8 Best Organic Pillows, According to Sustainability and Bedding Experts

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab evaluates all types of bedding, including pillows. Pillows are first tested in the Lab for ease of use, durability and performance. We begin the process by checking care labels to gauge how easy each pillow is to clean, and then we wash them five times to observe how well they hold up to repeated laundering. We perform support tests by placing weights on each pillow to mimic real use before measuring how quickly they recover their shape once the weights are removed. We also check how well each pillow fits into a pillowcase to assess sizing and note any additional features.

In addition to our Lab testing, we work with consumer testers who are matched with a pillow based on personal preferences and sleeping style to ensure each pillow gets a fair test. Testers then try out each pillow for weeks before providing scored responses and in-depth feedback on comfort, support, temperature regulation and more.

Lastly, we validate organic claims to ensure that the product actually uses organic materials and isn't mislabeling or overpromising.

To find the best pillows, we have tested over 100 different pillows in the Lab with more than 500 unique consumer testers thus far. These choices were made by analyzing over 4,000 data points to determine the best organic pillows.

Looking for the perfect pillow can be daunting, especially given all the different types available nowadays, but a great organic pillow might seem even harder to find. Here are some useful things to keep in mind when shopping:

✔️ Cover: Most organic covers will be made of cotton but some can be made using wool or other fabrics. Covers made of polyester or viscose, including those made from "bamboo," “rayon from bamboo” or "eucalyptus lyocell,” cannot be organic. For an organic pillow, make sure to look out for a GOTS certification to ensure your cover is fully organic according to strict regulations.

✔️ Fill: The most common pillow fills — down, down-alternative and memory foam — cannot be organic based on the USDA's guidelines, so if you're set on these types of pillows, look for one with an organic cover. If you prefer organic fill, GOLS-certified shredded or solid natural latex is the most popular and is often blended with silky kapok fiber for a more plush feel. Additional fills include wool and buckwheat hulls, which are both unique, breathable choices but do not historically perform well in our Lab testing.

✔️ Sleep position: When choosing the best pillow to buy, think about what type of sleeper you are. A good pillow will help align your spine and reduce neck pain during a long night, so it's important to find one that works with your sleeping position. Side sleepers typically need a thick, firm pillow while stomach sleepers are better off with a thin, soft pillow. Back sleepers should opt for something in the middle, and those who toss and turn should look for a pillow with movable or adjustable fill.

✔️ Firmness: Pillow firmness often varies based on the material of the fill. Down and down-alternative pillows are the plushest, followed by memory foam, which is known for contouring to the body; kapok, which is often combined with shredded latex or foam for a soft, cushiony feel; and wool. Latex is a bit firmer, having more resilience and a bouncy feel, followed by buckwheat hulls, the firmest organic fill. If you're not sure what level of firmness is best for you, consider opting for an adjustable pillow.

✔️ Temperature regulation: Not all pillows regulate your temperature the same way. While down and foam pillows have a tendency to easily trap air and body heat, latex, kapok, buckwheat and wool don't share this quality, making them preferable for hot sleepers.

✔️ Certifications: Look for GOTS certification for organic textiles and GOLS for organic latex. More information about certifications for pillows can be found below.

✔️ Care label: Whether you can wash your pillows in a machine depends on the fill. Most down and down-alternative pillows are machine washable, with some having specific requirements for the type of washer. Memory foam, latex and buckwheat pillows are typically spot clean only. Check to see if these pillows have a removable cover that can be washed.

✔️ Price: Down and latex pillows are the most expensive types of pillows but are often top performers in our tests.

✔️ Cotton: Cotton is used as the fabric for many pillow covers. When searching for an organic pillow that uses cotton, make sure that both the cover and the fill are organic. Not all cotton is organic, so look out for Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifications to find cotton grown and processed following organic regulations. Removable cotton covers will typically be machine washable.

✔️ Down: Down is made of the soft, fine clusters found under tougher protective feathers of birds like ducks or geese. This means down feels extremely soft and fluffy because of its airy fibers, providing excellent insulation, but can also be expensive. Down and feathers are often blended together in pillows for a plush feel at a discounted price compared to fully down pillows. Down pillows are also machine washable, but some may require washing in a front-loading washing machine. While down material cannot be certified organic, down pillows can have organic covers. Plus, you can choose ethically harvested options by checking for the Responsible Down Standard certification, which ensures the safety of ducks and geese in down production.

✔️ Latex: Natural latex is made from rubber tree sap and has a firm, bouncy feel. It's available as either shredded or solid foam. Shredded foam pieces feel plusher and can often be added or removed to adjust the height of the pillow while solid foams tend to feel firmer. Latex is also preferable for hot sleepers because it doesn't trap much air or body heat. Organic latex is regulated by the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and is often on the expensive side.

✔️ Kapok: Originally from the kapok tree, the kapok used in pillows is a silky, cotton-like fiber known for being soft and luxurious. Kapok fill is often blended with shredded latex for a plush feel and is a great option for someone looking for a plant-based down-alternative pillow. Check for GOTS certifications to make sure the kapok used was grown and processed according to regulations.

✔️ Wool: Wool is derived from the coats of sheep, goats and other animals and used as a cover or fill for pillows. Wool doesn't cradle your neck like memory foam, down or down-alternative pillows, and it isn't as supportive as latex, but provides breathability and softness. While our testers have generally not preferred wool pillows because of their unique feel and distinct scent, some hot sleepers appreciated the material's temperature-regulating properties.

✔️ Buckwheat: These pillows are filled with dried buckwheat hulls to create a firm, adjustable pillow reminiscent of a bean bag. They offer great support and have superior breathability, but they can be noisy and heavy. Some testers have found that these pillows can irritate their skin and dislike how firm they can feel compared to other pillows.

To feel confident in your pillow purchase, there are a few organic certifications that help ensure that the materials are truly organic.

✔️ Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS): This third-party certification verifies that the whole product meets strict organic, sustainability, ecological and social criteria throughout the whole process of creating the product. The product must contain at least 70% organic fiber.

✔️ Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS): If latex claims to be organic, look for a GOLS certification, which ensures that the product contains at least 95% organically grown natural rubber latex.

You may notice other certifications on the product, but they may not have to do with whether the materials are organic. Certain materials like down and foam cannot be certified organic. The following additional certifications are common with bedding products:

✔️OEKO-TEX ensures that the product contains no harmful levels of certain chemicals.

✔️GreenGuard certifications mean that the product has low chemical emissions to improve air quality.

✔️ Responsible Down Standard can only be given to products where 100% of the down and feathers used are certified to be from responsible farms that respect animal welfare. Another similar standard is called International Down Standard.

✔️CertiPUR-US refers to f0am that was made without certain toxic materials like flame retardants and heavy metals.

We extensively evaluate data from both Lab and consumer testing before making our pillow recommendations. During our review process, we consider a range of body types, material preferences, sleep positions and any potential issues, like overheating at night or experiencing neck pain. We also take a holistic approach and look beyond immediate comfort and support. We consider the shopping experience and durability, plus we review the brand’s marketing to check for misleading claims. When it comes to organic pillows, we validate any organic certifications.

Emma Seymour is a senior textiles analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has rigorously tested more than 100 pillows in the Textiles Lab in the past two years and has coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers. Emma has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for more than four years at Good Housekeeping.

Grace Wu joined the GH Institute this past year as a textiles analyst. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.