The Best Pillows Under $100
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Thebest pillowis one that offers the right mix of comfort and support. That can vary depending on the position you typically sleep in, your body type, and your personal preference about what feels comfy to you. But it ultimately needs to be a pillow you can afford.
As the Strategist’s sleep writer, I test dozens of pillows personally. But a lot of the best ones I’ve found are pretty expensive — in fact,my personal favoritecosts over $200. So I’ve been on the hunt for excellent pillows that cost less than $100. I recently tested every pillow I could get my hands on from affordable retailers likeTargetandIKEA,as well as combing through the Strategist’s catalogue of pillow coverage to put together a list of truly great pillows that are budget friendly.
Again, what makes a pillow the “best” varies a lot from person to person, so I’ve included details below about which kinds of sleepers each pillow would best suit. I’ve organized the list by pillow type, so you can use the table of contents to jump ahead if you already know what you like. And if you want to see more of my top pillow recommendations — in all price ranges — or learn more about how I choose the best, check out my guide to thebest bed pillows.
My top picks
Best memory-foam pillows under $100
Shredded-memory-foam pillows
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Fill type:Cross-cut memory-foam and microfiber blend| Loft:Adjustable| Firmness:Adjustable, arrives medium-firm
Though many of my top-pick pillows are on the more expensive side, the Coop Original, my choice for thebest pillow overall, is priced under $100. It’s a great pillow for just about anyone because it’s adjustable. You can add or remove some of the foam and fiber-blend filling to make the Coop exactly what you want. The fill is contained by two zippered covers: an inner one that actually holds the filling and a quilted outer one you can easily take off to wash. To lower the loft of the pillow and achieve a softer feel, unzip the inner cover and remove some of the filling. Coop also provides a bag of extra filling if you want to add some oomph to the pillow — side sleepers, people with broad shoulders, or those who like an especially dense pillow may want to add fill, though the pillow comes fairly well stuffed to begin with. I like the use of foam pieces in the Coop because they give the squish and contouring I expect from memory foam but are more pliant than a block of foam.
Read more:The Very Best Bed Pillows
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Fill type:Shredded foam with polyester fiber| Loft:Adjustable| Firmness:Adjustable, arrives medium-soft
The Sijo FlexCool pillow is similar to the Coop pillow in construction, but what makes it really stand out is how doughy and cushy the filling feels. Even though it is filled with a similar mix of foam and fiber, it has a much more malleable and squishy texture than the Coop. It’s very comfortable, and I could feel my head slowly compress the pillow — just enough to settle in without sinking too deep. This makes it feel softer than the Coop while still providing the support and cushioning you want from a memory-foam pillow. Like the Coop, the FlexCool pillow can be adjusted by removing or adding fill, and Sijo provides an extra bag. I also appreciate the cooling cover: The outer part is made of nylon, and right underneath it is a layer of cotton with phase-change-material capsules in the fabric.
Read more:The Best Memory-Foam Pillows
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Brooklinen Marlow Pillow - Standard
Fill type:Shredded memory foam and polyester fiber| Loft:Adjustable| Firmness:Adjustable
If you want a less expensive, simpler-to-adjust pillow, the Brooklinen Marlow has zippers on its long sides. For a plusher feel, unzip both sides. For a medium-firm feel, unzip one. And for a firmer feel, keep both zipped. While this doesn’t allow for as much customization as actually removing or adding fill, zipping or unzipping is much easier (and frankly less messy). Like both the Coop and Sijo pillows, it’s filled with a mix of memory-foam pieces and fiber. Senior editor Jen Trolio and I, both back-and-side sleepers, each tried the Marlow — she preferred the totally unzipped setting, while I liked it zipped up for side sleeping.
