Pillow is the basic bedding requirement for anyone but there are different types of pillows available today that finding the right one can be downright confusing. Memory foam, microbead, water pillows are an option in today’s saturated pillow and bedding markets.
No single type of pillow is made for every need, unfortunately. We have choices to make – lots and lots of opportunities to choose from.
The wide variety and types of pillows available today are most easily categorized by what they’re filled with. A quality fabric pillowcase or shell is an essential component, but the filling dictates its general character.
Pillow’s mixture makes it the thing and feels the way it does. A pillowcase with a zippered opening allows adjusting filling to suit the personal preferences. These can easily change softness/firmness and loft (height) by adding or removing padding from the pillow.
Not all pillow types offer this kind of flexibility, but if someone is willing to get hands-on, they can purchase filling and a case separately for a DIY pillow! Each pillow filling has its advantages/disadvantages and appeals to a unique audience of sleepy heads. Let’s check out some of the online available models.
Best Pillows for You
Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow
The Coop Home Goods Adjustable Pillow is the best option for anyone who likes to create a custom pillow without paying a load of money. It’s filled with CertiPUR-US certified, non-toxic memory foam and microfiber, and you can add as considerable or as little fill as you require to achieve the perfect loft for your sleeping status. An extra half-pound bag of stuffing is included with your pillow.
- Best for: All sleepers
- Fill: Memory foam and microfiber blend
- Firmness: Medium
- Dimensions: 30×20 inches or 30×26 inches
- Care: Machine wash (without fill)
- Warranty: 5 years
| PROS | CONS |
| Easy to adjust height and density, 5-year warranty and 100-night trial, Hypoallergenic and cruelty-free | Too dense for smaller-framed people, Off-gassing smell can be potent |
Casper Original Sleep Pillow
If you enjoy the plushness of a down pillow without the allergies and animal-sourced contents, the best alternative is the Casper Original Sleep Down Alternative Pillow. It’s filled with hypoallergenic microfibers, pushing it as soft as authentic down pillows but with far better synthetic materials.
- Best for : All sleeping positions
- Fill: Microfiber
- Firmness: Medium
- Dimensions: 18×26 inches or 18×34 inches with 2-inch gusset
- Care: Machine wash (without fill)
- Warranty: 1 year
| PROS | CONS |
| Balance of softness and support, Adapts to all sleep styles, Machine-washable | Frequent fluffing may be required, Only comes with a 30-day trial |
Purple Harmony Pillow
Purple’s top-of-the-line Harmony Pillow may not accommodate the conventional definition of the best luxury pillow, but we display it’s worthy of the distinction. Like the company’s high-rated Purple Mattress, the Purple Harmony pillow features the company’s signature Purple Grid to deliver tailored help for your head and neck. At the core of the pad is ventilated Talalay latex to improve the airflow of the Purple Grid. All of that is wrapped by a moisture-wicking snap mesh cover.
- Best for: Hot sleepers, side sleepers
- Fill: Talalay latex and hyper-elastic polymer
- Firmness: Medium-soft
- Dimensions: 26×17 inches, with either 6.5-inch or 7.5-inch loft
- Care: Spot-treat
- Warranty: 1 year
| PROS | CONS |
| Extremely soft and supportive, Breeze mesh cover great for cooling, Customer service is excellent | May be too soft for some |
Utopia Bedding Gusseted Pillow Duo
The Utopia Bedding gusseted pillows confirm you don’t have to surrender quality when purchasing pillows on a budget. The Utopia Bedding gusseted pillow duo comes vacuum-sealed and takes up to 72 hours to ultimately expand. Once they fully puff up, they’re a far cry from the flattened shape they initially arrive in. These plush-down alternative pillows are stuffed with 950 to 1,250 grams of poly fiberfill. In addition, they feature a poly-cotton outer fabric and a two-inch quilted gusset edge in your choice of six colors if you opt to skip the pillow covers.
- Best for: Small budgets
- Fill: Polyester
- Firmness: Plush
- Dimensions: 18×26 inches or 18×36 inches with 2-inch gusset
- Care: Spot clean or hand-wash
- Warranty: 1 year
| PROS | CONS |
| Versatile for combo sleepers, Great-value quality and comfort, Available in different colors | Can’t buy pillows individually, Need time to fluff after unpacking |
Tempur-Pedic Tempur Cloud Pillow
Tempur-Pedic pillows are mere as supporting as the brand’s popular mattresses, and here that’s down to the usefulness of Tempur material. In addition, it’s contouring and cushioning, so your crown will be perfectly nestled during sleep. Still, like any suitable back and stomach sleeper pillow, the Tempur Cloud Pillow presents a suitable loft to keep your head without pushing your neck forwards (and out of alignment) during sleep. It’s also created with a removable and washable cover, so you can more efficiently keep it in a good state throughout its lifespan.
