The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Memory Foam Pillows

Memory foam pillows conform to the sleeper’s body and mold themselves within a couple of minutes. They are excellent pillows for neck pain and shoulder pain, and they have great pressure relief.

Written by:

Renata

Last Updated: Thu, July 4, 2019

Memory foam, known as viscoelastic polyurethane foam, is very popular when it comes to pillows and mattresses. It was first discovered by NASA who looked into new materials with the purpose to improve the cushion safety. Memory foam is an excellent material as it conforms to the sleeper’s body and molds itself to it within a couple of minutes. It also offers great pressure relief and alleviates pains and aches in sensitive areas of the sleeper’s body. Memory foam also becomes softer after coming into contact with the sleeper’s body heat and recovers its initial shape afterwards. 

 

Types of Memory Foam Pillows 

Different types of memory foam are used in pillows, and each type has its unique benefits. Many people opt for these models because of memory foam pillow benefits that they provide, such as improved quality of sleep, the proper back and neck support, pressure relief, and ability to shape to the sleeper’s body. These pillows are very comfortable, soft, durable, and easy to look after. Here are the types of memory foam that you will come across when searching for the best pillow for your bedroom: 

 

Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillow 

In case you are in a sleepless search for a fantastic memory foam pillow, Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillow is an excellent choice. It is a cooling memory foam pillow that provides support, lasting comfort, and it will help you sleep through the night. Although it is very soft, it will never go flat. It is an excellent pillow for  all weight groups, and every type of sleeper. No matter if you prefer sleeping on your side, stomach, or back, you will be satisfied with Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillow. It is the best memory foam pillow for side sleepers. 

source: snugglepedic.com

Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo contains shredded memory foam mix, and it has two covers. The outside cover of this pillow is made with the combination of 56.4% polyester, 43% viscose from bamboo, and 0.6% lycra. It has a textured pattern, gives a soft feeling, and it is breathable. It also has micro vents for better air circulation. The inside cover of the pillow is very thin, and it holds the pieces of shredded memory foam. When it comes to the filling, the pillow is made with a proprietary mixture of Biogreen and Certipur-US certified memory foam, and it helps create an excellent sleeping experience. These materials are also hypoallergenic, which makes this pillow an ideal choice for sleepers who suffer from allergies. 

Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillow offers fantastic breathability and keeps the sleeper cool throughout the night. Although it is an all-foam pillow, it is bouncier than many other memory foam pillows. It also allows a moderate amount of sinkage, but sleepers don’t have to worry about bottoming out on this pillow. Additionally, it is possible to adjust it by removing a part of the filling.  

The entire pillow is completely washable and easy to clean. When it comes to firmness, it is medium. It offers excellent conforming and pressure relief, and it provides great support. This model is the best memory foam pillow for neck pain. Three sizes of this pillow are available: standard, queen, and king. 

Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo comes with 120-night trial period, warranty of 20 years, and free shipping to all 50 states. 

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Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow 

If you are looking for a comfortable shredded memory foam pillow, Nest Bedding Easy Breather is an excellent choice. The breathability of this pillow is great, and it has a very soft cover. You can add or remove the filling to your liking, and it is a perfect option for every sleeping position. What makes it stand out is an excellent warranty – this pillow comes with a lifetime warranty. Also, it was voted one of the best memory foam pillow 2018. 

source: nestbedding.com

The cover of the Nest Bedding Easy Breather is made up of Tencel-blended fabric. The popularity of this material is increasing rapidly, and it is a plant-based cotton substitute. It is delicate and sensible, and it is widely known for its moisture-wicking properties. This fabric helps it stay dry and cool throughout the night. The cover of this pillow also comes with a very durable and reliable zipper, which eliminates the need for worrying about faulty zippers. The interior of the pillow is filled with 8” of shredded memory foam. It delivers coolness similar to latex pillows, but with enhanced contouring and molding capabilities. This pillow has a slow response to pressure and provides excellent pressure relief and comfort. It is also very breathable thanks to being filled with small chunks of memory foam, which allows air circulation throughout the pillow. 

Nest Bedding Easy Breather is a medium when it comes to firmness, and it is an excellent choice for lightweight sleepers, those who have an average weight, and heavier sleepers who prefer less firm pillows. It is available in three different sizes – standard, queen, and king, and it provides great support and cushioning. You can also adjust it by removing some of the filling, which makes is a good option for every sleeping position. The only downside is that it can’t be washed in the washing machine, so you may want to consider getting a pillow cover.  

