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There are so many types of pillow stuffing that I highly doubt you know about them all. The pillow of your dreams might be out there, waiting to solve your neck pain, cool you down, and give you the best sleep ever, but instead of using water, kapok, or buckwheat to fill your pillow, you’re stuck with your old polyester fiberfill or memory foam. Let’s get informed and hopefully change that.
What are the different types of pillow stuffing?
You can pretty much make pillows out of anything; historically speaking, Ancient Egypt had marble pillows. But let’s leave the pillow history behind us and stay relevant to modern times.
These types of pillow stuffing are easy to find online and in physical stores:
- Memory foam pillow stuffing
- Polyfill pillow stuffing
- Feather pillow stuffing
- Down pillow stuffing
- Down alternative pillow stuffing
- Buckwheat pillow stuffing
- Cotton pillow stuffing
- Kapok pillow stuffing
- Microbead pillow stuffing
- Bamboo pillow stuffing
- Latex pillow stuffing
- Wool pillow stuffing
- Water pillow stuffing
Memory Foam
Memory foam pillow stuffing usually comes in the form of a single-block memory foam or shredded memory foam. Both can be infused with cooling gel, copper, or carbon.
Shredded memory foam is more easily adjusted as you can remove or add some of the foam stuffing and you can move it around inside the pillow, but the block memory foam offers firmer support.
Some memory foam pillows have several layers, and some have quite interesting design solutions. For example, the Pluto pillow makes personalized pillows for every buyer, and those pillows have a memory foam block within a foam-padded pillowcase.
Sometimes a company will claim that their pillow stuffing is their proprietary foam which they refuse to call memory foam.
I see where they’re coming from (for example, they might have made their foam more breathable or with no “stuck in the mud” feel), but they still developed those foams from the same base as memory foam.
Tuft and Needle offers some decent pillows made of foam and polyfill.
Pros
- you can find decent low-priced memory foam pillows
- good support
- various options, including the adjustable pillow stuffing
Cons
- captures heat
- off-gassing (foam releases synthetic chemical gasses)
Polyfill
Polyester fill pillow stuffing is also known as polyfill and fiberfill.
You can also find polyester fiberfill in blankets, pillow tops, and stuffed animals. It’s very common in the cheapest pillows, and that’s usually the kind of polyfill that offers no support and that very soon lumps up and becomes completely flat.
Higher-quality fiberfill can last longer, but you shouldn’t get your hopes too high with this material.
On the flip side, you can always repurpose the filling for DIY kids’ or dogs’ toys, or use it as cushion stuffing.
Some pillows are stuffed with a blend of polyfill and shredded memory foam, such as the Zoma pillow. This combination makes it more durable and more supportive.
Pros
- somewhat fluffy, quite soft
- usually cheap
Cons
- tends to lump up and flatten fairly quickly
- cheaper pillows don’t provide proper support
Feather
People often mix up feather pillows and down pillows, but feathers are what you see on the outside of a bird, whereas down is their undercoat.
Feather pillow stuffing is soft but might feel spiky because of the quills that can poke out.
This is why feather pillows often have super thick pillowcases that are supposed to prevent feathers from coming out too much (which, unfortunately, means that washing the pillows is difficult because water can’t penetrate the case easily and when it does, it won’t drain easily).
The most common feather pillows today are a mix of feather and down, which makes them much fluffier and less spiky. Luxe Down and Feather Pillow is one of those.
Feather-only pillows are cheap.
They can lump up after years of use, but you need to air them out or put them in the dryer every once in a while to help prevent lumps because feather pillows (with their thick pillowcases) tend to retain moisture.
It’s safe to say you can expect your feather pillow to last over 5 years.
Pros
- natural pillow filling
- great support
- cool sleep
Cons
- hard to wash
- needs to be dried as part of maintenance
Down
Down pillows are very expensive and for good reason.
Down pillow stuffing has superior fluff and support compared to any other natural pillow stuffing options. Goose down is of higher quality than duck down.
The Federal Trade Commission requires that all products that have a “100% Down” label must contain down and nothing else. But if you see a “Down” label, it can contain feathers as well. Also, if you see a “Goose Down” label, it means that it contains a minimum of 90% goose down.
Cheaper down pillows have lower quality down.
You can tell the down quality by its fill power, which is a measure of fluff or loft of down products. Fill power is not measured for feathers, only down. Anything over 650 is luxurious, thick, and super lofty. The higher the fill power, the better the pillow.
