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Best pillows for front, back and side sleepers

Discover the best pillows for front, back and side sleepers from Emma, Ikea, Silentnight, Simba, Slumberdown and more
Matt KnightResearcher/writer
Man waking up in bed

To find the best pillows we tested the most popular available from less than £20 to almost £100. These include pillow brands such as Emma, Ikea, Silentnight, Simba, Slumberdown and more. 

Each was rated by 50 testers, including back, front and side sleepers, for comfort, coolness, neck support and more. 

Two pillows stood out as the clear favourites for our testers, with back, front and side sleepers all agreeing that they were the most comfortable pillows. 

We tested box pillows. These are pillows with walled sides that come with a variety of fillings, including synthetic and memory foam. 

Box pillows are one of the most popular types of pillow, can often be highly customisable (firm to soft), and are often more expensive than regular pillows, so we wanted to see which ones were worth paying for. 

The best pillows

Only logged-in Which? members can view the pillow test results below. 

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PillowsCan you adjust firmness?Comfort on sideComfort on backComfort on frontWhere to buy
GoodGoodAverage
GoodGoodAverage
GoodGoodAverage
GoodGoodAverage
GoodGoodAverage
AverageAverageAverage
AverageAverageAverage

Date tested: February 2023. Pricing and availability last checked: 5 February 2024. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.

The pillows we tested

All the pillows we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best pillows from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendation below.

Brightr Eclipse Pillow

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Trial period: 30 nights

Need to know: Memory foam filling, removable and washable cover, carry bag

Emma Premium Microfibre Pillow

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Trial period: 30 nights

Need to know: Two pillows inside case with microfibre filling, removable and washable cover


See our reviews of the best eye masks for sleep and the best ear plugs for sleeping


Eve The Microfibre Shaper Pillow

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Trial period: Not stated

Need to know: Machine washable, polyester filling, outer cover is not removable

Ikea Mjolkklocka Pillow

Available from Ikea (£40)

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Trial period: Not stated

Need to know: Memory foam filling, removable and washable cover

Kally Sleep Adjustable Pillow

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Trial period: 14 nights

Need to know: Carry bag, four polyester pillows inside the case, removable and washable case

Nectar Premium Pillow (2 pack)

Nectar premium pillow

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Trial period: 365 nights

Need to know: Memory foam filling, removable and washable cover

Otty Deluxe Pillow

Available from Otty (£69.99)

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Trial period: 14 nights

Need to know: Bamboo memory foam with infused charcoal filling, removable washable cover

Panda Hybrid Bamboo Pillow

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Trial period: 30 nights

Need to know: Washable removable cover, charcoal memory foam filling, silky bamboo cover

Silentnight Airmax Super Support Pillow (2 pack)

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Trial period: Not stated

Need to know: Polyester filling, the cover can't be removed for washing

Simba Hybrid Pillow

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Trial period: 30 nights

Need to know: Washable removable cover, memory foam cube filling, pouch for storing spare foam, you can fine tune the firmness by removing or adding foam cubes

Slumberdown Box Edge Firm Pillow

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Trial period: Not stated

Need to know: Polyester filling, machine washable, the cover can't be removed


Looking to upgrade your mattress as well as your pillows? See our pick of the best mattresses to make sure you're buying the right one for you


How we tested pillows

  • Comfort: We recruited a small army of testers. Each tester laid on each pillow in turn to rate them individually for comfort when on their front, back and side. When we cross referenced the tester's sleeping preference (front, back or side), against their preferred pillow, we were pleased to discover that our two Best Buy pillows were the preferred pillow of any type of sleeper. 
  • Neck support: Our testers also rated each pillow for how well supported their neck felt when they were in their preferred sleeping position. 
  • Coolness: Each tester also rated each pillow for how cool it felt while they were lying on it. 
  • Customisation: Each pillow was rated for how easy it is to adjust the firmness. Our top pick can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of firmness.
  • Smell: Some pillows can have a slight odour that could disturb your night's sleep. We sniffed each pillow to find the ones that come out of their packaging whiff-free.

