Best Memory Foam Pillows

In the world of bedding, memory foam is everywhere, having made its way into just about every type of product in the sleep industry. But before we help you pick the best memory foam pillow, let’s go into a little of the material’s history and the reason for its popularity.

Memory foam — also called temper foam — is a unique, dense foam known for cushioning the body and relieving pressure. It was originally developed by NASA in 1966 to help absorb shock and increase protection and comfort in NASA’s airplane seats. It eventually became clear that it could make everyday sleep equally as comfortable.

Despite its many positive qualities, one type of memory foam pillow does not fit all. Memory foam is used in a variety of ways to fill pillows, including solid pieces molded into specific shapes or shredded pieces with a zipper to add and remove as much filling as desired.

After hours of research and testing (okay, snoozing), we’ve put together our list of the best memory foam pillows!

Our Top Picks for the Best Memory Foam Pillows

• Nolah Squishy Pillow – Editor’s Pick
• Pluto – Best Firm Memory Foam Pillow
• Layla Kapok – Best Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
• Pillow Cube – Best Memory Foam Pillow for Side Sleepers
• Beautyrest Absolute Rest Pillow – Best Memory Foam Pillow for Back Sleepers
• TEMPUR-Neck Pillow – Best Memory Foam Pillow for Neck Pain
• TEMPUR-Cloud Cooling Pro – Best Cooling Memory Foam Pillow
• Sutera – Best Contouring Memory Foam Pillow

Editor’s Pick – Nolah Squishy

Nolah Squishy Pillow

If you love that squishy, slow-moving feel of memory foam in your pillows, then the Nolah Squishy Pillows are for you. These cooling foam pillows come in a double pack and are super comfortable but equally supportive.

Mattress Clarity Score

4.50 / 5

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Who’s It For?

Memory foam has come a long way from its beginnings as cushioning for NASA spaceships — now we find it in our pillows! One of the best memory foam pillows out there comes from Nolah in the form of the Squishy pillow.

True to its name, the Squishy pillow is full of squishy, shredded memory foam that has that classic slow-moving feel. You’ll sink into this pillow and the foam will contour around your head.

Memory foam is known to trap heat, but Nolah has optimized this foam pillow for cooling! The foam is shredded, which allows air to flow through, thus preventing it from trapping heat. Better yet, this pillow comes with a breathable and moisture-wicking bamboo cover so you can sleep cool all night long.

What Makes the Nolah Squishy Pillow Stand Out?

• It is full of squishy, slow-moving foam that you can also take out to adjust the height. This makes it fit all three sleeping positions!
• It won’t trap heat and will let air flow through.
• Nolah sells this in a double pack, so you get two from the get go!

Read our full Nolah Squishy pillow review.

Best Firm – Pluto

Pluto Pillow

The Pluto pillow is customized for you based on your personal preferences and basic stats that are gathered through an online survey. Each pillow will have a solid foam core and a softer, plushy outer later for support and comfort.

Mattress Clarity Score

4.50 / 5

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Who’s It For?

Everyone has different preferences for their pillows. Some people just prefer a firmer pillow. The good news is, Pluto fully customizes a pillow to suit your needs. If it’s a firm pillow you want, a firm pillow you will get!

Regardless of your preferences, the construction for a Pluto pillow is relatively the same across the board. It features a plush down alternative that surrounds a solid memory foam core.

But Pluto uses information you provide, by way of a quiz, to give you a fully customizable experience. So, by letting Pluto know your firmness preference, you can get a firm pillow if that’s what you like.

What Makes the Pluto Pillow Stand Out?

• Because this pillow is customized to you, it fits whatever sleeping position and firmness preferences you may have.
• The solid memory foam core means no fluffing.
• It’s full of temperature regulating materials so it won’t trap heat.

Read our full Pluto pillow review.

Best Shredded Foam – Layla Kapok

Layla Kapok Pillow

The Layla Kapok pillow combines shredded foam and natural kapok tree fibers to give you a great balance of comfort and support. You can also take out some of this fill to adjust the height of the pillow to make it work for you.

Mattress Clarity Score

4.50 / 5

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Who’s It For?

One innovation made to foam that makes it feel super plush and gives it a ton of breathability is shredding it. One shredded foam pillow that stands above many others is the Layla Kapok.

This pillow features shredded foam and natural kapok tree fibers. This gives the pillow a soft, slow-moving feel while still being fairly supportive. You can take out this fill and adjust the pillow’s height to match your sleep position. Side sleepers should keep it relatively full, while back and stomach sleepers may want to remove some of the fill.

What Makes the Layla Kapok Pillow Stand Out?

• This pillow is full of shredded foam which lets air flow through easily.
• The outer cover is infused with copper to draw away body heat and keep you cool.
• The ability to remove fill means all three sleeping positions will find a comfortable height with this pillow.

Read our full Layla pillows review.

