Given that we’ve finally cottoned on to the importance of a good night’s sleep for our health and wellbeing, it is staggering how many of us will put up with a pillow that is too flat, too tall, too soft or too hard. These days brands like Simba, Tempur and Panda all have different types of pillows for different sleeping positions. So there’s no excuse for hanging on to an uncomfortable pillow.
For this test we worked our way through a constant rotation of new pillows, looking for those that helped us sleep better. The first thing we learned is that material is a key factor. Broadly speaking, there are five types that you need to know about: washable cotton, luxurious down, memory foam for support, modern microfibre and hybrids of two or more of those.
See the FAQ at the bottom of this article for a full explanation of the pros and cons of each and help in finding the best pillow for all position types. Full reviews of all of our tried and tested pillows are also further down . But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five: Which are the best pillows in 2024? At a glance Best pillow overall – Simba Hybrid Best value pillow - DUSK duck feather and down pillow Best pillow for back sleepers - Emma Premium Microfibre Pillow Best pillow for front sleepers - Tempur Ombracio Memory Foam support pillow Best memory foam pillow – Panda London Why is it important to buy new pillows regularly? A flattened pillow from too much usage could put strain on your neck and shoulders, so experts recommend pillows should be replaced every two years.
Dust mites and other allergens can also accumulate in pillows if you neglect to wash and replace your pillows regularly. One study from the University of Manchester found that the average pillow that has been used for more than 18 months contains at least a million fungal spores. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product at the best price.
No manufacturer ever sees copy before publication and we do not accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. How we tested the best pillows We started by sleeping on each pillow for at least a week.
We were looking for comfort, support and a pillow that didn’t need constant plumping. I looked at how high-maintenance each was to look after, whether they were machine washable and how easy they were to keep fluffy. I also assessed types of fillings, cover materials of the pillows and whether they had a low or high level of firmness.
Some pillows have temperature regulation features like cooling gel or breathable mesh. We tested their cooling abilities on warmer nights for breathability as well as overall design. We rated each pillow on all these factors and combined our findings with insight from experts to decide our ranking.
Best pillows 1. Simba Hybrid pillow Currently £87.20, Simba Best overall, 10/10 We like: it’s completely customisable We don’t like: it’s expensive - although frequently discounted Fill type: microfibre Cover material: stratos (Simba’s take on temperature regulating cotton) Firmness level: soft to medium Sizes available: 45 x 70cm Recommended by Abigail Buchanan The fundamental beauty of the Simba Hybrid is simple: it’s height adjustable.
Whether you’re big or small, sleep on your side or your front, you can tweak its dimensions to perfectly fit your needs. All you have to do is unzip the casing and take out some of the hundreds of “open-cell” foam “nanocubes” that make up the core of the pillow. (These are surrounded by a plush-feeling microfibre layer, so you don’t feel like you’re sleeping on a stack of sugar cubes).
If – like me – you had always assumed that the plushest pillows had a natural down filling, the Simba Hybrid will prove you wrong. It feels as soft as the finest goose down but with the support of memory foam (although the Simba is clear that this isn’t a memory foam pillow per se). It never needs plumping, and I found it much better at keeping me cool than the natural-fill pillows I tried.
Given that the filling is synthetic, it is also suitable for people with allergies or sensitive skin. Its excellent temperature regulation is thanks to Simba’s Stratos technology, which is printed on one side of the pillow. It was inspired by Outlast, a material originally designed for space exploration (NASA uses it in space suits) to help regulate temperature by absorbing, storing and releasing heat.
Along with the mesh strip around the edge of the pillow to promote airflow, Stratos helps keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night. Having tested this pillow in a heatwave, I can confirm it works. (Simba’s Cooling Body Pillow, reviewed in our guide to the best pregnancy pillows , is also excellent in the heat.
) “We’ve got more and more research showing how temperature is really crucial to sleep disturbances and the ability to stay in sleep,” says sleep psychologist Hope Bastine. “We also see a correlation between nightmares and high body temperature. So keeping the body temperature quite low is important for staying in deep sleep as well as being comfortable.
