The best pillows for a serene slumber

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Waking up well-rested without a crick in your neck or any aches or pains sounds like a bit of a dream (pardon the pun), doesn’t it? Here’s a potentially contentious reality about how to nail your sleep setup and get the most out of your hours in bed: it’s all about support — not comfort.

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You read that right; research shows that a pillow’s support plays a much more important role in a quality night’s sleep than comfort. Meaning? It’s time to pour a touch more attention into the kind of pillow that can support you and help you achieve a solid, pain- and wake-free night’s sleep.

We’ve rounded up the best pillows for every sleeper through a small group of testers, teasing through a bevy of online reviews and expert insights found through online research; all in the name of helping you elevate your sleep — no matter your sleep preferences. 

If you’re not sure how to choose the best-for-you pillow, or want some direction on what to consider, check out the ‘What to consider before buying a pillow’ section at the bottom of this article.

Dive into the list below and see what pillows we’ve rounded up sound like they would be a fit for the kind of sleeping experience you’re out to create. If you’re looking for the best sheets, mattresses, weighted blankets or duvets — we’ve got you covered.

Summary of the best pillows

Best budget pillow: Viewstar Pillows (Pack of 2)
Best splurge pillow: Maholi White Goose Down Chamber Lock Pillow
Best synthetic pillow: Fairmont Synthetic Gel Fibre Pillow
Best down pillow: Silk & Snow Reserve Down Pillow
Best memory foam pillow: Bluewave Bedding Super Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Best adjustable pillow: The Silk & Snow Pillow
Best pillow for side sleepers: Parachute Down Alternative Side Sleeper Pillow
Best organic pillow: Takasa Organic Cotton and Wool Pillow

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Best pillows explained

Best budget pillow: Viewstar Pillows (Pack of 2)

Key specs:

• Thread count: Not listed
• Cover materials: 100% polyester 
• Fill: Down alternative
• Dimensions: 19” x 28” (other sizes available)
• Notable features: Machine washable

Why buy: One of the most-reviewed pillows on Amazon, with over 50,000 customer reviews, when it comes to pairing comfort with affordability this pack of two takes the top spot. Loved by reviewers for their loft and support (both for sleeping and, as noted by a couple of fans, added support for sitting up reading or working while tucked in), this budget-friendly option comes vacuum sealed for ease of shipping and takes less than 24 hours to reach full height.

Fine print: There are two sizes of Queen pillows offered (19” x 28” and 20” x 30”)  — ensure you choose the size that suits your pillowcases

Price: $48
Where to buy: Amazon

Best splurge pillow: Maholi White Goose Down Chamber Lock Pillow

Key specs:

• Thread count: 400
• Cover materials: 100% cotton sateen
• Fill: Selected white goose down
• Dimensions: Standard (20” x 26”), Queen (20” x 30”), King (20″ x 36″)
• Notable features: Baffle box chamber lock construction designed to prevent down from shifting inside pillow

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Why buy: Sleeping on a down pillow will never be the same after a night’s rest on this uniquely constructed marvel. Innovated nearly 20 years ago to prevent the fill from moving, slipping or bunch to the corners of the pillow casing, the Maholi team devised the Chamber Lock Construction; a system of distributing the down into three inner sections to prevent the clusters from shifting or parting. Offered in three sizes and three different fill weights, there’s a loft for any and every sleeper in this line of luxury pillows. 

From our review team: “The pillow is plush and soft, yet the chamber locking system makes it feel firmer than your average goose down and more supportive. Great for all types of sleepers. It’s pricey — so an investment — but worth spending for a great sleep.”

Fine print: Pillow fill weights in Queen size are as follows – Soft: 20 oz., Medium: 23 oz., Firm: 28 oz.

Price: from $425
Where to buy: Maholi

Best synthetic pillow: Fairmont Synthetic Gel Fibre Pillow

Key specs:

• Thread count: 290
• Cover materials: 100% cotton
• Fill: 100% polyester, antimicrobial and antibacterial fibre
• Dimensions: 20” x 30” (Queen)
• Notable features: Single compartment construction, available in Queen or King sizes with medium or firm densities available

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Why buy: No need to compromise on a need — or want — for non-down bedding with hypoallergenic pillows that create a down-like sleeping experience. They’re the same hypoallergenic option you can request during a stay at a Fairmont Hotel — and offer mid-loft support that back sleepers, in particular, seem to love. Touted as “luxurious” by one of our testers and “plush” by a reviewer commenting on the Fairmont website, there’s no compromise with comfort or quality with these synthetic pillows.