If you want the highest quality, you can look for around 800 fill power or even higher. That comes to around $400 per pillow.
Down pillows with low fill power become flatter during the night, whereas the higher fill power doesn’t give in and stays equally fluffed up.
By the way, the “cheap” 100% down pillows are as expensive as mid-to-high priced regular pillows, which are more or less around $100.
Pros
- high fluff
- natural material
- superior support
Cons
- high cost
- although illegal in most countries, some down is unethically sourced through live plucking (in Poland, Hungary, and China)
Down Alternative
Down and down alternative pillows are complete opposites material- and price-wise, but they both make fluffy pillow stuffings (with real down still being much superior).
Down alternative is made from synthetic polyester microfiber fill. This material is pretty much made of plastic micro-threads. It’s basically the denser, more luxurious, and more durable version of polyester fiber.
Since it contains no traces of animal products, it won’t trigger reactions in those who suffer from allergies, and it’s easier to clean. However, it’s not as durable as real down nor as breathable. That’s why it’s cheaper.
The reason they call it “down alternative” is to make the products sound vegan and appealing to people who care about animals. Still, plastic isn’t good for the environment, so it’s hard to win with these things.
Read our list of what down alternative pillows are good for our brand recommendations.
Pros
- fluffier than cheap polyfill
- budget-friendly
Cons
- not as quality as the real down
Buckwheat
Now this is the real natural 100% vegan pillow stuffing. It’s safe for animals, the environment, and for your health.
Buckwheat hulls are cheap to buy and you can make an affordable DIY pillow using them. Buckwheat pillows are generally not expensive, but they have a lot of benefits.
First, cool sleep – these pillows allow the air to flow freely and it dissipates the body heat. Buckwheat filling makes a pillow firm and supportive. It helps relieve pain and maintain proper posture.
Buckwheat pillows make a slight rustling sound when you move around. It’s a comforting sound for some, but others dislike it.
Pros
- natural
- alows air to circulate
- affordable
- very supportive
Cons
- a bit heavy
- too firm for some
- makes a rustling sound
Cotton
Cotton is another natural fiber used as a pillow filling.
Cotton pillows offer medium-firm support and they have a good amount of fluff, but they tend to drop throughout the night.
Cotton is a super breathable material, does not have any artificial chemicals, and is safe for kids and adults.
Cotton doesn’t support the growth of bacteria, so it takes a good while before it starts feeling dirty or smelling bad. It’s very absorbent and since it’s also breathable, cotton is easy to dry fast, so if you tend to sweat at night, this pillow filling could be the right choice for you.
Pros
- natural
- breathable
- fluffy
Cons
- not very durable
- loses fluff with the use
Kapok
Kapok pillow stuffing is made of a natural fiber similar to cotton. It grows on kapok trees/ceiba trees in warm and humid climates.
Kapok is like a luxurious version of cotton, as if cotton and silk had a child. It retains its high level of fluff better than cotton, wool, or even down. It compresses less than any of those, so this would be the best “down alternative” if you want a fluffy, luxurious feel, with all the benefits of natural materials – breathableness, durability, and odorlessness.
It’s moldable and very lightweight. Kapok pillows are a bit pricey, but well worth it.
Pros
- natural
- lightweight
- fluffy but supportive
Cons
- not so easy to find
- high price
Microbead
Microbeads are actually the unexpanded polystyrene. What do you get when you expand polystyrene with heat? Styrofoam.
So, someone thought that a bag of these petroleum-based peas felt comfy and decided to fill pillows with them. They are very malleable, provide good support, and feel quite soft.
However, this artificial material retains a lot of heat and emits a chemical smell. Aside from that, if it breaks open (such as while you’re washing it), it can clog the pipes very easily. Microbeads should be kept away from children and pets.
Pros
- not expensive
- comfortable
Cons
- bad for the environment
- chemical smell
Bamboo
When you see a “bamboo pillow”, 90% of the time it’s going to be a pillow with a bamboo cover but actually filled with memory foam.
So be careful when looking up bamboo pillows. The name sounds super appealing, but it might be misleading.
It’s usually only the cover made of bamboo fibers, but it gets worse. That cover tends to actually be rayon derived from bamboo fibers. This means it’s processed to such an extent that it’s just plastic, and the only thing that remains from bamboo fibers is the name.
Pros
- soft
- supportive
Cons
- misleading name
- usually not natural
Latex
Latex is a foam made of rubber tree sap.
It bears some similarities to memory foam, such as that they both come either in a shredded option or as a single foam block. They are also both supportive.
But the difference is that latex is – obviously – natural; as such, it doesn’t retain heat, it has more bounce, doesn’t have a chemical smell, and is more durable. With all that, it’s also pricier.
Saatva latex pillow is at the top of our list of best organic pillows – be sure to check it out.
Shredded latex makes the pillow more malleable and fluffier. Easy Breather Natural by Nest Bedding is like that. If you like a firmer pillow better, you should go for a single foam block.
Pros
- excellent support
- natural
- cool
Cons
- pricey
- a bit heavier than other pillows
Wool
Wool is a natural material obtained from shearing sheep. Similar to the fur of poodles and the hair of humans, sheep have wool that never stops growing, so it has to be sheared.
Wool is fluffy (though not as much as down or kapok), it is resistant to mold and mildew, and it’s also a natural flame retardant. Not that pillows need to be flame retardant by any laws (like mattresses do), but it’s good to know.
Wool is a great insulator, but it also wicks away moisture and regulates temperature well. This means it will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.
However, it doesn’t keep its fluff for too long. Wool flattens out over time, which may not be perfect for side sleepers, but is great for stomach sleepers.
PlushBeds’ wool pillow took the second place on our list of best pillows for stomach sleepers.
Pros
- natural
- soft and supportive
Cons
- flattens out
- can be expensive
Water Pillow Filling
Water pillows have a fillable pouch and a stuffed portion on top. They can be stuffed with down feathers, memory foam, or something else.
The most popular water pillows are made by Mediflow, the company that pioneered water-filled pillows.
You can adjust the firmness and height of your water pillow by adding or removing water. Water provides a cool base that’s firm, but naturally contours to follow your position and movement throughout the night.
These pillows tend to be fairly tall, in a way that’s too much for any stomach sleeper. Side and back sleepers should love them.
The main issue with these pillows is that people want to get great sleep as soon as they buy them, but the trick is that there has to be a period of adjustment during which they have to find the optimal water amount.
Additionally, if there’s an air bubble that gets trapped, it can contribute to making a sloshing sound when you move.
Pros
- helps with neck pain relief
- adjustable
Cons
- can have a “sloshing” sound
- heavy
- if it leaks, it can get ugly
How to decide which type of pillow filling is right for you
What you need to consider to choose the right type of pillow:
- Material
- Sleeping position
- Budget
- Cooling capabilities
- Firmness level
When you’re browsing for the best pillow stuffing for yourself or a loved one, first consider the most immediate things that concern any sleeper – allergies and support.
Material
If you’re not prone to allergies and don’t have sensitive skin or eyes, you can go for anything.
People with sensitivities should opt for some of the natural fillings that do not trigger their issues. This is likely going to be cotton, buckwheat hulls, organic latex, etc.
There’s a decent variety of natural organic pillows out there.
If you’re looking for a pillow for a small child, I’d recommend steering clear of memory foam, polyfill, microbeads, or anything artificial. Kids don’t need to be inhaling that; especially not the toxic fumes from memory foam pillow stuffing.
Sleeping position
Your sleeping position is a big factor.
Sure, rarely anyone sleeps in one position and one position only, but what’s the position you’re most likely to assume? What’s the coziest way for you to sleep? And what position do you usually wake up in?
Stomach sleepers need flatter (less stuffing) and softer pillows. Possibly down or polyester fiberfill, for example. Especially if it’s an adjustable pillow where you can remove some of the pillow stuffing and make it just right.
Side sleepers need taller pillows and are more likely to prefer firmer ones. Back sleepers need something in between. Not too tall and not too low-profile.
Latex and memory foam pillows (if not shredded) often have a nice ergonomic shape where one side is a bit taller than the other. This pillow is great for a combination sleeper who alternates between back and side sleeping.
Some pillows have an inner core (usually foam) which provides the support layer, and a soft natural or synthetic filling on top.
One of them is Reddit’s favorite pillow, the Saatva Latex pillow.
Budget
Like it or not, your budget plays a role in what pillow stuffing will eventually end up under your head.
Here’s a quick overview of pillow prices by stuffing type:
- Feather pillow — $25-$50
- Down pillow — $80-$350
- Down alternative pillow — $20-$60
- Polyfill pillow — $10-$85
- Memory foam pillow — $50-$150
- Bamboo pillow — $50-$150
- Cotton pillow — $50-$100
- Latex pillow — $100-$150
- Buckwheat pillow — $20-$100
- Water pillow — $50-$160
- Wool pillow — $100-$150
- Microbead pillow — $25-$70
- Kapok pillow — $80-$200
As you can see, many pillows range from relatively low to high price points.
The difference comes from the amount of stuffing (including pillow size) and the quality of materials. But then, of course, there are those brands that grossly overprice their items.
If you’re financially stuck in a rut, don’t worry, you can still buy your own stuffing and sew a pillowcase out of an unused bed sheet or repurpose an old pillowcase.
A Queen-size wool pillow can weigh 3 lbs and cost about $130, but you can easily find natural wool pillow filling for $12 a pound. So you can have a nice DIY wool pillow for just 50 bucks. Buckwheat is even cheaper to buy and makes ultra-breathable, cool pillows.
Cooling capabilities
If it’s a natural material like wool, down, buckwheat hulls, cotton, latex, or kapok pillow stuffing, they “cool” you down by simply not retaining heat and allowing the air to naturally circulate.
This isn’t an actively cooling effect – it’s just natural – but compared to how hot some artificial materials get, you might as well call them cooling.
On the other hand, there are some materials like cooling gels and phase-change material that are supposed to make you sleep cooler. If you’re a hot sleeper who wakes up hot in the middle of the night, I’m not sure how much (and if) these would help, and here’s why.
Cooling gel is only supposed to feel cool to the touch, to make that “cool side of the pillow” feeling last a bit longer (up to 20 minutes) and lull you to sleep. It then becomes as warm as any other part of your bed. Cooling gels warm up very slowly, and that’s what makes them feel cool initially.
Phase-change material (PCM) is supposed to be something like cooling gel on steroids.
It also warms up slowly, but it stores the heat inside of its membranes. It can feel cool longer than a cooling gel, but PCM also eventually warms up to the max of what it can store. It then starts releasing that heat gradually. It can also start releasing heat if its surroundings become cooler, so if your body becomes colder, the material releases heat and prevents you from cooling down.
The companies say that this is good because the pillow prevents you from being too hot and too cold.
The GhostPillow has PCM and they’re quite proud of it. If you think this material has the potential to help you, check it out.
Here’s a list of the best cooling pillows.
Firmness level
Most pillows out there are soft, and many can be adjusted by adding or removing the stuffing.
Comfiness aside, a firmer pillow often offers more support, while super soft ones can trick you with their fluff, but then let you down after a few hours or after a few months of use, depending on the material.
Go for a good balance of firmness, support, and fluff. It might take some trial and error, but you’ll get there.
FAQs
It could be down, wool, memory foam, or the company’s proprietary materials, such as the Airweave pillow which contains their own “airfiber” – a polyethylene blend that they also use in their mattresses. In general, it’s usually the process of manufacturing and product development that makes artificial materials expensive and as for natural materials, it’s the process of sourcing and/or growing.
The naturally breathable pillow stuffings such as cotton or buckwheat hulls allow the air to flow through the pillow and carry the heat away. The gel and phase change material (PCM) pillows get warm slowly, so they create a feeling of coolness. After 20-30 minutes or less, when they finally do reach their maximum warmth storage capacity, they just feel like ordinary pillows.
Conclusion
We just described 13 types of pillow stuffing – the natural ones, the artificial ones, the cheap ones, and the expensive ones. We also compared them to each other to help you better understand what makes each one good or bad.
Feathers are spiky, down is luxurious and durable, and down alternative is like a down-knockoff. Wool and cotton are fantastic but can flatten out, while latex and kapok hold up very well but you have to be ready to pay for them. Memory foam and polyfill retain heat, bamboo is totally fake, while buckwheat and water pillows offer great support if you want to play around with adjustment and don’t mind the sound.
Next step: Read our guide to the best king-sized pillows. You should always choose a king pillow if you have a king mattress (most pillows are queen-sized). We tested out the leading brands and narrowed them down to the top 5 so you can decide for yourself which you like best.
With over 5 years experience writing about sleep and mattresses, she's considered one of the go-to experts on the topic.
She likes cycling, nature, art, and languages. She pays special attention to providing you with accurate and useful information when it comes to your sleep quality.
After solving her personal sleep and tiredness problems, she is on to help others by sharing this invaluable information.
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