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What is a latex pillow, anyway?

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A good night’s sleep is vital for proper rest and recovery. In fact, getting enough Zzz’s is the foundation for your overall health.

Researchers say sleep is of “extraordinary” importance. This is because sleep deprivation is connected to chronic issues, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, decreased immunity, and obesity, among other conditions.

When you’re trying to improve your sleep, your first thought may be to get a new mattress, but your pillow is just as important. The wrong pillow can contribute to neck pain and interrupt your sleep, while the right pillow for your sleeping habits can help you snooze through the night.

While there’s no single answer to “what’s the best pillow?”, latex pillows are a great choice for most sleepers since they’re comfortable, durable, and more breathable than memory foam.

Latex is an eco-friendly, natural material that’s often touted as a premium choice for pillows. There are different types of latex, but they share common characteristics, like breathability, improved responsiveness (when compared with regular memory foam), and durability. This means they can last for years.

Latex is also more breathable than memory foam, making it an excellent choice for hot sleepers.

Thanks to an increased interest in sleep science, there have been studies done to compare latex pillows to other types of pillows, like those made with down material.

In a 2010 study, participants woke up less frequently throughout the night when sleeping on latex pillows versus down pillows. The same study found that switching to a latex pillow could contribute to fewer headaches and shoulder and arm pain that may disrupt sleep.

In a 2019 study, researchers split 42 participants with cervical spondylosis (a degenerative spinal condition that can cause significant neck pain) into 2 groups. One group only underwent physical therapy, while the other group did both physical therapy and switched to an ergonomic latex pillow.

After 4 weeks, they found that the group that switched pillows experienced less pain, an increased range of motion, and decreased disability from their condition.

When choosing the best latex pillows, we looked for options that could work for all types of sleepers, as well as more targeted categories and less common sleeping styles. We also considered different budgets, aiming to include picks with a variety of price points.

Other factors we considered include:

  • quality of materials
  • construction
  • firmness and height
  • customer reviews
  • company reputation

Pricing guide

Latex pillows are available at a variety of price points. You can use this chart to determine where each pick on this list falls. All prices listed are for a standard size pillow unless otherwise specified.

  • $ = under $75
  • $$ = $75–$125
  • $$$ = over $125

Best overall latex pillow

Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Latex Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Best for: all sleeping styles, with a specialized option available for side sleepers
  • Return policy: 30-night at-home sleep trial, free shipping and returns, 2-year warranty

The Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Latex Pillow is an excellent option for all types of sleepers. It’s filled with OEKO-TEX certified shredded latex that allows you to adjust the loft for your sleeping style.

Everything is contained in a zippered cotton cover that provides a soft, breathable sleeping surface, which also contributes to temperature regulation.

Buy the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Latex Pillow online.

Best budget buy

RejuveNite Talalay Latex Pillow

  • Price: $
  • Best for: all sleeping styles, hot sleepers
  • Return policy: can be returned to Amazon

Because latex is a premium material, latex pillows tend to fall on the more expensive side, but this budget-friendly option from RejuveNite still delivers ample comfort.

It’s made from natural latex that’s wrapped in a breathable cotton cover, which has an open-cell design to promote airflow, so heat doesn’t get trapped and you stay cool.

It also bounces back to its original form after sleeping on it, so you don’t have to worry about it flattening over time.

Buy the RejuveNite Talalay Latex Pillow online.

Best for side sleepers

Saatva Latex Pillow

  • Price: $$–$$$
  • Best for: side sleepers
  • Return policy: 45-day free returns, 1-year warranty on all pillows

If you’re strictly a side sleeper, the Saatva Pillow is a higher loft option that supports your head and neck, ultimately working to help keep your spine properly aligned.

Like the Easy Breather pillow from Nest Bedding, this pillow has a shredded latex core wrapped in a cotton cover, but it doesn’t offer the adjustable height. It has gusseted sides that hold the fill in place and prevent it from going flat as down pillows can.

Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, breathable, and ultra-plush.

Buy the Saatva Latex Pillow online.

Best for side sleepers with neck pain

Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow

  • Price: $–$$
  • Best for: side sleepers, combo sleepers, back sleepers (with some fill removed)
  • Return policy: 3-year warranty, 30-day at-home trial

If you’re a side sleeper experiencing chronic neck pain, it’s possible that your pillow is at least partly to blame.

This adjustable latex pillow from Sleep Artisan has a curved design that properly aligns your spine and takes the pressure off of your neck. It aims to help increase blood flow and relieve pressure.

Thanks to the zippered cover, you can also remove some fill to find the best height for your sleeping style.

Buy the Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow online.

Best for back sleepers with neck pain

The Purple Harmony Pillow

  • Price: $$$
  • Best for: back sleepers (low loft), side and combo sleepers (medium or high loft, depending on body frame)
  • Return policy: 100-night sleep trial, 1-year warranty

The Purple Harmony Pillow is made with the same technology used to develop Purple’s unique mattresses. It has a layer of Purple Grid, which is arranged in a honeycomb pattern that offers a no-pressure spot to lay your head.

The Purple Grid is wrapped around a core that’s made of ventilated latex, so it sleeps cooler and doesn’t flatten under the weight of your head. It’s available in 3 heights — low, medium, and tall — with low being the best option for back sleepers.

Buy the Purple Harmony Pillows online.

Best adjustable latex pillow

Avocado Green Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Best for: all sleeping styles
  • Return policy: 100-night sleep trial, 1-year warranty

Like a handful of other options on this list, the Avocado Green Pillow is adjustable, but it has the added benefit of being made from Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certified latex and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified kapok (a natural organic pillow filling). Both are non-toxic materials that make the pillow 100 percent organic.