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What types of pillow are there?

There are three main traditional types of pillow: feather and down, hollowfibre/microfibre and memory foam. 

Box pillows, the type we tested, are a new-ish type that have quickly become popular due to the support that can be offered by their shape and the fact that many box pillows are customisable to exactly how you like to sleep. 

Feather and down pillows

The ratio of feather to down can vary greatly, although as a rule if it is sold as a ‘feather’ pillow, it must be made of at least 30% of the exterior feathers of the bird. Down pillows must be at least 70% down. 

If you go for a feather pillow you should find that you don’t need to turn the pillow over to the cold side as often, as they are cooler than both down and microfibre. Down retains more heat, and it doesn't have hard quills to poke through and spike into you, like feather pillows.

Pros

  • Remain supportive and comfortable longer than synthetic fillings,
  • Can be moulded to suit your neck
  • Longer lifespan than synthetic pillows - retain their support and height for longer
  • Mouldable soft
  • Ideal for snuggling into

Cons

  • Will need regular fluffing to retain their shape
  • You could find the crunching noise of a feather pillow grating
  • Needs to be cleaned professionally
  • A little more expensive than synthetic pillows and some types of feather and down, eg Hungarian Goose, can be very expensive 
  • Can smell a bit musky at first.
  • Feather and down aren't always extracted in a humane way - check with the manufacturer and retailer what their policy on ethical sourcing is before buying

Hollowfibre/microfibre pillows

An adequate basic option if you’re shopping on a budget and want to be able to clean your pillows at home.

Pros

  • Cheapest option
  • Can be washed at home (on a 30°C wash)
  • Available in hypoallergenic options

Cons

  • Not as breathable as others
  • Short lifespan - it's recommended that you replace them every few years

Memory foam pillows

Memory foam pillows are often sought out by sleepers  looking for strong support and neck pain relief, as the memory foam contours to your body.

  • Offer even support
  • Easy to take care of, like microfibre pillows
  • Durable and long-lasting

Cons

  • Can be too hot in summer
  • Some people simply don’t like the exceptionally dense and firm feel

Box pillows

Box pillows have walled sides and are increasingly popular. They can come with a variety of fillings including memory foam and synthetic fibres. 

Pros

  • Often provide good neck support
  • Some are customisable so you can adjust the height and firmness to exactly suit you

Cons

  • They can be pricier than other pillow types

Latex pillows

Latex pillows have a similar feel to memory foam pillows and also similarly, they will contour and spring back to support your neck. Latex pillows can often cost in excess of £100 though. However, there are still plenty of reasons to consider them.

Pros

  • Offer even support
  • Breathable and won’t cause overheating as memory foam pillows can
  • They’ll help you maintain a neutral temperature all night so you won't need to flip the pillow over to the cool side
  • Naturally hypoallergenic
  • They’re durable and hold their shape well, longer than any other type of filling
  • Naturally resistant to mould and dust mites

Cons

  • Most expensive option

Wool and cotton pillows

These are firm pillows that offer more support. 

Pros

  • Naturally hypoallergenic
  • Naturally resistant to mites and mould
  • Breathable and cool like latex pillows

Cons

  • Flatten quickly, need regularly re-shaping
  • Tend to be heavy
  • More expensive that synthetic pillows

Hypoallergenic and anti-allergy pillows

Hypoallergenic doesn't equal anti-allergy.

  • Hypoallergenic means that the actual material and filling of the pillow isn't made of a known potential allergen, such as feathers, wool or latex. But other allergens like dust mites can still develop on these types of pillow.
  • Anti-allergy means the filling and casing will have been treated to resist and combat the development of dust mites. You might find that this type of pillow is good for you if you have asthma, eczema or rhinitis, all of which could be exacerbated by allergens.

Dust mites can be killed however, and their allergens removed, by washing at temperatures of 60°C and above if your choice of pillow can withstand this