A supportive and comfortable mattress is crucial to a good night’s sleep, but you can’t underestimate the importance of having the right pillow. It’s all too easy to choose the wrong one – too flat, too hot, or too lumpy – which can contribute to sweaty nights and, at worst, issues like jaw pain and shoulder problems.
A key factor when choosing a pillow is the loft (the height of the pillow). This should work with your sleeping position, keeping your spine properly aligned. It’s recommended that side sleepers go for a thicker pillow, as these fill the space between the ear and the bed, while front sleepers should use a flatter pillow, and back sleepers something in the middle.
While your pillow won’t be a magic solution for sleep, explains sleep physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski, it “can influence comfort and how supported your body feels during the night”, and it will “help your head and neck stay aligned so you are not distracted by aches or tension”. That’s why I love Simba’s hybrid pillow. Taking the top spot in this review, it contains adjustable foam cubes, so you can achieve the right loft for you.
But it’s not the only option. Every pillow in this review has been rigorously tested, and I’ve found options for every kind of sleeper. Below, there are options for hypoallergenic pillows, cooling pillows, and pillows to ease neck pain.
How I tested
These pillows were tested for weeks in a real bedroom, not a lab. For this guide, I assessed against control pillows (a standard hollowfibre) to put things such as contouring and cooling claims in context. My assessment considered the following factors:
- Comfort: I paid close attention to how easy it was to fall asleep, and the level of loft (height), sink and overall comfort of the pillow throughout the night. I ran multi-night trials with logs capturing pressure relief, flip frequency, heat build-up, wake-ups, and any next-morning neck, shoulder, or jaw issues. I aired foam cores for off‑gassing and assessed adjustability. Those with an adjustable loft received bonus points.
- Support: Equally important, I examined firmness and the loft. Softer pillows, such as those filled with down, tend to be less supportive, but you want your pillow to be soft enough that it’s still comfortable. I also assessed how my neck and shoulders felt in the morning.
- Temperature regulation: The filling and cover of a pillow can have an effect on how cool you feel during the night, so I examined whether I felt cool or overheated.
- Value for money: I weighed up overall quality and price, too. Indicators of quality were things such as the materials used, the level of rebound after eight‑hour stretches, and the durability of seams and zips.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest is The Independent’s product reviews section, where a team of experts tests sleep-related items over weeks, months or even years. IndyBest pros have tested everything from the best mattresses to the best duvets, and from top-rated silk pillowcases to the best mattress toppers. Their wealth of information and expert insights guide the product selection and testing process.
Caroline Preece is an expert product tester and journalist with years of experience. She specialises in home and lifestyle topics, particularly sleep, such as her in-depth tests of the best cooling pillows, electric blankets, and sunrise alarm clocks. She knows exactly how to assess sleep products for quality and value for money.
The best pillows for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Simba hybrid pillow: £109, Simbasleep.com
- Best budget buy – Slumberdown memory foam plus pillow: £22.60, Slumberdown.co.uk
- Best for side sleepers – Panda hybrid bamboo pillow: £89.95, Pandalondon.com
- Best for pressure relief – Tempur cloud smartcool pillows: £149, Tempur.com
Simba hybrid pillow
Best: Pillow overall
Fill/type: Adjustable foam cubes, polyester fibres
Firmness: Adjustable (roughly medium to firm)
Loft/height: Adjustable
Dimensions: 70cm x 45cm
Cover material: Cotton
Cooling/ventilation: Cool-touch face and breathable mesh border
Washability: Cover machine-washable; cubes not machine-washable
Why we love it
- Truly adjustable loft and firmness via nanocubes
- Cool-touch side and mesh perimeter
- Washable cover with sturdy zips
- Adapts well to side, back and even some front sleepers
Take note
- Expensive
- Inner foam cubes aren’t machine‑washable
After several nights of use, Simba’s hybrid pillow emerged as the most adaptable, consistently comfortable pillow on test. What makes it a winner is its “nanocube” fill – instead of vague “adjustable” claims, you can genuinely fine-tune loft and firmness to your liking, by adding or removing the small foam cubes.
You can then store the overflow in the pouch provided. As a side sleeper, my sweet spot came after I removed a couple of handfuls, which eliminated the slight neck stiffness I’ve experienced when testing denser pillows.
The cooling promise is legitimate, providing a subtle, instant chill as air is kept moving through the mesh perimeter. I found that I flipped it less on warm nights, and it stayed a comfortable temperature whether put in a cotton case or used as is. The quality is also thoughtful, with smooth fabric on one side and cool tech on the other. The cover is also fully machine-washable and comes out good as new. The only downsides are the price, and it needs regular fluffing to avoid feeling a little segmented.
