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Good sleep starts with a quality pillow. When you’re searching for a new pillow, the saturated market makes the process feel overwhelming and tedious. That’s why the This Old House Reviews Team conducted the research for you, evaluating the important features and qualities of pillows to provide you with a comprehensive guide to the best pillows on Amazon. Keep reading to learn about our top recommendations.
Most Adjustable: Coop Home Goods Eden Pillow
This pillow is filled with gel-infused memory foam and microfiber to provide both comfort and support. In addition to the pillow and its two covers, your purchase also comes with a half bag of filling if you want more puffiness for sleeping on your side.
Key Features
- One pillow
- Queen size
- Gel-infused memory foam and microfiber filling
- Machine-washable design
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews stated that this pillow offered superior neck and head support, especially with the extra filling. Customers also mentioned that it was breathable. Select users were turned off by the unpleasant smell that it had when it arrived.
Best Value: Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows
These two affordable pillows have double stitching and polyester filling for longevity and breathability. With a medium thickness, you can use them to sleep on your back, side, or stomach.
Key Features
- Two pillows
- Queen size
- Polyester filling
- Hand-wash design
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who liked these pillows mentioned their durability and softness. However, unsatisfied customers said that they weren’t thick enough to provide adequate head support. Their filling also made some users hot.
Best Hypoallergenic Pillow: BioPEDIC Bed Pillows
Both the cover and filling of these pillows are hypoallergenic. Because they reduce bacteria and fungi growth by 99%, you won’t see stains or smell odors. The antimicrobial property isn’t the only quality that the manufacturer focused on, though, as the pillows are plush and soft.
Key Features
- Two pillows
- Polyester filling
- Machine-washable design
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who left positive reviews for these pillows said that they were soft and comfortable. They were also happy about how affordable they were considering their bacteria-resistant property. Alternatively, negative reviews said that the pillows were fairly small.
Best Down Pillow: Beckham Luxury Linens Hotel Collection Bed Pillows
These pillows have a 250-thread-count sateen cover that’s stuffed with a gel-infused down alternative. This construction ensures a soft, breathable, and supportive pillow for a quality night’s sleep.
Key Features
- Two pillows
- Queen size
- Gel-infused down alternative filling
- Machine-washable design
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked how easy to clean these pillows were. Though the pillows provided head and neck support initially, they started to flatten over time. They also grew mold and mildew, especially when users slept on them with wet hair.
Best Memory Foam Pillow: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow
Meant to give your head more support when you’re sleeping on your stomach or back, this pillow has some height to it. It’s made with a durable polyester cover and a soft memory foam filling, contouring to your head, neck, and shoulders as you sleep.
Key Features
- One pillow
- Standard size
- Memory foam filling
- Machine-washable design
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who were happy with this pillow said that it reduced head and neck pain and was soft and comfortable. However, those who didn’t care for this pillow said that it had a strong chemical smell when it arrived.
Buyer’s Guide
Instead of purchasing the first pillow that appears on your search results, you want to do your research to ensure that you find the right one for you. Here are some factors you should consider to make an informed purchase.
Sleep Position
The way you sleep can affect the type of pillow that properly aligns your neck and spine. Take a look at our pillow recommendations based on your sleeping position.
Stomach
Sleeping on your stomach can stress your spine by adding unnecessary pressure. If you’re a stomach sleeper, select a thin, soft pillow that can keep your head in line with the rest of your body.
Side
When you sleep on your side, a large gap forms between your mattress and your head because of the added width of your shoulders. Look for a thick pillow to keep your head level and your spine in a neutral position.
Back
For back sleeping, you need a pillow that contours to your spine’s natural curve. This prevents neck, shoulder, and head pressure.
Filling
The best filling in a pillow is a heated topic of debate, with some people swearing by feathers and others by memory foam. No matter which pillow filling you prefer, it’s important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of it.
Down and Feather
Down and feather pillows are best for sleepers who like to switch positions throughout the night. They’re lightweight and soft, but they lack the durability and support that other fills offer.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is a popular choice because it contours to the body and offers proper neck and back support. Most memory foam pillows are also hypoallergenic, so we recommend them for anyone with allergies or neck pain.
Latex
Like memory foam, latex pillows are hypoallergenic, resisting dust and mold. These pillows are firm, heavy, and durable, though their benefits usually come at a higher price tag.
Polyester
Polyester-filled pillows are affordable and easy to clean. However, they’re quick to flatten after a few months of use.
Buckwheat Hull
Buckwheat pillows are filled with the hulls that encase buckwheat seeds. These pillows are known for their breathability, support, and long lifespan.
Cotton
Cotton pillows are affordable and hypoallergenic, though they don’t offer the same support as pillows with other fills.
Size
Match the size of your pillow to the size of your bed. Typically, pillows are sold in one of three sizes: standard, queen, and king. They measure about 20 by 26 inches, 20 by 30 inches, and 20 by 36 inches, respectively.
Softness
The thread count of your pillowcase is a good indicator of your pillow’s softness. In general, pillowcases with a 300 thread count or higher provide superior comfort.
Is It Time To Replace Your Pillow?
Most pillows last between six months and three years, depending on their material and care. Here are a few signs that it’s time to replace your pillow.
Your pillow is discolored
We all sweat during the night. This sweat can seep into your pillow, causing discoloration and attracting bacteria.
Your pillow is uncomfortable
If your pillow is flat or lumpy, it’s time to buy a new one.
You’re waking up in pain
While back or neck pain isn’t always related to an uncomfortable pillow, if you’re continuously waking up in pain, try a new pillow that provides more spinal support. This can ensure that every part of your body is aligned with each other.
You’re congested in the morning
A stuffy nose and headache could be a sign of a common cold or an old pillow. Aged pillows harbor dust mites that can cause allergy-like symptoms.
Caring for Your Pillow
Here are a few steps you can take to extend the lifespan of your pillow, preventing premature replacement.
Use a pillow protector
A pillow protector acts as a barrier against dirt, oil, and other grime that might seep into your pillow.
Change your pillowcase frequently
Like a pillow protector, a pillowcase adds a layer of protection between you and your pillow. You don’t want to expose yourself to any germs or grime that might be living on the pillowcase, so change or wash it at least once a week.
Clean your pillow
Most bed pillows are laundry-safe, though it’s important to check the manufacturer’s tag to make sure. Washing a pillow removes the embedded grime that can lead to discoloration and microbial growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I pay for a pillow?
The price of a pillow depends on its filling and size. Some down feather and memory foam pillows cost as much as $80. However, you can get a two-pack of polyester or cotton pillows for at least half that price.
Is it better to sleep without a pillow?
It depends. Sleeping without a pillow can help you rest in a natural position. However, that’s not the case with a soft or old mattress that sags.
Can I put my pillow in the dryer?
The manufacturer of your pillow will tell you if it’s safe to put in the dryer. However, you can generally dry pillows with a no-heat setting.
Is it bad to sleep with a lot of pillows?
Sleeping with multiple pillows under your head can lead to improper back and neck alignment. If you choose to sleep with more than one pillow, ensure that your head isn’t sharply elevated.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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