Best Memory Foam Pillows

What separates the best memory foam pillows on this page?

All three are memory foam, but they solve the problem differently. The Coop Home Goods Original scores 8.9 at $72 and is shredded foam you adjust: our side sleeper added the extra bag, the back sleeper removed a third. It held loft under load better than any shredded pillow here and is fully machine washable. It runs warm, and the shredded fill can feel lumpy until fluffed.

The Layla Kapok Pillow scores 8.2 at $109. It blends shredded foam with kapok fibre for a down-like feel, and our side sleeper called it the softest and most comfortable of the adjustable pillows. It arrives overstuffed, so you remove fill to taste, and it comes with a 120-night trial. The fill cannot be machine washed, and it sleeps slightly warmer than the Coop.

The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow scores 8.1 at $89. It is solid TEMPUR foam in a soft, low profile, and it kept our back sleeper's neck on the laser line all week. The dense foam will outlast shredded and down fills, and it compresses for travel. It was the warmest pillow in the test and sits too low for our side sleeper.

What should you check before buying a memory foam pillow?

Scoring weights support and alignment at 30, comfort at 20, cooling at 15, materials and durability at 15, and value at 20. That order matters when you compare these three.

• Sleep position: side sleepers need height, back sleepers need a lower profile. The Coop and Layla adjust; the Tempur-Pedic does not.
• Heat: all three run warm. The Coop is the coolest of the three, the Layla slightly warmer, the Tempur-Pedic the warmest.
• Washing: only the Coop is fully machine washable. The Layla's fill cannot be machine washed.
• Durability: solid TEMPUR foam outlasts shredded and down fills, which is where the Tempur-Pedic earns its materials score.
• Trials: the Coop has a 100-night trial, the Layla 120 nights.

Coop Home Goods Original

Best for sleepers who want to tune the loft themselves and wash the whole pillow. At $72 it is the cheapest pick here and the highest scorer at 8.9.

Layla Kapok Pillow

Best for side sleepers who want a soft, down-like feel and the longest trial at 120 nights. Expect to pull fill out before the first night.

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow

Best for back sleepers who want a low, dense pillow that holds its shape and travels well. Skip it if you sleep hot or on your side.

For a pillow you can adjust and wash, the Coop Home Goods Original at $72 is the pick. Side sleepers who want a softer, down-like feel should look at the Layla Kapok Pillow. Back sleepers who want a low, dense pillow that holds its shape should choose the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow.