Good sleep is essential for good health, and the right pillow can significantly affect your sleep quality.
Combination sleepers, who shift positions throughout the night, may face the challenge of finding a pillow that provides the right support and comfort for their dynamic sleeping patterns.
This article aims to address this challenge by providing reviews of our five best pillows for combination sleepers in 2024. Also, we covered what to look for in a pillow, the most common types of pillow fillings, and tips to improve your sleep.
Let’s dive in!
Best pillow for combination sleepers: shortlist
- Amerisleep — overall best pillow for combination sleepers
- Derila — best eco-friendly pillow for combination sleepers
- PlushBeds — best latex pillow for combination sleepers
- Puffy — best affordable pillow for combination sleepers
- Nectar — best adjustable pillow for combination sleepers
Comparison of the best pillows for combo sleepers
Here is a quick comparison of the five best pillows for combination sleepers:
| Brand | Price | Materials | Size | Dimensions | Certifications |
| Amerisleep | $130.00* | Memory foam | Queen, king | 27” x 16”, 34” x 16” | CertiPUR-US® |
| Derila | $133.17 | Memory foam | Not specified | 12” x 20”, 14” x 24” | Not specified |
| PlushBeds | $112.00* | Latex, organic cotton cover | Standard, queen, king | 25 x 16 x 4.5", 28 x 16 x 4.5", 32 x 16 x 4.5" | GOLS, GOTS |
| Puffy | $102.00 | Memory foam, bamboo rayon cover | Standard, king | 26" x 18", 34" x 18" | CertiPUR-US® |
| Nectar | $130.00* | Memory foam, microfiber down alternative | Standard, king | 20” x 28” x 6”, 20” x 36” x 6” | Not specified |
Top combination sleeper pillows: an overview
Combination sleepers, who shift between various sleeping positions, require a pillow that accommodates their versatile needs. The right pillow can provide support and comfort whether you are sleeping on your back, side, or stomach.
In this section, we will go into the details of the top pillows for combo sleepers, exploring their material, filling, design, and price, together with the pros and cons of each pillow.
1. Amerisleep — overall best combination sleeper pillow
The Amerisleep Dual Comfort Pillow is made in the USA and is designed to offer optimal support for side, back, and combo sleepers. The pillow features a soft and firm side design that caters to various sleep needs.
Each side of the pillow uses Amerisleep’s Bio-Pur® material, an eco-friendly, plant-based memory foam that offers cooling comfort and support due to its advanced open-cell design that allows for better air circulation.
The foam used is CertiPUR-US® certified, which ensures that the foam is made without harmful substances such as formaldehyde, ozone depleters, and heavy metals and has low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for improved indoor air quality.
The pillow is available in two lofts, low and mid, and the provider recommends the mid-loft for combination sleepers. It comes with a removable cover.
The price of the queen-size pillow is $130, and it comes with a 10-year warranty.
2. Derila — best pillow for combo sleepers that is eco-friendly
The Derila Pillow is made to provide comfort and support for all sleeping positions. It features memory foam with a special design with a middle contour for neck support and shoulder support on the sides of the middle contour.
The customizable pillow allows you to adjust its height and firmness to match your sleeping preferences. The provider states that it is eco-friendly and easy to maintain, indicating that it contributes to environmental sustainability and offers convenience for users.
Priced at $133.17, the Derila Pillow comes with a two-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. PlushBeds — best latex pillow for combination sleepers
The Plush Beds Organic Latex Pillow is handcrafted in California and designed to provide all users comfort and support, including combination sleepers.
It features GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified organic latex, which guarantees that the product contains at least 70 percent organic latex and meets stringent criteria for quality and safety. In addition, it is covered in a breathable GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton cover, ensuring that the product is ethically produced and is high in quality.
The latex pillow is available in standard, queen, and king sizes, catering to various preferences.
