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Best Pillow Stuffing Material

Candace Osmond
Updated January 9, 2023

A lot depends on our choice of the pillow: cervical support, comfort, and ultimately the very quality of sleep are all influenced by the pillow you sleep on. While there are thousands of options you can choose from, finding a pillow tailored to fit your unique needs can be a big challenge. So much so that oftentimes modifying an existing pillow or even creating your own from scratch is a must if you want some quality rest.

In either case, you’ll need pillow stuffing material to achieve your goal. There are various types of fill you can use to replace a worn-out filling in your old pillow, fluff up a pillow that is not filled enough, or to make your pillow with a perfect loft, fill material, and cover fabric, all customized to fit your needs.

1. Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Fill – Editor's Choice

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  • Type: Synthetic
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs

2. Dream Solutions USA Bulk Goose Down Filling 80/20

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  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 1/2 lb, 1/4 lbs, 1 lbs, 2 lbs, 3 lbs, 4 lbs, 6 lbs

3. Fairfield Poly Fil Premium Fiber Fill

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  • Type: Synthetic
  • Weight: 32 oz (1, 2, or 3 pack)

4. Beans72 Organic Buckwheat Hulls

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  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 10 lbs

5. Living Dreams Yarn Store LAMBSWOOL Natural White Clean Fluffy Classic Fiber

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  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 1 lb, 5 lbs

6. Organic Cotton PLUS Organic Raw Cotton Fiber

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  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 1lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 50 lbs

Best Pillow Stuffing Material

1. Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Fill – Editor's Choice

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Highlights

  • Type: Synthetic
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs

Pros

  • Relieves pressure
  • Can be used to revitalize old shredded memory foam pillows
  • Suited for pillows used by pets and children
  • Machine washable and tumble dryable
  • CertiPUR-US certified
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Doesn’t expand much

Whether you’re looking to restore your old memory foam pillow, improve the loft of your new pillow, or want to make your memory foam pillow, it doesn’t get better than this high-quality shredded memory foam. Made in the USA and CertiPUR-US certified, it is free of any toxic chemicals and hazardous substances, and doesn’t have a strong chemical odor which is often the case with lower quality foam fills. To boot, it can be machine washed and tumble dried (when encased in a pillowcase) for optimal hygiene at all times.

And when it comes to how much-shredded memory foam you’ll need, it all depends on the project. For instance, a queen-size pillow can take you 2.5 lbs to 4 lbs depending on how high the loft is and how firm you want the pillow to be. If you’re unsure, a rule of thumb is that a 2.5 lbs bag of memory foam will fill 1 cubic foot of space- so calculate accordingly.

Who Should Buy This Product?

For those that prefer the malleability and pressure-relieving properties of memory foam, this premium quality shredded memory foam pillow stuffing is just the thing.

2. Runner Up: Dream Solutions USA Bulk Goose Down Filling 80/20

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Highlights

  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 1/2 lb, 1/4 lbs, 1 lbs, 2 lbs, 3 lbs, 4 lbs, 6 lbs

Pros

  • Soft and fluffy
  • Cradles your head
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Breathable
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Makes a mess

Even having in mind that a high-quality down pillow can last you around 10 years with proper care, this still means that they’ll need replacing every so often- but instead of opting for buying a new one, you can cut costs by opting to replace the stuffing or to make a down pillow yourself. For those that prefer the fluffiness and airiness of down pillows, this stuffing will be an ideal match: it contains 80 percent white Hungarian goose down with just 20 percent of feathers to give it form and sturdiness.

Depending on how high you want your pillow to be, you’ll need between 1 lbs and 1.5 lbs for a standard size pillow. If its cushions and throw pillows you want to revamp or make from scratch, the amount will vary greatly due to different shapes and dimensions.

Who Should Buy This Product?

Breathable, lightweight, and adaptable to your preferences, down pillow stuffing with a small percentage of feathers will give you that classic airy feel of vintage pillows everyone loves.

3. Best polyester fiberfill pillow stuffing material: Fairfield Poly Fil Premium Fiber Fill

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Highlights

  • Type: Synthetic
  • Weight: 32 oz (1, 2, or 3 pack)

Pros

  • Smooth and resilient
  • Doesn’t clump
  • More durable than poor-quality down-alternative
  • Recycled fibers
  • Free from harmful substances
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Not very breathable

If you want your pillows to be cheap to make, low-maintenance, and versatile enough to suit all types of sleepers, then polyester fiberfill is a good choice. This high-quality polyfill has a smooth consistency and is not prone to bunching and clumping: it is resilient enough to keep its form for a longer period of time. It is also hypoallergenic and made in the USA, so it’s not treated with fire retardants or any other dangerous chemicals. The fibers are made from recycled polyester, so it is eco-friendly to boot.

