The Best Hotel Pillows for the Most Luxurious Sleep, According to Experts
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There's nothing quite as lavish as the indulgent luxury mattress, crisp sheets, lofty comforters and plush pillows at a high-end hotel. A five-star hotel bed can be unforgettable, haunting you months after your stay. Instead of regret and dejection, take the plunge and splurge on a nice set of hotel sheets or plump, cloud-like pillows. After all, who can outdo the finest resorts when it comes to dream-worthy bedding? But where can you buy the right hotel pillows? That's where we come in.
Our top picks:
While many hotel chains have their own online stores, some simply source their bedding from a major hotel supplier. We've dug deep to find popular pillows from the largest hotel suppliers by calling over a dozen upscale hotels across the country and leaning on our categorical experience. After all, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested over 160 pillows in the past few years alone.
To find the best of the best you can buy yourself, we polled staffers at GH for memorable hotel pillows they've slept on and even tested several in our Lab and at home, evaluating everything from how well the pillow bounces back from pressure, how easy it is to care for and whether it truly lives up to the hype outside of a hotel room. We also interviewed Reggie Bello, Director of Housekeeping at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort; Karen Lopez, Director of Services at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and the team at Thompson Central Park New York for more insight into how you can achieve a hotel-quality bed at home.
Macy's Hotel Collection European White Goose Down Pillow
This down pillow from Macy's Hotel Collection is the perfect, textbook five-star hotel pillow. It's got a 700 fill power and uses plush goose down for ultimate luxury. It's easy to care for thanks to a removable cover that you can frequently lauder. Beyond that, the pillow has a gusset for added structure and earned top scores from testers for how well it kept its shape. One shared, "It did not get flat [and] comfortably supported my head and neck." Note that some found it a bit too firm.
Sizes: Standard/Queen and King | Fill: Down
Sobel Westex Hotel Sobella Medium Pillow
A feature of many high-end resorts, Sobel Westex's pillows aced our tests without breaking the bank, featuring a comfortable yet supportive down-like polyester fill. Beyond its quality construction and resilient fill, the Hotel Sobella pillow bounced back quickly in our weighted pressure tests and washed well. The high loft is designed for side sleepers and earned praise from one tester who dubbed the pillow "the first pillow I’ve used that has been supportive without causing neck strain.”
If you're a back or stomach sleeper, opt for Sobel Westex's Sahara Nights Pillow, which offers the same support in a lower profile pillow.
Sizes: Standard, Queen and King | Fill: Microfiber Polyester
Marriott The Marriott Pillow
Marriott's sheets reigned supreme among the many hotel sheets we tested, so it came as no surprise when several GH staffers called the brand's signature pillow "noteworthy" and "memorable." One staffer loved sleeping on them so much, she even asked the front desk where to buy them. Made with a blend of feathers, down and silky lyocell, it's got a balanced, not-too-plush yet not-too-firm feel that users love. Just make sure to fluff it generously for maximum comfort.
Sizes: Standard, Queen and King | Fill: Down, Feathers and Lyocell
Downlite EnviroLoft Down Alternative Soft/Medium Hotel Pillow
Downlite supplies pillows, duvets and sheets to a wide variety of hotels across the country, including both upscale and budget-friendly properties such as the Ganesvoort Hotel and Holiday Inn. This is the brand's most popular style, offering a medium soft feel that's great for back sleepers. While it uses polyester instead of down, it still feels just as plush and luxurious. The brand's down pillow is another popular hotel pillow nationwide and a great pick for those who prefer a down and feather fill.
Sizes: Jumbo and King | Fill: Polyester Fibers
Outperforming all other down pillows we've tested, Parachute's down pillows offer comfort that's worthy of a lavish hotel bed. In addition to acing in-Lab tests, this pillow earned top scores from our consumer testers. One even called it "absolutely dreamy." Another said, "It is actually the most comfortable pillow I have ever used." The pillow is made with European down, including 85% down clusters and 15% down and feather fibers, encased in a smooth 100% cotton sateen shell. The shell also has a double-stitched hem, which helps prevent feathers from poking out.
Fairmont Synthetic Gel Fibre Pillow
One GH editor compared lying on this pillow to "sleeping on a cloud," thanks to its fluffy, indulgent feel. It's made with a generous amount of thin gel fiber, or microfiber polyester, for added loft that's comparable to real down. The synthetic fill makes this a great pick for those with both down and dust mite allergies since it won't trap dust as easily. Plus, it comes in both medium and firm for a variety of sleeping positions.
Sizes: Queen and King | Fill: Microfiber Polyester
Four Seasons at Home Down & Feather Pillow
Well-loved by many, Four Seasons has an esteemed reputation as one of the world's top hospitality brands. As you'd expect, its bedding doesn't disappoint, complete with double stitching and piped edges for an elevated look. Compared to other down pillows in our list, the 75% feather 25% down fill offers uniform support with just the right amount of softness which Bello says "cushions the head when sleeping". Beyond that, it earned respectable scores in our tests, but keep in mind that it's dry-clean only.
