travel pillow for your head

The Best Travel Pillows of 2024

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Materials Memory foam
Shape Neck pillow
Weight 13 oz.
Travel Bag Yes

Ergonomic design aligns the back of the pillow flush with seat
Best in class memory foam pillow is soft and supportive
Great lateral and chin support stabilizes the head in all directions
Some compression against the jugular when strapped down too tight
Foam closes around the neck entirely, which can trap heat and feel too warm for some

Memory foam is the ideal fluff for a supportive travel pillow. But even the best foam isn’t going to give you the support you need for long-haul comfort if it isn’t formed right. What elevates the Travelrest Nest ($40) above the rest isn’t in what they have added — it’s in what they took away.

Travelrest cut a wedge out from behind the neck of the Nest, allowing the pillow to lay flush against the seat. Slip-resistant rubber pads are printed on the underside, preventing the pillow from sliding off the headrest. Your head remains stable and motion-free without all the bulk behind the head.

Another notch is carved out behind the neck, allowing the back of the head to sit naturally into the pillow. The functional form lets you lean back and rest without having to tilt the chair back, which makes everyone else a little bit happier.

In our experience, many travel pillows don’t support the chin securely enough. We are happy to report the Travelrest Nest fastens around the neck with Velcro tabs, cradling the chin and preventing head nods while dozing off. The combination of form and foam gently secures the head in a neutral position and makes the Travelrest Nest pillow our top choice.

Out of our four testers, all agreed that the Travelrest Nest is by far the most comfortable travel pillow. And at just a penny under $40, it’s an easy product to recommend investing in for your next travel plans. For most travelers out there, this is the travel pillow to snag.

Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow

Materials Microbeads
Weight 7 oz.
Travel Bag No

Inexpensive option
Good for side sleepers
Dual-sided microfleece or spandex cover for temperature regulation
Large volume behind the neck requires you to rotate the pillow to the side to sleep.
No pillowcase or travel bag

Better than the stock pillow provided by the airline, and many sleeps beyond the sweatshirt stuffed behind your neck, the Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow ($16) is a small investment for better sleep on the go.

The top of the pillow is soft microfleece with soft, cooling spandex on the underside. Inside, the hemi donut-shaped pillow is filled with small foam microbeads. Think of it as a fleecy beanbag pillow for your neck.

This is a great starter pillow for those who are considering getting a travel pillow, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on it. You need to know it’s going to be a little limiting though.

The back of the pillow has a lot of fill, which is OK if you just want some support while reading or binging the latest inflight entertainment. But it’s too much pillow behind the neck if you want to get some sleep.

We found we had to rotate the pillow 90˚, shifting the bulk of the pillow to the side. This also turns the notch to the side, which does two things. It supports the chin better, and it supports the head pretty well for side sleepers. It does expose the other side to nodding off and down to the side, so choose your side wisely.

The microbead fill is louder than other synthetic lofts, and over time, the microbeads can collect dirt and grime. Since there is no pillowcase, you will have to either spot-clean this pillow or risk washing the entire pillow in a washing machine (on gentle and in a delicates bag). But for 16 bucks, the Microbead Travel Neck pillow gets a lot of things right and is our bargain pick for travel pillows.

TRLT Travel Pillow

Materials Fleece scarf with internal plastic frame
Weight 4.25 oz.

Small and compact pillow
Removable case
Supportive for head bobbers
Light weight
Looks like a neck brace
Caused some mid-back pain on longer flight

The TRTL Travel Pillow ($60) is a quirky-looking little pillow that caught our tester’s attention because they are a side sleeper, and a bit of a head bobber. If this describes you, it’s a familiar story: As soon as you start to fall asleep, your head drops and jolts you awake, beginning a rinse-and-repeat cycle of catching interrupted micro naps.

That’s all in the past with this pillow, which has an internal plastic frame that sits over the shoulder and wraps around the neck up toward the ear. You instinctively lean into the structure, and it cradles the head from the side.

A microfleece scarf fastens over the chin and around the neck, gently locking the head in place. It works so well that our tester realized their head began to gradually float off the chairback without dropping the chin. It’s an odd sensation, and you can fix this by tilting the seat back slightly, allowing gravity to do what it does best.

The TRLT is a small, compact pillow that is easy to maintain. The pillowcase unzips off the frame and can be thrown in the wash. The downside is it looks a bit like a neck brace, and we found the plastic scaffolding can push up against the ear. We also found that while it stabilizes the neck, the stabilizing force was oddly distributed down the chain to the middle of the back, causing some dull pain on longer flights.

Overall, the TRTL Travel Pillow offers a simple solution that’s easy to maintain. It’s a bit pricey, but we feel the simplicity and function warrant the price.

Blabok Inflatable Travel Pillow

Materials Vinyl with air
Shape Head pillow
Weight Unknown

Inexpensive
Incredibly comfortable
Easy to inflate and deflate
Comes with eye mask and ear plugs
Incurs funny looks

Our reviewer ordered the funky-looking Blabok Inflatable Travel Pillow ($25) as a last-minute addition to an international flight, where she knew she would be spending some serious sleep hours on the plane.

“In the past, I’ve quietly giggled to myself when seeing travelers dutifully blow into their airport comfort balloons, but I’m a convert. Through flight delays, layovers, and crazy long flights, I ended up singing the praises of this thing!”

It not only gives you multiple positions to support your head and neck during a flight, but during layovers, it is a solid napper in quiet terminal corners. Armholes allow comfortable positioning, and the open, airy internal chamber means you can breathe easily while face down in the pillow. And to our surprise, it’s shockingly easy to inflate. A few breaths, and you’re good to go.

The Blabok pillow deflates just as fast and rolls up tiny, making it our favorite inflatable travel pillow and our preferred travel pillow for long flights. Bonus tip: Because of its shape, if you have sore legs/hips from your adventures, it can be used as a knee support pillow. Funny looks be damned, we’re sleeping better than anyone else on the Blabok Inflatable Travel Pillow .

J-Pillow Travel Pillow

Materials Polyester fill
Shape Head and neck pillow
Weight 11 oz.

Great for side sleepers who lean against a wall
Chin support spots you from leaning forward
Soft microfleece cover
Only supports one side of the head
Doesn't compress down as well as memory foam

Not your traditionally shaped travel pillow, the J-Pillow Travel Pillow ($50-60) has three dimensions that cradle the head and neck in an X, Y, and Z axis. The head leans into the large flaps, with the ‘J’ tail wrapping under the chin. It gives the neck mild support and prevents the head from dropping forward.

As you would suspect from a pillow you lean into, the J-Pillow is ideal for those who have a window seat, where you can catch some winks against a wall. One side is completely unsupported, so if you are the type of sleeper who tosses a bit and occasionally leans the other way, your sleep might get disrupted.

We found this more of a problem when seated in the aisle or middle seat. Seated next to the window, we could lean into the pillow with the added confidence of uninterrupted sleep.

The J-Pillow is filled with a polyester loft. It’s not as firm as memory foam, and it doesn’t run as warm either. That’s partly because the structure only cradles half the head. The airflow is decent, and with the airplane vent aimed at us, this pillow keeps things cool.

No removable cover to be found here, and you toss the entire pillow in the wash — which isn’t a bad thing. It ensures the entire pillow is cleaned. The pillow crushes down to a small, travel-friendly size and carries in the provided stuff sack.

Despite the quirky design, the J-Pillow is a comfortable and supportive option — especially if you like to sit tucked away in a window seat.

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3 Neck Pillow

Best in class memory foam comfort
High lateral walls for maximum head support
Seat straps holds pillow to the chair
Over-the-top elastic strap supports chin and keeps mouth closed
Raised side supports feel bulky and adds pressure around the neck
With straps, this is a more fidgety travel pillow and takes time to set up

No matter how good the pillow, it’s hard to prevent the dreaded head bob. Even Cabeau — the grandmaster of travel pillows — couldn’t get around this. This matters most when seated in the aisle or middle seat, where personal space is limited. To that end, Cabeau released The Neck’s Evolution S3 ($50). The secret sauce? Straps — lots of them.

A pair of vertical straps tack the pillow to the seat back, cutting the bobble off at the head. If the pillow doesn’t move, you don’t move. The third, elastic strap, wraps over the pillow’s horseshoe ends (not out in front), fastening to the opposite side. Wrapping over the pillow, the strap is, in essence, a hammock for your chin. It keeps the chin up and prevents the head from nodding forward.

What we love about this design is that it 1) immobilizes the chin just enough without feeling too rigid, and 2) leaves the front of the pillow exposed, allowing the neck to cool off. This is important because memory foam can really trap the heat. With the small gap, the pillow spills heat, keeping you feeling cooler. It’s kind of genius.

The memory foam is the softest we tested. It is even softer than the Travelrest Nest (which is made from very good, resilient foam). We did find the amount of foam significant and noticeable. The sidewalls ride up to just below the ears. If you end up slouching in your chair (or have a shorter neck), this is pronounced and you feel the foam pushing into the ears and around the neck. This can become uncomfortable over time.

The pillow rolls up tight and packs in a zippered pouch. And if all this isn’t enough, Cabeau threw in a pair of earplugs to help cancel out the noise. All in all, at just under $50, the Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3 is an excellent neck pillow and a good alternative to the Travelrest Nest .

Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Pillow

Shape Neck Pillow
Weight 10.5 oz.

Asymmetrical design rotates 360˚ to fit a variety of sleep positions while seated
Accommodates over the ear headphones
Small packed size and comes with a travel bag
Available in two different sizes
Low sides do not provide as much lateral support
Snug fit can be too tight

One of the best advantages you can give yourself while traveling is options. The asymmetrical shape of Cushion Lab’s Ergonomic Travel Pillow ($55), allows you to turn the pillow around your neck to match the seating requirements.

Flat on the underside, the top of the pillow rolls between 2.5 and 5 inches, with three different notches that you can position under the chin and behind the head. Window, middle seat, aisle … the variety allows you to find the best sleeping position for any seat.

The memory foam pillow is protected by a form-fitting pillow case with an elastic cord that keeps the pillow packed tight. It all packs away nicely in a small widemouth ditty bag that is easy to pack and unpack.

The extra-dense memory foam is stiffer and similar to what we found in the Ostrich Go Neck . While the Go Neck is perhaps more stylish, the third notch gives the Ergonomic Travel Pillow one more option to find the perfect position — and the upper edge between the two.

We also like Cushion Lab’s overall lower profile. It allows you to wear over-the-ear headphones and feels less restrictive without compromising head and neck support. The Ergonomic Travel Pillow lives up to the name and allows for fine-tuning your fit to match your travel circumstances perfectly.

Ostrich Go Neck Pillow

Asymmetrical sides allow you to rotate the pillow into multiple positions to match the seating
Crushes down small
Washable removable cover
Dense memory foam has excellent support
High sidewalls press into ears
Wrapping design holds heat

Another innovator in the travel pillow space, Ostrich brings disruptive designs that are both functional and fun. The Go Neck Pillow ($70) is a stylish memory foam “shawl” that secures around the neck with a hook-and-loop closure. The wave-like shape has a lower, plumper cushion that rises and narrows behind the neck before it crests to a taller, thinner pad. The asymmetrical cushions narrow and close together with a 5-inch Velcro tab.

You can rotate the Go Neck to match a variety of positions, but we really only found two that work — with the chin between the fold where the two flaps come together, or 180˚ backward, with the chin tucked in the other narrowing. The pillow feels more comfortable with the overlap in front, but the reverse is slightly taller and supports the chin well.

While ergonomic (and perhaps even beautifully designed) the foundation of the Go Neck is a stiffer memory foam. It isn’t as soft as either the Cabeau or Travelrest pillows. The firmness is supportive, but can feel more rigid and less forgiving over time. Plus it’s about $20-$30 more than our top pillows, which excludes it from what we feel are better bargain options.

BCOZZY Neck Pillow

Weight 8 oz.

Adaptive design rotates around the neck to give you support where you need it
Allows plenty of ear room for those who wear over-the-ear headphones
Fully machine washable
Four different size variations available
Takes a while to position it right
Snug wrapping design can get hot

Many travel pillows are available in a one-size-fits-all option, which means if it doesn’t fit you, it doesn’t work at all. So when a travel pillow comes in a variety of sizes that can be configured to match a variety of seating options, our interest is piqued.

Bcozzy’s Neck Pillow ($45-60) snakes around the neck, overlapping the ends with a long Velcro hook and loop closure. The long, skinny pillow undulates with alternating hourglass narrows and plump supportive pads. Available in four sizes (two youth, two adults) there’s a Bcozzy for everyone. And, you can rotate the pillow 360˚ around the neck to give you support where you need it.

Side leaner? Rotate the overlapping ends under the ear and lean into the pillow. Middle seat? Position the narrow section behind the neck and support the chin with the overlapping ends. Departing the plane? Just loosen up the Velcro tabs and wear it off the plane. Compared to other pillows, it wears relatively under the radar and is easy to use.

The Bcozzy doesn’t have a removable pillowcase. Instead, you toss the whole thing in the washing machine to wash the entire pillow. It is recommended that you put it inside a delicates bag or a tied-off pillowcase and wash it on a gentle cycle. This prevents the machine from breaking down the polyester fibers.

The Bcozzy Neck Pillow isn’t the cheapest pillow on our list, but with the right size, it is very easy to use and works in virtually any seated position, making this one of the more versatile travel pillows on our list.

Honeydew Sleep Company Scrumptious Travel Pillow

Materials Copper infused cooling memory foam
Weight 2 lbs., 8 oz.

You can add or remove fill to match your desired firmness
Hand-made in U.S.A.
Bulky to carry
Large size forces chin to drop even with the seat tilted all the way back

Take your favorite pillow from home, shrink it by 30%, and cut a wedge in it so it curves around the neck, and you’ve got Honeydew’s Scrumptious Travel Pillow ($130-220).

The memory foam fill is shredded into small pieces, giving it a soft and even fluff. Infused with copper, it’s antimicrobial and helps keep the body cool. The downside is that it doesn’t pack down as well.

Stuffed inside the provided cotton sack (included), the pillow carries around at a bulky 9 x 12 inches. That’s partly the foam, but there’s no getting around — it’s a lot of pillow. Unpacked, the Scrumptious is a whopping 12 x 21 inches.

A crescent-shaped notch lays behind the neck and over the shoulders, allowing you to lean back into the pillow. But it wasn’t enough to prevent our chins from dropping. Even with the seat pushed all the into the furthest position, the mass of the pillow pushed our heads forward. We found it hard to prevent the chin from dipping down as we dozed.

The Scrumptious is big and not all that comfortable while on the plane. But once we arrived at our destination, we stored the hotel pillow in the closet and used the Scrumptious instead. The soft and even proprietary fill is better than our pillows at home and gives us a better night’s rest while on the road.

You just need to be prepared to carry the extra baggage with you as a carry-on, or find room for the pillow in your bags. For the comfort the Honeydew Scrumptious Travel Pillow provides, however, it’s worth finding the space.

Sea To Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow

Materials 20-denier polyester face fabric, TPU air bladder
Weight 3 oz.
Travel Bag 3 x 4 x 2" soft-sided case

Truly lightweight and compact travel pillow
Three chin snaps fit multiple neck sizes
Narrows at the middle to accommodate for neck tilt
Expensive for an air pillow
Lacks support of a foam pillow
Little to no chin support

Sea to Summit has been making some of our favorite camp pillows for years. In fact, the Aeros Ultralight is our go-to pillow for most of our adventures where weight is critical. If an inflatable pillow can handle what the Rockies, Cascades, and all the associated climbing gear can throw at it, we feel confident it can handle the threats faced in coach.

Made specifically for traveling, the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow ($45) is a crescent-shaped version of their inflatable camp pillow. The poles of the kidney-shaped pillow inflate out over the shoulders and snug up against the neck just below the ears, tapering behind the neck between the two poles.

The pillow snaps together securely under the chin with three snap options. We like how the snaps provide more security than Velcro. From kids to weightlifters, the options fits a variety of neck sizes. Unfortunately, the Aeros doesn’t support the neck as well as memory foam. Both side-to-side and chin support were less stable than the memory foam counterparts.

And at $45, you aren’t getting a better deal. You are buying a lack of space. The Aeros packs down to the size of a deck of cards or two and weighs in at a welterweight 3 ounces, which is how most ultralight investments work. You don’t buy comfort; you buy room in the pack.

