If you’re looking for a truly royal sleeping experience, you may want to seek out the best king size pillow. Larger than a standard-size pillow, it gives you plenty of room to stretch out, roll around, and luxuriate in a good night’s rest. But not all pillows are created equal. Each one has a different construction and features that will appeal to different types of sleepers. So to help you decide, we’ve put together a list of what we believe to be the best king size pillows. Read on so you can get to sleeping like a king!
Best King Size Pillows of 2024
- Layla Kapok – Best Overall
- Luxome LAYR Pillow – Best Customizable Pillow
- Brooklinen Down – Best Down Pillow
- Coop Sleep Goods Eden Pillow – Best Pillow for Combination Sleepers
- TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow – Best for Side Sleepers
- Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex – Best Latex Pillow
- Saatva Latex – Best Pillow for Back Sleepers
- Puffy Pillow – Best Memory Foam Pillow
- Cozy Earth Silk Pillow – Best Cooling Pillow
- Lagoon Fox Pillow – Best Adjustable Pillow
Best King Size Pillows Video
Best Overall – Layla Kapok
Layla Kapok Pillow
Constructed with shredded foam and natural fibers from a Kapok tree, this pillow is both plush and dense enough for side sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
We chose the Layla Kapok as our Editor’s Pick for the best king pillow because of its universality. Its adjustability allows it to appeal to many different sleeping positions, it has an infusion of copper to help it sleep cool, and it manages to be plush yet dense at the same time.
Materials
The Layla Kapok is filled with a down alternative — a mixture of shredded memory foam and fibers made from seeds of the kapok tree. As for the cover, it’s composed of a blend of polyester, viscose, and poly lycra, all woven together with copper fibers, which help keep the pillow’s temperature low.
Why It’s a Good Pick
With all of the filling in place, the Layla Kapok has a high loft that’s ideal for side sleepers, as it keeps their head and neck supported. But you can also remove the filling to your liking. So back sleepers can easily create the lower loft they need. And its firmness should be comfortable for combination sleepers who need a responsive pillow that allows them to easily switch positions.
The one sleeping position that may not find the Layla Kapok to be comfortable is stomach sleepers. Even with a lower loft, it probably won’t be soft enough for them.
Mosey on over to our full review of the Layla Kapok for additional info. And for more great options, check out our roundup of the best pillows of 2024.
Price (as of August 1): $129
Best Customizable Pillow – Luxome LAYR
Luxome LAYR Pillow
The LUXOME LAYR Pillow is a customizable option with CertiPUR-US certified memory foam and naturally cooling bamboo.
Customizable pillows are great for anyone who isn’t quite sure what loft suits them best. With the king sized Luxome LAYR pillow, you can play with how much fill or what types of inserts to add to your pillow. This allows you to increase or decrease the pillow’s loft, ensuring proper spinal alignment and maximum comfort.
Materials
The Luxome LAYR pillow boasts a cover made from naturally cooling bamboo viscose. As for the fill, you’ll find memory foam that’s CertiPUR-US certified and gel-infused for cooling. This pillow is designed to have proper airflow, keeping night sweats at bay.
Why It’s a Good Customizable Pick
This pillow is marketed to suit all body types and sleeping positions. On Luxome’s website, you can find examples of how to properly adjust this pillow to your needs.
Our full review is coming soon. For more options, check out our various pillow reviews.
Price (as of August 1): $130-160, with a discount if you buy a two-pack
Best Down Pillow – Brooklinen Down
Brooklinen Down Pillow
The Brooklinen Down pillow is available in three firmness levels, making it versatile for a variety of sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.30 / 5
Read Full Review
Just because a king size pillow is big doesn’t mean it can’t be soft. The Brooklinen Down treats sleepers to extra-comfy plushness, courtesy of its filling of Canadian down clusters and feathers. But there are also three different levels of firmness available for anyone who wants a different kind of filling and loft.
Materials
The softest model — the Plush — is only filled with fluffy down clusters. This is the best option for stomach sleepers. The Mid-Plush is a bit firmer, outfitted with a firmer, more supportive inner layer of feathers and an outer layer of down clusters. This model is likely the most comfortable for back sleepers and combination sleepers. Some side sleepers might find it comfortable, too.
Finally, there’s the Firm model, which is similar to the Mid-Plush, but has more feathers than clusters. Because of its firmness, it’s likely best for side sleepers who need their neck and shoulders kept in a proper alignment.
