperature throughout the night to keep you comfortable. If you suffer from allergies, rest assured that the cover is hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, and machine washable (a room air purifier can also help allergy-proof your bedroom).

  According to happy buyers, these pillows are the most comfortable surface they've ever rested their head on, regardless of sleeping position. Many note it offers excellent support and is amazingly soft, as well.

  Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow Review

  The 8 Best Cooling Pillows of 2020
• 02 of 08

  Best Memory Foam: Coop Home Goods

  Excellent

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  Memory foam is a popular material for pillows thanks to its ability to contour to your head. Products like the Coop Home Goods Shredded Memory Foam Pillow will provide superior support and comfort, and they won’t get flat as quickly since memory foam bounces back to its original form after each use.

  These pillows from Coop Home Goods come in queen and king sizes, and they have a washable cover to make care easier. You can easily add or remove some of the shredded memory foam to cater to your individual sleep position, and they’re resistant to dust mites and other pesky allergens. Plus, you can feel good about resting your head on these pillows, as they’re made with CertiPUR-US certified foam, which means they don’t contain any harmful chemicals.

  Reviewers say the Coop Home Goods Shredded Memory Foam pillow is far superior to standard pillows, as it provides better support and retains its shape with a little bit of daily fluffing. Many even note it’s helped to minimize their neck and back pain during the night.

  Coop Home Goods Memory Foam Pillow Review

  The 7 Best Memory Foam Pillows of 2020
• 03 of 08

  Best for Side Sleepers: Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow

  Very Good

  Buy on Amazon

  

  Your sleep position will often dictate what type of pillow will be most comfortable. One of the most common sleeping positions is on your side, and if you tend to snooze in this position, you’ll want a pillow that’s thick enough to keep your spine in alignment. One great option for side sleepers is the Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Pillow, another product that you can adjust to fit your body.

  This shredded memory foam pillow has a zipper so you can add or remove filling to suit your needs—if you sleep on your side, make sure the pillow is thick enough to fill the gap between your head and the mattress. It’s covered in a breathable bamboo cover to keep you cool during the night, and the foam is non-toxic and resistant to dust mites.

  Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow Review

  The 7 Best Pillows for Combination Sleepers of 2020
• 04 of 08

  Best Down Alternative: LANGRIA Luxury Hotel Collection Bed Pillows

  Very Good

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  Down alternative pillows are a great choice because they closely mirror down pillows but they're less expensive and hypoallergenic, which makes them a much better choice for anyone with allergies. They’re also slightly more breathable than feathered options.

  Though it's incredibly soft, the LANGRIA Luxury Hotel Collection Bed Pillow feels substantial and won’t deflate. It also has a cotton shell that makes the pillow breathable, hypoallergenic, and durable. Reviewers seem to agree that whether you sleep on your back, stomach, or side you’ll love the way it feels. In fact, more than a few people refer to this option as “the perfect pillow.”

  LANGRIA Luxury Hotel Collection Down Alternative Pillows Review

  The 6 Best Places to Buy Pillows in 2020
  Continue to 5 of 8 below.
• 05 of 08

  Best Budget: DreamNorth PREMIUM Gel Pillow

  Very Good

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  High-end pillows can get pretty expensive, so if you’re looking for spare pillows for your guest room or another seldom-used location, you may want to consider a budget option like the DreamNorth Premium Gel Pillows. These affordable gel pillows come in standard, queen, and king sizes, and they’ll be easy on your budget while still providing your guests with a restful night’s sleep.

  The DreamNorth Pillows are filled with a special gel fiber that’s soft and breathable, and the covers are made from 100 percent cotton with a subtle striped design. The fabric is breathable to keep your head cool at night, and the pillows are hypoallergenic and dust mite-resistant. Reviewers say these pillows are both soft and supportive, and several customers note they’re best for back or stomach sleepers.

  DreamNorth Premium Gel Pillow Review
• 06 of 08

  Best Down: Parachute Down Pillow

  

  Excellent

  Buy on Parachute

  

  Down, which is another term for duck or goose feathers, is known as one of the most luxurious pillow materials, as it’s extremely light and soft. It's also relatively simple to wash and maintain. If you’re partial to down pillows, you’ll love the Parachute Down Pillows, which are filled with premium European white down and wrapped in a 100 percent sateen-cotton shell.

  These pillows come in standard and king sizes, and you can choose from soft, medium, or firm densities. The down filling comes from humanely treated animals, and the shell is reinforced with a double-stitched piping seam. These pillows come with a three-year warranty, and reviewers say they’re well worth the investment for a luxurious night’s sleep.

  Parachute Firm Down Pillow Review

  The 8 Best Down Comforters of 2020
• 07 of 08

  Best Plush: The Casper Pillow

  

  Very Good

  Buy on TargetBuy on Casper

  

  If you like feeling like you’re sleeping on a cloud, you’ll love the Casper Pillow, which has a plush feel thanks to its pillow-in-a-pillow design. This unique pillow has a supportive inner section surrounded by a plush, soft outer shell that effortlessly adjusts as you shift position.