A bag that contains 32 oz (3 lbs) of polyester fiberfill is enough to fill two 18” by 18” pillows, which means that for a king size pillow you’ll need a little more than half the bag, but the preferred loft and firmness can influence the amount needed.

Who Should Buy This Product?

While it is not made from natural materials, polyfill stuffing for pillows is inexpensive, easy to care for, and readily available: if you want to make pillows that are hassle-free, you can’t go wrong with polyester fiberfill.

4. Best buckwheat pillow stuffing material: Beans72 Organic Buckwheat Hulls

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Highlights

  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 10 lbs

Pros

  • Naturally cooling
  • Breathable
  • Firm
  • Suits side and back sleepers
  • Organic US-grown buckwheat

Cons

  • Can take some getting used to

For those that prefer a firm and cool pillow, buckwheat can’t be beaten. Ideal for side sleepers that need extra support and a higher loft as well as back sleepers that appreciate a firmer pillow, this natural cooling material will also be heaven-sent for all hot sleepers that tend to sweat at night. It is cool initially and retains its chilliness throughout the night, allowing air to circulate and keep you refreshed in the hot weather.

In most cases, a single 10 lbs bag is enough to make two standard size pillows for adults, but it could take slightly more or slightly less if you want to adjust the loft of the pillow from medium to low or high.

5. Best wool pillow stuffing material: Living Dreams Yarn Store LAMBSWOOL Natural White Clean Fluffy Classic Fiber

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Highlights

  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 1 lb, 5 lbs

Pros

  • Hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial
  • Mulesing-free and ethically sourced
  • Soft and durable
  • Year-round use
  • Doesn’t trap heat

Cons

  • Can have a distinct sheep smell

There are many benefits of wool and there’s a good reason why it’s a popular material for making everything from clothes to bedding- in pillows, wool will act as a hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial fluffy cloud to sleep on. Sourced from non-mulesed British sheep, this lambswool is not just of premium quality, but ethically and responsibly harvested as well.

Suited for kid’s pillows and toys as well as standard pillows thanks to their natural and toxin-free properties, this fine wool comes in packs of 1 lb and 5 lbs. To make a standard size pillow, you’ll need between 2 lbs and 3 lbs, and somewhat more if you want a high loft pillow suited for side sleepers.

Who Should Buy This Product?

Whether you’re pestered by allergies or want a naturally insulating pillow for year-round use, this ethically-sourced, premium quality British lambswool stuffing will fit the bill.

6. Best cotton fiber pillow stuffing material: Organic Cotton PLUS Organic Raw Cotton Fiber

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Highlights

  • Type: Natural
  • Weight: 1lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 50 lbs

Pros

  • Naturally cool and breathable
  • Medium weight
  • Hypoallergenic
  • GOTS certified
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Could be fluffier

In case you want to make the most out of cooling, breathable cotton, go for certified organic fibers that are not processed with certain harmful chemicals involved. These high-quality raw cotton fibers will make an excellent fill for pillows that stay cool throughout the night and let air circulate freely. The cotton was grown on an organic farm in Texas without the use of pesticides or herbicides and it is GOTS certified. Paired with an organic cotton pillowcase, it will be a great choice for hot sleepers and people with skin sensitivities.

For a standard size pillow with a medium high loft, you’ll need around 3 lbs of cotton fibers. This is the goldilocks zone for most: not too airy and light and not too dense and heavy to move around at night.

Who Should Buy This Product?

Cotton fibers make great pillow stuffing for sleep pillows and decorative pillows alike- budget-friendly, breathable, and safe for people with sensitivities, it will give you both form and function.

Types of Pillow Stuffing Material

With so many varying needs, it’s only natural that there are dozens of different types of pillows and even more different designs and constructions. From body pillows to wedge pillows to classic pillows that most sleepers prefer, there will be significant variations in the type of materials used and the shape and loft of each design. While some pillows tout a unique design thanks to molded construction (e.g. solid core latex or memory foam cervical pillows), most have a fill that is not solid- and as such, can be modified to an extent by adding or removing the stuffing to adjust the firmness and the loft.

