The 6 Best Pillows of 2026, Tested by Editors

Women’s Health Executive Health and Fitness Director Jacqueline Andriakos, CPT, calls the Coop Original Adjustable the most comfortable pillow she has tried. “I’ve never been a pillow snob or had major issues with basic pillows from Amazon, but I noticed that this was far more comfortable than other, cheaper pillows I’ve used,” she says.

The pillow is filled with a blend of shredded memory foam and microfiber. Memory foam molds around the head and neck, while the soft synthetic fibers keep the pillow from feeling like a dense, solid block of foam. Unlike a pillow with a fixed height, the Coop can be unzipped so you can remove filling for a flatter feel or add more for extra support. The process can get messy, but that adjustability makes it easier to tailor the pillow to your body and sleep position.

Coop offers the pillow in classic, crescent, and cut-out shapes. Andriakos tested the classic and cut-out versions while switching between side and stomach sleeping. She preferred the cut-out, which has a curved indentation that creates room for the shoulder and allows the pillow to sit closer to the neck.

“I liked that it could wrap around my neck and shoulders, and I could almost cuddle it like a body pillow with an arm threaded underneath,” she says. Although the shape can look slightly awkward inside a standard pillowcase, it was super comfortable when she slept on her side.

The pillow felt plush, but Andriakos’ head did not sink so deeply that her neck felt unsupported. She also found the outer cover breathable, although sleepers who regularly overheat may prefer a pillow specifically designed for cooling.

Because its height can be adjusted, the Coop can work for side, back, stomach, and combination sleepers. Side sleepers will generally need more filling to keep the head level with the spine, while stomach sleepers may prefer to remove enough filling to create a flatter surface. Finding the right amount may require a few nights of experimentation, but Coop’s 100-night trial gives you time to make those adjustments.

It would take an exceptional pillow for me to consider replacing my Purple Harmony, but the Saatva Latex Pillow gave it serious competition. Although both pillows contain latex, they feel noticeably different. Purple uses one solid, springy latex core, while Saatva uses shredded pieces of latex surrounded by a soft layer of fine synthetic fibers. This gives the Saatva a plusher, more traditional feel, but it has enough structure to support the head and neck.

The pillow feels dense when you first pick it up, but my head settled gently into the soft outer layer without sinking too deeply. The shredded latex inside quickly returned to its original shape when I moved, so the pillow stayed supportive as I shifted positions. As a side sleeper who frequently experiences neck pain, I did not wake up with additional stiffness.

Saatva offers two heights. The standard version measures approximately four to five inches and is designed for back and stomach sleepers, who generally need a lower pillow. The high-loft version measures approximately six to seven inches and is better suited to side and combination sleepers who need more height between their heads and mattresses.

I also appreciated that the pillow remained breathable throughout the night. The small spaces between the pieces of shredded latex allow air to circulate, while the cotton cover feels cool. It does not create the immediately cold sensation of a cooling pillow, but I did not notice uncomfortable heat buildup.

The outer layer is filled with microdenier fibers, which are very fine synthetic strands designed to imitate the light, fluffy feel of down. You can machine-wash this outer layer and its cotton cover, but the inner latex core must be removed and kept out of the washing machine.

At $165 for a standard/queen size, this is one of the more expensive pillows we tested. Saatva also provides only 45 days for returns, which is shorter than the trial periods offered by several competitors. Still, its combination of plush cushioning, responsive support, and breathable materials makes it an excellent choice for sleepers who want a luxury-hotel feel that’s still supportive.

For hot sleepers, a breathable pillow can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and a night spent tossing and turning. The Slumber Cloud UltraCool stood out because its cooling effect was immediately noticeable during testing.

Women’s Health Managing Editor Laura McLaughlin described the sensation as “a little sci-fi” because the surface felt immediately cool when she rested her head on it. The cover contains Outlast, a material designed to absorb excess body heat when you become warm and release it as your skin cools. This helps prevent heat from collecting around your head and face, although the effect may be less noticeable beneath a thick pillowcase.

McLaughlin also found the pillow easy to combine with others. “It’s great for layering with other pillows to get just the right height,” she says. “It’s neither too dense nor too high to use in combination with others already in place.” That makes it especially useful for sleepers who want additional height without placing a rigid pillow beneath their heads.

The interior is filled with polyester down alternative, a synthetic material designed to imitate the airy feel of down. It is available in soft/medium and medium/firm versions, allowing sleepers to choose how plush or structured they want the pillow to feel. The softer option will generally suit stomach sleepers or anyone who prefers more sink, while the firmer version may provide better support for back and side sleepers.

The entire pillow can be machine-washed, a convenient advantage over pillows with foam or latex cores. However, synthetic filling can begin to clump after repeated use and washing, so it may require regular fluffing to redistribute the material.

Although the UltraCool does not provide the customized support of an adjustable pillow, it delivered the most noticeable cooling sensation of any model we tested.

The Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow is built for sleepers who want the fluffy feel of down without actual feathers. It’s filled with recycled poly microgel, a cluster of fine synthetic fibers that creates a light cushioning similar to down.

Unlike many pillows that come in only one firmness, this one is available in soft, medium, and firm versions. Brooklinen recommends the soft pillow for stomach sleepers, who generally need less height beneath the head; the medium for back sleepers; and the firm for side sleepers, who typically need more support to fill the space between the head and mattress.

Its cotton sateen shell feels smooth and has a subtle sheen. The pillow is also certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which means its materials have been tested for a list of regulated substances. That certification does not evaluate the pillow’s comfort, durability, or environmental impact.

Brooklinen allows most products to be returned within 365 days, although it deducts a $9.95 return fee from the refund. That’s one of the most generous return windows we’ve seen.

The pillow can be machine-washed in cold water and tumble-dried on low with wool dryer balls until completely dry. As with most pillows filled with loose synthetic fibers, it may require regular fluffing to redistribute the fill and preserve its shape.