This makes the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller an option for gram-counting travelers who feel strongly that comfort is a luxury. It also works as a good backup travel pillow or if you are carrying for two and need to carry a barebones backup pillow. If an airline weight limit is giving you the business, this is the pillow to grab.

Hest Travel Pillow

Materials Cut up memory foam, stretch-woven nylon cover
Weight 1 lb., 4 oz.

Stuffs and zips up into into itself with durable outer carrying case
Soft and incredibly comfortable foam fill
Mimics the feel of a full-size pillow
Soft pillow case is purchased after market
Some users find the cut up memory foam feels lumpy

The Hest Travel Pillow ($75) is billed as both a camping and travel pillow. It is a small, 10 x 15-inch rectangular pillow with some overbuilt upgrades that make it probably a better (read: heavy) option for traveling over camping.

The entire pillow is carried inside a water-resistant nylon shell, which reminds us of a hearty ski jacket denier. Unzip the outer shell and the pillow pulls inside out with a softer stretch woven material. Another zipper reveals the inner pillow — which you can remove and throw the case in the wash for cleaning.

The memory foam is doughy soft and a good upgrade from most camp pillows. But it’s also more expensive. At $75, it’s creeping into a serious sleep investment. While the stretch woven pillow liner is soft, Hest sells an even softer aftermarket pillowcase, but you will have to open the wallet a little more and pay an additional $20.

A rectangular memory foam pillow is the closest approximation to a pillow from home and it works great in a pinch catching a nap in the terminal or as a backup pillow at the hotel if the provided pillows look suspicious.

For overall comfort, we prefer the modified rectangular pillow from Honeydew . The brand’s Scrumptious Pillow is divine. But for overall packability and travel-friendly size, we prefer the Hest Travel Pillow , which crunches down to about 1.5 L (and costs half the price of the Scrumptious).

Travel Pillow Comparison Chart

How we tested travel pillows.

The GearJunkie staff gets around. At least one of us is in the air during any given week traveling on assignment — so we’ve logged the miles, all of them in coach, and many of these clocked across the Atlantic or Pacific. The redeye may be effective, but it also means if we don’t get our rest, we are up for a very long following day. To make it all work, the GearJunkie staff gets by on coffee… and travel pillows.

Like your pillow at home, a travel pillow should support the neck and be comfortable. Since it’s for use on the road, it should also pack up small so we can either wear it to our connecting flight or securely clip it to our carry-on luggage or travel backpack without whacking other travelers.

To test pillows, we evaluated fill materials and took note of how pillows supported the neck. Did it limit head bobble and keep the neck aligned? Or were we woken up nodding forward? We evaluated how soft the outer material is, and if we could remove and wash the case during or after our travels.

In our search, we aimed to find and test pillows that every person stuck in coach across the spectrum could enjoy — from window, aisle, to middle seat (be damned), we chose for travelers marching gate to gate with pillows around necks or strapped to our luggage.

We take testing seriously and the testing doesn’t stop here. As new travel pillows hit the market, we’ll be lining up with the rest of you and continue to test, ensuring that our lineup is as fresh as walking into customs at 7 a.m.

Steve Graepel has worked at GearJunkie as a contributing editor since 2009, testing everything from packrafts, to bike bags, cycling bibs, sleeping bags, winter boots, trail runners, and travel pants . Many of these stories require travel to meet with manufacturers and test gear in real-world conditions. Between testing, Steve is always striving for the perfect sleep score. His personal best is 87.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Travel Pillow for You

Travel pillow design and fill.

The overall goal of a travel pillow is to support the head for uninterrupted rest. Travel pillows get this done with designs that contour around the body’s shape and close the gaps by molding the pillow’s fill to the head and neck. Together, the shape and fill keep everything comfortably in alignment.

Not all pillows are created equal. That’s because not all seats are the same. While you can lean your head against the wall in a window seat, you are stuck sleeping upright in an aisle or middle seat. Bobblehead sleepers might give in and drop into the tray for uninterrupted sleep.

If you can select your seat in advance, you can better predict the best pillow to bring. But we’re not always that lucky (nor that good at planning) so it might be helpful to have a few pillows available to match your assigned seat, or pick a good all-rounder travel pillow that works in a variety of seating.

Most travel pillows are horseshoe-shaped and wrap around your neck. The semicircular shape keeps the head from wobbling too much and maintains neck alignment. This design works well in almost every seat, as long as you don’t mind sleeping upright.

Side sleepers might prefer some structure to support the neck or padding that accommodates leaning against a wall. The downside is your head can still slide off the unsupported side and nod forward.

The rectangular pillow is your traditional camp pillow. Tried and true, these down, synthetic, or even air-filled pillows can be a little bulky, but don’t rule them out. They are a great option for table sleepers and window leaners, and are miles ahead of your down jacket when trying to catch some zzz’s between flights on the terminal floor.

A more updated window seat option is the J-Pillow . Winner of the British Invention of the Year, the J-Pillow offers head, neck, and chin support, and can flip sides, making it a good option for windows.

Memory Foam

One of the many wonders that came out of NASA, memory foam was developed in the 1960s. It is a viscous polyurethane that crushes down small and bounces back with hearty resilience. Recently, memory foam has become the online mattress wonder-kid, bringing mattress stores to their knees by selling directly to consumers.

We also see a lot of memory foam used in the latest camp mattresses and camp pillows. The benefit is that it forms to the body, cradling the head and neck with support. It’s a durable and comfortable fill and is a good choice for people who take sleeping seriously.

The downside is that when crushed, the foam is constantly trying to expand. To keep the pillow packed down, you need to stuff it in the stuff sack (usually sold with the pillow). And even packed, it’s always going to take up some space. A good insulator, foam will also retain heat more than other insulations. If you are a hot sleeper, consider options with cooling covers and venting designs.

Some memory foams are shredded or cut into small pieces. The foam lofts evenly but doesn’t crush down as small as the solid memory foam pillows. Both Hest and Honeydew offer shredded memory foam pillows. Both brands are also traditional rectangular-shaped pillows that mimic your pillow from home.

As the name implies, microbeads are small, round beads that are used to loft the pillow. To clarify, we aren’t talking about the microspheres smaller than one millimeter that are banned in North America. These are the larger, beanbag fill that shift inside the pillow to fill in otherwise awkward spaces while distributing pressure on the head and neck.

If you’ve ever spent much time sitting in a bean bag chair, you already know the downside. A microbead pillow can be comfortable out of the gate, but over time the microbeads shift and feel more uncomfortable. You might find yourself waking up and readjusting the pillow during your flight.

A firmer, stuffed microbead pillow will provide more support, and microbead pillows are usually less expensive. The only microbead pillow on our list is the Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow . At $16, it’s a bargain and works better than other microbead pillows we’ve tested.

Down and Synthetic Fill

The rectangular synthetic (or down) fill pillow is your old-school camp pillow. While down compacts more, both synthetic and down rectangular pillows can be a little bulky, and since they typically don’t clip to your luggage or wrap around your neck, you inevitably need to carry them around in your hands.

But don’t rule them out — they are a great option for table sleepers, as they fill in the gaps against the window, and are miles ahead of your down jacket when trying to catch some zzz’s between flights on the terminal floor. Plus, you can use them camping or at the hotel if the provided linens look debatable.

Inflated Air

Pillows have come a long way, but some technology doesn’t need to be fixed. The inflatable pillow supports through design of the shell that wraps around the neck. An inflatable camp pillow is great for using on extended backcountry trips. They pack down small and disappear in the pack.

In general, inflatable pillows aren’t as comfortable. They tend to be firmer than foam pillows and don’t snug and support as well as their memory foam counterparts. And they can be prone to punctures, which makes them useless if that happens in flight.

Look for inflatable pillows that are made up of durable material, like thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or one that comes with a rugged cover. Valves can also be a weak point on an inflatable pillow. Make sure the one you buy has a tough, well-built valve that isn’t prone to leaking. And ask around — fellow travelers and online reviews are your best resources for gauging a pillow’s durability over time.

All said, we found the inflatable travel pillow from Blablok one of the most comfortable pillows we’ve ever used. It’s massive but compresses down to a small package — one of the benefits of inflatable pillows.

With a travel pillow, a huge part of durability is inside the pillow. With proper care, a pillow filled with either microbeads, polyester fill, or memory foam can last for several years.

However, after repeated use, memory foam tends to be more durable and resilient than microbeads. It doesn’t flatten or get lumpy and is more resistant to collecting dust. So memory foam might be the better option if you want a long-term solution. We generally find memory foam to be more supportive, too.

In general, the more features a pillow has, the higher the price will be. We see this with well-established companies like Cabeau, which use high-quality memory foam and invest time in R&D to develop cooling vents and stabilization seat straps. While more expensive, these products are more dialed, durable, and comfortable designs.

When you shop for a pillow, determine your must-have features, weigh them against your style of sleep, look at your budget, and find a travel pillow that’s best for you. If you’re new to travel pillows and still trying to figure out what kind of pillow you want, consider what you don’t like with the complimentary pillow you get before takeoff. After all, it’s free and a great way to test a pillow with low commitment.

With that baseline, swing back by our buyer’s guide and look at what pillows work best to meet those gaps in your needs. In the end, a travel pillow shouldn’t cost more than $60. It’s a drop in the bucket for a better travel experience.

Packed Size

The ‘packability’ of a travel pillow matters less than it does for a camping pillow. But it still matters, and this point will be salient when you are boarding and departing the plane. If it wraps around your neck, you can suck it up and try to stylishly pull it off (don’t worry, nobody can). If it has a stuff sack, you can compress it (or not) and buckle it to your luggage. As a last resort, you can carry it out by hand.

We recommend stuffing a travel pillow in its stuff sack before you land and snapping it to your carry-on’s side pocket. This keeps the pillow out of the way and allows you to move quickly in and out of the gate and through the terminal.

The most compact travel pillow is an inflatable pillow, like the Sea To Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow . In general, we prefer a compressible pillow that offers support. Memory foam compresses reasonably well and, in our experience, is more comfortable.

Plus, we’d rather not make our first impression with others by blowing up anything on a plane. That said, the inflatable travel pillow from Blablok inflates quicker than you would think and is very comfortable on long flights.

Travel Tricks: Get a Good Night’s Sleep on a Plane

It’s fair to say sleep quality is compromised while in transit. But you can take extra measures to get the best rest possible. Below are travel tips we’ve gained from GearJunkie staff and our traveling friends in the industry.

Bring an Eye Mask

Sure, you can buy these but you may not need to. We always travel with a Buff . Our founder, Stephen Regenold — someone who’s seen it all — gave the Buff one of his highest accolades in a podcast interview with GearJunkie. He shared that the Buff might be one of the most unique pieces of gear ever developed. We use it as a hat, a sweatband, and pull over the eyes on flights. It does a great job of blocking out the light.

Continuing with damping out the senses, earplugs are a cheap and easy purchase. We get them in bulk at the hardware store and bring a few with us on the road. You may have a pair of these kicking around the garage or you might have noise-canceling headphones. Those less sensitive to sounds might get away with streaming music or podcasts through earbuds.

If you use over-the-ear headphones, consider a lower-profile travel pillow. We liked how the Bcozzy Travel Pillow slides low around the neck while still providing chin support options.

The cabin temperature on flights is generally set between 71 to 75 degrees F. That’s not bad, but it’s well below our core temperature. Dozing off, you may start to feel the chill set in. We always pack a good flannel , hoodie, or puffy jacket on a flight. It’s what we bring everywhere, so we keep one (or both) in our carry-on. And a hoodie or hat does a lot to keep heat from escaping.

Before you bed down, have a warm cup of caffeine-free tea or eat some fatty food. The extra calories will turn on your metabolism and burn off as heat. Finally, if they offer it, take advantage of that free blanket and drape it over your legs. If you run cold, every little bit helps.

Keep the Essentials at Hand

There’s a strategy for staying organized during travel. For us, it starts with a good travel pant. Knowing everything has its place keeps us worry-free and able to rest up peacefully. The best travel pants have pockets for your device, ID, and plane-friendly EDC. Plus pants with legs are warmer on overnight flights.

Absolutely. Travel pillows add a bit of comfort and help you get a better night’s sleep on the plane than a wadded-up jacket. The minimal investment of money, space, and weight is nothing compared to the comfort and support a good pillow provides. It only takes one long flight of trying to keep your head upright while dozing off to realize the value that a good travel pillow provides.

Different pillows have different requirements when it comes to cleaning. Be sure to check your pillow’s packaging. If your travel pillow has a removable pillow case, generally these can be thrown in the wash. We recommend following the instructions on the pillow case.

If you are on the road, you can wash the pillow cover out in the sink. You don’t need any special soap for this. Laundry soap or bath soap will work fine. Knead the pillow case gently with your hands until it’s clean. Then rinse it with clean water to get the soap out and hang it out overnight to dry.

If your pillow doesn’t have a removable case, we recommend spot washing them with soap and water or a cleaning wipe.

Most pillows require a bit more delicacy, particularly inflatable pillows. If you’re handwashing an inflatable pillow, make sure the valve is closed so water doesn’t get inside, and then immerse the pillow in soapy water. And never tumble-dry inflatable pillows, as it can damage the air bladder.

The best pillow is the one that matches your sleep needs. Most travel pillows are a horse-shoe shape that wraps around your neck to support your head. If you only want to buy one travel pillow, this semicircular pillow design is a great option. We recommend the Travelrest Nest Travel Pillow . It supports the head and neck without requiring a window to lean against and keeps you from nodding into an adjacent stranger.

Specialized pillows, like the J-Pillow , are great options for window seats. Side sleepers might appreciate the TRLT Travel Pillow , as it supports the head with a stiffened brace and emulates the position you’re most used to sleeping in at home.

If you already have one, don’t rule out the traditional camp pillow. Filled with down or synthetic loft, it can fill the crack against the window and provide a little more comfort than the stock pillows you might be handed before takeoff. It’s also a good pillow to pull out in the terminal if you are stuck between flights and need to crash for a few hours.

Long flights mean lots of idle time in the seat. Whether passing the time watching in-flight entertainment or getting the best sleep you can, we prefer the inflatable Blablok or the Travelrest Nest . Cabeau’s The Neck’s Evolution S3 Neck Pillow is also a great choice. The straps lock it to the headrest and prevent your head from bobbling forward.

We liked the simplicity of the TRTL Pillow and used it on a flight to Mexico. But we found that the internal support structure moved any pain from the neck, down the back between our shoulders. In the end, we preferred using the TRTL on shorter flights.

The simplest and most compact travel pillow is inflated with air. It won’t be as supportive as a memory foam pillow and can feel a little hard, but the air chamber can fit around your neck and add reasonable support. Deflated, it folds up and stows away smaller than a T-shirt.

The Best Camping Pillows of 2023

A camping pillow is both a luxury and an easy, lightweight addition to your pack. Here are the best camping pillows currently on the market.

The Best Travel Backpacks of 2024

We found the best travel backpacks of 2024, including top picks from Peak Design, Osprey, Patagonia, and more.

Steve Graepel is a Contributing Editor and Gear Tester at GearJunkie. He has been writing about trail running, camping, skiing, and general dirtbagging for 10+ years. When not testing gear with GearJunkie, he is a Senior Medical Illustrator on the Neurosurgery Team at Mayo Clinic. Based in Boise, Idaho, Graepel is an avid trail runner, camper, angler, cyclist, skier, and loves to introduce his children to the Idaho outdoors.

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The 10 Best Travel Pillows of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Sleep and relax comfortably on the go with these top travel pillows

In This Article

Our Top Picks
Other Pillows We Liked

Our Testing Process

Tips for Buying
Why Trust T+L

Sitting upright for hours on end or sleeping on unfamiliar pillows can be incredibly uncomfortable, but a reliable travel pillow can make your trip a lot more tolerable. Whether embarking on a red-eye flight, hitting the road on a long car trip, or looking to get a good night's sleep in your hotel room, the best travel pillows will be comfy, supportive, and portable.

We tested more than 40 travel pillows, looking at traits like comfort, durability, portability, and quality. We narrowed down the best options while using the accessory for road trips, long-haul flights, train rides, and even sleeping at home, making sure each option was comfortable for extended use. We also brought a few options into our Travel + Leisure lab to get a direct comparison, testing them out on our airplane set. After catching some of the best Z's, we rounded up pillow choices for different types of travelers who are looking to get more rest on their future trips.

Best Overall

Ostrichpillow go neck pillow.

The pillow has an asymmetrical design that can accommodate various neck, chin, and head support preferences.

