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Pillows are by far one of the most important aspects of your sleeping environment. Buying a poor quality pillow or the wrong pillow type can lead to neck pain or back pain. In this best pillow list, we’ll give you the top brands for stomach sleepers, side sleepers, and back sleepers. We’ll also break down which pillow type is best for you: gel memory foam, latex pillow, feather pillow, adjustable pillow, and more so you can get the perfect pillow for your needs.
Pillows have been slowly gaining importance these past few years. We used to look at them as just a bedroom accessory and nothing else. Nowadays, pillows are getting recognized not just like a sleeping aid but a health aid as well.
There are now multiple pillow reviews that you can consult when buying a pillow. We have seen the influx of different types of pillows for different needs.
When we used to have just bedroom pillows, throw pillows, neck pillows and travel pillows, we now have a wide range of pillows. There are now options like butterfly pillows, mediflow pillows, mediflow water-based pillows, trtl pillows, and neck support pillows.
Pillows can be the difference between great quality sleep or a night of tossing and turning. How do you choose a pillow that can help improve the quality of your sleep? We are going to check some of the best pillows available today and delve deeper into what they have to offer.
Top Picks for Pillows
- Luxe
- Amerisleep Comfort Classic
- Tuft & Needle Down Alternative
- GhostPillow Memory Foam
- Coop Home Goods Eden
#1. Luxe Pillow
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Luxe is one of our favorite bed pillows and earned a #1 spot on this list and is one of our approved products because it uses the most comfortable sustainably sourced white goose down and small-game waterfowl feather available. Luxe provides support and comfort, making it great for stomach sleepers as well as back sleepers. Side sleepers who know that they prefer a soft pillow will also love Luxe.
There are a lot of pillow options out there and it can be tough to make a decision. The Sleepline review team conducted extensive research and tried out all of the best pillows in the world. Luxe is the best down pillow and best pillow available, period.
Luxe comes with free shipping within the United States and free returns. You get a 100-night sleep trial when you buy Luxe. The generous return policy makes buying Luxe a no-brainer. The numerous five-star reviews can’t be wrong.
Buy: Luxe Pillow (Down and Feather)
#2. Amerisleep Comfort Classic
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Out of all of the memory foam pillows available, Amerisleep Comfort Classic is our favorite. Comfort Classic is an excellent cooling pillow due to the addition of cooling chambers that are designed to channel airflow and wick away moisture while you sleep.
No matter what your body type is or what sleeping style you have, this is a great pillow to buy. Side and back sleepers will both love the support that the lightweight Bio-Pur memory foam provides. It may not be the best pillow for stomach sleepers, since it doesn’t sink in as much as an alternative pillow like one made out of down.
Amerisleep stands behind this memory foam pillow by providing a 10-year warranty that protects you against manufacturer defects. If you’re a fan of memory foam, we think that the Amerisleep Comfort Classic is the pillow best suited for your needs.
Buy: Amerisleep Comfort Classic Pillow
#3. Tuft & Needle Down Alternative
Tuft & Needle Down Alternative pillows are made out polyester fiber that serves as a replacement for traditional down, giving you the same feel at a much lower price point. If you’re a back sleeper or a stomach sleeper then you will love these pillows from Tuft & Needle. If you’re a side sleeper, you may find that you sink in too much and that it doesn’t provide adequate support (unless you love the feel of a soft firmness level pillow).
Tuft & Needle Down Alternative pillows are great if you want to feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. They’re available in both standard and King pillow sizes. These soft and fluffy pillows will definitely give you a great night’s sleep. They’re also great for allergy sufferers since they’re made out of hypoallergenic materials. They’re also much cheaper than many of the other pillows on this best pillow list.
Buy: Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow
#4. GhostPillow Memory Foam
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GhostPillow is another great option if you’re a fan of memory foam pillows. It’s been called the world’s “only real-time cooling pillow” and is great for people who run hot while they sleep. The reason why hot sleepers love GhostPillow is because it incorporates unique phase-change material to provide temperature control in real time. The outer cover is made out of cool-to-the-touch material branded as Ghost Ice Fabric. When it comes to cooling pillows, GhostPillow is in a league of its own.
GhostPillow is great no matter what your sleep position. It has a firm feel and helps to keep your head and neck supported. This helps reduce back pain and neck pain while you sleep (especially if you’re a side sleeper). You can also buy it in a shredded memory foam and faux down version.
Buy: GhostPillow Memory Foam Pillow
#5. Coop Home Goods Eden
The Coop Home Goods Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is the pillow for all the members of your family. You can adjust the height and firmness of this pillow, making it suitable to the preference of any member of your family. By merely reducing or adding filling, you can create a pillow with just the right amount of height and firmness. Its Ultra Soft Proprietary Bamboo Polyester Blend Fabric has temperature-regulating properties that can help keep you fresh.
Notable Features of Coop:
- 100-night trial – Coop Home Goods provides customers with a 100-night trial and guarantees refund for customers who are not 100% satisfied with their purchase.
- Organic – The materials used by Coop Home Goods are low in Volatile Organic Compounds. This is an assurance that your family won’t be exposed to harmful chemical fumes. Low VOC also means that the health of your family is guarded by maintaining the quality of the air in your bedroom.
- Machine Washable – Your Coop Home Goods pillows are machine-washable for easy cleaning. They are also hypoallergenic and dust-mite resistant for your family’s protection.
Buy: Coop Home Goods Eden
Honorable Mention: Royal Hotel Down Pillow
Royal Hotel’s Down Pillow is the epitome of luxury. The cover is made from 500 thread count cotton for a soft and luxurious feel. Each pillow is filled with 750 Fill Power of 75% white down and 25% small feather. The pillow is made even more elegant with its silky piped edge that also makes the pillow durable and prevents filling from leaking out.