- Best for: Stomach and back sleepers
- Fill: Tempur
- Firmness: Soft
- Dimensions: 24×15.3×5”
- Care: Machine washable cover
- Warranty: 5-year limited
| PROS | CONS |
| Contours to your head, Supportive yet soft, Hyopallergenic pillow | No trial period or returns |
Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow
A little caveat is that you can only purchase this pillow in pairs, but you can always accumulate the second pillow for a guest room or a substitute down the line if you only want to sleep on one. Another drawback is the lack of a warranty, but a 30-day money-back assurance does involve.
- Best for: Hotel plushness at home
- Fill: Gel fiber
- Firmness: Plush
- Dimensions: 18×27 inches or 20×36 inches
- Care: Machine-wash
- Warranty: N/A
| PROS | CONS |
| Hypoallergenic down alternative, Machine-washable, Over 157,000 Amazon reviews | No warranty included |
Layla Kapok Pillow
Copper bedding is created to wick away body heat and stop the ripening of bacteria on your skin, among other advantages. If you’re keen to push a copper-infused pillow to assist in being comfortable and reenergized, then the best pillow for all is the very well-known Layla Kapok Pillow. The outer surface of Layla’s cushion for sleeping features a polyester/viscose mixture with copper fibers woven in for cooling and antimicrobial properties. The inner fill combines reactive memory foam and lightweight Kapok fibers. It delivers a high loft ideal for most side sleepers, but you can remove and adjust the filling to your liking.
- Best for: Night sweats; odor control; hot sleepers; side and back sleepers
- Fill: Kapok fiber and memory foam
- Firmness: Medium
- Dimensions: 18.5×28.5 inches or 18.5×36 inches
- Care: Machine wash (without fill)
- Warranty: 5 years
| PROS | CONS |
| 120-night trial, Adjustable fill for the perfect loft, Cooling and comfortable | Stomach sleepers may not like it |
Boll & Branch Down Pillow
Coined by Boll & Branch as “the internet’s best down pillow,” the sturdy version is precisely for those of you who can only rest comfortably on a very thick and robust bed pillow. The Boll & Branch Down Pillow is loaded with sustainably and ethically sourced goose down from US ranches. The down is triple cleaned for maximum hygienic, then put inside a ‘down-proof’ organic cotton shell. That suggests you shouldn’t judge anything poking through the cover when you’re sleeping your head and face on this sumptuous pillow. The design incorporates a three-chamber construction, which allows the pad to keep its body throughout the time you employ it
- Best for: All sleepers who want a down pillow
- Fill: Ethically sourced down
- Firmness: Soft, medium, firm
- Dimensions: 20 x 28 (standard), 20 x 36 (king)
- Care: Machine wash or spot clean
- Warranty: None
| PROS | CONS |
| Full and plump shape, Very supportive, Choice of sizes and firmness | No warranty |
EPABO Contoured Memory Foam Pillow
If you suffer from sleep-related neck discomfort, then the best pillow for you is an orthopedic fashion. Unlike traditional pads, this contoured pillow features a dip in the center to nestle your head and keep your shoulders, neck, and back aligned no matter your sleeping status. In addition, the EPABO Contoured Memory Foam Pillow is densely-packed with memory foam and incorporates a removable foam insert should the loft be too elevated for you. This bed pillow is also nestled in a hypoallergenic polyester and rayon case.
- Best for: Neck pain; good head and neck support
- Fill: Memory foam
- Firmness: Medium
- Dimensions: 21x13x3.9 inches, 24x15x4.6 inches, 24x15x4.8 inches
- Care: Machine wash (without fill)
- Warranty: 30 days
| PROS | CONS |
| Proper alignment for all sleep styles, Adjustable loft, Cheaper than similar pillows | Takes times to adjust to it, Warranty is only 30 days |
Brooklinen Down Pillow
The Brooklinen Down Pillow is the company’s most delicate and fluffiest choice for sleeping. That’s because this best-seller has been created to deliver support and plush comfort across a spectrum of sleeping statuses. Select from two sizes (standard or king) and three firmness grades: plus, mid-plush, and firm. The plush pillow is wholly loaded with down clusters and is the best alternative for stomach sleepers. Meanwhile, flank sleepers can either go for the mid-plush pillow with equal portions of feathers and down or the firm pillow with a more elevated ratio of feathers to down.