It might warm your neck if you run hot while sleeping.

The Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow feels like sleeping on a cloud. This travel pillow provided the perfect amount of neck support and comfort when we took it on a flight, allowing us to get more rest than usual. The plush memory foam filling and asymmetric design can be easily adjusted to support the neck, chin, or head with the taller or shorter sides. Although the memory foam is soft and compressible, it felt more supportive than any other pillow we tried. The materials appear high-quality and luxurious, and it is easy to roll the pillow up to fit inside its compact drawstring sack. We found it a little tricky to roll up at first, but once we nailed the technique, we were impressed with how small it became — ideal for those who don't want a pillow to take up too much luggage space.

The pillow held its shape after being in the bag for long periods of time, which leads us to believe that it will hold up well with prolonged use. The pillow cover is removable and machine washable, but we air dried it to ensure it didn’t shrink (and had no issues putting it back on the pillow). A must-have for those with higher budgets, this pillow allows for better sleep and more comfort on flights.

The Details: Viscosa, memory foam | 10.5 x 9.5 inches | Machine washable | Carrying case included

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Most Comfortable

Cabeau tne s3 travel pillow.

The cozy but firm material and innovative chin strap keep you from bobbing your head while sleeping.

It can feel stiff at first and takes some getting used to.

This soft and supportive travel pillow is the perfect accessory for long trips, whether you're in the car or in the air. The pillow itself can attach to any headrest with adjustable straps to prevent your head from sagging or falling into uncomfortable positions while sleeping. There's also an adjustable chin strap for added comfort and security — a feature that really sealed the deal for us during testing. The interior of the pillow feels like memory foam, which offers the ideal balance of support and coziness. The pillow's exterior fabric is soft yet breathable so you don't feel too hot or constricted, though it can take some time to find your perfect position.

We also love that the pillow cover is machine washable. We tested this pillow on a long international trip where it really got tossed around on planes, trains, and buses, so it felt great to wash the cover at the end of the trip, making it feel as good as new. Despite its fairly large size, the pillow is also quite portable as it rolls up into a compact carrying case that you can attach to a bag's exterior or slip into larger backpacks and totes.

The Details: Polyester, microsuede, foam | Machine washable | Carrying case included

Travel + Leisure / Anna Popp

Best Infinity-style

Infinity pillow travel pillow.

Infinity Pillow

The modular design of the pillow makes it easy to use to support the neck, chin, or back while sitting.

The cushioning is fairly soft, so the support isn't as stiff as memory foam.

Most travel pillows come in one shape and size, so we love that you can contort this one in various ways to fit your needs. At nearly 40 inches long, the infinity design (yes, like the scarves worn in the early 2000s) can be wrapped once for less support or twice for the type of neck support found in traditional C-shaped pillows. We used the pillow during an all-day road trip and loved that we could wear it around the neck with a looser or tighter fit depending on how much neck support we wanted. We did find that it was still a little too big for us after looping it twice, so users with smaller necks may not get the support they're looking for. That being said, it can be used in many different ways to make sleeping on planes, trains, and cars more comfortable, so minimal support as a traditional neck pillow isn't necessarily a deal-breaker.

We also found that it's much easier to travel with the pillow since the closed ring shape makes it easy to wear around the neck instead of having to pack it away or risk it falling off. The bamboo fabric is extremely soft and breathable, so we never felt overheated or constricted, and the pillow is machine washable for easy upkeep after a trip. We should also note that it took up a lot of space in our luggage, but it may be worth packing a little lighter to be that much more comfortable while traveling. It also comes in a whopping 10 colors.

The Details: Bamboo, nylon | 39.3 x 6.6 inches | Machine washable

Travel + Leisure / Paige VandeWiele

Aeris Memory Foam Travel Pillow

It’s supportive and firm without feeling too stiff.

This would be best for travelers who know they prefer a firm travel pillow.

We love the comfortable and supportive Aeris Memory Foam Travel Pillow for travelers who like a firmer neck pillow. The buckle strap adjusts accordingly to fit around your neck and offers 360-degree support on the chin, jaw, and back. We loved how you can lean back in the car or plane, and the back of the neck doesn't fall backward. In addition to having exceptional support, the Aeris travel pillow folds into a small ball and easily fits into the included circular carrying case that you can clip onto a backpack or suitcase without being a noticeable nuisance. The travel pillow also comes with earplugs and an eye mask, and features a frontal slip pocket that you can store them in. After a trip, you can unzip and remove the carrying case to machine wash it, although we recommend air drying it to prevent any possibility of shrinkage.

The Details: Velour, polyester, memory foam | 11.81 x 11.42 x 3.54 inches | Machine washable | Carrying case included

Best Hooded

Pluto pillow pod.

Pluto Pillow

It boasts a cozy hood and built-in eye mask for total darkness even on bright flights.

It's one of the pricer options on this list.

Like the black-out curtains of travel pillows, this option comes with a hood and an eye mask that shields your eyes from any light, which is incredibly useful when you're trying to get some shut-eye on a busy flight. It has a soft neck brace that wraps around the neck with light support, and the hood goes on like a regular hoodie with a drop-down eye mask. Once our head was fully cocooned in the hooded pillow, we found that it was a game changer for travelers who have a hard time falling asleep with light or ambient noise around since it muffles sounds and blocks rays.

While the space-helmet-like shape looks quite different from other travel pillows on the market, it's still easy to put on and offers excellent portability. Plus, this newer model features an easy way to clip the pillow to a backpack or luggage handle. One thing to note is that the price point is quite high compared to other pillows on the market, but the unique design and high-quality fabric and construction make it worth it for those with higher budgets.

The Details: Alcantara fabric, WPS mesh | 12 x 6 x 4 inches (folded) | Machine washable

Travel + Leisure / Dera Burreson

Gingerlily Silk Travel Pillow

The silk material is gentle on skin and hair while traveling.

This pillow is 12 by 16 inches, so make sure you have plenty of room to pack it.

For those who love sleeping on silk pillowcases at home, this mini version for travel is an absolute must. Yes, it can be pricey to buy silk travel accessories, but it's also expensive to ruin a blowout and have to find a salon on vacation (and there's no price to be put on fresh, clean skin). This silk pillow is smaller than a standard pillow at 12 inches wide and 16 inches long, but you can still use it in a hotel bed, and it's perfect for trains, planes, and cars — just make sure you have the space in your personal item bag . After using this pillow for multiple long trips, it still shows no signs of loose stitches, fraying, or pilling. Rather, the pillow feels like it will last without ever going limp or flat.

The Details: Mulberry silk, cotton sateen, polyester | 12 x 6 inches

Travel + Leisure / Morgan Ashley Parker

TripSavvy / Morgan Ashley Parker

Best Adjustability

Buyue travel neck pillow.

You can swivel it around to support any part of your head.

It comes with a drawstring bag to stuff it in, but the pillow still takes up a good chunk of space in a backpack.

With thick cushioning on one side of the pillow, the unique design of this travel pillow makes it easy to get comfortable in a small space where there isn't much wiggle room. No matter which way your head tilts when you sleep, you can adjust this pillow with the largest part of cushioning rotated to support the side or back of your head, or you can turn it to the front to prevent your chin from tipping forward or bobbing around. After testing the pillow on both road trips and long flights, we found that the fabric is breathable and soft for resting your head on, and we love that the cover comes off to toss it in the wash. Because of the thicker side of the pillow, it does take up a bit more space in a backpack, but it does come with a drawstring bag if you prefer to carry it outside of your luggage.

The Details: Polyester, spandex | 8 x 8 x 8 inches | Machine washable | Carrying case included

Travel + Leisure / Ava Wegner

Samsonite 2-in-1 Magic Travel Pillow

It has a modular design to shift from a U-shape to a rectangular pillow, offering versatility at an affordable price.

The neck pillow might not offer enough support for some since it's on the softer side.

This microbead pillow from Samsonite can be used as a neck pillow if you're sitting upright or you can shift it into a rectangular pillow for leaning against a window or laying on a tray table. The handy two-in-one design already gets bonus points for versatility, but the budget-friendly price makes it all the more better. In testing, it was an effortless process to switch from the U-shape to the rectangle shape by flipping the pillow inside out. Made with polyester and microfiber beads, this pillow is shockingly lightweight and feels nearly weightless to carry around an airport. Because the pillow is on the softer side with the microfiber beads, we discovered it's not as supportive as a memory foam pillow, but it still offered enough support to prevent the neck from uncomfortably craning too far to one side.

The Details: Polyester | 12.25 x 11.75 x 4 inches | Hand wash

Travel + Leisure / Anita Rutz

Best Splurge

Purple harmony anywhere pillow.

This supportive pillow is comfortable enough to sleep on at night and would make any hotel stay feel more luxurious.

At over three pounds, it's quite heavy but feels weightless if you attach the strap to a backpack.

If you're looking for a travel pillow that is just as comfortable — if not more so — than your pillows at home, then this luxurious one from Purple is the one for you. It's a miniature version of the brand's best-selling Harmony pillow, and it boasts the same cooling gel and bouncy, neck-supporting feel as the larger version. During testing, we found this pillow to be noticeably cooling, breathable, and moisture-wicking, which can come in handy for camping. We wouldn't use this pillow during flights because of the plush, rectangular shape that wouldn't work well when sitting upright, but it would be ideal when you're laying flat, like in a hotel room.

It comes with a machine-washable pillow cover, and there is a travel case sold separately . Because this is one of the priciest pillows on this list, we do wish the travel case was included, but we do think it's worth adding on for its carrying straps and compression features. The pillow feels quite heavy on its own, but when you attach the strap to a backpack, it feels weightless to carry. You can also compress the pillow in half if you have the travel case, making it much more portable. Although this is a splurge for a travel pillow, we think it's worth the investment for travelers in search of a comfortable pillow with luxe features like a breathable honeycomb design, a moisure-wicking cover, and strong neck support.

The Details: Talalay latex, knit | 16 x 13 x 6 inches | Machine washable

Travel + Leisure / Jackie Cucco

Best Breathable

Sleep number travel pillow.

Sleep Number

The memory foam filling and synthetic fiber exterior let air pass through for superior breathability.

The pillow is large and was cumbersome to carry, especially for light packers.

It can get hot and stuffy on an airplane, so we love that the synthetic materials used to create this Sleep Number travel pillow are light and airy. The memory foam filling is bouncy and lightweight, and the soft fabric pillowcase is cooling enough to prevent overheating while sleeping in a plane, car, or train. Along with an airplane footrest , it could make a flight more comfortable. We used the pillow on a long-haul flight to Ireland and found it was ideal for leaning your head against the window or on the tray table since the pillow is on the larger side. While the size offers extra cushioning and support like a regular pillow, it did make it slightly annoying to carry through crowded airports since it doesn't come with a compact carrying case. However, it does come with a drawstring bag to carry it separately or you can use the clasp to attach it to backpacks, suitcases, or other luggage.

The Details: Lyocell blend, memory foam | 17 x 12 inches | Machine-washable cover | Carrying case included

Travel + Leisure / Emily Johnson

Other Travel Pillows We Liked

Some travel pillows we tested almost made the cut but didn’t due to a few weaknesses, though they still might make suitable options for some travelers.

Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Neck Pillow : While the memory foam is the perfect balance of firm and soft, we found this pillow to be just a bit too bulky for frequent travel.

Travel + Leisure / Daniela Galvez

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow : If you’re not a fan of the typical U-shaped travel pillow, this one is a good alternative. But because of its design, it offers no neck support and isn't the most useful when traveling via plane or train.

Slip Jet Setter Travel Pillow : The silk material is luxurious soft and cooling, but the pillow itself is extremely bulky to wear and difficult to travel with.

Snugl Neck Travel Pillow : Made with soft and supportive memory foam, the pillow is ultra-comfy to use in-flight, but we had a lot of trouble getting it back into the carrying case.

Cushion Lab Travel Deep Sleep Pillow : The comfort level with this pillow is so high that we started using it to sleep on nightly at home. However, it's not very portable, and we had a hard time rolling it up into the case.

Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow : This is a great pick for travelers who get warm quickly, as the pillow is designed to prevent heat from building up when you wear it. However, we didn't find it as comfortable or supportive as the Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Pillow , so we would recommend that one instead, especially since they retail at similar prices.

Our T+L team tested more than 40 travel pillows to find the very best ones for every type of comfort-seekers. To thoughtfully curate this list, we researched and tested popular options, including pillows with the classic U-shape and rectangular ones, too.

Paying close attention to traits like comfort, quality, durability, and portability, we noted various features that stood out to us for both good and bad reasons. We looked for special features such as cooling designs, firmness, softness, or other claims by the manufacturer to check if they rang true. Our favorite pillows also kept their shape after being tucked away into a case and always sprang back into their original form with no signs of damage.

After our real-world test, which involved trying the pillows on cross-country road trips and long-haul flights, we brought a few options into our lab to have one team member test them all against each other head-to-head. We then adjusted our results based on the direct comparison, and we will continue to capture testing notes every few months to update our articles accordingly.

Tips for Buying a Travel Pillow

Prioritize neck support.

When it comes to sleeping in planes, trains, or cars, you should focus on your neck and head support. When your head drops during sleep, it can leave you with a sore neck or even a headache. Your travel pillow should be supportive enough that your neck stays securely upright without feeling as though you're being squeezed.

Portability is key

Whether you pack light or stuff your suitcase full, a compact travel pillow that fits into a small carrying case is ideal for bringing along on trips. Of course, some travel pillows don’t compress, but they should still be easy to clip onto a suitcase or backpack and not bump into too many things if you’re traversing an airport or train station. It's always more convenient when a carrying case is included, especially if it has a luggage trolley sleeve or straps.

Consider the filling material

Travelers who like a firmer pillow should opt for a memory foam filling that can offer more support than an inflatable alternative. Microbead pillows can be just as supportive as memory foam ones, but they tend to be on the softer side and are more suited to travelers who like a little less structure while sleeping.

Think about how you plan to use it

Travel pillows are a relatively broad category, so you'll want to narrow down your intended use and travel habits before purchasing since they come in all different shapes, styles, and sizes. For example, if you often find yourself in the middle seat while flying, you'll want a pillow with lots of head support like a memory foam, U-shape pillow or an infinity style that you can adjust. However, window-seaters might opt for a rectangular pillow for leaning against the plane wall.

Travel pillows aren't just for flights, either. There are also rectangular options that can help make you more comfortable while camping or staying in hotel rooms, rental properties, or even friend's houses that might not have great pillows. They are also a road trip essential for every adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can generally find washing instructions on the tag of the travel pillow when you buy it. Removable covers can usually go through a machine wash, but many of our team members opted to air dry the cover to prevent any shrinkage that could happen in a hot dryer. If a pillow doesn’t have a removable cover, you can spot clean the pillow by using a wet cloth dipped in soapy water.

Most standard travel pillows have a semicircular shape that you wrap around the neck to support your neck, head, and chin. These U-shaped pillows often have memory foam or microbead filling, but there are also inflatable neck pillows. There are unique J-shaped travel pillows that are perfect for supporting the neck and head of someone sitting in the middle or aisle seat. In addition, standard pillows make great travel pillows for certain situations, and plenty of rectangular-styled pillows compress down for better portability.

Most travel pillows will come with carrying cases to compress the pillow, making it more portable. If the carrying case doesn't have a handle, it should still pack down small enough to fit in a personal item such as a backpack or a tote bag. Some pillows have a luggage trolley pass-through sleeve, which you can slip over the handle of your suitcase, while others may have a strap or a clip that you can attach to a backpack to carry it hands-free.

Some pillows are specifically designed to be worn in multiple different ways, but in general, it depends on your comfort preferences. You can wear a travel pillow backward , forward, or you can lean on it in the window seat — the most important thing is finding the most comfortable position for you.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a New York-based commerce writer at T+L, where she writes most of the team's tested content. Anna participated in testing travel pillows and worked with travel editors to determine the results for the best ones on the market based on a series of tests completed during trips taken by plane, car, and train. We will continue to update this article as we test even more travel pillows.

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The 9 Best Travel Pillows of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Get some quality shut-eye on the go

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

TripSavvy / Alessandra Amodio

Comfort is key when traveling, whether by car, train, bus, or airplane. And not just for your happiness—sitting or sleeping for hours on end can put your cervical spine (C-spine) in an unnatural position as your head bends downward to read, sways back to sleep on a headrest, or falls to the side to doze off against a window.

