Best Pillows of 2023

Sleeping with the wrong pillow can cause back and neck pain and headaches. Since there is a wide variety of pillows with different shapes, firmnesses, sizes, and materials, it can be tricky to find the best one. Understanding your sleep preferences and needs will help you choose the best pillow for better sleep.

This article explores which pillows are best for each sleep position, what you should look for in a pillow, and the different materials available to you.

Best Pillows of 2023

The Amerisleep Comfort Classic is one of the best pillows on the market for its reliable, supportive feel. It’s an excellent pillow option for side and back sleepers due to its 6-inch loft and medium firmness.

The Amerisleep Comfort Classic comes with a 10-year warranty and free shipping.

How Lying Down Feels

With its medium firmness, the Amerisleep Comfort Classic is neither too soft nor too firm. It has a balanced feel, which works well if you want to buy a pillow without thinking too hard about it.

The pillow is designed to reduce pressure points and eliminate tossing and turning. It gives way to pressure and contours to the neck and head, promoting spinal alignment while alleviating tension and pressure points.

Since it has a breathable foam construction, the Amerisleep Comfort Classic won’t cause you to overheat at night. Plus, the cover dissipates body heat! You won’t feel sweaty or hot, making it easy to sleep peacefully all night long. 

Inside the Pillow

The Amerisleep Comfort Classic pillow has a solid memory foam core and is 6 inches thick, which is excellent for back and side sleepers. The cover is removable and breathable to promote a cool night’s sleep. It’s also machine-washable.

The eco-friendly Bio-Pur® memory foam filling is made out of castor oil. Unlike traditional memory foam, Bio-Pur® is more breathable, durable, and springy. Plus, Bio-Pur® is CertiPUR-US® certified, so the foam is free of ozone depleters, PBDE flame retardants, formaldehyde, heavy metals, harsh chemicals, and low in VOCs.

The Comfort Classic Pillow has air channels built throughout the foam, encouraging air circulation and allowing hot air to escape.

The Amerisleep Flex Pillow is a moldable pillow you can shape into any loft and firmness. Amerisleep recommends the Flex Pillow for combination sleepers. However, its design ensures that the pillow should feel comfortable and supportive in any sleep position.

As with other Amerisleep pillows, the Flex Pillow comes with a 10-year warranty and free shipping. 

How Lying Down Feels

Made from shredded memory foam, the Amerisleep Flex Pillow is highly adjustable. You can fluff up the pillow for a higher loft or flatten it down for a lower loft. This way, if you switch positions frequently, you can easily readjust the pillow. 

The shredded fill promotes breathability for a cooler pillow. Air escapes in the spaces between the foam bits, preventing you from overheating and keeping you cool. 

Inside the Pillow

The Amerisleep Flex Pillow doesn’t contain a block of Bio-Pur® foam like the company’s other pillow models. Instead, the Flex Pillow is filled with hundreds of MicroFlex cushions that you can shape as you please. 

Air can slip through the soft cover and around the MicroFlex cushions, removing collected moisture and heat.

It’s also easy to clean the Amerisleep Flex Pillow thanks to its shredded fill. Pillows with a solid core of memory foam can’t be machine washed because the tumblers might break apart the foam. However, you can throw a pillow like the Amerisleep Flex into your washer, running it through a delicate cycle with cold water.

One of the most unique pillows on our list is the Amerisleep Dual Comfort Pillow. Unlike most pillows, which feel the same on either side, the Dual Comfort Pillow has two firmnesses. One side is firm and the other is soft which works well for side, back, and combination sleepers. The pillow has a slight contour to maximize neck support and relieve chronic pain, too!

Every Amerisleep pillow includes a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The Amerisleep Dual Comfort Pillow has two unique feels depending on which side you use. Both sides have an indented contour to better support your neck and align your head to the rest of your body.

The soft side allows your head and neck to sink into a cushy surface. It’s a great choice for back and combo sleepers in need of extra pressure relief. Meanwhile, the firm side maintains a side sleepers’ neck alignment, gently lifting the cervical spine and keeping it in line with your back.

The Dual Comfort Pillow comes in two thicknesses, mid and high. The mid thickness works well for back sleeping, while the high thickness is a better choice for side sleeping. 

Inside the Pillow

The Amerisleep Dual Comfort has a similar design to the original Comfort Classic. It contains a block of Bio-Pur® foam that has a different feel on each side. Simply reverse the pillow to change the mix of softness and support it offers.

Remember, Amerisleep’s Bio-Pur® foam is a breathable and responsive material, adapting quickly to your movements and remaining cool throughout the night.

Sleeping hot is a pain, but not with the Zoma Pillow. With a shredded foam fill and a mesh cover, the Zoma Pillow doesn’t trap heat easily and dissipates moisture and sweat. 

The shredded foam MicroCushions™ are highly moldable, so you can alter the Zoma Pillow’s loft easily. It’s a great choice for all types of sleepers and is an easy choice when all the pillow options out there get overwhelming. 

Zoma offers a 10-year warranty and free shipping with the purchase of the Zoma Pillow.