Regardless of which pillow you choose, they all come shrouded in a soft and breathable cotton cover.
Why It’s a Good Down Pick
For one, there’s the versatility. There’s something for lovers of extra-soft down, as well as sleepers who prefer a more responsive pillow. They also come at different price points, so there’s a little bit of flexibility with the budget.
Are you down with the Brooklinen Down? You can learn about more of its features in our full review. Note that our review is from before there were three different pillows available, so not all of the firmness levels get mentioned.
Still searching? See some of our other picks for the best down pillow.
Price (as of August 1): $99–$129. Brooklinen also currently has a pack of two or three pillows available for a discounted price.
Best Pillow for Combination Sleepers – Coop Sleep Goods Eden
Coop Eden Pillow
With cooling Lulltra fabric and shredded gel-infused memory foam fill, this down alternative pillow from Coop Sleep Goods is great for hot sleepers, side sleepers, and back sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.60 / 5
Read Full Review
Combination sleepers require a more responsive pillow that allows for ease of mobility. This tends to be a firmer pillow with an “on top of” feel, making it convenient for combination sleepers to switch sleeping positions. The Coop Sleep Goods Eden pillow happens to be our favorite king size option.
Materials
The Coop Eden Pillow’s cover is made of polyester and viscose, which is derived from bamboo. On the inside, there’s shredded memory foam and microfiber that’s infused with cooling gel. This pillow is hypoallergenic, CertiPUR-US certified, and GREENGUARD Gold certified.
Why It’s a Good Pick For Combination Sleepers
Combo sleepers usually need a pillow that’s supportive and responsive since they frequently change positions at night. If a pillow is too soft or has too much sinkage, they can start feeling stuck and find it hard to move. Luckily, this pillow boasts a firmer feel, which should allow combination sleepers to shift around when they need to.
For more information, read our full review. Until then, you can switch positions and take a look at some of our other best pillows for combination sleepers.
Price (as of August 1): $96-108
Best Pillow for Side Sleepers – TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow
TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow
It offers cozy contouring but is still a supportive pillow, it has cooling technology that actually works, and it works well for back sleepers and side sleepers alike.
Sleepopolis Score
4.30 / 5
Read Full Review
The Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow has cooling technology that actually works. The cotton, gel, and the top of the line memory foam materials offer coziness, contouring, and the perfect amount of pressure relief and support for side sleepers.
Materials
This pillow is made up of three layers: a 100 percent cotton outer layer (it’s removable and machine-washable!), an inner layer made of a mesh polyester fabric, and the core — a single piece of TEMPUR material foam lined on each side with a TEMPUR-Breeze gel pad, which is gel-infused memory foam.
Why It’s a Good Pick For Side Sleepers
The Tempur-Dual Breeze has a slightly firm feel, which should help side sleepers keep their head and neck aligned with their spine. The higher loft should also help achieve the right pressure relief and spinal alignment.
Learn more about this pillow in our full review of the Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow. And if you’re still not sure if this pillow is right for you, look at some of our other options in our guide to the best pillows for side sleepers.
Price (as of August 1): $199
Best Latex Pillow – Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex
Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
Combo sleepers can enjoy light, buoyant support to ease neck and back pain in every position!
Sleepopolis Score
4.70 / 5
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The Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex pillow has all of the traits that make its namesake material fit for a king: it’s soft but responsive, cooling, and can be a great option for sleepers with allergies. It also comes in two loft options to give it some versatility.
Materials
Obviously, the pillow’s core is made of Talalay latex foam. It’s derived from the sap of a rubber tree, with talalay being a softer, lighter type of latex than its firmer cousin, Dunlop latex (click here to read about their differences). The core is surrounded by an organic cotton cover that allows for a lot of airflow. You can even remove it and throw it in the wash. All of these materials are hypoallergenic, so anyone who suffers from allergies can enjoy a good night’s rest.
Why It’s a Good Latex Pick
Because the pillow is available in both a high and low loft, there’s something here for every sleeping position. The high loft is ideal for side sleepers, the low loft is best for stomach sleepers, and back sleepers should be comfortable on both. And because latex is naturally cooling, hot sleepers of all positions should be quite comfortable.
Our one caveat is that larger sleepers with especially broad shoulders may need an even higher loft than the one being offered here.
