The Best King-Size Pillows
Maintaining a correct position when sleeping is more than just making sure you’re comfortable during the night. Even if you’re sound asleep, an incorrect position can lead to short and long-term pain and problems, starting with the neck and ending with the spine. Having the right mattress is of the utmost importance, but one can’t underestimate the role that the right pillow plays in this scenario. If you want to know more about pillows, but also want a guide on what are the best King-size pillows, keep reading for further insight.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  Casper Sleep Pillow
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| #2 |  Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow |
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| #3 |  The Original Queen Anne Pillow
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| #4 |  Juvea Pillow
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| #5 |  Coop Home Goods Pillow
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Understanding Pillow Loft
The loft of a pillow is a measurement of the height and thickness of the product. Pillows that have a low loft usually measure less than three inches in thickness; those with medium loft measure between three and five inches; high loft pillows have a height of more than five inches.
While some would argue that choosing a pillow loft is a matter of personal preference, there are a few factors that play an important part in determining whether or not a pillow of a certain thickness is right for you or not. These include:
Your favorite sleeping position
How you spend most of your night sleeping will determine what loft is best suited for you. People that like to sleep on their backs are usually more satisfied with medium loft pillows because they offer a great balance between softness and thickness. Those that like to sleep on the side are better off with medium or high loft pillows because of the gap that usually forms between the pillow and their head. Stomach sleepers shouldn’t use a pillow at all or, if they do want one, they’re better off choosing low loft pillows.
Your body weight
How much you weigh will influence how the mattress compresses underneath the pressure of your body, which also determines how much space is left between your head and the sleeping surface. For instance, people that weigh more than 230 pounds will compress the mattress more, which means that there isn’t that much space between their head and the pillow. Consequently, low and medium loft pillows will suit them best. People who weigh less than 130 usually need high loft pillows, while average-weight sleepers (130 to 230 pounds) are best paired with medium loft pillows.
Your mattress type
Your body weight is one of the factors that contribute to your mattress compression, and the other one is the construction of the mattress itself. For instance, foam mattresses have a higher level of compression, meaning they will sink under the pressure of your body more than innerspring beds, for instance. Mattresses that sink more are best paired with low loft pillows, while those that have firmer surfaces work better with medium and high loft pillows.
What Are Pillows Made From?
It’s important to know the materials that go into making a pillow because these will help determine the different properties of the end product. Here are the most common pillow types, listed in no particular order:
Down
Down pillows are filled with the plumage of geese or ducks. True down pillows are those that have at least 75 percent down. There are plenty of advantages to choosing down pillows over other types: they don’t retain as much heat as other materials tend to do, they will quickly adjust to the shape of your head, they are lightweight and breathable, and one of the most comfortable choices on the market. However, there are also a few drawbacks to choosing down pillows over other varieties: they are some of the most expensive options on the market, can represent a problem for people who suffer from allergies, and require fluffing regularly because they tend to flatten out due to their structure.
Down alternative pillows are made from synthetic fibers that are designed to mimic the qualities of natural down, but at a fraction of the cost and with other advantages and drawbacks. One of the main reasons why people choose down alternative pillows over those filled with natural down is the significantly lower price, but also the fact that they have hypoallergenic constructions. As you can imagine, a down alternative pillow will never last as much as one made with natural down. Plus, they won’t maintain their natural shape for long, which can cause pain over time.
Down Alternative
Feather pillows are different from down pillows. Down pillows have a maximum of 25 percent feather fill, while feather pillows have predominant feather fill. They are soft and quite malleable, and don’t absorb as much heat as other materials do. Feather pillows also cost less than down pillows, but they are more expensive compared to those made from other materials (such as polyester). One of the main drawbacks of feather pillows is the fact that the quills can be rather sharp, up to a point where they’ll poke through the pillow’s cover and start causing major discomfort.
