It's Time to Upgrade Your Sleep Game With a Memory Foam Pillow

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Sleep. It's arguably the best state of being, just ask my cat. But a good night's sleep requires many things—the best pajamas, a good memory foam mattress or soft mattress (depending on your preference, obvs), super soft sheets, and, of course, the perfect pillow. Finding the right pillow for you can be tough, especially if you're in the market for a memory foam pillow, which tend to be more expensive than a regular pillow. So to help you find something you rly love that's worthy of your coin, I did the work for you and rounded up the best memory foam pillows on the market, based on my own personal testing and countless online reviews.

You might assume that a good memory pillow should work for every kind of sleeper, but just like any other pillow, that's not necessarily true. A good pillow for side sleepers might not be as well suited for stomach sleepers or back sleepers—just because a pillow is made with memory foam doesn't mean it's automatically going to solve all your problems. But don't worry, I went ahead and found the best memory foam pillows for every sleep style, no matter what level of support you're looking for.

Ready to rest your head on something supportive and tailored to your REM cycle? Read on to find the best memory foam pillow for you, and get ready for smooth Zzzs ahead!

Molded Bed Pillow for Pressure Relief

New to the memory foam pillow life? This molded Sealy pillow is perfect for beginners because it's not too soft or too firm (at least not after the first few uses) and adapts quickly to your body's needs.

• Sleep position: Back, side, and stomach

• Size: Standard (16" x 24" x 5.75")

• Fill: Memory foam

• Cover: Machine washable polyester/spandex

THE REVIEW: "The molded design provides excellent support for my head and neck, alleviating pressure points and reducing discomfort. I've noticed a significant decrease in neck pain since using this pillow," one tester writes. "White it might feel firmer initially, it quickly adapts to my body temperature, resulting in a cozy and restful night's sleep."

Hybrid Pillow

If you're looking for the support of memory foam but still love the feeling of a fluffy pillow, then trust me, you'll love the Casper Hybrid Pillow. I've been sleeping on this for months, and every time I lay my head down, I marvel at how soft it is while still giving my head and neck the support I need.

• Sleep position: Side

• Sizes: Standard, King

• Fill: Polyester fiber and polyurethane foam

• Cover: Machine washable 92% polyester, 8% spandex

THE REVIEW: "I had some major neck pain and had a rotator cuff issue and needed to get a good pillow," one tester writes. "This is great. It is perfect in thickness and you don't have to fluff it."

Tempur-Neck Pillow

Take it from someone who has long struggled with tense neck and shoulder pain, this pillow might be your new BFF. The Tempur-Neck pillow features a unique design meant to cradle your head and support your neck while side or back sleeping. What I love is that it has two different heights, so you can pick what side best suits your shoulder length.

• Best sleep position: Back and side

• Sizes: Small, Medium, Large

• Fill: Tempur Material memory foam

• Cover: Machine washable 100% polyester knit

THE REVIEW: "I have neck pain and have gone through so many pillows," one reviewer writes. "This pillow is so worth the investment. I don't think it will go flat ever."

Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow

If you're a stomach sleeper, you want to look for a relatively slim pillow. It might not look as inviting, but it'll be better for your neck (and your ability to breathe at night) in the long run. This super slim pillow from Bluewave Bedding has a loft of only 2.75" (though the pillow also comes in 2.25" and 3.25"), and is composed of gel memory foam to give the same support as an average memory foam pillow without the bulk.

• Sleep positions: Stomach and back

• Sizes: Standard and King

• Fill: CertiPUR-US certified gel memory foam

• Cover: Machine washable 60% polyester, 40% viscose

THE REVIEW: "This pillow is very thin, but substantial. Being a stomach sleeper my whole life, every pillow I tried left me with neck pain. From the first time I tried this pillow, I could tell a big difference," one tester writes. "No more neck pain!"

Shredded Memory Foam Bed Pillows for Sleeping

Memory foam pillows can get expensive real quick. If you're not ready to splurge, try out Linenspa's Shredded Memory Foam pillows, which are affordable—two for under $30!—and comfortable. And you don't have to take my word for it, just check out the brand's 18,000+ reviews on Amazon.

