The best pillows for a good night's sleep after a doomscrolling session

We’re here to help you find the best pillow for optimal comfort, support, and sleep style.
By Miller Kern  on 
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Overview

Best High Loft Pillow

Layla Kapok Pillow

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Best For Side Sleepers

Sleep Number L-shaped pillow

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Best For Durability

Tuft & Needle Pillow

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Best Hybrid Option

Leesa Hybrid Pillow

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Best For Stomach Sleepers

Blissbury thin memory foam pillow

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Best For Sustainability

Avocado Green pillow

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Best For Head, Neck, And Shoulder Support

Uttu adjustable memory foam pillow

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Getting more sleep may be one of your top 2023 resolutions, but achieving a good night’s sleep may be a little bit harder than you'd think. Busy schedules, frequent stress, and bad rest environments can be culprits for sleep troubles. Poor sleep is a common issue, too. According to the American Sleep Association, 50 to 70 million U.S. adults have a sleep disorder.

Plus, spending all day with your neck bent over your phone as you doomscroll through Twitter can take a serious toll on your general comfort level (and mental health). At the end of the day, you want a nice, comfortable pillow to ease that "tech neck." If your pillows aren't upping your comfort or helping you get a good night's sleep, it might be time for an upgrade.

Some pillows have some not-so-basic features, including hypoallergenic materials, anti-wicking fabrics, and memory foam technologies for head, neck, and shoulder support. (Gone are the days of a simple feather pillow or down pillow as your only choice — and that's a good thing.) But with so many options, it can be hard to find the right fit. Before you buy a pillow, there are a few things you might want to consider.

Bed size

Whether you have a twin, full, queen, or king sleeping arrangement, make sure a pillow complements the size of your bed. You don’t want a pillow that will get lost in a mountain of sheets or take up too much space. Most pillows come in multiple sizes, so check size compatibility first before you make a decision.

Sleeping position

Are you more of a back, side, or stomach sleeper? Keep your sleep style in mind when you’re looking for a pillow. Some pillows vary when it comes to firmness, so you want to be comfortable and pain-free while you rest.

Body support

If you have head, neck, shoulder, or back pain, you’ll want to opt for a pillow that will provide ample support and alleviate pressure. Steer clear of pillows that are too soft, because they could cause more aches. You might want to speak with a physician before choosing a pillow if you have serious pain.

Pillow materials

Bamboo-derived rayon, memory foam, and down are common materials that you’ll find in pillows. If you’re considering a particular brand, check to see if their products have hypoallergenic features. If your pillow resists common allergens, including dust mites and mold, you’ll most likely have an easier time breathing and sleeping in your room. Plus, some pillows are made with sustainable materials, so that’s a plus for your wellness and the environment.

Maintenance

Pillows are supposed to be convenient solutions for sleep troubles. If a pillow isn’t easy to clean, skip it and look at your other options. You’ll want to opt for a pillow that’s spot-cleanable or laundry-friendly for stress-free maintenance. It also helps to find a pillow with a good warranty policy or guarantee policy, however not all brands offer them.

Pillow type

Do you like the firmness you get from memory foam? Or do you want something squishy with a lot of give? There are also options for something in between, like shredded memory foam, not to mention high-tech gels and alternative pillow filler options, like bamboo.

Whether you sleep on your back, on your side, or on your stomach, there’s a pillow out there to help you sleep better. Here are our top picks.

Coop Home Goods’ Eden shredded memory foam pillow is a top pick for breathability, comfort, and design. Its fabric, which is made of bamboo-derived viscose rayon and polyester, increases breathability and its memory foam is shredded to prevent clumping and provide you with better air circulation. Plus, a cooling gel memory foam keeps you at a comfortable temperature, so you won’t sweat or feel too hot in bed. 

You’ll also get proper neck support while you sleep as the edges of the pillow slope together and fill gets pushed out to the area under your neck to keep you cozy and pain-free. Plus, the pillow's adjustable design features an outer cover and a zippered liner, so you can add or remove fill from the pillow to accommodate your favorite sleep position, whether you're a back, side, or stomach sleeper.

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Some pillows aren't nearly tall enough for necks with serious wear and tear. Coming in at a hefty eight inches, the Layla Kapok is stuffed to the brim with a promising combo of filling.

On to the real pressing question: WTF is kapok? Sustainably derived from the seed pods of tropical kapok trees, think of kapok as a silkier, airier cotton with a little more buoyancy than down or down alternative. In conjunction with the shredded foam, the Layla pillow offers a denser feel than memory foam and a balanced shape that keeps your head from sinking into the middle. 

