The 15 best pillows you can buy in 2021
HAVING the right pillow is an important part of getting a good night’s sleep.
We’ve rounded up some of the best pillows you can buy in 2021 to help you get some quality shuteye.
The best pillows come in all shapes and sizes.
Whether you opt for memory foam, hypoallergenic, feather or something else entirely, there’s myriad options to choose from.
But we’ve had a look around the web and picked out some of the top-reviewed items that are loved by shoppers.
See if you can find the perfect pillow for you below.
This article and featured products have been independently chosen by Sun journalists. It contains links which are ads, and if you click a link and buy a product we will earn revenue.
1. Best cooling pillow: Simba Hybrid Pillow
- Hybrid Pillow, £99 from Simba – buy here
Whilst £99 might seem pricey for a pillow, the Simba Hybrid pillow has received over 4000 five-star reviews suggesting it’s worth every penny.
It utilises astronaut-inspired technology to absorb the heat from your body and release it as and when you need it.
This feature means that it’s perfect for those balmy summer nights.
The pillow is filled with breathable foam cubes, which can be removed or added to adjust the height and firmness of the pillow to your liking.
2. Best down alternative: Emma Cloud Pillow
- Cloud Pillow, £109 from Emma – buy here
Emma has recently launched the Cloud pillow which is described as adjustable, soft, breathable and washable – all things we like.
We decided to put it to the test.
We’d always struggled to find pillows that we get along with, so we were excited to find out if the Emma Cloud was the exception.
It’s very soft, but not suffocatingly so, and yet still feels like it’s supporting our head and neck.
We didn’t find ourselves waking up, fighting with the pillow for more support or putting our arm underneath it to make it higher, which is our normal routine. Impressive.
We also loved that it’s adjustable so we could remove the inserts to suit our sleeping style, and the fact that it’s fully washable is an added bonus – we’re yet to put it through the washing machine but we have high hopes.
At over £100, it’s an investment but it’s always worth keeping an eye out for deals.
Plus Emma has a 200-night free trial and a money-back guarantee, so if you don’t love it as much as we did, then you can simply return it.
3. Best hypoallergenic pillows: Silentnight Anti-Allergy Pillow
- (AD) Silentnight Anti-Allergy Pillow, £13.99 from Amazon – buy here
For those who suffer with allergies, or for young children. an anti-allergy pillow – also known as hypoallergenic – is the best buy.
The padding is still soft and comfortable enough to sleep on, while the anti-allergy hollowfibre fabric combats dust mites and bacteria from lingering underneath to irritate the sleeper.
With two in one pack, which costs £13, we mark that as an absolute bargain.
4. Best memory foam pillow: Silentnight microfibre pillow
- (AD) Silentnight memory foam pillow, £17.99 from Amazon – buy here
5. Best customised pillows: Nanu’s The Perfect Pillow
- The Perfect Pillow, £35 from Nanu – buy here
Finding the right pillow to suit your needs can be difficult, but Nanu has it down to a tee.
Simply fill out a brief survey, sharing the way you sleep, as well as your pillow preferences, and they will be specially made so you will have the perfect forty winks.
Plus, you can even tailor make your duvet to match.
6. Best goose feather pillow: Scandinavian Duck Feather & Down Medium Support Pillow
- Scandinavian Duck Feather & Down Medium Support Pillow, £28.04 – buy here
Feather and down pillows are a classic pillow purchase for some, as they provide support and extra comfort, and easily mould to everyone’s sleep position, whether it is on the side, back or front.
But this design goes the extra mile as it is a combination of duck feather and down, and can be machine washed too.
7. Best pillow for sideways sleeping: Kally Adjustable Pillow
- Kally Adjustable Pillow, £39.99 from Kally Sleep – buy here
The Kally Adjustable Pillow has received glowing reviews from customers, as they can tailor the design to suit their needs.
The pillow has four removable pads inside a cotton cover, which ensures the air circulates throughout the pillow to keep you cool during your sleep.
Plus Kally Sleep offer customers a full refund within the first 14-night’s, which tells us they are positive their product will not let you down.
8. Best pregnancy pillow: Dreamgenii Maternity and Nursing Pillow
- Dreamgenii Maternity and Nursing Pillow, £44.99 from John Lewis and Partners – buy here
Pregnancy pillows are a popular purchase for mothers who are expecting, or have given birth too.
The design works to support and protect your stomach, back and knees, while also elevating your legs to take any pressure off of your back and stomach.
The pillow accommodates those who sleep on their left, but it can also be used for those who sleep on their right side too.
Once the little one is here the pillow is still helpful to use as it doubles up as a feeding support.
