11 Best Pillows: Tested For Side, Back, and Stomach Sleepers (2026)

Compare the Top 10 Pillows

Pillow	Fill Material	Shell Material	Adjustable?	Cooling?	Sizes Available	Trial	Warranty
Purple Freeform Adjustable Pillow	High-density memory foam and polyester fill blend, plus hyper elastic polymer gel layer	Polyester stretch knit with proprietary cooling fibers	Yes	Yes	Standard and king	100-night trial	1 year
Coop Cool+ Adjustable Pillow	Gel-infused memory foam and microfiber	Nylon and polyester shell with a memory foam pad and gel, plus a pillowcase made of polyethylene, polyester, and spandex	Yes	Yes	Queen and king	100-night trial	5 years
Honeydew Sleep Scrumptious Classic	Copper-infused foam	Organic bamboo viscose and spandex	Yes	Not really	Queen and king	60-day trial	3 years
Coop Original Adjustable Pillow	Cross-cut memory foam and microfiber fill	Polyester shell, plus included polyester and bamboo viscose pillowcase	Yes	No	Queen and king	100-night trial	5 years
Buffy Cloud Pillow	Recycled polyethylene terephthalate from plastic bottles	Tencel lyocell sateen shell	No, but three firmness options	No	Standard and king	7-night trial	50-night return window
Brooklinen Down Pillow	Canadian down clusters and feathers	100 percent cotton sateen	No, but multiple sizes and firmnesses offered	No	Standard and king	Most products can be returned within 365 days	Submit quality claim here
Bedgear Flow Cuddle Curve Pillow	Polyurethane foam crown, plus a blend of polyurethane foam and polyester fiber	Polyester, rayon, and elastane fabric	No, but multiple sizes and firmnesses offered	Has air vents on the side	Four sizes, which depend on your gender, shirt size, and sleeping position	30-day returns	1 year
Travelrest Nest Ultimate Travel Pillow	Memory foam	Microfiber	No	No	Two sizes, but we only recommend the Nest size	30-day returns	1 year
Kanuda Primo Air Pillow	Polyurethane foam	Polyester, rayon, and cotton cover, with a polyester liner	No	No	One size	30-night trial	1 year
Lagoon Sleep the Fox Pillow	Shredded memory foam and polyester microfibers	Outer cover is a bamboo-polyester blend with a polyester inner pouch	Yes, comes with extra bag of fill and drawstring storage bag	No	Queen and king	100-night trial	5 years
Pluto Custom Pillow	Perforated foam core, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified pillow cover, down-alternative microfibers	Depending on quiz results, either a 350-thread cotton cover or a cool-to-the-touch one	No	Depends on your quiz results	Standard and king	125-night trial	1-year limited

Honorable Mentions

There are far too many pillows on the market. We've listed our favorites above, but even that doesn't cover the wide array of serviceable designs out there for a good night's sleep. If, somehow, all of our picks above aren't to your tastes, here are a few others we have tested and what we thought about them.

Avocado Down Pillow for $119: This down model does have feathers sourced from Responsible Down Standard (RDS)-certified farms, but it felt unimpressive and borderline flat to sleep on.

Avocado Green Pillow for $139: Avocado's fill is made from GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic kapok, and comes in both a standard shape and side-sleeper curved shape. It felt much denser than others we tried, and my test panel and I preferred other latex pillows over this one.

Bedgear Storm Pillow for $200: This model from Bedgear is similar to the Bedgear Flow above but without the curve for side sleepers. If you sleep on your back 100 percent of the time, this might be a better fit, but I prefer the versatility of having one curved side and one straight side. –Eric Ravenscraft

Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow for $59: I liked this better than Brooklinen's actual goose down feather pillow, since it had better spring and support. (I chose the firm option for testing.) I prefer the Buffy Cloud for a down alternative, but this is a solid runner-up.