” The only downside is the cost – the Simba Hybrid is a significant outlay although I feel confident in saying that it is worth every penny. 2. DUSK duck feather and down pillow Currently £25 for two, DUSK Best value pillow, 8/10 We like: the 100 per cent cotton casing, rare at this price point We don’t like: the soft version is excessively soft, better for front sleepers Fill type: duck feather and down Cover material: cotton Firmness level: soft to medium Sizes available: standard or super king Recommended by Abigail Buchanan As it’s made from 90 per cent duck feather and 10 per cent down, this is definitely a feather (rather than down) pillow.
However, it’s still well worth considering. It offers excellent value for money, has a crisp 100 per cent cotton casing and a soft, if slightly flat, filling. I opted for one each of the soft and medium pillows, and would say that the former is very soft indeed – perhaps best suited to back sleepers.
The medium filling was soft enough to give me that luxurious sinking feeling, but firm enough to offer some springy support. I also didn’t notice any feathers poking through the cover, which is another plus. 3.
The White Company luxury Hungarian goose down pillow £95, The White Company Best for luxurious feathers, 10/10 We like: it uses the highest quality of material We don’t like: there’s no firm option Fill type: feather and down Cover material: cotton Firmness level: soft or medium Sizes available: standard or super king Recommended by Abigail Buchanan These are the pillows you would find in my fantasy five-star hotel. Let’s start with the outer layer – made from 329-thread-count woven cotton jacquard, it is smooth and luxe-looking. The inside is a lightweight mixture of down and feather with a three-chamber construction: the outer filling is made from 90 per cent Hungarian goose down and 10 per cent fine Hungarian goose feather, and the inner core is filled with 85 per cent duck feather and 15 per cent duck down.
Those proportions have been formulated to offer a little more support than a pure down pillow while maintaining the marshmallow-like softness down is famed for. You can feel the difference – the result is a sumptuously soft pillow that doesn’t leave me with a sore neck or require too much plumping. Another issue I encountered with testing other down pillows is a strong, musty smell that lingers long after first use.
That didn’t apply to this one. I also noted that there is no sign of the feathers or down poking out through the tightly-woven cover. The White Company founder Chrissie Rucker says this pillow is her all-time favourite.
That could just be marketing spiel, of course – but this really does feel like quite a special pillow. I opted for ‘medium’ firmness, but you can choose between soft, medium or firm as suits. 4.
Soak & Sleep Hungarian goose down pillow £85, Soak & Sleep Best goose down pillow, 10/10 We like: it’s both squishy and firm enough for side and back sleepers We don’t like: it needs regular plumping to maintain the height Fill type: goose down Cover material: cotton Firmness level: soft, medium or firm Sizes available: standard or super king Recommended by Abigail Buchanan It’s hard not to wax lyrical about this pillow, which is the plumpest and most comfortable down I’ve ever slept on. It’s made from 90 per cent ethically sourced Hungarian goose down and 10 per cent feathers (scan the QR code on your pillow for a fully traceable guide to the manufacturer). Perhaps greedily, when shopping for a pillow I want both downy softness and enough support to sleep on my side.
Surely that’s not too much to ask? Soak & Sleep have risen to the challenge. The feathers are contained in a central core surrounded by down, which means it feels more supportive than competitors but still has that light, fluffy feel. A slightly more structured down pillow is the best of both worlds.
It’s available with soft, soft/medium or medium/firm fillings; I opted for medium and, like Goldilocks, found it was just right. The finish is very premium: it has a breathable (and anti-allergy) 280 thread count cover and piped edges, plus a unique side gusset that makes the pillow deeper and more comfortable. Though it’s by no means the cheapest pillow you can buy, I would be confident in saying the quality makes it good value for money.
5. Aeyla The Dual Pillow Currently £69, Aeyla Best pillow that retains its plumpness, 9/10 We like: the pillow within a pillow design means it doesn’t rely on air pockets for height We don’t like: it’s slightly too low for side sleepers Fill type: microfibre Cover material: cotton Firmness level: medium Sizes available: standard Reviewed by Rebecca Astill UK based Aeyla has developed quite a clever concept here: a pillow within a pillow. The main reason is that the plumpness actually lasts.
