Shopping for a down pillow?
We recommend the following top 6 down pillows for you to look at. For people looking for luxury, value, comfort, or anything in between, our list has something for everyone.
What’s In This Buying Guide
In this buying guide, we review the top six best down pillows currently available on the market. Unlike their foamy counterparts, down pillows are some of the softest and plushest pillows you can get your hands on.
They are very comfortable yet supportive, so you can enjoy a good night’s rest.
However, when you are buying a down pillow for yourself, don’t pick one at random. Instead, keep your personal needs and comfort in mind, and then choose a suitable one.
Better yet, take a look at the helpful pointers we have included towards the end of this guide to help you choose better. We have a list of recommendations for you to see as well.
What is a Down Pillow?
Down here does not mean low or flat; rather, it means feathers. A down pillow is filled with clusters of small and fluffy goose or duck feathers. Typically found under the exterior of a bird, such as a belly or a chest region, these feathers are quill-less.
The difference in structure makes it fluffy and very soft, so when you use them as pillow filling, they make it very soft, cuddly, and moldable. A down pillow tends to be quiet, comfortably warm, lightweight, durable, and well-suited for all sleeping positions.
Best Down Pillows
Disclaimer: All links below go to Amazon.com
- Best Luxury – East Coast Bedding European White Goose Down Pillow
- Best Value – Royal Bedding Luxury Down Pillow
- Best Budget Goose Down Pillow – Puredown Natural Goose Down Pillow
- Best Anti-Allergic – Continental Bedding White Goose Down Luxury Pillow
- Best Comfort – Egyptian Bedding Goose Down Pillow
- Best Goose Down Pillow – Lincove 100% Goose Down Luxury Sleeping Pillow
Product | Award | Filling | Fill Power | Care | Shell Material | Sleeping Positions | Sizes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Coast Bedding Down Pillow | Best Luxury | White Goose Down | 800 | Dry Clean Only | 100% Cotton Satin | All | Standard Queen King |
Royal Bedding Luxury Down Pillow | Best Value | Goose Down and small feathers | 750 | Dry Clean Only | 100% Cotton | All | Standard Queen King |
Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather White Pillow | Best Budget Goose Down Pillow | Natural Goose Feathers and Down | Not Specified | Dry Clean Only | 100% Cotton | All but best for back sleepers | Standard King Queen |
Continental Bedding White Goose Down Luxury Pillow | Best Anti Allergic | White Goose Down | 550 | Machine Washable | 100% Egyptian Cotton | All | Standard Queen King |
Egyptian Bedding Goose Down Pillow | Best Comfort | Goose Down | 750 | Not Specified | 100% Egyptian Cotton | All but better for Side or stomach sleepers | Standard Queen |
Lincove 100% Goose Down Luxury Sleeping Pillow | Best Goose Down Pillow | Goose Down | 800 | Dry Clean Only | 100% Sateen Cotton | All | Medium King |
1. Best Luxury – East Coast Bedding European White Goose Down Pillow
This down pillow from East Coast Bedding is designed to last long. It is one of their softest and fluffiest pillows yet. They offer it in three different sizes, so there is something for everyone. It ensures that you wake up after a restful, uninterrupted sleep.
Pros
- Both the fabric and stuffing are high in quality
- One of the most durable and reliable pillows
- Features a European White Goose down filling
- It has a pure cotton satin shell
- Comfortable and fluffy yet very supportive
Cons
- May flatten soon if not maintained properly
- Some users may find it too soft
Our Review
This pillow option from East Coast Bedding is a premium option. It is filled with European White Goose down encased inside a 100% pure cotton satin shell.
It boasts a fill power of 800 and has a 400 thread count. All of these features combine together to make it one of the best down pillows.
It is available in three different sizes to choose from. The expert craftsmanship of this pillow gives it a remarkable loft. It compresses under your weight, and as soon as the pressure is relieved, it springs back to its original shape. This is a sign of a high-quality pillow.
It cradles your head and relieves the pressure on your neck and shoulder area. With this pillow in use, you won’t wake up with a sore neck ever again.
2. Best Value – Royal Bedding Luxury Down Pillow
Looking to enjoy an uninterrupted night's sleep? Get the Royal Bedding Luxury Down Pillow. They are soft yet quite firm. In fact, they are so full that fluffing is not even required. They are available in three different sizes, so you can easily buy what you need.
Pros
- Cotton shell is very soft and comfortable
- It comes as a set of two pillows
- Features double silk piping edges
- Offers immense support to neck and shoulders
- Boasts an excellent combination of down and small feather
Cons
- For a down pillow, some users may find it too firm
- You cannot purchase a single pillow
Our Review
Royal Bedding Luxury Down Pillows are just what anyone can need for better sleep. It features a unique combination of goose down and small feathers on a ratio of 75% to 25%. It is heartily filled to the point that it is quite firm. You don’t need to fluff it to retain its shape.
The down filling inside this pillow is hand-plucked and 100% purified. So, it’s not just soft and comfortable, but it is also antibacterial and hypoallergenic. This makes it a good choice for sensitive sleepers as well.
