Best King-Size Pillows

Written by Olivera Jancikin, Content Writer

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In the quest for a bigger, more spacious pillow? Our experts have your back! Dive into our reviews of the best king-size pillows, and discover the perfect pillow that caters to all your needs.

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Is your current pillow too small? Would you like more space to roll around without having to always move your pillow? If so, King-size pillows, measuring approximately 36 by 20 inches. could be the answer.

In this article, we’ll go through some of the best King-size pillows and their pros and cons. We’ll also discuss important factors you should consider when choosing one, which should help you make your final decision.

Best King Size Pillows

• Luxome LAYR Pillow – Editor’s Pick 
• Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow – Best Firm King-Size Pillow
• Nolah Talalay Latex Pillow – Best King-Size Pillow for Side Sleepers  
• Saatva Graphite Pillow – Best Cooling King-Size Pillow 
• Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud® Breeze Dual Cooling™ Pillow – Best King-Size Pillow for Back Pain 
• Coop Sleep Goods Eden Pillow – Best Eco-Friendly King-Size Pillow 
• Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Memory Foam Pillow – Best King-Size Memory Foam Pillow 
• Cozy Earth Silk Pillow – Best Luxury King-Size Pillow 
• Saatva Latex Pillow – Best Latex King-Size Pillow 
• Layla Kapok Pillow – Best Hypoallergenic King-Size Pillow 

Who Should Consider Buying a King-Size Pillow?

King-size pillows are among the biggest ones, so they’re usually best for large beds such as King, Queen, California King, and others. Sleepers who like having plenty of room to spread should consider a King-size pillow. Since it’s big, you’ll no longer have to pull the pillow with you when you move around the bed. Couples and co-sleepers may also want to consider a King-size pillow, as it provides enough room for more than one person.

How to Choose a King-Size Pillow

Materials

King-size pillows can be made from a variety of materials, the same as any other pillow size. Which one you’ll choose depends on your personal needs and preferences regarding firmness, feel, breathability, and more. 

Down is very soft and fluffy but might trigger allergies, in which case you might opt for down alternative. Many eco-friendly bedding brands will incorporate natural and organic latex into their pillows.

Latex pillows are suitable for hot sleepers as they’re unlikely to overheat, and it’s a durable material. Memory foam pillows are excellent for side and back sleepers as they provide plenty of support and pressure relief needed in these sleeping positions. Memory foam can be shredded or added as a single block, depending on the design.

Support

Support is crucial regardless of your preferred sleeping position. This is why your pillow should have the right loft size to match how you usually sleep. Without sufficient loft, it’s unlikely you can get the right support level to keep you in a healthy sleep posture.

Support depends on a few factors, the first being the loft and how it matches your sleeping position and body frame. Next is the firmness since pillows that are too soft may not provide sufficient support needed to keep the neck and head supported.

Sleep Position

King-size pillows can be good for all sleeping positions, depending on the loft and firmness you choose. If you’re a side sleeper, it’s best to go for a taller loft and a medium firmness, as this combination should provide enough support to keep your neck and head aligned. Back sleepers usually benefit from a medium loft size to keep the neck aligned with the rest of the spine. On the other hand, those who sleep on their stomach benefit from the lowest loft, and softest feel that allows enough sinkage so that the head isn’t too propped up.

Find pillows for more sleeping positions:

• Best Pillows for Back Sleepers
• Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers
• Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Firmness

Firmness is subjective, and what one person may find comfortable, someone else may find too soft or firm. For this reason, it’s best to first consider your sleeping habits, such as the position you spend most time in. Whether you go for a soft or firm pillow is up to you and what you find most comfortable. One thing to keep in mind is that the softest pillows offer the least support, so if this is important to you, you may want to stick to firmer models.

Feel

Do you like a bouncy latex feel, or you’re more of a slowly-responding memory foam person? How a pillow feels depends on a few factors, such as its firmness, materials, and features.

Would you like a cooling feel? If so, look for materials that are breathable and cooling. If you prefer a more cozy feel, look for a fluffy pillow with down or synthetic fibers that give it a soft and squishy feel.

Breathability

Hot sleepers usually have to flip their pillow to get to the cold side. However, this shouldn’t be an issue with some of the pillows on our list. Cooling pillows have unique features that provide airflow, breathability, and temperature regulation, making them more suitable for hot sleepers. These features usually include gel and/or copper infusions (if it’s a memory foam pillow), cooling covers, naturally breathable materials (cotton, latex), and proprietary materials.

