Pillow Reviews > Down Pillow Reviews
Down Pillows → Reviews, Ratings & Complaints Based on Data From Over 650 Actual Owners
Page last updated January 22, 2012
What You Need To Know
Owner Satisfaction: Down pillows have 80% owner satisfaction overall.
Pros: Often soft, cuddly and scrunchable; lightweight; durable; quiet; good air flow.
Cons: Can lack adequate loft and support; initial odor possible; can be pricey; may need to be fluffed / shaken regularly; feathers may escape case.
Price: $40-$140
Competition: Down pillows compete mainly with feather pillows. See how down pillows compare to other pillow types in the pillow comparison.
Down Pillow Ratings: As a Group
The ratings below discuss how the pillows overall as a group are evaluated by owners. For information on specific brands, see the section following this one.
| Owner satisfaction | good | With 80% owner satisfaction, down pillows overall rate slightly below average compared to other pillow types. Higher priced down pillows tend to have somewhat higher owner satisfaction than lower priced. |
| Durability / longevity | good | Durability / longevity is generally good. The main durability complaint is that down feathers escape from the case. |
| Price | poor | The price range is $40-$140. Cheaper down pillows tend to not have much fill content, while the pricier ones generally do. In addition, goose down is more expensive than duck down. |
| Less pain | fair | Down pillows provide about average relief from pain, such as neck pain, compared to other pillow types. |
| Supportive | fair | The softness of the pillow often provides only limited supportiveness. At least 20% of owners complain of a lack of support. |
| Moldable | good | A main strength of down pillows. A "moldable" pillow is one whose shape can be easily altered or "scrunched" to increase comfort and support. |
| Cuddly | good | A main strength of down pillows. A "cuddly" pillow is one that is soft and huggable, as opposed to hard, rigid, stiff and or heavy. |
| Contents won't shift / clump | fair | Fluffing and shaking may be needed to even out contents. |
| Loft variety | fair | Both thicker and thinner down pillows are available. However, when the pillows are compressed they tend to have no more than medium loft, regardless of fill quantity. |
| Back sleep | good | Generally good, but back sleepers sometimes report not having enough support / loft. |
| Stomach sleep | good | Down pillows are often popular with stomach sleepers because they tend to be thinner than other types. |
| Side sleep | fair | Scrunching or even folding of the pillow may be needed to achieve adequate loft. |
| No initial odor | fair | About 7% of owners say that the product can give off an unpleasant odor especially when new. The smell may come from the feathers or chemicals used to clean them. |
| Air flow | fair | Down feathers are used by ducks / geese to keep their eggs warm and insulated. Down captures body heat and then releases it. About 3% of owners say the pillow is too hot. |
| No noise | good | The product makes little or no noise, unlike feather pillows that can crunch. |
| Fewer allergies | fair | They can cause allergies unless the down has been cleaned by having dander and microbes removed from it. Most brands that do this cleaning clearly state it in some way. As for dust mites, down pillows are susceptible to them. |
| Ease of use / maintenance | poor | Fluffing or shaking the pillow may be needed to even contents and return loft. As down ages, increased fluffing/shaking may be needed. Dry cleaning is best. |
| Lightweight | good | The product is "airy" and usually weighs no more than 1-2 lbs. |
Down Pillow Ratings: By Brand
Several down pillows are compared below on factors that can vary at least somewhat from brand to brand. The chart evaluates only those down pillows that rate highly in satisfaction and that have available significant owner experience data.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner Satisfaction / Sample Size | Price / Retailer | Firm-
ness* |
Loft* | Sleeping Positions* | Main Complaints (% of owners) | Main Praise (% of owners) | Return Policy | Fill Power | Thread Count | |
| Beauty Stripe | 78% / 148 | $43 / Overstock | Medium | Low- Medium |
stomach, back, Perhaps side | Too thin / Lacks support (48%), Odor (11%) | Good value (27%) | 30 days | 700 | 310 |
| Hotel Grand Naples | 79% / 118 | $62 / Overstock | Medium | Medium- low |
Back, stomach, perhaps side | Too thin / Lacks support (15%), Loose feathers (15%) | Soft yet supportive (35%), longevity (10% | 30 days | 700 | 700 |
750 Fill Power Egyptian Cotton 
|
78% / 25 | $100 / Amazon
|
Medium- Soft |
Medium- Low |
Back, stomach, Perhaps side | Too thin / lacks support (15%) | Conforming (21%), Soft but supportive (21%) | 30 days | 700 | 500 |
| Siberian White 500 Thread Count | 80% / 454 | $50 / Overstock | Medium- Soft |
Medium- Low |
All | No loft / Lacks support (10%), Loose feathers (6%) | Conforming and molding (37%), Soft and fluffy(35%) | 30 days | 650 | 500 |
* This information is what tends to be true in most owner experiences, but not necessarily all. In addition, this information is based on actual owner experiences, not on manufacturer claims which can often be inaccurate.
Fill Power
Fill power is a measure of the loft or "fluffiness" of a down pillow. Owner data suggests that down pillows with higher fill power (700+) have slightly higher owner satisfaction than pillows with lower fill power. Specifically, higher fill power pillows have fewer slightly fewer complaints regarding lack of loft and support.
Thread Count
Thread count refers to the number of threads in a one-inch square of fabric. A higher thread count is designed to prevent feathers from escaping the pillow. Owner data suggests that there is only a slight correlation between higher thread count and fewer reports of escaping feathers, if that. Nevertheless, down pillows with a high thread count tend to have superior owner satisfaction.