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According To Experts, Here Are The Best Memory Foam Pillows
Patricia Lynn
08.27.21

Finding the right pillow can be downright exhausting. Our goal with this article is to help you take the guesswork out of finding the perfect pillow by putting popular styles to the test – in this study, we looked at over 50 memory foam pillows available, and evaluated them to find the best ones available today.

We evaluated pillows across a number of dimensions – price, durability, consumer reviews – and for different kinds of sleepers as well (stomach, back, side) to develop a comprehensive list of the best memory foam pillows available in 2020, based on your budget and preferences.

Before we dive into the specific product reviews, let’s discuss why you should consider a memory foam pillow. Memory foam pillows are typically better for providing support to your head and neck. Because of how the material is manufactured, these pillows don’t clump and do not require any fluffing, unlike Down and Fiberfill pillows. Furthermore, memory foam adapts to the shape of your body. Here are the general benefits of using (the right!) memory foam pillow:

  1. Improved spinal alignment
  2. Reduced snoring
  3. Improved hygiene compared to other pillow types
  4. Relieved pressure points in the neck, shoulder, and upper back
  5. Reduced / easier maintenance than other pillows
  6. Improved durability compared to other pillows

That being said, finding the right memory foam pillow can also be tricky and the right pillow for you is largely dependent on your sleep preferences. Typically, side sleepers will benefit from a thicker and firmer pillow, while back sleepers will benefit from slightly thinner pillows. A firmer memory foam benefits those of us who don’t frequently change position while we are sleeping while a softer, plusher pillow will benefit those of us who are a bit more restless when we sleep. Cervical pillows can also help people with neck pain – while other shapes suit people with other kinds of pain.

There are three primary types of memory foam:

  • Traditional memory foam
    • Entered the market in the mid-1990’s
    • Designed for cradling support to enhance circulation and decrease stress on your joints
    • Can cause discomfort due to excessive heat retention
  • Open cell memory foam
    • Designed to cater to consumers complaining of excessive heat retention in traditional memory foam
    • Responds to body temperature to help ensure you don’t get too hot, better air flow
    • Faster Response
  • Gel memory foam
    • Infused with gel beads to increase air flow and regulate temperature
    • Cooler than traditional memory foam

We kept all of these factors in mind as we evaluated the best memory foam pillows out there. So without further ado, here is our comprehensive list:

  1. Best overall memory foam pillow: The Dosaze Adjustable Pillow
  2. Budget memory foam pillow: Shredded Memory Foam Bed Pillow
  3. Cooling memory foam pillow: Layla Kapok Pillow
  4. High end memory foam pillow (if you want to treat yourself): TEMPUR-Cloud® Breeze Dual Cooling™ Pillow
  5. Memory foam pillow for side sleepers: Nest Bedding Easy Breather
  6. Memory foam pillow

1. The Best Overall Memory Foam Pillow – The Dosaze Adjustable Pillow, $79.99

After all of our research and testing, we found that this pillow is hands down the best memory foam pillow available. We found that the premium memory foam the most durable and most comfortable – it provided the overall best balance of support and comfort. It is a bit more expensive, but it is well worth it because of the quality and durability.

It is made of a gel infused and open cell memory foam (see photos below). In our testing, we found that this memory foam is cooler and more responsive than other memory foams on the market. This pillow is 100% Made in the USA, and you can definitely tell by the craftsmanship and overall quality of the product.

Furthermore, this pillow is built for back, side, and stomach sleepers – it’s 100% adjustable so you can add or remove fill to fit your sleep style and preferences. While it isn’t the only adjustable pillow on the market, it is the best – the memory foam is more responsive and cooler than other memory foams. We also love the feel of the cotton blend cover. It’s soft, cool, and just has a luxe feel to it.

It comes with a great 60-day satisfaction guarantee if somehow you do not love the product. However, we can guarantee that you will not be disappointed considering the many outstanding features it has to offer.

The Dosaze pillow is the best memory foam pillow on the market. You can even check out the Dosaze pillow reviews on the site itself, if you don’t believe us.

Dosaze
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Dosaze

2. Budget Memory Foam Pillow – 2-Pack Shredded Memory Foam Bed Pillow, $37.99

This is a great budget memory foam pillow option – it is made of 60% polyester and 40% bamboo. The shredded memory foam is infused with a cooling gel that will keep you cool the entire night. The cover is hypoallergenic and machine washable – this pillow is also great for back and side sleepers as well. The shredded memory foam won’t go flat like down or down alternative pillows will. You shouldn’t have an issue with this pillow for a few years.

However, the pillow does have kind of a strong smell (according to reviewers), that requires some time to get rid of.

Amazon
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Amazon

3. Budget Cooling Memory Foam Pillow – WEEKENDER Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow, $29.99

Reviewers agree that this pillow keeps you cool – when you put pressure from your head, it actually pushes cool air to you in a gentle and soft way. A lot of reviewers really do also say that this pillow reduces neck pain, so it has multiple benefits.