Memory Foam
Memory foam pillows are an extremely popular choice. There are two main types of memory foam pillows: those that are made with one of the multiple layers of foam, or they are filled with shredded foam. The reason why a lot of people like memory foam is because of the material’s capacity of adapting to the shape of the body (or, in this case, the head). They are suitable for sleepers that like different sleeping positions, and they are an affordable option for natural down pillows. They make no noise when you move around at night and are good at pressure relief. They tend to have a specific odor that usually passes when the pillow is aired properly before first sleeping on it.
Latex
Latex pillows are made from rubber tree sap which is processed to make a material with very unique qualities. Latex is very good at pressure relief and offers a great level of support. It is one of the most durable materials on the market and its structure makes it natural cooling. They tend to be quite expensive and have a certain level of bounciness that some sleepers might not be comfortable with.
Polyester
Polyester or polyfoam pillows are extremely affordable and a lot of people choose to buy them because of that. They have hypoallergenic construction and don’t have that strong odor that memory foam pillows usually have. They don’t require fluffing or shaking and are quite easy to care for. However, they don’t last very long and aren’t the best solution for people who feel pain and need pillows that can provide pressure relief.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat pillows are a rather unusual choice but they do justice by some sleepers, which makes them worth mentioning here as well. These pillows are filled with hulls, which makes them a very firm and heavy option. While it may seem like a weird choice, buckwheat pillows bring a lot of benefits to the table: they offer great support, their loft is usually adjustable, they can relieve pressure, and don’t absorb the same amount of heat as other pillows tend to do. However, they tend to be rather expensive, they are pretty firm and therefore uncomfortable for some sleepers, and they tend to be quite heavy as well.
Best King Size Pillows
Let’s take a look at some of the best pillows available in a King size and determine which ones might be the best choices for your particular sleeping needs.
Casper Sleep Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: Standard, King
- Materials: cotton, microfiber fill
- Loft: 5 inches
Casper is a very popular mattress manufacturer, making one of the best and most affordable beds for people who are into a foam. Today, we wanted to talk about the wonder that is this pillow made by the very same brand that brought you that mattress. It’s available in a pack of two pillows or you can purchase it as a single product.
It features a cotton cover that’s very soft to the touch and offers high levels of breathability thanks to the percale weave that maximizes airflow instead of trapping heat on the surface of your skin. It has microfiber fill that’s capable of contouring to the shape of your head, offering great comfort to people that would like to sleep on a pillow with medium firmness. The cover is removable and can be cleaned in your home washing machine.
Pros:
- Quality cotton cover.
- 2 available sizes.
- Machine-washable cover.
- Breathable.
Cons:
- Pretty expensive.
Who Should Buy This?
The Casper pillow is designed for different kinds of sleepers that want a product made by a brand with plenty of experience in the bedding industry, one that has a best-selling mattress in its portfolio.
Beckham Hotel Collection Gel Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: Queen, King
- Materials: cotton, down-alternative fill
- Loft: not adjustable
This is a pack of two affordable pillows that are available in a Queen and a King size. They are made with a cotton cover that’s very soft and breathable, to a point where you almost don’t want to use these pillows with a cover. Inside them, you can find gel fiber that promises to keep you cool when you’re sleeping, which is super important if you’re a hot sleeper and you’ve experienced your fair share of thermal discomfort at night.
It has a hypoallergenic construction that’s perfect for people who suffer from allergies, since the pillow is designed to keep dust mites, mildew, and mold at a distance. It is a comfortable choice and a best-selling product that offers a good level of comfort at a decent price. The cover has a 250 thread count, which is pretty decent considering how much you pay for it. That striped pattern on the cover is also worth mentioning.
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic construction.
- Really good price.
- Available in a two-pack.
- 250 thread cover.
Cons:
- Customers claim it doesn’t give enough support.
Who Should Buy This?
If you want an affordable and hypoallergenic pack of two pillows available at a really good price, we encourage you to check out this Beckham Hotel Collection offer.
