A quick look at the best hotel pillows for sleep

If you’ve ever stayed in a high end hotel and enjoyed truly blissful sleep, you may have chalked it up to the luxurious linens and that dreamy pillow. And you may not be wrong. Since hotels host sleepers of all sorts, their bedding needs to be well made and offer a fine balance of comfort and support.

If you’re looking to replicate the great sleep you enjoyed at a particular hotel, shopping for a hotel pillow may be the answer. Here’s what makes hotel pillows so special, plus our picks for the best you can buy.

Healthline Reviews: Marlow Adjustable Pillow

What is the difference between a hotel pillow and a regular one?

There’s no specific difference between hotel pillows and regular pillows. However, hotel pillows tend to offer a medium firmness and loft to accommodate a wide range of sleepers, as well as impressive durability. Above all, a hotel pillow should give the impression of luxury, which is evident in its level of plush support.

How we chose

In putting together our recommendations for the best hotel pillows, we looked for luxurious options from reputable manufacturers. We prioritized allergy-friendly pillows with high durability and that perfectly medium feel. We also checked for perks like home trials and reasonable return policies. Finally, we looked closely at reviews to get an idea of what real customers think.

Pricing guide

Our guide reflects pricing for standard-size pillows. Price may vary depending on pillow size.

  • $ = under $70
  • $$ = $70–$170
  • $$$ = $170–$270
  • $$$$ = over $270

Healthline’s picks for the best 15 hotel pillows of 2022

Best down hotel pillow

Parachute Down Pillow

Parachute Down Pillow
  • Price: $$
  • Materials: down, sateen cotton
  • Pro: choice of three densities
  • Con: higher price point for higher density options

If luxury is the hotel pillow’s signature, the down pillow from Parachute fits the bill. The majority of the pillow’s 1,400 reviews put it at 5 stars for its supreme comfort and plushness.

It’s available in two sizes and a choice of three densities, but keep in mind that you’ll pay more for medium and firm densities.

One more thing to consider: Returns are accepted within 60 days, but exchanges aren’t currently available for pillows of different densities.

Best down alternative hotel pillow

Saatva Down Alternative Pillow

Saatva Down Alternative Pillow
  • Price: $$
  • Materials: organic cotton, down alternative fibers
  • Pro: hypoallergenic, plush feel without sacrificing support
  • Con: higher price point, spot clean only

The down alternative pillow from Saatva is made with two types of hypoallergenic down alternative fibers. One kind is designed to create tiny air pockets for a plush feel, while spring-like fibers lend support and durability. The whole thing is wrapped in organic cotton for breathability.

According to the brand, it perfectly mimics the light, airy feel of traditional down. There are only a few reviews, but they all agree that it’s incredibly comfortable and high quality.

You can see for yourself with Saatva’s 45-night home trial.

Best down and feather hotel pillow

Four Seasons Down & Feather Pillow

  • Price: $$$
  • Material: white down, feather, cotton
  • Pro: down and feather fill makes for a luxurious balance of support and comfort
  • Con: high price point, dry clean only

The Four Seasons pillow is the epitome of hotel pillows. It’s made with 25 percent white down and 75 percent feather, which makes for a hypoallergenic combination that is luxuriously comfortable and supportive. Plus, it’s OEKO-TEX certified.

The pillow comes in three sizes and should be dry cleaned only. Four Seasons also recommends a pillow protector. Returns are available if you decide this pillow isn’t right for you, but only for 30 days and only if your pillow is in “as-new” condition with its original packaging.

Best feather hotel pillow

Down & Feather Company Hotel Collection Feather Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Material: goose feathers, Egyptian cotton
  • Pro: hypoallergenic goose fill offers more support than down
  • Con: spot clean only

The hotel collection feather pillow from the Down & Feather Company is made with premium Hungarian goose feathers of the highest quality. According to the company, feather pillows sleep more firmly under compression, which they provide means more support than down pillows in a similar density.

That level of support makes this a great option for combination side-and-back sleepers.

The pillow is available in three sizes and four densities. And if you have a change of heart, you have 1 full year to send it back for a density adjustment.

Best budget-friendly hotel pillow

Brooklinen Marlow Pillow

  • Price: $
  • Material: polyurethane foam, polyester fiber, cotton
  • Pro: adjustable firmness for a personalized feel
  • Con: spot clean only

According to Brooklinen, the Marlow pillow is designed to be the best pillow for the most people. It combines what the brand calls cooling-infused memory foam and polyester fiber for a nice balance of firmness and loft. But the key feature is a zipper, which means you can control how the pillow feels.

Reviewers overwhelmingly praise the pillow, but one drawback is the color of the zipper. It’s bright green, and some reviewers say it shows through their pillowcases.

There’s no trial period for the Marlow pillow, but Brooklinen does offer a 365-day return policy if it’s not working out.

Best personalized hotel pillow

The Pillow Bar Standard Size Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Material: down or down alternative, cotton
  • Pro: custom made to order based on your sleeping style, gender, height, and age
  • Con: cannot be returned

At The Pillow Bar, pillows are made to order, which means you get a customized pillow that will accommodate your sleeping style and body. You can even share personal details about your sleep preferences in the comments box.