Nest Bedding Easy Breather has a 100-night trial period, free shipping in the continental United States, and free returns. Nest Bedding also offers a lifetime warranty on their Easy Breather pillow.  

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Coop Home Goods Eden Pillow 

Coop Home Goods Eden is a gel-infused shredded memory foam pillow. This pillow sleeps very cool in comparison with other memory foam options as it doesn’t retain body heat. Air circulation is excellent thanks to being filled with small chunks of memory foam, which allows the proper airflow. It is adjustable which means that sleepers can add or remove the filling to adjust the thickness of the pillow. Eden is an excellent pillow for every sleep style and all weight groups, and it is very durable, with a longer lifespan than the average pillow. 

source: coophomegoods.com

The cover of Coop Home Goods memory foam pillow is made with very soft, smooth, and super breathable Lulltra fabric. It is 60% polyester and 40% viscose rayon derived from bamboo. It is hypoallergenic, which makes it an excellent option for allergy sufferers. Also, it is a machine washable memory foam pillow. This pillow is filled with the combination of cooling gel-infused memory foam and microfiber fill, and its firmness and thickness can be adjusted. Its memory foam filling is CertiPUR-US certified, and shredded, which allows excellent breathability. In case sleepers want to add even more firmness and loft, Coop sends extra filling with every pillow. 

This pillow is available in three sizes – standard, queen, and king, and it is very soft. It is not a good choice for sleepers who prefer firm pillows. Although its firmness is adjustable, it is simply not an ideal option for those who love very firm pillows. The Eden is very comfortable, and its gusseted sidewall ensures edge-to-edge support. Additionally, it provides close conforming to the sleeper’s head, which allows the proper spine alignment and reduces the pain and pressure on the shoulders and neck. Coop Home Goods Eden is fairly easy to clean as the cover can be washed in the washing machine. 

The Eden comes with a 100-night trial period, 5 years of warranty, extra filling, and free shipping to 50 states. 

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Malouf Z Zoned Gel Dough Pillow 

Another great memory foam model is the Zoned Gel Dough. It is a single-piece memory foam pillow that provides excellent pressure relief and close conforming to the sleeper’s head. It is great for sleepers in all weight groups and those who prefer denser memory foam pillows. It is well-ventilated and provides fantastic air circulation, which allows is to sleep very cool. This pillow is the best cooling memory foam pillow. The dense foam infused with gel offers the proper support to the sleeper’s head and neck and doesn’t lose its shape nor starts sagging. It is a medium soft pillow that comes in multiple loft options.  

source: maloufsleep.com

The cover of this pillow is made of 75% polyester and 25% rayon from bamboo. It is very breathable and helps it stay cool. It is made of materials that won’t irritate the sleeper’s skin, and it is hypoallergenic, which is excellent news for those who suffer from sneezes and runny nose caused by allergies. It is also resistant to dust mites and easily cleaned. It can be washed in the washing machine. This pillow model has gel-infused memory foam made of polyurethane, and it is very durable and has excellent shape recovery. 

Gel Dough has excellent cooling features thanks to which sleepers don’t have to worry about waking up in sweat. Its temperature stays pleasant even in summer. Heat from the sleeper’s body is naturally dispersed, and the pillow doesn’t retain it. It is also quite breathable which aids in cooling as it provides the proper air circulation. This pillow cradles the head while giving the right support to the neck. Additionally, it has a long life expectancy and excellent shape retention. It is available in standard, queen, and king size, and even comes in scented options, if you want to pay extra. 

Malouf Z Zoned Gel Dough comes with a 5-year warranty and free shipping within the continental U.S. 

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Layla Pillow 

The Layla pillow is a shredded memory foam pillow with excellent breathability and cooling features. Due to being filled with chunks of shredded memory foam it allows great air circulation. Also, it closely conforms to the sleeper’s unique head shape, and it offers the right amount of support. It is an excellent pillow for lightweight people, and those in average weight group, and it is suitable for all sleeping positions. 

source: laylasleep.com

The cover of the pillow is super soft, and it is made from a knit blend of polyester, viscose, rayon, and lycra. It is also infused with copper fibers woven into the fabric, which adds coolness to the pillow and provides the antimicrobial features. It is an excellent pillow for allergy sufferers, and it is very durable and soft. The pillow is filled with a mixture of 70% responsive CertiPUR-US certified memory foam, which means that it is more eco-friendly than conventional materials, and 30% natural Kapok fibers. The memory foam is resilient and dense, whereas the Kapok fibers are airy and very soft, which results in a unique combination of support and plush feeling. Kapok fibers are also hypoallergenic and are recommended for people with down allergies.  

