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This trendy pillow material might be the secret to your best night's sleep. Car Neck Pillow
We updated this guide in May 2023 to add a new pick based on recent testing.
While you've likely heard of down, down-alternative or memory foam pillows, there's been even more innovation in the pillow market in recent years, including the introduction of ultra-supportive latex.
Latex foam pillows have grown in popularity over the years, standing out for their resilient, bouncy feel. Latex is known for its ability to conform to your head and neck, helping to reduce neck pain. Plus, it can provide excellent support and maintain its shape night after night, making it an especially good option if you feel like your pillows always feel flatter than you'd like after just a few months of use.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested hundreds of different pillows, from down pillows to organic pillows to cooling pillows, anti-snore pillows, pillows for stomach sleepers, side sleepers, back sleepers and so much more to find the very best pillows on the market. Our analysts evaluate everything from washability to how well the pillows hold up to pressure in the Lab. We also work with hundreds of consumer testers across the country to evaluate comfort, support and more in real-world use.
Read on for our full reviews of the best latex pillows according to tester feedback and Lab evaluations based on over 4,000 data points. Looking for more advice on how to find your perfect pillow? Check out our pillow buying guide to learn more about the different types available.
This latex pillow beat out dozens in our tests, earning top scores across the board for its versatile design and overall comfort. It has both an organic latex fill and an organic cotton cover certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard. One side features plush quilted PLA batting (a plant-based fiber made from sugarcane) while the other is filled with shredded latex, which can be adjusted to create your perfect height.
It impressed in both Lab and consumer evaluations, proving that you don't have to compromise on quality when opting for a sustainable product. Testers also gave this pick high marks for its comfort and support and were impressed by the two-sided design. One even raved, "This is literally the greatest pillow I have ever slept on." Just note, some testers found it a bit messy when removing some of the shredded latex fill.
Latex pillows tend to be on the pricier side, but this one comes at a fraction of the price of some of our picks. It comes in two heights, so you can choose between a low and high loft for your best alignment.
With high marks across the board in every Lab evaluation, this pillow's machine washable cover had minimal changes in appearance after laundering and the pillow fit nicely in a standard-size pillowcase. Testers raved about this pillow, giving especially high scores for waking up with no soreness and maintaining a stable body temperature through the night. The only caveat is that some testers found the 5-inch height fell a little too short for sleeping on their sides.
While it's definitely a bit of a splurge, there's no pillow quite like this one from Purple. It's got a Talalay latex core that's surrounded by the brand's signature elastic grid material for a not-too-firm and not-too-plush feel. The cover is also moisture-wicking and the latex core features ventilation throughout, making it a good pick for hot sleepers. Plus, Purple offers a 100-night trial so you can sleep on it for a few months to make sure you love it.
In our Lab, the cover washed beautifully, and the latex core maintained its shape during our weighted pressure tests. On top of that, it was a hit with our consumer testers who praised the supportive feel and breathability. One tester shared, "I stayed cool all night and the texture of the pillow was very soft and supportive."
Side sleepers need a taller pillow to provide proper neck support and spinal alignment, so pillows can be a hit or miss solely based on their height. This shredded latex option from Saatva was one of the most popular among our side sleeper testers, standing at around 6 to 7 inches thick.
Besides the shredded latex core, it's got an organic cotton sateen cover with a thin layer of down-alternative fill for a feel one tester described as "very plush and soft." The pillow maintained its shape well in our tests and fit perfectly in a standard-size pillowcase. Just note that while the cotton cover is organic, the latex fill is not, and you can't adjust the shredded latex to your liking.
Supportive and cool, this latex pillow stands out for its plush yet springy feel. It uses Talalay latex encased in a thin layer of temperature-regulating material with a moisture-wicking cover. Just note that while the brand claims to use eucalyptus fibers in the cover, it's actually made of lyocell, which is made using chemically processed tree pulp (in this case, from eucalyptus leaves). Still, it's a more sustainable alternative to rayon and has a soft texture.
Testers described it as "supportive but not hard," and raved about how it kept them cool throughout the night. One noted, "It was the perfect middle ground between soft and firm and never felt stuffy or damp, even on warm nights." Plus, it aced both Lab and consumer evaluations for retaining its shape over time.
