You’re Probably a Combination Sleeper—These Are the Pillows You Need, According to Experts

Essential to your physical and mental health, a good night’s sleep will help you function and think clearly throughout the day. And finding the right pillow if you’re a combination sleeper (we’ll explain this in a second) is a crucial component on the journey to getting restorative rest—especially if you sleep in more than one position in a night, otherwise known as a combination sleeper. Yup, there’s a word for that! And if that’s your sleeping style, you’re better off finding a pillow that’ll specifically serve your needs.

Best pillows for combination sleepers at a glance

• Best antimicrobial: Brooklinen Down Pillow, $93
• Best two-in-one: Original Casper Pillow, $65
• Best shape options: PlushComfort™ Pillow Classic, $50
• Best eco-friendly: Avocado Green Pillow, $80
• Best customizable: Pluto Pillow, $110
• Best adjustable: Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow, $72
• Best cooling: The Purple Pillow, $107
• Best shredded memory foam: Snuggle-Pedic Deluxe Adjustable Pillow, $60
• Best down: L LOVSOUL Goose Feather Bed Pillow, $40
• Best hybrid: Silk & Snow Pillow, $68

Dr. Joel Press, physiatrist-in-chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery says the majority of people are combination sleepers, who move around throughout the night. “I don’t think most people lay down in one spot and don’t move all night long,” he tells us.

While Press says the optimal pillow is based on your preferences, Keith Cushner, founder of Tuck.com said there are plenty of pillows on the market well suited for combination sleepers. Below are 10 pillows, with different fillers, that are guaranteed to help you get quality sleep as you transition from your side, back, and stomach.

The best pillows for combination sleepers

Best antimicrobial: Brooklinen Down Pillow — $93.00

The Brooklinen Down Pillow offers different firmness options with varying ratios of down clusters to feathers. Cushner said the down pillows are well made and well priced, and recommended the fluffy, warm pillow for combination sleepers who prefer sleeping on softer material. Choose between the Standard or King size, and Plush (filled with Down clusters—the softest of the bunch and great for stomach sleepers), Mid-Plush (which provides a dual-core structure that people who need versatility prefer), and Firm (this has a higher ratio of feathers to clusters, providing the most support).

Other features include Down clusters and feathers filling with a luxurious Cotton Sateen Shell, and it’s also been treated with antimicrobials, so if you sweat a lot at night, you’ll appreciate this feature (it keeps your pillow fresher for longer).

Pros

• Filled with down clusters
• Supportive core
• Available in three levels of firmness

Cons

• Expensive
• Some reviewers say it’s flat

Best two-in-one: Original Casper Pillow — $65.00

While down filling is derived from birds, the Original Casper Pillow uses down alternative, a synthetic polyester material. Intended to mimic the softness of Down, the alternative Down is a great option for combination sleepers with allergies. Cusher said it’s easier to wash compared to other pillows on the market, too (it’s machine-washable—score!). Choose between Standard and King size, and enjoy that the material is ultra breathable, clump-resistant, and the design that responds to your movements at night.

Pros

• Down alternative
• Two-in-one pillow is soft and supportive
• Machine-washable
• Breathable cover

Cons

• On the softer side
• Some reviewers say it has a high loft

Best shape options: PlushComfort™ Pillow Classic — $50.00

Another pillow that contains down alternative, the PlushComfort Pillow comes in different shapes and sizes: Classic (great for head and neck support and those who sleep on their stomachs and backs), Curved (this one contours to your body and gives the most full-body support—it’s best of side or back sleepers), and Ultimate (ideal for all sleeping positions—we’d recommend this option for combo sleepers). The Ultimate pillow allows you to remove and add one to three inserts, depending on your preference for pillow height and firmness. All pillow styles are also supremely soft and hypoallergenic (a big plus for those with allergies to Down).

Pros

• Down alternative
• Comes in three different shapes
• Hypoallergenic

Cons

• On the thicker side
• Reviewers say it’s very firm

Best eco-friendly: Avocado Green Pillow — $80.00

Avocado, loved for its organic mattresses and sheets, also offer pillows customers love. Mixed with latex, rubber foam ribbons, and kapok tree fiber, this handmade, vegan pillow has adjustable features (adjustable fill, to be precise), ideal for a combination sleeper who is particular about having a precise amount filling in their pillow. It’s also known for providing extra support for the neck and head. The material is GOTS organic certified, as well as Greenguard Gold certified.  Bonus: The liner is machine-washable!