Notable Features of Royal Hotel’s Down Pillow:
- Unlike other feather pillows, Royal Hotel’s doesn’t have feather stems that may poke you in your sleep.
- Comes in Soft, Firm, Medium Firm, Extra Firm, and Adjustable. There’s a Royal Hotel’s Down Pillow available for you, whatever firmness you prefer.
- Allergen-free pillows for a sound and healthy sleep.
Honorable mention: Original Casper Pillow
Most pillows offer either firm support or soft, but with the Original Casper Pillow you don’t have to choose just one. It has a unique pillow-in-pillow design that is both soft and supportive. They combined the softness of feather pillows with the level of support found in foam pillows. These two are achieved without using foam or feathers. The core is made from short polyester fibers that make it firm and supportive while the outer layer is formed from long polyester fibers that make it as soft as down pillows.
Notable Features of Casper Pillows:
- Buyers are given a 100-day trial with a refund guarantee if they are not satisfied with the product.
- Fiber clusters are easy to maintain and can be fluffed quickly
- The pillow cover is made of cotton cover that allows good airflow.
Things To Consider When Pillow Shopping
Comfort
Comfort is the first thing that we consider whenever we buy pillows. Choose a pillow that will keep you comfortable, so you don’t end up tossing and turning the entire night.
Durable
Pillows should be durable enough to last for years. Make sure that the materials used in the pillow are of high quality. Pillow covers with double-stitching are also more durable since they don’t easily get undone and won’t leak filling.
Sleeping position
Different sleep positions require different pillows. Purchase a pillow that will provide your neck, shoulders, and head with the right amount of support when you sleep. Some sleeping positions also require a particular level of firmness to make sleeping more comfortable.
Hypoallergenic
Your health and that of your family is of paramount importance. Hypoallergenic pillows can act as a barrier between your family and harmful allergens that can develop into life-long allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Can pillows be washed?
Yes, you can wash most pillows. It’s important to follow the care instructions that the manufacturer provides before throwing it in the washing machine, however. Not all pillows can be cleaned using the machine washing method. Learn more by reading our pillow washing guide here.
What pillows do hotels use?
Most hotel pillows are custom-made for the hotel chain, similar to hotel mattresses. Many hotel pillows are available for purchase online; including Marriott and the St. Regis hotel pillow (view St. Regis mattress review here).
How many pillows on a bed?
The number of pillows you place on your bed is a matter of personal preference. If you toss and turn throughout the night, you might want to add lots of pillows so you can be comfortable in each sleep position you end up in. If you have pillows with soft firmness levels, you may want to add an extra so that you can get more support, particularly if you’re side sleeping.
Your personal sleep habits are the most important factor to consider when choosing how many pillows to add. Back and stomach sleepers should only use one pillow so that they don’t add to their neck strain. People who use a firm pillow should also only use on pillow, since it already provides enough support.
Can pillows go in the dryer?
Depends on the brand. We recommend referring to the care instructions included in the package when you buy your pillow. You should consider using pillow protectors or other type of pillow casing so that you don’t have to wash and dry your pillow as often, which can help extend its lifespan. You can buy a pillow protector from many of the websites we listed above, which is a great financial decision if you’re buying a new pillow (particularly if it’s an expensive pillow).
Can pillows be recycled?
Unfortunately, you can’t just toss your old pillow in the recycling bin when you’re done with it. For hygienic reasons, most recycling centers won’t accept a used pillow.
You can contact the American Textile Recycling Service or a local textile factory to see if they are accepting donations. Otherwise, you may be out of luck.
What pillows are best for neck pain?
If you suffer from neck pain, it’s important to buy a pillow that has the correct amount of loft (height). Side sleepers should choose a pillow that’s tall enough to keep their neck in proper alignment. Soft pillows are not the best choice for side sleepers, since they will cause your head to sink in and you’re spine will be out of alignment, thus causing neck pain.
Being a stomach sleeper is generally not a good idea if you suffer from neck pain, since it causes issues with your spine. But if you’re a stomach sleeper who can’t break the habit, we highly recommend choosing a soft pillow that will allow your head to sink in. Another factor to consider if you’re a stomach sleeper is pillow loft. Unlike side sleepers, you don’t want a high-loft pillow. You want want one that is low-loft, since it’ll keep your neck and back aligned properly.
Back sleepers should also take pillow loft into consideration. Low-loft pillows are generally best for back sleepers, but you can get away with a high-loft version if it’s more comfortable for you. Memory foam is generally the best material for back sleepers, since it provides adequate neck support while still allowing you to sink-in to the optimal level. Memory foam firmness varies between brands, so make sure to check the manufacturer’s website before buying.
Can pillows cause acne?
Sleep position is critical. If you suffer from acne, we highly recommend sleeping on your back. Side sleepers are more prone to outbreaks, particularly if you only sleep on one side. Replace your pillow cases frequently, especially if you like to sleep on your side.
How We Rate Pillows
There are many different types of pillows. We rate pillows by 6 standards:
- Firmness and Support
- Loft & Adjustability
- Hypoallergenic
- Hygiene
- Comfort
- Structural integrity & Durability
View our full rating process for pillows.
The amount and quality of sleep that we get each night has far-reaching implications in our health and well-being. It can affect our productivity in school or our workplaces. Lack of sleep can even result in lack of concentration and forgetfulness. This is why we need to make sure that our sleeping aids, including our pillows, are of top-notch quality.
A comfortable pillow is the first step towards a sound and healthy sleep. This is why we need to take time in choosing our pillows. The next time you choose a pillow, choose them as if your family’s health depends on them because they do.
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