Best pillows – tried and tested for side, front and back sleepers

Finding the best pillow for your sleep style is key to a good night's sleep. That's because – as you may already have realised if you’re tossing and turning at night squishing your current pillow into all kinds of shapes to try and get comfy – when it comes to pillows, one size doesn't fit all.

Just like shopping for the best mattress, finding the best pillow for your best night’s sleep depends on several factors, including your preferred sleeping position – i.e. whether you’re a front, back, or side sleeper – how firm a pillow you like, whether you sleep hot, if you have any neck pain and your preferred choice of filling.

For instance, side sleepers need a high and firm pillow to keep the head lifted in alignment with the spine. Back sleepers need a lower pillow so the head isn't raised too high, and front sleepers need an almost flat pillow to avoid putting excess pressure on the neck. If you have neck pain an ergonomic memory foam pillow can be your best bet as it keeps the neck firmly supported during the night.

Then there are pillow fillings to consider. Natural materials like wool or feather and down offer the coolest sleep and tend to be the most sustainable but are usually the most expensive and can't always be washed easily. They also aren't suitable for vegans. Synthetic fillings like polyester microfibre or hollowfibre are cheaper and can usually be machine-washed, but they lack breathability and can cause environmental problems.

So with all this to consider, how do you find the right pillow for you? That's where I come in. I'm Ideal Home's Sleep Editor and alongside our wider review team I've spent the last four years putting a whole host of pillows through their paces. I've tested options from all the leading brand names and every loft, filling, and construction possible to bring you my top recommendations.

To do so I've slept on each pillow included in this guide for at least a week (in most cases much longer) to test its breathability and comfort in all three sleeping positions. I've also assessed ease of care, durability, environmental impact, and value for money.

Amy Lockwood

I'm Amy, and I've spent the last four years reviewing bedding from all the leading brand names, from the best duvets to the best pillows. In that time I've tested many more pillows than just those included in this shortlist (and continue to do so) but in this guide I've only included those I deem best-in-class for each category. I also regularly remove any that don't make the grade in terms of durability, whether that's escaping feathers or pillows that flatten over time.

Best pillows – tried and tested

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the best pillows that Ideal Home has tested. You'll find more information on why myself and our wider review team recommend each pillow if you keep on scrolling.

Best pillows overall

Best pillow for side sleepers

If you're a side sleeper – and research shows this is by far the most popular sleep position – then the key to finding a comfortable pillow is to find an option that keeps your head and neck in alignment when you're laid on your side. You don't want your head to dip too low or to be raised too high as this will put pressure on the neck. Generally this means you'll want a pillow with more 'loft' (that means height in pillow talk) than a front or back sleeper, and the wider your shoulders, the more loft you'll need.

Best pillow for back sleepers

Back sleepers will generally need a lower loft pillow than a side sleeper so the head isn't raised too far from the bed. When you're laid flat on your back you want your head and neck to be in alignment so your airway isn't restricted, if your pillow is too high then it can cause the chin to tilt towards the neck which can contribute to snoring and a disturbed sleep.

Best pillow for front sleepers

Whilst front sleeping generally isn't recommended due to the pressure it can put on the neck, there are plenty of us (like me) who can't get comfortable any other way. If this is you too, then you need a very soft and low loft pillow that will keep your head as close to the mattress surface as possible. These are my top three recommendations.

Best pillow for neck pain

Finding the best pillow for neck pain can be a particularly tricky task as there isn't always a one-size-fits-all solution. However, based on my tests, I think it's best avoiding a soft or squishy pillow that can lead to a lot of neck movement in the night. Instead, opt for a firm pillow that's specifically designed to cradle and support the head and neck in optimal alignment.

Budget buys

Sadly we're yet to find a really good pillow that isn't upwards of £20-30, although the hunt continues! Budget pillows tend to feature synthetic hollowfibre or microfibre fill that can flatten over time and is more likely to reflect head heat back towards the sleeper, leading to a lot of pillow flipping in search of the cool side! However, sometimes you need a budget option, and these pillows are bestsellers for just that reason.

Best memory foam pillow

Memory foam pillows can take a little getting used to as their inners are dense and much firmer than a 'normal' pillow. However, that firmer fill means they keep their height during the night making them especially popular with side sleepers. The downside is that memory foam's dense structure can mean limited airflow and therefore a hot head. To avoid overheating, look for options that are made from breathable 'open-cell' memory foam or offer cooling innovations to increase air circulation.

Best feather and down pillow

Feather and down creates the plump, squishy and super soft feel that we perhaps all associate with the classic pillow. This natural fill is also far more breathable than a synthetic option, making for a cooler sleep. Goose feather and down tends to be the most luxurious mix, with duck feather and down the more affordable (yet often a little lumpier) alternative. Generally speaking, the more you spend on a feather and down pillow the better the quality, with cheaper options tending to result in escaped down and feathers that stick through the casing.