Pros

• Non-toxic and organic materials
• Includes an extra fill bag
• Breathable cover

Cons

• Expensive
• Some reviewers say it gets lumpy

Best customizable: Pluto Pillow — $110.00

Pluto Pillow creates customized pillows based on your height, weight, and sleep position. After entering in your information, the company uses the data to curate a pillow unique to your needs. While the pillow has a foam core, the height and density are based on your answers. No matter how you sleep, Pluto will engineer the ideal pillow for you that responds to your body’s needs—just fill out a quick two-minute quiz and receive your pillow in about seven business days. For a more in-depth review, the Well+Good team reviewed the Pluto pillow in detail. (Spoiler alert: We’re big fans.)

Pros

• Custom-built for you
• Foam core with outer plush pillow
• Temperature-regulating

Cons

• Expensive
• Some reviewers say it gets lumpy

Best adjustable: Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow — $72.00

The Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow is filled with memory foam with the option to adjust the filling—it’s considered one of the best adjustable pillows on the market. Cushner recommends this pillow for combination sleepers because of its flexibility. “You can make a lower launch pillow or a higher launch pillow depending on what you like,” Cushner says.

Plus, Coop Home Goods pillows go through rigorous third-party lab testing to make sure they’re best-in-class quality and are CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certified for the safest material (no questionable chemicals in sight, and it’s vegan and cruelty-free).

Pros

• Add or remove memory foam/microfiber fill to your preference
• Includes an extra half bag of fill
• Breathable cover

Cons

• Some reviewers say fill doesn’t stay in place/pillow doesn’t hold its shape

Best cooling: The Purple Pillow — $107.00

Encased in a purple grid made of hyper-elastic polymer, Cushner said The Purple Pillow is the most unique pillow on the list in terms of feel.  Features include: Breathability to ensure hot sleepers keep cool and comfortable at night, a durable design so it doesn’t lose shape over time, a moisture-wicking cover, and it’s hypoallergenic. The company now offers boosters to adjust the height of the pillow depending on your preference.

Pros

• GelFlex grid is supportive and allows airflow
• Includes boosters to customize support
• Breathable cover

Cons

• May take some time getting used to the material
• Heavy

Best shredded memory foam: Snuggle-Pedic Deluxe Adjustable Pillow — $60.00

Filled with shredded memory foam, the Snuggle-Pedic Delux Adjustable Pillow can be adjusted by adding or removing foam from the pillow. The shredded foam also allows for airflow to seep through the material’s pores. It also includes a Kool-Flow Premium Cover made of microvented bamboo fabric which makes for a breathable experience at night. It’s also CertiPUR-certified and GreenGuard Gold-certified, so rest assured, this pillow doesn’t contain any shady materials.

Pros

• Can add and remove shredded memory foam
• Includes an extra fill-bag
• Breathable cover
• Machine-washable

Cons

• Some reviewers say the fill clumps and shifts around
• Some reviewers say it has a strong smell when first opened

Best down: L LOVSOUL Goose Feather Bed Pillow — $40.00

The L LOVSOUL Goose Feather Bed Pillow is a Down pillow, making it extremely soft when you lay your head down to rest. “Down pillows do flatten a little bit throughout the night, and some people really like it,” Cushner said. He added if you’re a combination sleeper, and prefer a pillow on the soft side, this is for you.

Pros

• Down
• Soft and malleable
• Affordable
• Breathable cover

Cons

• Only available in Queen size
• Not good for anyone who likes firm pillows

Best hybrid: Silk & Snow Pillow — $68.00

The Silk & Snow Pillow is filled with shredded memory foam, with an outer layer of down-like microfiber fill. Cushner recommends this hybrid design for combination sleepers who prefer different materials in their pillow. It’s also machine-washable.

Pros

• Hybrid design: memory foam and microfiber fill
• Adjustable core
• Machine-washable outer shell

Cons

• Some reviewers say it’s too firm