• Sleep positions: Side, back, stomach

• Sizes: Standard, Queen, King

• Fill: CertiPUR-US certified shredded memory foam

• Cover: 100% polyester
  

THE REVIEW: "The minute I put my head on it my thought was, 'this is like a cloud.' My head settled so nicely into it," one tester writes. "When I rolled to my side, my head settled and my shoulders stayed level. No shoulder pain this morning!"

Contour Memory Foam Pillow

Level up your pillow game with this customizable memory foam pillow. Made to support all kinds of sleepers, this pillow features a hollow center to cradle your head when you sleep. But the best part? It's totally customizable, with removable foam inserts allowing you to pick the best height for you, thus avoiding any unnecessary neck strain.

• Sleep positions: Back, side, and stomach

• Sizes: Standard, Queen

• Fill: Polyurethane foam

• Cover: Machine washable mesh fiber

THE REVIEW: "The form-fitting memory foam conforms to the contours of my head, neck, and shoulder, cradling my vertebrae and head throughout the night," writes one tester. "Since using the Osteo Pillow, I no longer have a stiff neck, sore muscles, or discomfort from sleeping on too soft a pillow."

Marlow Pillow

If you find yourself going back and forth between a firm pillow and a softer pillow, you're going to want to try this Brooklinen pillow. Not only is the Marlow pillow full of memory foam goodness, it also features a two-loft design with a zipper you can close or open depending on what firmness you want that night.

• Sleep positions: Side, back

• Sizes: Standard, King

• Fill: 80% polyurethane foam, 20% polyester fiber

• Cover: Cotton

Neck Relief Ergonomic Cervical Pillow

Neck support is always important, especially when you sleep. This ergonomic pillow from Cushion Lab is specifically designed to cradle your neck and help align your spine. If that's not what you're after, flip it over and the pillow will align your body for better airflow and supposedly help combat snoring.

• Sleep positions: Back, side

• Size: 23.5" x 15" x 4.3"

• Fill: Gel-infused memory foam

• Cover: Machine washable 100% cotton

THE REVIEW: "I have had neck pain for years, tried chiropractic and yoga religiously for years," one tester writes. "This pillow resolved my issues. My neck still cracks, but no more pain."

Deep Sleep Pillow

Cushion Lab's Deep Sleep Pillow is meant to accommodate all sleepers, so it's perfect for those who change positions throughout the night. It is a softer memory foam pillow, so those who enjoy the feeling of sinking into a fluffy cloud will especially enjoy it.

• Sleep position: Back, side, and stomach

• Sizes: 24" x 16" x 5.5"

• Fill: CloudSupport CertiPUR-US premium visco elastic memory foam

• Cover: Machine washable 85% cooling nylon, 15% spandex

THE REVIEW: "I've been using this pillow for almost a month now and I really like it. It is a nice firm foam, but doesn't feel firm to the touch. It cradles my neck nicely and I can sleep on it on my back or on my side," one reviewer writes. "I would highly recommend to anyone who has been struggling to find a supportive, but cool and comfortable pillow."

Cloud Memory Foam Pillow

Finding it hard to let go of that fluffy pillow feeling? The Cloud Memory Foam Pillow from Saatva is about as close to fluffy as you can get. The pillow is made of a mix of gel-infused memory foam and latex foam, which adds more lightness while still providing support.

• Sleep position: Side

• Sizes: Queen, King

• Fill: 100% CertiPUR-US certified memory foam, latex foam

• Cover: Machine washable organic cotton

THE REVIEW: "I sleep with the Cloud Memory pillow under my head and the Latex to hug—and I've been enjoying my sleep so much since," one reviewer writes. "Even more so than usual."

Foam Pillow with Snow Technology

Casper's Snow Technology helps keep the pillow cool throughout the night, so you don't get woken up by a sweaty pillow case stuck to your cheek. The 3-layer pillow uses AirScape foam, which has tiny perforations to keep the air circulating throughout the pillow as you rest.