The filling is a vegan down-alternative made from microfibre. It’s encased in a cooling cotton cover. Let’s start with the positives.
The Dual Pillow treads the line perfectly between support and bounce, landing it neatly in the medium-firmness category. It actually stays plumped without any kneading and is absolutely perfect for when I sleep on my back. The pillow feels like hotel-grade quality and I have no doubt that it will last for a while.
I’m usually a side sleeper, however, and I didn’t quite find the loft to be high enough for me. I’m sure if I didn’t work on Telegraph Recommended and hadn’t tested dozens of pillows in the job, I’d love this pillow without qualms. Unfortunately I’m now a professional nitpicker.
This pillow ticks every box but height. For that reason, I prefer Aeyla’s more customisable Foamo pillow (£79) , which you can read about in my guide to the best pillows for side sleepers . 6.
Emma Premium Microfibre Pillow £109, Emma Best pillow for back sleepers, 9/10 We like: it’s soft, but with the support of a firm pillow We don’t like: it’s hard to tell which side is supposed to be firmer Fill type: microfibre Cover material: polyester Firmness level: soft Sizes available: standard Recommended by Rebecca Astill This Emma Premium Microfibre Pillow is soft - but that’s not to say it also doesn’t suit side sleepers, who are traditionally better suited to firmer pillows. With so much height, I found wherever I lay, I still felt the support of the double layered cushioning inside, and importantly my head stayed aligned with my body. The pillow casing contains two pillows inside, one of which is slightly firmer, and one slightly softer, meaning you can flip the cushion based on your preference.
Alternatively you can remove a pillow to adjust the firmness and height. In short, it’s completely adaptable to just about any sleeping type - other than perhaps those who really do favour a really firm pillow. I’ll admit, I’m usually a firm pillow fan myself, but the sheer height of this pillow means my neck does not feel stiff in the morning after a night sleeping on my side.
It’s one of the fluffiest down-alternative pillows you’ll find. 7. Tempur Ombracio Memory Foam support pillow £179, Tempur Best pillow for front sleepers, 9/10 We like: clever shape gives you somewhere to put your arms We don’t like: you’ll never find a pillowcase to fit Fill type: memory foam Cover material: polyester Firmness level: firm Sizes available: one star-shaped size Recommended by Lisa Markwell, editor, Telegraph Magazine After years of struggling to find the right pillow, one that is an odd shape and quite ‘strict’ seems like the worst possible idea, but I’ve been willing to try anything.
My husband tells me that I snore (impossible to believe) and I have only two sleeping modes: on my back with my arms above my head or on my front, tossing and turning with arms under a pillow. The Tempur Ombracio is specially designed and shaped for front sleepers, with a star-like shape and the distinctive dimpled texture of all Tempur products. After wondering how on earth to find a pillowcase to fit it - really not necessary - I settled down to test it out and.
.. eight hours later, I woke up.
Lying on my front with my face to one side usually means lots of pillow folding and plumping. But the Ombracio’s firm-but-fair construction supported my head correctly, with enough ‘give’ for comfort. It really did make a difference, while the star shape meant I could get my shoulders and neck into a good position.
I can see this working for people of differing sizes with different needs, far better than those ‘wave’ shape pillows I’ve tried before. Yes, it’s expensive and you’ll never find a pillowcase for it, but this is an investment in satisfying, snoreless sleep. (See our guide to the best anti-snore pillows for more options where that’s concerned.
) 8. Loaf Easy Kip Pillows £100 for two, Loaf Best fluffy pillow We like: the pillows fluff back into shape after every use We don’t like: they’re a little softer than ‘medium firm’, as claimed Fill type: goose feathers and down Cover material: 233 thread count cotton Fitmness level: medium firm Sizes available: standard Recommended by Rebecca Astill Although famed for its sofas, Loaf also dabbles in the world of bedding - and the premium market at that. Loaf’s Easy Kip Pillows are majoritively filled with goose feathers plus a small percentage of goose down.
for reference, down is more expensive and softer than feathers. I actually really liked the combination as I prefer a slightly firmer pillow, which was provided by the feathers. I wouldn’t quite stretch to calling it medium firm as Loaf suggests, but as a side sleeper who values a high loft, so long as I remember to plump the pillow before going to bed it’s adequate for me.
