9 Softest Pillows Of 2024 (Editor Reviewed)
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
I’ve dozed off on many well-made, sustainable pillows over the years — these are the softest ones I’ve found.
There’s nothing like sinking into a clean, comfy bed at the end of a long day. While sheets, comforters, and mattresses can all bring their own qualities to the (slumber) party, nothing is more personal than where you lay your head. Whether you want to rest atop a structured memory foam pillow that will support your neck or sink blissfully into a soft cloud of sustainable down, the right pillow can make or break your nightly Zzzs. We’ve rounded up some of the best pillows for every kind of sleeper — from side sleeper support to those who like to stack their pillows up — so you can get your deepest sleep yet!
Who should use a soft pillow?
A soft pillow is great for people who sleep on their stomachs because it keeps the neck and spine in better alignment without too much height. Soft pillows are also great for those of us who prefer a lower, flatter pillow or have smaller body frames since they mold easily to your head and neck. If you’ve ever woken up with neck pain from a firm pillow, a soft one might help with that, too! Plus, if you love the cozy feeling of sinking in (you know, that cloud-like feeling!), a soft option can give you that plush, cushioned comfort.
What makes a super soft pillow?
It may seem intuitive, but finding a super soft pillow is all about finding a brand that uses the right materials and construction techniques. Soft pillows are generally filled with down, down alternative, microfiber, or shredded memory foam (and the best pillows are often adjustable so that you can remove/add filling for your preference). Soft pillows are also lightweight and compress easily, providing that fluffy, cloud-like sensation.
And we can’t forget about the outer fabric! Something with a high-thread-count cotton or silky materials like bamboo or Tencel gives us a comfy, soft feel. Altogether, the combination of light, fluffy fills and soft fabrics (preferably natural ones!) creates that ultra-soft, sink-in sensation that makes us feel like we’re sleeping on a cloud.
Our methodology & criteria:
I personally slept on each of these pillows for multiple nights (sometimes even for weeks!). I’ve provided notes on the softness of each pillow, my thoughts on the material and overall comfort, and how restful my sleep was. This list includes options that are sustainable, affordable, and, of course, pillowy soft. We regularly update this list with new picks that meet the below criteria.
- SOFT | Comfort and softness is everything! The brands on this list are here because they are super plush and precisely what we’re looking for when it comes to a comfy place to rest our heads.
- SUSTAINABLE | Each brand uses natural materials that are safe for your health and sleep. Many have organic certifications as well and use eco-friendly and sustainable materials.
- AFFORDABLE | Each of the brands we’ve included offers a fair value for the cost of the pillow. We considered durability, longevity, and ease of washing.
And while upgrading to new soft, supportive pillows, the rest of your bed could use a glow-up, too! Check out our guides for the softest sheets.
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best Down Alt
1. Avocado
Best For | Organic pillow with charcoal-infused latex (vegan pillow)
Organic Materials | GOLS certified organic latex, GOTS certified organic cotton cover
Price of Standard Pillow | $109
It’s likely no surprise that Avocado’s Molded Organic Latex Pillow tops my list as the softest natural pillow option. It’s handmade in Los Angeles and has a charcoal-infused latex core. While it offers a bit more support than some of the other pillows on this list, it’s incredibly soft. I absolutely love the removable, GOTS certified organic cotton cover. The King-sized pillow is perfect when I want more of a body pillow, and I truly get some of the best sleep when I reach for this option. Avocado’s pillow also regulates temperature while eliminating odors and excess moisture. Plus, the brand is GREENGUARD Gold, GOLS certified, and a B Corp.
2. Sijo
Best For | Temperature regulating soft pillow
Materials | Cooling nylon, 100% cotton infused with proprietary temperature regulating microcapsules, shredded memory foam and polyester fiber blend filling, OEKO-TEX® certified
Price of Standard Pillow | $80
Sijo is queen when it comes to keeping us cool when we sleep, and the customizable FlexCool Memory Foam pillow is the perfect option for softer and cooler sleep! It has adjustable shredded memory foam to customize the loft, and I love the innovative, temperature-regulating cover (LA summer heat is no joke!). This pillow ranks high on the list as one of my favorites. It has enough support while still giving me that soft and squishy feel. And, because I need to mention it at least three times: It keeps me cool throughout the night!
3. Buffy
Best For | Affordable eucalyptus pillow
Materials | TENCEL™ lyocell fiber, 100% GRS-certified, BPA-free, recycled PET fill
Price of Standard Pillow | $50
Buffy is a pro when it comes to creating soft and cool bedding, and the Cloud Pillow is no exception. It’s made with a super-soft signature fabric and stuffed with extra-fluffy recycled fill. The shell is woven from earth-friendly TENCEL™ lyocell fiber, and each pillow recycles approximately 24-30 plastic bottles (love!). Both my husband and I slept wonderfully on this pillow and ended up fighting over it — the ultra-smooth TENCEL™ lyocell fiber is designed to absorb moisture more efficiently than cotton and, in LA’s heat, we were both reaching for this pillow at night. We’ll likely need to stock up on a couple at the price point!