Casper Hybrid Pillow for $129: This hybrid uses a mix of thick foam and a core of shredded foam for its marshmallow-like, dense-yet-soft feel. I liked sleeping on the Casper, especially the cooling Snow version ($179), and it did well in my panel tests, but both of my panelists who volunteered to long-term test it came back with disappointing results within a week. My petite side sleeper found it too firm, and my taller, broader long-term tester found that the Casper wasn't bouncing back quite as much as it should be for the price after a week of sleeping on it. If you like a firm-ish design, though, you could be happy with this one. The Snow version is slightly cooling, but not super cooling; more of a good winter option for hot sleepers, as one of my panel testers said.

Eli & Elm Everyday Memory Foam Pillow for $104: Compared to the latex version below, the memory foam version feels lumpy. Most of my panelists disliked it, including myself, but my chaotic sleeper was a fan of its malleable shape for her haphazard sleeping patterns.

Eli & Elm Everyday Latex Pillow for $110: This shredded latex-filled pillow is nice and springy, and it’s a solid runner-up to the Coop and Purple. I found it comfortable to sleep on as a side sleeper, since it as a higher loft and nice support.

Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow for $115: This pillow is almost shockingly firm out of the box. You can customize the amount of fill inside to give it the right amount of support for you, but if you're the type of side sleeper who likes firm support, this might be the one for you. It even comes with a separate removable cover for easy washing. It's smaller than the Scrumptious one, so don't expect to do much cuddling on this one, but for one person it's a great choice. —Eric Ravenscraft

GhostBed Memory Foam Pillow for $95: Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano has been using the memory foam GhostBed pillow since 2020—she slept on it while visiting with a friend and immediately bought one after returning home. It's medium-firm and works for her side-, back-, and stomach-sleeping rotation. GhostBed's claim of it being the “Coolest Pillow in the World” is exaggerated, but Medea sleeps hot, and she says the gel-infused foam does stay cool all night.

Marlow Pillow for $65: This is another shredded memory foam model, though it was less lumpy and had better support than the Eli & Elm. It was a little smaller than the rest, but it also has a slight adjustment option, letting you unzip side panels to make it bigger or smaller. It was fine to sleep on; I found it a little firm for my liking, but my long-term tester says it's been supportive and cleared up her neck pain. It's a good option for the price too.

Marshmalloo Pillow for $80: The name isn't kidding—after testing the soft version, this is like the pillow equivalent of Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme. It's not the most supportive for neck pain, but super fluffy if you like some sink or something to hug onto. —Julia Forbes

Nest Easy Breather Pillow for $124: This is a popular model, but I found it too dense and too lofty for me. It is adjustable, so you can easily make it less lofty, and it comes with a fill bag to store your extra fill. The fill is a mix of foam and polyester fiber. My panelist who liked the firmer Marlow also liked this pillow, while the rest of us preferred softer options.

No More Aches Neck Pillow for $80: There's no shortage of novelty pillows, but as someone who experiences a lot of neck pain, I'm intrigued by this odd little design. It has a concave center for back, side, and stomach sleeping, plus an indented edge that perfectly fits your arm. Its awkward shape makes it less than ideal for anything other than laying your head on it, but it's still a solid pick for neck pain. —Eric Ravenscraft

Parallel High Profile Pillow for $135: Former WIRED reviewer Eric Ravenscraft was a fan of the Parallel's high profile for taller side sleepers. It's a good option, but I think you'll be just as happy with a Purple or Coop cutout if you need a high loft and side sleeper support.

