Some Users Claim This Unique Type of Pillow Completely Changed the Way They Sleep

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Pillows come in all shapes and sizes, and finding the best pillow is a relatively subjective endeavor that hinges on factors like sleeping position, body temperature and personal preferences regarding firmness and materials. And while you've likely heard of the usual suspects — memory foam and down pillows, for example — you may not be as familiar with buckwheat pillows.

Read on to learn more about our recommendations for the best buckwheat pillows, according to our own pillow testing analysts and verified ratings and reviews.

Originating in Japan and also known as sobakawa pillows, buckwheat pillows are, well, precisely what their name suggests: pillows filled with the firm outer hulls of buckwheat seeds. Akin to a firm bean bag, the small, hard hulls can be easily shifted and molded to the shape of your head, neck and shoulders. Advocates claim several benefits, including adjustability (you can add or remove hulls to achieve just the right level of support), durability (because the sturdy hulls resist compression) and temperature regulation (since the small, rigid hulls allow for ample airflow). They can also be ideal for those who are allergic to dust mites, down or latex.

However, it's worth noting that after hands-on testing buckwheat pillows, our textile experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute weren't sold on the benefits of this pillow style. Moreover, the buckwheat fill itself cannot be washed, necessitating the complete removal of the filling before washing the cover. Some of our testers even reported skin irritation caused by the buckwheat pillows they used.

Nevertheless, if you think this type of pillow may be for you, we think these are your best bets. At the bottom of this guide, you'll also find more information about what to consider when shopping for a buckwheat pillow, including price, materials and size.

Buckwheat Pillow

While all buckwheat pillows are firmer than traditional pillows, the hulls inside can also be shifted and molded to suit your individual needs, allowing you to adjust the loft to best support your head and neck, which can be especially beneficial to those suffering from neck pain.

Weighing in at a hefty seven pounds, Turmerry's buckwheat pillow is one of the most highly adjustable options on the market. While that may make it a bit difficult to maneuver, what you get is the flexibility to create the perfect loft to suit your needs. Like most other sobakawa-style pillows, this pick allows you to add or remove hulls in order to achieve your ideal level of support and cushioning. Turmerry also sells extra hulls in bulk starting at $20 per pound, for when you need to refresh the fill.

The U.S.-sourced buckwheat comes housed in a cotton cover, but like most buckwheat pillows (and most pillows in general), it doesn't come with an outer case, so we recommend purchasing an additional cover to keep your hulls in when machine-washing the case. This pillow comes in a variety of sizes including standard, travel-size and even a neck roll.

Traditional Buckwheat Pillow

If you're just interested in exploring whether or not a buckwheat pillow is right for you, it's a good idea to consider a budget-friendly option under $40. This way, you can experiment without making a hefty investment.

We suggest this affordable pick, which comes with hulls encased in a muslin cotton cover. It only weighs about four pounds, which may be too flat for some, but we think most people will find this to be enough to achieve the proper loft. Plus, you'll likely find it easier to maneuver than some of the weightier options on this list. On the downside, the cover of this pillow is not removable, which means it'll be difficult to clean and you cannot add or remove hulls to adjust the loft.

It's also a popular choice on Amazon, with thousands of five-star reviews. As with all buckwheat pillows, some reviewers note that the hulls can be a bit noisy, but others find the crunchy rustle to be comforting white noise. "I'll never use another pillow again," wrote one Amazon reviewer. "[After giving it] a few nights to get used to the slightly crunchy sound and how to use it, [my] occasional neck pain is gone!"

Buckwheat Pillow

Another budget-friendly pick that delivers, the Zen Chi buckwheat pillow is only about four pounds, but there's enough adjustability to give most sleepers the support they need to be comfortable. It's also refillable, so you can always buy more fill if you need it. [ARE MOST NOT REFILLABLE/DOES THE COMPANY OFFER REFILL MATERIAL?] The buckwheat hulls are encased in a cotton cover but unfortunately, the pillow doesn't come with an outer case, so we recommend grabbing an extra protective casing while you're shopping.

