Best Memory Foam Pillows: What to Compare

Quick verdict

Pick a contoured pillow like Derila Ergo for back and side sleeping, shredded foam for adjustable loft, and judge every option on loft, heat, firmness and return terms.

Our top pick: Derila Ergo

Derila Ergo is a contoured memory foam pillow with front support wings. It’s the easy all-round choice for back and side sleepers who want a shaped pillow without fiddling with fill.

• Contoured shape: the maker says the contour is shaped to support the neck for back and side sleepers.
• Cover you can wash: a zippered, removable cooling cover that goes in the machine on warm.
• Price per pillow drops in bundles: $59.99 for one, $99.98 for two, or $149.96 for four (3+1 free), which works out to about $37.49 per pillow.

Check the current Derila Ergo price and the return terms on the official site.

See Derila Ergo on the official site60-day money-back guarantee

• Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow: best for adjustable loft with a cotton cover and CertiPUR-US foam (the maker’s claim).
• Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow: best for the longest, simplest return window, with a 100-day policy and a free prepaid label.

Which memory foam pillow should I pick?

The right memory foam pillow depends on how you sleep, how wide your shoulders are and how firm your mattress is, so no single pillow suits everyone. We picked by six things: foam type, loft (the pillow’s height), heat, firmness, whether the cover is machine washable, and the return policy.

A soft mattress lets your shoulder sink in, so you need less height. A firm mattress holds you up, so you need more.

Side sleepers

A side sleeper usually does best with a medium-to-high, fairly firm memory foam pillow that fills the gap between ear and shoulder. A survey of 332 adults linked memory foam and latex pillows to less neck fatigue, though a survey can’t prove the pillow caused it. A side sleeper with wide shoulders may prefer adjustable fill to build extra height.

Back sleepers

A back sleeper usually suits a medium-loft pillow with a cervical contour, meaning a raised curve under the neck. In a small study of 20 young adults lying on their backs for 30 minutes, an orthopedic-shaped pillow kept the neck curve higher and stayed cooler than plain memory foam or feather. The maker markets Derila Ergo for back sleeping, but that study didn’t test it.

Stomach sleepers

A stomach sleeper needs a low, soft pillow, or sometimes none. Shredded foam you can empty out is the safer bet. A solid contoured pillow is usually too tall.

Hot sleepers

Hot sleepers should look for shredded foam, gel foam or a cooling cover. Shredded pieces let more air move than one solid block.

Memory foam pillows compared: density, heat, firmness and returns

The three pillows below differ most in shape, adjustability and return terms. Every value comes from the maker’s own pages.

Shredded vs solid vs gel foam

Shredded memory foam is chopped into pieces, so you can add or remove fill to change loft. It breathes better but can flatten and need fluffing. Solid memory foam is one moulded block that holds a steady shape but can’t be adjusted, and it tends to feel firmer. Gel foam has cooling gel mixed in or layered on top to draw heat away from your head.

Covers matter too. A cooling cover or a bamboo cover feels cooler on the skin, and cotton breathes well. Look for the CertiPUR-US label, a program that checks foam for certain chemicals and emissions.

How to read the table

Start with the loft and shape columns, because they decide fit. Then check the return terms closely, including who pays return shipping. A pillow is easy to try, but only if sending it back is simple.

What is memory foam made of?

Memory foam is a polyurethane foam that’s viscoelastic, meaning it softens slowly under warmth and pressure and then returns to shape. That slow sink is why it feels like it hugs your head.

Density, or how much foam is packed into a space, changes the feel. Denser foam is heavier, firmer and usually lasts longer. Lighter foam feels softer but may dent sooner. Most makers don’t publish density, so firmness and loft are often the best clues you’ll get.

New foam can smell a bit chemical when you first open it. That’s normal and usually fades after airing it out for a day or two. The CertiPUR-US label is a good sign on any foam you buy.

Are memory foam pillows good or bad? The downsides

Memory foam pillows are good for people who want shape and pressure relief, and poor for people who sleep hot or like a springy, bouncy feel. Here are the downsides, plainly.

Heat

Memory foam traps body heat more than feather or fibre. Gel layers, shredded fill and cooling covers help. Our cooling pillow comparison goes deeper.

Smell when new

New foam often has a light smell. Unwrap it, leave it in a ventilated room, and give it time.

Weight and slow response

Solid foam is heavy and reshapes slowly. If you flip a lot at night, you may feel a short delay as it adjusts.

Durability and when to replace

Replace a memory foam pillow when it keeps a dent after you get up, develops lumps, crumbles or no longer holds your head at the same height.

Dust mites live in most bedding. A washable cover helps, and a hypoallergenic memory foam pillow may suit allergy-prone sleepers, though no label suits everyone. Wash covers as the label says.

Why is my memory foam pillow so stiff?

