Different Types of Pillows

Written by Natalie G., Writer

Our Testing Process

Here at Sleep Advisor, our Sleep Certified experts use a refined mattress and product testing process to give you unbiased product suggestions… Read our full product review process.

In This Article

If you’re on the lookout for a new pillow and aren’t well-versed in various pillow types, we’re here to assist you in your search.

»

That being said, there are so many pillow options out on the market, it can be hard to know which one to get. If you’re in search of a new pillow and are not as familiar with different pillow styles, we’re here to help you on your quest. In this article, we’ll go over 17 different types of pillows, including the pros and cons of each type. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of pillows so you can choose the type that is best suited for you with the ultimate goal of sleeping more soundly.

17 Types of Pillows

1. Down Pillows

Down^[1] is a soft, fluffy fiber usually found close to the skin on the chest of geese, ducks, or swans. This soft undercoating can be used to fill a pillow, sometimes combined with feathers and sometimes not. Down is considered a more high-end material and usually makes for softer, squishy pillows.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Moldable
• Soft
• Durable
• Good for stomach sleepers

Cons:

• Needs fluffing in order to not go completely flat
• More expensive
• Can cause allergies
• May not always be ethically sourced
• Minimal support for side and back sleeping

If this sounds like the right pillow for you, check out our list of the best down pillows.

2. Down Alternative Pillows

Down alternative pillows are typically filled with polyester that is designed to mimic the soft feeling of down pillows. These are a great budget-friendly alternative to down pillows. Some people are against the use of down pillows since the material comes from animals, so down alternative can be a great solution. Plus, they’re better for allergies than traditional down.

Down alternative pillows are common and easy to find. Like traditional down pillows, these are typically soft and flatter, making them ideal for many stomach sleepers.

Pros:

• More affordable than traditional down pillows
• Animal-free alternative to regular down
• Hypoallergenic
• Easily moldable
• Soft and lightweight
• Good for stomach sleepers

Cons:

• Can develop lumps
• Minimal support for side and back sleeping

3. Feather Pillows

Like down pillows, feather pillows come from geese or ducks. Whereas down is made from the fluffy feathers near the bird’s chest, feather pillows are made from the longer feathers from the bird’s wings and backs.

These pillows still feel soft and fluffy but are typically a bit firmer and will retain their shape longer than down pillows. If you’re allergic to down, be aware that many feather pillows have a small amount of down in them, so you’ll want to be sure of the pillow’s contents before purchasing.

Pros:

• Soft
• Lightweight
• Holds its shape better than down
• Moldable

Cons:

• Flattens easily
• Quills may poke out of the pillow
• Needs fluffing to maintain its shape
• Not as support as foam pillows

Learn more about the difference between down and feather pillows.

4. Cotton Pillow

Cotton is used a lot in bedding and even pillowcases, but it is less common in pillow filling. That’s because there are synthetic fibers that are less expensive to produce, but if you happen to be allergic to synthetics or want something more natural, cotton-filled pillows are a great option.

Cotton pillows tend to be naturally absorbent and breathable, which can make them an excellent choice for those who sleep hot. Additionally, if you experience allergies, cotton pillows are often hypoallergenic.

Pros:

• Breathable
• Organic options available
• Natural material
• Hypoallergenic
• Odorless

Cons:

• Can become lumpy
• May flatten over time

5. Latex Pillows

Latex is becoming more popular in the bedding world. That’s because it doesn’t retain heat, and it’s durable and supportive. Latex pillows can be natural or synthetic, though many eco-friendly brands opt for natural or organic latex.

Pros:

• Supportive
• Durable
• Cooling
• Natural latex is eco-friendly
• Moldable

Cons:

• May not work for those with latex allergies
• Expensive

If natural latex sounds like your kind of pillow, check out our list of the best latex pillows.

6. Memory Foam Pillows

There are a couple of different types of memory foam pillows: those made from one solid piece of foam, and those made from shredded or cubed memory foam.

Solid memory foam pillows are popular because they are both dense, supporting, and contouring, which should be helpful for optimal head and neck alignment. You also don’t typically need to re-fluff these pillows.

Pros:

• Durable
• Excellent contouring to the head and neck
• Good for neck pain relief
• No clumping
• No need to fluff

Cons:

• They can have a temporary off-gassing smell when unpackaged
• Can retain heat
• Usually not a good option for stomach sleepers
• Synthetic material

Keep reading to learn more about the best memory foam pillows of 2024.

7. Shredded Memory Foam Pillows

Shredded memory foam pillows are made from the same material as regular memory foam pillows, but unlike regular memory foam pillows, these use shredded pieces of memory foam.

Shredding the memory makes these pillows more moldable and breathable than traditional memory foam pillows. These pillows still have the nice contouring and support that regular memory foam pillows have and tend to be a great option for back and side sleepers.

Pros:

• Better airflow
• More moldable
• Good for back and side sleepers

Cons:

• Potential off-gassing
• Usually not great for stomach sleepers
• Synthetic material

8. Adjustable Pillows

Adjustable pillows are a great option for folks who aren’t sure exactly how firm or lofty they want their pillow to be. They’re usually filled with shredded memory foam, poly foam, or latex that you can remove or add back in until the pillow suits your preferences. However, there are some pillows that have a different adjustable design, such as side zippers designed to adjust the feel.

Adjustable pillows can also be helpful if you get your pillows as a set of two, and you have a partner with different needs.

Pros:

• Come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and fillings
• More versatility for different sleep positions
• Variety of firmness levels and lofts

Cons:

• Removing the filling might be messy
• Can take some experimenting to find your ideal pillow height and firmness
• You would need somewhere to store extra fill

9. Bamboo Pillows

Bamboo is a soft, cooling, antimicrobial, and sustainable material. These pillows usually feature bamboo as a fabric in the cover and/or shell, and the pillow’s filling is actually made of something else. If you’re buying a bamboo pillow for its sustainability, be sure to check its full list of materials.

