These are the plush picks we cuddle up with every night.
Finding the perfect pillow can be a frustrating process of trial and error. It's easy to feel like Goldilocks hunting for one; too soft, too firm, too lumpy, too flat. We've experienced the hunt first hand—which is why we've decided to do the hard part for you. No need to go through pillows that flatten too easily or feel like bricks. House Beautiful editors are pulling back the curtain and revealing our favorite pillows to sleep on every night. Some of them have been in our homes for years, so you know we trust them.
Ahead, you'll find pretty much every kind of pillow on offer, including cooling, latex, and memory foam pillows, among others. Not sure if you're even in the market for a new one? According to the Sleep Foundation, "Most experts recommend replacing pillows every one to two years. Doing so helps to ensure that you're using pillows that are supportive, clean, and free of allergens. It is also important to care for the pillows you use to ensure their longevity." So, if your pillow is older than two years, it may be time to part ways and get a new one. Luckily, we've slept on eight amazing options that we personally love and recommend to anyone looking for an upgrade.
People who sleep hot—whether it's in the summer or year-round—need this cooling pillow. We say "this cooling pillow" instead of "a cooling pillow" because this one by Casper is special, and almost every part of it is patented by the brand. The magic is in the combination of materials that make it feel chilled, including Snow Technology, HeatDelete Bands, phase-changing material, and a CoolTouch cover that makes you feel cool for at least 12 hours.
"I got this in the summer of 2023 and used it for the entire season. It actually got a little too cold to use in the colder months," editor Jessica Cherner says. "Of course, I grabbed it again the next summer until it started getting cold again. I don't really understand how it works, but it really does feel cool when you touch it." In terms of comfort, it is definitely on the denser side, so if you like the feel of down or down alternative, this may be a little too firm for you.
Sizes: Standard and king | Shell Material: Cool touch | Fill Material: Memory foam
Latex pillows are definitely becoming popular as more and more people would rather sleep on natural, organic materials than synthetics. The organic latex in Coyuchi's Turiya pillow makes a serious case for switching to more natural materials.
"Full disclosure, this pillow took a few days to get used to because it has three divots in it: one bigger one for your head when you're sleeping on your back, and two smaller ones on each side for when you sleep on your sides. It is definitely soft and squishy, but not in the way I'm used to because it has a spongey feel to it," Cherner says. "I have noticed that on days I sleep on this, I wake up with zero pain in my neck."
Sizes: Standard, queen, and king | Shell Material: Organic cotton jersey knit | Fill Material: GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex
The only downside to pillows that offer the option to choose your own density level is that you may order the wrong one. The Marlow pillow is the solution because it's adjustable. "I got this pillow in June 2024, and loved it so much that I bought another one for my boyfriend so he could experience it too," Cherner says. "He's just as into it as I am, even though we both have totally different adjustments. I have one side zipper and the other unzipped, and his is unzipped on both sides, which makes it much more plush." In case it isn't clear, all you need to do to make your pillow more firm is zip the ends, which makes the filling more compact and dense. Otherwise, unzip both sides for a looser, loftier fill.
Sizes: Standard and king | Shell Material: 100 percent cotton | Fill Material: Memory foam and microfiber
Anyone who likes a very soft pillow, the Isotonic Indulgence is for you. "My mom discovered these when she was decorating my family's house back in 2007, and my siblings and I have become addicted," Cherner says. "I have bought them for my college dorm room, my first post-grad apartment, and every apartment I've lived in since. Personally, it's a little too soft for my liking, so I stack one on top of another, and it's the perfect level of sink-in soft and supportive." It comes in two sizes, so feel free to get whichever one suits your bed best.
Sizes: Standard and king | Shell Material: 100 percent cotton | Fill Material: Down alternative
RH isn't the only home brand famous for its selection of Cloud offerings; Buffy, too, has a Cloud line—and we are pretty obsessed. We've already reviewed the Cloud comforter (read it here), and now we are focused on the matching pillow, which contributing writer Amanda Le highly recommends. "They don’t call it the Cloud for nothing. As a side sleeper, I find myself naturally gravitating toward whichever side my Buffy pillow is on. It's incredibly lightweight and comfortable, molding perfectly to my head so I sleep like a baby," she explains.
"Even after the craziest nights of tossing and turning, it still holds its shape. Plus, you can customize the firmness to your liking, and it's made from sustainable materials. To me, that's a total win-win!" Plus, you can get this pillow in a set of two or four (or, of course, just one), and you can choose the loft level.