A travel pillow can help provide cushion to make falling asleep in transit easier, and the support may also help your C-spine and keep you comfortable during long flights and car rides. There are two main kinds of travel pillows: a donut or C-shape pillow and a rectangular pillow that mimics the type you use in bed.

All travel pillows should provide support and comfort, and you should be able to pack them down small enough to carry with you through an airport or on a train. To see what products were up to par, we tested 21 travel pillows over four weeks as we spent time in planes, trains, and cars. We looked for comfort, quality, portability, durability, and overall value.

Final Verdict

How we tested, other travel pillows we tested.

What to Look For

Why Trust TripSavvy

Best overall, cabeau evolution classic travel pillow.

Comfort 5 /5
Quality 4.5 /5
Portability 5 /5
Durability 5 /5

Highly supportive material

Helps maintain natural C-spine shape

Easy-to-clean cover

Attaches to carry-on

Not as supportive for taller people

Material runs warm

Doesn’t pack down

The Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow has a responsive memory foam core, which we determined is what makes this neck pillow rise above the rest. Whether it's propping your head up while sleeping or supporting your neck while watching a movie, it feels like a cloud of softness and comfort that conforms to support your shape.

The design is your traditional C-shape, but with raised sides to keep your neck up and a flattened rear to avoid pushing your C-spine forward. We thought the memory foam felt neither excessively firm nor too soft, but worked well to hold our head up comfortably when sleeping. Moreover, it bounced back to its original shape after we used it for over two hours.

The pillow doesn't deflate, but it has a clasp that keeps it from slipping around your neck and makes it easy to latch the pillow onto your bag when not in use. It comes with a soft cover that's removable and machine washable. Not only is it affordable, it's also better designed than most competitors at the same price point.

Dimensions: 9.5 x 10 x 5 inches | Weight: 11.6 ounces | Material: Polyurethane core, velour cover

TripSavvy / Daniela Galvez

Best Overall, Runner-Up

J-pillow chin-supporting neck pillow.

Quality 5 /5

Super comfortable with a memory foam core

Packs down (carrying case included)

User-friendly

Doesn’t secure in place to prevent slippage

Less intuitive for the middle seat

This neck pillow has a unique J-shape design meant to support your head and neck while leaning against a window or seat in a car, bus, or plane. We found it super supportive while napping on a 19+ hour car trip and quite intuitive to use—one tester's 6-year-old cousin figured out immediately how to position this pillow.

The J-Pillow is lightweight, easy to move around, soft, and plush. It features memory foam, which is why it feels so supportive, and it has a machine-washable, cuddly, soft cover. The pillow is also quite durable and maintains its shape no matter the damage: We squished it under all the luggage in a trunk and it bounced right back to shape and didn't get any snags.

Bonus: It comes with a stuff bag that you can tie around luggage, making the awkward shape much easier to travel with.

Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 13 inches | Weight: 8.16 ounces | Material: Memory foam core, polyester blend cover

TripSavvy / Jennifer May

Best Budget

Cloudz microbead travel neck pillow.

Quality 4 /5

Great quality for the price

Easy to travel with

Two fabric options for hot/cold

Cover isn’t removable or washable

During testing, we found this classic donut-shaped neck pillow comfortable, supportive, lightweight, and soft but sturdy. The core has millions of tiny microbeads and is covered with super soft, plush fabric on one side and cooling spandex on the other, depending on what you need most during your travels.

The pillow features a snap closure in front that helps keep your neck from falling forward and makes the pillow easy to attach to your bag for transport. During our tests, we specifically liked this pillow for neck support while switching between napping and reading or using a computer on long flights or train rides. And, despite being just $20, it also felt very high quality.

While it didn't tear or snag during our travels, it’s worth noting that if you were to catch this on a door or snag it somehow, the millions of microbeads in the filling would come pouring out.

Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 4 inches | Weight: 7 ounces | Material: Polyester, polyester blend

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow

Portability 4 /5

Recycled materials

Flat design like a bed pillow

Versatile use

Doesn't specifically contour to the neck

Not the most compact when stowed

The Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow is ideal if you value having something akin to an actual pillow, but small enough for traveling. The traditional rectangle is filled with upcycled chunks of foam from excess camping sleeping pad material, with a soft insulation layer on top to keep the surface from feeling lumpy. You can pull the drawcord string to cinch the pillow to your desired firmness.

We found this pillow incredibly comfortable, with a real pillow feel that was ideal for everything from flights and camping to sleeping at home. We liked the soft and breathable exterior, which was perfect for warm weather and hot plane rides. The pillow packs down into itself and you can use the drawcord to tie the pillow onto a suitcase or backpack.

Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 5 inches (small) | Weight: 7 ounces (small) | Material: Polyester fiber core, polyester cover

Best Splurge

Ostrichpillow go neck pillow.

Cool, minimalist design

Incredibly comfortable for long flights

Very compact when put away

Velcro might catch on clothes or hair

The Ostrich pillow is a simple and sleek design, with one sleeve of high-density memory foam that wraps around your neck with high sides to rest your cheek on and Velcro security in front. We found this design extremely comfortable, to the point that it felt like wrapping a marshmallow around our neck or sleeping on a cloud. We found it supportive for the neck, chin, and head while sitting in the middle seat on a flight, and it even kept our neck and back pain-free on a long international flight.

The memory foam is incredibly soft and plush, and the design is very accommodating among different-sized people who tested it. This pillow also has an appealing, modern design that looks more refined while wearing it than other options we've seen. One of us, who is already a hot sleeper, did report that the pillow was a little warm on a long international flight, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

What's more, it packs down super small, compressing to 60 percent of its size into an included stuff bag, which makes it easy to stash in your carry-on bag .

Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.7 x 2.7 inches | Weight: 14.8 ounces | Material: Memory foam core, viscose cover

Tripsavvy / Susan Brickell

Best Cooling

Cabeau evolution cool pillow.

Accommodates large headphones

Good balance between softness and support

Packs down small

May be too firm for some

The Cabeau Evolution Neck Pillow follows a C-shape design but with one significant difference: The top and bottom inch have memory foam for optimal neck support, while the middle is made with mesh vents to keep you cool.

Our testing found this design to be super supportive and firm without being too hard, and that the airy, cooling design worked as promised. The curved sections on each side are also designed to wear over-the-ear headphones comfortably. The pillow is lightweight and packs into a circular carrying case that's easy to attach to your luggage. Plus, the pillow maintains its shape even after being rolled and unrolled over and over.

We found that even though this pillow runs nearly $60, it's worth it if you need firm support to sleep comfortably while traveling—especially in a middle seat.

Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 5 inches | Weight: 12.7 ounces | Material: Memory foam

Best Memory Foam

Aeris memory foam travel pillow.

Comfort 4.5 /5
Durability 4.5 /5

Super supportive

Compact when not in use

Comes with earplugs and eye mask

Requires effort to get into case

Made from ultra-supportive and contouring memory foam, it's no surprise that we found the Aeris Travel Pillow to be super firm and have excellent neck support. The memory foam is stiffer but still feels soft and comfortable to sink into. The sides come up high to provide an excellent chin rest when sleeping. We loved how we could lean back in the car or plane and the back of our neck wasn't against the headrest, which made for a comfortable nap. This neck pillow has a drawstring cord to secure it on any size neck.

The cotton cover is removable and machine washable. The whole pillow folds down small into a carrying case, which has the added feature of a side pocket to hold the included earplugs and eye mask.

Dimensions: 12.8 x 11.73 x 5.16 inches | Weight: 12.8 ounces | Material: Memory foam core; 80 percent velour, 20 percent polyester cover

TripSavvy / Anna Popp

Gingerlily Silk Travel Pillow

Portability 3 /5
Value 3.5 /5

Keeps skin and hair looking great

Big enough to use as a normal pillow

Quality materials and construction

Matching laundry bag, eye mask, and neck pillow available

Carrying case sold separately

Not particularly compact

Retailing for almost $100 more than our overall winner, there’s no doubt that the Gingerlily Silk Travel Pillow is a splurge. However, it’s made from the finest mulberry silk, giving it an ultra-soft, smooth texture that helps to prevent wrinkles and protect your hair. We used ours on a five-hour Amtrak journey and loved that it kept a blowout looking sleek. The pillow may be expensive, but so is finding a salon on vacation (and there’s no price to be put on wrinkle-free skin!).

The pillow is also made to last with high-quality materials and stitching. By the time we finished testing, it still looked brand new, and we felt that it would be a long time before it began to flatten. At 12 by 16 inches, this isn’t a full-size pillow, but neither is it the most portable option. This means you’ll need a significant amount of space in your carry-on or purse to tote it around, but on the flip side, being large enough to use for a regular night’s sleep at your destination adds to its overall value. Choose yours in sophisticated navy or pink and ivory stripes.

Dimensions: 12 x 16 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Mulberry silk cover, silk and polyester core

Best Support

Cabeau evolution s3 travel pillow.

Durability 4 /5

Unique chin strap for unrivaled support

Soft, washable cover

Folds compactly into included case

Holds up well to intense travel

Can feel a little restrictive at first

Standing for “The Neck’s Evolution,” the TNE S3 from Cabeau features a patent-pending, totally unique chin strap designed to hold your head and neck firmly in place to prevent uncomfortable “bobblehead” syndrome. Other design features include raised side supports, a flattened back for greater comfort when leaning against your airplane seat, and an opening at the front of the neck for effective heat dispersal. Adjustable straps allow you to secure the pillow to any high-back seat.

The interior is made from supportive memory foam, while the removable, washable cover features a soft, cozy fabric that held up well to our 12-day testing trip around Japan and South Korea . Despite using it almost constantly on different modes of transport, it looked good as new when we got home and only lost a slight degree of softness after washing. We especially liked that the pillow folds in half to fit inside a compact carry case, which has a clip for attaching it to your suitcase. There are seven bright colors to choose from.

Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.3 x 11 inches | Weight: 14 ounces | Material: Memory foam core; polyester, microsuede, birdseye mesh cover

The Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow is exceptionally supportive, conforms to the natural curvature of the neck, and features a removable cover that is easy to clean. Also tying for the top pick, the J-Pillow Chin-Supporting Neck Pillow features an innovative design that delivers comfort and comes with an easy-to-carry stuff bag.

To determine the best travel pillows, we considered how easy the pillow was to set up and use out of the box, how the material felt to touch, how durable the material was against wear and tear, and how easy it was to clean. We put each pillow through a series of tests on plane, train, bus, or car rides exceeding two hours . During travel, we considered how supportive and comfortable the pillow was, how the fabric felt, how it made our neck feel, how easy it was to pack or compress, and whether it had any exceptional features that made traveling more comfortable.

Here are some of the other travel pillows we tested that fell short of our favorites list.

Trtl Pillow : For the price, this travel pillow didn't provide nearly enough neck support and not only felt flimsy but actually caused us pain during a 3.5-hour flight. Putting the wrap on was incredibly awkward and the fleece felt too stuffy riding in a car.

BCozzy Neck Pillow : This pillow has a unique wraparound design intended to create a double layer of cushion. However, it was too thick during testing to double up comfortably. It was definitely durable and well made, but not comfortable enough to recommend purchasing.

Ostrich Pillow Light Versatile : This pillow has comfortable, T-shirt-like fabric outside and a supportive, memory foam feel when you press on it. But the circular nature of the design just didn't work in testing to support the neck and head in a way that was also comfortable to sleep.

Cabeau Evolution S3 Memory Foam Travel Pillow : This memory foam pillow is supportive and soft, and it features mesh around the neck to keep you cool, as well as suede around the face to keep you cozy. Overall, this pillow is well made, thoughtfully designed, and comfortable enough for us to nap with on an 11-hour flight. It didn't fit into any single best category, but we recommend it nonetheless.

TripSavvy / Erin Johnson

Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow : This pillow's main selling point is that it rolls down super small for packability. But outside of that, we found little reason to buy it. It wasn't comfortable to sit or sleep with, caused us neck pain, the material was too plastic-y, and it's overall just confusing to use.

MLVOC Travel Neck Pillow Set : Our testing found this travel pillow too stiff to find a comfortable fit, not providing support to the head and neck, and allowing the head to bob from side to side. It also requires effort to stuff into the travel bag.

Samsonite Microbead 3-in-1 Neck Travel Pillow : This pillow features tiny beads, so it's not stiff like memory foam, but it didn't provide much support during testing unless our head was against a window. There isn't much support on the back of the neck, either. Overall, you can snag something more supportive for the price.

AirComfy Daydreamer Inflatable Neck Travel Pillow : This inflatable travel pillow isn't very comfortable once filled with air and was too small to fit in the crook of our neck comfortably. The surface gets dirty quickly and the plastic material was uncomfortable against the face. In short: Skip.

Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Travel Pillow : This pillow has a soft, velvety cover and feels very firm with its memory foam core. We thought it might be too firm for some, but personally found it comfortable around the neck or leaning on for a window. For the price, it's well-made and a solid choice.

Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow : Filled with memory foam, this pillow has certain joints that twist into different shapes for personalized comfort. We found it to be thick and comfortable, but the bending nature tends to straighten slowly over time, so you'll have to readjust the position regularly.

Hest Pillow : This pillow packs down super small and then unfolds to be filled with shredded memory foam and polyester. Zippered access lets you adjust the loft to what you prefer, and we found it to be super comfortable and plush to sleep on. It's great for car trips and excellent for a full-size pillow versus a neck pillow, but we wish it came with a way to attach to luggage for air travel and that it was a bit lighter.

What to Look For in a Travel Pillow

You can find a comfortable neck pillow for just $20, but depending on your physiology, needs, and preferences, a pillow in the $40 to $60 range might be more comfortable. The price should correlate with design and features: A more expensive pillow should have a more streamlined design and features that make it worth more money due to better comfort, packability, and durability.

Most travel pillows come in one of two styles: Some kind of donut- or C-shaped neck pillow and a rectangular, small pillow that looks like what you use on your bed.

A well-designed donut- or C-shaped pillow is ideal for keeping your spine aligned and preventing your head from jutting forward or falling back as you sit and sleep for hours while traveling. It should have support on all sides to keep your head from bobbing or your chin from falling. This style of pillow is ideal if you spend most of your travel time sitting up, whether working on a computer or trying to sleep in a middle seat (versus a window).

A rectangular pillow is ideal if you’re lying down in a car, train, or airplane, or if your head will be resting against a window. It’s also ideal if you want one item to do double duty, as you can use this travel pillow at home for a lumbar pillow or toddler pillow, or while camping. A rectangular pillow should feature materials that support your head and neck, and ideally have a customizable loft so you can adjust how thick or thin it depends on your sleep style to maintain that spinal alignment between your head and neck.

As we’ve said, a travel pillow’s primary purpose is to keep you comfortable and pain-free while in transit, which means it needs to be able to keep your head and neck in spinal alignment. That means the best travel pillow will be adjustable since some people need it tighter, looser, thicker, or thinner.

Your travel pillow should have a machine-washable cover that you can remove and clean like any pillowcase. Let the cover air dry to prevent any shrinkage.

Travel pillows make sleeping more comfortable, usually making sleeping easier. A good travel pillow should provide support for your head and neck in a way that maintains cervical spinal alignment. Being out of alignment (with your head jutting forward, back, or to one side) is associated with the neck, shoulder, and back, and can make it very uncomfortable to sleep (not to mention not great for your musculature).

The most common way people wear these classic travel pillows is with the clasp in the front and the back of the "C" at the back of the neck. If you reverse this position, you may find it much more supportive and comfortable. Whichever orientation offers you the most comfort—and therefore facilitates rest—is the correct way.

Rachael Schultz is a fitness and outdoor product journalist based in Carbondale, Colorado. Growing up in and around cities on the East Coast, she wasn't taught how to backpack or ski as a kid, which means that as she moved West and her passion for the outdoors grew in adulthood, so did her research skills around what exactly one needed to buy to get outside. Now an avid mountain biker, skier, hiker, and camper, she's endlessly fascinated by and knowledgeable about the nuances of materials, performance, and convenience of outdoor gear. She's lucky enough to test everything from women's ski bibs to ultralight backpacking gear to camping cocktail kits. Rachael is passionate about making the outdoors just as accessible to those who haven't spent much time under the stars as those who grew up enjoying it, and that includes having the right gear to stay happy and motivated to head out again as soon as possible.

