Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Featured in this article Best Overall Purple Freeform Adjustable Pillow Read more $209 Amazon
Best Cooling Pillow Coop Sleep Goods Cool+ Cut Out Adjustable Pillow Read more $159 $127 (20% off) Coop
Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers Honeydew Sleep Scrumptious Classic Read more $200 Amazon
Best Pillow for Side Sleepers Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Crescent Pillow Read more $99 Amazon
As a veteran mattress tester and certified sleep science coach , I've learned something surprising from my time in the industry: Your pillow can make or break your overall mattress experience . In fact, I would go so far as to say that if you're having sleep issues, before replacing your mattress, you should first evaluate your pillow.
Many contemporary pillows out there boast all sorts of features, from cooling fabrics to neck support. Unfortunately, not all of these claims turn out to be accurate, which is why we test each pillow in our own beds, in our own homes, for ideally a week but at minimum three days. I've spent years researching different body types, sleeping positions, physical conditions, and pain points that affect sleepers, so this guide has been years in the making. It's constantly evolving as we strive to keep up with the industry's latest, so if there's a brand you don't see that's worth a shout, let me know at julia_forbes@wired.com . But here are the ones we've tested and would choose time and time again.
Updated March 2026: We've added the Pluto Pillow as a new pick, and pillows from Marshmalloo, Snorinator, Sijo, and Saatva as honorable mentions. We've also ensured that links and prices are up to date.
Honorable Mentions Understanding Pillow Size Compare Our Top 10 Pillows What Kind of Pillow Do You Need? What's the Best Pillow Fill for You? Are Standard and Queen the Same Pillow Size? Why Should You Spend So Much on a Pillow? How Should You Care for Your Pillow? How Does WIRED Choose Pillows to Review? How Does WIRED Test Pillows? How Does WIRED Acquire Pillows? What Happens to the Review Units After Testing? Best Overall Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Purple Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Purple
Purple's lofty Freeform pillow is incredibly bouncy and supportive, and feels unlike any other I've tried thanks to the honeycomb-shaped gel layer that sits between the outer shell and the core. It's made with a mixed fill of high-density memory foam and polyester fill that gives it a malleable center, and it's adjustable, allowing you to remove some of the fill to make it a little less lofty—which you might want, since this pillow comes stuffed to the brim! But you can also buy more fill ($29) if you wish it to be loftier. The pillow actually comes with a little lumbar pillowcase, so you can repurpose the fill you remove into an extra pillow around the house.
I thought this pillow would be seen as weird when I tested it with my panel, especially the gridlike gel layer, but the Freeform was the favorite of the night. We also liked the similar Purple Harmony ($209) , which has the same gel grid layer with a Talalay latex core. (It’s nonadjustable, but you can choose from three different lofts.) All of my testers loved how supportive and bouncy it was, and one commented how she likes the gel layer texture, since it reminds her of quilted bedding she used as a child. The gel grid layer and cooling cover also provide a cooling experience, keeping Purple's pillows nice and chilly as you sleep.
The only downside of the pillow was the off-gassing scent, which this model still had after a week of being unboxed. It's been a few more weeks since then, and I haven't noticed the gassing scent any longer. Amazon lists the king size as frequently returned, likely because people may not realize the different sizes pillows can be . The standard size doesn't have the same return issues. The base price on this pillow recently went up, likely due to tariffs, but it's often on sale.
WIRED Bouncy and supportive Adjustable, and starts with a nice high loft Has cooling layers TIRED Needs a week or two to lose off-gassing scent Best Cooling Pillow Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Coop Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Coop Sleep Goods
Coop's Cool+ Adjustable Pillow comes in three different shapes, and the cutout version has been my go-to pillow for months now. It's designed to be cooling and has kept my head nice and chilly through two Southern California summers, but hasn't been so chilly that I can't enjoy it during the winter months. As a side sleeper, I love the cutout shape that makes it easy to get plenty of head and neck support while keeping my shoulders on the bed—an impressive feat for my short frame.
The pillow's adjustable filling uses a blend of cooling gel and memory foam, and the cover is super chilly to the touch with a ventilated phase-change gel memory foam layer on one side to help keep heat out of your pillow. I don't love the feel of the Cool+'s synthetic chilly cover on my face, so I always cover it with a pillowcase, but you could sleep right on the cover for the coolest experience. Coop's pillows have two shell layers, so you can remove the outermost layer and wash it without needing to pull out all of the fill. Coop also includes a bag of extra fill so that you can refresh your pillow, but in the year I've had it, I haven't needed to refill it yet.
WIRED Super cooling Supportive and adjustable, retains shape well Has three shapes to fit sleeping style TIRED Outer shell feels synthetic, but is easy to ignore with a pillowcase Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Honeydew Sleep Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Honeydew Sleep
The Honeydew Scrumptious is a nice, lower-loft, firmer pillow that's a great fit for back and stomach sleepers. It's not too fluffy or high up, so it's easier to keep your spine aligned, and the firm feel is great for support too. It's also adjustable, with a discreet zipper that lets you take out the copper-infused foam fill. The copper-infused foam promises a cooler sleep, and though I wouldn't call it a cooling pillow by any means, it shouldn't retain heat like other foam models do. I found it a little firm as a side sleeper, but my stomach-sleeping long-term tester has been happy with this pillow.
Honeydew overall makes pretty great pillows. They also make the Scrumptious in a side sleeper shape, but my side-sleeper panelists and I preferred Honeydew's Essence Side Sleeper Pillow ($130) over the Scrumptious side sleeper, since it's fluffier and has a higher loft, thanks to a fill of shredded gel foam. Honeydew also makes the Classic Essence Pillow ($180) , which has the classic shape to it but a more fluffy feel, which can be a nice choice for combination sleepers who want more fluff.
WIRED Nice, low loft for back and stomach sleepers Firm and supportive Adjustable TIRED Has copper foam, but isn't particularly cooling Best Pillow for Side Sleepers Photograph: Julia Forbes Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Coop Sleep Goods
Both WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell and I have tested our fair share of Coop pillows, but the Original Crescent pillow is a side sleeper’s dream. While a typical pillow design isn’t exactly uncomfortable for side sleepers, I love having some space for my shoulder to nestle into. As a side sleeper, Nena really likes Coop’s Cool+ Adjustable Pillow (above), but the Original Crescent will allow combination sleepers to not feel as set in place.
True to its name, the Original Crescent has a curve to its bottom, allowing a full range of motion for flipping between sides or other sleeping positions. The shredded memory foam and microfiber fill also cradle the head and neck to preserve cervical alignment. The pillow is also adjustable and can be opened to add or remove fill, making it softer or firmer. It comes with extra fill, so if I ever need a boost, I have it available. —Julia Forbes
WIRED Soft and supportive with shredded memory foam Nice, high loft; adjustable Comes in three shapes for different sleep styles Has softer cover than the Cool+ version TIRED Not cooling like the Cool+ version Best Down Alternative Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Buffy Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Buffy
Look, you're probably wondering why I didn't lead with a real down pillow before suggesting an alternative. Let me explain: I think down pillows might be terrible. Down pillows aren't nearly as supportive as other options, can't retain their shape on their own, and raise the question of ethical sourcing more than other pillow categories do. My entire testing panel voted down pillows to be their least favorite, so I know it's not just me. Instead, you could get a similar experience with better support and more thoughtful materials— namely, recycled water bottles.
That's right, Buffy's Cloud Pillow uses a fill made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate from plastic water bottles. You'd never guess it's recycled, since it has such a supportive, bouncy feel that worked for a side sleeper. (I tested the medium fill option, and you can choose the lower fill if you want a lower loft.) It has a Tencel lyocell sateen shell that feels silky-soft like Buffy's fantastic bedding . I didn't miss down for a minute after switching from real down to this pillow.
★ A side sleeper version: WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe loves the curve in the side-sleeper version ($59) of the Buffy Cloud Pillow. Even while rotating a bunch in her sleep, she says she can always get comfortable. She says it's stayed cool on 90-degree nights, too.
WIRED Soft and comfortable Holds it shape better than regular down Made from recycled materials, with a silky soft lyocell shell TIRED Not as supportive as others we tested, but still more supportive than other down and down alternatives we tried Best Down Pillow Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Brooklinen Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Brooklinen