The pillow is designed to support the spine and properly contour the head and neck in all sleeping positions. As is, it has a medium-plush feel, but it comes with an extra bag of fill that allows you to adjust the firmness and the height to suit you.

Buy the Avocado Green Pillow online.

Best for stomach sleepers

Elite Rest Slim Sleeper Latex

  • Price: $
  • Best for: stomach sleepers
  • Return policy: can be returned to Amazon

Stomach sleeping can strain your neck and spine, putting you at a higher risk for neck and shoulder pain, especially if you’re sleeping on the wrong pillow.

This ultra-slim option from Elite Rest has a minimal loft, measuring just 2.75 inches tall. The non-toxic latex provides a little cushion and support for your face and head while you’re sleeping, but it doesn’t put pressure on your neck and spine by pushing your head backward as you sleep.

Buy the Elite Rest Slim Sleeper Latex Pillow online.

Best organic latex pillow

Birch by Helix Organic Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Best for: all sleeping styles, hot sleepers
  • Return policy: 100-night sleep trial, 1-year warranty

The Birch Organic Pillow is an eco-friendly option that’s made from a combination of natural latex, cotton, and ethically sourced New Zealand wool.

The latex is crushed, so it provides a comfortable sleeping surface for all types of sleepers. Meanwhile, the wool layer wicks moisture away and adds breathability, helping you sleep cooler.

Buy the Birch by Helix Organic Pillow online.

Best shredded latex pillow

PlushBeds Organic Shredded Latex Pillow

  • Price: $$
  • Best for: all sleeping styles, hot sleepers, sleepers who prefer plush pillows
  • Return policy: 3-year warranty, no at-home sleep trial, returns on new pillows only

When making the Organic Shredded Latex Pillow, this company’s goal was to combine the benefits of latex with the plushness of a traditional pillow. The answer was organic shredded latex, which makes the pillow pliable, so it can adapt to your sleep needs, even if (and when) they change.

Since the latex is cut into fine pieces, this pillow has a softer, fluffier texture than other latex pillows. It has exceptional airflow, too, making it a great option for hot sleepers.

Buy the PlushBeds Organic Shredded Latex Pillow online.

Best for hot sleepers

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow

  • Price: $–$$
  • Best for: hot sleepers, side sleepers (high loft), back sleepers (low loft), people with allergies
  • Return policy: 30-night sleep trial, 3-year warranty

This cooling pillow from Brooklyn Bedding is made from Talalay latex, a less dense and more breathable form of latex. The organic cotton cover also contributes to the natural cooling properties, plus it adds plushness that earns this pillow high marks for comfort.

The pillow is available in high or low lofts, meaning there’s an option for all kinds of sleepers.

Buy the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow online.

Pillows are one of the most significant purchases you can make. Here’s how to make sure you’re choosing the right one.

Sleeping style

Your sleeping style is arguably the most important factor to consider when shopping for a pillow. The goal is to keep your spine aligned and take pressure off of your spine and neck.

  • If you’re a side sleeper, try a higher loft and possibly a curved shape.
  • If you’re a back or stomach sleeper, you’ll need a lower loft that doesn’t prop your head up as much.
  • If you’re a combo sleeper, you’ll have to find a sweet spot that works for you.

Adjustability

Some pillows are adjustable, which means you can remove or add fill based on your sleeping style, body frame, and preferences. Others are fixed, so you get what you get.

There isn’t one style that’s better than the other, so you just have to determine what will work best for you.

Adjustable pillows allow you to experiment and find the perfect loft, but they’re often made with shredded latex. Fixed pillows are usually designed with one solid piece that contours to your head and neck.

Price

Price factors into all purchases. Before deciding on a pillow, consider your budget and how much you want to spend.

Warranty

The warranty is another important consideration, since you don’t want to end up with a pillow that’s gone completely flat after a month of use. Some of the best pillows come with a handy 1 to 3-year warranty that covers any defects found.

In addition to the general considerations when shopping for a pillow, there are also specific things you should look for in a latex pillow.

Type of latex

There are two types of natural latex: Talalay and Dunlop.

Talalay is considered to be a more premium material and is softer and more breathable than Dunlop. This makes it a better choice for hot sleepers and those who appreciate a softer feel.

On the other hand, Dunlop is firmer and not as breathable, but it doesn’t sleep as hot as traditional memory foam. Dunlop also tends to be more budget-friendly than Talalay.

There are also synthetic latexes that are typically made from a blend of synthetic latex and other lower quality fibers. They usually aren’t as comfortable or durable as natural latex.

When shopping for latex pillows, we recommend sticking to natural latex, but whether you go with Talalay or Dunlop is a personal preference.

Other materials

Most latex pillows aren’t 100 percent latex, so you’ll also want to take a look at what the cover is made out of and what other materials are incorporated into the pillow if that’s important to you.

Pillow sizes

Pillows are available in 3 sizes: standard, queen, and king.

Not all manufacturers offer pillows in all 3 sizes, but usually, you have at least 2 options. The best one for you depends on your personal preference and your mattress size.

Keep in mind that, if you get a king-size pillow, you’ll also need king-size pillowcases.

Latex pillows are considered a superior choice, thanks to their durability, breathability, and advanced comfort. They can be more expensive than other pillows, but they also tend to last longer, so you’ll likely get years of use out of them.

When shopping for a latex pillow, you’ll want to consider your sleeping style, the type of latex, and whether the pillow is adjustable.

Courtesy of Lindsay Boyers

Lindsay Boyers is a functional nutritionist, licensed esthetician, and health and commerce writer. She’s also written more than a dozen books and cookbooks and created over 1,000 original recipes. Her work has appeared on Forbes, CNET, CNN Underscored, mindbodygreen, The Spruce Eats and The Spruce, among others.