Best Firm Pillows

Everyone has a favorite pillow at home. Usually, one of the major reasons why people have a favorite is because of the pillow’s relative firmness. Depending on how a person sleeps – whether on their back, side, or stomach – the firmness of a pillow can have an instrumental effect on the quality of slumber.

Pillows are constructed with different materials, different shapes, and different fabrics that all play a part in the firmness of the pillow. The longevity of this firmness is also at play; some pillows may get too soft after having a strong initial structure. To help understand what is out there in the market, we have looked for different examples of quality pillows that are known for firmness.

The Best Firm Pillows

• Best for Back Sleepers – TEMPUR-Neck Pillow
• Editor’s Choice – Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow
• Best for Side Sleepers – Lagoon Hippo Pillow
• Best Down Pillow – Brooklinen Firm Down Pillow
• Best for Hot Sleepers – Nolah Squishy Pillow
• Best Latex Pillow – PlushBeds Solid Latex Pillow

Best for Back Sleepers

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow

Pros: 

• Contoured. This pillow has a unique curved shape. The highest point of the curve is made for back sleepers to rest their neck on, while the lower point on the pillow is where the head rests.
• Firm feel. Tempur-Pedic markets this pillow as “extra firm”, however, the memory foam in this pillow still allows for you to comfortably sink into the pillow.
• Size options. The pillow comes in three different sizes: small, medium, and large, which allows for sleepers of all sizes to find the perfect fit to contour their head and neck.

Cons:

• Heat trapping. This pillow is a memory foam pillow, and like most memory foam products, it can trap heat. This may not be the best option for hot sleepers who need pillows with more cooling benefits.
• Stomach sleepers may not like it. If you’re a stomach sleeper, this pillow may be too firm for you, and the unique shape of this pillow may not allow for proper spinal alignment in this sleeping position.

TEMPUR-Neck Pillow

The TEMPUR-Neck is a molded memory foam pillow with an ergonomic shape designed to follow the natural curvature of the body.

Sleepopolis Score

3.90 / 5

Read Full Review

Check Price

Editor’s Choice

Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow

Pros: 

• Adjustable. A great aspect of this pillow is that the density – and thus the firmness – of the pillow can be adjusted to the liking of the sleeper. The memory foam fill can be accessed and adjusted in just a few steps.
• Stretchy liner. The inner lining of this pillow (the part that contains the memory foam fill) is made of a stretchy fabric. This allows maximum adjustability with regards to the amount of fill and also lets the pillow be adjusted to a wide variety of shapes for extra comfort.
• Bamboo. The outer lining of the pillow is part polyester and part bamboo rayon. Bamboo is known as a rather breathable fabric, which is great for those who may sweat at night and need extra circulation.

Cons:

• Set-up process. This pillow is not ready to use out of the box. It needs to be fluffed in the dryer. Once it is fully formed, the filling needs to be adjusted.
• Scent. Perhaps due to the nature of the manufacturing process or the materials used, there is a distinct scent that may be noticeable to those with sensitive senses of smell.

Coop Home Goods Original Pillow

The Coop Home Goods pillow is an excellent value for the money. The pillow has a removable cover, interior and exterior cover, machine washable, and is fully adjustable.

Sleepopolis Score

4.70 / 5

Read Full Review

Check Price

Best for Side Sleepers

Lagoon Hippo Pillow

Pros: 

• Great for heavy sleepers. The Lagoon Hippo is one of Lagoon’s firmer pillow options, which makes it a good match for larger side sleepers who are looking for a bit more support in their pillow.
• Firm. The Hippo pillow is made to make you feel like you’re sleeping on top of the pillow, rather than sinking into it. That being said, it is made of memory foam, so it will still give side sleepers some contouring. They just have to enjoy a firm pillow.
• Cooling features. This pillow is created with molded memory foam that has air funnels throughout to help prevent heat from being trapped in the pillow. 

Cons:

• Plushness. If you’re looking for a plush-feeling memory foam pillow that you can sink into, this may not be the best pick for you. The Hippo is designed for people who are looking for more support than comfort.
• Adjustability. Unlike other Lagoon pillows, the Hippo is made with a moldable foam block rather than shredded foam, meaning that it’s not as easily adjustable as its brand counterparts.

Lagoon Hippo Pillow

The Lagoon Hippo pillow features a firm, memory foam core and a bamboo-blend cover.

Sleepopolis Score

4.50 / 5

Check Price

Best Down Pillow

Brooklinen Firm Down Pillow

Pros: 

• You’ve got options. The Brooklinen Firm Down pillow comes in two sizes: standard and king. What’s more — if you find that the Firm Down pillow is too firm, you could also try the Mid-Plush version of the pillow.
• The firmness. The Brooklinen Firm Down is made with a dual-core system that has an inner layer of feathers and an outer layer of down clusters. This makes the pillow great for anyone who’s looking for firmness without wanting to sacrifice comfort.
• Less risk of allergies. This pillow has been treated with antimicrobials to help reduce allergens.

