Types of pillows

1. down

Down is a luxurious, ultra-soft material from the belly of ducks and geese. Although the material is hypoallergenic, it cannot be used if you are allergic to ducks and geese. Down pillows require regular fluff, but they are very durable and malleable.

Down is a warm and comfortable pillow filler, especially on cold nights. Although many sleepers prefer down, down pillows are not supportive, unlike memory foam or latex. The company mixes down and regular feathers for more support, but the hybrid pillow is less soft and warm.

When looking at down pillows, consider their filling power, or the amount of down inside the pillow measured in cubic inches. A fill power of 600 or higher is ideal for high-quality, long-lasting down pillows. The downside to pillows with high filling is that they are very expensive, some costing $200 or more.

2. Feather

Feather is an affordable pillow filler compared to down. Feathers come from the topcoats of ducks and geese and they are a durable support material. On its own, feather pillows aren't very soft, so brands sometimes mix feathers with down for a more comfortable but still affordable pillow. Feathers clump together, so feather pillows need to be regularly fluffed to stay noble and comfortable. Also, feathers can pierce fabrics and sometimes even give off strange smells.

3. Down substitutes

If you are allergic to down, down substitutes or microfiber, this is a hypoallergenic material made from synthetic fibers such as polyester or filler. It's not as warm, soft or durable as down, but it's inexpensive, responsive and easy to maintain.

4. Memory foam

Memory foam pillows provide pain relief and fit your head and neck well. The material responds quickly to your movements and supports your curves. Some memory foam pillows emit a chemical odor called "out-gassing," but CertiPUR-US® certified foam minimizes this odor.

Memory foam pillows come in two variants: shredded and block. Shredded memory foam is shredded pieces of polyurethane, occasionally mixed with filler. Crushed foam pillows are malleable and soft, so you can adjust the pillow to fit any sleeping position, but they do require regular fluffing. Block memory foam is a solid piece of polyurethane. It is not clumpy like other pillows and has great support.

5. Latex

Latex foam is a soft, breathable and supportive padding. It provides excellent pressure point relief and resists dust mites, mold and mildew to keep your sleeping environment clean. Latex is available in shredded and block forms and has similar properties to shredded and block memory foam. However, if you are allergic to latex, this filling is not an option and you may prefer memory foam.

Natural latex is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. However, make sure your pillow is made of 100% natural latex as it is more durable, comfortable and safer for the environment than hybrid or synthetic latex.

6. Cotton

Cotton filler is a super common material in all kinds of bedding and fabrics because it's affordable and easy to maintain. The cotton is breathable and soft, but doesn't fit the head and neck well. The material loses its firmness and flattens over time, but frequent fluffing can prolong the life of the pillow. As cotton ages, it absorbs sweat and mildew easily.

7. Internal spring

Innerspring pillows consist of a steel spring inner layer and a memory foam or polyester outer layer. They're designed for extra head and neck support, and similar to innerspring mattresses, innerspring pillows have good airflow to keep you cool. Due to the complex structure, innerspring pillows are expensive.

8. Gel

The gel itself is not a separate material, but is layered or infused with another material, most commonly memory foam. The cooling sensation of the gel also reduces stress and can relieve neck pain. Gel-infused pillows generally have a consistent firmness, do not need to be fluffy, and are hypoallergenic.

9. Wool

Wool is a highly breathable, fluffy and soft filling. It comes in 100% wool or mixed with other fillings, but 100% wool is the fluffiest. Vegans may not be interested in buying wool products because wool comes from sheep. Wool pillows are not as popular as other types, mainly because they are more expensive and can only be dry cleaned.

10. Microbeads

Microbeads, also known as unexpanded polystyrene beads (EPS), are a soft, contoured pillow filler. Many horseshoe neck pillows contain microbeads because they provide excellent support when sleeping upright.

Microbeads are cool and breathable, but there is a risk of pillow tearing and beads splattering all over the place. Also, microbeads are not an environmentally friendly filling option, as the researchers estimate that polystyrene takes about 500 years to biodegrade.

11. Buckwheat

Buckwheat husks are a plant-based filler that is popular in Asian countries. Buckwheat pillows are similar to microbeads in feel and texture, but they biodegrade faster and are more durable. The buckwheat is soft and fits your head, but the pillows are noisy as the shells rub against each other and crunch.

12. Kapok

Kapok is the seed pod fluff from the kapok tree, native to tropical rain forests. The kapok pillow feels similar to down, tall, soft and light. Since kapok is made from trees, the filling is environmentally friendly and naturally biodegradable. It's also hypoallergenic, so allergy sufferers can rest in peace. However, kapok pillows are not popular because they are expensive to produce and flammable.

13. Water

While uncommon, a water pillow is a type of pillow that can be adjusted depending on the amount of water added to the pillow. The water pillow feels very consistent and doesn't sag or clump easily because you can add more water as needed.

The water pillow is a bit hard and does not fit the shape of the head and neck. Since they are just water, water pillows are hypoallergenic and do not require fluff, however, there is an additional risk of leaks soaking and damaging the mattress.

pillow size

The most common pillow size is the standard pillow, but this type of pillow is too small for larger beds and can cause unnecessary gaps between the pillows. Larger pillows, such as king-size and queen-size, are a better choice for larger mattress sizes.

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