Many reviewers like the fact that pillow is soft in some places and firm in others, but others do not like that feature of the pillow. It’s not the most expensive pillow out on the market, so that is a benefit. However, it does not come with a sleep trial, so once you buy it, you are committed to it.

Amazon
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Amazon

4. Best Value Memory Foam Pillow – Cosy House Collection Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow, $47.95

This Cosy House collection pillow is a great, adjustable memory foam pillow. This luxury memory bamboo foam pillow allows you to adjust it so that it is ‘just right.’ However, in our experience, this process can be a bit cumbersome and the pillow is pretty difficult to wash. It’s great that this pillow is also hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant.

Amazon
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Amazon

5. Cooling Memory Foam Pillow –Layla Kapok Pillow, $99

This pillow has solid reviews, and the copper infused Kapok material claims to keep you cool throughout the night. In practice, it is a bit hit or miss. While the pillow definitely is not any warmer than most pillows, it is hard to tell whether it truly keeps you cool at night – just look at the reviews:

That being said, overall it does have nice reviews and is touted as a nice pillow. It could be worth trying as it claims to have a plush feel (from the Kapok fiber) while maintaining the support of memory foam.

Layla
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Layla

6. High-End Luxury Memory Foam Pillow If You Really Want To Treat Yourself – TEMPUR-Cloud® Breeze Dual Cooling™ Pillow, $169.00

This pillow is expensive, but it has earned our title of best luxury pillow because of its sophisticated design elements. It is made of lightweight Tempur memory foam, a material touted for its supposed contouring and pressure relieving abilities. In addition, each layer contains the tempur-breeze gel, designed to keep you cool throughout the night. It does have a five year manufacturer warranty – however, it does NOT come with a sleep trial like most other high end pillows do. This is kind of a concern, especially when you consider that you need to pay $169 dollars for it!

Tempur-Pedic
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Tempur-Pedic

7. Memory Foam Pillow for Side Sleepers – Nest Bedding Easy Breather, $99

This pillow has a soft and breathable cover filled with a supportive foam fill. The shredded memory foam relieved pressure points that build up in the neck and shoulders. Most consider this pillow to be a medium level of firmness, which tends to be the most popular level for most sleepers. It’s a good balance for people of various weight levels – another pro is that the loft is adjustable. In addition, it does sleep fairly cool because of the breathable cover and interior.

However, the pillow is a bit pricey and some reviewers have said that it is both a bit warm and that it flattens over time:

Nest Bedding
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Nest Bedding
Nest Bedding
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Nest Bedding
Nest Bedding
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Nest Bedding

8. Memory Foam Pillow for Side Sleepers who like resting their arm under their pillow – Drift Scrumptious Side Sleeper Pillow, $69.99

This pillow is designed for side sleepers who like to rest their arm under their pillow. The unique shape allows side sleepers to rest their hand under the pillow, for maximum comfort (if you sleep that way). The reviews are generally very positive on Amazon – a lot of people say that it is supportive and cushy at the same time, and mention that the shape really helps if you’re a side sleeper. However, as always, there are some negative reviews to be aware of – the issue is that some users state that the pillow starts to compress in the middle, and so it requires frequent refilling of the foam.

Amazon
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Amazon

9. Classic Memory Foam Pillow – Coop Home Goods Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow, $59.99

This pillow has an extremely high number of 5-star reviews, so it’s likely that it is a quality pillow. The best part about it is that it is adjustable, so you can adjust the amount of memory foam to your personal preference. There is a bit of a daily ‘fluff’ that is required to get the pillow to get the foam pieces to re-configure back into a full pillow shape. Otherwise, it tends to stay squished. This is a solid pillow all around, and while it isn’t the holy grail of memory foam pillows, it is a very good option.

We dived into some of the negative reviews and are a bit concerned with the overall durability of the pillow – there are a few reviews that state the pillow degraded after 1+ years of use:

Amazon
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Amazon
Amazon
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Amazon

10. Best Memory Foam Pillow For Athletes – Bear Pillow, $100

This pillow has a cool cover and mesh panels that allow heat to escape. It is a one-piece foam pillow that is perforated to maintain a neutral temperature. The Loft-X resembles memory foam in the way that it relieves pressure points. The material has latex-like resilience that makes it easier for you to change position – it also helps the pillow keep its shape over time.

The pillow does have a relatively high loft (5.5 inches), so it is probably better for side sleepers. It has a medium level of firmness. If you are a hot sleeper, this pillow could definitely be worth a try.

Bear
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Bear

That concludes our compilation of the best memory foam pillows available – we hope you learned a lot from reading this article and that you are better informed for your purchase.

There is no one-size fits all pillow, but hopefully this article can help you find the pillow that is right for you.

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