The Original Queen Anne Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: Standard Firm, Standard Medium, Standard Soft, Queen Firm, Queen Medium, Queen Soft, King Firm, King Medium
- Materials: cotton, natural down fill
- Loft: not adjustable
The Original Queen Anne pillow really is something else, and it’s a luxurious and rather expensive product, but you’ll soon understand where the price tag is coming from. The inside of this pillow is filled with a blend made from goose and duck down, offering an amazing level of softness and fluffiness. It’s all-natural down, with a fill power of 650. There are no feathers in the pillow, meaning there are no chances of the quills ever poking through the surface of the cover and scratching your face.
Speaking of the cover, we’re dealing with an all-cotton material that has a smooth and silk-like feel to it. It has a thread count of 330, which is a sign of a durable weave. You can choose between three different firmness options, depending on your preferences and sleeping positions. You also have three size options: Standard, Queen, and King. As you can imagine, there are quite a few things that make Queen Anne pillows exceptional (and the number one choice of luxury hotels around the world): the triple-wash hypoallergenic down dill, the double-stitched seams with elegant purple piped edges, and even the protective and elegant storage bag.
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic down fill.
- Quality cotton cover.
- Durable seams.
- 3 firmness choices.
- Elegantly piped edges.
Cons:
- Very expensive.
Who Should Buy This?
The Queen Anne pillow is a product designed for sleepers who are looking to recreate the hotel-like luxury ambiance and bring them into their bedrooms. It is not a product created for people who want an affordable pillow.
Juvea Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: Queen Low/High profile, King Low/High profile
- Materials: cotton blend/organic cotton/tencel lyocell, Talalay latex fill
- Loft: not adjustable
If you fancy yourself a quality pillow filled with open-cell Talalay latex, this is the right product for you. You can choose between three cover materials: cotton blend, organic cotton, or a tencel lyocell cover, with each of them having its own set of benefits. Inside the pillow, you can find a large block of Talalay latex that has an open-cell structure, making sure that you benefit from as much airflow as possible. Even without those holes, you would have noticed that the pillow doesn’t retain too much heat, since latex is a naturally cooling material.
There are two loft options to choose from for both the Queen and the King-size version of this pillow. They all offer a medium to firm support that would mostly benefit back and side sleeper. The pillows are hypoallergenic and OEKO-TEX Class 1 Baby Safe certified.
Pros:
- Child-friendly materials.
- Eco-friendly construction.
- Hypoallergenic.
- Breathable and naturally cooling.
Cons:
- Expensive.
Who Should Buy This?
Coop Home Goods Pillow
Specs:
- Available sizes: Queen, King
- Materials: bamboo, memory foam fill
- Loft: adjustable
Our last suggestion is another best-selling product with a huge sleeper fan-base, so let’s see what this last product has to offer. First of all, it’s important to start with the fact that this is an adjustable pillow that has a lot to offer. Since it’s filled with shredded memory foam, you have access to the fill and you can remove or add more of it, depending on what loft preferences you have and are suitable for you.
The cover is bamboo-derived and offers a soft and naturally cooling surface for you to enjoy sleeping on night after night. The bamboo cover also has a mixture of polyester fibers in there, which makes it stretchable. The pillow has a hypoallergenic construction and keeps dust mites and mildew away, being a suitable option for those of you that want to avoid allergy triggers at all costs.
Pros:
- Adjustable loft.
- Washable cover.
- CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified.
- Hypoallergenic.
Cons:
- Strong off-gassing.
Who Should Buy This?
If you’re looking for a pillow that’s affordable, breathable, and has an adjustable loft because your sleeping needs change regularly, then you have to check out this product made by Coop Home Goods.
Bottom Line
We need to invest in the way we sleep. The right mattress, suitable bedding materials, and a proper pillow can improve our sleep dramatically, increasing our productivity and preventing aches and sores from making an entrance every night and being felt throughout the day. When you understand more about the way you sleep, you can invest in a proper pillow and get the head, neck, and shoulder support that you need for a proper night’s sleep.