Where to buy the best pillows

• Shop pillows at Marks & Spencers
• Shop pillows at John Lewis & Partners
• Shop pillows at Argos
• Shop pillows at Dunelm
• Shop pillows at Soak & Sleep
• Shop pillows at The White Company
• Shop pillows at Amazon
• Shop pillows at Kally Sleep
• Shop pillows at Panda
• Shop pillows at Scooms
• Shop pillows at Simba

How to choose the best pillow for your needs

It's easy to think that there isn't much to choosing a pillow, which is probably why most of us grab the cheapest two-pack of pillows we can find on the shelves. However, once neck pain, overheating, or general discomfort enter the equation it soon becomes clear there's more to finding a good pillow than meets the eye.

Finding the best pillows – or best pillow, as if you're wondering how many pillows you should sleep with then most experts advise against sleeping with two – for your best night’s sleep depends on a variety of different factors. That includes your regular sleep position – i.e. whether you’re a front, back or side sleeper – whether you suffer from any aches and pains, like neck pain, and whether you’re someone who tends to overheat at night.

There’s also your preference for natural materials – like cotton, down, feather, or wool – or synthetic materials – like memory foam or polyester – to factor in. Plus there’s sustainability to consider, and of course, the necessity to find the best pillows for your budget. You might also be desperately searching for an effective anti-snore pillow to silence a noisy bed partner. So what should you consider before splashing your cash in search of a better night's sleep?

Are you a front, back or side sleeper?

Your preferred sleep position is probably one of the biggest factors to consider when choosing the best pillows for you. As James Leinhardt, sleep & posture expert and founder at pillow and mattress brand Levitex explains 'Choosing the right pillow for you is about ensuring the best possible sleeping surface for an optimised sleep posture', and that means considering your neck and spine alignment.

Whatever position you sleep in, if you imagine a thin pipe or tube (I like to think of a hosepipe!) running from the base of your spine to the top of your head, you want that tube to be straight with no kinks around the neck area. This means you don't want a pillow that's too flat – which will mean your head dips down forming a kink in the tube – or too high – which will force your neck to arch upwards adding a different kink to the spinal pipe.

The position you sleep in will largely determine the type of pillow you need to keep your spine aligned nicely straight.

Side sleepers

Side sleeping is by far the most popular sleep position, which is why we've done extensive testing to find the very best pillow for side sleepers.

If you sleep on your side then you'll want a thicker pillow – or two thinner pillows – that lift your head enough to keep your spine and neck in alignment.

Finding the best pillows if you're a side sleeper can be a challenge as everyone’s shoulders are different widths – wider shoulders mean you'll need more pillow height to keep your neck straight once you're laid on your side – so sometimes it can take a little trial and error to get the correct height.

A boxwall or memory foam pillow can be a good bet here as they both provide a more structured pillow that offers height but prevents your head from sinking too much.

Back sleepers

If you sleep on your back you’ll be best suited to a low or mid-height pillow. Again it’s all about good alignment of your head and neck, without putting any uneccessary 'kinks' in that line that runs from the base of your spine to the crown of your head.

As a back sleeper you don’t want a pillow that forces the neck to arch too far upward as this will force your chin towards your chest and restrict your airway.

Front sleepers

Sleeping on your front is the position most frowned upon by osteopaths as unless you faceplant your pillow you're likely twisting your head to either side which isn't great for your spinal alignment and puts pressure on the neck. However, as a front sleeper myself I know it can be a hard habit to break!

Front sleepers will want a softer, thinner pillow that doesn’t lift the head too far from the bed.

If you're solely a front sleeper you'll also want to make sure you opt for a firmer mattress, as if you sink in too deep this will put more pressure on your neck.

Which filling is best for pillows?

Spend some time looking for a new pillow and you'll soon realise there are a whole host of pillow fillings available. From hollowfibre to goose down, synthetic to natural, the array of terms and materials can quickly become a little overwhelming. To help you get to grips with the basics, I've broken down the pros and cons of the most common pillow fillings below.

First up, it's synthetic fillings. These pillows are filled with manmade fibres, like polyester and polymide that are made from petroleum-based plastics. Confusingly many manufacturers 'invent' their own terminology to dress things up to sound a bit more fancy, but the basic synthetic options are hollowfibre, microfibre, and memory foam.

Hollowfibre – the cheapest pillows you can buy tend to be made of hollowfibre. Made of polyester wadding, a hollowfibre pillow is dense but lightweight. A hollowfibre pillow is affordable, easy to care for as it can generally be washed at high temperatures, and anti-allergenic, which makes it a popular choice for kid's bedding. However, over time, this pillow is most likely to flatten and become lumpy. Synthetics can also cause overheating and night sweats as the plastic polymer fibres aren't breathable and reflect body heat towards the sleeper, and neither production or disposal at the end of the pillow's life span (plastic is non-biodegradable) is good news from an environmental point of view.