If you’re intrigued by this naturally comfortable pillow, learn more in our full review. And you can continue exploring the wonderful world of latex in our guide to the best latex pillows.
Price (as of August 1): $99
Best Pillow for Back Sleepers – Saatva Latex
Saatva Latex Pillow
A fluffable mix of down-alternative and Talalay latex makes this pillow cozy, cool, and great for combo sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full Review
Take note, luxury lovers: the Saatva Latex has the plush vibe of a hotel pillow, all while still remaining supportive enough for back sleepers. Its high loft, elegant construction, and cozy feel truly put the “king” in king size.
Materials
The pillow’s namesake material can be found in its core, which is made up of shredded natural latex. Moving outward, there’s an outer pillow made of a down alternative called microdenier fiber. This is where the fluffiness comes from. And surrounding it all is an organic cotton cover that can be unzipped, removed, and washed.
Why It’s a Good Pick For Back Sleepers
Don’t be deceived by the fluffiness. The latex core gives this pillow enough support to keep back sleepers’ spines in a neutral alignment. Side sleepers should also find this to be a comfortable pillow. And hot sleepers should find a lot to love in all of the cooling features present. Not only is latex naturally cool; the cover is highly breathable, and there are gussets on the side that release any hot air and help the pillow maintain its shape.
As good as the Saatva Latex is for back and side sleepers (and probably combination sleepers, too), stomach sleepers are probably going to need something softer.
For all the features of this king sized pillow, read our full review. And if you’re a back sleeper who’s still on a mission, see our other picks for the best pillows for back sleepers.
Price (as of August 1): $185
Best Memory Foam Pillow – Puffy Pillow
Puffy Pillow
The Puffy Pillow is a great choice for sleepers looking for a pillow with customizable comfort, targeted support, and allergy-friendly properties.
Sleepopolis Score
4.90 / 5
Read Full Review
When creating their flagship mattress, Puffy sought out to offer sleepers “cloud-like comfort,” and they’ve done the same with their flagship pillow. But it’s a cloud you can customize. Just take off the king size cover, unzip the inner lining, and adjust the memory-foam fill to your liking.
Materials
There are essentially three parts to the Puffy pillow: a cover made of bamboo rayon and polyester, the synthetic inner lining, and the real star of the show — the fill. This pillow is packed with shredded memory foam that’s easily moldable and leaves plenty of room for airflow.
Why It’s a Good Pick For Memory Foam Lovers
Unlike other memory foam pillows, the fill of the Puffy pillow is cut into varying indefinable shapes, as opposed to cubes or even strips. This makes it even more compressible and easy to remove. The adjustability also makes the pillow a great fit for any sleeping position. Simply add or subtract the fill until you’re comfortable.
Learn all about this unique sleep accessory in our full review of the Puffy pillow. And if you’re not sold just yet, look at some of our other options in our guide to the best memory foam pillows.
Price (as of August 1): $120
Best Cooling Pillow – Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Made with 100 percent silk for the filling, this pillow will provide combination sleepers with a soft, luxurious feel.
Sleepopolis Score
4.90 / 5
Read Full Review
It’s hard to know where to begin with the cooling features in this king size pillow. With a bamboo viscose cover and a silk filling, we think the best cooling pillow title should go to the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow. Bamboo and silk, both naturally cooling materials, work to dissipate heat and cool sleepers down. Plus, this pillow has soft, plush feel that works well for back and stomach sleepers.
Materials
Wrapped around the bamboo viscose cover is a mulberry silk fill.
Why It’s a Good Pick for Hot Sleepers
This luxury option has a 10-year warranty, 100-night sleep trial, and free shipping. So, you’ve got lots of time to determine if it’s the right pillow for your needs. With a great construction and high-quality materials, we like to think this cooling pillow will keep you at a comfortable temperature and improve your quality of sleep overall.
Read our full Cozy Earth Silk pillow review to learn more about this soft, cozy pillow.
Price (as of August 1): $279-329
Best Adjustable Pillow – Lagoon Fox
Lagoon Fox Pillow
This adjustable pillow allows you to add or subtract the fill until you find the right height and firmness level.
Read Full ReviewThe Lagoon Fox is the brand’s best-selling pillow, and for good reason. It’s soft, supportive, and adjustable, meaning you can take out the fill of the pillow or add it in as needed. The adjustable fill also makes this pillow great for any sleeping type: side, back, stomach, or a combination of the three!