The provider recommends frequently laundering the pillowcase to prevent oils from reaching the pillow and spot-cleaning the pillow to maintain its quality and durability.
The standard-size pillow is priced at $112 and comes with a three-year warranty.
4. Puffy — best affordable pillow for multi-position sleepers
The Puffy Signature Pillow is made in the USA and is suitable for combination sleepers. It allows you to adjust the pillow to your liking by adding or removing memory foam filling.
The pillow features CertiPUR-US® certified memory foam filling, and it comes with a bamboo rayon fabric cover, known for its softness and durability, providing a comfortable sleeping experience. It is available in standard and king sizes.
Priced at $102, the Puppy Signature Pillow comes with a life warranty and a 101-free night trial.
5. Nectar — best pillow for multi-position sleeper with an adjustable design
The Nectar Tri Comfort Cooling Pillow features an innovative zipper design, making it a good option for all sleepers.
The pillow features the ComforZip™ technology, which offers three different levels of support: soft, medium, and firm. The adjustment mechanism involves gusset zippers on both sides of the pillow. When both sides are zipped, the pillow provides firm support. Unzipping one side results in medium support, and unzipping both sides gives soft support. This adaptability ensures the pillow can cater to all types of sleepers.
A combination of memory foam pieces and microfiber down-alternative constitute the pillow fill. This potentially provides pressure-relieving support. The pillow comes in standard and king sizes, catering to different sleep needs.
The provider recommends spot-cleaning the pillow with mild soap and water and letting it air dry.
The standard pillow size price is $130, and the pillow comes with a five-year warranty and a 50-night home trial.
Criteria we followed for choosing the best pillow for combination sleepers
| Material and filling | Certification | Reviews | Price |
| High-quality, durable memory foam, latex and others | CertiPUR-US® and others | Positive user feedback | $102–133.17 |
- Material and filling. We prioritized pillows made from high-quality, durable materials that provide the right balance of softness and support. The filling, whether it is memory foam, down, or latex, plays an important role in determining the comfort and longevity of the pillow.
- Certification. Certifications like CertiPUR-US®, Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) provide assurance of the product’s quality and safety.
- Reviews. We carefully analyzed customer reviews and ratings to gauge user satisfaction. We considered factors like comfort and durability as reported by website users.
- Price. We considered the price of each pillow in relation to its features and benefits. We aimed to include options that offer good value for money, catering to various budgets without compromising quality or comfort.
What to look for in a pillow for combination sleepers
- Head and neck support. The pillow should be capable of maintaining the alignment of your head and neck, irrespective of the sleeping position. It should have a balance of firmness and flexibility to accommodate different sleeping positions.
- Adjustability. Look for pillows that allow you to modify their features, such as the amount of filling, which in turn changes the height or firmness. This adaptability is especially useful for combination sleepers who frequently change their sleeping positions.
- Material. The material used in the pillow can influence its comfort level and longevity. For instance, memory foam adjusts to the contours of your head and neck, providing personalized support. Other materials like latex or down alternatives have distinct comfort and support profiles.
- Maintenance. Check if the pillow cover can be removed and cleaned in a washing machine. This feature makes it easier to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the pillow.
- Reviews. When considering user reviews, look at overall satisfaction, comfort, and customer service, but keep in mind that these are subjective, and the authenticity of the reviews cannot be guaranteed.
What defines a combination sleeper?
A combination sleeper is someone who changes their sleeping position throughout the night. The most common sleep positions are side, back, and stomach. Among these, side sleeping is the most preferred by adults.
Determining if you are a combination sleeper can be based on your sleeping habits. If you frequently wake up in a different position from the one you fell asleep in, you are likely a combination sleeper. For example, if you go to bed lying on your back but wake up on your side or stomach, you could be a combination sleeper.
Why does the right pillow matter?
A pillow can provide head and neck support to help people potentially maintain proper spinal alignment. A comfortable sleeping pillow has been shown in research studies to assist with relaxing the neck muscles and enabling sleep.
