Down pillows are the pinnacle of comfort, with a fluffy, soft filling that makes you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. The best down pillows are a surefire way to replicate the feeling of waking up at a five-star hotel. They’re the best pillows for anyone who loves a plush feel.
We tried 13 down pillows and rated them based on comfort, support, construction, and value. We considered all sleep types in our testing. Down pillows are usually available in various support levels for different sleeping styles: plush or soft for stomach sleepers, mid-plush or medium for back sleepers, and firm for side sleepers.
The best down pillow we’ve tried is the Brooklinen Down Pillow, which feels luxurious and soft. Beloved by several editors and contributors on our team, it’s available in various firmness levels to suit various sleep types and is moderately priced for a hotel-style pillow.
Chelsea Nightengale, the former general manager of The Restoration Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, also recommended choosing a chambered pillow, which “will alleviate the aggravation of any fill bunching in certain areas of the bedding throughout the night.” The Boll & Branch Down Chamber Pillow utilizes this type of construction with a three-chamber design that offers better support, and is also available in three densities depending on your sleep position. Boll & Branch also places sustainability and ethics at the height of its brand, with numerous certifications that exceed US standards.
Our top picks for down pillows
Best overall: Brooklinen Down Pillow – See at Brooklinen
Best value: Quince Premium Down Pillow – See at Quince
Most supportive: Boll & Branch Chamber Pillow – See at Boll & Branch
Best for side sleepers: Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow – See at Parachute
Best hotel-style: FluffCo Down Feather Pillow – See at FluffCo
Best goose: Continental Bedding Siberian Goose Down Pillow – See at Amazon
Best overall
Brooklinen Down Pillow (Mid-Plush)
The mid-plush Brooklinen Down Pillow conforms well to different sleeping positions, making it the ideal pillow for people who shift throughout the night. It feels as good as pillows double its price.
If you’re a down pillow skeptic, the Brooklinen Down Pillow might just turn you into a believer. Brooklinen’s down pillow is one of our favorite pillows of all time — and for good reason. It’s soft and cushy like any down pillow should be, but it’s also supportive for all sleep types. Out of the pillows I’ve ever tested, it’s the one that stays on my bed every night.
Brooklinen’s down pillow comes in three firmnesses: plush, mid-plush, and firm. The plush is filled only with down clusters for maximum softness, while the mid-plush and firm options incorporate both down clusters and feathers with a dual-core construction for increased support. The mid-plush pillow is an excellent middle-of-the-road option for all sleep types, including combination sleepers. Side sleepers might prefer the firm, while stomach sleepers will gravitate toward the soft option.
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Unlike other down pillows that require regular fluffing, the Brooklinen Down Pillow retains its shape night after night. I only have to fluff it about once a week. That said, the pillow doesn’t compromise on softness. I’m a stomach sleeper, so I like having a squishy pillow to keep my spine aligned throughout the night. I love how my head sinks into Brooklinen’s pillow, staying cradled and comfortable all night.
I’m also a hot sleeper, and I’ve never overheated when using this pillow. Its down interior is especially breathable, so there’s plenty of airflow and heat doesn’t get trapped.
One of our testers from a few years prior noticed that the pillow had a noticeable down smell, and it took a few cycles in the dryer to get rid of the scent. I personally didn’t notice an odor when I unboxed the pillow, so it’s possible this issue has been resolved. Otherwise, we have nothing negative to say about this pillow. If you’re looking for a versatile and comfortable down pillow, this is the one.
Read our full Brooklinen Down Pillow review.
Best value
Quince Premium Down Pillow
Starting at $80, Quince’s Premium Down Pillow is one of the best values for a pillow made with real down.
Down is a premium material, so it’s difficult to find a quality down pillow that’s under $100. Thankfully, Quince, which specializes in luxury goods at affordable prices, sells an excellent down pillow made with responsibly sourced down in the US or Canada that starts at just under $80. Quince compares its products to premium bedding brands like Matouk and Sferra, where down pillows start at over $200.
The Quince Premium Down Pillow is available in three firmnesses: soft, medium, and firm. Since I’m a stomach sleeper, I tried the soft version. It wasn’t the most supportive pillow I tried, but I felt comfortable all night. The medium and firm versions of the pillow have the same down construction, but have a higher fill weight based on firmness, ranging from 15 ounces for the soft to 24 ounces for the firm.