Read the full Simba hybrid pillow review
Buy now £109.00, Simbasleep.com
Slumberdown memory plus pillow
Best: Budget pillow
Fill/type: Single-piece viscoelastic memory foam with hollowfibre interior
Firmness: Medium-firm
Loft/height: Medium-high
Dimensions: 64cm x 38cm
Cover material: Polyester blend
Cooling/ventilation: None (runs warmer than ventilated/gel foams)
Washability: Sponge clean only
Why we love it
- Medium‑firm memory‑foam support at a budget price
- Consistent contouring with quick rebound
- Removable, machine‑washable cover
Take note
- Runs warmer than ventilated or gel‑infused foams
- Fixed loft is too high for most front sleepers
- Core not machine-washable
After sleeping on this pillow for a few nights, the single-block viscoelastic core proved to have a consistent medium-firm feel that contoured gradually rather than engulfing my head. When on my side or back, it kept my neck neutral, and I woke up without feeling stiff, though it might be a little high for front sleepers.
Heat management is the expected trade-off at this budget, as there are no gel infusions or perforation channels to keep you cool. This means it runs warmer than ventilated premium foams, but it stayed a comfortable temperature during testing rather than feeling clammy or needing constant flipping.
Resilience is better than the price suggests, and minor impressions bounced back within a couple of minutes. There weren’t any midnight dips that some cheaper foams can develop, either.
While it’s not adjustable and lacks the floating contour feel of high-end Tempur-style pillows, it’s a smart upgrade from lumpy hollowfibre for budget-conscious sleepers. It’s great value, and you can get a two-pack (£34.05, Amazon.co.uk) for less than half the price of some of the pillows on this list.
Buy now £22.60, Slumberdown.co.uk
Panda hybrid bamboo pillow
Best: Pillow for side sleepers
Fill/type: Open-cell, charcoal-infused memory foam with ventilation channels
Firmness: Medium-firm
Loft/height: 13cm (approx)
Dimensions: 70cm x 40cm
Cover material: Bamboo-derived viscose
Cooling/ventilation: Breathable foam + ventilated core; cooler to the touch than standard foam
Washability: Cover machine-washable; core not machine-washable
Why we love it
- Bamboo‑derived cover
- Ventilated, charcoal‑infused foam
- 13cm loft and medium‑firm feel
- Consistent resilience
Take note
- Fixed loft; too tall for most front sleepers
- Heavier and pricier than fibre‑filled options
- Core not machine-washable
If you want true, unyielding support, this hybrid pillow could become your new go-to. The bamboo-derived viscose cover is genuinely cool and feels silky to the touch – during the warmest nights, I flipped it far less than some other memory foam options. Inside, Panda’s open-cell, charcoal-infused foam and ventilation channels move air better than single-slab designs, and temperature regulation felt steady all night.
Support is the main selling point. The pillow measures 13cm high, which is apparently a sweet spot for side sleepers, and the medium-firm (more towards the firm end of the scale in my experience) cradles your head and neck without collapsing. It takes a night or two to get used to, though, and it would suit back sleepers more than front sleepers.
Resilience and build are super-strong, with minor impressions vanishing quickly; the seams and zip remaining tidy even without a secondary pillowcase; and the faint new-foam smell airing out before I tested it the night of unboxing. Just be aware that the loft isn’t adjustable, and it’s heavier and pricier than fibre fills.
On top of that, though the marketing makes a lot of this pillow being ‘natural’, it’s made of bamboo-derived viscose, not fibres of bamboo. It’s an excellent pillow, but it’s worth bearing in mind that “bamboo” is ultimately a synthetic fabric in this context.
Read the full Panda hybrid bamboo pillow review
Buy now £89.95, Pandalondon.com
Tempur cloud smartcool pillow
Best: Pillow for pressure relief
Fill/type: Viscoelastic foam
Firmness: Soft to medium with stable support
Loft/height: Low to medium
Dimensions: 74cm x 50cm
Cover material: 61% polyester, 38% polyethylene, 1% elastane
Cooling/ventilation: Cool-to-the-touch cover; warmer than gel/actively cooled designs over time
Washability: Cover machine-washable; core not machine-washable
Why we love it
- Best‑in‑class pressure relief
- CoolTouch cover feels genuinely cool
- Low‑to‑medium loft suits most
- Premium build
Take note
- Very expensive
- Fixed loft may be too low for broad‑shouldered side sleepers
- Foam core isn’t machine‑washable
The headline here is comfort under pressure. When lying down, I felt a slow, even sink that dispersed weight and eased hotspots at my ear, jaw, and neck. When lying on my back, my neck stayed neutral, and the jaw-clenching that sometimes plagues my nights during stressful periods was markedly improved.