Cons:

• It’s not adjustable. While the Down pillow comes in three different firmness levels, you can’t adjust the pillow once you receive it. It comes sealed in a 100% cotton outer cover.
• It’s not vegan. Down and feathers come directly from birds, so if you’re looking for a vegan option, check out our list of the best down-alternative pillows.

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

Check Price

Best for Hot Sleepers

Nolah Squishy Pillow

Pros: 

• It’s cooling. The Nolah Squishy Pillow is made with a bamboo blend cover, and bamboo is known to be a cooling material. The pillow is also constructed with shredded foam which can help with airflow throughout the pillow.
• It’s firm and comfortable. The Squishy pillow is firm enough to allow you to sleep on top of it without sinking too far in, but as the name suggests, the pillow also has a very squishy feel to it!
• It’s adjustable. You can change the loft of the Squishy pillow by adding or removing some of the fill in the pillow.

Cons:

• It’s best for people who want a higher-lofted pillow. For fans of lower lofts, you’d likely need to remove a large amount of fill to get your preferred loft.
• Limited size options. The Nolah Squishy pillow is only available in queen-size.

Nolah Squishy Pillow

The Nolah Squishy pillow definitely lives up to its squishy name! It’s squishy, but the shredded foam fill is very elevating and supportive—making it an especially great pillow for side sleepers, who need to keep their head and neck in alignment.

Sleepopolis Score

4.50 / 5

Read Full Review

Check Price

Best Latex Pillow

PlushBeds Solid Latex Pillow

Pros: 

• The cooling benefits. The PlushBeds Solid Latex pillow is made from organic latex, which is typically a cooler material, and the outer cover is made with 100% organic cotton to help make the pillow more breathable.
• It balances support and comfort. Since the pillow is made from latex, it has a bouncy, springy feel, and it cradles the head and neck to offer some pressure relief.
• Hypoallergenic. All the materials in this pillow are 100% natural and organic, and the pillow is also hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.

Cons:

• Price. The Solid Latex pillow is a luxury pillow, so it comes at a luxury price. It may not be the best option if you’re looking for a pillow on a budget.
• It isn’t adjustable. The Solid Latex pillow comes as is, so if you want more customization in your pillow, this one may not be a great choice.

PlushBeds Organic Solid Latex Pillow

This pillow features a solid block of latex foam, perforated for airflow, as the core. It also has a breathable organic cotton cover.

Check Price

How to Shop for Firm Pillows

Finding a pillow that provides enough neck support yet is still comfortable can be an arduous task. In addition to the material that fills the pillow, aspects of the fabric, stitching, and design can make a big difference as well. Here are the most important categories we looked at:

Filling 

When scouring the pillow market, one of the most salient differences one will find is the difference in filling. For obvious reasons, the density of the filling inside the pillow is a big factor. But the actual substance itself makes an almost equal impact.

Some pillows are filled with a material that has a uniform consistency, such as memory foam or other types of foam. This type of filling can definitely be firm but often doesn’t have as much give or adjustability as loose filling. Loose filling in pillows can often be adjusted by manipulating the shape of the pillow.

Shape

The shape of a pillow can really help provide both support and comfort as well. While most pillows will be a standard size in terms of width and length, there are other facets of a pillow’s shape that can add extra support. 

Solid-foam pillows may have less depth to them, but will often have less give, meaning the head will only dip into the pillow a small amount. This provides support, but for those who want more volume under their head, this thinner shape can be a problem. Conversely, some pillows are too thick; one sacrifice of having increased firmness and density is a deep profile that may be too cumbersome or awkward for some styles of sleep.

Adjustability 

While some people may want a firm pillow generally, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every night will necessitate the same exact type of support. Some people may be restless sleepers and rotate positions throughout the night, and for them, having a pillow that can be manipulated and contorted is crucial. For them, finding a pillow that has a shape that can be altered may be as important as the firmness.

Memory foam pillows are among the least adjustable, but make up for it with the amount of density and firmness they provide. Some pillows have a sort of filling that can be easily accessed and with an amount that can be adjusted. This sort of filling is usually pretty standard; if the pillow purchased isn’t firm enough, there is probably a place where the more similar filling can be found. 

Tips

Not sure which pillow has the right firmness for you? Here are some suggestions that may make your decision a bit easier:

• Which position do you sleep in the most often?
  • For stomach, side, and back sleepers, there are usually different levels of firmness that are most comfortable. 
  • Side sleepers often need the most firmness, followed by back, and then finally stomach sleepers, who need the least amount of firmness typically.
• Do you change positions while sleeping?
  • For those who tend to rotate between various sleeping positions, it may behoove you to find a pillow that allows its structure to be contorted to different shapes.
  • Different fillings can be moved around within the pillow with various levels of success. Look out for pillow filling that can maintain its structure even when manipulated.

FAQs