The Layla is a perfect balance of softness and support, and it provides pressure relieving benefits and soft contouring. It offers great breathability and excellent cooling benefits as it doesn’t retain body heat at all, and it is an excellent choice for people who don’t want to worry about waking up in sweat. Besides being hypoallergenic, it provides additional health benefits thanks to copper-infused fibers, including better blood circulation, reduced inflammation, snoring, sleep apnea, and clean skin. This pillow is also highly shapeable and very comfortable. When it comes to firmness, it is medium soft. 

Layla pillow has a trial period of 120 nights with free returns and a 5-year warranty. The shipping is free in the continental United States. If you want this model delivered to Hawaii or Alaska you have to pay $20, which is cheaper than average. The delivery rate for Canada is $40. 

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Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow 

TEMPUR-Neck pillow is another great memory foam pillow, and it is the best memory foam pillow for neck pain. It is extra firm memory foam pillow available in three loft options and it is beneficial for people with chronic neck pain and aches. It is extremely durable and maintains its shape longer than other single-piece memory foam pillows. Also, it has an above-average lifespan.  

source: tempurpedic.com

The cover of the TEMPUR-Neck is made of 100% polyester, which protects the pillow from dust and allergens. It has a durable zipper, and the cover can be removed and washed in the washing machine. Beneath the cover, there is a polyester netting which represents an additional layer of protection when the cover is being washed, and it encases the foam beneath the cover. This pillow is made with visco-elastic memory foam made by Tempur-Pedic, and it conforms to the sleeper’s head quickly. 

This Tempur Pedic memory foam pillow has a unique curved design which allows the proper alignment of neck, head, and shoulders and enables maintaining the correct posture while sleeping.  It is very responsive to the sleeper’s temperature and weight and provides optimal support and pressure relief. It is available in three sizes – small, medium, and large, and the sleeper’s choice should depend on his or her height, sleep position, and body type. TEMPUR-Neck pillow is the best memory foam pillow for side sleepers and back sleepers. However, it is a bad choice for people who sleep on their stomach as it simply wasn’t designed for this position. It has deep compression and very slow response time, and it is perfect for heavier sleepers and sleepers with average weight.  

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck pillow comes with warranty of 5 years and free shipping in the continental United States. However, there is no trial period nor allowed returns. 

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Tempur-Pedic All-Purpose Pillow 

All-Purpose Pillow from Tempur-Pedic is a travel-sized memory foam pillow. Thanks to its size, it is suitable for trains, planes, cars, and more, where travelers are in the upright sleeping position. It is shaped like a peanut, which provides adequate support for the head and prevents it from falling to the side. Tempur-Pedic All-Purpose pillow has other purposes as well, besides being excellent for traveling. It is a great pillow for camping and it can be used as a neck roll, leg spacer, and a lumbar cushion.  

source: tempurpedic.com

The cover of this pillow is removable, washable and very convenient thanks to strap for carrying. It is made with 75% cotton and 25% polyester, it is hypoallergenic, which makes it an excellent choice for allergy sufferers, and resistant to dust mites. The All-Purpose pillow is made with proprietary Tempur-Pedic memory foam which provides exceptional pressure relief and contours to the sleeper’s head and neck.  

This travel-sized pillow provides excellent ergonomic support, comfort, and it responds to body weight and temperature. It is firm and extremely portable as it can be stored in any backpack or suitcase. It is an ideal option for people who experience frequent neck pain or shoulder pain as it provides pressure relief on these sensitive areas. 

Tempur-Pedic All-Purpose pillow comes with a 5-year warranty and free shipping in the continental U.S. Trial period and returns are not available. 