Moreover, the fill is encased inside a 100% cotton shell, making it airy and breathable, so you won’t get hot during sleep. The edges are also made comfortable, with silly double piping running around the edge.
3. Best Budget Goose Down Pillow – Puredown Natural Goose Down Pillow
In a market filled with expensive down pillows, this one from Puredown comes as a breath of fresh air for those on tight budgets. It features an amazing fill ratio, combined with a soft and breathable cotton shell for a comfortable sleeping experience.
Pros
- Features a double-layered cotton shell
- It comes at a very affordable price
- Certified by Responsible Down Standard
- Soft yet very comfortable and supportive
- Double layered cotton shell and silky piping make it very durable
Cons
- It needs more than a day to achieve full loft
- Requires regular fluffing to hold its shape
Our Review
If you suffer from neck pain and sore shoulders, you need a decent pillow that cradles your head and relieves pressure on your neck and shoulders. It should be soft and comfortable so that it offers support no matter what position you sleep in.
This is where the Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather White Pillow comes in.
It is a comparatively cheaper model on the market, yet it delivers similar results in results in terms of performance. They’ve filled it with 85% goose feather and 15% goose down, making it soft yet somewhat firm.
It has a medium loft that keeps your head up and spine aligned. Although, even if you are a side or stomach sleeper, you will find it very useful.
4. Best Anti Allergic – Continental Bedding White Goose Down Luxury Pillow
If there is something everybody loves, it's having a variety. In Continental Bedding 100% Premium White Goose Down Luxury Pillow, you get lots of variety to choose from. Whether you want a single or a set of two, they deliver it. You can also choose between three sizes, and in each size, they offer both soft and firm firmness levels.
Pros
- Filled with 100% white goose down
- All cotton cover adds breathability
- Offers comfort without overheating with 550 fill power
- It is a Responsible Down Standard-certified pillow
- The durable pillow is machine-washable
Cons
- Some units carry a faint musky odor
- May go flat quickly if not maintained regularly
Our Review
The Continental Bedding 100% Premium White Goose Down Luxury Pillow offers maximum softness, lightness, and moldability. You can choose between a soft and firm fill to find the right level of support for your neck. With 100% white goose down fill, it compresses to cradle your head and relieves pressure off the neck.
They’ve made it to be extremely breathable. The down is encased in a 100% pure Egyptian cotton shell with a 300 thread count.
Yes, it is somewhat expensive, but the pure goose down fill inside it justifies the price. It does not contain a mix of down and feathers or duck down. Instead, it is truly one of the best down pillows on our list with a true down filling. The best part? It is Reasonable Down Standard-certified.
5. Best Comfort – Egyptian Bedding Goose Down Pillow
When you compare this pillow with others on the list, it may seem a bit expensive. But given that it is the most comfortable of them all, you will agree that the price is justified. It features a medium-firm loft that is suitable for all sleeping positions.
Pros
- Features 90% goose down filling
- Down is encased inside a luxury cotton shell
- The cotton cover features a 1200 thread count
- Malleable and easy to shape
- Reduces the development of pressure points
Cons
- Firmer than other pillows on this list
- Available in fewer size options
Our Review
This comfortable pillow from Egyptian Bedding features a unique combination of 90% down and 10% feathers that make it soft yet quite firm.
You can easily shape it into a comfortable form for a peaceful sleep. Although the pillow is suitable for all sleeping positions, it is especially comfortable for side and stomach sleepers. It also helps ease hip and back pain.
The pillow is designed to be durable. It features a luxury Egyptian cotton cover with a 1200 thread count. It holds well against rough usage with double-stitched seams for added durability.
The 750 fill power provides excellent support while keeping it soft enough for stomach and back sleepers. As for side sleepers, they can easily fold or shape it for their comfort.
6. Best Goose Down Pillow – Lincove 100% Goose Down Luxury Sleeping Pillow
We really like this pillow for its 100% pure down filling. It does not contain any additives like small feathers or duck down within its fill. Instead, it’s all goose down, making it extremely durable and comfortable.
Pros
- The luxury pillow is plush and supportive
- Soothes and supports the head, neck, or back
- Made from high-quality goose down feathers
- The fine cotton threads keep your body perfectly soothed
- It comes in a beautiful packaging bag
Cons
- Not available in all size options
- Heavy sleepers may find it too soft
Our Review
Whether you are looking to buy a down pillow for yourself, or are looking for one to gift someone special, the Lincove 100% Goose Down Luxury Sleeping Pillow is an option to check out.
It comes in beautiful packaging that’s suitable for gifting purposes. It offers a wide variety of selections between sizes and firmness levels. You can choose one that best meets your needs.
It is filled with 100% natural goose down, which makes it fluffy yet very supportive. The pillowcase material is also of high quality. The 100% sateen cotton material has a 600 thread count that makes it very breathable.
Lincove is so confident of its quality that it backs it up with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not happy with your purchase, you can have it refunded without any difficulty.