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Since they’re so soft, these pillows are also excellent for stacking. If you need a little extra support, I recommend using the Quince pillow on top of another pillow for an equally plush and supportive sleep.
When unboxing Quince’s down pillow, I did notice that some down had come free of the cotton shell. After using it for months, though, I haven’t noticed any other down shedding. You’ll also have to fluff it regularly, as it has a habit of getting compressed in the morning.
Most supportive
Boll & Branch Down Pillow
Soft and moldable but still supportive, the Boll & Branch Down Chamber Pillow comes in three firmness levels, including a soft option for stomach sleepers.
Boll & Branch incorporates a chamber design construction, meaning it has different compartments to hold different types of filling, which keeps fill evenly distributed, prevents clumping and maintains a consistent loft, all while enhancing the support the pillow can provide. Not to forget, it requires less constant fluffing.
The three-chambered soft pillow has down in all three sections, meaning it’s luxuriously cushiony and the filling stays evenly distributed through the night. The two firmer versions have more supportive feather and down in the inner chamber, and is wrapped in a layer of soft down to make them more suitable for back and side sleepers. It’ll compress without going flat.
The softest version is incredibly soft and squashes down the instant your head touches it; it has the least density, making it an excellent option for stomach sleepers. We found it very flexible, and we were able to mold it and fold it in various ways to make it plumper or flatter, based on how we were lying.
Boll & Branch also prides itself on the sustainable materials used in its down pillow, making it a great choice if you’re looking for a down pillow that is ethically made. Boll & Branch partners with farms in the United States to source its cruelty-free down that is also OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and International Down Standard certified, which means it’s using the safest and cleanest materials. Even the outside cotton cover is organic. The down is also triple-washed, which exceeds the US standards and makes for cleaner, fluffier fill.
Best for side sleepers
Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow
Though the Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow isn’t super firm, and its boxy design provides strong support for a side sleeper who also wants the soft, luxurious feel of down.
In my personal experience, a firmer memory foam pillow is the best pillow for side sleepers. If you’re dead set on sleeping on a cushiony down pillow, Parachute’s Down Side Sleeper Pillow has enough structural support so you can sleep comfortably on your side while enjoying a plush feel.
It has a tall, 3.5-inch gusset, which is the extra material in the middle and side panels that gives the pillow a boxier shape. This design prevents your head from sinking in too much and keeps your spine aligned while you sleep. At the same time, it’s not so tall that your neck is uncomfortably strained.
Because it’s thicker and more supportive than non-gusseted pillows and filled with fluffy white down, my sleep experience felt extra luxurious and comfortable. It doesn’t flatten as quickly as non-gusseted pillows and fluffs up easily by hand or in the dryer.
The only way this pillow could be unsatisfying is for side sleepers who are used to more firm support. Thankfully, Parachute has a 60-day return policy, so you’ll be able to determine for yourself.
Best hotel-style
FluffCo Down Feather Pillow
If you want to feel like you’re waking up at a luxury hotel every morning, we recommend the FluffCo Down Feather Pillow.
Working with manufacturers who make pillows for hotels, FluffCo has unlocked the secret formula for a fluffy, travel-worthy pillow at home. Filled with duck down in the exterior and duck feathers in the interior, the FluffCo Down Feather pillow was one of the plushest that I tried.
It comes in two firmnesses: soft and firm, differentiated by the volume of filling. I tried both. While the firm is supportive, the soft version fell short in terms of support. This wasn’t a huge deal for me, since I’m a stomach and side combination sleeper, but I definitely recommend that side and back sleepers opt for the firm pillow. The pillow includes a pillow protector to fight off spills, dust, or damage.
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For ultimate fullness, be sure to fluff this pillow daily. I found that it squished easily, so there were mornings when I would find it compressed against my bed frame. Once fluffed, it pops right back into its inviting, full shape.
FluffCo’s return policy is a bit unclear, offering 30-day returns for unused pillows, citing the personal nature of bedding and hygiene reasons for its lack of a sleep trial. However, it also says that in order to receive a refund, items must be in a donatable condition, suggesting gently used pillows may be eligible for return. Buyers are responsible for return shipping. They also have a 10-year warranty, but you’ll have to buy it separately for $20. It covers spills, stains, accidental damage, and fabric wear-and-tear. At only $99, though, this pillow is still a great value.