How Lying Down Feels

When you lay down, the Zoma Pillow adapts under your head and neck to rapidly relieve pressure and pain. The shredded memory foam fill makes the pillow moldable, so you can change its shape and loft by moving the material around. 

With that, the shredded fill also promotes airflow throughout the pillow, deterring heat retention. The mesh cover over the pillow is soft, but still absorbs body heat and moisture to further keep you cool. 

Inside the Pillow

The Zoma Pillow is filled with MicroCushion™ Technology. These are shredded pieces of foam that adapt to your head and neck, but easily spring back to shape when you move. Also, the MicroCushion™ filling is CertiPUR-US® certified, so it’s less likely to off-gas when first unpackaged.

The pillow has a 6-inch loft—a great option for side and back sleepers who need a higher loft for correct spinal alignment.

The polyester-spandex cover maximizes the pillow’s breathability by absorbing heat and moisture. 

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

One of our favorite affordable pillows would have to be the Vaya Pillow. Vaya’s focus is on providing you pure comfort without asking you to break your budget. It has a shredded foam fill, which means you can fluff or flatten the pillow as needed. The pillow provides excellent customizability and breathability.

Vaya is so confident in their pillow’s durability that they offer a 10-year warranty. It’s not uncommon for a budget pillow to have a warranty no more than 5 years long, so Vaya’s generous warranty suggests quite a bit of faith in their product.

How Lying Down Feels

The shredded foam inside the Vaya Pillow is similar to latex, making the pillow feel responsive, bouncy, and supportive. It conforms under your head while supporting your neck, promoting healthy spinal alignment. Proper alignment is crucial to waking up pain-free, reducing stiffness, and preventing headaches.

Inside the Pillow

The Vaya Pillow is made from a proprietary Vaya Foam Blend, which is similar to latex. The foam blend is quick to snap back to its original shape and resists flattening, promoting a long-lasting pillow. The filling of the pillow is CertiPUR-US® certified, so it’s free of toxic chemicals. There are also minimal chances that you’ll have to deal with a funky “new pillow” smell. 

Vaya uses a breathable fabric for the Vaya Pillow’s cover. This way, the pillow won’t trap body heat or get damp from sweat if you ever do get hot. 

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

The Coop Home Goods Original Pillow is a top seller on Amazon and features a shredded memory foam filling and a zippered cover. It’s popular for its fluffy, yet supportive feel and an extra half-pound bag of filling which you can use to make the pillow extra firm and lofty if needed.

The Coop Home Goods Original Pillow comes with a 5-year warranty and a 100-night trial period.

How Lying Down Feels

If you don’t add or remove any filling, the Coop Home Goods Original Pillow has a medium-firm feel. This is a great choice for side, back, and combination sleepers. It allows the pillow to contour to the neck, offering firm support and tension relief.

If medium-firm isn’t right for you, unzip the inner lining and add or remove the filling as needed. The more filling you add, the firmer it gets, and vice versa if you remove filling. A firmer pillow works better for side sleepers—especially those with neck pain—and a softer pillow is a good option for stomach sleepers. 

Regardless of pillow firmness, the Coop Home Goods Original Pillow is fluffy, lightweight, and breathable. 

Inside the Pillow

The Coop Home Goods Original Pillow has a memory foam and microfiber blend filling. It’s long-lasting,  The foam is CertiPUR-US® and GREENGUARD Gold certified, making it free of harmful chemicals. It’s also hypoallergenic, so it won’t trap dust or mildew as easily and won’t aggravate allergies. 

The inner liner is lightweight and has a zipper on the side, allowing you to add or remove the filling, making the pillow adjustable and compatible for side, stomach, and back sleepers.

The bamboo-blend Lulltra™ cover is cool to the touch and breathable. You can clean the quilted pillowcase and inner pillow by separating them and placing them in the washing machine.

Dealing with allergies is bad enough as is, but the wrong pillow can worsen your symptoms and reactions. The Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow is a gel microfiber pillow that’s resistant to mold, mildew, dust mites, and other allergens. It comes in a set of two at an affordable price, so you can shop without worrying. It’s a comfortable, plushy pillow suitable for all sleepers.

The Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

How Lying Down Feels

No matter what position you sleep in, the Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow will accommodate you. The fibrous fill adapts to your head and neck, relieving pressure points without trapping heat.

Since the pillow is gel-infused, it wicks away heat, keeping you cool throughout the night. Along with that, the cover promotes air circulation to prevent heat retention.

Inside the Pillow

The Beckham Hotel Collection features a 100-percent sateen cotton cover. The fabric resists mold, dust mites, and mildew and is allergen and chemical-free.

The polyester gel fiber fill inside the pillow is super plush and mimics real down. It’s fluffy and lightweight, just like down or feathers.

The Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow is Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning it’s tested and free of harmful substances that could worsen allergies. Better yet, the pillow is machine washable and safe to tumble dry so you can keep it free of dust, mold, and mildew.

