Best pillows for a good night's sleep

To find the best pillows we've tested the most popular memory foam, microfibre, feather and down pillows available. These include pillow brands such as Emma, Ikea, Silentnight, Simba, Slumberdown and more. 

Each was rated by our team of testers, including back, front and side sleepers, for comfort, neck support and how cool they feel.

We found some clear favourites which have been awarded our Best Buy recommendation, as well as one we've named Great Value.

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We even tested some hotel pillows to see how they stacked up against major retailers such as John Lewis, M&S and Argos pillows. 

Why you can trust us to reveal the very best pillows: Which? is a not for profit organisation and has been testing products and calling out rogue businesses for almost 70 years.

In an increasingly chaotic world, filled with so-called 'experts', it's good to know that brands still can't buy their way onto our testing or influence what we write. We buy every product we test and we'll tell you the worst as well as the best pillows.

The best pillows

Only logged-in Which? members can view the pillow test results below. 

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

The pillows we tested

All the pillows we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best pillows from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Brightr Eclipse Pillow

Most recently tested February 2023

Manufacturer trial period 30 nights

Need to know Memory foam filling, removable and washable cover, carry bag

Emma Original Pillow

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period 30 nights

Need to know Individually removable memory foam layers, removable and washable top cover 

Emma Premium Microfibre Pillow

Most recently tested February 2023

Manufacturer trial period 30 nights

Need to know Two pillows inside case with microfibre filling, removable and washable cover

Ikea Mjolkklocka Pillow

Available from Ikea (£40) (Out of stock)

Most recently tested February 2023

Manufacturer trial period Not stated

Need to know Memory foam filling, removable and washable cover

John Lewis Natural Duck Down 60/40 Standard Pillow

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period None

Need to know Duck feather and down filling, machine washable

John Lewis Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Standard Pillow, Medium

Available from John Lewis (£12)

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period None

Need to know Polyester mini ball cluster filling, machine washable

Kally Sleep Adjustable Pillow

Most recently tested February 2023

Manufacturer trial period 14 nights

Need to know Carry bag, four polyester pillows inside the case, removable and washable case

M&S COLLECTION Duck Feather & Down Medium Pillows (2 pack)

Available from Marks & Spencer (£39.50)

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Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period None

Need to know Duck feather and down filling, machine washable

Looking to upgrade your mattress as well as your pillows? See our pick of the best mattresses to make sure you're buying the right one for you

Nectar Premium Pillow (2 pack)

Available from Nectar (£65)

Most recently tested February 2023

Manufacturer trial period None

Need to know Memory foam filling, removable and washable cover

Otty Deluxe Pillow

Available from Otty (£69.99)

Most recently tested February 2023

Manufacturer trial period 14 nights

Need to know Bamboo memory foam with infused charcoal filling, removable washable cover

Panda Hybrid Bamboo Pillow

Most recently tested February 2023

Manufacturer trial period 30 nights

Need to know Washable removable cover, charcoal memory foam filling, silky bamboo cover

Premier Inn Luxury Pillows – Firm (2 pack)

Available from Premier Inn (£36)

Date tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period None

Need to know Hollowfibre polyester filling, quilted cotton-polyester protectors

Silentnight Airmax Super Support Pillow (2 pack)

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period Not stated

Need to know Polyester filling, the cover can't be removed for washing

Silentnight Bounceback Pillows (4 pack)

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period None

Need to know Hollowfibre polyester filling, machine washable

Simba Hybrid Pillow

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period 30 nights

Need to know Washable removable cover, memory foam cube filling, pouch for storing spare foam, you can fine-tune the firmness by removing or adding foam cubes

Slumberdown Box Edge Firm Pillow

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period Not stated

Need to know Polyester filling, machine washable, cover can't be removed

Soak & Sleep Soft as Down Microfibre Pillow – Soft/Medium

Available from Soak & Sleep (£13.64)

Most recently tested March 2024

Manufacturer trial period None

Need to know Polyester microfibre filling, machine washable

See our reviews of the best eye masks for sleep and the best ear plugs for sleeping.

How we test pillows

We shortlist the most popular pillows from UK retailers and use a small army of testers to put them to the test for comfort, neck support, coolness, customisation, smell and more. We buy all the products we test so you know our reviews can be trusted. 

We regularly revisit the pillows on sale to see if there are any more popular pillows that need testing and when we find them we do.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Comfort

Each tester lies on each pillow in turn to rate it individually for comfort when on their front, back and side, so we're taking into account the views of tens of testers rather than an individual's subjective opinion.

Neck support

Our testers also rate each pillow for how well supported their neck felt when they were in their preferred sleeping position. 

Coolness

Many people prefer resting their head on a pleasantly cool pillow at night. Testers score each pillow for how cool it feels while they were lying on it compared to all the others.