Microfibre – the 'luxury' version of hollowfibre, a microfibre fill is made of much finer strands of polyester resulting in a very lightweight pillow with a, yes, more luxurious feel. Some compare microfibre to the feel of down, but it has the upside of not running the risk of animal cruelty. However, again, being made of synthetics, the environmental impact of production and disposal is a concern. Like hollow fibre, microfibre can also cause overheating.

Memory foam – synthetic, yet a very different beast to hollow fibre or microfibre, memory foam is a dense material that offers a much firmer sleep surface. Activated by body heat, memory foam has elastic qualities that help it to mould to your contours as you sleep. This can make it a good choice for back sleepers and those who suffer from neck pain as it ensures good support of the head and neck. However it tends to be expensive, and some can find it too hot. Like with all synthetics, there are also environmental concerns.

Then there are the more traditional, natural fillings to consider. These range from all types of feathers and down to wool filling.

Down – long thought of as the Holy Grail filling of all the best pillows, down creates the plump, squishy and super soft feel that we perhaps all associate with the classic pillow. This natural fill is also far more breathable than a synthetic option, making for a cooler sleep. However, sourced from either duck or goose on an industrial scale, the fill can raise concerns about animal cruelty. Down pillows also can't be washed, will need more plumping, and that luxury feel comes with a luxury price tag to match.

Feather and down – a more affordable alternative to pure down, a feather and down fill bulks out down's fine softness by adding some larger feathers into the mix. Goose feather and down tends to be the most luxurious mix, with duck feather and down the more affordable (yet often a little lumpier) alternative. Generally speaking, the more you spend on a feather and down pillow the better the quality, with some cheaper options resulting in escaped down and feathers that stick through the casing.

Wool – in my opinion, wool is a bit of a wonder fibre in terms of bedding fill. Insulating, breathable, temperature regulating, hypoallergenic, durable, a sustainable and renewable resource, and bio-degradable at the end of the product's lifespan, it ticks a whole lot of boxes when it comes to the best pillow fill choice. However, it is currently quite hard to come by except from at specialist retailers, and not all wool pillows can be washed, so it pays to double-check the manufacturer's care instructions.

Temperature regulation

Overheating is one of the most common reasons for disrupted sleep or night-time waking. If you regularly flip your pillow over at night looking for the cooler side, it’s likely you need a ‘cooler’ more breathable option.

Synthetic pillow casing and fill is usually the biggest culprit if you find your pillow gets too hot in the night. Made of plastic polymers, synthetics aren’t breathable – although manufacturers try to combat this by adding in ‘spaces’ between fibres to enable airflow – so the natural heat of your head is reflected back to you, leading to overheating or a sweaty head.

Opting for natural materials for the pillow casing and fill is the best bet for staying cool at night. Look for cotton, wool, feather, or down which are all far more breathable and so make the best pillows for those prone to overheating at night, delivering a far cooler sleep.

FAQs

What pillows do hotels use?

With down lauded as the ultimate luxury, many top-rated hotels will use down, or a feather-filled blend in their pillows. Down pillows are often also the best all-rounders when it comes to catering to a wide array of sleep positions. So while memory foam options are really good for the individual buyer, they aren't quite as versatile for multiple users.

For the full boutique feel, teaming one of the best pillows with one of the best duvets will ensure that what you're sleeping under feels just as luxurious as what you're sleeping on.

How often should you replace your pillows? 

To ensure continued support and hygiene, experts generally recommend replacing your pillows every one to two years. You can find out more detail in our guide to how often you should replace your pillow.

However, since you'll get up close and personal with your pillow every night, a regular wash can also be a good idea to ensure longevity. Our top tips for how to wash a pillow will make sure you don't damage it in the process.

If you have a feather and down pillow, this can be a little more difficult, but, our guide to can you wash a feather pillow explains all. And if you're wondering how often you should wash your pillows, experts say every three to six months.

How we test pillows

You'll find the general principles of how we review products at Ideal Home on our how we test page, however, what better way to test out a pillow than to lay your head down for a nap?

To find the best pillows for this round-up, I've tried and tested multiple pillows to find the very best night's sleep. Each pillow has been tested over multiple nights, and where possible, not just by myself but by a team of reviewers; from hot sleepers looking for breathability to those with neck pain or snoring issues, and a range of front, back, and side sleepers.

To earn a place on our shortlist, each pillow has to have impressed in terms of comfort and breathability, proved itself good value for money, achieved great customer feedback from online reviews, and, most importantly, delivered a great night's sleep.