Best for Side Sleepers – Pillow Cube

Pillow Cube Sidekick

Side sleepers, are you looking for a pillow made just for you? Look no further than the Pillow Cube! This uniquely shaped pillow fits your "shoulder gap" (the space between your neck and your shoulder) perfectly! Get the best rest you can get with the Pillow Cube!

Mattress Clarity Score

4.90 / 5

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Who’s It For?

When it comes to sleeping on your side, your pillow needs to be tall enough to keep your head from craning too far up or down. Enter the Pillow Cube, the perfect pillow for side sleepers!

This pillow was designed specifically for side sleepers. Depending on your own height, this pillow will be either 5” or 6” tall, and it is a single, cube-shaped piece of polyurethane memory foam.

This pillow feels like classic, slow-moving memory foam, but because it is so tall, you’ll still get the support you need to keep your head in a neutral position while you sleep.

What Makes the Pillow Cube Stand Out?

• The unique shape is designed to fit your “shoulder gap,” or the space between your head, neck, and shoulder for a natural fit.
• There are different models of this pillow, like the longer, rectangular Side Sleeper Pro. You can also opt for the ice fabric pillowcase to keep you cool.
• It’s a pillow designed for side sleepers, by side sleepers!

Read our full Pillow Cube review.

Best for Back Sleepers – Beautyrest Absolute Rest

Beautyrest Absolute Rest Pillow

The Beautyrest Absolute Rest pillow is full of shredded foam that you can remove to adjust the height. This makes it a win for all sleeping positions. It also has a cooling cover to keep you cool.

Mattress Clarity Score

4.40 / 5

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Who’s It For?

Back sleepers need a pillow that combines comfort and support. The Absolute Rest pillow from Beautyrest is a great option for back sleepers.

It’s full of Diamond Luxe memory foam clusters, which lets this pillow contour to your neck and head. You also have the option to remove some of these foam clusters to adjust the height. Out of the box, it may be too tall for some back sleepers, so removing fill is recommended.

But, once you find the right height for you, you’ll find amazing neck support to keep you sleeping in a neutral position all night long.

What Makes the Absolute Rest Pillow Stand Out?

• You can take out the fill to find a height that works for back sleeping.
• It has a cool to the touch cover so you won’t overheat.
• The outer cover is machine-washable for easy care.

Full review to come!

Best for Neck Pain – TEMPUR-Neck

TEMPUR-Neck Pillow

The ergonomic shape to the TEMPUR-Neck pillow makes it an ideal pillow for anyone dealing with neck pain. This solid slab of memory foam will contour to your head and neck, giving you good support and will alleviate neck pain.

Mattress Clarity Score

3.90 / 5

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Who’s It For?

If you’re sleeping with the wrong pillow, chances are you’re dealing with neck pain. Luckily TEMPUR-Pedic’s designed an ergonomic pillow that can help alleviate neck pain: the TEMPUR-Neck pillow!

TEMPUR designed this pillow with a unique shape that contours to your head, neck, and shoulder. This unique shape will keep your head and neck in a proper, neutral alignment, which will keep you from developing neck pain.

This is also a solid piece of memory foam that is quite dense and firm. You’ll get a good amount of comfort, but won’t sink in like other foam pillows.

What Makes the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow Stand Out?

• The unique, ergonomic shape of this pillow keeps you sleeping in a neutral position to help with neck pain.
• It’s made of solid, firm memory foam that feels both soft and firm.
• It comes in three sizes to accommodate all body types.

See what we have to say about TEMPUR-Pedic’s most popular pillows.

Best Cooling – TEMPUR-Cloud Cooling Pro

TEMPUR-Cloud Cooling Pro Pillow

The TEMPUR-Cloud Cooling Pro encompasses height, support, and coolness all into a single pillow.

Mattress Clarity Score

3.90 / 5

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Who’s It For?

When memory foam was first introduced, a common problem was that it trapped heat. Innovations such as gel infusions or perforating the foam have been used to combat this. Another TEMPUR-Pedic pillow that can fight the heat is the TEMPUR-Cloud Cooling Pro.

This pillow features a stretchy, breathable outer cover. Underneath you’ll find a layer of cooling gel that surrounds the TEMPUR material foam. This layer of cooling gel will draw heat away from your head making this a great cooling pillow.

The presence of the TEMPUR material gives it that classic, quicksand, slow-moving feel that you normally associate with traditional memory foam.

What Makes the TEMPUR-Cloud Cooling Pro Stand Out?

• It has a breathable, washable cover for easy care and to let air escape.
• There are two loft options available making it a win for all sleeping positions.
• Heat retention is not a problem thanks to the cooling gel.

See what we have to say about TEMPUR-Pedic pillows.

Best Contouring – Sutera

Sutera Pillow

The Sutera pillow has a unique contoured shape that will keep your spine in its natural, curved state. All three sleeping positions will enjoy this pillow due to its soft foam feel and unique contoured shape.

Mattress Clarity Score

3.90 / 5

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Who’s It For?