Sizes: Standard, Queen and King | Fill: Down and Feathers
Downlite EnviroLoft® Down Alternative Firm Hotel Pillow
Many of our picks lean soft, but not everyone wants to sleep on a cloud. For a pillow with a little more firm support, this pick from Downlite is ideal. It's designed with side sleepers in mind with its higher loft with more fiberfill for added firmness. One combination sleeper found it comfortable when sleeping on her back, so it's got plenty of versatility. In fact, she was surprised at how well she slept on it compared to the standard plush hotel pillows she was used to.
Sizes: Standard, Queen and King | Fill: Microfiber Polyester
Kassatex 1 Hotels Organic Cotton Pillow
Described by reviewers as "blissful to sleep on," this pillow is undeniably comfortable and proves that you don't need to sacrifice comfort when making a greener choice. Choose between recycled down or recycled down alternative for its crowd-pleasing medium-density fill, all encased in an organic cotton outer cover. It's the pillow you'll find in 1 Hotels, a luxury hotel chain with a strong commitment to sustainability, and is made by Kassatex, another popular hotel supplier.
Sizes: Standard/Queen and King | Fill: Recycled Down or Recycled Down Alternative
Things to consider when shopping for the best hotel pillows
Buying any pillow can be a trying process, so to ensure you're well-equipped in your search for the best hotel pillow, here are some things to keep in mind:
✔️ Fill: For hotel pillows, the most popular fills include down, feather and down alternative.
- Down pillows are known for their fluffy texture. A combination of down and feathers is popular at many hotel chains, as it provides more firm support and longevity at a slightly lower price point.
- Down alternative pillows are made with synthetic fill, making them more affordable. Note that these pillows still feel soft and offer ample support.
✔️ Height and firmness level: The right height and firmness are crucial for a pillow. A too-high or too-low profile can prevent proper spinal alignment, resulting in neck pain. To find the ideal height, consider both your sleep position and body type.
- Sleep position: Side sleepers should opt for a higher and more supportive pillow, while stomach sleepers need a lower and softer style. Back sleepers (or anyone who switches positions through the night) are best suited to something in the middle.
- Body type: If you have a larger frame (e.g. wider shoulders), you'll likely need a taller pillow, whereas those with a smaller stature are best suited to a lower profile.
✔️ Care: Check the care label before purchasing a pillow in order to ensure you can wash it the intended way. While most pillows on our list are machine washable, some are dry-clean only. Also consider using a pillow protector, as recommended by Bello.
What about other types of pillows?
Beyond popular down and down alternative pillows, you can occasionally find memory foam or latex pillows at hotels, although you'll likely need to specifically request them. Memory foam pillows are typically available in either solid or shredded foam. Solid foam provides a supportive, sink-in feel whereas shredded memory foam pillows provide support with movable fill. Latex pillows also come in both solid or shredded fill and act similarly, but have a more springy and resilient nature.
If you're looking for a luxurious memory foam pillow, we recommend Tempur-Pedic's memory foam pillows, and for a hotel-quality latex pillow, Naturepedic's Organic Solid Latex Pillow and Organic Adjustable Latex Pillow are great options.
What if the pillow I bought doesn't feel the same as the one I slept on at the hotel?
Even if you buy the same exact pillow as the one from the hotel, there's still a chance it may feel too firm, too flat or simply different from the one you slept on. But not all is lost, here's a few things you can do:
- For pillows that don't feel as firm or tall, Downlite recommends putting them in a smaller pillow protector as this will "scrunch the filling together resulting in a firmer pillow experience." Note that this is applicable for Queen-size and King-size pillows rather than Standard-size pillows.
- For pillows that don't feel as soft or plush as you remember, don't fear: You may simply need to break it in over time. The more you sleep on a down or down-alternative pillow, the more it will soften and mold to your head.
How do I maintain a hotel pillow?
Like any other pillow, we suggest cleaning it two to four times a year for longevity, so it's important to purchase one that you're able to properly care for. You can also opt to use a pillow protector, which many hotels, including those we interviewed, highlighted as part of their protocol.
Lopez told us that at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, "All pillows have a pillow protector which helps keep the pillows clean and in good shape." This allows for an added layer of protection that's easy to launder on a more frequent basis.
Beyond that, Bello shared that "at least once a quarter, pillows are sent to laundry to be 'fluffed' by going through a dryer at temperatures exceeding 200°F." This is especially helpful if you notice your pillows losing loft over time or "going flat" as many reviewers say.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Grace Wu is a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has tested hundreds of bedding products, including pillows and sheets. In addition to growing up in the hospitality industry of New York City, she's previously written stories on the best hotel sheets and best luxury mattresses. 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.
For this story, Grace interviewed Reggie Bello, Director of Housekeeping at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort; Karen Lopez, Director of Services at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and representatives of Thompson Central Park New York for more insight into the types of pillows luxury hotels use and how they maintain their pillows.
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.
