“Sometimes you lie on a mattress and think it’s not for you, when the real problem is that you haven’t found the perfect pillow pairing,” says Mary Helen Rogers, vice president of marketing and communications at The Better Sleep Council. If you’re in the market for a new pillow and looking for one that’s comfy and soft you may want to add down pillows to your list. “Down pillows are soft, puffy and supple, and known for ultimate luxury,” Rogers says. We sent 19 of the best down pillows on the market home with testers to sleep on for multiple nights. Testers provided insights on quality, temperature/airflow, comfort, and durability. They also evaluated each pillow’s fill material, firmness, support, and more. Based on our testers’ feedback, the overall best down pillow is the Parachute Down Pillow because it’s lightweight and comfortable—and it bounced right back into shape after the tester lifted her head. Here are the best down pillows. Keep in Mind: It’s more expensive than other down pillows we tried with similar quality. When lying on this pillow, the tester said it felt “like home” the first time she used it, which was a plus compared to some of the other pillows that took more time to break in. It also kept her cool, maintained its shape well, and bounced back after she lifted her head up. This pillow was so lightweight and comfortable, the tester felt like she was sleeping on a cloud. Although we like the look and feel of this down pillow, it’s a little more expensive than others with similar quality. Price at time of publish: From $129 Fill Material: Down and feather fibers | Firmness: Available in soft, medium, and firm | Recommended for: Soft is best for stomach sleepers, medium is best for combination sleepers, and firm is best for back sleepers | Care: Dry clean or machine wash cold on delicate, tumble dry low with wool dryer balls, and remove promptly Keep in Mind: Some of the down feathers poked through during testing, giving this pillow a prickly feel. Other features that stood out to us were the soft and breathable cotton cover, plush feel, and classic look of the pillow. The main downside is that the tester could feel some of the prickly down feathers through the cover, which was uncomfortable at times. For just $20, this is a good option if you’re looking for an affordable and supportive down pillow—you’ll just want to cover it with a pillow protector and pillowcase to prevent any poking. Price at time of publish: $20 Fill Material: Feather and down blend | Firmness: Soft/medium | Recommended for: Back and stomach sleepers | Care: Machine washable, tumble dry low Keep in Mind: If you choose the soft firmness option, you may feel like you’re sinking into this pillow because it doesn’t offer very much support. Unfortunately, the soft firmness option for this pillow didn’t maintain its shape or provide as much support as other pillows we tested. The tester sunk right into the pillow during testing, which she found uncomfortable. Luckily, if the soft firmness option isn’t right for you, this pillow also comes in medium and firm firmness levels. Price at time of publish: From $219 Fill Material: Down | Firmness: Soft, medium, and firm | Recommended for: Soft is recommended for stomach sleepers, medium is best for back sleepers, and firm is recommended for side sleepers | Care: Machine washable (commercial sized washer and dryer recommended) Keep in Mind: We had to flip over the pillow in the middle of the night because it got a little warm. This pillow kept our tester relatively cool, although she did have to flip it over in the middle of the night because it got a little stuffy. If you’re looking for a luxury sleeping experience that the tester described as “absolutely breathtaking to just sink into,” the Helix Down & Feather Pillow is a great choice. Price at time of publish: From $95 Fill Material: Down and feather blend | Firmness: Soft | Recommended for: Back, side, and stomach sleepers | Care: Not listed Keep in Mind: Since this pillow is vacuum-sealed, it may take several hours to reach its full loft. During testing, the tester was just as pleased with the look of this pillow as she was with the comfort—it’s classy and clean with a nice pattern. It kept her cool throughout the night and maintained its shape and loft better than some of the other pillows we tested. We recommend it for anyone looking for a durable down pillow that is soft yet structured. Price at time of publish: $27 Fill Material: Goose feather and polyester fiber | Firmness: Medium | Recommended for: Back and side sleepers | Care: Machine wash on delicate cycle, tumble dry low Keep in Mind: This pillow is on the stiff side and isn’t the best choice for those who want to sink into their pillow. During testing, the pillow felt thick and fluffy yet offered “sturdy and stiff” support, according to the tester. She also noted that the pillow stays cool during the night and is high quality with great construction, giving it a 5/5 score for durability. If you’re looking for a firm, supportive pillow the Allswell Supreme is a solid choice. Price at time of publish: $58 Fill Material: 50% poly fibers and 50% down feathers | Firmness: Medium-Firm | Recommended for: Back and side sleepers | Care: Machine wash cold Keep in Mind: You might be able to see some dark feathers through the cotton shell. This pillow was more comfortable than some of the other down pillows we tested because it’s thick and didn’t flatten down to nothing when the tester was lying on it. She also noted that the “amount of feathers is top-notch.” “In the past three months I haven’t woke up with any pain in my neck or back,” our tester said. “I am mostly a back sleeper but will toss and turn throughout the night, and this pillow stays with me the whole time. I’m never adjusting it or flipping it over.” Keep in mind that the tester could see some dark feathers through the cotton shell, which is a drawback if you want to display it without a pillowcase. Price