Journal of physical therapy science vol. 35,2 (2023): “ Changes in neck pain and somatic symptoms before and after the adjustment of the pillow height .” 106-113. doi:10.1589/jpts.35.106

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The 11 Very Best Travel Pillows

Because in-flight sleep is possible, even in the middle seat..

While buying a travel pillow at the airport is always an option, I’ve been sleeping much better on planes since I started planning my in-flight sleep routine ahead of time. A good travel pillow also suits your sleeping position, especially if you’re a side sleeper who tends to get stuck in the dreaded middle seat. It should pair well with a light-blocking eye mask as well as earplugs to drown out engine noise. And the best travel pillows are not only comfortable but also easy to pack — they shouldn’t be a nuisance once you arrive at your destination.

To find travel pillows for every kind of sleeper and traveler, my fellow Strategist travel writer, Rachael Griffiths, and I asked frequent fliers for their picks, then tested those out for ourselves on both long-haul and domestic flights. We also spoke to chiropractors about the science behind travel pillows. While you’re here, you may want to check out my guides to the best carry-on luggage and the best refillable toiletry bottles .

What we’re looking for

First, consider the type of travel pillow you’re interested in: U-shaped versions that go around the neck or traditional flat pillows that have been shrunken down for portability are most common. U-shaped pillows are designed to prevent lateral bending in the neck — “It’s that move to sort of pinch the cell phone between your shoulder and ear,” says Dr. Carla Fischer , the director of quality and patient safety at NYU Langone Spine Center. That bending to the side, she says, is the most important thing to prevent, but not everyone sleeps in the same position or has the same concerns, so I’ve included several styles in this story.

Below you’ll find pillows made with memory foam, filled with beads, or are inflatable — each of which has its own pros. Dr. Claire Fitzpatrick, founder of Bed-Stuy Chiropractic, believes that memory foam is the most “accommodating” when it comes to travel. When I asked her what she meant, she explained that “if you get a medium to medium-firm memory-foam sort of pillow, it accommodates you, but it doesn’t let you dig into it too much.”

When it comes to thickness “the sides should come up to the height of your earlobes,” says Wainani Arnold , founder of the Wainani Wellness Center and in-flight wellness expert for Hawaiian Airlines. “The back of the neck pillow should be flat or only as thick as the distance between the back of your neck to the back of your head (one to two inches). If it is too thick in the back, the pillow will push your neck forward from the chair too much and will potentially dump your head back, which is not ideal for your neck.”

Packability

Between a carry-on and a personal item, both stuffed to the brim, finding room for something as large as a pillow can be cumbersome. The most packable among travel pillows are the inflatable ones. Others filled with memory foam or cotton are a little trickier to deal with — but are likely more comfortable. This is a trade-off, depending on how long your flight is. And often, neck pillows often have a snap closure at the front that can easily be used to secure it to the handle of your suitcase.

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: No fill | Thickness: Thin | Packability: Easy

This is the travel pillow I use when I journey from New York City to my hometown of Perth, Western Australia. That’s about 23 hours of flying, and I’ll spend at least half of that time sleeping peacefully thanks to the Trtl. This device is like a scarf crossed with an Elizabethan collar and achieves the main goal of a neck pillow — preventing lateral bending in the neck — thanks to the plastic brace stowed inside its padding. You can adjust this brace and choose which side you prefer nodding off toward.

Griffiths is also a Trtl fan. “The first time I tested out the Trtl, I was out like a light,” she says. “The brace’s angle hits just right: There is no sloping so much that your neck bends unnaturally, but it’s supportive enough for you to relax into a decent sleep.” Lauren Maternowski, editor at Pack Hacker, likes that it allows her to fully lean against the seat’s headrest, and former Strategist staffer Rosie Percy also found that with the adjustable Trtl she was “able to sleep through a flight for the first time in my adult life, touching down feeling refreshed and without a crick in my neck.” The Points Guy’s travel editor, Madison Blancaflor, says the Trtl is the only way to survive long-haul flights in economy. And Scott Keyes of Going (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights) also echoes all this praise: “What I like about it is its versatility. It lets you sleep decently even if you’re in the middle seat, and this one is small enough to easily tuck into your backpack.”

Best less-expensive travel pillow

Samsonite Magic 2-in-1 Travel Pillow with Pocket in Charcoal

Shape: Neck and lumbar pillow | Fill: Not listed | Thickness: 2 inches | Packability: Average

If you aren’t exactly sure if you’ll need neck support or lumbar support, a convertible pillow like this might be your best bet. This neck pillow folds up into a square-shaped pillow that can then be used on your lower back or up against a window. It can also be rolled up into the built-in pocket for storage — which is great for saving space and also shielding the pillow from any germs in the airport. Taryn White of The Trip Wish List tells me it has teeny pockets for earbuds, gum, and mints, a big pro if you usually find yourself rummaging around to find your essentials mid-flight. It has a less convenient hook (compared to a strap) to secure it to your luggage, but the snaps that close the front of the pillow provide another option for strapping it on. I couldn’t track down the fill used in this pillow, but the general consensus from reviewers is that it is “firm but not too hard for me and my aching neck” (according to one reviewer on the Bed,Bath & Beyond website).

Best memory-foam travel neck pillow

Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Memory foam | Thickness: 5 inches | Packability: Easy

I’ll admit that sometimes I cheat on my Trtl with Cabeau’s more traditional-looking travel pillow, which is a vast improvement on the ones you can buy at the airport. It’s a U shape, but with slightly raised sides to stop your head from slumping (and supports your jaw to prevent open-mouth breathing, says travel blogger Carmen Sognovi ). It’s made from memory foam, and it has a flattened back, which allows it to be flush with the chair. This helps your spine align with the chair for more comfort (according to Fitzpatrick). But the best feature is the adjustable strap that fastens the travel pillow to a headrest — which prevents you from flopping forward once you’re sound asleep. Once I’m locked into my Cabeau, I have no choice but to sleep, and I’ve successfully snored away for countless hours while wearing it. I’ll also note that while it takes up more space than the Trtl, the Cabeau stuffs easily into a surprisingly chic circular bag that clips to the outside of my backpack or over the luggage handle of my suitcase.

Best inflatable travel neck pillow

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: Adjustable | Easy to pack

The same brand also makes an inflatable version of its travel pillow — and though I generally don’t like inflatable pillows, this one is a good option. It inflates to five inches thick but is just the size of a soda can when deflated. Just like the memory-foam pillow, this one has a flat back to help keep your neck in line with the seat, and it has a neck strap to keep your head super-stable. “They are a bit higher than most neck pillows and have a special toggle you can connect and tighten so the pillow doesn’t fall off,” says Jennifer Lachs of Digital Nomad Girls . Lachs admits that the memory-foam pillow above is “even more comfortable,” but the inflatable is better if you want to travel light. (Initially, I thought that inflatable was synonymous with adjustable — the more air you put in, the taller it will be, and less air will make it less firm — but Fischer said it’s a bad idea to not fill up these pillows all the way, as that’s not how they were designed to be used.)

Best inflatable travel lumbar pillow

Shape: Lumbar pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: 2 inches | Packability: Easy

Here’s a different type of travel pillow — it’s designed for lumbar (rather than neck) support. As a WFH-er who’s rather particular about ergonomic office chairs , I notice the lack of lumbar support on airport seats whether it’s long- or short-haul flights. “In a proper chair, the lumbar part should actually push out to support that curve in your low back, but they don’t do that on planes, because if they did, it would affect their seating, so a lot of them curve in,” says Dr. Jared Hoffman of Williamsburg Chiropractic . His recommended solution is this pillow that inflates to two inches thick and reduces stress on the joints and discs of your lower back by supporting that lower-back curve. Hoffman not only recommends it to patients but says “this I have used personally and I think it’s one of the best products I’ve come across.” And as it’s inflatable, it’s super-easy to travel with — just deflate and roll into your bag once you disembark.

Best travel pillow for the middle seat

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: 3.5 inches | Packability: Easy

This inflatable pillow is worn like a sash, and it gives you something to loll your head against (apart from the person sitting next to you). On a recent flight to Italy, Griffiths chose the dreaded middle seat on purpose to see how well the Travelrest really works. “I’m obsessed with this hideous inflatable golf club,” says travel writer Teddy Minford, who first told us about the unique travel pillow. “It creates something to lean against, even if you’re in the middle seat.” After testing it, Griffiths agrees with Minford that the pillow gives you something to rest your head against — and she successfully managed to get a few hours of sleep on her early flight. Though she felt herself sloping a little toward the side she was resting on, she was overall impressed with how much the pillow improved the usually uncomfortable experience of middle seating. It was also super-easy to transport: When deflated, it rolls up to the size of an iPhone.

Best travel pillow for the window seat

Shape: Head and neck pillow | Fill: Polyester filling | Thickness: 3 inches | Packability: Easy

The aptly named J-Pillow has a main body that supports the crook of your neck and a cushion extending below the chin to stop your head sliding forward. Mercedes Arielle is a window-seat person and says the J-Pillow is best at cradling her head, shoulder, and chin on flights. For Arielle, that three-pronged support is essential “because I rest my head against the window so I can maximize every inch of my window seat.” Griffiths tried one, too, and liked how the chin cushion didn’t extend too far around her neck and the main body of the pillow opened up in a V-shape so she could really wedge her head inside. The material felt more luxurious than the average travel pillow as well — it has a fleecy lining that you can nuzzle down into. It has become her go-to for train journeys, because it’s cushy enough to absorb the vibrations of the tracks. You can compress the pillow to half its size in a carry bag, then use its loops to attach it to your luggage.

Best travel pillow for tray-table sleeping

Shape: Head pillow | Fill: Polystyrene microbeads | Thickness: Not listed | Packability: Challenging

Mid-overnight flight, the tray table can begin to look very tempting — but it’s far from a comfortable or stable surface. For some extra padding, Fitzpatrick likes this pillow that’s more like a helmet. It covers all sides, including the forehead, so it can be used in a number of situations. There is a hole for your mouth so you can breathe, but otherwise it’s a pillow, eye mask, and noise-canceling headphones all in one. Once out of the box, however, it could be cumbersome to travel with.

Best pillow for traveling with kids

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Polyester filling | Thickness: Not listed | Packability: Easy

The Huzi pillow, like an extremely plush scarf, can wrap around your neck or lower back — or even both at the same time — to create a highly customized, optimum sleeping position. Writer and mom-of-one Chantel Tattoli says that this pillow is her foolproof method for traveling with her child. She notes it has an almost mystical effect on her daughter on long flights. “Generally, she seems to accord a magical ‘fairy ring’ quality to this fluffy circle, as if once she’s thrown it over her, she’s staked some space in which things are pretty good,” says Tattoli. The Huzi’s design makes it a great pick for those with scoliosis, too. “Even mild scoliosis can affect your comfortable position in a tight seat,” says Fitzpatrick. “The adjustable lemniscate-type pillows can be good for this.” Wearing it through the airport like a scarf also makes it easy to carry, but if you’d rather throw it in your bag, it rolls up neatly into a little ball.

Best travel knee pillow

Circa Air Inflatable Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers

Shape: Knee pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: Adjustable | Packability: Easy

Some people can’t fall asleep without a knee pillow — musician Waxahatchee is one of them, and this used to present a problem when she went on tour for months at a time. Because a plush pillow is hard to pack, she found this inflatable one that she says has been life-changing. It takes just three big breaths to blow up and is surprisingly soft. “I don’t overinflate it — I leave a little bit of air out of it so it has a bit of squish,” she says.

Best stuffable travel pillow

Cosy Collection The Nab (Neck and Bag) Pillow Stuffable with Clothes

Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: User’s choice | Thickness: Adjustable | Packability: Average

If you’re flying on a budget airline and trying to pack light , you could opt for this stuffable travel pillow as a way of sneaking extra clothes onto the plane. Jasmine Anderson and Natasha Wilson (travel agents and co-hosts of the podcast Travel Fly Sexy ) both recommend it. “It’s a great hack because you can fit extra T-shirts, shorts, and swimwear into something that no one is looking at you sideways for because it’s a pillow,” says Wilson. And while there are numerous versions of this kind of pillow on the market, I especially like this one because it is covered in a plush fabric for extra comfort and clips at the front for extra neck support.

Some more travel pillows we’ve written about

Our experts

• Jasmine Anderson , co-host, Travel Fly Sexy • Mercedes Arielle, fashion and travel blogger at Calculated Opulence • Wainani Arnold, founder of the Wainani Wellness Center and in-flight wellness expert for Hawaiian Airlines • Katie Crutchfield, musician, Waxahatchee • Dr. Carla Fischer, director of quality and patient safety at NYU Langone Spine Center • Dr. Claire Fitzpatrick, founder of Bed-Stuy Chiropractic • Dr. Jared Hoffman, Williamsburg Chiropractic • Scott Keyes, Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) • Jennifer Lachs, founder of Digital Nomad Girls • Kat Lopez, freelance writer • Lauren Maternowski, editor at Pack Hacker • Teddy Minford, travel writer • Rosie Percy, former Strategist associate director of e-commerce-audience-development strategy • Dr. Rebecca Robbins , sleep specialist and Harvard Medical School instructor • Stella Shon, writer at The Points Guy • Carmen Sognovi , travel blogger • Chantel Tattoli , freelance writer • Taryn White, founder of The Trip Wish List • Natasha Wilson , co-host, Travel Fly Sexy

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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5 Best Travel Pillows for 2024

Last Updated on May 14, 2024

Written by Julia Forbes

Written by Julia Forbes, Lead Product Tester

Our testing process.

Here at Sleep Advisor, our Sleep Certified experts use a refined mattress and product testing process to give you unbiased product suggestions… Read our full product review process .

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To ensure an exceptional travel experience, it’s essential to have the finest travel pillow. Discover the top 5 products to enhance your journey.

Travel opens up new horizons and shows you the beauties of the world, but the process itself can be quite stressful and uncomfortable. This is especially true if you’re stuck on a plane for six to eight hours. However, sleeping can help pass the time on a long journey.

Of course, sleeping upright on a plane isn’t ideal—but bringing along a great travel pillow could make things easier for you.

That’s where I come in. I’ll share some top travel pillow picks so you can find something to take on your next trip and sleep with ease.

The Best Travel Pillows: My Top 5 Picks

Editor’s Pick – Cabeau Evolution S3
Best Travel Pillow for Long Flights – BCOZZY Neck Pillow
Best Travel Neck Pillow – trtl Travel Pillow
Best Inflatable Travel Pillow – TRAVELREST Ultimate Travel Pillow
Best Memory Foam Travel Pillow – TravelMate Memory Foam Neck Pillow

My Video Review of The Best Travel Pillows

The Best Travel Pillows, Reviewed

Editor’s pick.

Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow

A fresh take on the classic wraparound travel pillow, the Cabeau Evolution S3 supports your head and neck from all sides.

Sleep Advisor Score

Why the cabeau evolution s3 earned editor’s pick.

The Cabeau Evolution S3 has an appropriate name, as this is a highly evolved neck pillow with all the right stuff for comfortable travel. At first blush, it has the same horseshoe shape that you’ve seen many times before. But it’s the subtle upgrades—like the raised side cushions, the headrest straps, and the sturdy feel of the foam—that earned it the title of best travel pillow overall.

What I Liked

No lolling to the side – The Cabeau’s chunky design is intentional: it gives you 360-degree head support. When I tilted my head to the side, it didn’t lean very far at all. Instead, it was supported by the raised cushions on the left and right.
Headrest straps – The straps on the back of this pillow enable you to attach it to the headrest of your seat, so it shouldn’t slip down as you snooze.

Potential Drawbacks

Shrinks to half its size but no more – Because this is a memory foam travel pillow, it won’t shrink down for storage as much as an inflatable one. It compresses quite a bit to fit in a convenient carrying case, though.

Best Travel Pillow for Long Flights

BCOZZY Neck Pillow

A flexible travel pillow that can be wrapped and bent into cozy shapes that accommodate different sleeping positions.

Why BCOZZY Neck Pillow Earned Best Travel Pillow for Long Flights

If you’re going to spend hours on a plane, you’ll want a travel pillow that can support your neck in a variety of positions. The BCOZZY is a super flexible option that looks almost like a warm scarf, but has lots of built-in support.

You can wrap it fully around your neck if you’re going to be leaning forward, or pile it on top of itself if you’d like to lean on it to your left or right. I had a lot of fun testing all the possible variations with this one!