• Best sleep position: Side

• Sizes: Standard and King

• Fill: 77% Polyurethane Foam, 23% Viscoelastic Polyurethane Foam

• Cover: Machine washable 88% Polyester, 12% Spandex

THE REVIEW: "I've always struggled to find the right height and the right stiffness on the same pillow," writes a tester. "This new foam pillow was a life saver. I bought it as soon as I tried it in the store and it has the perfect height, it's a little bit softer for me than the old ones. It also keeps my head cool since I started using it."

Side Cube Pro

A cube-shaped pillow with seemingly sharp edges may seem the least inviting, but don't let it fool you, the Pillow Cube isn't as stiff as it looks. Made specifically for side sleepers, it comes in three different sizes corresponding to your height and the length from your neck to the tip of your shoulders, ensuring a fit that's perfect for you.

• Sleep position: Side

• Sizes: Standard 24" x 12" x 5" (also comes in Thin and Thick)

• Fill: Viscoelastic polyurethane

• Cover: Machine washable polyester and spandex

THE REVIEW: "This little number did not disappoint!" writes one tester. "I can't give this a high enough recommendation. I suffer from daily neck pain. I don't think anything can eliminate it completely, but this pillow doesn't add to it."

Ear Pillow with Ear Hole for Sleeping

I love my memory foam pillows, but I'd be lying if I said that my ears never feel a little squished as a side sleeper. If you have sensory issues with your ears, like to sleep with headphones, or have piercings to protect, this memory foam pillow with ear holes just might be the solution to all your sleepy time woes.

• Sleep positions: Side

• Size: 26" x 15" x 5"

• Fill: CertiPUR-US certified cooling memory foam gel

• Cover: Machine washable polyester

THE REVIEW: "I was continually waking up with sore ears and having sores on the outer edge of my ears. After dealing with that for about a year, I finally realized it must have been caused by my pillow," writes one reviewer. "It took my ears about a week to completely heal, and they no longer hurt. The pain was gone, even after one night of usage."

How to find the best memory foam pillow for you:

There's a reason Goldilocks had to try all the beds in the bears' home—she was looking for the perfect pillow. Of course, not everyone has time to find an abandon cabin in the woods, break in, and try all the bedding to find the best memory foam pillow, which is where we come in. Here's how to find the best memory foam pillow for you...without any breaking and entering.

Consider Your Preferred Sleep Position

The best memory foam pillow for you will depend on your preferred sleep position, as memory foam pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, most tailored to a specific sleeping style. Here's a handy guide:

• The best memory foam pillow for side sleepers has medium firmness with enough loft to support your head and keep your spine aligned.

• The best memory foam pillow for back sleepers tends to be a bit more firm, with strong neck support and not too much height so as to keep your spine in alignment.

• The best memory foam pillow for stomach sleepers is usually the thinnest, giving you support without adding so much fluff that it impacts your breathing.

Of course, there are a few other things to take into consideration before purchasing a new memory foam pillow, like your budget. Other than that, your main concern should be the fill.

What are the different types of memory foam pillows?

Memory foam pillows tend to be stuffed with either large blocks of foam or shredded foam pieces, which makes for a bit of a looser, less dense fill. Memory foam tends to be some kind of polyurethane foam, but the real difference between foams will be whether or not it's CertiPUR-US certified.

What does CertiPUR-US certified mean?

When memory pillow fill is CertiPUR-US certified, means that it has been certified by a nonprofit organization as containing certified flexible polyurethane foam. This means that the foam was made without formaldehyde or ozone depleters, mercury or other heavy metals, and was screened for relevant chemicals, like carcinogens. Basically it means that this organization has deemed the foam relatively safe for most customers.

Why trust Cosmo?

Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan with over 10 years of experience covering all things entertainment, culture, and lifestyle. She has personally tried many memory foam pillows, testing different brands and fill types to get the perfect one for her (as a side and occasional back sleeper). She combed online reviews and used her own experience to curate a list of the best memory foam pillows, just for you.

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