Read more:The Best Adjustable Pillows
Solid-memory-foam pillows
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Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Pillow - Queen
Fill type:Single piece of memory-foam fill| Loft:Medium| Firmness:Medium
The Tempur-Cloud is myfavorite solid-memory-foam pillowbecause it’s extremely comfortable and can work for all three sleeping positions. It’s made of Tempur-Pedic’s signature Tempur Material foam, my North Star for excellent memory foam. When I tested the Tempur-Cloud, the foam nicely cushioned and contoured around my head and neck. I found it properly supportive and comfortable for both back and side sleeping; writer Brenley Goertzen, who sleeps on her stomach, also tested this pillow and said she sank comfortably into the foam and didn’t experience any craning or stiffness in her neck.
Read more:The Best Memory-Foam Pillows
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Fill type:Gel-infused solid memory foam| Loft:Medium-high| Firmness:Medium-firm
A considerably less expensive option is the Weekender Gel Memory Foam pillow. It’s designed with staying cool in mind and includes both gel infusions in the foam and perforations to allow for airflow. It has a medium-firm feel, and I think it’s best suited to side sleeping as it has a decently high loft and doesn’t compress much under weight. (The Tempur-Cloud is technically the same height, but because I sank into its foam more, it didn’t feel as lofty.) This pillow’s foam is much lighter and airier than the Tempur-Cloud’s dense foam — denser tends to be more durable in the long run, so you definitely get what you pay for here. But it’s a nice budget option for people seeking a supportive solid-memory-foam pillow.
Read more:The Best Memory-Foam Pillows
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Fill type:Solid memory foam| Loft:Low to medium| Firmness:Medium
The Bluewave memory-foam pillow is pretty simple — it’s a solid block of gel-infused memory foam — but what makes it stand out is the low loft. It comes in three heights, all of which are lower than average: “Hyper Slim” (2.25 inches), “Ultra Slim” (2.75 inches), and “Super Slim” (3.25 inches). If you sleep on your back or stomach, a lower loft may be preferable to avoid having your neck crane awkwardly while you’re sleeping. The Bluewave comes recommended by senior editor Crystal Martin, who started sleeping on it after dealing with neck pain from too-tall pillows. She has the Super Slim, which supports her neck enough so it doesn’t dip too far back.
Read more:The Best Memory-Foam Pillows
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Fill type:Polyurethane foam| Loft:Medium| Firmness:Medium-firm
IKEA’s Isranunkel pillow is made of molded foam with a divot in the center and “wings” on either side. It’s supportive without being overly firm — your neck is properly supported, but it’s also a pillow you can cozy into. I was pleasantly surprised to find it comfortable on my back, side, and stomach. I liked how my head could rest in the center divot when I lay on my back, allowing my neck to be supported by the slightly higher edge of the pillow. Or when lying on my side or stomach, the rounded edges gave me something to wrap my arms around and kept the pillow from feeling too much like a foam brick.
Read more:I Slept on 16 IKEA Pillows
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Fill type:Polyurethane foam| Loft:High| Firmness:Firm
If you’re looking for someverysturdy neck support, IKEA’s Rosenskärm pillow is like a less expensive version of Tempur-Pedic’s Tempur-Neck pillow, one of ourfavorite pillows for neck pain. The foam’s curved shape provides ample neck support and is especially well suited for side sleepers (I found it a bit too tall on my back).
Read more:I Slept on 16 IKEA Pillows
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Fill type:Polyurethane foam| Loft:High| Firmness:Medium-firm
IKEA’s Klubbsporre pillow is also a good option for side sleepers. It has a slight curve along one edge, allowing room for your shoulder when you sleep on your side. It’s also moderately firm and quite tall — beneficial features for side sleepers. When I tested this pillow, it was actually a bit too tall for me, so I would recommend it to side sleepers with especially broad shoulders or people who know they like a very tall pillow (i.e., people who stack two pillows on top of each other). This pillow has a cooling gel layer on one side, which provides a slight cooling sensation.