Loft

King-size pillows are larger, but they don’t necessarily have a taller loft compared to the same pillow in Queen size. Some companies offer multiple loft sizes, allowing you to choose based on your body frame and preferred sleeping position.

Side sleepers typically need the tallest loft, whereas back sleepers benefit from a medium loft. Stomach sleepers need the lowest option to keep the neck aligned with the back. Some pillows have adjustable lofts, allowing you to remove some of the fill to customize the height.

Comfort

Comfort is another subjective consideration that’s not the same for every sleeper. In other words, one person’s comfortable pillow may not be the best choice for another person. This usually depends on the sleeping position one prefers to sleep in and how the pillow’s firmness matches it.

For example, side sleepers usually prefer medium firmness and a tall loft, but combination sleepers who sleep on the side and back will likely need a medium loft. For this reason, think about your needs and preferences, and don’t be afraid to use some of these brands’ trial offers to test a few pillows.

Budget

Budget is a big factor for a lot of people, and King-size pillows tend to be among the most expensive ones. The price increase is often due to size, given these pillows are the largest any brand offers. However, there’s more to it than just size. Many factors affect the price, such as materials, ease of maintenance, durability, and other features. Adjustable pillows are typically more expensive than those that can’t be customized. In addition, cooling models are also pricier.

Find the best cheap pillows here.

Off-Gassing

Off-gassing is common for memory foam pillows, but we’ve also noticed it in pillows with synthetic fill. Although the odors aren’t harmful, they can be unpleasant for most people, especially those who are sensitive. In most cases, off-gassing odors dissipate within a day or two, so even if you notice a weird smell upon removing the pillow from the packaging, it shouldn’t be something to worry about.

Cleaning and Care

Ease of cleaning is crucial for many people, but mostly those who sweat a lot when sleeping. However, it’s important to remember that not every pillow can be washed. Some are machine washable, while others are only suitable for spot-cleaning. For the most part, this depends on the fill because some materials, like memory foam and down, take too long to dry. Nonetheless, many brands include at least a machine-washable cover.

Learn More: How to Clean a Pillow

Mattress Sizes

The size of your mattress can help you determine how to incorporate a King-size pillow into your sleep space. For example, if you have a King-size bed, then you’ll probably want two King-size pillows for it. However, those who have a smaller bed, such as a Full, could use a single King-size pillow since two wouldn’t fit on this size. 

For those sleeping on a Queen bed, two King-size pillows will actually be too big for your bed. In this case, we recommend going with either one King pillow or just two Queen-size pillows. 

Couples 

Do you sleep with a partner? If so, this will impact your pillow shopping decision. 

If you and your partner share a King bed, you might enjoy two King pillows that can comfortably fit on this and give you your own pillow to use as you like. However, couples shouldn’t get two King pillows if they sleep on anything smaller than this. 

Some couples who like to cuddle up together at night might be able to save money on just getting one King-size pillow rather than two. That said, a single pillow might look funny on a Queen bed but could work a bit better on a Full-size one.

Types of King-Size Pillows

There are different types of King-size pillows, depending on your needs and preferences. They all have different things that make them stand out, whether it’s a washable cover, adjustable loft, or another similar feature. There is no right or wrong type to choose since the best King-size pillow is usually the one that works best for you.

• Adjustable Pillows – Adjustable pillows have a fill you can remove to customize the loft height and the overall feel. In most cases, these are filled with shredded memory foam or latex, although even some down and synthetic pillows can be adjusted. These are usually best for combination sleepers.
• Memory Foam Pillows – Memory foam is a common material found in pillows as a single block or shredded. Shredded memory foam is usually softer and more breathable, sometimes even adjustable, whereas a block of memory foam has a more uniform feel and a slower response.
• Down Pillows – Down pillows are fluffy and have a lower loft, which is why they’re usually recommended for stomach sleepers. These compress under your weight and are perfect for those who want a lightweight and moldable pillow.
• Down Alternative – These remind of down pillows by feel, but they’re stuffed with synthetic fibers that are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. As such, they’re more suitable for people with allergies. In addition, they’re often also adjustable and washable because synthetic fibers don’t take as long to dry.
• Latex Pillows – Latex is bouncy and naturally breathable, so it’s a good option for combination sleepers and those who sleep hot. Much like memory foam, it can be found as a single block of material or shredded. Pillows with shredded latex are more cooling and often also adjustable.
• Hypoallergenic – Hypoallergenic pillows are best for people with allergies and anyone sensitive to bacteria, dust mites, and mold. These usually include hypoallergenic materials in the cover and fill, or at least one of the two.