There are few things in life that are better than lying your head down on a comfortable, supportive pillow at night. On the flip side, there are few things worse than sleeping on a pillow that causes neck pain, stiffness, or is otherwise not the best fit for your body or your sleeping position.
We get it, which is why we tested more than 100 pillows in both our lab and at home, judging them based on how well they improved our sleep quality over the course of six months. The five on our list excelled at just that, whether you want a budget option, something cooling, or the overall best pillow for just about anyone.
After testing this pillow for six months, we still use it every single night. We absolutely love the curved shape—it supports our neck in a way that keeps us from rolling to the sides. In fact, we sleep better with it because of the material and shape; we sleep on our back in the cradle of the curve, and when we move to the side, we don’t have to readjust (again, because of the curve).
Not only does it provide proper support for our head and neck, but the curved shape is also so comfortable. The blend of memory foam and down fill give the pillow a good balance, and it keeps its shape well. The breathable, hypoallergenic cover kept us cool throughout the night too.
Our only caveat is that the pillow fits a little awkwardly inside a pillowcase because of the curve, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker for us—we’ll continue to use this pillow indefinitely since it blows other pillows we’ve tested out of the water.
Sizes: Standard, king | Fill: Memory foam and down alternative blend | Cover: Lyocell blend | Return Policy: 100 nights via manufacturer | Machine Washable: Ultimate shape pillow: Yes; Curved and Classic shape pillows: Spot clean only
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We loved this really soft pillow—it’s squishy, foldable, and perfect if you want flexibility. It kept us comfortable while we were sleeping, and we liked how easy it was to fold and tuck under our head to adjust the height and firmness.
We folded it in half for a firmer pillow and tucked our arm under it for side sleeping, and when we wanted to sleep on our stomach, it flattened well to make it comfortable for our neck. After six months of testing, we still like this pillow and use it consistently.
It’s still comfortable and shapes to our head and shoulders well no matter which position we’re sleeping in, and while we’d often wake up with neck pain when sleeping on firm pillows, we’ve been fine since switching to this one. It also stayed cool compared to the memory foam pillow we typically use, so we didn’t overheat at all. Just keep in mind that it’s under-filled and best suited to those who don’t prefer a firm pillow.
Sizes: Standard | Fill: 75% down, 25% feather | Cover: 70% cotton, 30% lyocell | Return Policy: 365 days | Machine Washable: Yes
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Those who sleep hot need a pillow to keep them cool at night, and the Coop EdenCool Plus Adjustable Pillow is the best cooling pillow we’ve ever tested. After six months, we’ve become obsessed with this pillow—we use it every single night and even bring it with us when we travel. It’s cool to the touch, and the filling is fluffy and malleable (it can be adjusted to fit your exact pillow loft preference).
In fact, it has exponentially improved our sleep quality. It gave us the perfect amount of support for our head, neck, jaw, and back, and it has two different sides: a soft side and a firm side with more structure and a more intense cooling effect. It easily molded to our body in all sleeping positions.
Even though it’s adjustable, we didn’t need to adjust it during the testing period—it didn’t flatten at all, but it came with an extra bag of fill just in case. It also came with a protective cover, but we preferred the pillow without it since it’s a little softer.
We loved the versatility as far as firmness goes, and we’re even considering buying a second one—it’s absolutely worth the money, and we can confidently say it’s one of the best pillows we’ve ever slept on.
Sizes: Queen, king | Fill: Gel-infused shredded memory foam and microfiber | Cover: Polyethylene, polyester, and spandex | Return Policy: 100 days via manufacturer | Machine Washable: Yes
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If you like the cozy, soft, and fluffy feeling of a traditional down pillow, you’ll love the Lincove Signature 100% Canadian Down Luxury Sleeping Pillow. It’s constructed very well and regains its shape perfectly each morning when making the bed, even after six months of sleeping on it every night.
It was comfortable, plush, and full when sleeping with it, which gave us enough support whether we were sleeping on our back, side, or stomach. We typically move around quite a bit in our sleep, and this pillow adjusted well throughout the night and maintained its fullness. The softness of the outer material felt more luxurious than any other pillow we’ve ever used before.
This pillow struck a good balance between firm and soft. Despite its larger size and plenty of fill, it didn’t create any unnecessary warmth while sleeping but rather remained cool to the touch and very comfortable. We wouldn’t change anything about it.
Sizes: Standard, king, queen | Fill: 100% down | Cover: 100% cotton | Return Policy: 90 days | Machine Washable: No
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This pillow has been our primary pillow for six months now, and we sleep with it every night. We love how comfortable it is and how well it works well for side sleepers. It gives just the right amount of support to not cause any pain in our neck or other areas of the body.
It has the perfect fill too—not too firm and not as soft or fluffy as a typical down pillow. We still experience our usual middle of the night warmth, but when we wake, we can feel the cold technology working for a few minutes when we flip the pillow, which is nice as we fall back asleep. The cooling technology is more effective without a pillowcase.
The pillow never became lumpy or flat during the testing period either, and both the inner and outer materials have held up well. Overall, it’s a comfortable, durable pillow that’s been a consistent and reliable addition to our bedding.