Best goose
Continental Bedding Siberian Goose Pillow
The Continental Bedding Siberian Goose Pillow is made from high-quality goose down and combed cotton and feels like you’re sleeping in a luxury hotel. With an 800-fill power, it’s ultra-lightweight and soft.
This pillow is all down, with no feathers, giving it a super light and fluffy feel. Even better, it’s goose down, which is more premium and harder to find than duck down. I could certainly feel the difference — this pillow was noticeably lighter and the most compressible of all the pillows I tested.
Unfortunately, side sleepers will have to skip out on this pillow since there’s not much support, and it’s pretty soft. However, for anyone who wants to feel like they’ve just climbed into a hotel bed after a long day out sightseeing, the Continental Bedding provides a dreamy escape.
It’ll cost you to invest in this luxe pillow, but you can trust in the brand’s expertise and history. It’s been making down bedding products for almost 100 years.
What to look for in a down pillow
The best down pillows are worth the investment, as they are fluffy and low-maintenance. Naturally breathable, down and feathers are also very soft and comfortable. The material conforms to body movements well so that you can shift positions at night with little disturbance. That said, there are several factors you should consider when shopping for a down pillow:
Loft and sleep position
Consider your preferred sleeping position when choosing between different lofts and firmness levels. Here are the lofts and firmness levels you should look for based on your sleep position:
Ethical certifications
Down comes from birds that have been raised for food, so it is a sustainable byproduct, but there are concerns about animal welfare. The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certifies responsibly sourced down.
Down vs. feather vs. down alternative
Down is the fiber on the underside of a bird, while the feathers are quilled and found on the back and wings. In general, down pillows are softer and more expensive, but feathers offer more support. It’s not uncommon to see pillows with both a feather core and down exterior, as offered by brands like Brooklinen or Boll & Branch.
While down is natural, down alternative, which is usually made with from synthetic material like polyester fibers are more affordable and hypoallergenic. PrimaLoft is a popular, premium brand of down alternative that mimics the lightweight feel, insulation, and comfort of down.
Goose vs. duck down
In terms of insulation and durability, goose and duck down perform the same, though duck down is generally cheaper. If you want the lightest and fluffiest pillow with the most warmth, and you’re willing to pay a little more, go for goose down.
How we tested down pillows
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To test the best down pillows, I slept on each pillow for three consecutive nights. I also rotated the pillows through three family members (one back sleeper, one side sleeper, and one with mixed sleeping positions), who slept on each pillow for at least two nights and provided feedback.
I evaluated how supportive each pillow felt, how well it held its shape, its softness and coolness, and the quality of stitching and seams, including whether any down or feathers poked out. I also noted the pillow fit inside a standard-sized Casper pillowcase (21 x 29 inches). Lastly, I put each pillow on the air fluff setting in the dryer to see how well it fluffed back up. I will continue rotating through all the best picks to evaluate long-term comfort and durability.
Outside of comfort, feel, and support, I looked at each brand’s return and warranty terms. Since it can be challenging to determine whether you’ll really like a pillow until you try it, I only considered brands with a minimum return policy of 30 days.
Down pillow FAQs
What is down?
Down is a soft and light fiber from the underbelly of a duck or goose. It’s located underneath a bird’s feather layer and is shaped in fluffy clusters. It’s used in bedding and clothing because it’s highly insulating yet breathable and lightweight.
How long do down pillows last?
The lifespan of your down pillow depends on how often you wash it. Generally, the best down pillows last at least five years and up to 10 years. Replace your pillow when it remains flat after fluffing, or you fold it in half, and it doesn’t unfold by itself.
Can you wash a down pillow?
Always check the care label before cleaning your pillow. Many manufacturers advise against machine washing, recommending spot cleaning instead.
If your label says the down pillow is safe to wash, put it on the delicate setting with mild detergent. Dry cleaning is an option, but it breaks down the natural oils in down, reducing your pillow’s lifespan. You can also leave it outside in the sun for a few hours for a quick refresh.
For more information on caring for your pillows, read our how to wash pillows article.
Can down cause allergies?
“People can be allergic to feathers, although it is not very common. Much more common is a dust mite allergy,” said Tania Elliott, MD, an allergist. To help prevent dust mites, try a pillowcase made from tightly woven 100% cotton.
