15 best pillows of 2024 according to experts

Specifications:

1. Type: Memory foam.
2. Support level: Medium-firm.
3. Cover material: 61% polyester, 37% polyethylene and 1% elastane.
4. Machine washable? The cover is removable for washing at 60°C.
5. Sleep trial period? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: This is a go-to brand if you’re after the best memory foam pillow. Boasting state-of-the-art ergonomic design and innovative Tempur technology, this medium-firm pillow effortlessly moulds to the contours of your neck and shoulders, providing excellent support. You only need to look at its shaping to see how it gently cradles your head when you sleep – bliss! Back sleepers in particular will appreciate its ability to align the spine, promoting optimal posture for a truly restorative rest. It also helps your muscles to fully relax – say goodbye to niggling shoulder pain. Wrapped in sumptuously soft fabric, the pillow feels luxurious beyond its obvious therapeutic benefits, and its removable, washable cover adds a practical touch, making maintenance a breeze.

Specifications:

1. Type: Feather and down.
2. Support level: Soft.
3. Cover material: 330 thread count, 100% cotton.
4. Machine washable? Yes, at 40°C.
5. Sleep trial period? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? No.

Why we love it: This one brags a heavenly blend of sumptuous comfort and cradling support, and it is a dream to sink your tired head into. It’s crafted with a combination of 60% down and 40% feather, offering great loft and rebound – you'll be snoozing in a cloud of softness. The boxed design ensures even distribution of fillings night after night, while the double layer of piping keeps the natural materials securely in place, maintaining its plush profile. The pillow is encased in a 330 thread count, 100% cotton cover with satin piped detail, and it proves ideal for front, back, side and combination sleepers alike with its soft comfort grade delivering cushioned support throughout the night.

Specifications:

1. Type: Memory foam.
2. Support level: Medium-firm.
3. Cover material: Tencel polyester blend (50% poly / 50% Tencel lyocell).
4. Machine washable? Yes, at 40°C.
5. Sleep trial period? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? No.

Why we love it: Say hello to customised comfort! This smart memory foam pillow boasts three different configurations, catering to all body shapes and sizes and ensuring optimal support and alignment for a restful night’s kip. With its two removable layers, pillow-folding or stacking becomes a thing of the past, allowing you to effortlessly find your ideal pillow height to perfectly align your head, neck, and spine. The individual layers of cushioning measure 4cm and 8cm, or you can combine them for a luxurious 12cm height if you’re after that extra bit of elevation (think comfort for seasonal colds). Crafted from premium memory foam, this one guarantees firm support, night after night. The 3-in-1 pillow is enhanced with a cover made from plant-based Tencel fibres, and it offers cosy softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties for a blissfully comfortable and temperature-regulated sleep.

Specifications:

1. Type: Wool.
2. Support level: Choice of soft or medium.
3. Cover material: Organic cotton.
4. Machine washable? No, dry clean only.
5. Sleep trial period? 30 nights.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: Engineered to provide optimum support for a peaceful night’s slumber, the Floks Wool Pillow is crafted from premium British wool with an organic cotton casing. With its natural, thermo-regulating properties, this pillow ensures year-round comfort, catering to all seasons. Designed, manufactured, and finished in the UK, it boasts impeccable quality and attention to detail. Being naturally hypoallergenic, it proves ideal for those with asthma and allergies, while its breathable design promotes a healthier sleep environment all round by allowing moisture and air to flow freely. Available in two sizes, including a European-style square option, and with medium and soft fill options, this one’s also brilliantly versatile.

Specifications:

1. Type: Goose down.
2. Support level: Choice of soft-medium or medium-firm.
3. Cover material: 100% sateen cotton, 300 thread count.
4. Machine washable? Wash at 40° every 6-12 months.
5. Sleep trial period? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: This multi award-winning pillow boasts a unique construction, featuring a firm inner core of small feathers enveloped by a softer layer of down, all encased in a dust-mite proof 100% cotton casing with a high thread count. It’s crafted with only responsibly sourced Hungarian goose down and feather and comes in two sizes to suit your bed’s dimensions; choose standard or king. Add to that options for soft-medium or medium-firm support and you have permission to be picky with your pillow choice. It’s little wonder this one’s a go-to for top hotels looking for the most comfortable pillow for guests. Designed in the UK and constructed in Hungary using eco-friendly tech, it comes with various accreditations ensuring quality, hygiene, and sustainability. Comfort with a conscience.