While I prefer plumping it before lying on the pillow for maximum comfort, I actually find this pillow holds its shape well - rare for a goose feather pillow. The impressive 233 thread count pillow covers are hypoallergenic and great for temperature regulation. A cosy, warm option overall that’s added a level of hotel quality to my bed.
9. Simba Stratos £60, Simba Best cooling pillow for summer, 8/10 We like : genuinely cool-to-the-touch surface We don’t like : it’s only on one side (reducing pillow-flipping opportunities) Fill type: synthetic fibre Cover material: cotton and ‘Stratos’ (see below ) Firmness level: medium soft Sizes available: 50x75cm Recommended by Simon Lewis We wouldn’t normally include the same brand twice, but Simba’s Stratos is sufficiently different from the Hybrid pillow at the top of this list to justify separate billing. It’s cheaper, for a start, but the main selling-point is the Stratos material used for the cover.
Identified by a slightly shiny hexagonal print, Stratos feels cool to the touch and effectively wicks away heat and sweat into the interior of the pillow, to be breathed out through the sides. We first came across it in their Summer Hybrid Duvet and were impressed with its temperature-regulating abilities, as well as Simba’s back-story about it being developed by Nasa. They seem to have dropped the astronaut talk, but they don’t really need it: Stratos works noticeably better than other summer pillows that rely on ‘cooling gels’, which we’ve never been convinced by.
The fibre filling, made of recycled plastic bottles, is also remarkably soft, light and fluffy, making this a good choice for those who don’t get on with either foam or feathers – although it’s a bit too soft for those who need a lot of head-support. Honourable mention here also goes to the Kally Sleep Cooling pillow , which was our summertime favourite until the Simba Stratos came along. Although the Kally has no special cooling cover material, its mesh air vents and extra-breathable foam filling make it a perfectly decent choice – especially when reduced to £30, as it often is.
10. Tempur Comfort Pillow Cloud £94, Tempur Best soft pillow, 9/10 We like: Tempur’s memory foam is far bouncier than others We don’t like: it’s almost too soft Fill type: memory foam Cover material: polyester Firmness level: soft Sizes available: standard Reviewed by Rebecca Astill The Tempur brand is, of course, very reputable – it was the first to bring memory foam to the mainstream. This Comfort model is designed to look more like a conventional pillow than Tempur’s other ones, like the Ombracio above, which is a plus.
It fits in a conventional pillow case and doesn’t look as clinical as some of the others. It’s dense and heavy – the material almost feels like a weighted blanket – but it’s actually among the softest of TEMPUR’s pillows, constructed from “Extra-Soft (ES) micro-cushions”. The Comfort Pillow Cloud is definitely soft, but provides much more support than other soft options.
Your head doesn’t collapse as you lay on it. Instead, the pillow gently moulds to the back of your head, sitting at the optimum height for pressure-relieving support. I’d recommend this to back sleepers who don’t require a high loft.
11. Panda London memory foam bamboo pillow Currently £38.21, Panda London Best memory foam pillow, 9/10 We like: the memory foam adapts to support you as you toss and turn in the night We don’t like: it’s smaller than the size of most pillow cases Fill type: memory foam Cover material: bamboo Firmness level: medium Sizes available: slightly shorter than standard (60cm) Recommended by Abigail Buchanan I liked sleeping on this pillow far more than I thought I would based on first appearances alone, as it is flat and – to be frank – a bit odd looking.
It is 60cm in length, so slightly shorter than the standard 70cm, which means it looks a little sad and small in my pillowcase. However, I rapidly changed my tune when I lay down on it. It is supremely supportive and comfortable once you lie down, and the hypoallergenic bamboo pillow cover is very soft to the touch.
A balance between good support and comfort is another element that Bastine outlines in explaining what makes a good pillow: “Sometimes you fall asleep on your side and wake up on your back. A good pillow should move to the way you’re lying. “Comfort and supporting your spine and the natural curvature of your spine and taking weight off the pressure points in your body is really crucial to creating a sense of weightlessness.