Polyester fiberfill

The most common to come across and one of the budget-friendliest options available is poly-fill or polyester fiberfill. Made from synthetic fibers, it is also called down-alternative, as it mimics the soft and fluffy bird filaments. The pros of this affordable pillow stuffing material are that it is easy to clean, lightweight, and hypoallergenic so it found its way to everything from pillows to toys.

However, there are certain downsides to polyester fiberfill. It is not a natural material and as such can contain hazardous substances (used during the processing and manufacture). The consistency of fiberfill makes it prone to clumping which decreases its durability and can make them uncomfortable to sleep on. Furthermore, polyester is not breathable and will trap heat, making it a poor choice for warm weather and hot sleepers.

Memory foam (shredded)

One of the most popular choices for pillows is, without a doubt, memory foam in all shapes and forms. Shredded memory foam keeps all the important properties of the viscoelastic material it is made from, such as pressure-relief, body-conforming adaptability, and non-clumping form. Memory foam pillow stuffing is often used to tweak pillows to make them more suited for side sleepers, by increasing the loft and the firmness of the pillow.

The faults that people find in memory foam pillow stuffing is its poor breathability and inadequate temperature regulation properties, as well as potential off-gassing and strong initial chemical odor.

Latex (shredded)

If you value the responsive, body-contouring effects of memory foam but want a natural, more durable alternative, shredded latex is a great option. Made from special tree sap, it is a resilient, pressure-relieving, and naturally thermo-neutral, and breathable. Of course, with the added advantages comes also a much higher price than is the case with foam, which might be an issue budget-wise. Also, latex has a specific rubber odor that could bothersome sleepers.

Down and feathers

A classic, traditional choice of pillow stuffing is certainly a blend of feathers and down, or an exclusive fill made from one of the two. Down consists of the soft, fluffy feathers without quill, so pillows filled just with down (or at least with 75% of it) will be airy, lightweight, and exceptionally soft and malleable. Feathers are coarser and can stick through the pillowcase and poke you while you sleep, so it’s advisable to go for pillow stuffing material that is made mostly from down with a small percentage of feathers added (if any). While down pillows are naturally light, soft, and fluffy, they are notoriously high maintenance and can be expensive.

Cotton

When it comes to the choice of bedding fabric, cotton reigns supreme: its breathability and softness are difficult to replace with cheaper synthetic alternatives. This natural material also makes for great pillow stuffing but in its raw state. The raw cotton fibers are fluffy, naturally hypoallergenic and breathable, and comfy to sleep on. Unfortunately, they too can be prone to clumping as poly-fill, so it won’t hold its shape well- and it will have to be replaced more often than you’d expect.

Wool

The insulative properties of wool, as well as the fact that this natural material happens to be antibacterial and antimicrobial, making it a great choice for pillow stuffing material. This soft, fuzzy, fiber will make for a thermo-neutral, breathable pillow that doesn’t contain any dangerous chemicals and repels moisture, preventing mold, mildew, and bacterial growth inside the pillow. On the other hand, wool pillow stuffing tends to clump and lose shape over time, so it’s better suited to stomach sleepers as maintaining a high loft can be a challenge. Another thing to consider is the potential odor- the faint sheep or stable smell that can sometimes accompany wool stuffing.

Buckwheat hulls

The thought of sleeping on grains might sound strange, but a buckwheat pillow can offer plenty of benefits. This type of natural pillow stuffing material is made from other shells of buckwheat kernels and is characterized by its firmness, coolness, breathability, and exceptional durability. This is why it is such a great choice for some side sleepers and back sleepers: this pillow stuffing material will give you unparalleled support. But what makes it so great for some is what makes it unsuited for others. Buckwheat pillows can be too firm for some sleepers, and the rustling noise of the hulls can disturb some people’s sleep.

In Conclusion

The secret to a great quality of sleep is tweaking your pillow to suit your exact needs and requirements, and what better way to do that than by customizing the fill? Depending on your preferences, you can choose between natural and man-made pillow stuffing material: each has its pros and cons and boasts unique properties.

Pillow stuffing material comes in all forms, shapes, and qualities and you’ll easily find a perfect match to improve your current pillow or make a new one- regardless of whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper, stomach sleeper, hot sleeper, or an allergy sufferer.