- Fill: Down clusters and feathers
- Firmness: Plush, mid-plush, or firm
- Dimensions: 20×26 inches or 20×36 inches
- Care: Spot treat or dry clean
- Warranty: 2 years
| PROS | CONS |
| Two sizes and three firmness levels, Free returns for up to one year, Great for side and stomach sleepers | Not ideal for back sleepers, Possible unpleasant outgassing smell |
Various Kinds of Pillows
Polyester Fiberfill Pillows
Many-a-times referred to as Poly-fil, its trademarked name, fiberfill is the cheapest option on the list. It tends to flatten out with us, unfortunately, and won’t last as long as other types of pillows. What’s more, polyester products are manufactured
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Dirt cheap | Polyester fill clumps quickly requiring frequent readjustment and lose elasticity with use |
| Easy to clean | Short life span |
| Potentially hazardous to the health of the user & the environment |
Feather Pillows
Feathers’ and quills naturally begin to align with each other or lay flat. Over time this makes the pillow flat and uncomfortable. To prevent this, producers often add down clusters to the feathers to slow down the degeneration.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Cheap | 15% of owners complaint a lingering and unpleasant odour. |
| Cuddly and light | Requires consistent fluffing to maintain its loft decrease the effect of quills flattening |
| Sustainable | Difficult to wash and clean |
| Biodegradable and recyclable |
Memory Foam Pillows
Memory foam is pretty neat. If ever felt it, you know what I mean: It’s magical the way it retains its shape. It’s this “magic” that makes them so accessible; people are immediately impressed with the way memory foam feels.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Doesn’t clump | Chemical odour |
| Doesn’t require fluffing | Potentially dangerous “off-gassing.” |
| Offers good support | Not malleable/moldable |
| No loft adjustment | |
| Builds up and retains body heat |
Buckwheat Pillows
First, let me be entirely transparent. It’s pure love. I have tried different types of pillows, and I think nothing beats an all-natural, traditional buckwheat pillow.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Superior support to neck and back | Buckwheat hulls always make a rustling noise when shifted |
| Constructed of all-natural compostable materials | Massive — a 20×26? buckwheat pillow weighs around 8 pounds |
| Breathable and promotes airflow – stay cool | Too firm for some. |
| Long life-span | |
| Moldable/malleable | |
| Holds shape and provides terrific support for your head, neck and shoulders |
Microbead Pillows
Microbead pillows are filled with something called “uniform polymer particles,” which look like little white beads. They are the best synthetic alternative to buckwheat hull pillows, and they share a lot of the same characteristics. They both promote airflow. They’re somewhat malleable as well.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Breathable-keeps cool at night | Chemical odour and potentially dangerous “off-gassing.” |
| Moldable/malleable | No variety of firmness or loft (they’re mostly medium firm, medium loft) |
| It holds its shape and offers excellent support for your head, neck and shoulders | Short life span |
Latex pillow filling
Latex pillows are becoming quite popular. They offer excellent support for your head and neck while retaining a soft feel. They’re also relatively breathable providing a new surface for your tired head. Latex pillows have an owner satisfaction rating rivalling that of our favourite type, buckwheat pillows.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Great support | Slight “rubbery” odour |
| Semi-breathable | Not moldable — no matter what you try, these things will bounce back into their rubbery shape |
| Stays cool | Too dense and heavy to be considered “cuddly.” |
Water Pillows
Water pillows contain, you guessed it, water. Most water-filled pads are simply a plastic reservoir wrapped with polyester foam or down alternative fiberfill. Water pillows are popular due to their ability to provide unchanging, reliable support.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Supportive , water pillow will consistently keep the head elevated at just the right level all night long. | Not moldable |
| Pain relief, Johns Hopkins study gives evidence of a genuine benefit. | Water pillow was covered in a super soft fill that pushed upward awkwardly into the side of the face. |
| Adjustable | Leaks (potentially) — A wet mattress and flat pillow aren’t conducive to good rest! |
| Not many pillow types are flexible.which is massive advantage | Heavy — water isn’t the lightest of pillow filling! |
Kapok Pillows
Kapok, or ceiba pentandra, is a tropical tree native to Mexico that flowers, producing a fluffy, cotton-like material containing hundreds of seeds. This light brown, soft fibre is sometimes referred to as silk cotton. Kapok’s qualities have made it very popular for filling pillows, upholstery, and even life preservers. Its use has dramatically declined since the introduction of polyester/polyurethane foams.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Free of the potentially toxic materials in many foam pillows | Extremely flammable |
| Cruelty-free — the practice of gathering feathers and down for use in pillows is far from humane and kapok, well… it’s not an animal! | Quickly develop lumps, much like polyester foam pillows do |
| Compostable and biodegradable | Not moldable, does not hold its shape |
Cotton Pillows
Given cotton’s ubiquity, one would assume that cotton-filled pillows would be reasonably accessible. Popular new synthetic types of pillows like memory foam and polyfill have changed the market. These materials have relegated cotton to a minority position. A cotton pillow is a safe and preferable alternative to petroleum-based pillow filling like memory or polyfoam that is potentially toxic.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Safe: cotton pillows do not contain the potentially toxic materials found in many foam pillows | With use, the filling clumps and flattens |
| Odour free | Not moldable |
| Cooler than many types of pillows like memory foam | Does not hold its shape |
| Cruelty-free — cotton pillows provide no animal products | Lacks the support that some other types of pillows can provide. |
| Compostable and biodegradable |