5 Best Pillows of 2026: Expert Reviewed

Best Value: Brooklinen Marlow Pillow

Score: 9.5 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Most affordably priced pillow on this list
• Adjustable height
• Above-average cooling performance 

Cons

• Spot clean only
• Cover may not feel as smooth

Features

• Material: Cover is made of cotton; side panels are made of polyester 
• Fill: Memory foam, polyester fill
• Loft (height): Adjustable
• Firmness: Adjustable

Key takeaways from our testing

Wallet-friendly and adjustable. The Brooklinen Marlow Pillow retails for $65 for the standard size and features a 100 percent cotton cover with a memory foam and polyester mix fill. We think this pillow is a good value, given its strong performance in testing alongside its lower retail price. Another plus? You can get 20 percent off the retail price when you buy two pillows and 30 percent off when you buy four. Meanwhile, the most expensive item on this list, the Saatva Latex Pillow, retails for $165 for a standard loft — more than double this pillow’s retail price. Our testers also appreciate that you can tailor the pillow's height to your needs. The ability to adjust its firmness is helpful, noted Donna, a 60-year-old tester with neck pain. “It’s very versatile for different people and sleeping positions,” she said, noting she preferred using this pillow with both zippers open, which is the softest setting. For a medium feel, leave the zippers half closed. Close them fully for a firm feel. Donna awarded this pillow a perfect score for side and back sleepers, and an above-average score for stomach sleepers.

Mesh side panels promote airflow. This pillow earned an impressive cooling score, only retaining 6.5 degrees of introduced body heat during testing. That’s the best performance among pillows on this list, with the average heat retention across all pillows we’ve tested at about 9.52 degrees. While Donna said she didn’t feel any active, deliberate cooling sensations from this pillow, she also didn’t feel like she was heating up when using it. “Keeping the zippers open helps add airflow,” she said.

Not machine washable.  Although it’s generally good practice to wash or replace your pillows periodically, the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow is spot-clean only. Its cover also isn’t removable. Donna likes to wash her pillows periodically and said she didn’t like these limitations. If you also like to wash your pillows instead of replacing them, this one may not be a fit for you. Another ding? While Donna said she appreciated that the cover is made of cotton, she said it wasn’t soft or smooth.

Best for Stomach Sleepers: Saatva Latex Pillow

Score: 9.1 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Relieves pressure for  back sleepers
• Offers a plush feel
• Above-average cooling performance

Cons

• Standard loft may be too low for side sleepers 
• Pricey

Features

• Material: Organic cotton cover
• Fill: Shredded natural latex
• Loft: 5 or 7 inches
• Firmness: Plush

Key takeaways from our testing

High scores for back sleepers. We tested the standard loft (5 inches) of the Saatva Latex Pillow. Tester Bryan gave this pillow an above-average rating for back sleeping pressure relief. “The spinal alignment is good, and so was the height. I’m actually surprised how good it felt for my back pain,” he said. 

Admirable heat regulation. This pillow has an organic cotton cover and a fill made of shredded natural latex. That filling is supposed to aid breathability by allowing air to have an easier pathway through the shredded fibers (compared to a solid block of foam). “This pillow is subtly cool to the touch,” he said, noting he didn’t feel hot or uncomfortable while lying on it. His experience reflects our testing: This pillow earned an impressive cooling score, retaining only 7.5 degrees of heat.

May not be supportive enough for some side sleepers. The standard loft of the Saatva Latex Pillow, which the company says is best for back and stomach sleepers, is about 5 inches. Bryan gave this pillow only a mediocre rating for side sleeping pressure relief. “It’s not supportive enough for me in this position,” he said. “It’s a little too soft and too low of a profile.” If you prefer a taller pillow for side sleeping, this model also is available in a 7-inch height.

