Best Pillows of 2024
We examined quality and value to find the best pillows among vetted candidates.
27
Products
Considered
16
Hours
Researched
353
Consumers
Consulted
Buying a pillow can be difficult because there are so many different factors to consider. Here we break down the most important factors we found through hours of research and product analysis.
While pillows have long come with pre-determined levels of fill, some pillows are now adjustable, allowing consumers to change the loft of the pillow by removing or adding fill material or layers of padding. We consider this a must-have feature for all future pillow buys, which is why our top recommendations are adjustable.
Adjustability is important because everyone has different needs. Consumers have unique body types and sleep positions, and it doesn't make sense to buy one-size pillows when clothing comes in a variety of sizes. Adjustable pillows are the tailored fit of pillows, providing bespoke levels of comfort based on each individual consumer's preferences. Without having a custom fit, pillows can be too flat or too tall, and this can cause trouble sleeping or even physical pain.
Adjustable pillows can use different layers or loose fill material to achieve their goal. The pillows with loose fill material, such as shredded memory foam or polyfiber pillows, work best because of the ability to micro-adjust. Pillows with different layers may also have layers that slide around during the middle of the night, resulting in unwanted movement and a pillow that is no longer correctly adjusted.
Pillows have been made with all sorts of materials throughout history, starting with wood and stone. Eventually, people started using softer materials, and soft pillows became a status symbol for those who could afford them. Down and hay were both popular, with down being the gold standard for its softness. Now, modern materials have largely taken over, and we see a range of materials including memory foam, polyfiber (often referred to as down alternative), down and feathers, latex, buckwheat husks and kapock fur.
The downside to down and down alternative pillows is that they can go flat and require frequent fluffing. Many consumers report not having enough support in their pillow. On the other hand, memory foam pillows can sometimes be too firm. To get the perfect combination of softness and structure, many pillow companies now mix memory foam and polyester. We found these pillows to provide the most comfortable support relative to other materials, and our top recommendations are made of shredded memory foam combined with polyester fiber.
Today, memory foam has become the standard for pillow support while down alternative is the standard for soft pillows. Combining both into a single pillow provides an incredible sleep experience.
Pillows can come in all sorts of shapes now. Some are contoured to fit the neck and head. Others wrap around or use gussets to provide elevation. Despite all the new shapes available, we believe the original rectangular pillow shape is still the best.
Pillows with specific contours are designed to hold the neck in place. This design is unsuitable for anyone that doesn't have the exact same body size and shape that the pillow was intended for. We've slept on pillows where the groove for the neck is too small, and we end up restricting our own airflow. We particularly dislike pillows that require diagrams to show us where and how to place our head and arms. Sleeping on a pillow shouldn't involve playing Tetris with your body. Finally, entirely restricting movement with the shape of the pillow can sometimes be counterproductive because the sleeper can't get into a comfortable position.
The other consideration is that the traditional rectangular pillow shape will easily fit in a pillow case and look attractive on a bed. Though this may be a smaller consideration, we believe the ability to use any pillow case over a pillow can be important for people who value aesthetics. With all of the considerations in place, we are confident in recommending the Saybrook pillow to the vast majority of consumers.
We spend an inordinate amount of time researching products, analyzing third-party opinions, studying candidates first-hand, and synthesizing conclusions. Our analysis considers a wide range of online reviews, buying guides, and our editorial team's hands-on experience. We may earn money when you purchase products recommended on our site, but we do not earn money from placement. This does not affect our selection of products or our editorial integrity. Unlike other sites, we don't rank products based on the amount of affiliate commission provided. You'll regularly find more affordable products ranking on top of our lists, precisely because we also take into account value. In cases where more expensive products rank well, it is only because they justify the value.
In our reviews, we also consider the range of other reviews available online and try to synthesize across a large number of ranking lists. You'll find many product reviews across the internet, and not all of them agree. We do the research to ensure that the best-of-the-best lists here reflect a wide range of opinions, and we also weight authentic opinions more highly. The results here will reflect not only our own opinions but also a consensus across many reviewers.