The company’s standard pillow is available with naturally sourced down or a combed polyester down alternative for a soft yet supportive feel, just like a luxurious hotel pillow. All pillows come with a removable cotton sateen zipper protector that includes custom embroidery of your choice.

While the company does not offer refunds, they do have a 30-day alteration period. If your firmness level isn’t quite right, The Pillow Bar will make comfort adjustments during that timeframe.

Most classic hotel pillow

The Marriott Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Material: down, lyocell fibers, cotton
  • Pro: machine washable
  • Con: no trial period or returns

For a true hotel pillow, the Marriott pillow is worth considering. It’s a quintessential hotel pillow, thanks to a soft, supportive fill made with breathable lyocell and down. Plus, it uses a two-chamber design to minimize shifting and bunching. A down-proof cover made of 100 percent cotton prevents feathers from poking through.

The Marriott pillow is allergen-free and available in three sizes. Keep in mind that there is no trial period on the Marriott pillow, and returns are only accepted on unused pillows within 30 days of delivery.

Best silk hotel pillow

Cozy Earth Silk Pillow

  • Price: $$$$
  • Material: viscose from bamboo, mulberry silk
  • Pro: ultra luxurious with impressive durability
  • Con: high price point

The silk pillow from Cozy Earth has a medium profile that’s incredibly soft and moldable for comfort and support in any position. The interior fill is 100 percent mulberry silk and it’s warranted against shifting. With a soft viscose cover, the pillow is designed to stay cool and comfortable all night long.

It’s a pricey pillow, but reviewers rave about its soft, luxurious feel and call it worth the investment.

Cozy Earth offers a 10-year warranty, free shipping and returns, and a 100-night sleep trial.

Most sustainable hotel pillow

Brentwood Home Oceano Gel Memory Foam Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Material: Tencel, gel memory foam
  • Pro: gel-infused memory foam for cooler sleep, adjustable fill
  • Con: spot clean only

The Oceano pillow from Brentwood Home is made with eco-friendly materials like BioFoam, which is a biological foam made from vegetable materials. The cover is made with Tencel, a soft fiber derived from wood pulp. The pillow meets Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US certifications. It’s also climate neutral and approved vegan by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

BioFoam is a cooling gel memory foam, and the Oceano pillows come overly stuffed. You can remove fill to find the right loft and density for you.

Customers praise the pillow for its cooling comfort and support.

Best hotel pillow for side sleepers

Sol Organics Down Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Material: down, cotton
  • Pro: hypoallergenic and responsibly sourced
  • Con: spot clean only

Side sleepers need adequate support to the head and neck to ensure proper spinal alignment, and the Sol Organics down pillow in firm is a great option. This luxurious pillow is made with 100 percent Canadian white down and a baffle box construction to minimize bunching.

The company has a transparent supply chain with fair cotton production and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifications.

Reviewers call it a wonderful pillow for a great price. Many are self-proclaimed side sleepers who report that the pillow is supportive and deeply comfortable.

Best hotel pillow for back sleepers

FluffCo Down & Feather Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Material: duck down, feathers, cotton
  • Pro: lower loft is great for back sleepers
  • Con: spot clean only

FluffCo says they use the same construction as the pillows in 5-star hotels and resorts. It’s a pillow-in-pillow design that combines a layer of soft down with a supportive feather core. The softer pillow option uses a little less fill for a squishier feel without sacrificing support. That means a lower loft that’s great for back sleepers.

Over 400 reviews praise the FluffCo pillow for its high quality and comfort.

Best hotel pillow for stomach sleepers

The Company Store Legends Hotel Best Down Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Material: down, cotton
  • Pro: available in three sizes, certified under the Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
  • Con: dry clean only

With its low loft and plush European down fill, this soft, luxurious pillow from The Company Store is designed to cushion your head and neck while you snooze on your stomach.

It’s filled with hypoallergenic down that’s RDS and OEKO-TEX certified.

There are over 550 reviews for this pillow, and the vast majority are 5 stars. Customers rave about the pillow’s softness and gentle support.

Most luxurious hotel pillow

Duxiana Oslo Pillow

  • Price: $$$$
  • Material: down, cotton
  • Pro: down is responsibly sourced from geese raised on small farms in Poland
  • Con: high price point

The Duxiana Oslo pillow is made with 900 loft Polish white goose down. It’s responsibly sourced from geese raised on small farms in Poland, with routine audits to ensure humane treatment and quality. According to the brand, Poland produces the finest goose down in the world.

The Oslo pillow is available in three firmnesses, and all three are of the highest quality for the most indulgent experience. It comes in standard and king sizes.

Keep in mind that this premium pillow is expensive and returns are not available.

Best rated hotel pillow

Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillows

  • Price: $
  • Material: cotton, down alternative
  • Pro: price includes two pillows, OEKO-TEX certified
  • Con: some reviewers had negative experiences with machine washing

These Beckham Hotel Collection pillows have more than 182,000 reviews and an overall rating of 4.4 stars. They’re designed for softness and support with a medium loft.

