The 7 Best Pillows For Combination Sleepers To Maintain Alignment (2024)

Arricca SanSone

Contributor

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Fill:GOLS-certified organic latex, GOTS-certified organic kapok tree fiber | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 1 year | Firmness: Adjustable

Pros:

• Adjustable fill
• Multiple organic certifications
• Reasonably priced

Cons:

• Washable liner must be dried flat or line-dried

There are so many reasons to love this pillow. For starters, it’s cushy with a hefty yet soft organic cotton cover that doesn’t make you feel hot and sweaty after a few hours. It also boasts an array of third-party organic certifications. The adjustable fill in this pillow consists of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOLS)-certified organic latex foam ribbons and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic kapok, a type of tree fiber with a fluffy consistency.

The GOTS-certified organic cotton quilted cover is soft and thick, as well as machine-washable and can be hung to dry. It’s also Greenguard Gold Certified, so you know you’re not breathing in VOCs and other chemicals all night long.

The dual filling stays bouncy and keeps its loft over time. But if you ever need to add (or subtract) any, you can unzip the liner and adjust the fill accordingly. While it comes with an extra fill bag, you can also purchase additional refill packages if you want to plump things up even more. These pillows are available in standard, queen and king sizes.

What the editors say: “I’ve been using this pillow for a couple of years now, and it does not disappoint,” says Forbes Vetted commerce editor Margaret Badore. “As a stomach sleeper, I didn’t need the extra filling, but I appreciate that you have the option to plump it up. The latex shreds give this pillow a weighty, substantial feel, and the pillow’s cover is thick and plush, like a fantastic sweatshirt.”

Fill:Memory foam, polyester fiber | Trial period: 365 days | Warranty: 2 years | Firmness: Adjustable

Pros:

• Longest trial period in the industry
• Easy zipper sides to adjust firmness level

Cons:

• Spot clean only
• No organic certifications

If you’re looking for a budget pick, you can’t go wrong with this wallet-friendly choice. Unlike most other adjustable pillows which require you to add or take away handfuls of messy fill, this pillow uses zippers to adjust its firmness level. Zip both sides for a firmer feel, unzip one side for a medium firmness and unzip both sides for its softest feel.

The memory foam is infused with cooling gel so you don’t sleep hot. Marlow also gives you plenty of time to decide whether or not its pillow is right for you: You’ve got a generous 365 days to return it for a refund. The pillow comes in two sizes, standard and king. If you need more than one pillow, pillow bundles of two or four pillows are discounted.

The only real downside with these pillows is that they can only be spot-cleaned, so we suggest using a pillow protector and replacing your pillows regularly, especially if you have allergies.

What the reviews say: “These pillows are absolutely perfect. They offer the right amount of support and crisp cool material that eliminates overheating. I got all of my family members a pair, and they have also purchased more for their spare bedrooms.”

Fill:Memory foam–microfiber blend | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 5 years | Firmness: Adjustable

Pros:

• Adjustable fill
• Utilizes several cooling technologies

Cons:

• Pillow cover may feel uncomfortably slippery to some users

This pillow uses different types of cooling technologies to keep hot sleepers from waking up sweaty. A cool gel, microfiber and memory foam blend, plus a cool touch fabric outer cover and heat-wicking inner liner contribute to its cooling properties. The company says the plus-shaped pieces of memory foam also help promote better air flow to improve cooling.

Although the pillow is suggested for stomach sleepers, you can easily add or remove fill to make it less plump if you’re primarily a side sleeper. It also comes with additional fill to beef it up if the height isn’t tall enough for you. You can feel good that it’s earned Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US certification so you aren’t breathing in chemicals and VOCs.

One downside is that the cooling outer cover is most effective if not used with an additional pillow case, so it won’t match your sheets, if that matters to you. The plus is that this cover can be machine washed and tumbled dry. It comes in queen and king sizes.

What the reviews say: “Amazingly customizable loft and stays cool all night long. Took me a few nights to dial in how much filler to use, but absolutely fantastic now.”