Buckwheat Pillow

It may be on the pricier side, but we think this buckwheat pillow is a worthy investment, particularly for those who know they love the style.

The company claims the buckwheat filling is grown and milled by farmers right here in the U.S., plus the standard size pillow comes packed with a whopping eight pounds of the stuff, so users get more flexibility to adjust the loft to their liking. (You can also purchase additional 10- or 20-pound refill bags of hulls from the company.) "After some initial adjustment, I've been sleeping incredibly comfortably with this pillow every night," wrote one Amazon reviewer. "I can't even imagine going back to a regular pillow now. This has given me the best night's sleep I've ever had for months and is still in great shape."

Hullo's buckwheat pillow comes in three sizes, small, standard and king. As is the case with other buckwheat pillow cases, the cotton twill case is machine washable. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with an outer case, but you do get a 60-night money-back guarantee.

Premium Buckwheat Pillow

If you experience neck pain, you're likely in need of proper support no matter where you go — and the travel-size version of this buckwheat pillow can make a great companion for any overnight stay. At 14 x 10 inches and just over two pounds, PineTale's pillow is easy to transport, and it provides many of the same features you'd get from a larger version, like adjustable loft.

The buckwheat hulls are housed in a zippered cotton shell to make adjustments simple. This premium model also comes with an outer case made of rayon fabric to help keep everything cleaner (key when you're on the road!). If there's any downside, it's that the two design options for the outer case aren't the most stylish, in our opinions.

Organic Buckwheat Pillow

Side sleepers need a pillow with plenty of support to help keep their neck in proper alignment and ease aches and pains. Enter this pick, which clocks in between eight and 10 pounds, offering plenty of adjustability without being too difficult to manipulate. "This pillow is great for back and side sleepers who like a lot of neck support," wrote one Amazon reviewer. "It can be adjusted in any way to conform to your liking."

The company says the buckwheat hulls are grown in the U.S. and hand-picked to ensure quality — a.k.a. the hulls are fully intact in order to deliver ample loft and maximum air circulation. To customize the fill, simply unzip the three-layer quilted cotton case. Just note: While the casing is machine-washable, you'll likely want to purchase a second case for convenience when cleaning.

Buckwheat Cylinder Neck Pillow

For those who experience chronic neck pain, a cylindrical neck pillow may offer much-needed relief, since it provides additional structure around the head and shoulders. Buckwheat takes everything a step further, since this type of fill is touted as being highly customizable, too.

At 2.4 pounds, this one is on the firmer side given its size. And while you can't change the overall shape of the pillow, you can adjust the loft, given the weightiness this pillow delivers. Just open the hidden zipper and take out as much fill as you'd like to find the most comfortable level of support.

We also like that this particular pillow comes with an outer cotton case to make the whole cleaning process easier.

Weighted Organic Hemp Hull Pillow

Hemp hulls differ from buckwheat hulls in a few important ways. First, hemp hulls are a bit smaller than buckwheat hulls. They're also more granular, which allows them to more readily stick together — a characteristic some say makes them more malleable and therefore, more comfortable.

That said, our testers didn't distinguish much of a difference between this pillow and the other buckwheat pillows we tested, in that it had similar adjustability to help users establish the perfect shape, volume and loft for tailored support.

Still, if you have the budget, it's a worthy choice. In addition to the above attributes, the Canadian-grown hemp hulls are housed in a double-knit cotton inner shell and a jersey cotton outer case, while hidden zippers make adjustments seamless. We also appreciate that this already hefty 10-pound pillow comes with an additional pound of hulls, if you need even more support.

How we test and evaluate buckwheat pillows

In recent years, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested more than 100 pillows of all types to find the most comfortable options, including latex pillows, cooling pillows and down alternative pillows.

During testing, our textile pros evaluate each pillow in the Lab for things like washability and durability — they wash each pillow three times before looking for changes in appearance and shrinkage. To determine how well the pillow holds it shape, they also place each pillow inside of a standard pillowcase to see if it fits. Then, they fold each pillow in half and place a weight on it for a set amount of time before timing how long it takes to return to its original shape. Finally, our experts have real-life testers sleep on each one to find the most comfortable and supportive styles.