There’s a low-to-medium loft and soft feel, and I think even some front sleepers will be pleased with it. Cooling isn’t a world-beater, but good enough, considering the dense foam, and the knit fabric feels cool on contact and stays that way. It’s built incredibly well overall, with a removable, washable cover.
Even with this pillow’s versatility and pressure relief performance, there are some downsides. It’s not adjustable, so those with broader frames may not get along with it, and like many Tempur products, the expense could put it out of reach for some.
Buy now £149.01, Uk.tempur.com
EarthKind sustainable feather and down support pillow
Best: Down pillow
Fill/type: 100% recycled natural fill (approx 85% feather, 15% down)
Firmness: Medium-firm support
Loft/height: Medium-high
Dimensions: 74cm x 48cm
Cover material: Cotton
Cooling/ventilation: Naturally breathable
Washability: Can machine wash and tumble dry entire pillow
Why we love it
- Recycled feather/down fill
- Naturally breathable with medium‑firm, springy support
- Tight cotton cover; no feather escape in testing
Take note
- Not suitable for vegans or those with feather allergies
- Needs regular plumping
- Could feel lofty for front sleepers
This pillow is filled with 100 per cent recycled natural materials (around 85 per cent feather, 15 per cent down), which delivers a classic, lofty hotel feel with a noticeable supportive, springy profile, in contrast to down-heavy options. The pillow on its own kept my neck neutral, and I was equally comfortable on my side and my back.
It’s incredibly breathable, running cooler than dense foams and never getting clammy on warm nights, despite the lack of cooling tech. The tightly woven cotton cover feels robust, and no quills poked through the cover by the end of testing.
Of course, natural fills often need a quick daily plump, so the EarthKind is higher-maintenance than some other pillows on this list. It’s also not suitable for vegans or anyone with a feather allergy. Still, for back and side sleepers who want comfort and support, it’s an easy win.
Buy now £34.60, Earthkind.co.uk
Dreams therapur memory foam ice pillow
Best: Pillow with cooling gel
Fill/type: Dense, single-piece memory foam
Firmness: Firm, structured feel
Loft/height: 14cm (some side sleepers may want more; too lofty for most front sleepers)
Dimensions: 74cm x 50cm
Cover material: Cotton
Cooling/ventilation: Cool-to-the-touch cover; better heat management than standard foams
Washability: Cover machine-washable; core not machine-washable
Why we love it
- Genuinely cool‑to‑the‑touch cover
- Dense, even foam
- Quality construction with quick rebound
Take note
- Too firm/lofty for most front sleepers
- Heavier than fibre pillows
- Core not machine-washable
When it comes to cooling, this pillow delivers. You;ll find lots of pillow marketing claiming that pillows are “cool to the touch,” but it’s actually true in this case. The knitted “ice” cover feels genuinely cold, and it stays pleasantly temperate for hours.
I flipped it far less often than other foam pillows I’ve tested, and there was none of that midnight clamminess as the core warmed up. It didn’t feel artificially cold by morning, either, as the heat build-up is well managed throughout the night.
Support feels structured, and the dense, evenly cut foam contours gradually before holding you in a way that will suit back sleepers especially well. As a side sleeper, I felt well-aligned, though it felt a touch shallow with a fully tucked shoulder (though, of course, this will vary from sleeper to sleeper). Front sleepers will likely find it too firm and too high.
The build quality is great, with a smooth zip, tidy seams, and a quick rebound. The reassuring weight also stops drift. However, it’s not perfect. One of the trade-offs is that it has a fixed loft, single-piece feel. It’s not very adjustable, and you can’t really plump it up or smooth it out. It’s also a lot heavier than hollowfibre pillows, so it’s a little unwieldy to adjust in the night.
