Whether you sleep on your side or back or prefer foam or down, there’s a perfect pillow out there for you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep we spend one-third of our lives in a state of sleep, so we know that sleep is important.
That said, a good night’s sleep can be hard to come by if you’re dealing with too much stress, over-caffeinating too late in the day, or staring at a blue screen before going to sleep.
But, if your sleep environment isn’t comfortable, you’re already putting yourself at a disadvantage.
That’s why prioritizing your sleeping comfort should be a key step in establishing a healthy sleep bedtime routine.
And, while much has been made over choosing the right mattress for your sleep habits, finding the perfect pillow is just as important for comfortable sleeping as a mattress.
Of course, you need to consider a wide range of factors when you’re pillow-shopping: What sleep position do you prefer back, stomach, or are you a side sleeper?
Do you run hot or cold while sleeping? Are you allergic to goose down or feathers?
Everyone’s individual sleeping preferences will differ slightly, but there’s more than likely a pillow that meets your expectations for what a comfortable pillow should be, whether that’s a foam pillow, gel pillow, latex pillows, support pillow, body pillow, contour pillow, or simply a pillow for neck pain.
It’s just a matter of wading through all of your options, which seem to expand every day. That good night’s sleep could be right around the corner.
We’ve rounded up some of the best bed pillows available online at the moment, featuring their more technical specs and input from enthusiastic internet reviewers, plus our recommendations for whose needs they’ll likely suit best.
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1. Cosy House Luxury Bamboo Pillow
Best pillow for keeping cool
Cosy House CollectionWith two layers of supportive foam and an antibacterial, cooling bamboo case, Cosy House’s shredded foam pillow is made to relieve some of the greatest sleeping woes, namely overheating and uncomfortable pressure points.
The relatively firm construction helps the pillow maintain its shape while sleeping, but the shredded memory foam pillow fill in its bottommost layer is removable, which allows users to customize its density.
“This is one heavy pillow and I kept removing the filling until getting it just right,” one reviewer wrote, adding that, when filled to capacity, the pillow maybe a little too big and firm for some users’ liking.
For others, it was the foam pillow’s breathable and cooling properties that sold them: “The most comfortable pillow I have ever had.
Keeps me cool, I sleep so soundly,” one wrote. “I didn’t sweat as much as I usually do so I would say the cooling/moisture wicking worked,” another noted.
The machine-washable bamboo cover naturally resists allergens and dust mites. You can add two bamboo pillowcases to your foam pillow order for an additional $24.
2. Coop Home Goods- Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow
Best pillow for firmness and shape
Coop Home GoodsAnother best pillow with adjustable density, Coop’s “Original” pillow is completely customizable and reshapable.
Its fill is entirely made up of a shredded blend of microfiber and memory foam pillow, meaning users can empty and refill the whole body of the pillow, allowing them to fluff it and mash it to fit their exact sleeping needs.
Although Coop states that this comfortable pillow is probably best suited for a side sleeper or those who like a firmer (firmer than just foam) pillow, reviewers vouch for its versatility.
“I usually sleep on my side but I sometimes sleep on my back. The pillow is great either way,” one wrote.
Another pointed out that there might be a learning curve with the pillow’s adjustability: “It took a few weeks to get used to the pillow and get it the right height, but I love it! It’s improved my neck health.
Luckily, with a 100-day return policy, you have time to tweak the fill level to your liking.
This pillow also comes with a washable bamboo cover that you can use as a regular pillowcase. If you’re interested but still on the fence, Coop offers a quiz for customers to find the best pillow for their preferences.
3. Casper Sleep Pillow for Sleeping
Best pillow for neck support
CasperCasper’s comfortable pillow boasts “adaptive support” for your neck, meaning it’s both cushy and springy, able to “adapt” to various customers’ neck preferences for a great night’s sleep.
Where the exterior is soft, its firm inner core and gusseted construction help maintain its structure.
The product of 60 test-runs on various fills, this sleeper pillow is sort of the platonic ideal in terms of density: not too firm and not too fluffy. And reviewers happily attest to its Goldilocks-esque appeal.
“You can feel the quality in the weight of it and as soon as I laid down I was in love. Support and comfort that seems to wrap you up in its arms,” one wrote.
Another reviewer wondered, “how one pillow can rule them all,” possibly in a nod toward the fact that Casper designed this pillow with the understanding that all people shift in their sleep, whether they identify as a side sleeper or back sleeper.
In other words, this comfortable pillow is in the running for the overall crowd-pleaser one downside may be the fact that you have to buy pillowcases separately.
4. The Purple Pillow
Good for getting rid of that crick in your neck
PurpleInstead of a foam pillow, microfiber shavings, or even down, this comfortable pillow’s fill is a one-piece polymer grid, which goes on to affect pretty much every aspect of the sleep experience, especially for your neck.
This pillow keeps users’ heads cool and helps prevent neck pain thanks to said sturdy, weight-distributing grid, which is designed to “cradle” the user’s head, neck, and shoulders, sparing them from painful pressure points.
With all that in mind, this pillow is definitely on the firmer (and heavier) side, but judging by the reviews, the density is well worth it. (That said, if you like a pillow that you can fluff and mold to an exact shape, this probably isn’t the pillow for you or your neck.)
“I was surprised how heavy it is but who cares. As soon as my head hit the pillow I knew this was for me.
The first time in a long time my neck was not in pain,” one reviewer wrote, echoing another relieved user who wrote: “You know that feeling when you climb into your bed and you back relaxes?
This does the same thing for my neck.” If there was one consistent gripe about the Purple pillow, it’s that it could be slightly thicker.
And, although this pillow comes with a zip cover, Purple recommends purchasing separate pillowcases for it, as well.
5. DreamNorth PREMIUM Gel Pillow
Best for someone who wants a cushy night’s sleep
DreamNorthSold on Amazon in packs of two with a machine washable cover, DreamNorth’s soft pillows is easily the most cost-effective choice on this list.
That said, their breathability, down-free fluffiness, and supportive gel pillow fiber fill could keep them from feeling “cheap.”
Described as “ultra-soft,” these pillows are probably not the right choice if you’re looking for something particularly firm, but their softness almost makes their ability to retain their shape more impressive.
“They came vacuum sealed and squished flat but as soon as you take it out of the package they fluff up like marshmallows and stay that way.
I’ve only noticed some slight, very slight flattening in the 4 months I’ve had them,” one reviewer wrote.
Others noted the pillows’ fluffiness but added that they didn’t have to sacrifice any amount of neck support for how soft they were, either: “I highly recommend these pillows if you are [prone] to waking up with neck aches or headaches, because the pillow conforms nicely to give you the support you need while being soft enough to make you comfortable.”