If you have a single or double bed, choose a standard-size pillow. If you have a king or super-king bed, you may want to consider a super-king pillow. Square pillows are typically used for decoration.

Key features – Filling: Goose down and feathers; Cover: 100% cotton cover (machine washable) Sizes: Standard, superking, square

The best pillows you can buy in 2023

Despite the high-tech credentials, the Simba Hybrid feels surprisingly like a traditional pillow – much more so than some all-foam competitors. Unlike microfibre and feather pillows, which tend to be either soft or supportive but rarely both, the Simba Hybrid finds that sweet spot right out of the box. It’s worth noting, however, that unlike the Simba Hybrid mattress, there’s no trial period with its bedding products.

Key features – Filling: Memory foam; Cover: Quilted scuba (neoprene) (machine washable); Sizes: 1 (60 x 35cm, 11/6cm height) For instance, if you sleep on your side, you may want something with a bit more loft. And if you’re someone who is prone to overheating at night, it’s important to be aware that some pillows – particularly memory foam ones – may feel warmer than others. Different sleepers will get on better with different pillows, and it’s important to bear that in mind when testing. The movement isolation that this pillow provides would be average at best. If you are frequently disturbed by your partner’s movement during the night then a memory foam pillow may be a better option as these do not transfer movement as much. This would mainly be a problem with the mattress instead of the pillow, however. Trial and Guarantee It’s a little bit firmer than the Otty Deluxe, but it’s not so firm that it feels clinical, instead landing somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. It comes with an inbuilt protector, plus a soft, breathable and hypoallergenic bamboo cover (which can be washed at 40°C), which helps you to keep things fresher than washing your pillowcase alone . The only significant caveat is that to keep the pillow feeling its best, you’ll need to plump it up daily – something that’s not necessary with the foam pillows in this list.Where relevant, we also take into account other aspects including trial periods, washable covers and extra features – such as adjustable and ergonomic designs – all of which can play a part in our recommendations.

Synthetic pillows are usually made from polyester. As they’re hypoallergenic, they’re great for allergy sufferers and also affordable, lightweight and easy to care for. They’re good if you sleep in a variety of positions throughout the night too. But they aren’t as malleable or breathable as other pillows and they have the shortest lifespan of all pillows – with the filling often prone to clumping. As for the pillow we are reviewing, the Silentnight Just Like Down pillow is a hypoallergenic, hollowfibre alternative to traditional down pillows. Silentnight have aimed to produce a similar, super soft feel too down while not using animal products. Using hollowfibre as fill material is extremely common in pillows but using it to recreate a down feel is a little different. A bonus of using hollowfibre within pillows is that they can be machine washed, keeping them smelling and feeling better for longer. Another appealing feature is the amount of choice you get when it comes to size and feel. It’s available in soft, soft/medium and medium/firm variants, as well as standard (50 x 75cm), superking (50 x 90cm) and square (65 x 65cm) sizes. The core of the pillow is made from bamboo and charcoal-infused memory foam (dubbed “CharcoCell foam” by Panda), perforated to promote airflow and wrapped in a quilted bamboo rayon cover. It’s softer than Panda’s standard bamboo pillow, instead looking and feeling more like the Otty pillow featured below. The cover is also silky soft and cool to the touch – so much so, that it’s almost a shame to put a pillowcase over the top of it. Even if you did put time and effort into getting the right pillow the last time around, chances are it needs replacing. Even the best pillows don’t tend to last more than a few years, eventually failing to provide the level of support they used to – and that’s before you even think about the hygiene factor. You probably won’t want to hear this, but within two years of use, a third of a pillow’s weight is made up of dead skin, dirt, oil, dust mites and their droppings.There’s a whole world of pillow fillings out there, so we’ve summarised the pros and cons of the various types below.

Key features – Filling: Goose down and feathers; Cover: 100% cotton cover (machine washable) Sizes: Standard size and king size

Discover the best pillow for your sleeping style with our buying guide and bite-sized reviews

If you have experienced overheating from your pillow in the past then a hollowfibre pillow could be a great choice for you. The fill material is not known for retaining too much heat and spaces within the pillow ensure there is good airflow in and out of the pillow. Combined feather and down pillows are good for comfort and support, eliminating pressure points and avoiding face squashing. But if you suffer from allergies, they’re a no-no. It’s easy to assume this is irrelevant as you’ll have a pillowcase covering it. But it’s worth noting that natural cover fabrics such as cotton have much more breathability than polyester and other man-made fibres, which can make for a far more comfortable night’s sleep if you’re prone to getting hot at night. How we test pillows The pillow’s two polyester microfibre layers are encased in a soft padded pillowcase. With both layers inserted, the pillow has a good amount of loft, which is a good thing for side sleepers who need to support their head and shoulder (though we also found the pillow to be comfortable and supportive with just the one insert). While most of the pillows on our roundup have a machine washable cover, you might also be pleased to hear that this pillow – inserts and all – can be popped in the washing machine at a temperature up to 60°C.