The best pillows can make a major difference to how well you sleep. Something as simple as new pillows can bring immediate relief if you’re uncomfortable in the night. Sleep experts recommend investing in new pillows every year, so if your pillow has been clumping, falling flat, causing you to overheat at night, or most importantly, causing pain and discomfort, it’s time to find some replacements.
According to The Sleep Council, a pillow that is too soft will cause your head to flop and a pillow that is too hard will cause neck pain and stiffness.
To choose the right pillow for you, think about your sleep position. There are pillows recommended for side, back, front, and combination sleepers but there’s also different fillings to consider.
Back sleepers will benefit most from a medium-firm pillow with a medium loft. If it’s too soft, your head will sink to a point of little support, and if the pillow is too high, you could be causing undesired strain on your neck. You also want a pillow that won’t go flat during the night, so memory foam or latex pillows are a smart choice.
Side sleepers will love all the loft to cushion their heads and necks. They’ll do best with a firmer pillow that keeps them from sinking too far down, which could cause neck strain if your body is not in alignment. A little sink-in motion and a fluffy, moldable feeling are a good call too.
Stomach sleepers have the highest risk of dealing with neck pain, and even trouble in the lower back or abdomen. These sleepers will need a flat, soft pillow to help keep heads and necks more in line with the rest of their bodies. A huggable or moldable design is especially beneficial for helping your head conform to the pillow, and for holding on to the pillow while you sleep.
Additionally, allergy sufferers might want to consider microfiber, silk, or memory foam. Other important features to consider are the pillow height or loft, support, and breathability.
Down This premium pillow type is perfect for snuggling, moldable, and oh so soft. Officially, a down pillow has to be made up of at least 70% down feathers – down is fluffier and more delicate and they tend to form a cluster as opposed to a more rigid feather which has a quill that runs down the middle and sometimes pokes out of your pillowcase.
The feathers come from ducks or geese – the latter is more expensive as the clusters formed on geese are larger and therefore softer. They will need regular plumping and may not suit side sleepers who need more height.
Other things to note: they’re not vegan, some people are allergic and you can experience pillow noise from some.
Our favorites: Boll & Branch Down Pillow
Down Alternative This synthetic man-made filling is often made from polyester or microfiber. It is basically plastic but woven into tiny soft and silky fibers. Premium designs can feel down-like whereas cheaper designs can flatten quickly and therefore don’t have much of a lifespan.
This is also a good option for allergy sufferers as they tend to be naturally hypoallergenic, they also come in a range of heights and levels of firmness so should suit all types of sleepers.
If you’re concerned about your plastic usage, there are more sustainable fillings out there but if you prefer to sleep on microfiber look for brands that only make their filling from recycled plastics.
Our favorites: Casper Original Pillow, Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow, COOP Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow, Saatva Latex Pillow
Memory Foam First invented in the 1960s by NASA scientists who were looking for ways to improve seat cushioning for astronauts and crash protection, memory foam can offer really good support for anyone suffering from back pain or joint problems. Memory foam pillows can be subbed into solid core and shredded memory foam types.
For solid core, a singular foam piece molds to the shape of your head, neck, and shoulders, and when the pressure is removed the pillow bounces back to its original shape so no plumping is required.
These Memory foam pillows tend to be very firm and heavy and the height for most cannot be adjusted so they are best suited for side or back sleepers who don’t shift positions often – if you wake up on your front you will find it very uncomfortable on your neck and lower back. On cheaper designs, the airflow isn’t great so you might complain of overheating or prefer to sleep on a different filling during the warmer summer months.
Pillows with shredded memory foam are typically welcomed for their adjustable properties and can nicely conform to the shape of your head. They’re also cheaper to produce, making them more affordable than other options.
Our favorites: COOP Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow, Sleep Number True Temp Pillow (opens in new tab)
Latex Pillows Latex pillows are finding their moment in popularity right now, thanks to their ability to conform closely to the sleeper’s neck and shoulders to alleviate pressure points for excellent neck and shoulder pain relief. It’s similar to memory foam but known to sleep cooler than most foams and is more durable. A latex pillow can last you as long as three or four years, but they usually do have a more expensive upfront cost due to their materials.
We’ve seen latex pillows in the shape of single-piece molds or shredded, to more or less mimic your favorite down or down-alternative pillows. While hypoallergenic, if you do have latex allergies, it is most prudent to avoid these types of pillows. You’ll also find that these latex pillows are not feather-light, and do have a density to them that can make them sleep more firm, though you can still find latex pillows that sleep plush.
Our favorites: Purple Harmony Pillow, Avocado Molded Latex Pillow, Saatva Latex Pillow
They are always super fluffy, plumped to perfection, and tend to be larger than standard size for a positively luxurious experience. Hotel beds always come with an abundance of pillows, too (plenty to prop you up for your morning coffee and paper) and they often use crisp, white Egyptian cotton bed linen with a high thread count of at least 250.
The lifespan of a pillow varies based on how you care for it, but it is advised to change pillows at least every two years.
We also love the Purple Harmony Pillow, which if you have traditionally gone down the down or memory foam route, it’s a great innovative and cooling option.