Customisation

Some pillows allow you to add ore removed layers or parts to customise your sleeping experience. Each pillow is rated for how easy it is to adjust the firmness. Our top pick can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of firmness.

Smell

Some pillows can have a slight odour that could disturb your night's sleep. We sniff each pillow to find the ones that come out of their packaging whiff-free.

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What kind of pillow is best for me?

There are three main traditional types of pillow: feather and down, hollowfibre/microfibre and memory foam. There are also plenty of subcategories such as travel pillows. 

The right pillow for you is a matter of personal preference, but to help you make your mind up, here are the pros and cons of each main type.

Feather and down pillows

The ratio of feather to down can vary greatly, although as a rule if it is sold as a ‘feather’ pillow, it must be made of at least 30% of the exterior feathers of the bird. Down pillows must be at least 70% down. 

If you go for a feather pillow you should find that you don’t need to turn the pillow over to the cold side as often, as they are cooler than both down and microfibre. Down retains more heat, and it doesn't have hard quills to poke through and spike into you, like duck feather pillows.

Pros

• Remain supportive and comfortable longer than synthetic fillings
• Can be moulded to suit your neck
• Longer lifespan than synthetic pillows – retain their support and height for longer
• Mouldably soft
• Ideal for snuggling into

Cons

• Will need regular fluffing to retain their shape
• You could find the crunching noise of a feather pillow grating
• Needs to be cleaned professionally
• A little more expensive than synthetic pillows and some types of feather and down, eg Hungarian goose, can be very expensive 
• Can smell a bit musty at first
• Feather and down aren't always extracted in a humane way – check with the manufacturer and retailer what their policy on ethical sourcing is before buying

Hollowfibre/microfibre pillows

An adequate basic option if you’re shopping on a budget and want to be able to clean your pillows at home.

Pros

• Cheapest option
• Can be washed at home (on a 30°C wash)
• Available in hypoallergenic options

Cons

• Not as breathable as others
• Short lifespan – it's recommended that you replace them every few years

Memory foam pillows

Memory foam pillows are often sought out by sleepers looking for strong support and neck pain relief, as the memory foam contours to your body.

• Offer even support
• Easy to take care of, like microfibre pillows
• Long-lasting

Cons

• Can be too hot in summer
• Some people simply don’t like the exceptionally dense and firm feel

Box pillows

Box pillows have walled sides and are increasingly popular. They can come with a variety of fillings including memory foam and synthetic fibres. 

Pros

• Often provide good neck support
• Some are customisable so you can adjust the height and firmness to exactly suit you

Cons

• They can be pricier than other pillow types

Latex pillows

Latex pillows have a similar feel to memory foam pillows and, similarly, they will contour and spring back to support your neck. Latex pillows can often cost over £100 though. However, there are still plenty of reasons to consider them.

Pros

• Offer even support
• Breathable and won’t cause overheating as memory foam pillows can
• They’ll help you maintain a neutral temperature all night so you won't need to flip the pillow over to the cool side
• Naturally hypoallergenic
• Durable and hold their shape well, longer than any other type of filling
• Naturally resistant to mould and dust mites

Cons

• Most expensive option

Wool and cotton pillows

These are firm pillows that offer more support. 

Pros

• Naturally hypoallergenic
• Naturally resistant to mites and mould
• Breathable and cool like latex pillows

Cons

• Flatten quickly, need regularly reshaping
• Tend to be heavy

Hypoallergenic and anti-allergy pillows

Hypoallergenic doesn't equal anti-allergy.

• Hypoallergenic means that the actual material and filling of the pillow aren't made of a known potential allergen, such as feathers, wool or latex. But other allergens like dust mites can still develop on these types of pillow.
• Anti-allergy means the filling and casing will have been treated to resist and combat the development of dust mites. You might find that this type of pillow is good for you if you have asthma, eczema or rhinitis, all of which could be exacerbated by allergens.

Dust mites can be killed however, and their allergens removed, by washing at temperatures of 60°C and above if your choice of pillow can withstand this.

Tired old mattress making your back worse? See our guide to the best mattresses for back pain.

How to wash pillows 

When deciding how to clean pillows, you should always consult the manufacturer's instructions to minimise the risk of damage. 

While many feather, down and microfibre pillows can be cleaned in the washing machine, this is often not the case for memory foam pillows. 

If you're going to machine wash, choose a delicate cycle. Washing two pillows at once can help to keep them in position in the machine. Dry them on a low heat to protect from damage and fluff them back into shape.

For hand washing, you can fill a tub or basin with lukewarm water and use natural detergent. A soft brush can help to clean the stained areas. Once the pillows are rinsed through, you can gently press out excess water and leave them on a flat surface to dry.