Sizes: Standard and king | Shell Material: TENCEL lyocell fiber | Fill Material: BPA-free recycled PET
Commerce Editor Angel Madison is obsessed with the crescent-shaped design of this Coop pillow. It fits around her neck like a hug and stops her tossing and turning. After weeks of sleeping on it, she's been waking up with virtually no neck pain. It comes with a cooling gel layer, and it's great for combination sleepers.
"Normally, when I sleep on my side, I end up putting my arm underneath my pillow, making it even higher," Madison says. "With the Coop, I could adjust the filling to my liking, which I did after about 24 hours of letting the pillow fully inflate from the packaging. Due to the crescent-shaped cutout, I have a place for my shoulder and can rest my head without having to stuff my arm underneath."
Sizes: Queen and king | Shell Material: Microfiber | Fill Material: Memory foam and microfiber
The hypoallergenic and breathable latex of this Saatva pillow makes it a way more comfortable sleeping experience than most synthetic foams. Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao, who usually wakes up at least once throughout the night, slept undisturbed with this pillow. "The washable pillow cover is super smooth and silky. The plush fill layer with organic cotton is airy and squishy, and the latex core is supportive and soft. In terms of firmness, I personally would rate this pillow as a medium feel: when your hands press down on it, there is give, and it almost feels too soft (for my liking), but when your head hits the pillow, your head, neck, and shoulders do feel supported," Liao says.
Sizes: Standard/Queen and King | Shell Material: Organic cotton | Fill Material: Hypoallergenic organic cotton and organic latex
A contoured, ergonomic pillow can be quite the adjustment if you're not used to it. But after nearly two years with the Cushion Lab Deep Sleep Pillow, Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie won't sleep on another one. The bolstering sides lessened tension in her upper body, making it much easier to fall asleep.
"The divot in the center cradles my head perfectly, whether I’m on my side or my back, which particularly impressed me," McKenzie says. "Many butterfly-shaped pillows work well for side sleepers, but are far too lofty for back sleepers to be comfortable. The memory foam is so responsive, yet soft to the touch, and it cushions my head on either side."
Sizes: One size | Shell Material: Recycled polyester, nylon, and spandex | Fill Material: Dense Certipur-US memory foam
Generally speaking, we like to test all the products we are recommending to House Beautiful readers, but doing so can sometimes be tricky, especially when the items are large, like a platform bed frame or sofa. This was not the case for sleeping pillows, which everyone has, uses, and, in our case, loves. So, I looked into my own pillow collection and that of my fellow editors to curate this list of incredibly cozy pillows. You can rest assured that every pillow on this list is in a House Beautiful editor's home and, in some cases, is our go-to sleeping essential. Before recommending it, I asked my colleagues to sleep on their pillows for at least a month. Some editors, including myself, have had our pillows for over a year, so you know we really love them.
Cover Material: The cover material may not seem as important as the fill, but trust us, it's worth considering. After all, it's the only part of the pillow that has nearly direct contact with your skin (let's all make sure we're using pillowcases, though). Most covers are made of cotton, but any pillows meant to be cooling may be a brand-patented material that could be difficult to clean or scratchy on the skin, so make sure to read before buying. Personally, we recommend going with cotton because it tends to be soft and machine-washable.
Fill Material: The fill material is definitely key, because it will determine how soft or firm your pillow will feel. You have a few options, including down, which will be the most plush; down alternative, which will feel similar to down (but hypoallergenic and more sustainable); latex, which is a bit firmer and spongy; and memory foam, which is dense but highly supportive.
Level of Support: Speaking of support, this is another big factor to consider when buying a pillow. Generally, if you don't have much neck pain and are used to sleeping on softer pillows, feel free to stick with what you like. On the other hand, if you tend to wake up with a sore neck or knots in your shoulders, you may need a firmer pillow that offers more support.
The Sleep Foundation recommends replacing your sleeping pillow every two or so years. Otherwise, wait to say goodbye until you start to notice sagging or lumps, which are both indicators that your pillow is not providing optimal support. Two additional signs? Yellowing or worsening allergies. All of that said, not all pillows are designed the same: Pillows made with higher quality materials, such as latex, will likely last longer than, say, a polyester pillow.
When it comes to picking out the best (and affordable) pieces for any bedroom, including my own, I have been reviewing home products, especially bedding, for eight years. In fact, I currently have six pillows and counting. I have worked with countless interior designers and product designers on what makes something worthy in the home. Not to mention, I've been on a never-ending quest to maximize the comfort and look of my own bed, so you can trust that I've done my homework to find the best and most beloved pieces on the market. Plus, as a shopping editor, I've covered everything you could possibly need for your bed, including the best cooling mattress toppers, the softest sheets, the best linen sheets, and even dedicated brand bedding reviews.
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