13 best memory foam pillows, tried and tested

Mar 30, 2025

Memory foam is possibly the most divisive of all pillow and mattress fillings. You'll either refuse to sleep on it or refuse to sleep on anything else.

Durable and dense, memory foam is made from a polymer known as polyurethane that moulds to your head and neck as you sleep, providing the ideal level of support. For this reason, these pillows can feel strange to sleep on at first, putting many people off. But, if you persevere with the best memory foam pillows, you may never look back.

Before you dash off to try one, consider whether a memory foam pillow would suit your sleeping style, as they can be expensive. Our guide below will help you decide.

Want to completely upgrade your bedroom set-up? We've rigorously tested the best mattress toppers, the best mattress protectors, the best duvets, best bedding and the best sleep gadgets too.

You'll find our full reviews below but these are our top recommendations for different needs and budgets at a glance:

Joint best memory foam pillow: REM-Fit 500 Cool Gel Pillow

Joint best memory foam pillow and best for hot sleepers: Luff Mayfair Cooling Gel Memory Foam Pillow

Best adjustable memory foam pillow: Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow

Best for eco credentials: Panda Luxury Memory Foam Pillow

Not necessarily, no. Memory foam pillows are only better than other types of pillows if they meet your personal needs!

The firm support they offer will definitely be welcome if you are looking for a pillow to help neck pain, but they can feel heavy and rigid and make more active sleepers feel a little claustrophobic. There's limited airflow in memory foam, too, so these pillows can get hot quickly, especially in the summer. However, on the plus side, they're easy to care for, supportive and long-lasting.

Memory foam pillows tend to be quite thick and you can't usually adjust the height, making them best for aligning the neck and spine of side sleepers. Back sleepers can also get on with memory foam but should look for a thin-to-medium thickness. Stomach sleepers will need something flatter so they can lay their head at a comfortable angle. Look for an adjustable memory foam pillow or opt for a down or microfibre filling.

Once you've determined that memory foam will suit your sleeping style, there are several other factors to consider before clicking 'buy'.

Some models feature removable fillings or layers for adjusting their thickness. You can alter several of the pillows on our list including the Emma Original Pillow and the Simba Hybrid Pillow.

Also consider the fabric your pillow is made from. Bamboo can be a more sustainable material because it’s fast growing and regenerates quickly. Four designs on our list combine memory foam with bamboo – Luff’s Mayfair Gel Pillow is our highest scoring pick, while Panda’s Luxury Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is another top option, as the brand provides extensive information on how it sources and manufactures its materials.

Prone to getting hot and sweaty at night? Some memory foam pillows come with cooling claims. These either have breathable covers or feature unique fillings designed to regulate your temperature, such as gel.

You can get memory foam pillows that are pre-shaped and contoured to better align your neck and spine as you sleep. Consider trying one of these if you're struggling with neck ache.

If you haven't tried sleeping on memory foam before, be sure to select a pillow that comes with a trial offer. That means you can simply return or exchange it by the end of the trial period if it’s not for you.

Our panel of testers have trialled a total of 84 pillows across all styles and materials They judged each one on its comfort, support, breathability and overall design, before deciding if they would buy it themselves.

Back in the lab, the Good Housekeeping Institute team put every pillow through the washing machine and assessed any impact on its performance.

Once all the results and feedback were in, we pulled out the highest-scoring memory foam pillows – these are our top-rated designs.

Score: 96/100

Our top-scoring memory foam pillow was a universal hit, with the entire panel awarding it full marks! It moulded brilliantly to their heads and necks, offering excellent support for all types of sleepers. It didn't have a plasticky smell and the Tencel/polyester cover survived the washing machine with only minimal shrinkage.

Its cooling claims fell slightly flat, as it only offered average breathability, but it gave every tester a quality night's sleep. They all said they would buy it themselves and appreciated the generous five-year guarantee.

£49.50 at rem-fit.co.uk

Score: 96/100

Just like our other winner, this also has cooling properties, thanks to a cool-touch gel pad on one side that draws heat away from your head to keep you comfortable all night long. This impressed on test, and for nights where you’re not hot, you can use the other side, which is made from soft bamboo, making this a versatile buy.

It aced our other tests too, proving supportive and comfortable – a worthy joint winner.

£59.98 at amazon.co.uk

Score: 94/100

Latex might not be your go-to material for a pillow, but our testers said it provided standout support, as well as enough bounce and softness for a sound sleep (and it didn’t have that horrid plasticky smell, either).

Natural latex is also fantastic for regulating body temperature as the material’s structure promotes airflow and breathability, something our testers vouched for.

Unlike some others on this list, you can’t adjust the padding inside; however, you can remove the quilted cover if you’re after something slimmer.

£99.00 at finebedding.co.uk

Score: 93/100

This is another adjustable design that left our testers sleeping like babies throughout the night. Like Simba’s mattresses and toppers, it has a layer of springs enclosed within foam for a supportive base. There are also two softer layers made from recycled polyester that you can add (or forgo) to create your perfect pillow.

Our testers needed a few nights to find the right combination of layers for them (and this is par for the course with adjustable products), but once they got there, they said their sleep was better than before. It’s a pricey but quality buy if you need something firm to rest your head on.

£159.00 at simbasleep.com

Score: 89/100

This adjustable memory foam pillow impressed our panel, who found it comfortable to sleep with. And if it’s too tall for your liking, you can just remove one or two of its three layers.

We found it kept its height well and was breathable, which is impressive for memory foam. The cover can also be machine washed and it held up well on test, with no shrinking. A reliable buy.