Fill:Foam, hyper-elastic polymer | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 1 year | Firmness: Adjustable

Pros:

• Adjustable fill
• Neck roll chambers can be filled for additional support

Cons:

• Cover cannot be tumble dried

This pillow feels different from most because it’s encased in a honeycomb gel grid that gently cradles your head. The foam filling pieces offer support without feeling as if you’re sinking too deep. The neck roll chambers store extra fill on the long sides of the pillow to offer correct neck and spine alignment, which is especially useful for alleviating neck pain.

The gel grid is CleanAir GOLD– and CertiPUR-US–certified so you aren’t inhaling chemicals all night long. The cover is slightly stretchy, and it’s machine-washable, though you need to dry it flat. Any excess fill you remove when you customize the height can be stored in an included throw pillow case. You can purchase additional fill, too. The pillow comes in standard and king sizes.

What the reviews say: “I love the customizability of the Freeform—the neck chambers and the different height options. It took me a few days to find the perfect fill amount, but once I did, I love this thing.”

Fill: Memory foam, kapok tree fiber | Trial period: 30 nights | Warranty: 5 year | Firmness: Adjustable

Pros:

• Adjustable fill
• Kapok offers cooling properties

Cons:

• Not recommended to be machine washed

If you like the feel of memory foam but are worried it sleeps hot, this combination pillow uses memory foam with kapok tree fibers to improve air flow and cooling. The combination of materials feels both soft and supportive.

The polyester viscose–blend pillow cover is washable, while the pillow itself can be spot treated or washed on gentle in your machine, though the company says this may void the warranty. The foam is CertiPUR-US certified. This pillow comes in both queen and king sizes.

What the reviews say: “I used to sleep with four to five pillows and now am able to sleep comfortably with two Layla queen size pillows. Being able to remove the stuffing in the pillow for your own comfort is amazing.”

Fill: Latex, organic cotton fiber| Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 1 year| Firmness: Adjustable

Pros:

• Adjustable fill
• Multiple organic certifications

Cons:

• Some reviewers commented that the pillow case felt “bumpy” due to the stitching

If you don’t like the idea of breathing in chemicals and VOCs all night long, a pillow that has earned organic certifications is the way to go. This one contains GOLS- or FSC-certified latex, which tends to sleep cooler than memory foam but still provides a combination of support and squishiness. You also can purchase it in three comfort levels (soft, medium and 2-in-1) and three different sizes.

The latex is cut into small pieces, rather than shredded, to promote better airflow and cooling properties. The fill is encased with organic cotton jersey so that you can easily remove the GOTS-certified cotton cover for washing. It’s machine-wash and dry, too, which is not the case with many other brands. The products also are Greenguard-certified for low chemical emissions. Plus, all pillows are made in the United States.

What the reviews say: “I am so happy with this purchase. There was no weird smell like other similar brands, and it’s beyond comfortable. I rarely have to adjust the pillow at all. I’ve owned many expensive pillows, but this takes the cake.”

Fill: Ethically sourced down | Trial period: 30 days | Warranty: None | Firmness: Soft, medium, firm

Pros:

• Ethically sourced down
• Can be machine-washed and dried

Cons:

• Not adjustable

Many people prefer down for its unique loft and cushy feel. This pillow, while not adjustable, comes in three different firmness levels to accommodate stomach (soft), back (medium), and side (firm) sleepers.

The down fill is cruelty-free IDS-certified and is triple-washed to retain softness, and the cover is organic cotton. Unlike many other types of fill, this down is machine-washable and can be tumbled dry (using dryer balls can help speed up the process and keep the down fluffed up). The manufacturer suggests washing once per season, so we recommend using a pillow protector to keep it clean and prolong its lifespan. It comes in standard and king sizes.

One downside is that the company does not have a warranty policy. However, a customer service representative we reached out to said they send all issues to their quality-assurance team for review and possible replacement. It’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is something to be aware of if you purchase this pillow.

What the editors say: “This pillow is dream worthy,” says former mattress and sleep editor Lindsey Vickers. “It quickly became one of my favorite pillows, as the soft version has the ideal level of cushion for me as a stomach sleeper. I find it has the give and compression that I love about down, but I’m also relieved the fill materials are ethically sourced, because that’s equally important to me.”