We tested 48 pillows and these are the best for a good night's sleep

Score: 96/100

Our joint winning pillow only dropped four marks overall (its lofty cooling claims disappointed slightly). In every other regard, it surpassed itself. Every tester gave it 10/10 and said they would both buy it and recommend it to friends and family.

It moulded quickly and effectively to our heads, offering optimal support to help ease neck pain. It didn't smell in any way chemical and the soft outer cover washed brilliantly, without noticeably shrinking.

It's breathable, albeit no more than most other pillows we tested, and while there's no trial period, its five-year guarantee feels generous.

Score: 96/100

In the words of one of our panellists, there was absolutely “nothing to dislike” about this pillow. They loved its level of support (firm but still soft enough to snuggle into it) and general softness. Our in-house experts agreed, too, awarding it strong scores for its high-quality design and bamboo cover that washed well.

This pillow is double-sided; one side is made with soft bamboo, and the other has a cooling gel pad. This worked wonders for some, although others found it almost too cold. However, we tested over winter and if you’re a hot sleeper, this is undoubtedly a positive. Anyway, there’s always the bamboo side within easy reach if you do need warming up.

Score: 95/100

For luxurious comfort that’s hypoallergenic to boot, treat yourself to this fluffy down pillow with a firm feather core.

Testers found it a dream to drift off on, no matter their sleeping style, as it offers both softness and support. It delivered a great night's sleep overall, staying satisfyingly cool and quiet throughout.

No feathers poked through to scratch us and it successfully prevented sniffles. It also stayed plump for the duration of the testing period and emerged from the washing machine looking as good as new. It’s pricey and there’s no trial offer, but it’s bliss to sink into.

Score: 95/100

Just like the pillow above, this is also made from soft Hungarian goose down and it helped our panellists enjoy a great night’s sleep. They praised its soft, sink-in feel that was still supportive. One tester even stated: “This is the nicest pillow I’ve had.”

It was a hit with our experts too, scoring highly even after going through the washing machine. The pillow kept its shape, bouncing back to its pre-wash height, and the quality of stitching remained the same. Note, when drying, we needed to run a second tumble dryer cycle to loosen up the filling. But overall, it’s an airy dream.

We also tested the Snuggledown Hotel Side Sleeper Pillow (86/100) and the Snuggledown Retreat Indulgent Cotton Pillow (80/100).

Score: 94/100

This is the only latex pillow on our list, but there’s no need to be dubious about its unusual filling. It mimics memory foam, but it’s designed to be more breathable. And it earned high praise on test; every single panellist would recommend this pillow to a friend, thanks to their excellent slumber and the way it helped regulate their body temperatures.

There’s no plasticky smell, and testers found the bouncy design balanced softness and support dreamily, making it helpful for both back and side sleepers alike. One even compared it to “sleeping on a supportive cloud”.

You can’t adjust the padding inside the pillow; however, its thick, quilted cover can be removed if you want to make it slimmer.

Score: 94/100

Another goose down pillow, another hit with our testers who gushed about its luxuriously bouncy and fluffy design. In fact, every single tester agreed that it helped them sleep soundly.

As you’d expect from The White Company, its premium design stood-out; its down is cruelty-free and no feathers poked through the cover. Plus, it’s available in two different sizes (standard or super king) as well as in three firmness levels (soft, medium or firm) to suit all kinds of sleepers. There’s even a handy bag for easy travel and storage.

While the pillow remained in good shape after washing, we did notice a slight loss of support so that’s something to keep in mind. Overall, though, it ticked the boxes for super soft comfort.

Score: 93/100

Panellists liked how this firm option from Simba didn’t squish too much or change shape throughout the night – one even found their sleep tracker reported that they were dosing more deeply after they made the switch.

It’s filled with two layers of foam and another of tiny springs, and handily, you can remove and reorder them to suit your sleep style and preferences. This feature went down well with testers, even though some found it took a few nights to find the right combination for maximum support.

The price point is high, but Simba is a registered B Corp, which means the pillow ticks our boxes for comfortable support and sustainability efforts.

We also tested Simba’s Hybrid Memory Foam Pillow, which scored 86/100.