The less pain that you’re in, the less discomfort that you’re in, the more likely you are to be able to stay still, and staying still is crucial for good sleep quality.” The Panda pillow is lighter and softer-feeling than other memory foam models, which I like as it feels more like a pillow and less like a medical headrest. You still get individualised support from the memory foam that makes up the pillow’s core, which moulds to the shape of your head and neck.
Another criticism usually levelled at memory foam is that it retains too much heat, but this pillow felt supremely breathable – perhaps because of the bamboo cover. If you have sensitive skin, this could be the pillow for you, as it is OEKO-TEX certified free from irritants and chemicals, and the soft, smooth bamboo cover is naturally antimicrobial. Panda London is justifiably proud of its sustainability efforts: it uses organic bamboo from sustainable sources that is free from pesticides; and as well as using recycled and recyclable packaging, it offers a recycling programme and will collect your old Panda pillows free of charge.
It also offer a 30-night trial and 10-year warranty as standard. 12. Scooms Hungarian goose down pillow £95, Scooms Best anti-allergy pillow, 9/10 We like: it’s hypoallergenic We don’t like: it’s likely too firm for a lot of people Fill type: goose down Cover material: cotton Firmness level: medium Sizes available: standard or king size Recommended by Abigail Buchanan Sumptuously soft as they are, down-filled pillows can present a problem for allergy sufferers.
Scoom created this pillow with that in mind. It is made from a core of Hungarian goose feather sandwiched between chambers of goose down, but it is finished with a special sateen cotton cover that’s tightly woven and down and dust mite-proof to make it hypoallergenic. It is certified by the Nomite anti-allergen standard; you won’t get any pesky feathers poking out of this one.
It feels perfectly plush and deliciously soft while still supportive on my neck and shoulders, thanks to the feather content in its core. The inner core is made from 15 per cent down and 85 per cent feather, and it’s sandwiched between outer chambers of 90 per cent down and 10 per cent feather. Unlike other down and feather pillows, which tend to flatten out after a few nights’ sleep, this one required very little plumping.
13. Beaumont & Brown Savoy duck down pillow Currently £56, Beaumont Brown Best for duck down luxury, 9/10 We like: duck down offers a middle ground between cotton and goose down filling We don’t like: duck is marginally less soft than goose down Fill type: duck feather and duck down Cover material: cotton Firmness level: soft to medium Sizes available: standard, king size or square Recommended by Abigail Buchanan This boutique bedding business began by selling to luxury hotels before opening sales directly to consumers. While the most premium pillows traditionally use goose down, I was a huge fan of this squashy and supportive duck down pillow.
It has a ‘down surround’ design, meaning that the feathers (70 per cent of the inner) are held in a central chamber surrounded by down. This sounds simple but, in practice, makes a big difference – the feather core provides excellent head, neck and shoulder support but you still get the soft, luxurious feeling of a down pillow. I found it very difficult to decide which of the down pillows I preferred, as there really is a hair’s breadth between this one and the White Company or Scooms down pillows.
However, there is a marginal difference in softness between duck and goose down, with the latter winning out. 14. Woolroom deluxe washable wool pillow Currently £59.
49, WoolRoom Best wool pillow, 8/10 We like: the materials can all be traced back to their origins We don’t like: it felt too high on arrival (this can be customised) Fill type: wool Cover material: cotton and wool Firmness level: medium to firm Sizes available: standard Recommended by Simon Lewis Wool is hypoallergenic, naturally cooling and springy, which makes for quite a firm pillow. That’s perfect for side-sleepers who like height and support, but when it arrived my pillow was definitely too high. Luckily this is like the Simba, in that you can unzip the side and add or subtract the filling.
It was fun to pull out great handfuls of traceable British wool (from Rutland, since you ask). After a while I got it just right and the pillow stayed that way through weeks of use. It’s a good choice for side-sleepers, halfway between the lightness of goose-down and the solidity of memory foam.
You can wash the wool at 30 degrees in a netted bag using wool detergent, so it feels like a pretty sustainable choice too. 15. Hypnia Cloud Pillow Currently £49.