Flexible – You can modify the BCOZZY depending on where you need the most support (your chin, your neck, or the side of your head). This comes in handy if you’re a restless sleeper on planes, or if you have multiple flights with different kinds of seats on each.
Lots of colors and sizes – There’s a full rainbow of colors to choose from with this travel pillow, as well as both kid and adult sizes to fit a wide range of necks.
May need lots of adjusting – If you struggle to find just the right position when you sleep, you may need to work a bit to arrange the BCOZZY around your neck. The velcro that keeps it closed and stable also limits how tight or loose it can be.

Best Travel Neck Pillow

trtl Pillow

A scarf-like travel pillow with pleasantly bracing neck and head support.

Why the trtl Travel Pillow Earned Best Travel Neck Pillow

A sore neck can definitely put a damper on your vacation. For awesome neck support during travel, I recommend the trtl—a travel pillow with some of the best neck support I’ve encountered so far. The support comes from a specially designed “flipper” inside the pillow’s fabric, which should hold your chin up and bolster your head, keeping your airway clear and your spinal alignment ideal.

Really reliable neck support – Because this pillow has a more robust support system than most, it felt like it would hold my neck and head up securely for long periods of time.
Extremely lightweight – The trtl is easy to fold up and store once you take the support flipper out of it, and it weighs next to nothing.
A bit more costly – At around $60, this travel pillow is one of the more expensive options on this list. But its design is so different—and so effective—that I think it’s priced pretty fairly.

Best Inflatable Travel Pillow

Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow

A long inflatable travel pillow that enables users to “side sleep” even when they don’t have a window seat or ledge to rest on.

Why the TRAVELREST Ultimate Travel Pillow Earned Best Inflatable Travel Pillow

Compared to the other travel pillows on this list, the TRAVELREST Ultimate Travel Pillow looks quite unique. It has a long, tapering design that can go across or next to your entire upper body, allowing you to lean to one side even if you didn’t get the window seat on your flight. (You can also hug it for an extra feeling of security!)

Lots of coverage – This pillow almost felt like it was holding me while it was also supporting my head and neck. It’s the only pillow I tried that extended all the way across my torso.
Big when inflated, tiny when stored – Even though it inflates to an impressive height, when it’s deflated, this travel pillow rolls up neatly and discreetly.
You have to inflate it yourself – Before you can use this travel pillow, you’ll have to inflate it. But I found that it only took a few hearty breaths before it was ready to go.

Best Memory Foam Travel Pillow

TravelMate Neck Support Travel Pillow

A memory foam travel pillow with a removable insert that adjusts its thickness and feel.

Why the TravelMate Memory Foam Neck Pillow Earned Best Memory Foam Travel Pillow

If you like the luxurious feel of memory foam, TravelMate has a portable pillow that should feel indulgent while you’re on a plane or in the car. Although it looks like a classic travel pillow, it has a bonus customization feature: a removable foam insert that changes its thickness and feel. I enjoyed the soft feel of its washable cover almost as much my neck and head appreciated the plush foam inside.

Budget-friendly for memory foam – This travel pillow is often on sale and costs a bit less than most of the others I tested for this roundup. That said, its foam still feels soft and luxurious.
Elastic strap – A small elastic strap on the side of the pillow means it’s easy to clip it to your luggage or backpack.
No bells and whistles – With the exception of its removable insert, this travel pillow doesn’t have any features that break the mold. If you’re looking for a more innovative model, revisit the travel pillows above.

Who Should Consider Buying a Travel Pillow?

A travel pillow is a small pillow you can take with you on trips to help you sleep during the journey. Travel pillows help support the head and neck for those times when you have to sleep upright. Because they’re designed specifically for traveling, they often have a unique shape or design that works for this purpose.

Travel pillows are excellent for those who travel often, as well as anyone who likes to sleep while en route to their destination.

How to Choose a Travel Pillow

An airplane pillow could make the difference between a relaxed sleep throughout your flight and an uncomfortable struggle that leaves you tired and with a strained neck.

If you’re unsure of what to look for in a travel pillow, I’ll guide you through specific features and qualities you need to know in the selection process.

Inflatable or Not?

Inflatable travel pillows tend to be far more convenient in terms of portability as they take up little to no space in your luggage or backpack. This is the main reason why a lot of people prefer them. At the same time, though, they tend to allow air to get out and flatten out quickly upon applying continuous pressure.

Noninflatable pillows, on the other hand, tend to be bulkier and more challenging to carry as they take up more space. However, the upside to these ones is that many of them are made of conforming memory foam , which is particularly comfortable and supportive.

In other words – it’s a trade-off based on your preferences. If you want to get something portable and you’re willing to sacrifice some of the stability, go for an inflated unit and vice versa.

This would depend on the neck pillow that you’d want to get. Inflatable travel pillows are usually made of polyurethane-based materials, which are easily folded and packaged. They are soft and very comfortable.

On the other hand, the wide majority of non-inflated airplane travel pillows are made out of conforming memory foam. They deliver better comfort and support to your neck, and most of them are going to capture the unintentional tilting of your head in every direction when you sleep in a sitting position.

Neck Support

This is the single, most important thing that you would have to take into account when you are purchasing an airplane pillow. Unless you have the luxury that comes with expensive first-class exclusive tickets to have a bed on board, you would have to sleep in a sitting position.

This is going to make your head tilt with the natural movements of the plane or any other type of transportation method. As such, the most pressure throughout your sleep would be forced on your neck. That’s why you should be looking for a pillow that’s going to deliver enhanced neck support.

If you also need this at home, check out our top-quality pillows for neck pain .

Airplane Sleep Position

Your sleeping position is going to be determined by the type of travel pillow you decide on. Some people prefer to rest their head on the back headrest, and they would benefit the most from a regular, u-shaped neck pillow.

Others tend to tilt their head quite a lot and could be better off with a pillow that’s capable of capturing forward tilting motions as well.

Long or Short Flight?

If you’re going on a longer flight, you might benefit more from an inflated neck travel pillow as it would take little to no space in your baggage. The assumption is that you’d have to take quite a lot of personal items, and the last thing you’d want is to get half of your suitcase filled with a pillow.

On the other hand, if the flight’s shorter and you can afford to take less luggage, you might consider a non-inflated and bulkier neck pillow.

Some people also opt to wear their noninflatable pillow around their neck to save space in their luggage.

Feel & Comfort

Comfort is always important when traveling, especially if you plan on sleeping during the ride. If you need a firm pillow for optimal comfort, then you want to make sure your pillow has this quality.

Along with overall comfort, you should also consider the pillow’s feel. Do you usually prefer softer pillows with more sinkage or firmer models that offer more support? Think about the materials and how they might feel on the skin.

Having a set budget helps narrow down the options because there are many travel pillows out there. Some are more expensive than others, so having an idea of how much you’re willing to spend can make it easier to choose. Luckily, the market is also packed with affordable options, so you don’t have to break the bank to have a comfortable travel pillow for your traveling.

Trial, Warranty, & Return Policy

Many travel pillows come with a trial, allowing you to test how they fit your needs and preferences for a certain period. This can be anywhere between 30 and 90 days, depending on the particular pillow and brand.

However, you should also read the fine print in case you need to return the item. Some companies allow free returns, while others require you to pay a return fee.

Generally, travel pillows come with a warranty that usually lasts at least a year. Again, you should verify this before purchasing anything in the event of a product defect.

Cleaning & Care

How you’ll clean your new travel pillow depends on the particular pillow you buy. In other words, not all travel pillows require the same cleaning and care because they’re not made from the same materials.

Some models have a removable, machine-washable cover, while others allow spot-cleaning only. Nonetheless, most models are easy to clean.

Types of Pillows for Travel

Inflatable pillow – This pillow is available in various shapes, but the fact that it’s inflatable makes it extra convenient. You can inflate it within minutes, and it takes up minimal space when deflated.
U-shaped pillow – U-shaped pillows are the traditional, most commonly used option. This is a versatile pillow that works for leaning against the window or sleeping on the tray table.
Foam pillow – This pillow comes in various shapes but has a foam filling that makes it firmer and gives you more support for those bumpy rides.
Bead pillow – A bead pillow has microbeads that give it a softer structure. It’s available in many shapes, including a U shape.
Ergonomic pillow – An ergonomic pillow is designed for maximum support and comfort, especially around the neck area. These are excellent for long trips.

Best Travel Pillow FAQs

Yes, travel pillows can be helpful for kids, who should get great neck support from them to prevent strain or injury. There are even some travel pillows specially designed for kids.

People who sit next to the window have the advantage of something to lean their head on, even though the window isn’t exactly the most comfortable choice. However, if you’re in the middle or aisle seat, you should definitely get a pillow to support your neck since the head has nothing else to lean on.

Yes, you could experience neck pain if you purchase an inappropriate or low-quality travel pillow for your flight. Ideally, whichever pillow you choose should at least give you adequate neck support.

My Final Thoughts

Failing to get the most appropriate travel pillow for you might result in strain and stiffness. With this in mind, if you pay attention to what’s been mentioned above, you shouldn’t have any issues.

Most importantly, your travel pillow should be able to support your head enough to prevent neck strain, but it’s also helpful to look at other qualities, such as whether or not it’s inflatable and the materials it’s made of.

A great travel pillow can be a lifesaver for those long flights when you have nothing to rest your head against, and it gives you a better shot of actually sleeping through the trip.

Julia Forbes

Lead Product Tester

About Author

Julia is the Lead Reviewer at Sleep Advisor, specializing in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.

Stomach Sleeper

Sources & References:

How To Travel the World Without Jet lag – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Best Travel Pillows for Long-Haul Flights

By Lauren Burvill

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you travel regularly you’ve probably learnt to spot the difference between a frequent flier and a rookie—the most obvious tell-tale sign being a bulky travel pillow, typically carried by an inexperienced flier, hanging from a backpack or being worn (wrongly) around the back of their neck before they even get on the plane. Many of us are guilty of buying one of these beanbag worms from the airport duty-free shop, only to realize that they’re more trouble than they’re actually worth.

Do a little research though—as we’ve done for you here— and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that the humble travel pillow has upped its game recently. Specialized brands like Trtl and BCozzy have entered the market, while pillows that range in shape and materials have popped up on Amazon.

So which ones are actually worth taking on a flight ? We asked our frequent flying editors to test out the most reviewed styles.

How we choose the best travel pillows

Every pillow on this list has been independently tested and reviewed by our editors. When testing, we consider quality, price, unique design features, as well as overall function and visual appeal.

Our top picks:

Best overall travel pillow: Cabeau Evolution S3 travel pillow
Best for neck support: Trtl travel pillow
Best for side sleepers: BCozzy neck pillow
Best budget buy: Dot & Dot Twist memory foam travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: overall comfort

If you're looking for an upgrade to a basic does-the-job travel pillow or suffer from neck or back pain, Cabeau's Evolution S3 travel pillow is the best we've tested so far. The memory foam style has considered everything, from an adjustable toggle clasp to secure the pillow comfortably around your neck, to a handy side pocket—ideal for storing headphones or earplugs. What really sets this pillow apart from the rest are the velcro straps on the back, designed to loop around a plane seat's headrest, helping to keep your head upright and take any pressure off your neck.

Why we love it: “The foam in this pillow is extremely comfortable, but what I love most is that the back of the pillow is flat, so you can sit right up against your seat, unlike the typical travel pillow styles which tend to be round and tilt your neck down slightly. The straps are a great idea, but if you're short it might not be possible to secure to the headrest, so keep that in mind. It also comes in a sleek cylindrical bag that, when clipped onto your carry-on , you’d never even know there was a travel pillow inside." — Sarah Allard , digital editor, Condè Nast Traveller UK

Best travel pillow for: neck support

Less a pillow and more a supportive wrap for your neck, this unique design from Trtl is ideal if you're short on space and weight in your carry-on luggage—it weighs only 4.5 ounces. The pillow is designed to look like a scarf and features a clever curved U-shaped neck support stand that sits under your jaw and is then secured in place by wrapping the fabric around your neck and connecting the velcro.

Why we love it: “I often feel like most typical travel pillows are too bulky and hard to get comfortably on, so I was keen to try this style. It's perfect for keeping your neck upright and avoiding any of the nodding that can happen while asleep. I'll admit, it feels a little strange at first to put it on, but the hypoallergenic fleece is soft and warm. It's a great option not just for plane travel, but also long road trips or train journeys.” — Sarah James , deputy digital editor, Condè Nast Traveller UK

Best travel pillow for: upper body support

This clever crossbody-sling pillow offers neck and head support while allowing you to truly relax and lean to one side to fall asleep. The pillow comes with a cord at the top that can be secured in place by looping over your seat’s headrest. You can wear the pillow on either side across your body, or down one side, creating more of a barrier between you and the person next to you. The pillow is inflatable, too, so it takes up hardly any room in your luggage.

Why we love it: “I really love the shape of this pillow, as it cradles not just your neck, but your whole upper body. Although I usually don’t like inflatable pillows, the rigidity of this style works to make you feel secure while sitting upright.” — Lauren Burvill , senior commerce editor, Condè Nast Traveller UK

Best travel pillow for: red-eye flights

More than just a neck pillow, the Pluto Pod boasts a lightly structured and padded hood, as well as a pull-down eye mask. Do you resemble a bobble-headed, 1950s-style alien when you wear it? Yes, you do. Is it, by far, one of the best travel pillows we've tested? Absolutely.

Why we love it : “The pillow has helped me cut down on my sleeping tools. With the Pod, I can eschew ear plugs and an eye mask because the padded hood dampens noise and the flip-down eye mask blocks almost all light. Sleeping with one is like being inside a mini sensory deprivation tank, except you don’t have to worry about getting wet.” — Juliet Izon , contributor

Read a full review here .

Best travel pillow for: flexibility

Made of memory foam, this twist style pillow can be bent and contoured to almost any shape. Its flexibility means it can be worn in several ways, from around the neck to under your head, shoulders, or even lower back.

Why we love it: “I often toss and turn a lot when trying to get to sleep, so I find I’m particularly wriggly when trying to get comfortable on a flight. This kind of flexible twist style of the pillow was perfect for me, as I was able to shape it to exactly where I needed it to be. I ended up settling with it half behind my neck and half under my chin, so I could lie on my side and get a couple of hours of precious sleep.” —L.B.

Best travel pillow for: side sleepers

Similar to the Trtl pillow but padded with soft microfleece and covered with microsuede, BCozzy's wrap-around design offers plenty of flexibility in terms of how you wear it. The pillow comes in two sizes and when wrapped around the neck offers double the support for your head, neck, and chin. The real standout of this design is the flat back, which is not only great for maintaining a healthy posture, but also means you can fold the pillow in half and wear it on one side.

Why we love it: “Even on a plane, I'm a side sleeper. My go-to way to snooze is angling the side headrest as far as it can go so I can rest my head in the corner. Headrests can be very hit-and-miss on planes though, so being able to fold the BCozzy pillow in half is ideal as it can prop my neck and chin up on one side without it feeling too suffocating.” —L.B.

Best for: warmth

This squishy infinity-style pillow is all about the soft and breathable bamboo fabric it’s made from. Coming in one large loop, the pillow is worn by wrapping around the neck twice and adjusting and scrunching accordingly depending on the level of comfort you’re looking for.

Why we love it: “I’d say this pillow is less about neck support and more about soft and cozy scarf–meets–pillow hybrid. It feels like a sleeping bag for your neck—ideal if you get cold easily and are looking for something that’s more snuggly rather than stiff.” —L.B.

Best travel pillow for : Versatility

Slip this microbead-filled cap over your head and you’ll completely redefine the experience of sleeping on the go. From the outside, the wacky-shaped headpiece may feel a tad like a Teletubbies costume, but once you pull your head through the 27.5-inch opening, any place you find yourself in—no matter how bright or how loud—can turn into a sleep zone.

Why we love it: “And there’s no right or wrong way to use it: On a plane, use it to lean against the wall of the window seat, lie head down on the tray table of the middle seat, or tilt backward on the headrest of the seat.” — Rachel Chang , contributor

This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK .

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The best travel pillows that'll keep your relaxed — even in the middle seat

Tired businessman with neck pillow sleeping on passenger train

Between crowded seats, crying babies and limited legroom, traveling on long flights can be exhausting and uncomfortable. A perfect pillow makes the trek slightly easier to bear and can help you get some sleep during those travel periods. To help you narrow down which travel pillow is right for you, we consulted sleep and travel experts about what to know before shopping, plus we compiled highly rated options to consider.