Read more:I Slept on 16 IKEA Pillows
Best down-alternative pillows under $100
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Fill type:Recycled plastic down-alternative fill| Firmness:Soft, medium, or firm| Loft:Varies
The Buffy Cloud is a down-alternative pillow meant to feel like down but not filled with actualdown. It contains recycled PET certified to be BPA free. It comes in three firmness levels, so you can choose how soft you want your pillow to be. I tried the soft model, which was very plush and compressive — ideal for stomach sleepers. The medium and firm models will be slightly taller and better for back and side sleepers, respectively. They contain more filling (38 ounces for the soft, 49 for the medium, and 62 for the firm). I also like that the Buffy Cloud’s cover is made fromTencel, which gives it a pleasantly cool feel and wicks away moisture if you happen to get sweaty at night.
Read more:The Best Cooling Pillows
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Fill type:Down-alternative fiber| Loft:Medium| Firmness:Medium
The Beckham Hotel pillow is a longtime favorite of both Strategist staffers andreaders. It’s a surprisingly supportive pillow that still feels plush and downy. And at $60 for two, it’s hard to beat the price. Each Beckham Hotel pillow is stuffed with polyester fiberfill and covered with a striped cotton shell. And it works well for all sleeping positions. Trolio, a back and side sleeper, liked the Beckham Hotel pillows so much she decided to buy some for her kids, too. Strategist writer Arielle Avila says these pillows let her easily rotate between her side and stomach, and she sleeps comfortably in both positions. I like how cushy and substantial this pillow feels — some down alternatives fall flat under the weight of your head and neck, but this one is nice and springy.
Read more:The Best Down-Alternative Pillows
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Casper Original Pillow - Standard
Fill type:Polyester microfiber fill| Loft:Mid-loft or low loft| Firmness:Medium-firm
This Casper pillow comes recommended by Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen, a stomach and side sleeper, who loves this pillow so much she has convinced multiple family members to buy their own. It’s an excellent pick for those who like the plushness of a down-alternative pillow but still want some neck support thanks to a densely stuffed inner core surrounded by an outer layer of looser fluffy polyester microfiber fill. Additionally, Casper makes this pillow in two lofts, so you can choose between a mid-loft or low loft depending on your preferences. I would recommend stomach sleepers and some back sleepers choose the low loft, while the mid-loft is likely best for side sleepers and some back sleepers who want a little more height.
Read more:The Best Down-Alternative Pillows
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Fill type:60% polyester, 40% viscose for pocket filling; 100% recycled polyester for core filling| Loft:Medium| Firmness:Medium
IKEA’s Senapsmott pillow has a similar design to the Casper pillow above with a firmer core and softer outer layer. The inner core is densely stuffed polyester fiberfill, while the outer layer is a mix of polyester and viscose; the polyester-viscose mix is soft and compressive, but the denser core keeps the pillow from falling flat. I slept comfortably on this one as a back and side sleeper; I think it could work for some stomach sleepers, too. I also like that this pillow stays moderately cool. In addition to the viscose in the filling, which helps regulate temperature and wick away moisture, the cover is a lyocell-cotton blend that feels slightly cool to the touch.
Read more:I Slept on 16 IKEA Pillows
Best latex pillow under $100
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Fill type:Talalay latex| Firmness:Medium-firm| Loft:High
Latex pillows are notoriously expensive, so even though this one just barely makes it under the $100 threshold, I felt it was worth including. I love the feel of latex pillows — they offer the same kind of sturdy support as memory foam but with a more flexible, springy feel. They usually stay cooler, too. Earthfoam’s pillow is a close runner-up to some of my other (more expensive)favorite latex pillows. It’s made from a solid block of Global Organic Latex Standard–certifiedTalalay latex foam, which is the softer, more pliant type of latex. I liked the mix of support and cushioning I felt with this pillow. But ultimately, it was too tall for me, at six and a half inches high. I think it could be a great option for many side sleepers, especially those with broad shoulders.
Read more:The Best Latex Pillows
More affordable sleep gear we like
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Author Kate Spencer told us she swears by these headband headphones for listening to brown noise.
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Our preferred reusable earplugs for sleeping.
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