A memory foam pillow feels stiff mostly because foam firms up in the cold and new foam hasn’t softened yet. It loosens with body heat and use.

Try these steps:

1. Let a vacuum-packed pillow fully expand first. Derila Ergo’s maker says to allow 6-8 hours.
2. Keep the bedroom a little warmer, or lie on the pillow a few minutes before sleep.
3. Knead and press the foam gently with your hands for a minute or two.
4. If it’s adjustable, take out a handful of fill.

Quick tip: if the pillow still holds your head too high after a couple of weeks, the loft is probably wrong for you. Start a return while you’re still inside the window.

Side sleeper setup: contour pillows and the pillow trick

A good side sleeper setup is a pillow tall enough to fill the gap from ear to shoulder, plus a second pillow between the knees. Wider shoulders need more height.

Contour and cervical shapes

Ergonomic contour pillows can be comfortable for side sleepers if the loft fits. In a small lab study of nine people, pillow height matched to shoulder width kept the neck closest to its natural curve, especially with neck support. Comfort ratings followed height only weakly, so trust how your neck feels in the morning.

Pillow between the knees

The pillow trick is simple. Put a pillow between your knees so your top leg doesn’t pull your hips and back out of line. Hugging a second pillow gives your top arm somewhere to rest and can ease shoulder tension.

If a doctor says your snoring is worse on your back, side-sleeping can help some people, and a good pillow can make side-sleeping comfortable. That’s comfort, not treatment. See a doctor for loud snoring with gasping or pauses in breathing. Do the same for neck pain lasting more than a week or two, numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm, headaches, or pain after an injury; MedlinePlus covers when to call.

Derila Ergo: who it suits and who should skip it

Derila Ergo suits back and side sleepers who want a contoured memory foam pillow with a washable cooling cover at a fair bundle price. The maker says the contour is shaped to support the neck for back and side sleepers, and that the cover and breathable foam help keep it cool and dry. The maker also calls the materials hypoallergenic. The maker hasn’t published a study of Derila Ergo itself. For a fuller look, read our ergo memory foam pillow review.

Price and return terms

One pillow costs $59.99, two cost $99.98, and the Family pack of four (3+1 free) costs $149.96. Prices were checked on the official site on November 4, 2026, and they change often. The maker advertises a 60-day return policy. To use it, fill in the contact form within 60 days of receiving the order and wait up to 3 business days for an RMA number and address. Non-defective pillows must come back in manufacturer’s condition in their original, undamaged packaging, shipped by you with tracking. Shipping costs aren’t refunded, and the refund comes within 14 days of inspection.

Quick tip: keep the original packaging until you’re sure you’re keeping it.

Who should skip it

• Stomach sleepers who need a low, flat pillow
• Anyone who wants to adjust loft
• Hot sleepers who want shredded fill
• Anyone expecting Derila Ergo to treat snoring, sleep apnea or neck pain; no results for that have been published, and a pillow shouldn’t replace medical assessment or treatment

No pillow belongs in a baby’s sleep space; see Safe to Sleep guidance.

See today’s Derila Ergo bundle prices and return details on the official site.

See Derila Ergo on the official site60-day money-back guarantee

How do I care for a memory foam pillow?

Care for a memory foam pillow by washing only the cover and never putting solid foam in the washing machine. Water can break foam down and it dries very slowly.

• Unzip and wash the cover as its label says.
• Spot clean the foam with a damp cloth and mild soap.
• Let it air dry fully before putting the cover back on.
• Air it out near an open window now and then.
• Check for lasting dents, lumps or crumbling, which mean it’s time to replace.

Shredded fill pillows sometimes allow fuller washing, so check the maker’s label.

How to choose: a quick checklist

Use this checklist before you buy any memory foam pillow.

• Match loft to your position: high for side, medium for back, low for stomach.
• Add height for wide shoulders or a firm mattress.
• Hot sleeper? Choose shredded foam, gel foam or a cooling cover.
• Look for CertiPUR-US foam.
• Check that the cover is machine washable.
• Read the return policy: days, condition, and who pays shipping.

More on pillows and neck comfort

Picking a memory foam pillow is one part of sleeping comfortably. Our healthy sleep pillows guide covers positions, pillow height and when to see a doctor. If neck discomfort is your main concern, our page on choosing a memory foam pillow for neck pain compares options with that focus.

Our pick for most readers

Derila Ergo is the best pick for most back and side sleepers who want a contoured shape, a washable cooling cover and a low price per pillow in a bundle. If you sleep on your stomach or want to adjust loft, Silk & Snow or Coop will suit you better, and Coop’s prepaid return label makes trying it simple. If snoring, breathing pauses or lasting neck pain is part of the picture, see a doctor before you shop.

Compare the current Derila Ergo bundles and return terms on the official site.

See Derila Ergo on the official site60-day money-back guarantee