£49.50 at emma-sleep.co.uk

Score: 89/100

Hot sleepers, this is another one for you, and it’s the most affordable option on our list. With a cover made from a cooling fabric (including a chilly-sounding textile called ice yarn), this pillow claims to dissipate body heat up to 10 times faster than cotton, so you stay cool, calm and collected throughout hot, sweaty nights.

It's a claim our testers backed up, although some noticed that their pillowcase reduced its chill. Luckily, its soft, quilted cover is (reliably) machine washable, so if you do need to cool down, you could forgo a typical cover. And testers praised its level of comfort, support and high-quality feel.

£49.50 at rem-fit.co.uk

Score: 87/100

If you struggle with neck pain, the unique design of this pillow could make all the difference. The foam is carefully moulded to support your head and neck, and our panel was impressed with how well it relieved pressure. It also comes with a 100-day trial, for added peace of mind.

Its cover is washable and emerged from our machine in the same premium condition as before it went in. Its unique look wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but we think the comfort it offers could be worth the compromise.

£29.95 at groovepillows.co.uk

Score: 86/100

While not 100% memory foam, this pillow’s filling is made up of a combination of microfibre and foam “nanocubes” that can be removed and stored in a supplied drawstring bag. This means that both its thickness and firmness can be adjusted easily to suit any type of sleeper, while still offering strong support.

We found it super comfortable, fluffy and shapely, but it smelt a little plasticky at first. Ultimately, it’s a good choice if you’re new to memory foam or prefer to sleep on your front.

£109.00 at simbasleep.com

Score: 84/100

Aeyla says this pillow is hypo-allergenically and dermatologically tested, making it a trusty pick for keeping sneezes at bay. Plus, its 100% cotton outer is soft and breathable, and testers praised the all-round premium feel.

Inside, the pillow contains shredded memory foam that you can remove to find the right level of support for you. This could be handy if you like a thinner pillow, as it’s thick when full, but our panel found some trial and error was needed to find their sweet spot. Overall though, the adaptable design makes this pillow a practical buy.

£69.00 at aeyla.co.uk

Score: 82/100

You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a good memory foam pillow, and this buy from Primark is proof. It’s soft and comfortable with an even filling that allowed our testers to relax into it as it moulded around their heads.

Some found the memory foam a little too firm to begin with, so it may take getting used to. The pillow can’t be washed or dry cleaned either, and there’s no separate washable cover. But a pillow protector could help here, and for a fraction of the price of many other brands, it’s worth considering.

£12.00 at primark.com

Score: 81/100

If you’re after a greener option, this takes the top spot. The cover is made from organic bamboo, which is taken from non-fertilised forests and is biodegradable. Bamboo is also naturally hypoallergenic and breathable, which makes this pillow a good choice for those with allergies.

We found it cosy and supportive to sleep on but opinions differed on its comfort. It’s shorter than the average pillow at 60cm wide, which may spoil the aesthetics of your bedroom, but front sleepers will appreciate its thinness. Its 10-year guarantee is unbeatable, too.

£38.00 at amazon.co.uk

Score: 81/100

Memory foam and temperature regulation don't tend to go together, but this hypoallergenic pillow is a refreshing exception. Literally. It makes use of bamboo's breathable, moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool in summer and comfortably cosy in winter. It's infused with naturally antibacterial charcoal too.

It felt comfortable to sink into and we enjoyed a restorative night's sleep, but it was too thin to give adequate support to side sleepers. The angled corners irritated at times and some testers found it too firm.

£69.99 at amazon.co.uk

Score: 78/100

Emma’s Premium Foam Pillow won the approval of our testers thanks to its adjustable design that allows you to remove inserts to create the perfect sleep surface for your head. Most agreed that it was comfortable and breathable throughout the night, but some found it a little too firm for their liking. The pillow does come with a 30-night trial though, so you can get your money back if you’re not 100% sold.

Our panel also loved the washable cover, which remained soft to the touch post-wash and was easy to fit back onto the pillow.

£63.75 at emma-sleep.co.uk

Memory foam pillows cannot go in the washing machine or tumble dryer and some are spot clean only. Others have removable machine-washable covers. If in doubt, follow the care instructions given on your pillow.

Memory foam pillows are durable and last longer than most pillow types, but expect to replace yours after two to three years of nightly use. Test whether it needs replacing by folding it in half; if it stays folded, it’s time to get a new one.

Lumpy pillows that are no longer offering adequate support should also be swapped out. Protect your pillow from stains by adding a pillow protector.

With two pillows scoring near full marks, you’re spoilt for choice when shopping for the best memory foam pillow. Rem-Fit's 500 Cool Gel Pillow offered great support for all sleepers, while Luff’s The Mayfair Gel Pillow was a fan-favourite for its cooling properties, so opt for that one if you're a hot sleeper.

Neither of our winners are adjustable though, so if you’re not sure what firmness and height suits your sleeping style best, we recommend Simba’s Hybrid Firm Pillow.

In our quest to help our readers get the best night’s sleep possible, we’ve tested hundreds of sleep products, culminating in our inaugural Sleep Awards. In total, we’ve tested over 80 different pillows – that’s a whole lot of snoozing.

Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, led the reviews for memory foam pillows as well as coordinating our at-home panel tests. All the feedback was then passed to our homes editor, Hannah Mendelsohn, and writer, Megan Geall, who have written about hundreds of products between them and know exactly what makes a fantastic buy.

29 March 2025: This article was updated to reflect the latest prices, deals and stock levels. We also linked to other relevant Good Housekeeping content and included a bullet point list of our favourite picks in the introduction to help you find the best memory foam pillow for every need and budget.

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