Fine print: Side sleepers may prefer the Firm weight, or to find a loftier/higher pillow (as per our tester and other customer reviews)

Price: from $120
Where to buy: Fairmont

Best down pillow: Silk & Snow Reserve Down Pillow

Key specs:

• Thread count: 300
• Cover materials: 100% cotton sateen
• Fill: 100% pure white duck down fill
• Dimensions: Standard (18” x 26”), King (18” x 34”)
• Notable features: 600 Fill Power for substantial feel, certified by the Responsible Down Standard

Why buy: The perfect (down) pillow does not exist…until now? Available in two sizes (Standard or King), all kinds of sleepers can enjoy the benefits of this supportive down-filled pillow. It features a 600 Fill Power insert for superior comfort and a gusseted construction, ensuring it will maintain its plush shape for years to come. The dynamic nature of down allows for a lower loft, which is great for stomach sleepers, while the high fill count still provides correct alignment while sleeping on your back or side. 

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Fine print: These pillows are slightly smaller than other standard dimensions

Price: from $279
Where to buy: Silk & Snow

Best memory foam pillow: Bluewave Bedding Super Slim Memory Foam Pillow

Key specs:

• Thread count: Not listed
• Cover materials: 60% polyester, 40% viscose
• Fill: 3 lb. open-cell gel-infused memory foam
• Dimensions: Standard (24” x 16”), King (33” x 16”)
• Notable features: Offered in two sizes (Standard and King) and three heights (Hyper Slim – 2.25-Inch, Ultra Slim – 2.75-Inch, Super Slim – 3.25-Inch)

Why buy: Something special for the back sleepers and the stomach sleepers seeking a stellar memory foam option. For any sleeper who prefers a flat yet supportive pillow, Bluewave’s got you. Available in three heights and two pillow sizes (Standard and King), this unique and specialized memory foam pillow contains no ozone depleters, flame retardants (PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (”Tris”), heavy metals (mercury or lead), formaldehyde or phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Fine print: ‎Manufacturer limited warranty for 3 three years from date of purchase. Unique dimensions may not fit most standard or king pillowcases if you want more than the included cover.

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Price: From $63
Where to buy: Amazon

Best adjustable pillow: Silk + Snow Pillow

Key specs:

• Thread count: Not listed
• Cover materials: 100% cotton cover
• Fill: Down-like microfibre fill, CertiPUR-US shredded memory foam core
• Dimensions: Standard (20” x 26”), King (20” x 36”)
• Notable features: Shredded memory foam can be removed to create your ideal loft. Machine washable outer shell. To wash, use a cold normal cycle, and tumble dry on low. Do not bleach, iron, or dry clean.

Why buy: As a sleeper who’s been pillow agnostic to date, the pillow-preference game has been won by this choose-your-own-loft-adventure by Silk + Snow. Chalk it up to pregnancy (currently sitting at 35 weeks along while writing this), my preference in pillow height and firmness seems to be changing by the day. Knowing I’ve got choice on my side (which is also where I happen to be sleeping these days) for the height and firmness of the pillow(s) I’m using gives me the day-to-day opportunity to support my body’s needs for a best-night’s-sleep. Whether removing most of the memory foam from the core to reduce the loft or keeping it bountifully full, sleepers reviewing this pillow have celebrated the soft hand-feel of the cotton casing and the plushness of the exterior microfibre casing.

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Fine print: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified. 100-night risk-free guarantee, three-year warranty. Storage bag for unused/removed shredded memory foam not included; store any removed fill safely away from children and/or pets.

Price: from $80
Where to buy: Silk + Snow

Best pillow for side sleepers: Parachute Down Alternative Side Sleeper Pillow

Key specs:

• Thread count: Not listed
• Cover materials: 100% cotton sateen
• Fill:100% recycled polyester
• Dimensions: Standard (20” x 26”), King (20” x 36”)
• Notable features: Medium density offered in either the down or down alternative options, 3.5-inch gusset design takes stress off neck and shoulders for side sleepers

Why buy: Finding enough height to support side sleeping can be a challenge. How to solve it? A perfectly tall gusset that gives side sleepers the lift — with moderate loft — they’ve been looking for. Parachute’s Side Sleeper pillow does just this; blending fluffiness with the right amount of firmness. No more folding pillows or re-fluffing in the middle of the night; this is the one-pillow solution for side sleepers everywhere.

