Sleep Like a Baby With Any of These 10 Memory Foam Pillows

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IT CAN be hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on a memory foam pillow, but these days memory foam pillows are cheaper and more tech-loaded than ever. The overall value you're getting in your memory foam pillow, therefore, is well worth the investment when you choose the right one. Some guys might feel ok with the $15 foam-filled pillow they've had for years now, but there comes a time in every man's life when it's time to take their pillow game seriously in order to achieve the best recovery possible. Now is the time to link up with the best memory foam pillow for your sleep style.

The editors and writers at Men's Health have tested well over 30 memory foam pillows over the past few years. We've singled out the top 10 memory foam pillows for guys to buy now, with picks ranging in all different types of price points and sleeping positions in mind.

What Are the Benefits of a Memory Foam Pillow?

According to Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a Chief Medical Advisor at Sleepopolis, memory foam pillows are good to sleep on because they can offer personalized support and pressure relief by contouring your head, neck, and shoulders. "Memory foam pillows also promote proper spinal alignment," says Dasgupta. "They excel in isolating motion, ensuring uninterrupted sleep, and they are durable, maintaining their supportive properties over time."

A lot of memory foam pillows are hypoallergenic, and many come in unique shapes to help target support in specific areas—like the neck. Memory foam pillows have high potential in minimizing snoring (due to creating proper head and neck alignment) and aiding in temperature regulation further enhancing their appeal. It's no wonder millions of sleepers out there swear by a memory foam pillow for restful sleep. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up our picks for the best memory foam pillows of 2023.

Read More About the Best Pillows

Pillows for Stomach Sleepers | Pillows for Side Sleepers | Pillows for Back Sleepers | Anti-Snoring Pillows | Best Pillows for Neck Pain

Original Foam Pillow

We've been fans of Tuft and Needle products for years now. Everything in the brand’s catalog strikes a perfect balance between luxury, comfort, and price. So, we weren’t surprised to find that our choice for the best overall memory foam pillow is the Original Foam Pillow. The Adaptive Foam material on the inside is softer than most solid memory foam pillows, yet it's still supportive enough to keep its shape—which is a problem that shredded memory foam pillows tend to have.

The Original Foam Pillow has a cooling gel infused in the foam that pairs well with a breathable micro polyamide and polyester cover, creating an all-night cooling feel that helps disperse heat much better than other pillows we tested. On the sustainability front, the Original Foam Pillow has GREENGUARD Gold certification to show it has been screened for toxic chemicals, plus a CertiPUR-US® certification to show its foam is free from harmful chemicals and gases.

Some sleepers might find the Original Foam Pillow to be less supportive than they prefer. We agree there are other more supportive memory foam pillows you could buy, but if you're looking for a memory foam pillow that balances softness with support—all for a price under $100—then this is your top choice.

Read more: Best Mattresses

TEMPUR-Neck Pillow

Anyone who struggles with neck and shoulder pain knows finding the right supportive sleep pillow can seem impossible. The TEMPUR-Neck™ Pillow is the best contoured memory foam pillow we tested in 2023 for neck support thanks to its soft, yet supportive design. We love how the pillow is designed to provide neck support for side sleepers and back sleepers. Multiple sizes are available too, so you can choose from a small, medium, or large profile to fit your body.

One of our top sleep experts, Dr. Chris Winter, a neurologist and author of The Sleep Solution, as well as the host of Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter, names Tempur-Pedic as a brand you can't go wrong with buying. "When I think about memory foam pillows, Tempur-Pedic is one brand that has some of the best options," says Winter. "They are a go-to brand in that space."

The TEMPUR-Neck Pillow comes with a machine-washable removable cover and comes with a 5-year warranty.

Read more: Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain

Memory Foam Pillow

Layla's Memory Foam Pillow is a true hidden gem of a pillow. The secret is in the shredded memory foam material that's blended with kapok, a natural fiber that's soft and lightweight (kind of like cotton). The inner makeup of the pillow won't give you the most rock-solid support, but what you do get is less weight and more breathability than a solid memory foam design. Plus, you also get a whole lot more support with the Layla Memory Foam Pillow than you would a traditional down or latex-filled pillow.

Add in the fact this pillow has a breathable 320 GSM Hex cover weave to enhance cooling, and you've got a shredded memory foam pick that's great for those looking for some targeted support, yet still want a lofty, cooling feel.

Read more: Best Sheets

Original Loft Pillow

The Coop Home Goods pillows hit their marks in all pillow types offered. With the Original Loft Pillow, you get a shredded foam makeup of memory foam and microfiber that's supportive and lightweight. The fact you can actually customize the fill of the pillow is what stands out the most, as you can use the provided extra fill bag to add more support, or you can remove the fill from the pillow to make it lighter and softer. The fill feature also allows sleepers to customize the height of the pillow to create a proper head alignment with their sleeping position.