The down alternative pillows come as a set and are available in two sizes. They’re also OEKO-TEX certified.

According to the brand, the pillows can be machine washed. But some reviewers found that drying their pillows took much longer than they expected.

Best hotel pillow set

Standard Textile Chamber Down Pillow Set of 2

  • Price: $$
  • Material: cotton, polyester, feathers
  • Pro: price includes two pillows, RDS and OEKO-TEX certified
  • Con: some reviewers found the pillows flattened too much

The Standard Textile Chamber Down Pillows can be found in high end hotels around the world. They have a three-chamber design that combines outer layers of polyester and a sterilized feather core. The result is a hypoallergenic pillow that’s supremely soft and comfortable with plenty of support.

The best part? These pillows come in a set of two and can be machine washed for easy care.

Reviewers praise the airy softness and high quality of these pillows, though some found they flattened too much during the night.

A comparison of the best hotel pillows

PillowPriceAvailable sizesHome trial or return policy
Parachute Down Pillow$$standard, king60-day return policy
Saatva Down Alternative Pillow$$queen, king45-night home trial
Brooklinen Marlow Pillow$standard, king365-day return policy
Four Seasons Down & Feather Pillow$$$standard, queen, king30-day return period with original packaging required
The Pillow Bar Standard Size Pillow$$petite, standard, queen, king30-day alteration period
Down & Feather Company Hotel Collection Feather Pillows$$standard, queen, kingfree pillow adjustment for 1 year, 30-night return window
The Marriott Pillow$$standard, queen, king30-day return period on unused pillows
Cozy Earth Silk Pillow$$$$standard, king100-night sleep trial
Brentwood Home Oceano Gel Memory Foam Pillow$$$standard, queen, king30-day trial
Sol Organics Down Pillow$$standard, king30-day trial
FluffCo Down & Feather Pillow$$standard, king30-day trial
The Company Store Legends Hotel Best Down Pillow$$standard, queen, king90-day return window
Duxiana Oslo Pillow$$$$standard, kingno home trial, no returns
Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillows$queen, kingfree returns on new, unused pillows
Standard Textile Chamber Down Pillow Set of 2$$standard, king90-day trial

How to shop for a hotel pillow

Shopping for a hotel pillow is like shopping for any pillow. You’ll want to make sure it’s going to be comfortable and supportive for you.

Here’s what to keep in mind as you shop:

  • Size. Pillows come in several sizes. You’ll want to consider a size that’s generous enough to be comfortable.
  • Loft. The loft of a pillow is how tall it is when your head is resting on it. The right loft is important, because it keeps your spine aligned while you sleep. Pillow lofts are usually low, medium, or high.
  • Fill and firmness. Different materials are used to fill pillows for comfort and support. While the fill in hotel pillows will vary and may include down or a down alternative, they usually have a medium or medium-firm feel to suit the widest range of sleepers.
  • Your preferred sleeping position, body size, and weight. A pillow’s loft is affected by your sleeping style and body size. People with higher body weights tend to need firmer pillows for adequate support, while those who are lighter will benefit from softer pillows.
  • Temperature regulation. Since hotel pillows are designed to accommodate different kinds of sleepers, they tend to use breathable materials to minimize heat retention. That means covers made of materials like cotton or lyocell.
  • Price point. If you’re shopping for a hotel pillow, you can generally expect to spend somewhere between $70 and $200, but prices can vary.

Frequently asked questions

Which pillows are used in hotels?

There’s no standard hotel pillow. Different hotels will use different bedding materials, including linens, mattresses, and pillows, depending on their budgets and goals.

However, most hotels will try to accommodate the widest variety of sleepers. This means offering pillows with a middle-of-the-road firmness and loft.

How can I tell what type of pillow I need?

If you’re shopping for a pillow, it’s a good idea to take into account your preferred sleeping position. That will help you zero in on a loft that will ensure proper alignment and feel comfortable and supportive. 

Side sleepers generally need a medium to high loft. Back sleepers usually do well with a low to medium loft. Stomach sleepers tend to need a pillow with a low loft.

Keep in mind that your body size and your pillow’s firmness will also affect loft. Generally, firmer pillows are a better choice for side and back sleepers.

Why are hotel pillows so comfortable?

Hotel pillows are intended to feel luxurious and indulgent. Typically, that means a great balance of softness and support. For most people, that’s really comfortable.

Takeaway

If you sleep exceptionally well when you’re in a hotel, a hotel pillow could be part of the reason why. You can enjoy the same experience in your own bed by shopping for a pillow that balances softness and support. The key is finding a pillow that puts a premium on luxury, which means looking for high quality materials and durability.

Jessica Timmons has been working as a freelance writer since 2007, covering everything from pregnancy and parenting to cannabis, chiropractic, stand-up paddling, fitness, martial arts, home decor, and much more. Her work has appeared in mindbodygreen, Pregnancy & Newborn, Modern Parents Messy Kids, and Coffee + Crumbs. See what she’s up to now at jessicatimmons.com.