Different sleepers have unique needs when it comes to pillows. For instance, back sleepers need a pillow that supports the natural curvature of their spine, offering enough support to prevent their head from tilting too far back. Also, side sleepers require a pillow with a higher loft to fill the space between their shoulder and neck, ensuring their head and neck are aligned with their spine.
As a combination sleeper, getting a pillow suited for a particular sleep position may be challenging because you’re not sure of the positions you may be in throughout the night. This is why the right pillows for combination sleepers are pillows that offer comfort and support to all types of sleepers.
Most common pillow fillings
When choosing a pillow, the filling is a key factor that determines its comfort, support, and durability. The most common pillow fillings are memory foam, down & down alternatives, and latex. Each of these fillings has its unique characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks.
Let’s explore them in detail.
Memory foam
Memory foam pillows are renowned for their contouring properties. They mold to the shape of your head and neck, providing personalized support and promoting proper spinal alignment. This can be beneficial for potentially providing pressure point relief.
However, these pillows tend to trap heat, which can cause discomfort for hot sleepers. Some brands include materials with cooling properties to reduce this effect. For example, Amerisleep’s Bio-Pur® material features an open-cell technology that allows for better air circulation.
Additionally, they can emit a chemical-like smell when new, which some people might not like.
Down & Down-alternatives
Down pillows are typically filled with the fluffy under-feathers (known as “down”) from ducks or geese, offering softness and warmth. They are easily moldable, allowing you to alter their shape for personalized support. However, they can trigger allergies in sensitive individuals and require regular fluffing to maintain their shape.
Down-alternative pillows, filled with synthetic materials like polyester microfiber, mimic the feel of down but are hypoallergenic and less expensive. However, they may provide a different comfort level and tend to be less durable. An example of a pillow filled with down-alternatives is the Nectar Tri Comfort Cooling Pillow.
Latex
Latex pillows offer softness and support and are resistant to mold and dust mites. They provide a good amount of support for the head and neck, which may be beneficial for maintaining proper spinal alignment.
However, they can emit a rubbery smell when new and are less moldable than memory foam. They are heavier and more expensive than other pillows, but the good ones offer value for money. The Plush Beds Organic Latex Pillow is an example of a pillow with latex filling.
Other areas to improve as a multi-position sleeper
As a multi-position sleeper, these are other areas you can focus on to improve your sleep quality:
- Sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene practices target lifestyle and environmental factors. This includes maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding stimulants like caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime, and creating a restful environment that is dark, quiet, and cool.
- Choosing the right mattress. The mattress you sleep on can affect your sleep quality. A medium-firm mattress is usually suitable for comfort.
- Sleep accessories. Various sleep accessories may improve your sleep experience. Comfortable sleepwear and eye masks may help you relax before and during sleep. Sleep tracking devices can provide insights into your sleep patterns.
Pillow products to improve your sleeping experience
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FAQ
How do I choose a combination sleeper pillow?
Select a pillow with an adjustable loft for personalized height, medium firmness for versatile support in various sleeping positions, and materials like memory foam or latex for optimal comfort. Consider a breathable design and a washable cover for easy maintenance.
What firmness is best for combination sleepers?
A medium-firm pillow is considered the best for combination sleepers. Beds with a medium firmness can usually accommodate different sleep positions, including side, back, and stomach. The right mattress firmness for you as a combination sleeper depends on your weight and size.
Is memory foam good for combination sleepers?
Yes. Memory foam is a good choice for combination sleepers, providing conforming support, potential pressure relief, and durability. As combination sleepers tend to shift positions throughout the night, the adaptability of memory foam can provide consistent comfort and support. Test different options to find your preferred comfort level.
3 resources
- NIH. Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms.
- MDPI. Comfort and Support Values Provided by Different Pillow Materials for Individuals with Forward Head Posture.
- MDPI. Sleep Hygiene Practices: Where to Now?
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