With a thinner loft but plenty of support, this Avocado Mattress pillow is perfect for back sleepers. The fill is a mix of GOLS organic-certified shredded latex and GOTS organic-certified kapok (a natural fluffy fiber) — plus, it has an organic cotton cover too.
It fared well in our Lab tests, maintaining its shape even after we left weights on it for eight hours. While it's a bit heavier than other latex pillows we've tested, testers praised how comfortable and supportive it felt. One even said, "This is hands down the best pillow I've ever slept on!" We also appreciate the brand's design updates; when we initially tested this pillow, it wasn't machine-washable, but now it comes with a machine-washable cover.
Designed to alleviate neck pain, this luxurious pillow from Noble comes in four different fills: wool, latex, wool/latex blend, and wool top/latex base. It's larger than a standard-size pillow, meaning it might not fit in your pillowcase, but the brand includes a separate cover, which washed well in our evaluations.
When we tested the wool top/latex base style, testers were impressed with how well it conformed to and supported their neck and shoulders. One noted, "The pillow keeps its shape and height well, better than any other pillow I've had. It also supported my neck well and helped me sleep a lot better." Other testers agreed unanimously that it helped improve their sleep quality, praising the adjustability.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has evaluated all kinds of bedding, including pillows, for over a century through a combination of rigorous in-Lab and consumer testing. To find the best pillows available, we've tested over 160 different pillows in the Lab with more than 600 unique consumer testers in recent years.
Here are some of the factors we consider when testing pillows:
✔️ Ease of use: We put each pillow in a standard pillowcase to gauge overall fit.
✔️ Durability/Washability: Each pillow is scored on its care label instructions for how easy it is to clean. Our analysts then wash the pillows and closely observe any changes, first after an initial wash and again after several washes.
✔️ Performance: Depending on the type of fill, we place weights on each pillow for a set amount of time and record the amount of time needed for the material to fully recover (or bounce back).
✔️ Consumer testing: To ensure each pillow gets a fair test, we match consumer testers with a pillow based on their personal preferences and sleeping style. Users then try out the pillow over a series of weeks prior to rating it on overall comfort, support, temperature regulation and more. They then provide in-depth feedback on their experience.
✔️ Claim validation: Our analysts vet the brand and product listing before verifying any organic certifications or other claims made.
Looking for the perfect latex pillow can be daunting, especially if you haven't tried one before, so here are some things to help guide you when browsing through different options:
✔️ Fill: Latex pillows are typically available with either solid latex or shredded latex pieces.
✔️ Sleep position: Your sleep position is key when it comes to pillow shopping. A good pillow will help align your spine and reduce neck pain. Side sleepers typically need a thicker, firmer pillow compared to stomach sleepers who benefit from a thin, soft one. Back sleepers are best off with something in the middle. If you tend to move around at night, a pillow with adjustable fill (like a shredded latex pillow) may be ideal. Also, make sure to consider your overall frame, especially your shoulders, as different side sleepers may find the same pillow too thick or too thin.
✔️ Care label: While most latex pillows won't be washable based on the material, some come with a removable, washable cover.
On the other hand, here's who shouldn't buy a latex pillow:
Not necessarily. It all comes down to personal preference. Memory foam pillows feel firmer at first and then will conform to your head and neck, so it feels like you're sinking into your pillow. Memory foam provides excellent cushioning, but it will take longer to bounce back to its original shape compared to latex. Latex pillows tend to not run as hot as memory foam pillows do, while quickly bouncing back to their original shape after use. Like memory foam, latex conforms to your head shape too, providing great neck support.
It depends! Latex is a rubber product, and there is variation in its production across the industry. Natural latex is harvested from mature rubber trees and then processed to form the plush latex found in pillows. There is also synthetic latex which is derived from petroleum-based chemicals. All of our recommended picks are made from natural latex: either organic, Dunlop or Talalay options. If you prefer organic bedding, we recommend looking for organic latex that's certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) to avoid synthetic latex dupes.
Emma Seymour is the senior textiles analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has rigorously tested more than 100 pillows in the Textiles Lab in recent years, and she has coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers. Emma has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for over four years at Good Housekeeping.
Grace Wu most recently updated this story. She's a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and oversaw recent in-Lab pillow testing. Grace has written several stories about latex bedding, from latex mattresses to latex mattress toppers. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
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