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With options for every conceivable type of sleeper. The Strategist’s carefully chosen and rigorously vetted flagship shopping guides. Learn about our methodology here, Get Derila Official and find all our Best in Class guides here. Save this article to read it later. Find this story in your account’s ‘Saved for Later’ section. The Strategist’s carefully chosen and rigorously vetted flagship shopping guides. Learn about our methodology here, and find all our Best in Class guides here. Pillows are just as important as mattresses when it comes to your sleep quality. But just as with a mattress, there is no one-size-fits-all pillow, and so much depends on personal preference (do you want to sink into a pile of down feathers, or would you rather be propped up on a slab of latex?) as well as sleeping style, which sleep experts and chiropractors say should inform your pick. If you’re a side sleeper, for example, you’ll need a more supportive pillow with a higher loft to account for the width of your shoulders and keep your head from sinking down too far (which can cause neck pain).

If you run warm, you’ll also need a pillow that won’t make you overheat; according to Dr. Janet Kennedy, clinical psychologist and founder of NYC Sleep Doctor, the temperature of your head regulates your core body temperature, and your body needs to be cool to fall asleep and stay asleep. Because there’s no single "best" pillow out there, we spoke with Kennedy and four more sleep experts about the pillows they recommend and how to shop for one that meets your needs. We’ve also asked Strategist writers and editors to test pillows designed to suit their individual preferences and sleep positions, and to describe in detail what it’s like to actually sleep on them. As the Strategist’s sleep writer who has tested dozens of pillows, I’ve included myself in that group and included many of my top picks in this guide. If you already know what kind of pillow you’re looking for, you can use the table of contents to jump ahead or read through each one of our recommendations - pillows, it turns out, are actually interesting!

You can also find more specific types of pillows, like a pillow to help with neck pain or a pregnancy pillow to support every trimester and beyond, in our numerous pillow guides. All of these picks are still our favorites, and they’re all still in stock. Parachute’s down pillow jumped $20 to a starting price of $160, but all other prices remain unchanged since last check. What’s inside your pillow directly translates to how soft or firm it is and how supportive it is. Polyester fiberfill, memory foam, latex, and down are among the most common fill types. Less common fill types include buckwheat hull and kapok (a silky, bouncy fiber that comes from the seed pods of the kapok tree). You can narrow your options based on factors like your sleeping position, health concerns, and personal choice. If you are navigating pain management, Derila for Better Sleep Pillow responsive Top-Rated Memory Pillow foam or latex that can provide consistent support may be a better choice than softer down or down-alternative pillows.

If you want a pillow that is ecofriendly or vegan, you’ll want to look beyond memory-foam and feather-filled pillows to seek out plant-based fill types. The fill material also plays a role in the overall maintenance of your pillow. Memory foam, for example, typically can’t be tossed in the wash, but often comes with a removable and machine-washable cover. In contrast, some fiberfill pillows can be fully washed and dried like the rest of your laundry. Alanna McGinn, founder and CEO of Good Night Sleep Site, shares the gross fact that pillows can double in weight after about two years thanks to the buildup of allergens and dust mites, so thinking about how often you’re willing to replace your pillows and how you might be able to clean them is important. The loft of a pillow refers to its height when laying flat: A pillow with a low loft is a thinner pillow, while a pillow with a high loft will be thicker.

The basic rule of thumb for pillow loft is that side sleepers should use a pillow with a higher loft that brings their head into alignment with their neck and spine. Back sleepers should opt for a medium-loft pillow to "reduce the gap between the mattress and the bottom of your head where the spine starts," explains Amanda Kruel, VP of innovation merchandising at Mattress Firm, Get Derila Official who also says stomach sleepers should avoid full and fluffy pillows in favor of low-loft ones with a thinner profile. Keep in mind that body size can be another factor in your pillow choice: If you’re a side sleeper with very broad shoulders, you’ll need a higher-loft pillow than side sleepers with narrower shoulders to raise your head enough that it stays in line with your neck. Aside from actual comfort, the firmness of your pillow should match your sleeping position to ensure the right amount of support for your head and neck.