Specifications:

1. Type: Cooling pillow.
2. Support level: Choice of soft or medium.
3. Cover material: Tempur Cloud SmartCool material.
4. Machine washable? Cover can be washed at 40°
5. Sleep trial period? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? No.

Why we love it: If you’re a prone to overheating, a cooling pillow can be a godsend. But this one's not just for hot sleepers. At the core of this high-tech number lies the brand’s revolutionary Tempur Adapt material, engineered to contour to your head and neck, ensuring comfort and continuous support throughout the night. The pillow boasts a washable cover embedded with SmartCool technology, promising a refreshing sensation as you rest. Designed for versatility, it accommodates all sleep positions – front, back, or side – adapting precisely to your shape. Choose between soft for enveloping cosiness or medium for an ideal balance of comfort and support. And with its 3-year guarantee, the pillow ensures quality craftsmanship and durability. It’s not cheap, but it will become your long-term sleep buddy.

Specifications:

1. Type: Microfibre.
2. Support level: Firm-firm.
3. Cover material: 230 thread count cotton.
4. Machine washable? Wash at 40°.
5. Sleep trial period? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? No.

Why we love it: There’s something about a European-style square pillow that feels extra extravagant, bringing boutique hotel vibes to the bedroom. Christy’s offering is crafted for relaxation and support with its perfectly plush yet firm composition that invites you to make the most of lazy Sunday morning lie-ins. Crafted in the UK, it features a smooth cotton casing and high-quality cluster fibre filling, providing a luxurious feel that’s not unlike traditional goose down. Hypoallergenic and easy to maintain, this pillow ensures both comfort and convenience. Whether you’re lounging or drifting off to sleep, the square pillow promises a cosy and restful experience, and adds a touch of luxury to your daily routine. And at £24, it’s also enticingly affordable.

Specifications:

1. Type: Memory foam + Aerocoil springs.
2. Support level: Adjustable to your liking.
3. Cover material: Cotton with body temperature-regulating Stratos technology.
4. Machine washable? Yes.
5. Sleep trial period? No, Simba's sleep trial doesn't apply to the brand's pillows.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: Side sleepers, assemble! This is a really good pillow: a high-quality, firmer take on the classic original Simba Hybrid Pillow and the perfect choice for side sleepers. Inside the pillow cover, you’ll find two super-soft Simba Renew cushions, a breathable mesh layer that ensures proper air circulation, and — most importantly — a hybrid layer of Simba Pure foam and tiny, titanium Aerocoil springs, designed to keep your head and neck perfectly supported. The most adjustable pillow that Simba has launched to date, it can also be configured in five different ways to become a firmer pillow. This one also boasts the classic temperature-regulating 100% cotton cover that Simba are famous for, so is super breathable.

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Specifications:

1. Type: Microfibre.
2. Support level: Adjustable support and shape pillow - taller for side sleepers, shorter for stomach sleepers etc.
3. Cover material: 100% cotton.
4. Machine washable? Yes.
5. Sleep trial? Yes — 30 nights.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: With a double inner layer that you can easily add to, this Emma pillow offers full adjustability, making it an excellent choice for families and couples with diverse sleeping preferences. If you prefer a pillow with a touch of bounce, this is the perfect option. Filled with special fibres resembling miniature 3D spirals, it guarantees the pillow swiftly regains its shape as soon as any pressure is lifted. Compared to the Emma Original pillow, this one is 100% washable — as opposed to just the cover on the previous model.