Despite resembling a cozy quilt, the copper-infused cover will be a godsend for anyone who gets sweaty during sleep. CuTEC is a performance fabric made with cotton-infused yarn that pulls heat away from your face.

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The Sleep Number L-shaped pillow was made for side sleepers. Its angled shape provides comfort in multiple positions and features an arch where your shoulder fits snugly while your head rests on the pillow. The funky shape might not look amazing on your bed, but it'll feel great while you sleep. Because it's shaped like an L, one side of this pillow is longer than the other, which makes it ideal for snuggling. And it's firm enough to support your head. Both the down alternative insert and the removable cover are machine washable. 

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Much like the Tuft & Needle mattresses, the Tuft & Needle pillow comes filled with the same innovative Adaptive Foam that made the bed-in-a-box brand a success. The specialized foam pairs the contouring benefits of memory foam with enough bounce-back to last for the long haul. We’ve all been there: You get the perfect pillow, only to wake up to find the contents of your pillow taking on a permanently indented shape after just a few weeks of counting sheep. 

Because of its soft yet supportive foam core, the Tuft & Needle pillow held up in a lab simulation putting it through 10 years of use. (I mean, can you even imagine having the same pillow for a decade?) Since it comes with a washable plush cover, you can keep things germ-free and comfy for years to come. Tuft & Needle’s pillow is best suited for people who tend to sleep on their side or back, so if you’re a stomach sleeper you’ll probably want to pass. 

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The Leesa mattress is one of our top mattress picks, which makes it no surprise the brand’s pillow ranks just as impressively. The Leesa Hybrid pillow features a reversible design with a quilted, soft, down-like top and a cooling, memory foam gel on the bottom. Essentially, you’re getting two pillows in one — a fluffy, traditional pillow and cooling gel pillow — thanks to the clever hybrid design. So, if you’re someone who tends to heat up as you sleep, switching to the cooling side will offer sweet relief. 

Stomach sleepers may want to skip this one since it’s a bit more elevated, making it better suited for those who tend to sleep on their side or back — though it does have a removable insert to make it a bit thinner. 

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Stomach sleepers don't have to worry about neck strain with the Blissbury thin pillow, which is only 2.6 inches high. It's a nice in-between of resting your head directly on the mattress and a fluffy pillow that makes you crane your neck at a weird angle. The gel-infused memory foam has ventilation holes to keep you cool as you sleep. Plus, the pillow even comes with a carrying bag so you can take it with you when you travel if fluffy hotel pillows just don't cut it when you're a stomach sleeper.

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Reducing your carbon footprint and achieving a good night’s sleep go hand-in-hand with the Avocado Green pillow. The pillow has three key materials: certified organic cotton, kapok fiber, and natural latex. Latex rubber ribbons make this pillow super durable and help you stay at a comfortable temperature. Kapok fiber, a sustainable alternative to conventional down, is hypoallergenic and conforms with your body. You can take out the fill as well to customize the firmness of the pillow. Certified organic cotton wicks moisture too, so you won’t have to worry about sweating or overheating in bed. 

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Uttu adjustable memory foam pillow

Uttu adjustable memory foam pillow

Best For Head, Neck, And Shoulder Support

Uttu’s adjustable memory foam pillow can help you keep head, neck, and shoulder pain at bay and catch up on some ZZZs. Regardless of your preferred sleep position, this pillow’s adjustable height design allows you to customize firmness. You can remove the middle layer or add it to get the comfort you need on your back, side, or stomach. The pillow won’t lose its shape and conforms to the natural curve of your body for optimal support. It helps minimize neck pain, decrease shoulder stiffness, and promotes proper spine alignment. Plus, it’s made with hypoallergenic materials, including bamboo fiber and polyester, so you won’t have congestion while you sleep.

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Good pillows can run up a pretty high price tag, but the Beckham Hotel Collection gel pillow comes in a set of two at a lower cost than a single ~luxury~ pillow. These pillows offer medium-level support, so you’ll avoid any neck strain while still getting enough cushion for a good night’s sleep thanks to a poly-gel fiber blend filling. Unlike memory foam pillows, the Beckham Hotel Collection’s gel design ensures a flexible level of support, without causing the weird, uncomfortable forms that often start to take shape after a few weeks of laying your head down on memory foam. They boast a dust, mite, and mildew resistant material, plus they're allergen and chemical-free so those with sensitivities can breathe easier. 

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Topics Health

woman with short blonde hair smilling
Miller Kern
Deputy Editor, Shopping and Reviews

Based in New York City, Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor, Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, and deals about tech products including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She has five years of experience writing buying guides, gift guides, and deals, and covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.


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