Pillow Cube Side Cube for $70: The Pillow Cube has a weird little rectangular design. It seems strange at first, but once you take the quiz and get a recommendation for what size you need, you’ll be matched with the perfect cube for you. I tested the Side Cube. It is supportive and a bit squishy, and I think it'd be a good option if you sleep exclusively on your side—with your arms stretched in front of you or near your chest. I usually sleep with my arm stretched under my pillow, so my head is resting on my shoulder (with a pillow in between), and I found the Cube was less supportive if I slept in my preferred position. And on the nights when I rolled onto my back, I woke up with neck pain. But if you only sleep in the ideal side sleeper formation, this model is much more supportive than others I’ve tried. Make sure you pick up a case! A normal case is too roomy and doesn’t fit the Cube well. —Louryn Strampe

Purple DreamLayer Pillow for $209: If you find you switch between being a side sleeper and back sleeper, the Purple DreamLayer pillow provides an excellent middle ground. Rather than using adjustable fill to customize its height, this model comes with two foam inserts so you can get exactly the level of support you need. —Eric Ravenscraft

Purple GridCloud Pillow for $149: This pillow is a softer, squishier design with the grid layer we love from the Purple Freeform and Harmony, but it has only one side with the grid instead of two. It's described as having a down-alternative core, and it does feel much softer, like a down alternative. I preferred the support of Purple's other models, but if you want something softer with better support than just a down or down alternative filling, this is a great option.

Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Pillow for $165: This model is slightly cooling and has a fluffier feel compared to more sinkage-style memory foam.

Saatva Down Alternative Pillow for $115: I like this down alternative, but not more than the much cheaper Buffy. There are two loft height options, which is nice if you want something specific.

Photograph: Julia Forbes

Saatva Latex Pillow for $165: These pillows were provided to Team USA Hockey and USA Figure Skating athletes who competed in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. The standard loft was squishy and easily stackable, like what you would do with hotel pillows. However, it wasn't the firmest for neck support.

Sijo FlexCool Memory Foam Pillow for $80: This pillow with a cooling nylon cover comes with a bag of shredded memory foam to adjust the loft to your liking. A stomach sleeper, I tested it against the Nest Easy Breather pillow, above, which offers the same concept. However, the foam that goes into the Easy Breather is of a slightly stiffer construction, which allows it to hold its shape better. The FlexCool foam is super-squishy; I felt like no matter how much fill I added, my head still sank too deeply. A subsequent side-sleeping tester had the same experience. —Kat Merck

Sleep Number True Temp Adapt Ultimate Pillow for $150: I tested the Ultimate shape since it's a slight crescent-like style that's ideal for side sleepers like myself. I like this as a side sleeper option, and it's nicely cooling as well. It's a little smaller than the Coop, but still big enough for the average-sized person.

Slumber Cloud UltraCool Pillow for $109: This pillow is super chilly and super soft, similar to a down or down alternative model. If you're looking for something extra cool and like the light, malleable support of a down pillow, this is a good choice.

Snorinator for $130: This Shark Tank alum utilizes the “high Fowler” position to help snorers sleep upright and open their airways. I didn't like sleeping sitting up, but it did make a very comfortable reading pillow. —Julia Forbes

Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Cooling Pillow for $60: This was our favorite pillow under $100, but it's out of stock everywhere right now. If you can find it available, it's a great option filled with shredded memory foam that you can adjust to get your perfect height.

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt ProAdjust Pillow for $125: This adjustable-fill model from Tempur-Pedic has a compartment where you can add or remove foam filling to get the perfect amount of support for you. This is an increasingly common feature, but what sets it apart is Tempur-Pedic's trademark cooling materials. The company makes some of the best cooling materials on the market, and this one managed to stay cooler than most I tried. —Eric Ravenscraft

Tempur Pedic Tempur Adapt ProHi for $175: Our previous memory foam pick did fine in my panel tests, but we all preferred shredded memory foam over a solid sheet. Someone did volunteer to long-term test this as a knee support while they slept, though.

Tempur-Breeze ProHi Pillow for $229: is a wider, more spacious alternative to the Tempur-Adapt ProHi. It has a similarly high loft, and the foam is firmer and more resistant to pressure than the Adapt. It's a better fit if you prefer a firmer option, or if you want space to share it with your cuddling partner. —Eric Ravenscraft

Understanding Pillow Sizes

There are a couple different pillow sizes you might find when shopping. Most of the time pillows come in a standard size and a king size, and you should buy a standard size unless you have a king-size bed. But there are a few more size options.