Sizes: Standard/queen, king | Fill: Down-alternative fill | Cover: Polyester | Return Policy: 60–90 days | Machine Washable: Yes
Final Verdict
Out of all the pillows on the market, we think the Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow is the best. It works for all sleeping positions and is extremely comfortable, supportive, and breathable. For a budget-friendly alternative, we also like the Casaluna Medium Down Bed Pillow for its softness, flexibility, and how well it folds and tucks under our head. It is also great for all sleeping positions.
Our Testing Process
Our process for finding the best pillows was backed by hours of sleep trials. After adjusting the fill according to how flat or firm we wanted it, we slept on them every night (for up to six months) and washed or cleaned the pillow according to the manufacturer’s instructions if needed.
We then had a series of questions that we asked ourselves to judge how well the pillow improved our sleep quality. To determine comfort, we judged whether it provided enough support for our head and neck and whether it ever caused any pain or discomfort, like a stiff neck.
For durability, we noted whether the pillow flattened, lost any firmness, or took on a lumpy shape during the testing period. We also paid attention to any wear on the fabric or outer material. For quality, we noted if the fill was adjustable, if the zipper glided well, and if the pillow fit inside our pillowcases comfortably.
Last but not least, we judged a pillow’s value by asking ourselves whether the price of it was reflective of its value and all of its features and if we’d consider paying the listed price (or even more).
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Firmness and Loft
Like all bedding, firmness and loft (how high the pillow is) are subjective. That said, you’ll want to make sure your neck is in line with your spine in a neutral position while you sleep. Your sleep position can help you determine the firmness and loft to look for in a pillow:
- Back Sleepers: Back sleepers should opt for something that’s not too high or flat—in other words, the Goldilocks of pillows. This medium loft keeps your neck from being propped up too far forward to too far back.
- Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleepers need something flatter and thinner so as to not prop their head up higher than it should be. We found that our best budget and best down picks were great for this, but something adjustable could also work.
- Side Sleepers: Side sleepers will want a lot of height and firmness to fill the gap between your neck and your mattress. An adjustable pillow like our overall best or best cooling are key.
- Combination Sleepers: If you’re a combination of all of the above, you might want to play around with an adjustable pick to find the loftiness that suits all your needs.
Fill
On our list, we have pillows with three different types of fill: down, down alternative, and memory foam (or a combination of two). Here’s a quick breakdown of each and who they might be best for:
- Down: Down pillows are made from the feathers from a goose or duck. This makes them super fluffy and soft, so they contour to the shape of your head and neck. On the downside, they’re not great for people with allergies, and they’ll need to be fluffed often so they don’t lose their shape.
- Down Alternative: This is a synthetic fill that mimics the feel of real down. This makes them less expensive, better for those with allergies, and machine washable, unlike real down.
- Memory Foam: Memory foam can be either solid or shredded. Solid memory foam has more structure and support that won’t lose its shape, which makes it great for side and back sleepers. On the other hand, shredded memory foam can be adjusted to an exact height since you can add and remove the shredded fill as needed, which is nice if you want or need something more customized.
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Breathability
For hot sleepers, breathability in a pillow can be the difference between a restful night and waking up in a sweat. Of the different types of pillows, down and down alternatives are the most breathable, followed by shredded memory foam, which allows for better airflow than its solid counterpart.
Solid memory foam tends to retain the most heat, making it less ideal for hot sleepers unless it’s specifically designed with cooling features like gel infusions. Our best cooling pick, for example, is made of gel-infused memory foam and has a cool-to-the-touch cover.
Care
Of the options on our list, four out of five can be machine washed with the exception of our best down pick (and the curved and classic shape pillows of our overall best, which are spot clean only). It’s always a good idea to use a pillowcase to protect your pillow and make it much easier to keep fresh between washes.
Return Policy
The return policies of the pillows on our list range from 30 days to a year (our best budget option). That said, return policies can vary based on the retailer, so it’s always a good idea to double check before purchasing so you can have a sufficient sleep trial and peace of mind if it’s not the right fit.
Questions You Might Ask
Which pillows are best for neck pain?
For neck pain, it’s again important to make sure your pillow allows your neck to be in line with your spine in your preferred sleeping position. This typically translates to a higher, more firm pillow for side and back sleepers and a thinner, flatter one for stomach sleepers.
“A pillow that is responsive yet supportive, a medium-firm variety, can help to support your neck if you’re experiencing pain,” Dautovich says. The wrong pillow could worsen pain in the neck and shoulders or cause headaches, she adds, which you might already be experiencing with your current pillow. Our overall best and best cooling pillows fit this medium-firm bill.
When should you replace your pillow?
Like we touched on above, one sign that it’s time to replace your pillow is when you’re experiencing frequent back and neck pain; this may mean that your pillow has become lumpy or lost some of its loft. Other signs to watch out for are if you notice any stains or smells or allergy symptoms, but a good rule of thumb is to replace them every one to two years. In general, down alternative pillows have the shortest lifespan, while memory foam and latex have the longest.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Camryn Dilger, an associate editor at Real Simple with years of hands-on experience researching, testing, editing, and reviewing dozens of products. As a back and side sleeper, she’s currently eyeing the overall best and best cooling picks for their crescent shape options—but she has yet to decide which one will win the coveted spot on her bed.
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