You spend 8 hours a day with your head on one: Finding the best memory foam pillow is no simple task. Why are memory foam pillows good for you? Well, memory foam is a popular choice because it cradles your head and neck, giving you support, pressure relief, and sometimes even neck pain relief. All memory foam is technically made of a “viscoelastic polyurethane” material, but you’ll find plenty of varieties ranging in firmness, height, cooling factors, and other special features.
It’s filled with shredded memory foam and microfiber clusters, so it’s an ideal balance of soft and firm. It even comes with extra stuffing so you can adjust it to your perfect height and it comes with a 10-day trial period so you can return it if you don’t love it, but based on the thousands of five-star ratings it received, we doubt you’ll want to part with it.
How to find the right memory foam pillow for you
- Sleeping position matters- Your head, neck, and spine should be aligned when you sleep, so when you lay your head on a pillow, it shouldn’t tilt in any direction. The best pillow for side sleepers is a higher, firm pillow; stomach sleepers need a thinner, soft one; and back sleepers need something in between.
- Look for cooling features- Memory foam has a bad rap for retaining heat. If you sleep hot, look for foam options with clusters or holes for airflow, or you can opt for pillows with gel or cooling fibers.
- Consider solid versus shredded foam- Solid foam is often firmer and intended for side or back sleepers, whereas shredded is plusher and the filling can be moved around with some fluffing.
- Check the cover- Unlike most down and fiberfill pillows, memory foam isn’t machine washable. Make sure to buy a pillow with a removable, washable cover if that matters to you. You can also use a pillow protector to keep it safe from spills and wear and tear.
One thing you may notice with a memory foam pillow is an odor when you first unbox it. This happens because the smells get trapped into the package right off the production line, so we recommend airing it out for at least a day before you sleep on it.