Dr. Raj Dasgupta is a big fan of the Coop Original Pillow's adjustable fill feature too, but he likes to note how the pillow appeals to those with allergies too. "The pillow's hypoallergenic bamboo-derived cover, coupled with the shredded foam's ability to promote airflow, makes it suitable for allergy sufferers and helps regulate temperature," says Dasgupta.

The fact the Coop Original Loft pillow has all of these features while existing at a wallet-friendly price under $75 takes this pick to the top of our list. If you're looking for a memory foam pillow well under the $100 price point that you know will cater to your sleeping position, start here.

Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow

Memory foam pillows can cost a fortune. But you don’t have to spend north of $150 for a decent one. Case in point: Weekender keeps it simple with its aptly named Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow. It’s essentially a rectangular memory foam brick that does exactly what it promises: Supports your neck and shoulders, making it a great, wallet-friendly option for side and back sleepers. If we have one quibble, it’s that this model isn’t quite as supportive as other memory foam pillows we’ve tested. But that could be a good thing if you find traditional memory foam pillows too stiff. It’s currently ranked as Amazon’s Choice in the Bed Pillows category, which isn’t surprising considering it’s among the cheapest and best-reviewed memory foam pillows we’ve seen anywhere.

True Temp Pillow Ultimate

Sleep Number makes more than great mattresses. Its True Temp Ultimate Pillow is one of our favorite foam sleep pillows for back sleepers. With the Ultimate, you get three removable foam inserts (comes in a 4”, 5”, or 6” contour) so you can dial in a height to properly align your spine and head. The cool-touch cover and temperature-regulating fabrics ensure that the pillow stays comfortable throughout the night. Its 37.5 Technology also works to waft away water vapor and humidity. The only drawback is that the fill is not made with true memory foam. It is, however, CertiPUR-US certified foam, which guarantees fewer emissions, better durability, and more eco-conscious materials.

Read more: 2023 Men's Health Sleep Awards

Elevate High-Profile Talalay Latex Pillow

Side and back sleepers rely on targeted neck and shoulder support for a good night’s sleep. Juvea’s High Profile Pillow features a high-arched design that’s perfect for keeping your head and spine aligned and relieving neck pressure. Open-cell technology helps airflow and better temperature regulation. The 100% Talalay latex materials are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they’re free from harmful chemicals and even baby-safe. This pillow is among the pricier models we tested and it has a slight, chemical odor when it first arrives (inherent in natural latex). But, after removing it from the packaging and leaving it out overnight, that quickly dissipates. We especially love that it’s made using animal cruelty-free manufacturing processes. A low-profile version is also available for stomach sleepers.

Read more: Best Bedding

Hyper Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow for Stomach Sleeper

Finding a pillow as a stomach sleeper is tricky business. Luckily, memory foam pillows can be a good solution to helping stomach sleepers with the needed support and spinal alignment to promote healthy sleep. This ultra-thin pillow from Bluewave Bedding is a top favorite of stomach sleepers thanks to its low profile and dense foam. If you think the pillow is too low, you can luckily buy the pillow in several different height measurements to get the exact positioning you need. On top of the foam is also a layer of cooling gel that feels great on the skin through the entire night.

You might have some issues with the pillow getting hot due to how thick the foam is, but you still have the cooling gel to help limit that heat. But when you consider this pillow is under $40, it's more than a worthy choice for stomach sleepers to give a try.

Read more: Best Cooling Mattress Toppers

Memory Foam Pillow

Cooling sleepers, rejoice! Saatva’s Memory Foam Pillow is our pick for the best cooling memory foam pillow. The combination of graphite-infused, shredded memory foam and a breathable, organic cotton cover ensure that you’re never flipping the pillow throughout the night to chase the cool side. The contour is ideal for side sleepers who need extra neck support and pressure point relief. With an adjustable fill level, it’s easy to remove or re-add the foam to switch up the height and comfort. The 45-day free trial should be enough for most sleepers, though it’s not quite as generous as other options on this list (especially considering the premium price tag).

Molded Memory Foam Pillow

Most pillows, even memory foam pillows, are designed for specific sleep styles (or just one style). Sealy’s Molded Memory Foam Pillows offer a “just right” design that’s comfortable for any sleep position. The adaptive memory foam fill offers a medium-density firmness with a great balance of support and give, no matter whether you sleep on your side, stomach, or back. Like many of the best memory foam pillows we researched, the plush knit cover is removable and machine washable. But we especially love the price. At around $50, it’s the second cheapest pillow we tested.

