Which pillow is best?
You might not spend much time thinking about your pillows, but they can make a huge difference to your nighttime comfort and the quality of your sleep. As such, you owe it to yourself to carefully select your next set of pillows. You’ll need to consider a range of factors, including both the filling and outer material of the pillow and its firmness. Our buying guide outlines all you need to take into account when shopping for pillows, and it includes our picks for the best pillows on the market. Our top choice is a pillow from Coop Home Goods that’s filled with a supremely comfortable shredded memory foam mix.
What to know before you buy a pillow
Filling material
What’s inside your pillow is one of the most important factors to consider. The vast majority of new pillows are stuffed with a polyester hollow fiber, which is sometimes called synthetic down. This is a plush and comfy choice, and it comes in different densities for varying levels of firmness.
If standard pillows have let you down in the past, you might want to consider a memory foam pillow. These can either be made from solid memory foam or shredded memory foam — the former tends to be firmer.
Feather and down pillows are another option, but they’ve mostly fallen out of favor as they’re expensive, not especially supportive, and can cause allergies to flare up.
Outer material
While it’s generally best to choose a pillow with a natural fiber outer material, such as cotton or bamboo, this isn’t a huge concern if you plan to put a pillowcase on your pillow since your face won’t directly touch the outer material as you sleep. However, natural fibers are more breathable, which can keep you cooler at night.
Firmness
How firm should your new pillows be? This is partly down to personal preference, but there are recommended degrees of firmness depending on your sleeping position. Soft pillows are best for stomach sleepers, medium pillows are best for back sleepers, and firm pillows are best for side sleepers. If you sleep in a variety of positions throughout the night, a medium-firm pillow is a good compromise.
What to look for in a quality pillow
Gusseted
Some pillows have gusseted edges that allow for a more even filling level, rather than being lofty in the middle and much thinner at the edges.
Adjustable fill
Some shredded memory foam pillows have an adjustable fill, so you can add more stuffing or take some away, depending on your personal preferences.
Size
Although most people use standard-size pillows, you can also buy larger king and queen pillows, so you don’t have a gap between the pillows and the edge of the bed on larger beds.
How much you can expect to spend on a pillow
Pillows tend to range in price from around $5 to $70 per pillow, depending on the number you get in the pack, the filling material, and the overall quality. Mid-range pillows generally cost around $10 to $20 per pillow.
Pillows FAQ
Q. How do I know when it’s time to change my pillows?
A. Sometimes, it’s quite obvious when you need to change your pillows. For instance, the stuffing has started to protrude through the case or become heavily sweat-stained. Other times, the signs that you need a change are subtler. For example, you may wake up with slight neck pain or suffer from a runny or stuffy nose at night.
Q. What should I look for in a pillow if I suffer from allergies?
A. Some people find they can’t sleep well at night due to dust mite allergies or other environmental allergies. First off, people with allergies should avoid feather or down pillows, opting for synthetic fillings instead. You can also find pillows specifically designed to be hypoallergenic, which shouldn’t trigger the majority of allergies.
What pillows are best to buy?
Top pillow
Coop Home Goods Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
What you need to know: This high-end pillow is stuffed with shredded memory foam, making it super comfortable.
What you’ll love: We love the adjustable loft feature. Extremely supportive without being too firm. Hypoallergenic and machine-washable.
What you should consider: Slow to dry after washing if you don’t have a powerful dryer.
Top pillow for the money
KeaBabies My Little Dreamy Pillow for Toddlers
What you need to know: This affordable pillow is perfect to help your toddler sleep soundly.
What you’ll love: It’s machine-washable and meets OEKO-TEX standards, so you can be sure it’s safe for your child.
What you should consider: It’s best for small kids. If you’re looking for a pillow for a bigger kid or an adult, this pillow is not the best choice.
Worth checking out
What you need to know: If you’re looking for standard hollow fiber pillows with no fancy extras, this set of four is a durable and comfortable choice.
What you’ll love: These pillows stand out for their hypoallergenic antimicrobial filling with anti-odor technology. The soft cotton cover feels nice even without a case.
What you should consider: Not as supportive as some buyers would like, and they do go flat over time.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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