at time of publish: From $180 Fill Material: White goose down | Firmness: Soft, medium, and firm | Recommended for: Back, side, and stomach sleepers | Care: Machine wash warm on delicate cycle, tumble dry low with tennis ball Keep in Mind: This plush pillow is more expensive than most of the other pillows on this list. Filled with cruelty-free down and feathers, this lightweight pillow is effective at wicking away moisture, and the tester reported feeling cool and comfortable while sleeping. She also noted that the pillow seemed well constructed and made from quality fabric. It’s a little on the expensive side, but not as pricey as some of the down pillows we tested. We recommend this pillow for its soft, plush feel and lightweight support that’s designed for side and back sleepers. Price at time of publish: From $140 Fill Material: Down and feathers | Firmness: Medium | Recommended for: Side and back sleepers | Cleaning: Wash in cold water and tumble dry on low, use dryer balls or tennis balls to fluff the pillow
Our Testing Process
To find the best down pillows, we sent 19 of the most popular pillows on the market home with testers to sleep on for several days and examine them in detail. They rated the quality, temperature/airflow, comfort, durability, and value of each pillow. The testers also evaluated the support based on their preferred sleeping positions and took note of any discomfort they felt when they woke up. For the machine washable pillows, testers washed and dried them according to the manufacturer’s instructions and recorded any changes to comfort, appearance, fill consistency, or firmness. They also checked to see if any feathers poked through. The down pillows that ranked highest didn’t flatten over time. Based on the testers’ insights, we calculated each pillow’s individual scores and compared them to each other to determine our list of the best down pillows.
Other Down Pillows We Tested
Brooklinen Down Pillow
After testing this down pillow by Brooklinen, we would describe it as “a very average pillow.” Although fluffy, it wasn’t very firm, and it flattened too much the more we used it, which is why we think it’s better suited for decorative purposes than sleeping.
Pottery Barn Supreme Down Pillow
If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing down pillow that’s lighter and smaller than most down pillows, the Pottery Barn Supreme Down Pillow could work for you. Keep in mind, however, that it’s a lot flatter than the other pillows we tried and doesn’t provide very much support.
The Company Store Legends Luxury Royal Down Pillow
The Company Store Legends Luxury Royal Down Pillow is made of high-quality soft and breathable fabric, which kept the tester cool throughout the night. Although the tester didn’t feel any feathers poking through, she didn’t think this pillow is worth the high price because it’s not very supportive or fluffy.
What to Know About Down Pillows Before Shopping
Fill Material
Down pillows are filled with goose or duck feathers, or a combination of both. Goose down pillows have large clusters which means more loft and fluff. Duck down pillows are not as fluffy, but they are a budget-friendly alternative to 100% goose down pillows. Goose down is white so it is less likely than duck down to show through the pillow cover.
Support
Down pillows are soft and plush, but they do not offer as much support as other types of pillows. If you’re looking for a structured pillow that supports your head, neck, and shoulders, you may and to try a memory foam pillow instead of a down pillow or a combination of memory foam with down. “Down pillows are fluffy, light and cozy, but are not meant to provide support,” Rogers says.
Care
The best down pillows are machine washable in cold water on a delicate cycle. They can also be tumble dried on low. For best results, we recommend adding dryer balls or tennis balls to the dryer to keep down pillows fluffy. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions because some down pillows may only be spot treated.
Sleeping Position
Think about your ideal sleeping position when shopping for the best down pillow. Stomach sleepers typically prefer softer pillows, but back and side sleepers may opt for firmer pillows that provide some support and keep the spine in proper alignment. As part of our testing, we evaluated whether each pillow worked for different sleeping positions.
Your Questions, Answered
What kind of down is best for pillows?
Goose down pillows are more comfortable and luxurious than duck down pillows but also more expensive. According to Rogers, “the best type of down pillow is European goose down with a fill power of 600 and up.”
What is the difference between a down and a feather pillow?
Down pillows contain feathers from the chest and underbelly of a duck or goose whereas feather pillows contain feathers from the wings and back. “The feathers used in a quality pillow are very small and highly curled,” Rogers says. “Down comes from a bird’s fluffy undercoat —think feathers without quills.” While similar, down pillows are typically softer, fluffier, and more expensive than feather pillows.
How many years do down pillows last?
The best down pillows are very durable and can last for about five years with proper care (some even say longer), although you may notice a change in comfort or appearance around the two- to three-year mark, so you’ll probably want to replace it sooner.
Who We Are
Erica Reagle is a freelance writer focused on interior design and the home. To write this story, she researched the best down pillows and compared her findings to insights gathered during our home tests. Erica prefers sleeping on her side but moves around a lot during the night so finding the best down pillow is a must.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products and we let you know that we got it for free to remain as transparent as possible about our picks. Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.