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Fine print: It’s suggested to fluff the pillow weekly when changing sheets and pillowcases. Dry clean or machine wash (cold). Tumble dry low with wool dryer balls to re-fluff.

Price: From $150
Where to buy: Parachute

Best organic pillow: Takasa Organic Cotton and Wool Pillow

Key specs:

• Thread count: Not listed
• Cover materials: 100% organic cotton
• Fill: GOTS-certified 100% organic wool
• Dimensions: Standard (20” x 30”), King (20” x 36”)
• Notable features: All Takasa products are ethically made using GOTS organic and Fairtrade certified cotton and filled with Downmarket certified down. Canadian-owned and operated. 

Why buy: Soft and supple yet supportive, the Takasa Organic Cotton and Wool pillow takes sustainable luxury to a new level. Incredibly soft outer casing and a moderate fill of their signature GOTS-certified 100 per cent organic wool, the pillow is a cozy addition to any bedding setup. A pricier option, this organic cotton and wool pillow comes along with sustainable certifications that prove its low-impact footprint.

Fine print: Spot clean only (use this Takasa guide to clean with confidence, as needed). Handmade in the US and made to order; three to six weeks for delivery. Warm sleepers may find the pillow quite warm.

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Price: from $250
Where to buy: Takasa

What to consider before buying your next pillow

Sleep position

Tummy, side or back (or a combination of all three), your preferred sleep position is a primary piece of information to consider when looking for a pillow.

Stomach sleepers: Maintaining spinal alignment for a stomach sleeper means keeping pillows soft and low or quite flat, as too much height can force the neck into less ideal (and more painful) positions.

Side sleepers: Making up the space and distance between the bed and your head that is created by sleeping on your side is the main goal for pillow selection for side sleepers. If you opt for down or down alternative, ensure you choose a firmer fill or higher loft (there are some down/down alternative pillows designed specifically for side sleepers). Alternately, foam or latex pillows are a solid option as they’re typically firmer and can be moulded for the best possible shape to support side sleepers.

Back sleepers: Through-the-night support means finding a loft to support the natural curvature of the neck. You can avoid straining the neck by avoiding firm or high loft options, yet can ultimately choose any material — foam, latex, down or down alternative — provided they are a low to medium loft (to support, not stress the spine).

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Combination sleepers: A touch more complex of a support equation, combination sleepers can consider if you have natural — or more common — falling asleep and waking positions. Some of your personal research will involve determining your personal preferences on top of thinking through the best support options based on how you move through the night.

Materials

The challenge in material choice can be that there are so many options available. The good news? Material choice itself matters less than the support the pillow provides — meaning your personal preferences and needs (like sensitivity to allergens, how hot or cold you naturally run while sleeping, and any preferences you have around textures or types of materials you do or do not want in your home) can be your focus in what you choose.

Memory foam: Pressure relieving and supportive, memory foam pillows can be both structured and moulded into ergonomic shapes and also used in shredded foam for adjustable pillows (where you add or remove foam to suit your loft preferences).

Latex: Similar to memory foam, latex stands out with sleepers who seek a material that’s considered more natural (natural latex comes from rubber trees) and that holds its own shape more so than memory foam (which sleepers are known to sink into more).

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Down: A highly coveted pillow fill that can run price tags up, down (and feather) pillows are revered for their fluffy and soft texture. They’re also known for their compression; so finding the right loft and maintaining a regular fluffing schedule (yes, really) is important in the pillow maintaining its shape, form, and the support it provides. Note that responsible and ethical sourcing of down (and the understanding that most down pillows do include some percentage of feathers as well) is now regulated — so looking for accreditations such as Responsible Down or International Down Standard is important for supporting animal welfare and ethical sourcing.

Down alternative: Made with either synthetic or natural fibres, down alternatives offer a similar feel and fluffiness as down pillows, often without the expense, These materials are hypoallergenic and can be easily laundered — so if that suits your lifestyle, down alternatives may be a best fit.

Natural materials (wool, silk, etc.): If you take an organic-first approach to your home decor and sleep setup, you can find pillows that use natural materials outside of down or feather, focusing on wool and silk as a fill. Worth noting: these pillows are often more firm and can be warmer to sleep with as the wool is naturally insulating.

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