Of all the guides that BGR’s product review team has ever put together, this was probably our favorite one. After all, testing fluffy down pillows is definitely a labor of love. We took the task very seriously, of course, and we tested more than three dozen different down pillows to make our picks. In this guide, we’ll share the very best down pillows for sleeping based on your preferences and budget.
Our top picks
- Best overall: puredown Goose Feathers and Down White Pillows
- Best cheap down pillow: BHZ Goose Down Feather Pillows
- Best premium down pillow: Pacific Coast Double DownAround Pillows
- Best King size down pillow: HYVIF Hungarian Goose Down Pillow
- Best hypoallergenic down alternative pillow: Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows
Those are hour picks after more than 150 combined hours of testing. If you want to why we chose the winner in each category, you’ll find all the key details down below.
1. Best cheap down pillow: puredown Goose Feathers and Down White Pillows
Pros: Luxurious down filling, plump and heavy, inexpensive compared to most high-end down pillows
Cons: Some people say they’re too flat
puredown Goose Feathers and Down White Pillows are the best pillows we found for anyone in search of real down filling at a reasonable price. They’re much more affordable than big-name options out there, but they still use high-quality filling that stands the test of time.
These pillows use a mix of 85% Grey Goose feathers and 15% Grey Goose down. The 100% cotton outer layer is nice and thick so that feathers don’t work their way out and poke you. Despite being thick, however, this pillow doesn’t sleep too hot, like other down pillows often do.
Some people do complain that these pillows are too flat. In our tests, however, we found them to have the perfect amount of plumpness for a down pillow. After all, if your down pillow is overstuffed, it’s going to weigh a ton and make you way too hot when you sleep.
If you find puredown’s pillows to be a bit too flat, just toss them in the drier on no heat for 15 minutes.
2. Best cheap down pillow: BHZ Goose Down Feather Pillows
Pros: Very inexpensive, good quality for the price, good for side and back sleepers
Cons: Not as soft as pricier models, tend to go flat
If you want good down pillows but want to spend as little as possible, we have no doubt that BHZ Goose Down Feather Pillows are the best you’ll find.
These terrific goose down pillows cost around $30 each for the Queen size, and that’s at full retail. As you’ll see when you shop for them, they often go on sale for even less than that. On top of that, you don’t have to buy them as single pillows. You can also save some money by picking up a 2-pack or a 4-pack. Plus, these pillows come in Standard and King size options, too.
BHZ’s down pillows are good for all sleep positions, including side, back, and even stomach. They’re definitely on the thinner side, though, so they’re not ideal for people looking for thicker pillows that offer lots of support.
The same can be said of this pillow’s softness. It’s soft and fluffy but not quite on par with more expensive down pillows that use higher-end materials. In this price range, however, it’s definitely the softest and most comfortable down pillow we tested.
3. Best premium down pillow: Pacific Coast Double DownAround Pillows
Pros: Trusted brand, soft and plump, organic cotton, long-lasting
Cons: Expensive, DownAround design needs to be reshaped from time to time
We tested plenty of ultra-premium down pillows for sleeping, and the Pacific Coast Double DownAround Pillow is our favorite. Highlights include 650 fill power, a soft outer cover, and a unique design that makes it comfortable for all sleep positions.
Like many other down pillows, Pacific Coast uses a mix of feather and down in its Double DownAround pillow. Unlike others, however, these pillows have a smart design so that your head only touches down.
Instead of mixing the feathers and down together like other brands, the Double DownAround actually has a separate inner pillow that’s stuffed with Resilia feathers. Then, you’ll find pure down all around the inner pillow, plus a 100% organic cotton outer cover.
Pacific Coast calls its down “HyperClean down” because it uses a thorough cleaning process to make the feathers hygienic. Combined with the “allergen barrier” fabric cover, this down pillow is usable even by people with a mild down sensitivity. If other down pillows have given you light headaches, give this one a try.
The only real downside to this pillow is its high price, which is to be expected when you want a premium down pillow. After all, you get what you pay for. Also, the double pillow design means that the outer down layer sometimes needs to be redistributed around the inner feather pillow. All you need to do is fluff it up like you would with any other pillow, however, so it only takes a few seconds.
4. Best King size down pillow: HYVIF Hungarian Goose Down Pillow
Pros: Soft Hungarian down, overstuffed, good support, 1,000-day warranty
Cons: Feathers are mixed with down, not good for people with allergies
Of all the King size down pillows we tried, the HYVIF Hungarian Goose Down Pillow was our favorite.
This overstuffed down pillow touts a fill power rating of 750. It’s soft and fluffy with a nice, luxurious feel. Your head definitely sinks down into the pillow, but it’s still nice and supportive. We also liked the 480 thread count cotton shell, which felt soft in a variety of different pillowcases that we tested it with.
On the flip side, we had two main complaints with this pillow.
First, HYVIF mixes its down with other feathers, like many other companies do. It’s a solid ratio since the company guarantees at least 75% down filling. But because tiny feathers are mixed in, there’s a chance that they might poke through the cover.
Second, these pillows aren’t a good choice for people with down allergies or even a mild down sensitivity. Testers on BGR’s staff who had mild down sensitivities all said that this pillow gave them a headache. This is likely because the brand doesn’t clean its down as thoroughly as higher-end companies.
5. Best hypoallergenic down alternative pillow: Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows
Pros: Comfortable, cooling, supportive, long-lasting, reasonable price
Cons: Some people find that they flatten after using them for a long time
If you want an excellent down-alternative pillow that’s hypoallergenic, look no further than Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows.
These are the best overall pillows for sleeping that you’ll find if you don’t want real down filling. They’re very comfortable and supportive, but they’re not too thick. Utopia Bedding uses a hypoallergenic poly fiber fill that feels like a pillow in a luxury hotel. Plus, since it’s poly fiber, it sleeps nice and cool even on hot summer nights.
Utopia’s flagship bed pillow is nice and durable, so you won’t have to worry about buying new pillows too quickly. Thanks to the versatility of the filling, it’s also great for stomach, back, and side sleepers.
The only real downside worth noting is that some users find that they get a bit flat after sleeping on them for a long time. Not everyone has that issue, however. Plus, it’s pretty easy to fluff them back up. Just toss them in the drier on low or no heat for 15 minutes and they should be good as new.