Pros:

• Hypoallergenic
• Soft and breathable
• Antimicrobial
• Moisture-wicking
• Eco-friendly

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• Can have a chemical off-gassing smell, depending on the inner fill

If this sounds like the right pillow for you, check out our list of the best bamboo pillows.

10. Kapok Fiber Pillows

Kapok fiber comes from the inside of seed pods from the Silk Cotton Tree^[2]. When the fruits on these trees ripen, the kapok fibers naturally rain down to the ground, making these pillows a great option for eco-conscious shoppers.

Kapok fiber pillows feel similar to down pillows in that they’re soft, lightweight, buoyant, and need to be fluffed on occasion. Unlike down, though, kapok fiber is hypoallergenic.

Pros:

• Eco-friendly
• Hypoallergenic
• Soft, buoyant, and lightweight
• Naturally mold and mildew-resistant
• Easily moldable in shape

Cons:

• Needs to be fluffed
• Can be expensive
• More flammable than other pillow materials

If this sounds good to you, check out our review of the Layla pillow – a soft blend of kapok fiber and shredded foam.

11. Gel Pillows

Gel pillows are popular for their ability to keep sleepers cool at night since gel is a cooling material. Usually, these pillows have gel infused into memory foam. This is because memory foam tends to run hot, allowing people the benefits of memory foam without the heat retention.

Pros:

• No fluffing needed
• Pressure-relieving
• Good for cooling
• Usually combined with memory foam

Cons:

• Synthetic pillows
• Not usually great for stomach sleepers because of the foam

If you tend to sleep hot, check out our list of the best gel pillows.

12. Buckwheat Pillows

Buckwheat pillows originated in Japan about 600 years ago^[3] and have started gaining popularity in Western cultures. Contrary to the name, buckwheat is actually not a type of wheat but is a “pseudocereal,” a type of grain that doesn’t grow on grass. Quinoa is another example of this sort of grain.

Pillows filled with buckwheat use the hard outer shell of the grain that protects the buckwheat seed. These pillows are breathable, hypoallergenic, and mold to the head and neck easily.

Pros:

• Hypoallergenic
• Breathable
• Natural
• Supportive
• Moldable

Cons:

• Can make noise when moving around
• Too firm for some sleepers
• Can feel crunchy
• Heavier than other pillows

If this sounds good to you, check out our list of the best buckwheat pillows.

13. Polyester Pillows

Polyester pillows are filled with polyester fiberfill, also called poly fill. Polyester is a synthetic fiber originally made from petroleum^[4], a nonrenewable resource. It is inexpensive to produce, which makes it the most widely used fiber in the world, which also means that polyester pillows are less expensive than other types of pillows that use natural fibers.

Additionally, since polyester pillows come in a variety of firmness levels, shapes, and sizes, they are typically well-suited for many types of body types and preferred sleep positions.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Hypoallergenic
• Lightweight
• Easily moldable

Cons:

• Can develop lumps
• Not breathable
• Not durable
• Not environmentally-friendly

14. Microbead Pillows

Microbeads are small synthetic balls made from plastic. You may be familiar with them in products like U-shaped travel pillows, padded trays, drawing pads, and even some stuffed animals. These microbeads feel similar to buckwheat, in that they’re easily moldable, relatively firm, breathable, cooling, and dense. However, unlike buckwheat, this is a synthetic material.

Pros:

• Malleable
• Breathable
• Cooling
• Firm
• Supportive

Cons:

• Not environmentally-friendly
• Messy if microbeads escape their covering
• Not as durable
• Can retain heat
• Can have a chemical off-gassing smell

15. Body Pillow

Body pillows support your entire body rather than just your head. They are long and narrow in shape and run the length of your body. This design can be comfortable and supportive, especially when sleeping on your side. This way, you can have something in between your knees, nestled between your arms, and beneath your head.

These pillows can be filled with a variety of materials, including organic or synthetic materials, and can come in a variety of firmness levels. Pregnant sleepers can often benefit from a body pillow.

Pros:

• They’re versatile
• Made from a variety of materials
• Different firmness levels
• Can be helpful for pregnant sleepers

Cons:

• Take up a significant amount of space on the bed
• Can be expensive
• Cumbersome
• Can create extra space between you and your partner

16. Wool Pillows

Most of us know wool for its use in clothing or even bedding, but we probably don’t think of it as pillow stuffing. This natural fiber shorn from sheep makes for a thermoregulating pillow stuffing, helping to keep you warm when it’s cool or keep you cool when it’s warm.

They’re a good choice for those with allergies as they’re hypoallergenic. While they tend to start out fluffy, they can flatten, which means they could be a good fit for stomach sleepers since they need a thinner pillow.

Pros:

• Eco-friendly
• Helps regulate your body temperature
• Natural flame retardant
• Naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial
• Dust-mite resistant

Cons:

• Dry clean only
• Can absorb odors
• Flatten over time
• Not vegan

17. Water Pillows

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you probably remember waterbeds. Well, a water pillow is the very same concept, but in a smaller form. The point of this is that it maintains its consistency no matter how many times you lie on it, and it cradles to the shape of your head. They tend to feel firm and supportive, rather than soft or especially cushioning.

Pros:

• Conform to your neck and head
• No need to fluff
• Hypoallergenic
• They can be adjustable

Cons:

• Leaks can be messy and they can possibly damage your mattress
• May be too firm for some sleepers
• May make a sloshing noise when you move