4. Lagoon
Best For | Down pillows designed for every sleep position
Materials | Hypoallergenic soft down alternative fibers, bamboo and polyester cover, bamboo and cotton liner, OEKO-TEX® certified
Price of Standard Pillow | $130
This is our first time trying anything from Lagoon, a Minnesota-based brand focused on creating pillows for recovery and optimized sleep. And let’s just say: We are sold! I slept on The Chinchilla pillow for about a week — an ultra-soft microfiber pillow that is fully adjustable. This pillow is so buttery soft, light & airy, and I found myself sinking in every night. After the first night, I removed a tiny bit of the fill to make it a bit thinner, and it was perfect. I also tried the 100% Mulberry Silk Cooling Pillowcase and, wow, my Oura sleep score skyrocketed!
5. Tuft & Needle
Best For | Soft pillows in a two-pack
Materials | hypoallergenic polyester down-alternative pillow, OEKO-TEX® certified
Price of Standard Pillow | $120 (pack of two pillows)
If you prefer to sleep on your back or side, Tuft & Needle’s Down Alternative Pillow set is for you! I love that these pillows come as a set of two, so I can have two soft pillows on my bed for my husband and me. The polyester down alternative is lightweight and airy, and we love that the synthetic fill is hypoallergenic and offers light support. Tuft & Needle thoughtfully designs these pillows in Phoenix, and the brand offers a 100-night sleep trial!
6. Quince
Best For | Affordable soft pillow
Materials | Responsible down and cotton
Price of Standard Pillow | $40
Quince makes trying out a soft pillow with safe and natural materials accessible and affordable — and I love the brand for this! The Premium Down Alternative pillow has hypoallergenic fill, is 100% cotton, and has a 100% cotton sateen shell. The soft/medium option offers enough support to feel like I’m getting a good night’s rest while also being soft and squishy enough for sleeping on my stomach. While it may not be the most luxurious option on the list, it’s a great find for something natural, affordable, and cloud-like. Don’t just take my word for it, though: There are 950+ five-star reviews from verified customers!
7. Brooklinen
Best For | Responsibly filled down pillows designed for every sleep position
Materials | Ethically sourced Canadian down, hypoallergenic DOWNMARK® Certified, OEKO-TEX® Certified
Price of Standard Pillow | $109
If you’re the Goldilocks of down pillows and haven’t quite found the plushness level that is juuuust right, Brooklinen’s Down Pillow might be what you’ve been searching for. The brand offers three different constructions to accommodate stomach sleepers and side sleepers. Even those of us who like a little bit of everything, you’re sure to find your perfect fit. I personally tried the plush option as it’s the softest. My head melted into the silky smooth 100% cotton sateen shell, and I was out within a few moments. I specifically love that Brooklinen’s down pillows are hypoallergenic and Downmark certified, which provides strict guidelines for the highest quality standards for sustainable and ethical harvesting practices (never live pluck or foie gras down!). I’m not losing sleep over this one!
8. Boll & Branch
Best For | Luxury American down pillows
Materials | Responsibly sourced, cruelty-free down from US farms, OEKO-TEX® certified
Price of Standard Pillow | $159
Boll & Branch’s Down Chamber Pillow is made in the USA and is cruelty-free. The fill is IDS certified, meaning that all down and feathers are inspected and tested by IDFL to ensure each step of production, from farm to finish, and the pillow meets the highest quality and animal welfare standards. Boll & Branch also triple-washes its down and feathers to be 2x cleaner than the U.S. government standard, using the highest-grade, environmentally-safe chemistry to guarantee a cleaner, longer-lasting loft. As for my personal review: This pillow is the very definition of pancake softness. It’s very thin (which is what I’m looking for when I sleep on my stomach), and the light density ensures my spine stays neutral throughout the night.
9. Parachute Home
Best For | Recycled down pillows
Materials | Fill is made of 100% recycled European white down, OEKO-TEX® certified
Price of Standard Pillow | $130
Hello, sunken plushness! Parachute Home’s Down Pillow is a favorite because of that cloud-like sunken-in feeling in my head. It’s made with European white down, and I knew I was going to love this one as soon as I took it out of the package. Parachute claims its pillows have a luxurious, supportive-yet-airy quality that provides optimum comfort, which is precisely what I experienced. This one has more “oomph” than some of the other pillows on the list, which I love. The 85% down clusters and 15% down and feather fibers make it soft and squishy with a bit of bounce-back, so my neck and spine feel supported. The shell is 100% cotton sateen, and Parachute offers a three-year limited warranty!
Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of Feelings Not Aside, a Substack newsletter with 6,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.