Best for Back Sleepers: Nectar Tri-Comfort Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow

Score: 9.1 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Adjustable firmness 
• Above-average pressure relief for all tested sleeping positions
• Cool and breathable design

Cons

• Zippers may be difficult to manipulate
• Not machine washable 

Features

• Material: Poly-blend cover
• Fill: Memory foam and microfiber down alternative
• Loft: 6 inches
• Firmness: Customizable via zipper settings for a soft, medium or firm feel

Key takeaways from our testing

Unique design adjusted with zippers. The Nectar Tri-Comfort Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow features a filling made of a memory foam and microfiber down alternative. And this pillow is easy to adjust, according to our testing experience. You don’t have to remove any fill; simply open or close the two zippers located on the sides of the pillow — which works to release or gather the structuring of the pillow —  to find your desired firmness level. When both zippers are closed, the pillow is at its most structured, or most firm, which is around a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, with 10 being the firmest. One zipper closed offers a medium feel (about a 6 to 6.5  out of 10), while no zippers closed, a full release of the structured support of the zippers, offers the softest feel, about a 1 to 6 out of 10.  

The cover delivers a cooling sensation. This pillow has a cooling cover, which Nectar describes as a “special polyethylene (PE) fabric.” PE is a common thermoplastic used in packaging.  In our cooling gun test, this pillow retained only 7.9 degrees of heat, netting a near-top-level score. “It stayed cool and breathable the entire time I was lying down,” Bryan said, noting it felt “cool to the touch.”

Washing options are limited. Unlike others on this list, this product does not feature a removable cover, and the pillow itself is not machine washable. Instead, the company recommends spot-cleaning it with mild soap and water, then air-drying. 

Best for Side Sleepers: Luxome LAYR Customizable Pillow

Score: 9.2 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Very customizable 
• Perfect pressure relief ratings for side sleepers
• Machine washable cover

Cons

• May be too tall for some stomach sleepers
• Stackable design means it’s not designed to be flipped

Features

• Material: Natural viscose from bamboo shell
• Fill: Down alternative fiber and memory foam
• Loft: Adjustable
• Firmness: Adjustable

Key takeaways from our testing

Inserts make it easy to customize. The Luxome LAYR Customizable Pillow lets you tailor the pillow's loft with self-contained inserts. It’s easily the most customizable pillow on this list, with three different inserts you can mix and match. It includes: 

• A soft insert made from down alternative
• A medium insert made from down alternative and shredded memory foam
• A firm insert made from a solid block of memory foam

Bryan said he found the design confusing at first because, when he unzipped the pillow, he saw three inserts stacked on top of each other. However, he said he appreciated how easy it is to remove or rearrange the inserts to adjust the pillow's height and firmness. 

Height could benefit side sleepers. Bryan gave the Luxome LAYR Customizable Pillow a perfect rating for pressure relief in the side sleeping position, noting he felt “fully supported.” He liked having the softer layers at the top for comfort, with the firmer insert at the bottom. Bryan also gave this pillow top-notch pressure relief scores for back sleeping, noting his head and neck felt very aligned in that position. 

Some stomach sleepers may find it too tall. While Bryan liked this pillow for side and back sleeping, he gave it a rock-bottom stomach sleeping rating for pressure relief because the fabric felt like it was “folding” around his face. “It’s covering my face too much,” he said. “It feels like it might be too tall for stomach sleeping.” In this instance, the high sinkage, while in the stomach sleeping position, could be perceived as negative, since the height of the pillow in relation to the weight of your head may cause you to feel trapped. Okubadejo, the spinal and orthopedic surgeon in New York City, generally recommends a thinner pillow for stomach sleepers to minimize the stress placed on the neck. So if you’re interested in the Luxome LAYR Customizable Pillow but you sleep on your stomach, you may want to remove some of the inserts.

How we tested the best pillows

We started our process by researching the market. Which pillows are popular and why? Which companies have the best customer reviews — and are the reviews legitimate? After completing our research, consulting the results of surveys and focus groups and talking with medical experts, we narrowed our list from 20 pillows to the 10 we tested in our lab.

To identify their strengths and weaknesses, we used controlled tests to assess features like sinkage and the resulting pressure relief, ease of care and temperature regulation. Then we recruited a 62-year-old tester to give us his unbiased feedback. He answered questions like: How easy is it to adjust the height or firmness of the pillow? Does your spine feel well aligned? Did the pillow warm up? The models that excelled in our tests made our list of the best pillows. 

For more details on our process, see our mattress and sleep products testing methodology. 

How to choose the best pillows

Aside from providing comfort, a pillow helps keep the spine in neutral alignment from the skull to the cervical spine while we sleep, says Okubadejo. If  your pillow doesn’t adequately support your spine, this lack of support may contribute to stiffness or headaches. For older adult patients with pre-existing conditions such as cervical stenosis — a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck that can compress nerves — or arthritis, not getting enough support causes pain, Okubadejo says. 

