For soft and fluffy pillows, down alternatives are one of the best options if you don’t want real down pillows (or don’t want to pay a premium for down). Down-alternative pillows are also ideal for people with allergies, since they are most commonly filled with hypoallergenic synthetics. “Essentially, you get all the good stuff with no flare-ups,” as chiropractor Dr. Ben Carvosso put it to me. They are often also totally machine-washable — another pro for those with allergies. And, best of all, they’re usually way less expensive than other pillow styles.
To put together this list of the best down-alternative pillows, I consulted three physical-health experts about the benefits of down-alternative pillows and to get their recommendations of specific pillows. I also asked the Strategist staff for their recommendations, considered pillows I’ve previously tested, and finally tested five new down-alternative pillows myself to sort out the best of the best. Read on for my picks, or if you want to explore other pillow types, take a look at our best bed pillows.
Update on October 10, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Fill type
Most down-alternative pillows are filled with a synthetic fiber fill — often polyester, also called polyfill. Though some down-alternative pillows are filled with natural materials like cotton, kapok, silk, or bamboo fiber, synthetic fibers are overwhelmingly common in this category. Still, just because two pillows are both made with polyfill doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll feel exactly the same. The thickness of the individual fibers (keep an eye out for the term denier — a lower denier means the fibers are thinner; a higher one means the fibers are thicker) and how densely the filling is stuffed can subtly alter how soft or firm a polyester-filled pillow feels.
Synthetic pillow fills are also usually the cheapest type of down alternative, as well as hypoallergenic (though you’ll still need to clean your pillow regularly). However, they are also less environmentally friendly than some natural materials, since they are basically plastic.
Loft
Loft is the height of a pillow, which plays a big role in how well it supports your head and neck. Depending on your main sleeping position (back, side, or stomach) and your body size, you may need a higher or lower loft. Side sleepers typically need a higher loft, back sleepers typically need a medium loft, and stomach sleepers typically need a low loft to keep their head, neck, and spine in alignment. However, most down-alternative pillows are fairly compressive, meaning they squish down under the weight of your head and neck. So many down-alternative pillows can look quite lofty, but end up feeling lower as they settle when you lie down.
Firmness and support
Down-alternative pillows tend to be softer, since they are mimicking the feel of down — a material sought for pillows because of its softness. There is still some variation available, but if you want something truly firm, I’d recommend a denser fill, such as memory foam or latex. Down-alternative pillows can also vary in their support levels, even if they are soft. If a pillow is stuffed with a greater amount of fill, it can feel more supportive and will be less likely to compress beneath your head and neck. With less filling, your head and neck might sink through the pillow more easily. For each pillow, I’ve listed the firmness as soft, medium-soft, medium, medium-firm, or firm. Like loft, you can use your sleeping position as a starting point to determine what firmness is best for you. As a rule of thumb, side sleepers need a firmer pillow, back sleepers need a medium pillow, and stomach sleepers need a soft one.
Best down-alternative pillow overall
Fill type: Polyester fiber | Loft: Varies slightly by density, roughly medium to high | Firmness: Soft, medium, or firm
The first night I slept on this Boll & Branch Down-Alternative pillow, I double-checked the label to make sure the brand hadn’t accidentally sent me their real down pillow. The pillow felt so plush it was hard to believe it wasn’t the real thing. Boll & Branch offers this pillow in three densities, where the same pillow is stuffed with increasing amounts of fill to get a higher loft and firmer feel. I tried the medium version, which offered a pleasant mix of support and cushioning. I even felt my neck was fairly well-supported while side sleeping, which can be difficult to find in down-alternative pillows, since they are often soft and sink-y. The soft version would likely be a good choice for most stomach sleepers, while the firm would be good for back and side sleepers who like a firmer feel and/or want extra support.
Between feeling so similar to real down and actually being fairly supportive (with three density options), the Boll & Branch won the top spot for this list. And while not extremely cheap, it’s around the $100 mark, depending on which density and size you choose, so it’s less expensive than some of my other favorite pillows that have other (generally more expensive) fill types. It has a cotton shell, which is a nice touch for some added breathability, too.
