If you're not getting enough sleep or if your sleep quality seems low, there may be a few factors to blame. A better mattress may be the answer to your sleep woes, but a great pillow could also make a world of difference. You need to consider several factors to find the best pillow for your needs, including your sleeping position and your budget. Our sleep experts have five-plus years of hands-on (and heads-on) pillow testing, which we combined with brand and material knowledge, weeks of nightly testing and customer reviews to pick the best pillows for every sleeper. Whether you’re a side sleeper, hot sleeper, back sleeper, on a budget or have neck pain, we have a pillow for you.
What is the best overall pillow?
Sleep Number
Our thorough testing concluded that the Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow Ultimate is the best overall pillow. It includes three removable inserts that make the adjustable pillow comfortable for side, back, stomach and combination sleepers. The Sleep Number pillow is also hypoallergenic and made of memory foam and down-alternative fibers. While the price tag is hefty, look out for Sleep Number sales.
What We Updated: July 2025 We added direct recommendations in each listicle and a comparison table. Products on this list stayed the same.
Best pillows of 2025
Nasha Addarich Martinez/CNET Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow Ultimate Best overall pillow $100 at Sleep Number Why we like it: The Sleep Number Comfortfit Pillow Ultimate is an ultra-comfy pillow suitable for all sleeping positions. That's why it's our pick for the best overall pillow. With your choice of classic, curved or ultimate shape, it's the type of pillow everyone will love. It's also one of the best hypoallergenic pillows, with memory foam and premium down-alternative fibers on the inside. The cover is noticeably soft and breathable when you lie down on the Sleep Number Comfortfit Pillow. Who it's best for: What makes the Sleep Number Comfortfit Ultimate pillow unique is its three removable inserts, letting you tailor it to your needs. This makes the pillow ideal for all sleeping positions, especially those who aren’t sure what loft (pillow height) they prefer or need. Side sleepers should use two inserts; back sleepers are best suited with two or three inserts; and stomach sleepers should try one or two. Who shouldn’t get it: It is a more expensive pillow, coming in at about $100. I wouldn’t recommend this pillow to someone on a budget or someone who needs more than one pillow for their bed. Firmness : Adjustable
: Adjustable Materials : Memory foam
: Memory foam Machine-washable? : Cover only
: Cover only Hypoallergenic? : Not specified
... continue reading