The Benefits of Down Over Other Fills
Other benefits aside, down pillows are and always have been a symbol of pure luxury. They are super comfortable, ultra fluffy, and very light. Every person’s dreams of living extravagantly include down pillows in their luxurious bedroom.
Even at the priciest price, luxury lovers don’t waste any time in getting numerous down pillows to cover half their beds. Simply put, they have no rivals when it comes to luxury, but do you know that they also have numerous health-related benefits? Have a look.
Anti-Allergenic
Unlike other traditional fills, down is naturally anti-allergenic. Being a natural product, it does not attract microbes or fungi. This feature alone makes down a preferred choice as people who suffer from allergies or respiratory issues like asthma can use down pillows without any worry of falling ill.
Moldable
Thanks to their quill-less structure, down feathers are very malleable. When filled, inside pillows are small clusters, so they tend to retain their structure. This ability directly transfers to the pillow itself, enabling it to hold its shape well. With their malleability, down pillows are suitable for all sleeping positions.
Light and cuddly
Since down can retain its fluffiness five times more than cotton, these pillows are very light and cuddly. All you need to do is keep fluffing them so they don’t fall flat. The space between the feathers allows air to be trapped inside, making tiny air pockets that enable it to maintain its loft while staying lightweight.
Better Temperature Control
Down pillows have superb insulation properties. They neither get very warm nor very cold. Just like they protect birds from extreme weather conditions, they insulate the pillow from your body heat, making you feel very comfortable.
Similarly, they don’t turn cold during winters, so you don’t have to lie on a cold pillow as well.
Sustainability
Down is a completely natural and biodegradable source. It can be recycled and renewed, making it an ideal choice for pillow fill.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Down Pillow
When you are buying something to improve your lifestyle, you just don’t pick up any random products. It stands true, especially when you are purchasing something as luxurious as a down pillow.
You have to consider a few factors before choosing a unit that fulfills your needs. Below we have listed some of the features that tell you how to choose a down pillow.
Goose vs. Duck Down vs. Down Alternative
Goose are mostly bigger than ducks, so their down clusters are also bigger. They tend to trap more air within their filaments, making them fluffier and insulated. Duck down has smaller clusters, yet it is equally warm and soft. However, it might need more scrunching to retain its shape.
On the other hand, down-alternative fill is synthetic and man-made produced from polyester microfiber. While it is cheaper than natural down, it does not last as long.
Goose down pillows
Goose down is often considered inherently better than duck down, but the fact remains that both have equally efficient insulation abilities. However, the ages and oil and fat content of the birds do matter. With its bigger clusters, Goose down is fluffier and more cuddly, but cleaning it is an issue.
You cannot clean it with regular machine washing. It will smash the fluffy texture of the fabric, making it brittle and flat.
Thread count
The thread count of the pillow shell is an important consideration in down pillows. A higher thread count doesn’t mean the pillow is better. Instead, it significantly changes the way that the pillow responds to compression. Think of a balloon. When filled with more air, it has less compressibility and is more resilient.
Similarly, when down is encased in a high thread count fabric, it acts more like a balloon and does not give much room for compression. A down pillow needs to have a certain unique personality that allows for compression so that the material inside can move around to actually cradle your head.
It is better to go for a thread count of 300 or more to buy the best pillow with a high-quality shell.
Fill Power
Fill power in down pillows is the measurement of the volume in cubic inches that one ounce of down will fill. Pillows with higher fill power are softer, lighter, loftier, and are generally of better quality. The more the fill, the firmer the pillow.
Down pillows with fill powers of 700 and higher are of the best quality because they retain their shape the longest. Meanwhile, for medium pillows, 550 fill power is the most common.
Maintenance
Being a luxury item, down pillows require proper care and maintenance. You have to fluff them after every use, so they don’t lose their fluffiness. Although down itself is anti-allergenic, the shell may need cleaning every now and then. So, it’s better to look for a pillow that is easy to clean. Even down needs washing every now and then for hygienic purposes. It’s best to look for a pillow you can wash and dry in the machine.
Durability
Since you are shelling out a good amount of money for a pillow, you have to know how long it will last. It’s no use spending so much money on a product that won’t last long. Look for a pillow that is long-lasting and can handle rough usage every now and then. Since every manufacturer claims that theirs is durable and sturdy, you have to be absolutely sure before giving away your money.
Budget
Down pillows are a luxurious purchase. Not everyone can afford the highest quality model available on the market. That’s why you have to set an appropriate budget for yourself.
Having a price range in your mind will help you look from a specific range by saving your time.
Also, when you decide to stick with your budget, you are not carried away by instincts. Keep the amount you want to spend in mind, and it will stop you from making an instinctive purchase.
Final Verdict
Out of all these viable options, the Royal Bedding Luxury Down Pillow is the best down pillow. It features hand-plucked and purified down, which makes it very comfortable.
Lincove 100% Goose Down Luxury Sleeping Pillow is also good for its fluffiness and support.
Meanwhile, the Puredown Natural Goose Down Feather White Pillow is the most affordable down pillow for people on tight budgets.
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