Best (less expensive) down-alternative pillow overall
Fill type: Polyester fiber | Loft: Medium | Firmness: Medium
This two-pack of pillows holds a pretty close candle to the Boll & Branch pillow above with a price per pillow that’s less than half the cost. They are surprisingly supportive, while still feeling plush and down-y. Each is covered with a cotton shell and filled with polyester fiber fill, just like the Boll & Branch. When I tested them, I slept on my back and side and found both positions pretty comfortable — my neck felt well-supported without being cranked into any awkward position in either. Senior editor Jen Trolio is also a back and side sleeper and liked the fluffy feel of the Beckham pillows enough to buy additional pillows for her kids. They’re also a good choice for stomach sleepers, according to Strategist writer Arielle Avila, who rotates between her side and stomach easily on these pillows.
Despite all these pros, the Boll & Branch pillow still won out for me because of the three density options (the Beckham pillows come in just one density) and because the fill of the Boll & Branch has a slightly airier feel that I felt was more akin to actual down. Comparing them side by side, I think the Beckham pillow has a slightly faster response time after I press into it — which may be preferable to some people! — but the slower response in the Boll & Branch feels more downlike to me.
Best adjustable-fill down-alternative pillow
Fill type: “Ultra-soft” microfiber | Loft: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable, arrives medium-soft
Adjustable pillows are a great option for people who want to get their pillow “just right” for their taste. But they tend not to be made with down-alternative fills — the Chinchilla pillow is one of the few that I’ve found. It’s filled with an ultrafluffy microfiber fill that looks a bit like cotton balls. To adjust the pillow, you simply unzip it and remove some of the fill, which will lower the loft and reduce the firmness of the pillow. It arrives fairly soft and with a low loft, however, so I doubt most people will need to make major adjustments — I didn’t need to change much to get comfortable on this pillow. Still, having the option to adjust makes this pillow customizable in a way that most other down-alternative pillows just aren’t. The ability to customize could be helpful for people who are simply extremely picky about their pillow, or who aren’t quite sure what they want from their pillow yet and want to experiment — just keep in mind you are paying a little extra with this pillow for that adjustability, compared to other down-alternative pillows. Beyond the fill, this pillow also has a bamboo-polyester blend cover. You can remove the cover to wash separately, but like most down alternatives, the entire pillow is machine-washable too.
[Editor’s note: The queen-size pillow is sold out on Amazon, so the price listed below is for a king-size pillow. Both sizes are still in stock at lagoonsleep.com.]
Best down-alternative pillow for neck support
Fill type: Polyester microfiber fill | Loft: Mid-loft or low-loft | Firmness: Medium-firm
Down-alternative pillows often aren’t as supportive as other styles (like memory-foam or latex pillows). To maximize neck support, chiropractor Dr. Sapna Sriram recommends a down-alternative pillow with a supportive inner core. One such pillow is the Casper Original pillow. It’s filled with polyester microfiber fill, like many other down-alternative pillows, but it uses a pillow-in-a-pillow design to provide more support. The inner pillow is more densely filled to provide the neck support; it sits inside the zippered outer pillow, which has microfiber fill lightly stuffed on each side to add additional plushness. Together, this makes for a cushy yet supportive pillow.
Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen is a longtime fan of this pillow and loves it so much she evangelizes about it to her family members, who have been convinced to buy their own. A stomach and side sleeper, Goertzen says the pillow gives her enough support on her side while still feeling comfortable when she’s on her stomach.
Best natural-filling down-alternative pillow
Fill type: Mulberry silk | Loft: Low | Firmness: Soft
Most down-alternatives are filled with a synthetic fiber, but this silk-filled pillow from Cozy Earth makes for a great natural-fill option. This pillow is covered with a bamboo cover and filled with mulberry silk, giving it an ultrasoft feel and excellent temperature regulation (it’s one of my favorite cooling pillows, too). Though this pillow is very soft and compressed a fair amount underneath my head, I felt comfortable laying on my back with this pillow. I think it could also work well for many stomach sleepers, as they’ll be able to sink in without their necks being pushed upwards. And while I didn’t find it quite supportive enough for side sleeping, Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens, a side and back sleeper, stacks her Cozy Earth Silk pillow on top of a firmer pillow for the perfect balance of plushness and support. This pillow is significantly more expensive than the others on this list, but seeing as silk is an all-natural material (that tends to be costly anyway), it’s no surprise that it costs more than pillows filled with polyester.
Our experts
• Arielle Avila, Strategist writer
• Dr. Ben Carvosso, chiropractor and owner of MP Nutrition
• Brenley Goertzen, Strategist writer
• Simone Kitchens, Strategist senior editor
• Dr. Laura Purdy, M.D. and board-certified family-medicine physician
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor
• Dr. Sapna Sriram, chiropractor, acupuncturist, strength and conditioning specialist, and co-founder and CEO of Integra Health
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
