We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Bedding The 6 Best Down Pillows for a Comfy and Luxurious Night's Sleep Parachute's down pillows made us want to snuggle up all day and night By Laura Denby Laura Denby Laura Denby is a food, home, and lifestyle writer who specializes in creating thorough and analytical product reviews to help shoppers make more informed purchasing decisions. She has a Culinary Arts diploma from the Institute of Culinary Education and a WSET Level 2 Award in Wine and Spirits. Her work has appeared in leading food and lifestyle publications like PEOPLE, Food & Wine, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Verywell Family, Southern Living, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 6, 2024 11:39AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Kaya Abrahamson A pillow can make or break your sleep routine, and having the wrong one can ruin your night. Down pillows are great because they don't get clumpy or saggy; they retain their shape with a consistent distribution of feathers throughout. When searching for the best down pillows, it’s essential to consider how you sleep — whether on your stomach, side, or back — and your preferred support level. Down pillows come in varying density levels, and depending on the option you choose, they can offer soft, medium, or firm support that helps keep your neck in line with your spine. Paired with an amazing mattress, soft sheets, and a cozy comforter or duvet cover and insert, a comfy pillow is like the cherry on top of a perfect bedding situation. In search of the best down pillows, we put some of the leading models to the test by — you guessed it — sleeping on them. It’s a tough job, but we’re happy to do it in the name of research. Our favorites kept us cool while supporting our necks, heads, and backs. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Parachute Down Pillow at Nordstrom $130 Jump to Review Best Budget: Puredown Feathers Blend Pillow at Amazon $30 Jump to Review Best Investment: Down & Feather Co. Natural Nights Down Pillow at Amazon Jump to Review Best Medium-Firm: SALE Three Geese White Goose Feather Pillow at Amazon $33 $21 Jump to Review Most Breathable: Boll & Branch Down Chamber Pillow at Amazon $199 Jump to Review Best for Side Sleepers: Kassatex European Down Pillow at Kassatex.com Jump to Review Best Overall Parachute Down Pillow PHOTO: Parachute $130 at Nordstrom $130 at Parachute $130 at Zola Star Qualities Immediately comfortable and supportive Double-stitched seams for durability Lightweight material is soft, cool, and breathable Red Flags One of the pricier pillows we tested Sleeping on a cloud is our idea of luxury, and this pillow is the closest you’ll get to actually doing so. It’s soft and fluffy and manages to feel lightweight yet supportive at the same time. Made of premium white down feathers with a cotton sateen shell, this pillow feels totally breathable. We never felt hot or stuffy at any point during the testing process. The pillow consistently felt supportive yet airy, even after weeks of testing, which helped earn it the top spot. This all-purpose down pillow strikes a perfect balance of support and comfort, so it doesn’t need any breaking in. Once you open it, the pillow is already fluffy and luxurious, with a soft feel. We love that it’s machine-washable, but the brand recommends having it dry-cleaned for best results. These pillows are available in three densities, so you can select from soft, medium, or firm to find your perfect fit. Shell Material: Cotton | Support Level: Soft, medium, or firm | Loft Height: 2 inches | Care Instructions: Dry clean or machine wash cool PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Katelyn Chef Best Budget Puredown Feathers Blend Pillow PHOTO: Amazon $30 at Amazon Star Qualities Gentle loft for ideal alignment It’s machine-washable Retained shape while testing Red Flags Felt feathers crunching inside Down pillows can get pricey, so we were pleasantly surprised at the comfort of this affordable option. With a 2-inch loft to start with, we felt that this pillow retained its shape throughout the testing process. It’s lightweight, cool, and soft, which means it's easy to sleep on and comfortable to lay on. The gentle loft helped keep our tester’s neck in line with their back, and the soft to medium construction provided just the right amount of support. Keep in mind that because this is made from a feather blend, we could feel some of the feathers crunching inside. However, the 100 percent cotton cover is double-lined, so nothing poked out or protruded through. Shell Material: Cotton | Support Level: Soft to medium | Loft Height: 2 inches | Care Instructions: Machine wash PHOTO: People / Katelyn Chef PHOTO: People / Katelyn Chef PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek Best Investment Down & Feather Co. Natural Nights Down Pillow PHOTO: Down & Feather Co. View on Amazon View on Downandfeathercompany.com Star Qualities Tall, fluffy, and stays cool Double-stitched so feathers don't poke out Certified organic with premium feathers Red Flags Not machine-washable This luxurious pillow looks and feels like you’re sleeping on a cloud. With an impressive loft, it’s tall and fluffy, and we love that you can choose from four support levels for the perfect night’s