When trying to shop more sustainably, consider the Avocado Green Pillow. This non-toxic pillow is made from organic shredded latex and kapok. It has a medium-plush feel excellent for back sleepers and stomach sleepers. However, Avocado provides an extra bag of filling if you want a firmer pillow suited for side sleeping. 

The Avocado Green Pillow is vegan and made in the USA. The Avocado Green Pillow comes with a 1-year warranty, a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and free returns.

How Lying Down Feels 

With a latex-kapok blend filling, the Avocado Green Pillow sleeps cool. It easily contours to your head and neck to keep you comfortable, but also snaps back into shape when you get up. While the pillow starts with a medium-plush feel, it’s get firmer and more supportive if you add the extra filling into it. 

The cotton cover starts out soft and only gets softer with age. It promotes airflow throughout the pillow so you don’t overheat, ensuring you stay dry while you sleep.  

Inside the Pillow 

The Avocado Green Pillow’s filling is a combination of GOLS-certified latex and GOTS-certified kapok fiber. The latex provides support and kills bacteria on contact, while the kapok fibers feel plush. Kapok fiber is hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and non-toxic.

The GOTS certified cotton cover is durable and moisture resistant. It’s safe to machine wash, but Avocado recommends hang drying and says to never bleach the fabric. 

The Zen Chi Buckwheat Hull Pillow is an excellent option for people who don’t like foam pillows but are allergic to feathers and down. Buckwheat pillows originated in Japan and are popular for their excellent support and breathability. Plus, buckwheat is natural and sustainably sourced for the Zen Chi pillow. It’s firm, but malleable, making it great for back and side sleeping. 

The Zen Chi pillow comes with a 30-day return policy, allowing you to test the pillow and decide if you like it.

How Lying Down Feels

The buckwheat fill is very supportive, yet still conforms to your head and neck well to relieve pressure. Some people may say how buckwheat hulls feel a bit stiff, but the firmness is nice especially when side sleeping or dealing with neck pain. Also, the buckwheat filling promotes airflow, making it great for hot sleepers.

The cotton cover over the buckwheat hulls doesn’t trap heat or moisture, so you sleep cool. 

Inside the Pillow

The Zen Chi Buckwheat Hull Pillow is filled with organic buckwheat stuffed inside an organic cotton cover. However, the hulls rub against each other and produce noise—this may cause sleep disruptions.

The Zen Chi Pillow is adjustable and moldable, so you can remove, add, and shift the buckwheat hulls to fit your comfort needs. The pillow’s adjustable qualities appeal to many sleep styles.

One of the most unique pillows we love is the Purple Harmony™ Pillow. With two layers—a rare feature in pillows—this pillow is innovative and pressure-relieving. And with three loft options to pick from, this pillow works for all types of sleepers!

All Purple® pillows come with a 100-night sleep trial, a 1-year warranty, free shipping, and free returns.

How Lying Down Feels

Purple designs their pillows to provide rapid pressure and pain relief. When you lay down, the grid design offers neck support by giving in to pressure and conforming to relieve muscle tension. When you shift positions or get out of bed, the pillow snaps back into place. This helps the pillow stay durable against becoming lumpy, soft, or flat. 

The pillow’s grid design also encourages air circulation by creating space in the pillow. Plus, latex is a naturally breathable material that further keeps you cool.

Inside the Pillow

Most pillows have a uniform construction made with a single material or single blend. However, the Purple Harmony™ Pillow is made of a latex core and Purple’s innovative 360° Purple Grid® Hex, which provides just the right amount of support and pressure relief. This pillow comes in three heights: 5.5 inches, 6.5 inches, and 7.5 inches.

The nylon and spandex cover wicks moisture away from the sleeper and increases air circulation. The cover is also machine washable, although you have to lay it flat to dry.

SEE ALSO: Purple Mattress Reviews

FAQs

What type of pillow is best?

The best types of pillows are made from solid or shredded foam. Foam pillows are great for relieving pressure and pain, promoting air circulation, and supporting a healthy spine. Down, feather, and buckwheat pillows are more sustainable options known for their breathability.

Is it better to sleep without a pillow?

We always recommend using a pillow when sleeping on your back or side to promote healthy alignment and prevent neck pain. However, some stomach sleepers may benefit from going pillowless since they don’t need neck support.

Why does my pillow give me a headache?

A pillow might give you a headache if it’s the wrong thickness or firmness for you. The wrong pillow can throw your neck out of alignment, causing stiffness and pain leading to a headache. Use a pillow suited for your sleeping position and size to prevent headaches.

Is a firm or soft pillow better?

Pillow firmness depends on your sleeping position. Firm pillows work best for side and back sleepers who need more support. Conversely, soft pillows are a good choice for stomach sleepers who don’t need much head and neck support.

How often should you replace pillows?

Replace your pillows every 1 to 2 years. With age, pillows get lumpy, flat, and unsupportive, making it hard to sleep comfortably. Plus, pillows trap dust and can grow mold and mildew, triggering allergic reactions.

Conclusion

You have lots of options when it comes to choosing a pillow. When deciding between the options we’ve laid out for you, consider your sleeping position, size, and any particular needs you want to be met while sleeping!