So if you’re looking for a pillow that fits your individual needs, you may want to consider the following features. 

Pressure relief 

A good pillow should relieve pressure on areas like the neck, shoulders and back by promoting spinal alignment and distributing your weight more evenly. Experts we spoke with recommend choosing a pillow with the right loft and firmness to keep your spine neutral. Your sleeping position — which we delve into in the next section — will likely influence which loft suits you best.

Sleeping position and pillow height

As noted, your sleeping position largely determines how tall your pillow should be to maintain neutral spinal alignment. “Getting this [height] wrong based on personal preference rather than spinal mechanics is one of the most common and correctable sources of chronic neck pain I see,” says Okubadejo. 

Below you’ll find expert recommendations for pillow height based on sleeping position.

• Side sleepers may benefit from a higher loft. Older adults who sleep on their sides might benefit from a higher-loft pillow that bridges the distance between their shoulders and heads, Okubadejo says. He adds that sleeping on a pillow that’s too flat may cause your head to extend and cause tension in your neck. 
• Back sleepers could fare best with a medium loft. Okubadejo suggests older adults who sleep on their backs can aim for a medium height, or 3 to 5 inches, that cradles the natural cervical curve. So how can you test a pillow in this sleeping position? When positioned on your back and resting your head on a pillow, Okubadejo suggests you try to ensure your chin is not pressed toward your chest. “That [pressing] position may compress the airway and strain your neck,” he says.
• Stomach sleepers might prefer a lower loft. Stomach sleeping is generally the least favorable sleeping position. In fact, Okubadejo says he counsels his patients to avoid stomach sleeping altogether. “No pillow can fully correct the cervical rotation and lumbar stress that comes with [stomach sleeping,]” he says. However, if you can’t break the habit, he says to seek out a thin pillow because it will be the “least damaging option” for the spine.

Filling

Memory foam, down alternative and latex foam are common pillow filling materials. In fact, in our sleep accessories survey, 54 percent of respondents said they had bought a pillow with memory foam. 

Of course, the type of pillow fill influences how it feels. For instance, pillows filled with latex foam tend to have a more natural bounce than those filled with a down-alternative, as latex is often a more responsive material.  And those with memory foam tend to feel more cradling and contouring. 

Okubadejo says he often directs his older adult patients toward memory foam or latex as a clinical option. “Both will contour to the head and neck, allow for proper pressure dispersion and minimize the localized pressure to the cervical joints,” he says. 

He also says he generally advises his older adult patients to avoid down or poly-fill pillows (such as those made of down-alternative materials) because they compress under the weight of the head over time and can lose the support the neck needs.

How much do the best pillows cost?

The best pillows on our list range in retail price from $65 to $150 for a queen or standard size. All pillows are sold individually. The least expensive option on our list is the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow at $65 for a standard pillow. The Saatva Latex Pillow  is the most expensive option on this list at $165 for one standard-size pillow.

Note: We’ve listed the starting retail prices in the chart below, but some companies vary their prices based on the fill amount and size you choose. 

FAQs

What are the best pillows for side sleepers? 

High-loft pillows — or those upwards of 5 inches in height — often are best for side sleepers because they help fill the gap between your shoulders and head. Okubadejo, a spinal surgeon in New York City, says if your pillow isn’t high enough, it may stress your neck. But the reverse is also true: A pillow that’s too high could increase strain on your neck. Okubadejo says to find a pillow that keeps your spine straight and your neck feeling comfortable. 

What is the best kind of pillow to help with neck pain?

The best type of pillow to help with neck pain is a cervical-contour pillow, says Okubadejo, referring to the type that has a wave-like design with a higher loft on the sides and a lower center, meant to maintain the alignment of the cervical spine. He recommends that his older adult patients seek a cervical contour pillow filled with medium-firm memory foam or latex foam. That’s because foam is more likely to adapt to your head and neck shape, and Okubadejo says a pillow should complement your natural form, not work against it.

What is the best cooling material for pillows?

Based on our testing, we have found the best cooling materials for pillows, both fill and covers, are cotton, viscose from bamboo or latex. These fabrics are naturally breathable, as they allow air to flow more freely and help dissipate heat.

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.