While our textiles analysts got hands-on with several of the buckwheat pillows on our list, including picks from Turmerry and Solera, our editors rounded out our recommendations by researching dozens of top-selling options and reading through countless online reviews to find the best of the best.

Are buckwheat pillows good for sleeping?

Truthfully, we think the jury is still out on this one.

In general, our textiles experts have found that buckwheat pillows haven't tested well — and because of this, they aren't enthusiastic about recommending them. Specifically, they didn't find that buckwheat pillows were as durable or comfortable as other more conventional options, like down and memory foam. On top of that, some of our testers said the fill in these pillows actually irritated their skin (though we should note that buckwheat allergies are rare).

Still, while our Lab pros remain unconvinced, many online reviewers — particularly side sleepers and those who experience chronic neck pain — sing their praises, saying that buckwheat pillows are nothing short of "life-changing."

What to look for when shopping for buckwheat pillows

There's no one-size-fits-all buckwheat pillow, but here are a few things to keep in mind as you pick out your best pillow:

✔️Loft: Part of the appeal of buckwheat pillows is the adjustability. While all buckwheat pillows are firmer than most other types of pillows, the amount of loft and support is typically customizable. The best buckwheat pillows come packed with lots of hulls, so users can remove them to their liking, ultimately landing on a volume that suits their personal preferences and needs. To ensure maximum flexibility, take a look at the specs and look for a weightier pillow — at least five pounds should be sufficient.

✔️Shape: Like other types of pillows, buckwheat pillows come in various sizes to suit different beds, like standard, queen and king, plus special shapes like travel-size and cylindrical neck pillows. But remember: Since buckwheat pillows are naturally adjustable, you can generally create the shape you want.

✔️Materials: Buckwheat pillows purport to naturally temperature-regulating, but if you run hot or tend to sweat at night, look for one with a breathable cotton cover. (Typically buckwheat pillows come with a standard cotton, organic cotton or rayon case.)

It's also worth noting that lots of buckwheat pillows claim to be made with organic materials, including organic cotton covers. Some brands use the word "organic" because they contain a fiber that’s grown organically, but a truly organic product follows strict production standards. When it comes to organic fabrics like cotton and wool, the gold standard of certifications is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). If you prefer a pillow that is fully organic, you'll want to check for a trusted certification like GOTS, which uses strict standards throughout the entire supply chain and certifies the final product (not just the material) contains at least 95% organic fibers. GOTS has a public database where you can quickly type in a brand to see if it's on the list.

✔️Care: While most buckwheat pillows come with cotton covers that can be machine-washed, you can't wash buckwheat pillows when they're filled with hulls. Because of that, it's important to look for a pillow that comes with an additional protective case (so you have somewhere to empty out all of the hulls when you want to wash it) or buy an extra one. If not, you can place the hulls in a plastic bin while you wash the cover.

✔️ Cost: Our evaluations show that a good buckwheat pillow typically costs between $50 and $100 for a standard size, which is a bit pricer than other pillow types. That said, you can still find solid options starting at $30, and there are also pricier picks that can be worth the splurge. When it comes to buying extra hulls in bulk, expect to pay between $5 and $15 per pound.

How long do buckwheat pillows last?

Buckwheat hulls do eventually break down over time, but manufacturers — including PineTales — say buckwheat pillows can generally last for several years, sometimes 10 or more. You'll know it's time to replace yours if:

• It's stopped holding its shape

• Has diminished air circulation

• It's stopped providing ample support

• It's flatter and less voluminous than it once was

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Brigitt Earley is a writer, editor and content creator with over 15 years of experience writing about home products and bedding, including pillows. For this story, she worked with the pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, who have years of expertise in testing all types of pillows, including buckwheat pillows. She also conducted her own independent research, culling through countless online reviews in order to review the picks recommended here.

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