Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to your long-term health, and your pillow plays a significant role in the quality of your Zs. While shopping for the perfect pillow may seem trivial, the right cushion to lay your head on can prove to be the most important purchase you make when it comes to your sleep health—best mattress aside. If you’re looking to upgrade your sleeping experience, you’ll want to invest in a memory foam pillow.

Pillow options abound—but what’s so special about memory foam? Well, memory foam as a material is generally more firm, dense, and responsive than other materials, explains Shelby Harris, M.D., director of Sleep Health at Sleepopolis. “It conforms to your individual shape, provides extra support for your head, neck, and spine while also relieving stress on joints, injuries, and pressure points.” She adds that memory foam pillows are typically more durable than other types of pillows as the dense material isn’t as susceptible to flattening after consistent use.

Meet the experts: Mark Aloia, Ph.D., head of Sleep and Behavioral Sciences at Sleep Number, Shelby Harris, M.D., director of Sleep Health at Sleepopolis, and Emma Seymour, senior textiles product analyst at Good Housekeeping Institute.

The way it works is simple—when your head, neck, and shoulders come in contact with the pillow, the heat from your body softens the foam, which makes it conform to your body, explains Mark Aloia, Ph.D., head of sleep and behavioral sciences at Sleep Number. “This molding of the pillow to your body is what provides pressure relief in areas that need it, resulting in more comfortable sleep. When you get up in the morning, the pillow has time to return to its normal shape.”

Memory foam pillows can help improve sleep quality and promote deep sleep by conforming to pressure and providing extra comfort and support to your head and neck, says Dr. Harris. “Memory foam is very responsive, meaning it will provide instant support and keep your spine in proper alignment as you switch positions throughout the night.”

Our top picks

If you’re looking to upgrade your sleep, read on to find all of the best picks for every budget and sleeping position.

Coop Home Goods

amazon.com

$72.00

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A pillow that can be adjusted to suit your needs, this pillow from Coop is fully adjustable. So whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper, stomach sleeper, or all of the above, this pick allows you to add or remove the memory foam fill so the pillow is as soft or firm as you like. This pillow is filled with a blend of CertiPUR-US certified hypoallergenic memory foam and microfiber, and is entirely machine-washable! Just be sure to wash the cover and the fill separately. One Amazon reviewer, who shares that they sleep in all positions, says “Truly, the Coop pillow has completely changed my comfort level when I sleep. I’d give it 10 stars if I could.”

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textile Lab tests, testers loved that it’s both supportive and plush thanks to its blend of shredded memory foam and microfiber clusters. This pillow is not only its top-tested memory foam pillow, but also the GH Institute’s best pillow ever tested!

Tempur-Pedic

tempurpedic.com

$229.00

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Now, if you prefer a firmer pillow and specifically want the solid memory foam feel, you can’t go wrong with Tempur-Pedic. This pick is made from memory foam that’s surrounded by a layer of cooling gel, which makes this pillow ideal for hot sleepers as well. Dr. Harris also recommends this option, saying this pillow “is a lofty 5-inch pillow with a medium level of firmness. It is filled with a single, thick piece of TEMPUR-material that is very moldable and has a very slow response to pressure. This pillow is great for side sleepers and those who like to sink into their pillow.”

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textile Lab tests, testers gave this pillow high scores for support and comfort. The analysts also noted that the SmartClimate removable cover washed well without shrinkage and felt cool to the touch. Because of the firm foam, testers reported that it didn’t return to its original shape as quickly as some other pillows, so it’s not well suited for someone who tosses and turns during the night.

Qutool

amazon.com

$48.99

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This two-pack from Qutool proves that you can find CertiPUR-US certified memory foam pillows without breaking the bank. These extremely affordable pillows have a double-sided cover—one side that cools and one side that feels ultra soft— and you can adjust the fill to your pillow height preference. One satisfied Amazon reviewer says “it does seem to stay a lot cooler than other pillows and while pretty firm actually adjusts to your head quickly also most of my neck and back pain have gone away since I started using this. By far, the most comfortable pillow I have owned.”

