Find the best A suitable pillow for your needs can be an agonizing ordeal. Get something that’s too firm, too soft, or just not right for your head and you could wake up in a lot of pain the next day. Fear not, WIRED is here. We’ve tested all of these recommended pillows and several more, using each for a minimum of several weeks to get a sense of how comfortable they are, how well they hold up to repeated use, and what sleeping style they’re best suited for. . These are our top picks, but there are countless pillows out there. We will update this guide as we conduct more testing. All prices below are for the queen size version unless otherwise specified.
If you want to sleep even better, check out our other guides, including the best mattresses, best mattresses for side sleepers, best organic mattresses, best sheets, and best bed frames.
June 2024 Update: We added the Avocado Down Pillow, Bearaby Cuddler Memory Foam Pregnancy Body Pillow, and Eli & Elm.
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What type of pillow do you need?
You might think that a pillow is a pillow. It just has to be soft and fit under your head, right? Your head, neck and back disagree. Getting a good night’s sleep can largely depend on your pillow, so when choosing one, here are some key questions to ask yourself.
What type of sleeper are you? Do you sleep on your back, side or stomach? Do you stay relatively still or do you toss and turn a lot? Do you usually have a pillow under your head or do you wrap yourself in a pillow chrysalis? This is probably the most important thing to keep in mind when deciding which type of pillow works best for you and below we detail our picks based on sleeping style.
What is the pillow made of? Pillows can be filled with all types of materials, from feathers to foam. Down and synthetic down are groups of fluffy fibers that can be soft and comfortable, while memory foam is designed to compress under the weight of your head but still return to its previous shape. Organic latex pillows can be heavy and spongy, keeping a side sleeper’s head in place. There are also hybrid pillows that use multiple layers of different materials for a more structured feel.
How firm is it? No matter how you sleep, you’ll want a pillow that keeps your spine straight and your head in line with your back. That means you want something firm enough to support your head but soft enough that it won’t dig into your ear or face.
How high is it? “Loft” is a term often used to describe how high the pillow keeps your head off the bed. If a pillow is too high, for example, you could end up with your neck tilted upward, straining it throughout the night. Most pillows typically fall into one of three categories: Low Loft, which is relatively short and ideal for back sleepers; high loft, which is best for side sleepers (since your head will be farther from the bed than when you’re on your back); and mid loft, which is somewhere in between and is best if you are a mixed sleeper and don’t stick to one particular sleeping style.
What is the pillow warranty and return policy? You might not think the pillow you sleep (and sweat and drool on) has a solid warranty, but many pillow manufacturers offer generous policies. For example, Purple offers a 1 year warranty and even a 100-night trial period. Casper has a similar guarantee and a 30-day trial. If you’re not sure if your new pillow is right for you, check the company’s policies to see how much leeway you have before committing and make sure you’re protected if something goes wrong.