SKIP AHEAD What are the benefits of travel pillows? | How we picked the best travel pillows | The best travel pillows to consider in 2024 | How to shop for travel pillows

Selected. Our top picks

select Minimize chaos on your next trip with these expert-approved accessories

The best travel pillows in 2024.

Below, we rounded up a selection of the best travel pillows based on NBC Select staff recommendations, ratings and expert advice.

Best overall travel pillow: Cabeau

Cabeau evolution s3 sleep pillow.

Straps allow for attachment to headrests
Adjustable drawstrings
Comes with carrying case
Large size may be uncomfortable to some

Former NBC Select editor Christina Colizza says she loves this travel pillow from Cabeau because it prevents slouching by attaching to the plane’s headrest. “As someone who is [very tall], I’ll take all the help I can in getting some sleep while flying, and this pillow makes a huge difference,” she says. “Plus, it compresses down into a small pouch, which makes it convenient enough to schlep around airports.” The headrest attachment also makes this an ideal option for long road trips. This travel pillow comes in five colors and patterns including indigo and galaxy.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 7,652 reviews on Amazon

Best splurge travel pillow: Ostrichpillow

Ostrichpillow go neck pillow.

Full 360-degree neck support
Compresses for easy packing
Fit around neck may vary

Ostrichpillow offers a variety of unique pillow alternatives, from a napping option to a mini hand pillow . This memory foam one has raised edges for neck support and comes with a velcro strap that allows you to customize its fit. The travel pillow can also compress down to snugly fit inside the included travel bag.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4-star average rating from 1,876 reviews on Amazon

Best versatile travel pillow: Huzi

Huzi infinity travel pillow.

Very versatile
Bulky: can be hard to carry
May be difficult to store

If you’re looking for a pillow with versatility, this option from Huzi may be just what you need. It’s made from a soft, anti-bacterial nylon bamboo that keeps you cool and airy as you sleep, according to the brand. The best part, however, is its scarf-like, 360-degree design — you can move and adjust the pillow however you’d like to target specific areas like your neck, back, chin and more. It can also be wrapped around your head to help muffle noise, or used as support when resting against a plane or car window.

Fill material : Microfiber | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : None | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 6,307 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for chin support: Bcozzy

Bcozzy chin supporting travel pillow.

Stops your head from falling forward
Good value for price
Full wrap around can feel constrictive

Few things can jolt you awake faster than your head falling forward while you’re seated. This ergonomic neck pillow offers an adjustable front loop for chin support and a flat back to avoid pushing your head forward. It includes a snap strap that you can hook to your luggage or hang up in your car. The pillow comes in multiple colors and you can choose between various sizes ranging from kids small to extra-large .

Fill material : Polyester | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Snap closure | Rating : 4.2-star average rating from 29,016 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for back support: SmartTravel

Smarttravel inflatable lumbar travel pillow.

Easily inflates and deflates
Can be used on back as well as neck
Hand-wash only

NBC Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg says she likes a lumbar pillow for added back support during long flights. This inflatable pillow serves as both a neck and back pillow, and is designed to fit your body’s natural curves and reduce pressure on the spine and neck, according to the brand. It also comes with an expandable mounting band to easily fasten it to headrests.

Fill material : Inflatable | Machine-washable cover : No | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 1,262 reviews on Amazon

Best inflatable travel pillow: Sunany

Sunany inflatable neck pillow.

Comes with accessories
Quickly inflates and deflates
Not very soft

Designed to follow the natural curve of your neck and body, this travel pillow’s ergonomic shape can soothe discomfort and reduce pressure points around your head and neck, according to the brand. You can also place your arms and head inside one of the four holes to support a sleeping position that’s most comfortable for you. It comes with a pouch for storage, along with a matching eye mask and earplugs.

Fill material : Inflatable | Machine-washable cover : No | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.2-star average rating from 6,696 reviews on Amazon

Best travel pillow for single-side sleepers: Trtl

Trtl travel pillow.

Soft, cozy exterior
Lightweight and easy to pack
Only supports one side at a time

For those who don’t find enough support from traditional U-shaped travel pillows, this uniquely-shaped option comes with a hidden inner support that can hold your head and neck at any position that’s comfortable for you. You can adjust the support to contour your neck, shoulder or jaw, while the fleece exterior is soft and machine-washable.

Fill material: Mesh fabric | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Flat design for easy packing | Rating : 4.0-star average rating from 35,371 reviews on Amazon

Best budget travel pillow: Wolf Essentials

Wolf essentials microfiber neck pillow.

World's Best Feather Soft Microfiber Neck Pillow

Wolf Essentials Microfiber Travel Pillow

Very affordable option
Machine-washable
Thickness may cause fit issues

This neck pillow’s fleece cover provides soft, thermal comfort, which is perfect for when the plane or vehicle gets cold. It’s entirely machine-washable (not just the cover) and comes with a snap closure to keep it from sliding off of your neck or to connect it to your luggage.

Fill material : Polyester blend | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Snap closure | Rating : 4.4-star average rating from 10,911 reviews on Amazon

Other travel pillows we love

Crafty world travel neck pillow.

No on-neck fastener

This option comes with a removable and machine-washable cover, so you can easily wash it. It’s made with a memory foam interior and a velour fabric exterior for a soft and comfortable feel, according to the brand. The pillow also has an elastic strap to help you connect it to your suitcase for extra portability. It comes in four colors — black, blue, gray and purple.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Elastic strap | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 5,558 reviews on Amazon

Mlvoc Travel Pillow

Includes eye masks, earplugs and carrying bag
Affordably priced
Bulky; may have issues with fit

With its ergonomic, curved design for neck and head support, this travel pillow comes wrapped in a cover that is both machine-washable and sweat-resistant. The travel pillow comes with a contoured eye mask and earplugs, and can fold down to half its size to fit neatly into the included travel bag. Plus, the built-in snap strap can also latch onto your suitcase for easy portability.

Fill material : Memory foam | Machine-washable cover : Yes | Portable features : Travel bag | Rating : 4.3-star average rating from 33,692 reviews on Amazon

select Whether you’re going away for a week or a weekend, there’s a highly-rated bag on Amazon for you.

How we picked the best travel pillows.

The best travel pillows are ones that are comfortable, supportive and easy to carry around, according to our experts. When shopping for a quality travel pillow, they recommend considering the following factors:

Inflatable vs. non-inflatable : You can adjust inflatable pillows to your desired firmness, and easily store them away when deflated. With non-inflatable pillows, on the other hand, you can fill them with more cushioned materials to promote comfort including memory foam and poly-fiber fill.
Portability : Look for features like straps (that you can attach to your luggage ) or an accompanying pouch (that you can pack it down into) for ease while on the go.

What are the benefits of travel pillows?

Whether your airplane seat is too small or your bus ride endures several bumps, it may be difficult to relax on a long trip. Add noisy conversations and frequent overhead announcements and you have multiple barriers in your way to getting a good nap.

One of the main reasons people struggle to sleep while traveling — especially on international flights with time changes — is because they’re trying to sleep at a time with “low circadian and homeostatic drive” (a time when they would not normally sleep, so they’re not as tired), says Dr. Andrew Varga, a board-certified physician at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center . The other factor, according to Varga, is the sleeping space, which is usually cramped and doesn’t let you lie recumbent or change positions, except in typically pricey business- and first-class cabins.

“Not everyone is an equally deep sleeper, and people with any sleep issues at baseline will often have a harder time sleeping in a louder and less comfortable environment — such as an airplane,” says board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Alex Dimitriu . He noted that posture plays a big role in the discomfort we feel — and as anyone who has slept on a plane knows, “the head tends to fall off to the side or forward, which is both uncomfortable and can cause neck pain, and [can] even make breathing less efficient.”

“Sleeping upright is not at all a natural position,” says Dr. Mayank Shukla , a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist in New York City. “Our head weighs almost 10 pounds and flops around the neck when sleeping upright, leading to aches and pain with all that muscle strain.”

Experts noted that travel pillows can provide support for the neck and head, alleviating some pain and discomfort when combating an upright sleeping position while traveling. They’re typically portable, lightweight, ergonomically designed and come in different sizes to fit every type of person, plus some have additional high-tech features like temperature regulation. This is an ideal tool for frequent flyers who hope to maintain a semi-regular sleeping schedule.

How to shop for a travel pillow

The best travel pillow is one that you find the most comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Ideally, Dimitriu recommends testing out the pillow beforehand to see whether it’s comfortable and how it changes shape.

“The emphasis for most users should be to see how comfortably the pillow lets you rest with your back to the seat and without your head falling forward,” he says. And while larger pillows tend to provide more cushioning, he noted “airplane seats are tight, and there is such a thing as too much pillow.”

Below, we highlighted two of the most important considerations when shopping for travel pillows: inflatability and portability.

Inflatable vs. non-inflatable

When going on a long-haul trip, most travelers don’t want another thing to lug around. “Inflatable pillows may allow for more cushion and can fold to a smaller size,” Dimitriu says, adding that they won’t take up too much space in your luggage. They’re also typically more adjustable — you can change the amount of air to get more or less firmness, depending on your comfort level.

Non-inflatable travel pillows include various types of filling material including memory foam, polyester fiberfill and microbeads. While the different materials can make it easier to find a more comfortable fit, non-inflatable pillows tend to be bulkier than inflatable ones. When it comes to cleaning, both inflatable and non-inflatable pillows typically have removable covers that you can machine wash or spot clean.

Portability

If you’re on a multipart journey or backpacking through Europe, for example, the size and portability of your travel pillow may be just as important off a plane as it is on it. Some travel pillows have straps that you can attach to your luggage, while with others you can fold to fit inside a small bag.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Dr. Andrew Varga is a board-certified physician at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center .
Dr. Alex Dimitriu is a board-certified psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California.
Dr. Mayank Shukla is a board-certified pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist in New York City.

Why trust NBC Select?

Mili Godio is an updates editor at Select and covers a range of sleep topics including weighted blankets , sunrise alarm clocks and blackout curtains . Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select covering skin care, lifestyle and more. For this story, Godio spoke to three sleep medicine experts to get their recommendations on how to shop for travel pillows and their benefits. She also researched dozens of travel pillows on the market that are in line with experts’ guidance.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Mili Godio is an updates editor for Select on NBC News.

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Lay Your Head In The Clouds With These 11 Best Travel Pillows

Comfortable ZZZs on the go.

by Molly Wolfe Updated on June 6, 2024

At Luxe Digital, we test and recommend products that we think you will love. If you buy something, we might earn a commission . This supports our team at no extra cost for you.

How many times have you looked on in envy while the person in the neighbouring seat enjoys an in-flight slumber? For a lucky few, the purr of the plane’s engines is enough to send them safely to dreamland. But, nine times out of ten, that peaceful nap is down to owning a comfy travel pillow.

Yes, the very same plane pillow that you bypassed in the departure lounge store thinking “ Sure, I’ll get one next time ”.

Well, intrepid ones, that time has come. Join the flocks of travellers who awaken at the end of a long journey, well-rested and miraculously lacking in that neck ache.

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or an occasional globetrotter, investing in an airplane pillow could seriously change the way you travel. Forever.

Our guide to the best travel pillows will have you catching those precious forty winks. So, next time you take a road trip, fly, sail, or train, you can (smugly) reach for your neck pillow, close your eyes, and wake up at your destination feeling fresh.

The best travel pillows

Mlvoc travel pillow: best overall travel pillow.

Allow us to state the obvious for a second: We’re all different shapes and sizes , and a travel pillow is certainly not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ situation.

That’s where the MLVOC Travel Pillow comes in: the adjustable rope lock allows you to adjust the angle and size to suit your exact needs. So, you can let your head rest at the most optimally comfortable height and angle for a better chance of some shut-eye.

Aside from having a machine-washable cover for renewed freshness on every flight, the pillow itself is made from high-quality memory foam which relieves pressure points and encourages an ache-free journey. Plus, it squashes down to half its size when not in use.

Additionally, the sweat-resistant, breathable cover fabric on the MLVOC Travel Pillow should stay dry throughout your voyage whether you’re hopping on a short domestic flight or crossing the Atlantic.

Best for: Travellers seeking a high-performance, cushy-as-a-cloud travel pillow for both long and short flights.

Colours: Grey, Blue or Black.

Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow: Best high-end travel pillow

best travel pillows cabeau evolution s3 luxe digital

The Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow aims to identify and conquer all of the common ails of spending hours sitting on a plane.

The unique Seat Strap System prevents the dreaded ‘head-dropping’, which is awesome for you (not to mention your dignity), and definitely more pleasant for your neighbours.

Far superior to one-sided pillows, the Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow comes with a doctor’s recommendation, no less: The flying pillow is crafted with a front-opening, which allows heat to escape and discourages sweating. Besides being super comfortable, there’s no risk of compression to the neck, which can be dangerous.

Featuring an adjustable strap, so all necks are catered for, it also has a washable cover stretched snugly over memory foam. So, you might just feel like this pillow was made especially for you.

Best for: Travellers who adore the finer things in life, and wish to arrive feeling gorgeously fresh and well-rested.

Colours: Steel, Cardinal, or Galaxy.

Classic Brands Travel Pillow: Best value travel pillow

best travel pillows classic brands luxe digital

If you’ve got an imminent upcoming flight, or you know you’re going to be stuck in the back of a car for longer than is comfortable, the Classic Brands Travel Pillow is an excellent choice.

Simple in design, this memory foam travel pillow conforms to your head and neck shape, so you can sink nicely into it for a little shut-eye. Plus, it regulates your temperature, so could go a long way in getting shot of that sweltering airplane vibe we all know too well!

It’s lightweight, and has a convenient strap that attaches to your luggage. So, you can reap the benefits of a travel pillow while hardly noticing the extra addition to your suitcase.

The removable cover can be machine-washed, so you can easily freshen up the Classic Brands Travel Pillow , even after it’s been well acquainted with the back of your seat.

Best for: Travellers who want to save some pennies but still rest their head on a supersoft sky pillow.

Colours: Blue.

Trtl Travel Pillow: Best packable pillow

With over a million of trtl’s Travel Pillows sold, that’s presumably one million happy travellers. With its super soft fleece fabric, this flying pillow provides a cosy, but firm place to rest your weary head when you’re traversing the skies.

This ultra-lightweight packable pillow is uniquely scarf-like in appearance. Plus it’s scientifically proven to hold your head in a pleasantly ergonomic position throughout your flight. So, it’ll keep your neck aligned and that head-nodding at bay!

With the trtl Travel Pillow , you won’t find yourself waking up to an irritated stranger whose shoulder you’ve unwittingly appropriated during the flight (unless you’re really trying). Seriously, the only difference between you and being that person, is a simple, unassuming travel pillow.

Plus, it’s machine-washable, so you can start and finish every flight nicely fresh and fragrant. Your fellow passengers will thank you.

Best for: Those who have total wanderlust – who travel heaps and want to enjoy every one of their many flights, and save a bunch of space in the process!

Colours: Black, Coral or Grey.

BCOZZY Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow: Best inflatable travel pillow

best travel pillows bcozzy inflatable travel neck pillow luxe digital

Ultra-compact and lightweight, the BCOZZY Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow is easy to inflate, with a handy valve which allows you to adjust the firmness of your pillow.

The innovative overlap design wraps snugly around in a 360° style, so your chin benefits from as much support as your head and neck.

The light velcro closure allows you to adjust the pillow to suit your individual preferences, and keeping your sleepy flight head nice and supported.

Of course, by keeping your head secure and comfortable, you’re also 100% reducing the risk of any inappropriate personal space invasion of your unsuspecting neighbouring passenger.

Once deflated, you can throw the BCOZZY Inflatable Travel Pillow in the washing with your crumpled flight clothes. When it’s nice and clean, you can simply roll it up and pack it away in its impossibly tiny bag.

Best for: Travellers who love to catch up beauty sleep on their flights, but hate sacrificing precious luggage space.

Colours: Grey, Navy or Purple.

AILUKI Travel Pillow: Best cooling travel pillow

More than simply a memory foam travel pillow, the AILUKI Travel Pillow seems to offer more innovative technologies than the airplane you’ll be flying in.

The anti-sweat magnetic therapy cloth is soft and comfortable, offering an itch-free experience while keeping your neck and head cool as a cucumber throughout your flight.

Plus, the U-shape and flat back design are crafted to deliver ultimate support to the back of your neck while preventing accidental head-rolling when you’re out for the count.