Specifications:

1. Type: Memory foam and non-toxic cooling gel.
2. Support level: Medium/firm.
3. Cover material: 98% polyester, 2% Polyamide.
4. Suitable for the washing machine? Outer cover only.
5. Sleep trial? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: Designed by sleep scientists, this sumptuous pillow is recommended by osteopaths, and has over 400 glowing testimonials. It’s sold in singles, pairs, and fours, and comes in three different sizes, and two different firmness options — so it’s a suitable pillow choice for 99% of sleepers and sleeping positions. Filled with a blend of 50% air blown fibre made from recycled plastic bottles, and 50% Oeko-Tex certified bamboo, it’s a sustainable choice — and even has a luxuriously soft and indulgent cover made from naturally moisture-wicking eucalyptus silk. And if you have a sensitive nose, you’ll be pleased to learn it’s naturally resistant to dust, dust-mites and mould.

Specifications:

1. Type: Memory foam and microfibre.
2. Support level: Adjustable.
3. Cover material: Bamboo viscose.
4. Suitable for the washing machine? Only the cover.
5. Sleep trial? Yes — 30 nights.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: This is one of the very few fully adjustable pillows currently on the market, and is filled with shredded memory foam that you can stuff and un-stuff as you please. The shredded memory foam is gel-infused — so it’s designed to mould to the shape of your head and neck, soothe pressure point pain, and keep you cool throughout the night. Plus, the bamboo viscose outer-shell also helps circulate airflow! Oh, and it’s also hypoallergenic, and repels common household allergens. I mean, is there anything it doesn’t do? There’s currently a great deal on, so buying a pair of pillows is only £99.

Specifications:

1. Type: Synthetic polyester.
2. Support level: Medium.
3. Cover material: 100% cotton.
4. Suitable for the washing machine? Yes.
5. Sleep trial? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? Even better - non-allergenic.

Why we love it: After the best budget pillows? You can’t go wrong with these Dorma full-forever pillows that don’t go flat thanks to their luxurious spiral fibre polyester filling. For added luxury, the cover is made from 100% cotton with a 223 thread count — so it’s super soft to the touch — and the piped edges have been double stitched to ensure maximum durability. Basically, they’re so plump and bouncy that if they brought out a collagen skincare range, we’d be the first in line to shop. Seriously! You also get two pillows in a pack, so they’re great value for money.

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Specifications:

1. Type: Wool.
2. Support level: Adjustable – just rearrange the wool fibres to your liking.
3. Cover material: Organic cotton.
4. Machine washable? Yes, on a wool cycle.
5. Sleep trial? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: This supportive pillow is crafted from natural wool, which proves a surprisingly good middle ground between soft down, and slightly firmer microfibre pillows. Easy to customise, you can adjust how firm and dense they are by reaching inside and tearing apart the wool pillow filling with your hands — but they’re also soft and supportive. Super easy to care for, you can even chuck the whole thing in the washing machine. Of course, one huge advantage of wool is it’s naturally hypoallergenic. Rumour has it, this is the only pillow to hold the Allergy UK Seal of Approval.

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Specifications:

1. Type: Hybrid polyester/hollowfibre + foam.
2. Support level: Medium.
3. Cover material: Polycotton.
4. Machine washable? No, hand wash only.
5. Sleep trial? Yes — 14-nights.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: Thoughtfully designed with an internal S-shaped core that helps elevate the head and neck and open up the airways, the Anti-Snore pillow has been proven to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnoea by 60%, according to the Sleep Apnoea Assocation. With anti-allergy fibres and a soft breathable cover, it really does put your respiration first, and could be a worthwhile gift for your partner if you’re prone to snoring – or indeed the other way round if you’re the long-suffering one on the receiving end.

Specifications:

1. Type: 100% fine microfibre.
2. Support level: Soft.
3. Cover material: Cotton.
4. Suitable for the washing machine? No.
5. Sleep trial? No.
6. Hypoallergenic? Yes.

Why we love it: For those who favour a softer touch rather than extra firmness, these Dusk pillows are designed to feel like down and seamlessly combine softness with head and neck support. Available in a soft, medium or firm, and standard or super king size, they are tailored to individuals in search of a luxurious, non-feather alternative, with each pillow generously filled with 100% fine microfibre. As a down alternative these make for an excellent choice for individuals with allergies to animal-derived materials, while still providing the luxurious feel of down. And as with all of Dusk's offering, the duo of pillows is purse-friendly, but still luxurious.