Pillow Comparison -- firmness, comfort, loft, sleeping positions, Buckwheat, Memory Foam, Down, Feather, Polyester, Cotton, Gel, Water, Microbead, Latex : Consumer Reports : Bed

Pillow Ratings >>

Head-To-Head Pillow Comparison Grid → Based on Data From Over 6,000 Actual Owners

Page last updated November 18, 2009

Click on the pillow type and attribute for more information and explanation.

Attribute	Buck- wheat Pillow	Memory Foam Pillow	Down Pillow	Feather Pillow	Poly- ester Pillow	Down Alternative Pillow	Water Pillow	Latex Pillow	Microbead Pillow
Owner satisfaction	85%	74%	82%	79%	83%	85%	84%	87%	76%
Durable	Fair-Good	Fair-Good	Good- Excellent	Good- Excellent	Fair	Fair-Good	Fair	Good	Fair
Price	Medium	Medium	Medium- High	Low	Low	Medium	Medium- High	Medium- High	Medium
Firmness	Firm	Firm-Medium	Soft	Medium- Soft	Medium	Soft	Medium	Medium	Firm-Medium
Support	Good- Excellent	Fair-Good	Fair-Poor	Fair	Fair-Good	Fair-Poor	Good	Good	Good-Excellent
Moldable	Good	Fair-Poor	Excellent	Good- Excellent	Good	Good- Excellent	Fair-Poor	Fair- Poor	Good
Cuddly	Fair-Poor	Fair	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Excellent	Poor-Fair	Fair	Fair
Won't clump / shift	Fair	Excellent	Good	Good	Poor-Fair	Fair	Fair	Good- Excellent	Fair-Good
Loft	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair-Good	Fair	Good	Good- Fair	Good-Fair
Adjustable firmness / loft	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Back sleep	Good	Good	Fair- Good	Fair- Good	Good	Good	Good- Excellent	Good- Fair	Good
Side sleep	Good-Fair	Fair-Good	Good	Fair-Good	Fair-Good	Good	Good	Good- Excellent	Good-Fair
Stomach sleep	Fair	Fair	Fair- Good	Fair- Good	Fair	Fair-Good	Fair	Fair	Fair
Pain reduction	Good- Excellent	Good- Excellent	Fair- Good	Fair- Good	Fair	Fair-Good	Good- Excellent	Good- Excellent	Good- Excellent
Quiet	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Light weight	Fair-Poor	Fair	Good- Excellent	Good	Fair	Fair-Good	Poor	Fair	Fair
No initial odor	Good-Fair	Poor-Fair	Fair	Fair-Poor	Good	Fair	Good	Fair-Poor	Poor-Fair
Air flow	Good-Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Fair	Good	Good	Good-Fair	Good-Excellent
Hypo- allergenic	Good	Good	Poor-Fair	Fair-Poor	Fair-Good	Fair-Good	Fair- Good	Good-Fair	Good
Easy to use / care for	Fair	Good	Fair	Fair	Good	Fair-Good	Fair-Poor	Good	Good