In the world of bedding, memory foam is everywhere, having made its way into just about every type of product in the sleep industry. But before we help you pick the best memory foam pillow, let’s go into a little of the material’s history and the reason for its popularity.

Memory foam — also called temper foam — is a unique, dense foam known for cushioning the body and relieving pressure. It was originally developed by NASA in 1966 to help absorb shock and increase protection and comfort in NASA’s airplane seats. It eventually became clear that it could make everyday sleep equally as comfortable.

Despite its many positive qualities, one type of memory foam pillow does not fit all. Memory foam is used in a variety of ways to fill pillows, including solid pieces molded into specific shapes or shredded pieces with a zipper to add and remove as much filling as desired.

After hours of research and testing (okay, snoozing), we’ve put together our list of the best memory foam pillows!

The GhostPillow features a solid piece of aerated gel memory foam that should allow back sleepers’ heads to sink in just the right amount. While in this sleeping position, you’re likely to feel the slow-moving foam conform to your head. It could also be a comfortable pillow for side sleepers.

Price: $95, with dimensions of 16″ x 23″ x 6″.

Read our full GhostPillow review.

The GhostPillow Memory Foam is a comfortable pillow that offers great contouring and support. It also sleeps surprisingly cool for a memory foam pillow.

Inside the Coop Home Goods Original pillow, you’ll find a core of shredded memory foam surrounded by a soft and breathable bamboo-knit cover. While the pillow arrives overstuffed (making it the perfect height and support for side sleepers), it’s also adjustable and allows you to add/remove as much as filling as desired.

Price: $72–$78, with dimensions of 20″ x 30″ (Queen) or 20″ x 36″ (King).

Read our full Coop Home Goods Original pillow review. 

The Coop Home Good's Original pillow is filled with large chunks of memory foam and comes overstuffed — a terrific fit for side sleepers. 

The Iso-Cool pillow comes in many different shapes, so I always like to highlight that this is the Traditional version. Overall, it’s a flatter and plusher memory foam pillow with a filling of viscoelastic memory foam. I often suggest this pillow to stomach sleepers who love foam and a streamlined, simple design.

Price: Starts at $62.23, with dimensions of 18″ x 24″.

Read our full Iso-Cool pillow review. 

The core of the Iso-Cool pillow is a single piece of solid plush memory foam with Phase Change Material added. 

The adjustable Layla Kapok pillow takes some of the best characteristics of memory foam — namely its support and pressure relief — and mixes it with a natural and sustainable Kapok fiber for extra smoothness. I love this pillow for side sleepers because, at its fullest, it has a high loft that should give them a lot of comfort. Back sleepers should also be comfortable with the maximum amount of filling, while combination sleepers should love the versatility. As for stomach sleepers, they can remove as much of the fill as they’d like for a lower loft.

Price: $109–$129, with dimensions of 18″ x 26″ x 4″ (Queen) and 18″ x 32″ x 4″ (King).

Read our full Layla Kapok pillow review.

The Layla Kapok pillow is a mix of memory foam chunks for support and natural and organic Kapok fibers for smoothness and added plush feel. 

The TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling pillow is beyond durable, supportive, and — of course — truly cooling. There’s a thin 100% cotton cover, but the star of the show is the solid piece of TEMPUR material (proprietary memory foam) that features two cooling gel panels on each side. This design allows the pillow to stay tall and supportive while retaining a low temperature at the same time. 

Price: $189–$229, with King and Queen sizes available.

Read our full TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling pillow review.

The TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling is all about its significant solid core made of proprietary memory foam called TEMPUR material. 

The Casper Foam has that classic memory foam feel, but with a firmness that should be comfortable and supportive enough for sleepers who experience neck pain. It follows a similar design philosophy to Casper’s down and signature pillows: three-layered foam core, two plush outer layers, and a firmer middle layer. As a result, sleepers will feel their heads slowly sink into the pillow without going too deep or feeling the sides move up around their heads. 

Price: $89–$119, with dimensions of 16″ x 24″ (Standard) and 16″ x 32″ (King).