Buy now £80.00, Dreams.co.uk
Panda memory foam bamboo pillow
Best: Pillow for back sleepers
Fill/type: Memory foam
Firmness: Medium-firm
Loft/height: 12cm
Dimensions: 60cm x 40cm
Cover material: Bamboo-derived viscose with breathable mesh inner
Cooling/ventilation: Cooler-feeling cover
Washability: Cover washable; core not machine-washable
Why we love it
- Medium‑firm single‑piece foam
- Bamboo‑derived cover feels cool
- Removable, machine‑washable cover
- 30‑night trial and long guarantee
Take note
- Fixed loft; too tall for most front sleepers and some petite frames
- Not as cooling as Panda's hybrid pillow
- Core is not machine-washable
This pillow has earned a permanent place in my home (though as a chronic back-pain saver on my sofa, rather than my bed), and it would likely hit a back sleeper’s sweet spot. The bamboo-derived viscose cover is the star, and it feels cool and smooth on contact. It isn’t ice cold, but it stayed fresher than typical one-piece foams.
Inside, the single slab of slow-rebound foam delivers a consistent medium-firm feel, and at roughly 12cm in loft, it’s compact and dialled in to back sleeping. It may be a touch shallow for broader frames, of course, but resilience is solid and shallow impressions vanish quickly.
The build quality is also impressive for the price, with tidy seams, a smooth zip, and a breathable mesh inner protector. The tradeoffs are that, like other memory foam pillows, it has a fixed loft and slightly warmer feel than the hybrid alternatives, but this is a great option for back sleepers who run warm and want dependable support and alignment.
Read the full Panda memory foam bamboo pillow review
Buy now £44.95, Pandalondon.com
Woolroom deluxe washable wool pillow
Best: Wool pillow
Fill/type: Carded British wool clusters (adjustable)
Firmness: Adjustable (roughly medium to medium-firm depending on fill)
Loft/height: Adjustable
Dimensions: 48cm x 74cm
Cover material: Quilted cotton with 300gsm British wool
Cooling/ventilation: Excellent moisture wicking and temperature regulation
Washability: Cover washable on wool cycle; fill not washable
Why we love it
- Naturally hypoallergenic and dust‑mite resistant
- Excellent temperature and moisture regulation
- Fully adjustable loft
- Traceable British wool
Take note
- Needs regular plumping; clusters can feel slightly uneven if not fluffed
- Less uniform contour than memory foam
- Not suitable for vegans
This pillow’s 100 per cent British wool fill is naturally dust-mite resistant, so those who would normally wake up with the sniffles are safe to invest in this case. I tested this pillow during peak hayfever season, and though it’s admittedly anecdotal evidence, it seemed to help with my allergies.
Thermoregulation is excellent, and far better than you’d immediately expect from a wool pillow. The filling wicks moisture and balances your temperature, avoiding clammy patches that are somewhat inevitable with memory foam or synthetic materials. Of course, it’s also bound to be cosy on cold winter nights.
Unlike many examples on this list, this pillow is also adjustable. It arrives generously filled with loose, carded clusters, which gave me a medium-firm loft. But it’s easy to remove as much or as little of the filling as you’d like. It’ll need a quick daily plump, as wool doesn’t react well to neglect, but this is a great alternative for those who aren’t convinced by memory foam.
Buy now £62.98, Thewoolroom.com
Your questions on pillows answered
What is the best pillow?
Although the best pillow for you will depend on your sleep preferences, the Simba hybrid pillow came out on top during testing. It’s the most adaptable option on test, as its cubes of foam let you fine‑tune loft and firmness for better neck alignment across side and back sleeping (and even front, with reduced fill).
The cool‑touch face and mesh perimeter regulate heat more effectively than standard foam, and the washable cover is built to last. It’s an investment, and you’ll want to fluff it occasionally, but its consistency and versatility will likely make it the best pick for most people.
Looking to spend less? The Slumberdown memory foam plus delivers medium‑firm support at a fraction of the price of some competitors. The single‑block core holds your neck in a neutral position for back and side sleepers, rebounds reliably and comes with a washable cover. It runs warmer than ventilated or gel foams, and the loft is fixed, but as an upgrade from lumpy hollowfibre, it’s a standout.
If pressure relief is your priority, Tempur’s cloud smartcool is the premium pick. It's slow yet even sink disperses hotspots at the ear, jaw, and neck better than anything else I tried, while the cool-touch cover keeps temperatures in check. Pricier, yes, but superb for back sleepers and anyone managing soreness.
What role does a pillow play in sleep quality?
Sleep physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski says, “When people think about sleep quality, they often imagine it is the pillow or mattress that creates it. In reality, the body is built to sleep, and the strongest influences come from internal systems like sleep drive and circadian rhythm. A pillow that feels comfortable simply allows those systems to get on with their job without interruption.”
What type of pillow is right for you?
Meet the expert
Stephanie Romiszewski is a sleep physiologist with two decades of experience. She has researched and treated clinical sleep disorders like insomnia and CPAP therapy.
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