9. Best Organic Pillow: Deluxe Wool Pillow
- Deluxe wool pillow, £45.49 from The Wool Room – buy here
For those that like something a little au natural then an organic pillow is the snooze addition that you may need. This Deluxe wool pillow from The Wool Room is hand-crafted with 100% British wool and is machine washable, traceable and has natural hypoallergenic qualities.
The outer case is made from organic cotton meaning through and through this pillow is completely natural. The beauty is that they are machine washable. In older times, wool pillows would shrink with washing but the Deluxe has been carefully curated and crafted so that is can be safely washed time and time again.
10. Best Neck Pillow: Tempur
- Tempur support pillow, £85 from John Lewis – buy here
Do you frequently wake up with an aching neck? Then the consequence of this is that you may not be sleeping in the right position or your pillows supporting you in the correct way. One way to solve this is by using a pillow that does a little more, specifically a support pillow. T
he Tempur, has a carefully contoured shape that fits perfectly to your neck and head, giving extra support and pressure relief to the neck and shoulder muscles, and where needed. Over time sleeping with a support pillow may relieve some aches and pains, and can even help alleviate migraines making it a great item for getting a good nights sleep. The cover can be removed and washed to keep it clean and hygienic and the pillow can be washed on a 60-degree cycle.
11. Best Layered Pillow: Emma
- Layered pillow, £69 from Emma – buy here
Want a decent pillow with a lot of comfort? Then look no further than the Emma. Layered with three sides of premium foam designed to support, adapt, and comfort, the pillow works well for those that may change their position frequently.
The pillow is designed to add or take away various layers depending on how soft or firm you like your pillow, making it one of the most versatile pillows on the market. They even have a chart on their website so you can see exactly what layers you should have depending on your comfort zone. Warning. You may sleep in.
12. Best Bamboo Pillow: Panda Bamboo Pillow
- Panda Bamboo Pillow, £45 from Dunelm – buy here
Up your natural game with another great pillow from Dunelm. The Panda Bamboo pillow is expertly crafted using environmentally friendly bamboo fabric that they say feels naturally twice as soft as cotton, with a silky, cashmere-like feel. B
amboo is a good natural alternative as it needs less water to grow, and when in pillow format is super breathable which is a winner when it comes to promoting restful sleep. Bamboo also helps maintain a regular body temperature through the night, and with a cover that features hypoallergenic, dust mite free and natural antibacterial properties, it is suitable even for those with the most sensitive skin.
13. Best Anti-Snore Pillow: Kally Sleep M & S
- Anti-snore pillow, £34.99 from Mark and Spencer – buy here
Suffer from snoring? You are not the only one. With approximately 15 million snorers in the UK alone, it can cause daytime sleepiness, a loss of concentration loss and make sleeping in the night difficult (particularly for non-snoring loved ones!) The Kally Anti-snore pillow has been designed as an S-shaped foam core to support the head and neck, opening the airways for natural improved sleep. It has been tested by the British Sleep Apnoea Association and has been shown to reduce snoring frequency and volume by approximately 60%. Peace out.
14. Best Bargain Pillows: Tesco Basics
- Basics Pillow Pair, £3.50 from Tesco – buy here
They say good things come in twos… well, in this case, it’s a couple of Tesco pillows at an absolute bargain price! This pair of pillows from the basics range is filled with a soft comfort filling with a non-woven cover, making them a relaxing addition to any bedroom. They are washing machine safe for easy maintenance, although they do state you will need a large washing machine to clean them properly. One reviewer said, ‘absolutely fantastic bought 20 of them.’ Now that is a fan!
15. Best Pure Silk Pillow: Cuddledown
- Pure silk pillow, £58.65 from Cuddledown – buy here
They say for the ultimate refreshing snooze, sleep on pure silk. With its added cooling benefits and breathable fibres, we can certainly see why! This silk pillow by Cuddledown has been created with premium Grade A long-fibre Tussah pure silk filling and features pure cotton sateen fabric casing. This means in layman’s terms it’s breathable, comfortable and hypoallergenic. Their pillows give medium-density support and is a great option for those who want a comfortable but slightly firmer luxurious pillow.
What is the best pillow for the money?
It is difficult to say which pillow is the best value for money as there are sales on throughout the year.
However, we recommend Simba, Emma or Nanu as they often have discounts or new member offers.
We also recommend keeping an eye on Amazon, as they too launch sales or price drops on their own brand, but also stock other well known and trusted labels, including Silentnight.
More homeware recommendations
Enjoyed our round-up of the best pillows? Now all you need is a plush mattress for an undisturbed sleep.
We’ve rounded up the best supportive, pregnancy and travel pillows.
While you’re there you may even want to check out Sun Selects other recommended must haves.
This article and any featured products have been independently chosen by The Sun journalists. All recommendations within the article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click a link and buy a product we may earn revenue: this helps to support The Sun, and in no way affects our recommendations.