Having the right pillow is critical for not only a good night’s rest, but to also maintain healthy spine alignment, reduce head and neck aches, and relieve pressure throughout your body. However, many pillows can run your wallet dry. Is it possible to get a good-quality pillow without a large price tag attached to it?
Top 5 Most Affordable Pillows
The answer is yes, absolutely. Pillows can range from $20 to nearly $200, and while more expensive often equates to a really nice product, some of the budget-friendly pillow options can also get the job done.
Below are my five picks for the most affordable pillows that still provide solid support. Note: Not all of these options will be cheap. Rather, these are the best deals considering the quality of the pillow: the materials used and the design implemented to ensure it’s serving your body well.
Best Memory Foam Pillow | ||
COOP Home Goods Original Pillow  | COOP Home Goods Original Pillow The COOP Home Goods Original pillow is made from a memory foam microfiber blend fill that's removable for easy adjustment. | Doesn't expire |
Best Pillow for Combination Sleepers | ||
Allswell Down Alternative Pillow  | Allswell Down Alternative Pillow The Allswell Down Alternative pillow has the cozy, moldable feeling of down, but without the hefty price tag. | Doesn't expire |
Best Cooling Pillow | ||
Eli & Elm Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow  | Eli & Elm Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow The Eli & Elm Ventilated Memory Foam pillow is made with a cooling gel infusion to help keep you cool all night long. | Doesn't expire |
Best Firm Pillow | ||
Puffy Pillow  | Puffy Pillow The Puffy pillow has a soft yet supportive feel that sleepers after added support should really like. | Doesn't expire |
Side-Sleepers | ||
Beyond Down Gel Fiber Side Sleeper Pillow  | Beyond Down Gel Fiber Side Sleeper Pillow Sleepers of all styles can enjoy this feathery, fluffable, down-alternative pillow! |
Why These Top Picks?
I wanted to provide a variety of pillows that were good deals and could also accommodate all different types of sleepers. From memory foam to down alternative, water, and gel-fiber fillings, hopefully there’s a pillow and price range for everyone out there.
Best Memory Foam Pillow
COOP Home Goods Original Pillow
Are you a fan of memory foam, but don’t like the idea of a pillow that’s just a big block of the stuff? Then you could really like the COOP Home Goods Original pillow, which is made from a blend of microfiber and shredded memory foam. This pillow blends the moldable, squishable feeling of down with the contouring and pressure relief of memory foam.
Another great feature about this memory foam pillow is that it sleeps cool. Unlike a solid block of memory foam, which can trap heat, the shredded fill lets air flow through the pillow, helping to prevent overheating.
This pillow has a medium-firm feel that’s best for side sleepers and back sleepers. Side sleepers will likely do best will the fill level the pillow comes with, but back sleepers might want to remove a bit of the fill to get their desired loft.
Full review coming soon!
The COOP Home Goods Original pillow is made from a memory foam microfiber blend fill that's removable for easy adjustment.
Best Pillow for Combination Sleepers
Allswell Down Alternative Pillow
Sleepers looking for a more affordable version of down should really like the Allswell Down Alternative pillow. Made with a 100% polyester fabric fill, it’s both hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, so sleepers with allergies should do especially well here.
Personally, I’m a fan of down alternative because it mimics that moldable, squishy feeling of down, but you don’t have to worry about any feathers poking out over time (something I’ve noticed with many down pillows I’ve tried, even some of the pricey ones). Combination sleepers should be comfortable with this material, as it has just enough response to allow them to switch positions throughout the night.
I also like that this pillow comes with a 100% cotton cover. That means it’s nice and breathable, and will also wash easily. In fact, you can throw this whole pillow in the washing machine (on a cold and gentle cycle), which makes cleaning a breeze.
Full review coming soon!
The Allswell Down Alternative pillow has the cozy, moldable feeling of down, but without the hefty price tag.
Best Cooling Pillow
Eli & Elm Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow
If you love the feel of memory foam, but have found that it tends to overheat, then you’ll like the Eli & Elm Ventilated Memory Foam pillow. This pillow is aerated, which helps it release trapped heat. And for additional cooling power, it comes with an infusion of cooling gel.
This pillow is also hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and is made with CertiPUR-US® Certified foams, which means it’s free from harmful chemicals and pollutants. For a pillow with all this cooling tech and added benefits, it comes at a really solid price.
Full review coming soon! In the meantime, check out our rundown of some of Eli & Elm’s other pillows.
The Eli & Elm Ventilated Memory Foam pillow is made with a cooling gel infusion to help keep you cool all night long.
Best Firm Pillow
Puffy Pillow
Firm pillows are great for sleepers who like added support, or suffer from neck or shoulder pain. The Puffy pillow has a firm feel that should work best for back or side sleepers. This firmness level will help keep their neck and spine neutrally aligned, which is the best way to prevent and reduce pain in those areas.
An added bonus about the Puffy pillow is that it’s adjustable. If you find that the pillow is too firm for your needs, simply remove some of the fill until you reach your desired level. This makes the pillow a great option for nearly every sleeper out there.
Full review coming soon!
The Puffy pillow has a soft yet supportive feel that sleepers after added support should really like.
Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
Beyond Down Gel pillow
The Beyond Down Gel pillow is a great balance of softness and support. It’s advertised as a “luxurious synthetic down pillow” filled with micro-denier gel fiber that mimics the feeling of down. It gets extra loft and lift from a double needle corded edged gusset—a piece of material that adds some boxy structure.
This is a win-win, especially for side sleepers who don’t like extra-firm pillows and would rather feel like they’re sleeping on a cloud. Plus, the Beyond Down Gel is only $24.50. Skip buying lattes for a week and you have yourself enough money for this pillow!
Learn more in my full Beyond Down Gel Pillow review.
Built with thick down alternative, the Beyond Down pillow is ideal for back and side sleepers.
Pillow-Fill, Explained
Since all of these pillows offer a variety of fill, I thought it would be helpful to break down the different types:
Shredded memory foam: Here’s why shredded memory foam is different from—and maybe even advantageous to—normal memory foam. When the foam is shredded, this allows for more airflow in the pillow itself, keeping you cool at night. Also, shredded foam pillows usually come with zippered inner-cases so you can add or remove the foam and adjust the pillow to your preferred level of firmness.
Down alternative/Gel fiber: Down alternative uses a synthetic filling made with polyester fibers that claim to mimic the feeling of down (gel fiber is often used). They are typically easier to clean, hypoallergenic, and a bit firmer, providing a pleasantly plush and fluffy feel, while still providing good support. However, they tend to wear down faster than down pillows. One main benefit is that they’re significantly more affordable!
Polyester: Polyester-filled pillows are the most common type of fill, and are generally the least expensive of the bunch. They’re lightweight and easy to clean, though also susceptible to clumping up and holding in heat.
Water: Water pillows are a great and popular option, thanks to how they provide firm yet adaptable support, while promising to not collapse under the weight of your head, regardless of how much pressure is applied.
Other types of pillow filling not on this list include down, latex, regular memory foam, and buckwheat.
Remember, A Great Pillow Is A Good Investment
While these are all great pillow options for someone on a budget, remember that a pillow should be considered an investment in your health. Since you spend nearly one-third of your life sleeping, don’t be afraid to find something that will give your body the support it needs to wake up refreshed and without soreness every morning.
Still looking for a pillow? Check out my best pillows page for a comprehensive overview.