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Available Sizes of Memory Foam Pillows 

Sometimes, it is easy to get confused when hunting for the perfect pillow for your bedroom due to different sizes and dimensions available. Sleepers often have troubles determining which size of a pillow to choose. We will explain the pillow sizes in detail so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing a new model. It is easier to determine what you need if you know more about the different sizes available. Many companies offer various sizes of pillows, but there is an acceptable size standard within the sleep industry to help sleepers in their search for the ideal pillow. The most common pillow sizes include: 

Standard 

This pillow size is the most common, and a significant percentage of sleepers use it. It is the shortest option, and the most compact one, and it is the cheapest due to the use of fewer materials, compared to larger-sized pillows. Dimensions of standard sized pillows are 20” x 26”, and they are a good fit for everyone, from children to people with larger body frames. These pillows can be used in pillowcases of standard or queen size. 

Queen 

Sometimes people use standard size and queen size synonymously despite the fact that the measurements of queen-sized pillows are 20” x 30” – they are 4” longer compared to standard pillows. They are a perfect fit for people who think that the standard size is too compact, and those who tend to shift their positions a lot while sleeping. These pillows can be used in pillowcases of a queen and standard size. 

King 

King size pillows are the largest pillows offered. Their dimensions are 20” x 36”. As you can see, they are 6” longer than queen size pillows. In general, they are used on beds of king size to fit across the width of the bed. A king size memory foam pillow is an excellent option for sleepers with broad shoulders who need additional support and restless sleepers. Pillows of this size can also be great as backrests for sleepers who like to sit up in bed and watch television or read a book. 

Body 

This size is a very popular choice among people who prefer sleeping on their side or stomach as these pillows support their legs, hips, head, and neck and provide the proper spinal alignment. They are a perfect option for sleepers who like snuggling with a pillow. Their dimensions are, in most cases, 20” x 54”. 

Travel  

Travel pillows are generally used to support the neck while the sleeper is in the upright position. They are an excellent choice for traveling and camping, and can also be used as leg spacers or lumbar cushions. These pillows are ideal when traveling long distances. Their dimensions are 11” x 16” and they can be easily stored in suitcases and backpacks. 

Pillow Size  Measurements 
Standard  20” x 26” 
Queen  20” x 30” 
King  20” x 36” 
Body  20” x 54” 
Travel  11” x 16” 

 

Features of Memory Foam Pillows 

It is not easy to choose the right pillow that fits your needs and preferences. Here are some of the most important features of memory foam pillows: 

 

What are the Benefits of Memory Foam Pillows? 

More sleepers are opting for memory foam pillows, and it is all for good reasons. Many people have reported the improvement in sleep quality and duration after getting a memory foam pillow. Of course, many factors have an impact on whether a particular type of pillow will work for different sleepers or not. Here are the most important memory foam pillow benefits that you can expect: 

Pressure Relief 

Since memory foam pillows can contour to the unique shape of the sleeper’s body, they support the neck and head. These pillows are excellent for pressure points in the shoulders, neck and back area. The conforming nature of these pillows cradles the sleeper’s neck and other sensitive areas to save them from taking the pressure. Memory foam pillows provide excellent pressure relief and pain reduction in neck, head and shoulders, and they are a perfect choice for people who suffer from neck pain

Support 

Thanks to the ability to mold to the shape of the sleeper’s neck and head, memory foam pillows provide the right amount of support. They hold the person’s neck and head in a neutral position and distribute weight evenly. 

Spinal Alignment 

Another major benefit of this type of pillows is that they provide the proper spinal alignment. These pillows hold and support the neck in place, and the spine follows it. When they are aligned properly, it improves the body’s ability to heal and regenerate itself. 

No Noise 

Unlike other types of pillows, memory foam models are virtually silent when the pressure is applied. Something like this makes them a perfect choice for individuals who can be woken up easily during the night by any type of noise. 

Easy Maintenance 

Most memory foam pillows are easy to maintain as they can be easily cleaned. All that the sleeper has to do is to remove the cover of the pillow and wash it in the washing machine. However, this doesn’t apply to one-piece foam pillows as they need to be spot-cleaned, which requires patience. Also, there is no need to waste time on fluffing pillows as memory foam models naturally return to their original shape. 

Antibacterial and Hypoallergenic 

Memory foam pillows are hypoallergenic and antibacterial since they are made of synthetic materials. They prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, are resistant to dust mites, and they are an ideal option for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. These pillows don’t release any microparticles into the air that could be inhaled, compared to feather and wool pillows. 

 

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Renata is an economist who has always had a passion for writing. She is a dog lover, Netflix addict and a sleepaholic. When she is not busy doing sleep research, she spends her time reading books, hiking and playing video games.

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