We Put 100 Pillows to the Test to Find the Most Comfortable Down Pillows You Can Buy
If you're looking to upgrade your sleep, buying new pillows is a great place to start. There are so many types of top-tested pillows to choose from, including memory foam pillows, down alternative pillows and even latex pillows, but there’s nothing plusher than traditional down pillows. If you’re shopping for a new pillow, you’ll quickly learn that there are a lot of options on the market.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab put over 100 pillows to the test in the Lab and with consumer testers. Our pros wash each pillow multiple times and perform pressure recovery tests to mimic real-life use. GH analysts first match up testers to pillows that match their fill preferences and are suitable for their sleeping positions before testers use the pillow and give feedback. All of our extensive testing leads to thousands of data points for GH analysts to go through before making these recommendations.
Our top picks:
We most recently updated this article in March 2023 to ensure our picks were in stock and reflected accurate pricing. After learning about our top-tested picks, keep reading for all of our experts' down pillow shopping tips to find the most supportive and long-lasting pillows for your bed. Looking for a soft, plush down comforter to match your down pillow? Check out our guide to the best down comforters.
(Hearst Owned)
Parachute Home
parachutehome.com
$129.00
With the top score out of all the down pillows we tested in the Lab, Parachute’s down pillow was also popular among real-life testers. It received a perfect durability score, as it had no change in appearance or shrinkage after machine washing. Every tester said they would continue using this pillow as they found it both comfortable and supportive. Our textile pros and testers found that it maintained its shape after use. It’s available in three densities with soft for stomach sleepers and medium or firm for back sleepers. Parachute also offers a down side sleeper pillow too.
(Parachute)
FluffCo
amazon.com
$89.00
For a more affordable, fluffy pillow, opt for a style that features both down and feathers. FluffCo uses a two-layer design with down on the outer layer for softness and feathers in the core for support. The responsibly sourced fill is available in both soft and firm options. Users enjoyed its fluffiness, and one told us, "night after night, it maintained the same comfort level as the first day I slept on it." It didn't shrink after washing, and our pros liked how nicely it fit inside a pillowcase.
(FluffCo)
Cuddledown
cuddledown.com
$259.00
Side sleepers need a firm pillow with a higher height, but many down pillows are just too flat. Cuddledown’s down pillows are ideal for side sleepers as they offer a higher fill power of 800. Filled with white goose down, this pillow features a 450 thread count cover that 100% cotton. After laundering, this pillow did not shrink or change appearance in our tests. If the pillow looks flat out of the washer, don’t fret, as it fluffed back up to its original height after drying in our evaluations. We also loved Cuddledown's 700 fill power pillow, if you sleep on your back or stomach.
(Cuddledown)
Casper
amazon.com
$110.99
Back sleepers need a thinner pillow than side sleepers for proper neck alignment. This down pillow from Casper has a loft that's ideal for back sleepers. It fit perfectly in a standard-size pillowcase and was beloved by testers for being comfortable and maintaining its proper shape after use. The five-chamber design keeps the down and feather fill evenly distributed. One tester said she especially loved how it "holds its shape and doesn't go flat."
(Casper)
Home Decorators Collection
homedepot.com
$86.97
With a medium loft, this pillow is suitable for multiple sleeping positions, but our testers said its low loft is ideal for stomach sleepers. It features a unique design with a supportive inner chamber of feathers that's surrounded by fluffy down for ultimate softness. After laundering, this pillow showed no shrinkage, but it did show some signs of wear. The down is certified by the Responsible Down Standard for traceability in the supply chain. It's also a Good Housekeeping Seal holder, so it's covered by our limited warranty.
(Home Decorators)
Hotel Collection
macys.com
$199.49
If you're obsessed with the ultra-plush pillows you find at five-star hotels, you can have the same luxury experience with the Hotel Collection, sold exclusively at Macy's. With a luxe 500 thread count cotton cover, this pillow has a 700 fill power and 100% goose down fill that’s great for side sleepers. We tested the medium fill power style (which is currently sold out), but there's this firm style and a soft version available. Testers especially loved how it helped them maintain a stable body temperature and that it kept its shape after use. We love that it comes with a removable cover.
(Hotel Collection)
Hotel Collection
macys.com
$178.49
If you're obsessed with the ultra-plush pillows you find at five-star hotels, you can have the same luxury experience with the Hotel Collection, sold exclusively at Macy's. With a luxe 500 thread count cotton cover, this pillow has a 750 fill power and 100% goose down fill that’s great for back sleepers. We tested the medium fill power style, but there are also soft and firm options available. Testers especially loved how it helped them maintain a stable body temperature and that it kept its shape after use. We love that it comes with a removable cover (it was the only down pillow we tested that had one).
(Macy's)
Allswell
allswellhome.com
$58.00
Down creates an excellent plush feel, but it doesn't always offer enough support for some. This hybrid pillow from Allswell features down and polyester fibers with a solid memory foam core. Although it fits perfectly in a standard-size pillow, this pillow had average scores for durability and performance. It's best suited for people who prefer firmer pillows. One tester said: "After initially being stiff, it did eventually conform to my way of sleeping."
(Allswell)
Emma Seymour is the senior textiles analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has rigorously tested more than 100 pillows in the Textiles Lab and coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers. Emma has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for more than four years at Good Housekeeping.
(Hearst Owned)
✔️ Know your down options. Down refers to the clusters found beneath a bird's protective feathers, usually on the belly. They’re ultra soft, fluffy and airy fibers known to provide excellent insulation. Duck down is more affordable than goose down, as 100% goose down tends to be superior at retaining heat, which is ideal for chillier nights. Down pillows have a plush feel that many testers said was “like sleeping on a cloud" — something that cannot be perfectly mimicked in down-alternative (a.k.a. polyester) styles. However, down pillows tend to lose their shape and go flat after continued use. But if you give them a good fluff or run them through a dryer cycle, they should return to their original height.
✔️ Determine your sleeping position. When choosing the best pillow to buy, you should know whether you are a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper. It's normal to change positions throughout the night, but typically the position you wake up in is the position you were in most of the night. Here’s a simple guide to what type of pillow is best for each position:
- Side: Thick and firm
- Back: Medium height
- Stomach: Thin and soft
✔️ Consider a mix for a better price. If you love the feel of down, but not the high price, look for pillows that offer a mix of down and feathers. Down is softer and plusher, while standard feathers are a bit stiffer. Down-alternative fibers have a similar feel to down at a fraction of the cost. For the ultimate plush feel, 100% down pillows reign supreme, but be prepared for a high price tag.
✔️ Peek at the care label. Most down pillows are machine washable, but some styles require a larger, front-loading washing machine and dryer balls when drying. If you notice an odor when your down pillows are wet, don’t worry as that’s perfectly normal – it’ll dissipate after it’s fully dry. In our evaluations, down pillows consistently took longer to dry than polyester styles. We recommend using dryer balls and multiple dry cycles to ensure your pillow is completely dry before returning it to your bed.
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The best down pillows for side sleepers, back sleepers and stomach sleepers are ultra soft and can reduce neck pain. We found picks for every budget.