Easy Breather Pillow

We’ve been fans of Nest’s bedding products for years now. Everything in the brand’s catalog strikes a perfect balance between luxury, comfort, and price. So, we weren’t surprised to find that our choice for the best overall memory foam pillow is the Easy Breather Pillow. The premium shredded foam fill is versatile enough for virtually any style of sleeper (side, back, or stomach). Nest ships every pillow overstuffed, so you can remove or add fill as necessary. The included cooling cover regulates temperature like a champ, so you’re never “chasing” the cool side of the pillow. Plus, the cover and foam fill are eco-friendly to minimize off-gassing and that weird “new memory foam” smell. The only downside we could find is the 30-night trial. That’s weak compared to most other brands we tested, but still more than enough for most to know whether the pillow will work for them.

• Best for: Side, back, and stomach sleepers

• Fill: Shredded CertiPUR-US Certified memory foam

• Available sizes: Standard, Side Sleeper, Queen, King

Pillow

Anyone who struggles with neck and shoulder pain knows finding the right supportive sleep pillow can seem impossible. The Ecosa Pillow is the best contoured memory foam pillow we tested in 2022. With a soft, yet supportive design, it’s perfectly balanced for anyone dealing with chronic pain. Multiple included pads allow for dialing in the exact height that’s right for you. The company’s generous 100-night trial (with free shipping and returns) is generous and more than enough for most sleepers to decide if the pillow is right for them. Bonus: Every pillow includes a vacuum-sealable carry bag that’s perfect for travel.

• Best for: Side and back sleepers

• Fill: Solid, CertiPUR-US Certified memory foam

• Available sizes: Standard

Meet the Experts

Dr. Chris Winter is a neurologist and author of The Sleep Solution, as well as the host of Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter. Dr. Winter has been involved with sleep medicine and sleep research for over 30 years, many of which include working with professional sports teams and leagues—like Major League Baseball—in helping conduct research on how professional athletes rest and recover.

Dr. Raj Dasgupta practices medicine at Keck Medicine of USC's Division of pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Raj is also a Chief Medical Advisor at Sleepopolis. He has appeared on various media platforms and television shows such as “The Doctors”, “Bill Nye Saves the World”, “ESPN”, “Larry King Now” and more.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Memory Foam Pillow?

Down may have been all the rage a few years ago, but memory foam is a trusted choice for serious sleep connoisseurs these days. Memory foam is firmer and more supportive than the common down pillow—and down-alternative pillows. Memory foam can maintain its shape for years, and it appeals to all sleeping positions as long as the pillows loft and support is properly adjusted. As mentioned earlier, memory foam pillows are also typically hypoallergenic, making them strongly resistant to dust mites and bacteria.

But memory foam isn’t perfect. It traps heat much more than down, down alternative, and most other traditional pillow types. For sleepers who toss and turn (especially side to back to side again), the slow response from memory—meaning it tends to get “stuck”—can also be annoying. The counterpoint to these downsides though is you can look at a shredded memory foam pillow to help lessen these effects. Some of the best-shredded memory foam pillows include blends of materials outside of just memory foam, so you can get better responsiveness and cooling than you would a traditional solid memory foam pillow.

What's the Difference Between Solid Memory Foam and Shredded Memory Foam?

Memory foam pillows are available in two general styles: One-piece and shredded. As the name implies, one-piece pillows are made from a single block of specially treated polyurethane. Solid memory foam is the firmest type of memory foam pillow and is best for anyone who prefers a very supportive place to rest their head. These pillows typically retain their shape extremely well and bounce back quickly once your head is removed. Dr. Raj Dasgupta also points out that solid memory foam pillows have less maintenance.

Shredded memory foam pillows are made from memory foam or blended with other materials to help with things like temperature regulation, water vapor control, and odor management. "Shredded pillows can be customized for loft and shape, offer better breathability, and have a plush feel," says Dasgupta. The downsides to a shredded memory foam pillow are you sacrifice some support, and you also have to shuffle around the foam to make sure your pillow is in a proper shape after getting up.

Your choice between the two types of memory foam pillows depends on your preference for firmness, adjustability, and overall comfort.

How We Selected the Best Memory Foam Pillows

Our thorough testing and research included more than 30 memory foam pillows over the past three years. We paid close attention to the materials used, the firmness level, the loft (height), pressure relief, price, and more. After countless hours of restful (and sometimes not-so-restful) sleep, the list above represents our honest picks of the best memory foam pillows of 2023.

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