99, Hypnia Best high pillow, 7/10 We like : properly tall, ideal for those with wide shoulders We don’t like : obviously not ideal if you like a flatter pillow Fill type: hypoallergenic recycled hollowfibre Cover material: 233 thread-count percale cotton Firmness level: medium-firm Sizes available: single Recommended by Simon Lewis A lot of pillows describe themselves as cloud-like but this one justifies it better than most, being extremely light and really quite lofty – more of a cumulus than a stratus. If most pillows are too flat for you, this could be the one you’re looking for. It offers a lot of support, not through being solid but for the sheer amount of light, springy filling.
Similar to the Woolroom pillow above, I actually found it too high on arrival. You can remove filling from the Hypnia too, but it’s not quite as easy to separate the whisps of hollowfibre as it is to remove the wool from the Woolroom or the nanocubes from the Simba Hybrid. Once you do get it to the right height, its light weight and breathability do offer a very cool, calm night’s sleep.
But I think the main appeal of this remarkably high pillow will be to big and tall people who aren’t well served by the rest of the market. French makers Hypnia also sell a Premium version (actually the same price) which has box walls, preferred by many side-sleepers. Pillows FAQ What pillow is best for me? Microfibre or hybrid will be the best type of pillow for most people, but you can read the pros and cons of each popular type below.
Cotton : The basic pillow. Cotton-filled pillows are cheap and readily available – but they’re prone to absorbing heat and over time they flatten out to nothingness. Feather : A more luxurious pillow that tends to be squashy, light and comfortable, but they do tend to require daily plumping.
They’re obviously not vegan, if that matters to you. In addition, some people are allergic to feathers. Wool: An all natural material which is temperature regulating, breathable, hypoallergenic and resistant to the build-up of bacteria.
They are a sustainable option that supports the farming industry. Wool is biodegradable, too. Memory foam : Memory foam is designed to mould to the shape of your head, providing solid support all night long.
They’re also hypo-allergenic and don’t require washing. The trouble is that they’re very firm, heavy, and absorb heat during the night. Our advice is to only pick memory foam if you really want a firm, supportive pillow.
Hybrid: A hybrid pillow combines multiple fill types, the most popular combination being foam and microfibre. This way, you get the benefit of a foam structure to support your head, and fluffy fibres for softness. Microfibre : Microfibre pillows are soft and fluffy like feather, don’t clump, don’t trap perspiration or moisture, and aim to keep cool through the night.
However, microfibre can be expensive. Do I need to wash my pillows? Yes, at least every six months, because of the dead skin cells and bodily fluids that may accumulate in the pillow itself. Pillowcases should be washed every two weeks.
How do I wash my pillows? Wool, cotton fibre or synthetic microfibre-filled pillows can be machine washed with the rest of your bed linens. Some feather and down pillows can be machine-washed too, but some are professional-clean only. So do make sure to check the washing instructions when you get a new set.
For memory foam pillows, you should have to clean them less often anyway, as the material is naturally resistant to allergens and bacteria growth. But if you do spill something on one, just draw a bath, add some detergent and submerge the pillow, squeezing the water through it. Air dry or use a fan to speed up the process.
Never use a heater to dry memory foam as it’s a serious fire hazard. What pillows do they use in five-star hotels? You generally tend to find the best hotels plump for duck or goose down, since it’s incredibly soft and luxurious. Very good hotels will offer a range of pillows to suit your preference, though.
How to choose the best pillow for your sleep position While your weight, the width of of shoulders and any allergies (eg to feathers) will affect your choice, the most important factor is your sleeping position: Front sleepers , also called stomach sleepers, best suit a medium-firm or firm pillow with a low loft to ensure the spine is kept in alignment. Memory foam or hybrid pillows can provide that kind of support. Side sleepers require a pillow with a high loft and medium-firmness to avoid neck and shoulder pain caused by misalignment.
The aim is to fill the space between the shoulder and neck. Memory foam is a good option because it provides pressure relief for your shoulder but still supports your head. Back sleepers are the easiest to cater for in terms of pillows, because they can take softer surfaces like wool, cotton, feather and microfibre.
A soft or medium firmness is best as the head should be supported without arching too far forwards. View the latest Soak and Sleep and The White Company deals.