All bed pillows are usually 20 inches wide, but the length can vary. (That's why your pillowcases might seem too long—they're prepared for larger sizes!) If you're curious about more sizes or found a model that has more options to choose from than you know what to do with, here are the usual sizes you can find and what measurements they should have:

• Standard Size: 20 inches by 26 inches
• Super Standard Size: 20 inches by 28 inches
• Queen: 20 inches by 30 inches
• King: 20 inches by 36 inches
• Body: 20 inches by 54 inches

You'll want to double-check listings to see what size you're really working with if size is an issue for you. Buffy, for example, lists a standard size for its pillows, but they're 28 inches long, making those pillows a super standard size. You won't want to order king-size pillows without a king-sized bed, especially since you'll need king-size pillowcases with your sheets. Body pillows are the longest of all, and we have a separate guide to those.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Pillow Do You Need?

You might think 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 depend heavily on your pillow, so when choosing one, here are a few key questions to ask.

What kind 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 one pillow under your head, or do you cocoon yourself into a pillow chrysalis? This is probably the most important thing to keep in mind when deciding what type works best for you, and we've noted our picks below 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 fluffy clusters of fiber that can feel soft and comfortable, whereas memory foam is designed to compress with the weight of your head but still return to its previous shape. Organic latex can be heavy and spongey, holding 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 are the materials sourced? Since some materials like down feathers come from animals, you might want to be aware of how manufacturers get their fill (literally). Down filling typically comes from the belly feathers of either ducks or geese. In order to ensure that down feathers are ethically sourced—such as by avoiding cruel practices like live plucking—programs like the Responsible Down Standard set criteria that manufacturers must adhere to. Another option is to look for synthetic down alternatives, which use cotton, rayon, or polyester as a synthetic replacement. The broader Material Matters Standard is a recently overhauled system for examining the environmental impact and sustainability of bedding manufacturers.

How firm is it? However you sleep, you'll want a pillow that keeps your spine straight and your head aligned with your back. That means you want something firm enough to support your head yet soft enough that it doesn't dig into your ear or face.

How lofty is it? “Loft” is a term often used to describe how high off the bed the pillow keeps your head. If it's too tall, for example, you might end up with your neck tilted upward, straining it throughout the night. Most models typically fall into one of three categories: Low loft, which is relatively short and ideal for back sleepers; high loft, which is better for side sleepers (since your head will be further off the bed than when you're on your back); and medium loft, which is somewhere in the middle and best if you're a combination sleeper who doesn't stick to one particular sleep style.

What is the warranty and return policy? You might not think the pillow you sleep (and sweat and drool) on would have a robust warranty, but many manufacturers offer generous policies. For example, Purple offers a one-year warranty and even a 100-night trial period. Casper has a similar warranty and a 30-day trial. If you're unsure whether your new pillow is right for you, check out the company's policies to see what leeway you have to try before you commit—and make sure you’re protected if something goes wrong.

What's the Best Pillow Fill for You?

A variety of filling materials are used, and the type of fill is a big part of how pillows are categorized. You've heard of down pillows, for example, which means it's full of down undercoating or feathers, and hearing the words “memory foam” usually invokes the sinking sensation that good memory foam can give. Here's a quick explainer of the main types of fill you'll find and how they differ.

Down: Down pillows, as I mentioned above, are filled with either down clusters (an undercoating on ducks) or down feathers, or a mix of both. It's a fill that's been around for ages, and it feels similar to a comforter in the sense that it's soft and squishy, and very malleable to shape in any way you prefer. (But it also doesn't retain its shape well.) Since these are filled with down clusters or feathers, you'll want to check for certifications, like the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), that confirm if the down was ethically sourced.

Down alternative: These pillows aren't a set type, but use other materials to replicate the down experience. Buffy, for example, uses recycled plastic to create their fill, while Saatva uses a combination of memory foam and latex foam. You'll have to take a look to see what makes up any down alternative design, since it isn't consistent. But what is consistent is the different feel. In my tests, I've found down alternative models are usually more supportive and do a better job holding their shape than a classic down.