Memory foam on its own is great because it can contour to your body. However, some pillows come to you in a unique, contoured shape to help provide pressure relief and make sleep more comfortable.

The Sutera pillow is a single piece of high-quality foam that has, as Sutera describes, a “butterfly” shape to it. This unique contoured shape is ergonomic and keeps your spine in its natural, curved shape no matter what position you sleep in (yes, even stomach sleepers can use this pillow!).

What Makes the Sutera Contouring Pillow Stand Out?

• The unique, ergonomic design should help you sleep comfortably and can help alleviate neck pain.
• It’s made of high-quality foam that keeps its shape and won’t go flat.
• You can find this pillow on Amazon making shipping a breeze!

Full review to come!

What to Consider When Buying a Memory Foam Pillow

There are many different types of foam pillows on the market. Let’s break down a few key considerations you should look at when shopping for a memory foam pillow!

Single Piece

As we’ve demonstrated above, not all foam pillows are made the same way! Many of them come in a single piece of foam that has been molded or cut. These type of foam pillows aren’t going to have an adjustable loft, but they’ll contour to your head, neck, and shoulder. It’s been my experience that single piece foam pillows are much firmer than shredded foam pillows.

Shredded

Speaking of, foam pillows can also come to you in tiny, shredded pieces. These pillows won’t trap as much heat because there is room for airflow. Shredded foam pillows typically come to you surrounded in an inner case underneath the outer cover. This makes cleaning the outer cover hassle free and keeps the foam contained. And often that inner case will have a zipper for you to take out or add in fill to adjust the loft of the pillow.

Loft

Loft refers to the height of a pillow, and it goes hand-in-hand with your sleeping position. Side sleepers need an especially tall memory foam pillow to keep their head and neck elevated and in line with their shoulder. Back sleepers can handle a more mid-height loft, while stomach sleepers need a low loft pillow. Typical heights range from 6″ to 3″.

Cooling Properties

Memory foam traps heat, plain and simple. However, there have been tons of cooling innovations made to foam to keep you cool while sleeping! Look for things such as gel infusions or perforated foam. Gel will draw heat away from your body, while perforations (typically seen in single-piece foam pillows) will allow for airflow.

Pressure Relief

One of the great things about memory foam is that it’s both soft and firm. Seems counter intuitive to say, but you can sink into memory foam and still get a good amount of support, too. This is a winning combination for relieving tension on your pressure points. And getting support from dense foam can help keep your head and neck in a neutral position while you sleep.

Quality Materials

It can be tempting to see a $10 pillow at any major retailer, but those often aren’t made with materials to last, meaning you’ll replace it far more often. It can be worth it to invest in your pillows! Look for things such as organic cotton covers and gel infused memory foam. Both will keep you cool at night!

If you’re looking for plush comfort, pillows that include both foam and fibers, like natural kapok fibers found in the Layla Kapok pillow, are a great way to go, too. They might cost more, but they’ll last you longer and give you better sleep!

Why Does Memory Foam Sleep Hot?

One of the chief complaints about memory foam in both mattresses and pillows is that the material tends to retain heat and can cause people to sleep hot. This usually happens later in the night, once a person has been sleeping in the bed for a while.

Companies use a variety of different techniques to help customers stay cool while using memory foam mattresses and pillows:

• Plant-based foams: Plant-based memory foam uses a portion of plant-based ingredients (typically soy).
• Gel-infused layers or pads: Adding a gel layer onto or into foam products may make them cooler, but there’s still some debate as to whether gel memory foam is effective.
• Phase Change Materials (PCM): Customers may see companies using Phase Change Materials alongside memory foam. PCMs are designed to absorb body heat that’s released during the night.
• Ventilated foam: Typically, solid pieces of molded memory foam will have small holes cut out to promote airflow.
• Shredded foam: Shoppers may see many types of shredded memory foam pillows on the market. The idea is that air will move between the foam pieces and keep the pillow from getting too hot.

Memory Foam Density: Does Density Matter?

Density does matter when it comes to memory foam, but it probably makes a bigger difference when shopping for a memory foam mattress rather than a memory foam pillow.

While it can get a little complicated, we have found (and studies show) that the higher the density, the more the following facts are true.

• The price goes up: More materials go into a higher density foam, so sleepers can almost always expect a correlation between density and price.
• Increased durability: Generally, the higher the density, the longer the pillow (or mattress) will last.
• Added support/pain relief: More density means more support. Higher-density foam does a better job of contouring to someone’s body. Those who have neck pain, for example, will want a higher density foam pillow.

Should I Worry about the Smell?

No matter the brand or how eco-friendly a product is, all memory foam is made from petrochemicals. As a result, customers may notice a slight chemical smell when unboxing the new memory foam pillow. This is known in the sleep industry as off-gassing.

Before enjoying the pillow overnight, it’s best to let it breathe in a ventilated space until the off-gassing smell is gone. While there is some debate on this topic, it’s generally believed that the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during the off-gassing should not impact a person’s health.

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