While your pillow may feel like a simple sleep accessory, it's a pretty important one. In fact, if you have the wrong one (a pillow that's the wrong firmness or height), it could do more damage to your nightly rest than you might expect.
"Comfort while sleeping, including being free of pain, is critical for healthy sleep," shares sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel. "If your pillow doesn’t keep your neck in neutral alignment or is otherwise too hard or too soft, it can create strain in the cervical spine and surrounding muscles and can make it difficult to fall into restful, good quality sleep."
We're all about helping you get the best night's rest possible, so in anticipation of 2026’s Shop TODAY Sleep Awards, we’re giving a teaser to some of our most exciting winners on the list. Our editors tested a range of pillows, from those meant for side sleepers to cooling options for those who get hot at night. Keep reading for all of our favorite picks, plus expert insights on what you should look for in an effective pillow.
The Best Pillows of 2026: Shop TODAY Sleep Award Winners
Associate editor Allie Wise says that she would give this pillow "10 gold stars" if she could. Talk about high praise! She adds, "Not only does this sleeping essential adapt to your unique sleeping style, but it also helped curb my lower back pain after only a few days. I highly recommend for anyone suffering from neck, shoulder or back pain and love that it is hypoallergenic and breathable."
The brand says that this dual chamber pillow gives you the best of both worlds, with a "cloud-like" plush outer layer and a supportive core, so you don't have to compromise.
According to editor Julie Ricevuto, it really does live up to the hype. "This is the most comfortable pillow I've ever owned. It conforms to my head and neck shape while still offering support," she says.
As a hot sleeper, deputy managing editor Jess Bender shares that the thing she most appreciates about this pillow is its "extremely cooling" material. In fact, she loved it so much that she gave it a perfect five-star rating across the board.
"Sweet dreams deserve a proper foundation, which this pillow fortunately provides and then some. One side of the pillow (the side that I sleep on) is constructed with the brand's honeycombed GelFlex Grid top layer designed to cool and support," she says. "Readers, the way it perfectly cradles my head and relieves pressure from my neck while I catch my zzz's is unlike anything I've felt compared to other pillows I've slept on in recent memory."
For those who struggle to find the perfect comfort level from most pillows on the market, a customizable option may be the best choice for you. Before you buy Pluto's pillow, you'll fill out a short questionnaire about how you sleep and your preferences and the brand will use that to create the best pillow for you.
"This is the only pillow I want to sleep on from now on because it’s soft yet incredibly supportive," says writer Jannely Espinal. "I’ve noticed fewer headaches since switching to it, and I haven’t experienced any neck discomfort at all."
Espinal even praised the brand for going above and beyond to meet her level of sleep satisfaction. "I even emailed the company to request a different core that was two inches shorter because the original height was too much for my neck," she shared. "Since making that adjustment, I’ve been sleeping so much more comfortably."
This pillow from Naturepedic features shredded latex, which you can take out or add to the pillow to customize your level of support, which editor Vivien Moon calls a "game-changer." She adds that "being in control of my comfort has made me side eye my other pillows."
Writer Danielle Murphy is all too familiar with the struggle of finding a good pillow. "I need it to be soft, but not so soft that it offers inadequate support." But she shares that this one from Tuft & Needle is truly "a goldilocks product in that regard," adding that "it's just really, really comfortable."
There are so many things that she appreciates about this pillow (which is why she gave it a perfect five-star rating in every category), including its quality and customizability. To change the feel to soft, medium or firm, all you need to do is adjust the zippers on either side.
While this oblong option may technically be a maternity pillow, you don't have to be nursing or a mom-to-be to appreciate it. Just take it from Espinal. "Before trying it, I didn’t think I needed extra cushioning in bed, but it has truly been a game-changer. The pillow has a medium‑to‑firm mix of memory foam that feels soft and supportive when you hug it."
But for new or expectant moms, the brand says that the pillow can easily be tied, tucked and folded to provide comfort, whether you're nursing, bottle feeding or trying to find some pressure-relief at night.
The Best Pillowcases of 2026: Shop TODAY Sleep Award Winners
Espinal calls this pillowcase "incredibly soft and luxurious," as well as "ultra‑silky and breathable." She adds, "Another thing I appreciate about this pillowcase is the envelope-style closure since it holds the pillow securely in place. I didn’t notice it at first because the material is so lightweight, but it feels incredibly gentle and soft to the touch."
New York City-based hairstylist Jennifer Korab previously told us that silk pillowcases, as opposed to satin, are better for those with curly hair, as well as colored or highlighted hair, as they are not absorbent, so they won't strip the hair of its natural oils and can help minimize breakage.
Senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil says that she'll never go back to using "a cheap satin pillowcase" after trying this one, even adding that it "blows cheaper dupes out of the water."