Memory foam: Memory foam is popular since it can “remember” its original shape, letting it return to its previous form once your head is off the pillow. Memory foam does have a sinking sensation to it, which you might like or dislike. You'll also want to check if the memory foam is a solid sheet or shredded; I've found shredded and cut memory foam to have more bounce and support and less sinkage than a memory foam sheet.

Latex foam: Latex foam is made from rubber, giving it a much bouncier, supportive feel than other foam options. Latex foam is becoming a popular option thanks to that nice support, and it is usually found with a shredded type of fill that gives plenty of airflow. Latex is also effective at preventing allergens like dust mites from accumulating in the pillow.

Hybrid: Hybrid is another category gaining in popularity. It can be a mix of any of the above fills, but I often find it's a sheet of foam combined with either shredded foam or some other kind of softer filling. Casper, for example, uses both sheets of memory foam and then has a core of shredded foam at the center to give it its marshmallow-like feel.

Cotton, kapok, and wool: These fills are all natural fibers that take less processing than foam, and could be used in a blend with other materials above. Kapok and cotton are supposed to be on the fluffy end, while wool is great for temperature regulation. But none are as popular as foam or down options, though you might see these as ingredients in organic or hybrid options.

Are Standard and Queen the Same Pillow Size?

No, a standard size is a little smaller at only 26 inches wide, while a queen size should be 30 inches wide. You might want to check the measurements in case it's mislabeled to be the same thing, but if you have the choice between the two, I prefer a few extra inches with the queen size.

Why Should You Spend So Much on a Pillow?

You might be surprised by some of the price tags on these pillows. I remember spending bottom dollar on my pillows for years. But those bottom-dollar pillows needed to be frequently replaced and didn't provide the long-term support (or even all-night support) my neck needed.

Higher-quality pillows cost more but will use better materials, last longer, and come with trial periods and warranties so that you can test out the pillow of your choice and get a guarantee it'll last. Plus, while most of these aren't cheap, it's still an affordable investment when you break down how many hours you'll be lying on them.

How Should You Care for Your Pillow?

The best way to wash your pillow is going to depend on the pillow you have. You can choose to hand wash, spot clean, or machine wash pillows, though you'll want to check the label and make sure it's safe to machine wash it. If it's not, spot or hand cleaning is your best option.

The easiest pillows to clean are ones that come with removable covers, because you can remove said cover and wash it with other sheets and bedding. Not all pillow fill should be washed, so that's important to check before throwing an entire pillow into your washing machine. Our top five picks all have removable covers for easy washing, though for some (like the Honeydew Scrumptious) you'll have to manually remove the filling and store it in a bag, while others like the Purple have a separated cover and fill section.

How Does WIRED Choose Pillows to Review?

We research all pillows we test to make sure we test a variety of styles, fills, and shapes to find which are the most supportive over a night's sleep. We test both expensive and affordably priced models to see how the quality stacks up, and usually look to test new designs and options to see what's coming next (and every other category we test for). We also check out reviews and customer feedback when available to see if it's worth testing to compare against pillows we know we already like.

How Does WIRED Test Pillows?

Every pillow in this guide is slept on for a minimum of three nights, with our top picks getting at least a week if not closer to a month of sleep testing from either us, other staffers, or long-term testers. WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell also hosted a testing panel in March 2025 with six participants and 22 different models. The panelists all had different sleep styles ranging from classic side and back sleepers to chaotic sleepers who end up underneath their pillows every night, and the panel judged which options they found most comfortable and would be most likely to buy for their sleep needs.

How Does WIRED Acquire Pillows? What Happens to the Review Units After Testing?

Most of our pillows are provided as review samples by the manufacturer, with no promises made for coverage or type of coverage. Other pillows are purchased and expensed.

After we test pillows, they're either placed with a long-term tester if the model is a pick, or they're donated.

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