Score: 93/100

Packed with puffy fibre that’s a blend of bamboo and recycled plastic and covered in 100% eucalyptus silk, this pillow ticks our boxes for being hypoallergenic, temperature regulating, and amazingly soft. Other eco credentials include eco-friendly packaging, and carbon neutral delivery.

Testers slept soundly and liked the pillow’s overall quality. It’s deep, but their heads sunk in pleasingly – even winning over those who prefer a slimmer pillow. It aced our wash tests too, although some testers would have liked more detailed care instructions. A small niggle, for an otherwise stellar buy.

Score: 93/100

Described as “like a huge marshmallow” by one of our testers, this pillow is perfect for recreating that hotel-quality sink-in feel at home. It claims to have anti-allergy properties and has been treated with naturally derived probiotics, which work to break down allergens such as dust mite matter and pet hair.

Panellists said it wasn’t too hot or too cold to sleep on (the perfect Goldilocks pillow) and our expert said it maintained its plump shape after washing and tumble-drying. One tester found the pillow’s fullness lent itself better to back sleeping than side sleeping but the majority said they’d continue using this one after testing.

We also tested John Lewis’ Specialist Support Natural Talalay Latex Pillow, which scored 88/100.

Score: 92/100

Sometimes it's the finer touches that transform a pillow from good to great, and that’s certainly the case with this luxuriously soft microfibre buy. Testers said it arrived in high-quality packaging, had no lingering ‘new’ smell and appeared plump and plush.

There was barely anything to fault when it came to night time either – testers found it comfortable in all sleeping positions. So, what’s the downside? Some said that it needed squishing a little for extra height and comfort and the care details weren’t as good as some other products, but really, there wasn’t much to dislike at all.

Score: 91/100

Don’t let the holes put you off – the unique latex and graphite composition of this pillow creates air channels for breathability, so it’s cool to the touch and naturally fire-retardant too, making it a good environmentally-friendly option as 'forever chemicals' (which are sometimes considered to be harmful to humans) are often used to enhance the fire resistant properties of pillows.

This one design received rave reviews from our panel too – one person told us: “This is probably the most comfortable pillow I’ve ever used.” It was rated highly for comfort, support and cooling properties across the board. However, some did notice a slight smell upon opening.

We also tested the Putnam Pillow (designed for side-sleepers), which scored 83/100.

Score: 90/100

This pillow comes in a choice of three levels of firmness, and we tried the firmest. Its down outer layer gives it a cloud-like quality but its feathery inner stops your head from sinking in too deeply.

It regulated temperature brilliantly, keeping testers cosy but never sweaty, and it helped to improve the length and quality of their sleep.

It didn’t once lose its shape or fullness during use, but it looked slightly deflated after washing. It rustled a bit when we changed positions, too, but we welcome the generous five-year guarantee.

Score: 89/100

With three layers of memory foam, you can easily adjust this pillow by removing a layer so it’s the perfect height for your head. You can machine wash the cover, too – note, it can’t be tumble dried – and on test it washed well with no shrinking.

Most of our panel found it a comfortable bedtime addition, noting that it maintained its buoyancy throughout the trial period. It’s quiet and breathable as well, with most of our panel reporting an excellent night’s sleep.

We also tested the Emma Original Hybrid Pillow, which scored 87/100.

Score: 89/100

The memory foam clusters inside this pillow can be easily removed or added to the pillow’s centre to create the ideal support, depending on your sleep style. Panellists appreciated the adjustable design, finding the pillow comfortable, plump, and supportive – plus, they had no issues with keeping their cool overnight.

In the lab, the pillow’s removable outer cover aced our expert’s wash tests. After air drying, the cover was easy to fit back on and there was no noticeable difference in its shape or quality.

Score: 89/100

This pillow is made with a soft quilted cover that’s designed to keep you fresh and comfortable throughout hot nights. Our testers found this super effective, although for some popping another pillowcase on top limited the cooling effect. But the cover washed impeccably in the lab, so you could easily go without an extra layer.

As for the firm memory foam filling, our panel found it pleasingly supportive. It wasn’t plump enough for everyone, but if you’re a hot sleeper it’s a great buy.