"I've been sleeping on it for more than a year and it's truly been a game-changer," she shares. "I've even packed it for trips — that's how much I don't want to sleep without it! I'm a side sleeper and love that the real silk fabric is buttery soft against my skin. I also appreciate that it's gentler on my hair than cotton, satin and other pillowcase materials I've tried. I often wake up and don't even feel like I need to run a comb through my hair, which I can only assume is because the pillowcase isn't creating extra friction as I sleep."
What should you look for in a pillow?
According to Troxel, when looking for a pillow, comfort is key. While that can be pretty subjective, as some people prefer firmer options while others like theirs to be soft, she shares, "ideally you are looking for neutral alignment for your head and neck." Basically, you don’t want your head tilting forward or back. "The pillow should also maintain its shape and provide consistent support throughout the night," she adds.
For side sleepers, that typically means that you should look for "a thicker, firmer pillow to fill the space between the shoulder and head," Troxel says.
Back sleepers, on the other hand, typically do best with a "medium loft" that supports the natural curve of their neck. And those who typically sleep on their stomachs (which can already be straining for the neck) might benefit from using a thin pillow or even no pillow at all to help reduce that stress, she shares.
What are the benefits of using a silk pillowcase?
Silk pillowcases have a number of benefits for your hair and skin. In addition to their aforementioned ability to help your hair retain its natural oils and reduce breakage, it creates less friction, which can help prevent frizz and bedhead.
Silk pillowcases are also a great choice for those with mature skin. "Silk pillowcases typically won’t crease (like cotton), so your skin is protected by rough fabric causing fine lines and wrinkles,” says hair stylist Tiffanie Richards.
Frequently asked questions
There are several types of fill that can be used for pillows.
- Natural fill pillows are filled with feathers and down and are the softest type of pillows.
- Down pillows will conform to the shape of your head, but they’re not the best choice for allergy sufferers. The higher the fill power, the more down is stuffed inside and the firmer the pillow will be — but this option is also one of the priciest.
- A synthetic-fill pillow, by comparison, is usually the cheapest fill option, with the lowest-priced options only costing a few dollars. They are filled with inexpensive synthetic fill but are machine-washable. They generally don’t conform to the head, however, and wear out fairly quickly.
- Poly-cluster fill pillows use polyester clusters coated in silicone; they feel like down but are hypoallergenic (bonus: they’re cheaper than down pillows, too).
- Memory foam is another popular choice, because the weight of your head will change the shape of the pillow — so no matter what position you’re in, the pillow provides a comfortable position.
- Hot sleepers may want to get a pillow made with cooling fabric, and if the pillow comes with a label that certifies Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US, the products will be free of harmful levels of toxic materials.
Cleaning coach Leslie Reichert previously told us that you should be cleaning your pillows every three months. If they are machine-washable, she recommends washing two pillows at once, setting the washer to run an extra-large load on a gentle cycle and rinsing twice on cold.
If your pillows need to be hand-washed, you can find expert instructions on how to do that here.
As previously reported by TODAY, according to experts, pillows typically have a lifespan of about two to three years since they tend to soften and compress through regular use.
"You want the bedroom cool, dark, quiet and free from clutter or other reminders of the day," Troxel says. "The ideal room temperature for sleep is around 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which is cooler than what would feel comfortable during the daytime, as our core body temperature naturally drops upon initiating sleep."
Along with a cool and quiet environment, you also want to ensure the room is dark. "Darkness helps your brain release melatonin, so use blackout curtains if you can, or an eye shade if outside light is unavoidable," says behavioral sleep medicine clinician Andrew Colsky.
He adds, "Don’t underestimate clean bedding. Fresh sheets are not just pleasant, they actually make it easier to relax and settle in."
How we chose
Our team of editors, writers and staffers sorted through nearly 300 new launches, editor and expert recommendations, trending and tried-and-true products to solidify our testing pool of 175 contenders. To determine our list of 65 winners, we incorporated products into our sleep routines over the span of a month to see if they meet requirements when it comes to quality, special features, value and overall satisfaction for bedding, sleepwear, gadgets, beauty products and other bedtime innovators. Finally, our panel of experts reviewed some of our winners to give their sign-off based on durability, material and other features that make a quality sleep product.
Meet our experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are provided independently and without any undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Wendy Troxel, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. She is the author of “Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep.”
- Tiffanie Richards is a hair colorist and stylist in New York City.
- Jennifer Korab is the founder of Renaissance Salon & Spa in New Jersey. She is a certified colorist and specializes in all coloring techniques, and she holds certifications in hair cutting, extensions, hair design and more.
- Leslie Reichert is a cleaning coach who specializes in eco-friendly techniques and author of “The Joy of Green Cleaning.”
- Andrew Colsky, LPC, is the founder of the National Sleep Center and is a trained behavioral sleep medicine clinician. He is the host of the “Sleep Science Today” radio show.
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Anthropologie The Love Knot Slouchy Bag: Buckle Edition
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