Layla

laylasleep.com

$89.00

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If you need a pillow to satisfy your side-sleeping habits, you’ll most likely need a thick option that fills the space between your head and downward-facing shoulder. Pillows with lower profiles may not provide enough padding, and this can lead to poor spinal alignment and pressure points. This pick from Layla is firm enough to fit your side-sleeping bill, but note that this pillow is on the heavier side, which may not be ideal for hot sleepers. One happy Layla customer says “The loft is perfect for side sleeping. It is also very adjustable to my needs and feels amazing! It returns to original shape and height when I’m not using it.”

Tuft and Needle

tuftandneedle.com

$100.00

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If you tend to snooze your back, this pick is the ideal pillow for back sleepers. It’s soft and squishy while remaining breathable and supportive to ensure the kind of alignment back sleepers need. The foam in this pillow is infused with graphite and cooling gel to minimize overheating, and the cover is machine-washable, bonus! One satisfied reviewer with chronic neck pain says “I haven’t had neck pain since I have had [this pillow]. There is no pressure on my neck. It is soft and supportive at the same time. I feel like I’m floating.”

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textile Lab tests, testers gave this pillow a perfect comfort score. It was especially popular for being comfortable with “just the right amount of firmness” and a “great balance between firm and soft.” Even higher praise? All testers said they would choose to continue to use this pillow.

LUXOME

amazon.com

$129.99

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If you’re a habitual stomach sleeper in need of a pillow that won’t give you a crick in the neck, this pick from Luxome is designed for personalization to avoid just that. One side is filled with a soft down alternative, while the other is a medium-feeling layer of gel-infused shredded memory foam. The pillow comes with a separate, solid memory foam insert for an even firmer feel, if you find it isn’t quite enough as is. One happy Amazon reviewer says “I primarily sleep on my sides or my stomach every once in a while…I would wake up and my neck would crack horribly and I would have a pounding headache at the base of my skull. This pillow (with all the inserts) keeps my neck straight. I haven’t woken up with a headache for over a week now.”

EPABO

amazon.com

$43.99

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If neck pain is the primary concern for your pillow needs, you deserve a memory foam pillow designed to aid your neck pain. This ergonomic pick is specifically contoured to help support your head, neck and shoulders while you sleep. Plus, no matter what position you prefer to snooze in, this pillow works for side, back and stomach sleepers. It also features a removable piece of foam if you feel the pillow is too high for your needs. One neck pain sufferer turned satisfied Amazon customer says “I haven’t had ONE instance of pain since sleeping on this pillow and to me that’s a life changer. No more scary chiropractic adjustments! Try this pillow. You’ll love it.”

Brooklinen

brooklinen.com

$65.00

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If you suffer from night sweats or just typically run hot, you need a memory foam pillow with cooling properties. While there are many options on our list that work for hot sleepers, this pick from Brooklinen has cooling-infused foam and breathable mesh so you can stay cool throughout your slumber. It also features the ability to adjust the firmness via zipper, so no messing with shredded filling to adjust the loft of your pillow in the night. Dr. Harris also recommends this pick, saying “the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow is a great choice for hot sleepers and back sleepers.”

WonderSleep

amazon.com

$20.79

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Although you may not think about sniffles when it comes to snoozing, if you suffer from allergies, you want to look for the best hypoallergenic pillow with memory foam. This cushiony pillow is one that allergy sufferers with a soft side can appreciate. You can adjust the height of the pillow as needed to make it as soft or as firm as you like. Both the zipper cover and pillow itself are machine washable which make cleaning easy for allergy sufferers. One happy Amazon customer writes that the pillows “squish and mold to whatever shape you need, which is a must for side sleepers. The covers that come with them wash nicely, and I wash mine weekly because of my allergies.”

Snuggle-Pedic

amazon.com

$79.99

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Sleeping with a body pillow between your legs can put the spine in more proper alignment, which can be a great way to alleviate pressure and joint pain in your knees, hips, and lower back. And for those who appreciate a deep clean, this entire pillow is machine-washable. One happy Amazon customer writes “Since using the Snuggle-Pedic Long Body Pillow, I have noticed a significant improvement in the quality of my sleep. I no longer wake up feeling stiff or sore, and I am able to maintain a comfortable sleeping position throughout the night. Additionally, my restless leg syndrome has disappeared, which is a huge relief for me.”