  The Casper Pillow has a 100 percent cotton cover in a breathable percale weave that keeps it from overheating during the night. Casper claims this pillow can be used in any sleeping position, but some reviewers say it’s too soft for back and side sleepers. The majority of buyers agree this pillow is quite comfortable and soft, and many customers note that it’s helped reduce aches and pains in the morning.

  Original Casper Pillow Review
• 08 of 08

  Best for Neck Pain: UTTU Sandwich Pillow

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  If you suffer from neck pain, experts recommend changing your sleeping position (just that alone could do the trick!) or swapping out your pillow. When you have neck pain, it could mean you’re not getting enough support while you sleep. Choose a more rounded pillow to mirror the natural curvature of the neck. And opt for soft memory foam or feathers, because a pillow that’s too hard may exacerbate neck pain.

  Though the UTTU Sandwich Pillow has an affordable price, it’s touted as one of the best pillows to help relieve neck pain. Hundreds of reviewers give this uniquely designed pillow five stars, citing its ability to help prevent a stiff neck. Like many of the best options out there, it’s customizable, so you can find the right height and firmness that works for you.

  The 8 Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2020

Products Tested by The Spruce

How We Tested

We bought four top-rated pillows and our reviewers tested them daily for weeks on end. We asked our reviewers to consider the most important features when using these pillows, from their firmness to their material. We've outlined the key points here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in a Pillow

Material Pillows are typically made of materials like foam, down, down alternatives, gel, or polyester fill. Each has its pros and cons. For instance, memory foam pillows are great if you sleep in the same position every night, while down pillows are super fluffy. Consider whether the material you’re buying is conducive to your sleep preferences and whether it might cause any allergies to act up.

Firmness Your firmness preference is an essential consideration when purchasing a pillow. Think about whether you like your pillows firm, super soft, or somewhere in between before you buy.

Sleep position The position you sleep in can affect which pillow is best for your needs. Those who sleep on their side typically do best with a wide pillow with a gusset or extra height, while those who sleep on their stomachs need a soft, thin pillow to maintain their neck’s natural curve.

Test Results: Xtreme Comforts Hyperallergenic Bamboo Pillow (Best Overall)

Excellent

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What We Like

• Supportive

• Comfortable

• Regulates temperature well

What We Don't Like

• Foam removal process can be messy

“This is by far the best pillow that I've used,” raved one of our testers. “The first night I used it, I had the best night of sleep I'd had in a long time.” In particular, our reviewers thought it was the ideal combination of supportive and comfortable — plus, it didn’t retain heat overnight. Our testers did, however, wish that the instructions warned that the foam removal process could be messy. Overall, though, the pillow was a major hit. “I had my spouse test the pillow as well and we are now officially fighting over it,” one tester said. “So, I plan to buy one for each of us.”

Test Results: Coop Home Goods (Best Memory Foam)

Excellent

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What We Like

• Soft fill

• Durable outer shell

• Supportive

What We Don't Like

• Slight chemical smell at first

“This pillow is soft without being too soft,” explained one of our testers. “It conforms around your head but still offers support.” Another plus, according to one reviewer, was that its outer shell was durable: “I washed and dried it without any shrinking,” she noted. On the other hand, one tester reported that it had a “slightly chemical smell” that didn’t dissipate until she washed the outer shell for the first time.

Test Results: Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow (Best for Side Sleepers)

Very Good

Buy on Amazon

What We Like

• Comfortable

• Feels luxurious

• 20-year warranty

What We Don't Like

• Messy to remove fill

• Strange smell at first

This pillow won over our testers because it was large and comfortable. One reviewer also loved that it felt “luxurious" and pointed out that it has a 20-year warranty. Although our testers liked that its filling was adjustable, one reviewer noted that it was shredded and messy to remove. Lastly, according to one tester, it “had a weird smell” when she first unwrapped it. However, she said that it went away after washing the outer shell.

Test Results: LANGRIA Luxury Hotel Collection Bed Pillows (Best Down Alternative)

Very Good

Buy on Amazon

What We Like

• Great value

• Comfortable

• Fluffy

What We Don't Like

• Not fancy

• Doesn't conform to your shape

• Fill not adjustable

This pillow was an excellent overall value for the price, according to our testers: “It isn’t fancy, but it’s definitely comfortable,” one reviewer said. “It’d be great in a kids' room or to use as an extra pillow on a bed if you have shams.” Our testers also thought that it looked well-made and that it was “pretty fluffy — ideal for people who like a softer pillow.” On the other hand, one reviewer pointed out that it didn’t conform to her head and that you can’t adjust the fill.