Materials
The Lagoon Fox’s outer cover is made from a bamboo and polyester blended fabric, and it’s hypoallergenic and machine washable to keep dust and germs away. The inner cover is made from shredded CertiPUR-US memory foam blended with polyester microfibers.
Why It’s a Good Adjustable Pick
The adjustable fibers in this pillow are a blend of 80 percent memory foam and 20 percent polyester microfibers, making this pillow plush and supportive. Since it’s adjustable, you can customize the pillow height to your own sleep needs and preferences.
Still want to learn more? Read more in our full review of Lagoon brand pillows. And if you’re interested in other choices, see our roundup of the best adjustable pillows.
Price (as of August 1): $119
Some Other King Pillow Options
- Purple Harmony: Purple has made a name for itself with mattresses that contain its patented Purple Grid Hex — essentially a hyperelastic polymer that collapses in accordance with your weight. You can now get this experience in king size pillow form with a product that’s breathable and responsive.
- Casper Foam: Made with three layers, this pillow from Casper feels like a more responsive take on memory foam. It should be a good fit for side sleepers and back sleepers.
- DreamCloud Best Rest: This is another pillow made from a single, solid piece of memory foam. Even though memory foam tends to sleep hot, this has an infusion of CopperGel to keep the pillow cool. We found the DreamCloud Best Rest to be a great fit for every position except stomach-sleeping.
King Pillow Sizing
The term “king pillow” is just a fancy way of saying that it measures 20 inches by 36 inches. Compare that to a Queen-size pillow (20 inches by 30 inches), standard-size pillow (20 inches by 26 inches), and super-standard size pillow (20 inches by 28 inches), and you can see how its dimensions are truly fit for royalty. In fact, the only pillow bigger than a king is a full-body pillow.
King Pillow Pricing
Of course, because it’s bigger than other pillows, a king size pillow is going to cost more. While it varies depending on the brand and materials, a king pillow is usually going to be the most expensive of the sizes being offered. For added context, the pillows on this list range from $99 to $189. This is an accurate representation of what it might cost for a high-quality king size pillow.
King Pillow Loft
When we say “loft,” we’re talking about the height of a pillow, and different sleeping positions have different needs. For instance, stomach sleepers tend to need a low pillow loft that prevents their neck from craning upward and causing pain. Side sleepers, on the other hand, need a higher loft that gives them the proper neck support. And back sleepers need a medium loft for a mixture of comfort and support.
It’s worth noting that king size pillows come in all loft sizes, and the categorization itself doesn’t affect the height. The “king” designation has more to do with the length and width of the pillow than how tall it is.
Who a King Pillow Might Be Good For
- Heavy people. Because a king size pillow has a bigger surface area than other pillows, it can accommodate people with larger body types.
- Those with back and neck pain. The pillow’s bigger size helps comfortably align the neck and spine.
- Simply put, anyone who wants a larger pillow! Everyone has different sleep preferences, so decide whether you want a sleeping surface that gives you more room to spread out, or if you prefer something smaller and more compact.
Who a King Pillow Might Not Be Good For
- Those who sleep on a twin-size bed. Because of its size, a king pillow will only leave about one inch of mattress space on either side of the mattress. It’s really a better fit for full-size beds and bigger.
FAQs
What is the best king-size pillow?
The word “best” is somewhat misleading, as different sleepers require different things from a pillow in terms of feel, material, and price. That being said, we think the Layla Kapok pillow is a good universal pick that should appeal to a variety of people.
Is a king-size pillow worth it?
We believe it’s worth it if you prefer a larger sleep surface for your head and can afford a more expensive pillow. But as we said before, it’s probably not the best option for someone who sleeps in a smaller bed such as a twin-size, as it will likely take up too much space on the mattress.
Is a king-size pillow the same as a body pillow?
No. Although they’re the same width, the body pillow is much bigger, measuring 20” x 54” (a king-size pillow is 20” x 36”). You probably only want a body pillow if you have a queen- or king-size mattress. It will take up too much room on anything smaller.
How many pillows should be on a king-size bed?
If two people sleep in the bed, you only need two pillows, at minimum. However, some sleepers prefer to load up their mattress with multiple pillows, especially if they have the extra room on a king-size mattress. It’s really up to you!