sleep. We found that the pillow stays fluffy even when sleeping on it, so your head doesn’t sink down (regardless of which support level you choose). The extra fluff helps it stay cool, and we found that the feathers are evenly distributed. That means you don’t have to constantly flip and fluff it, even after weeks of use. We found that it worked well when sleeping both on our sides and our back and provided a good amount of support to the neck and spine. This is a sturdy, durable pillow that’s made with double stitching to ensure that no feathers poke out the sides. It’s certified organic and stuffed with premium Hungarian goose feathers. Though this pillow comes with a high price tag, the quality and level of support are unmatched — certainly worth buying silk pillowcases for and silk sheets to go with it. Be mindful to spot-clean this when necessary, as it’s not machine washable. Shell Material: Egyptian ivory cotton | Support Level: Soft, medium, firm, extra firm | Loft Height: 7 inches | Care Instructions: Spot clean PHOTO: People / Kaya Abrahamson PHOTO: People / Kaya Abrahamson Best Medium-Firm Three Geese White Goose Feather Pillow PHOTO: Amazon $33 $21 at Amazon $45 at Walmart Star Qualities Ideal for back and side sleepers Supportive without being overly firm Retained shape and loft after weeks of testing Red Flags Cotton cover can be challenging to get a pillowcase over This luxurious and comfortable pillow offers just the right amount of support for back and side sleepers. Better yet, it comes at an incredibly affordable price and is easy to throw in the washing machine. Throughout the testing process, we noticed that this pillow retained its shape and loft even after weeks of use. We love that the feathers stay consistently distributed throughout the night, so you don’t have to wake up and fluff or flip it to stay comfortable. It’s made with polyester fibers and goose feathers, and the inner chambers mean no feathers poke out the sides or clump together. We love that this pillow is soft, breathable, and keeps cool throughout the night. Shell Material: Cotton | Support Level: Medium to firm | Loft Height: 6 inches | Care Instructions: Machine wash on gentle cycle PHOTO: People / Kaya Abrahamson PHOTO: People / Kaya Abrahamson PHOTO: People / Kaya Abrahamson Most Breathable Boll & Branch Down Chamber Pillow PHOTO: Nordstrom $199 at Amazon $179 at Nordstrom View on Bloomingdales Star Qualities Stays cool throughout the night Three-chamber construction keeps filling in place Ethically sourced down filling Red Flags May require frequent fluffing We love that this pillow has three density levels to help you find your perfect amount of support. The soft pillow is designed for stomach sleepers, the medium pillow is designed for side sleepers, and the firm pillow is designed for back sleepers. No matter how you prefer to sleep, each option is designed to provide optimal support while remaining comfortable, light, and airy. Each pillow is designed with inner chambers that hold the filling securely in place, so the pillow itself will keep its shape over time. The organic cotton shell allows air to flow freely throughout the pillow, which prevents it from being stuffy or hot and helps sleepers stay cool throughout the night, so it's ideal for pairing with cooling sheets. We tested both the soft and the medium pillows and loved the comfort and luxury of these pillows. Keep in mind: We felt like the soft pillow lost its shape a bit after multiple uses. If you’re looking for a more structured option, selecting the medium or firm option might be best. Shell Material: Cotton | Support Level: Soft, medium, or firm | Loft Height: 6 inches | Care Instructions: Machine wash PHOTO: People / Andrea Cable PHOTO: People / Andrea Cable Best for Side Sleepers Kassatex European Down Pillow PHOTO: Kassatex View on Kassatex.com Star Qualities Keeps neck and spine aligned Retains its fluffy shape throughout the night Even the softest version is supportive and stable Red Flags Some dark feathers are visible through pillowcase For a soft, luxurious pillow that will keep your neck and spine aligned while sleeping on your side, try the Kassatex European White Goose Down pillow. We were thoroughly impressed by how comfortable this pillow felt during our testing process, and we love how gentle yet supportive it felt while sleeping on our sides. This pillow comes in two sizes and three density levels (soft, medium, and firm). We tested the softest version but were pleased to see that it still offered generous support and stability. The pillow never flattened out throughout the night, and we never felt the need to flip or fluff it. It kept cool, and the material felt lightweight and breathable while remaining durable and firm. Shell Material: Cotton | Support Level: Soft, medium, or firm | Loft Height: 8 inches | Care Instructions: Machine wash PHOTO: People / Kaya Abrahamson PHOTO: People / Kaya Abrahamson PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek The 9 Best Alarm Clocks, Tested by Light and Heavy Sleepers What to Know About Down Pillows Comfort Above all, the sole function of a pillow is to make you feel comfortable and supported. However, different people have different definitions of comfort, and what feels perfect for some might be too soft or too firm for others. Before selecting a pillow, consider what your ideal density level is. If you want something soft and light that doesn’t have too much pushback, opt for a soft pillow. If you struggle with neck or back issues — also a good reason to invest in a mattress for back pain — and need something extra stiff to keep you feeling supported throughout the night, opt for a firm or extra-firm pillow. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds and want to feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud that perfectly cradles your neck and head, a medium-soft filling is your best bet. In addition to the density level, consider the material of the pillow. Down pillows can get stuffy, so it’s best to find something made of natural, breathable materials that will keep you cool throughout the night. Our top pick, the Parachute Down Pillow, is made of premium down feathers wrapped inside a soft, breathable cotton sateen shell. Durability Pillows are one of our most-used home items. Considering the fact that we sleep on them every night and they have the ability to change our entire day, these often-overlooked tools should be durable, well-made, and easy to clean. Consider what material your pillow is made from before purchasing, and check to ensure the stitching looks secure. Each pillow on our list was checked for quality purposes, and we made sure that the seams were double-stitched or stitched in a way that ensured they wouldn’t split. Quality and Value Down pillows can be a pricier item, so consider how often you plan to use them and how long you’d like to keep them. Price is typically in line with quality for these items, so the larger your investment, the better the quality. Before selecting an item, consider how you plan to care for it. Some pricier pillows can only be spot-cleaned, which isn’t ideal for homes with pets or toddlers. If you’ve never owned a down pillow before — or are used to sleeping on other types, like foam pillows — and aren’t sure what density level is best for you, it might be a good idea to opt for a budget item first and adjust depending on your preference. High-quality pillows should never split at the seams, and you shouldn’t see any sharp feather quills poking through the surface. Rachel Marek Behind the Scenes There’s only one way to truly assess the quality of a pillow, and that’s to put in a few nights of precious sleep. Assessment: Our expert product testers first assessed the feel of the pillow, its weight, and how durable the construction felt. We checked to see how soft the fabric was and ensured no feathers or fibers were poking through the seams. Next, we measured each pillow’s natural loft before using it, then measured it again after use to assess how much the pillow sank. Comfort: Next, we tested each pillow over the course of one month by sleeping on it. We considered how comfortable the pillows were when sleeping on our sides, back, and front, and kept in mind how well the pillow retained its shape.Support: We took note of any clumping or sinking and made sure to count how often we needed to fluff or flip the pillow throughout the night. We considered how supportive each pillow was and how efficiently it could mold to the shape of our head or neck.Care and Maintenance: Lastly, we followed the care instructions for each pillow and cleaned them according to the brand’s recommendation. Frequently Asked Questions Which is better: down or feather pillows? While both down and feather pillows are soft, luxurious options, there are slight differences between the two. Down pillows are made from quill-less feather clusters, while feather pillows are made from quill-containing feathers. As a result, feathers can sometimes feel sharp or poke through the casing of a pillow. If you’re looking for a soft, cushiony pillow that will offer support and mold to your head, down is a better option. Keep in mind that down is often more expensive, but it may last longer over time. How much should I pay for a down pillow? Though it depends on the size of your bed, you can expect to pay between $50 and $300 for a high-quality down pillow. Down pillows are typically made in standard and king sizes, and king is usually the more expensive option of the two. Because they’re often made with natural feather clusters from the soft underside of a bird, these can be more expensive than other types of pillows and are seen as a more luxurious option than feather pillows. If you're shopping online, check out places like Amazon to find deals on the best pillows. What pillows do five-star hotels use? Typically, five-star hotels use down pillows because they are seen as a luxurious choice. These pillows are soft and fluffy with an inner stuffing that molds to your head, helping you feel supported yet cool and comfortable throughout the night. Down pillows look full and smooth, and they feel soft and plump. Why Trust PEOPLE? Laura Denby is a food, home, and lifestyle writer who specializes in creating thorough and analytical product reviews to help shoppers make more informed purchasing decisions. For this article, she researched the best down pillows and analyzed the testing results provided by our team of product testers. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. The 10 Best Bamboo Sheets We Tested Are Soft, Breathable, and Cooling