Read our full Casper Foam pillow review.

Casper's Foam pillow features a 3-layer foam core that is comprised of two plush outer layers and a firmer center core. 

Finding the perfect pillow can be so personal, as a lot of it depends on individual weight and body type. For instance, I’m 5′ 7″ and of average body type. So while my review can be insightful, it’s always better to add another opinion into the mix. I asked Marten, who is 6’7” and weighs 250 lb, to offer his take on which of these memory foam pillows would be best for heavier sleepers.

Coop Home Goods Original: “What I like about this one is that it’s got a fluffy feel in addition to that supportive memory foam feel. The pillow’s overall firmness level makes it a great fit for back sleepers and side sleepers.”

TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling: “I’m a hot sleeper, so I love the way the dual gel panels on the side of the pillow feel against my face. In terms of positions, it’s great for side sleepers like me because you can feel the gel against your face. I like it for back-sleeping, too.”

Iso-Cool: “I’m not much of a stomach sleeper, but when I do turn around onto my stomach, this pillow is a very good match. I like that my head is supported without sinking right through to the bottom.”

One of the chief complaints about memory foam in both mattresses and pillows is that the material tends to retain heat and can cause people to sleep hot. This usually happens later in the night, once a person has been sleeping in the bed for a while.

Companies use a variety of different techniques to help customers stay cool while using memory foam mattresses and pillows:

Density does matter when it comes to memory foam, but it probably makes a bigger difference when shopping for a memory foam mattress rather than a memory foam pillow.

While it can get a little complicated, we have found (and studies show) that the higher the density, the more the following facts are true.

No matter the brand or how eco-friendly a product is, all memory foam is made from petrochemicals. As a result, customers may notice a slight chemical smell when unboxing the new memory foam pillow. This is known in the sleep industry as off-gassing.

Before enjoying the pillow overnight, it’s best to let it breathe in a ventilated space until the off-gassing smell is gone. While there is some debate on this topic, it’s generally believed that the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during the off-gassing should not impact a person’s health.

There is no single “best” memory foam pillow, as not all memory foams are created equal. Some are proprietary blends (like TEMPUR-Pedic) and may offer a slightly different feel. They may also come in a solid piece, ventilated pieces, or even chunks or shreds. The truth is that what’s ultimately going to be the best fit is really up to the individual.

Side sleepers, in general, need the most loft (height) and overall support as compared to back and stomach sleepers. For this reason, solid and firmer memory foam pillows tend to be the best, providing enough height and support for the neck, but also not letting the head fall too far or sink too far in. Of the products on this roundup, we think the Layla Kapok embodies these traits quite wonderfully and is one of the best memory foam pillows for side sleepers.

Memory foam pillows are really good at cushioning the body and providing a contouring feel and pressure relief. They’re not everyone’s preference, but those who are trying to relieve tension or stress in their muscles and joints may want to consider it.

Memory foam pillows can be very good for neck problems, specifically because of their contouring and pressure-relieving characteristics. If positioned correctly for the person, they can take a lot of strain off of someone’s neck.

Get special coupons, discounts, and giveaways!

With a foam and hybrid option available, the Casper has a fantastic support and comfort option for a sleeper with any preference.

With several hybrid models, Helix is committed to serving a variety of sleepers, keeping them cool and comfortable from dusk to dawn.

Insane comfort at an insanely affordable price. See if Nectar is as sweet as everyone is saying!

Polymer never felt so good. See our take on the colorful mattress that has taken the internet by storm!

Quality mattresses for the win! See how Saatva’s mattresses for back pain leave you daydreaming about sleep.

Combination sleepers can finally rest. See how WinkBeds wins the supporting lead in your best sleep!

Welcome to Mattress Clarity! Our team personally tests all the sleep products we review to keep your REMS long and your dreams deep.

Let us help you find one!

Mattress Clarity was founded in 2015 with one goal in mind: to simplify your mattress and sleep product purchase decisions with personally tested reviews. Looking to buy a mattress or sleep accessories? Searching for better sleep? We are here to help.

Learn more on our About Us page!