This same ergonomic design promises to relieve the burden on the shoulders by matching the natural curves of the spine. So, just what the doctor ordered for that multi-layover!

While we like to pretend that airports and planes are totally hygienic, deep down, we know the less stomachable truth. The AILUKI Travel Pillow helps to minimise germ contact by having a machine-washable pillowcase, so you can always feel safe and clean.

Best for: Those for whom ‘hot and sweaty’ feels are the absolute worst, and like to keep totally chill in-flight.

Colours: Grey.

Huzi Infinity Pillow: Best warming travel pillow

best travel pillows huzi infinity pillow luxe digital

Unlike many travel pillows, the Infinity Pillow by Huzi is crafted with bamboo fabric, which aside from being breathable, is gorgeously comfortable to snuggle into on a long flight.

The true beauty of this top rated travel pillow is that it’s infinitely soft and pliable. Essentially, whichever position you choose to lay your head, this sky pillow will acquiesce to your needs– simply adjust it to how you like it.

The Infinity Travel Pillow possesses thousands of layers of microfibres, so its comfort could truly rival even your most luxurious home bed sheets , providing support the whole time.

With several strings to its bow, this fluffy-cloud travel pillow can function as both an eye mask, and a noise-cancelling pillow. You can literally wrap it right around your head and neck, and pretend you’re in a floatation tank.

Simply put the entire Huzi Infinity Pillow in your washing machine for a squeaky clean feel on every flight.

Best for: Those who love to tune out completely, while getting down and restful in a soft, fluffy dreamworld, however they’re traveling.

Colours: Pink, Navy, or Burgundy.

J-Pillow Travel Pillow: Best window seat travel pillow

best travel pillows j pillow luxe digital

The award-winning travel pillow by J-Pillow is one of a kind: it caters specifically for the heads and necks of those who prefer a window seat (um, most of us, then!).

The innovative shape features a three-way support system that fills the gap between your head and shoulders, including chin support to stop your head from rolling forward. Because besides being bad for your neck, it’s not a good look.

So, you can nestle snugly into its cushiony softness while you snooze, while benefiting from the proper amount of support.

In fact, this pillow was designed by a former flight attendant , who had spent endless flights observing distressed passengers fail to find the sweet spot for their flight nap.

Both the pillow and cover can be put through the washing machine, and the snap-loop fastener allows you to fix the J-Pillow Travel Pillow easily on to your luggage when you land.

Best for: Travellers who are always fighting for that coveted window seat, and want a super comfy corner to sit back and enjoy the journey.

Colours: Grey, Dark Blue, or Black and Grey.

BCOZZY Kids Travel Pillow: Best travel pillow for kids

best travel pillows bcozzy kids pillow luxe digital

How great is it when you find time to take the kids away for a nice, relaxing holiday? Well, that’s what you keep telling yourself as your little ones are restless and uncomfortable during the flight or in the car. So, start enjoying your holiday a little earlier with the BCOZZY Kids Travel Pillow.

Perfectly sized for your tiny travellers, this travel pillow features overlapping arms which allow you to adjust it to the ideal fit for your child.

The ergonomic design provides comfort for the small people of your household, with support for their necks, heads and chins.

The BCOZZY Kids Travel Pillow is 100% lump-free and machine-washable, so whether your child is a little prone to travel sickness, a less-than-immaculate eater, or it’s simply gotten a little worse for wear, you can simply throw the whole thing in the wash.

Best for: Parents who’d love to maximise their chances of a stress-free journey, and keep their little ones calm and dreamy in the process.

Colours : Blue Navy, Cherry Pink, or Grey.

SAIREIDER Travel Pillow: Best budget travel pillow

best travel pillows saireider budget travel pillow luxe digital

Perhaps you don’t fly too often, or you’ve already splashed your budget on a fancy hotel or villa. Either way, you don’t have to go without a good quality travel pillow to help keep you comfortable along the way.

The SAIREIDER Travel Pillow ticks all the boxes of a premium travel pillow, without the expense. The 360° support is bolstered by memory foam, so you benefit from the support no matter what angle you prefer to rest in.

The contoured design allows adequate space for headphones , and the flat-cut back means your head will still rest comfortably against the back of your seat. In fact, this travel pillow comes with an eye mask, earplugs, and a storage bag , so you can tune out and find your happy place before you even land !

Obviously, not all necks are created equal; so, the SAIREIDER Travel Pillow offers a handy buckle so you can fully adjust the size to suit you.

Best for: Travellers who always watch their purse-strings, but who don’t want to miss out on a super comfy travel pillow

Colours: Black, Navy, or Grey.

Loro Piana Travel Pillow: Most expensive travel pillow

best travel pillows loro piana luxe digital

Imagine if you could fly First Class, without actually flying First Class (or paying the price of the ticket). Good news: with the Loro Piana Travel Pillow, you totally can. Of course, if you treat yourself to both this luxury travel neck pillow, and a First Class ticket, you probably won’t ever want to get off the plane.

The extra-soft cashmere blend and ample padding promise to supply exceptional comfort and support, whether you’re binging on blockbusters or putting your head down for a nap.

The suede piping and Loro Piana emblem embroidered tastefully on the pillow both contribute to the feeling of ultimate luxury , while the protective cover will see you through when you get a little over-excited with the duty-free champagne .

The light grey colour of the Loro Piana Travel Pillow is totally versatile and should complement your chosen flight outfit, while subtly emanating an air of sophistication and luxury.

Best for: Those who infuse a little First Class into everything they own, and desire a gorgeously luxe travel pillow.

Colour : Grey.

Buyers guide: Find the best travel pillow for you

So, you’ve decided to take the simple step in making all of your journeys (apart from when you’re the driver, of course) much, much more relaxing! Well done, you won’t regret it. A good travel pillow will free you from the aches and pains we so often associate with travelling. So, you can start enjoying your trip before you even arrive.

Here are just a few little things to look out for when you’re scouring the market for the best plane pillow:

To inflate, or not to inflate?

For many, that is the question. Inflatable pillows are a saviour when it comes to saving luggage space. And, typically, once you’ve gotten shot of that plane, you may not need to use your pillow until you’re back in the sky.

So, inflatable pillows will take up extremely little space in your luggage, allowing space for more important items (and yes, we mean shoes).

However, what the inflatable travel pillow offers in packing convenience, it seriously lacks in comfort and ergonomics. Of course, an air-filled pillow will gradually flatten with pressure , which on a long flight could get seriously annoying.

On the other hand, non-inflatable travel pillows (typically made from memory foam) are vastly superior to their inflatable contemporaries when it comes to support and general comfort. But of course, they’re a pain to transport when not in use.

Essentially, it’s a case of deciding what is more important to you– portability or in-flight comfort and support, because unfortunately, you can’t have both! Boo.

best travel pillows comfortable sleep luxe digital

What’s your sleeping position?

On an airplane, you’re free to sleep in any position you like, so long as it’s upright.

However, there is some freedom of choice (thankfully) if you’re a little creative with your limited seat space:

Leaning to the side

If you prefer resting by tilting your head to the side , keeping close to your seat, a classic U shaped travel pillow will most likely be sufficient for your needs. Pick a good, memory foam, contoured pillow, and you’ll be able to lean your head painlessly on to its comforting snugness.

Leaning forward

Others like to utilise their pull-down table for a more forward-leaning nap . If this is you, it may be wise to select a slightly more versatile travel pillow that can wrap in a multitude of ways.

Some of these are styled a little like scarves, so you’re free to alter and arrange them to suit your desired position.

best travel pillows window seat luxe digital

Window seats

If you’re always fighting for the window seat (because OMG, those views), then you’re best seeking out a J shaped travel pillow. Like the J-Pillow , this design is crafted to fit neatly in the corner of your seat and the sidewall of the plane, with chin support to prevent any dreamland head rolling.

Must-have features of a good travel pillow

Once you’ve decided on your personal preferences, make sure your new travel pillow possesses these two features, no excuses:

Make sure your travel pillow allows you to adjust the size to fit your neck. There’ll be nothing worse than settling down to realise your new pillow is either too large or stiflingly small.

Machine-washable

When you travel, you eat, drink, and fidget, just as in your normal life. The best plane pillow is washable (ideally machine-washable) so you can freshen it up in between flights.

Frequently asked questions about travel pillows

If you’re embarking on a long haul flight, it’s important to pick a non-inflatable, memory foam travel pillow with appropriate neck support. The J-Pillow ranks extremely well in travel pillow reviews and was created by an ex airline attendant who was familiar with the comfort issues travellers experience when flying.

Whether you fly regularly or just once in a blue moon, a good travel pillow can be invaluable in contributing to a positive flight experience. If you are a frequent flyer, you’ll certainly benefit from the ability to enjoy a proper nap in-flight, thereby reducing the need for recovery upon landing.

The best neck pillow for you depends on how much you’d like to spend, how long you spend travelling, and whether you have any particular physiological needs. The best overall travel pillow is the MLVOC Travel Pillow , which is reasonably priced and ticks all the boxes in terms of comfort and support.

About the author

Molly Wolfe

Style & travel editor.

Molly is a luxury travel and fashion writer who has a passion for all things unique, boutique, and design-centric. She loves nothing more than exploring new destinations, shopping in luxury boutiques in the world’s fashion capitals and finding quirky vegetarian restaurants to sample. And writing all about her fabulous finds for Luxa Terra and Luxe Digital .

Learn more about Molly Wolfe

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The best travel pillows for taking on a long flight

By Lauren Burvill and Charley Ward

Best travel pillows 2024 tested by our editors

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you travel regularly you’ve probably learnt to spot the difference between a frequent flyer and a rookie – the most obvious tell-tale sign being a bulky travel pillow, typically carried by an inexperienced flyer, hanging from a backpack or being worn around the back of their neck before they even get on the plane. Many of us are guilty of buying one of these beanbag worms from the airport duty-free shop, only to realise that they’re more trouble than they’re actually worth.

Do a little research though – as we’ve done for you here – and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that the humble travel pillow has upped its game recently. Specialised brands like trtl and BCozzy have entered the market, while neck pillows that range in shape and materials have popped up on Amazon.

So which ones are actually worth taking on a flight ? We asked our frequent flying editors to test out the most reviewed styles.

The best travel pillow to buy in 2024 at a glance

Best overall: Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow
Best for neck support: Trtl travel pillow
Best for side sleepers: BCozzy neck pillow and Travelrest pillow
Best for price: Ecosafeter portable travel pillow
Best lie flat pillow: Mini Snoooze travel pillow

How we tested the best travel pillows

Every travel neck pillow on this list has been independently tested and reviewed in our office by our editors Charley Ward and Lauren Burvill . Each pillow is then passed on to a member of the wider team to take with them on a flight to further test when travelling. When testing, we look for quality, design features and value for money, as well as overall function and visual appeal.

What are the different types of travel pillow?

There’s a variety of shapes on offer, so think about your personal needs and preferences before making your choice. The main kinds are:

Memory foam travel pillows. These mould to your body in a way that’s far superior to the traditional beanbag styles on offer at the airport. Cabeau Evolution and Kierain do these very well, and Ecosafeter’s version also has a slight hump at the back to help relax your spine.
Body slings. These styles are great for side sleepers, offering full upper body support that you can lean against while you drift off. Travelrest’s inflatable travel pillow is our favourite, which can be worn cross-body or to your side to create a firmer separation between yourself and your neighbour. Dot & Dot does a similar version that can be twisted however suits, so you can use it around your neck, shoulders or even tucked below your lower back, helping to ease whichever area is most achey.
Wraparound neck pillows. These twist around the neck like a scarf, offering double the support of U-shaped designs. They also tend to be cosier as a result. Bcozzy’s has a flat back, to help you keep a better posture, while Huzi’s infinity neck pillow is comfy, soft and scrunchy, allowing you to bunch it up where it suits best.
Neck supports. Travel brand Trtl has been upping the ante lately. The brand's signature fleecy wraparound scarf cleverly hides an internal neck and chin support structure that keeps your neck in the optimum upright sleeping position, even in the middle seat or aisle seat. There’s now an adjustable version, as well, providing extra support for those on the taller side. They come with a carry bag that attaches to your rucksack.
Mini classic pillows . Perfect for adding a bit more comfort when sitting in first or business class seats – and when in your hotel room too. Snoooze does our favourite, which is 100% machine washable and rolls up into a carry bag just 30 by 11cm, so it’ll tuck nicely in your hand luggage when not in use.

See below for our full take on each of the best travel neck pillows available to buy now.

Cabeau Evolution's S3 travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: overall comfort

If you're looking for a basic does-the-job travel pillow, the one below from Kierain is the ideal buy. But if you're looking for a step above in terms of design and comfort, or suffer from neck or back pain, Cabeau's pillow is the best we've tested so far. The memory foam style has considered everything, from an adjustable toggle clasp to secure the pillow comfortably around your neck, to a handy side pocket – ideal for storing headphones or earplugs. What really sets this pillow apart from the rest though are the velcro straps at the back, designed to loop around a plane seat's headrest, helping to keep your head upright and take any pressure off your neck.

Why we like it: “I tested this pillow when I flew to Mexico City. The foam in it is extremely comfortable, but what I love most is that the back of the pillow is flat, so you can sit right up against your seat, unlike the typical travel pillow styles which tend to be round and tilt your neck down slightly. The straps are a great idea, but if you're short it might not be possible to secure to the headrest, so keep that in mind. It also comes in a sleek cylindrical bag that, when clipped onto your carry-on luggage , you’d never even know there was a travel pillow inside." Sarah Allard, digital editor

Kierain’s travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: overall value

Kierain has one of the top-rated and best selling travel pillows on Amazon , and it’s easy to see why. A step above the standard microbead styles, this travel pillow is 100 per cent memory foam with a soft velour cover, plus has an easy-to-use snap closure, making it simple to secure and stay in place.

Why we like it: “The bag it comes in is surprisingly small (about the size of a small wash bag), so it hardly takes up any room in your carry on luggage , which is a real plus. The best part though is the plush and squidgy memory foam. I often find the traditional neck pillows too stiff and constricting, but this one was soft while still giving good support.” Sarah James, deputy digital editor

trtl's original pillow

Best travel pillow for: neck support

Less a pillow and more a supportive wrap for your neck, this unique design from trtl is ideal if you're short on space and weight in your carry-on luggage – it weighs only 148 grams. The pillow is designed to look like a scarf and features a clever curved u-shaped neck support stand that sits under your jaw and is then secured in place by wrapping the fabric around your neck and connecting the velcro.

Why we like it: “I often feel like most typical travel pillows are too bulky and hard to get comfortable on, so I was keen to try this style when I flew to Vancouver. It's perfect for keeping your neck upright and avoiding any of the nodding that can happen while asleep. I'll admit, it feels a little strange at first to put it on, but the hypoallergenic fleece is soft and warm. It's a great option not just for plane travel, but also long road trips or train journeys.” Sarah James, deputy digital editor

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Trtl has revamped its clever wrap-style neck pillow to accommodate people of all heights more comfortably. The latest iteration is adjustable, to better suit your particular requirements, and the pillow section itself has been given a high-density foam makeover. Trtl’s offering is a lot smaller than standard U-shaped pillows, and weighs a petite 225 grams, so it won’t take up precious space in your hand luggage – or you could use the included clip to attach it to your rucksack .

Why we like it: “I tried both the original and the revamped Trtl pillows on a flight to Japan, and this one definitely proved a more comfortable fit. It does take a bit of fiddling to get it to sit properly, and the fleece wrap is certainly cosy – even a bit too warm at points. Reviews are mixed online, but I think it’s worth taking the time to adjust it correctly as, once I did, it made for a far more comfortable experience than using standard U-shaped neck pillows. For long haul flights in coach, it’s certainly worth a try; I had no neck pain at all when I finally disembarked from the plane.” Charley Ward, commerce writer

Travelrest pillow

Best travel pillow for: upper body support

This clever across-body-sling pillow offers neck and head support while allowing you to truly relax and lean to one side to fall asleep. The pillow comes with a cord at the top that can be secured in place by looping over your seat’s headrest. You can wear the pillow on either side across your body, or down one side, creating more of a barrier between you and the person next to you. The pillow is inflatable too, so it takes up hardly any room in your luggage

Our verdict: “This pillow came in handy on a flight to Australia. I really love the shape of this style, as it cradles not just your neck, but your whole upper body. Although I usually don’t like inflatable pillows, the rigidity of this style works to make you feel secure while sitting upright.” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor

Dot&Dot’s twist travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: flexibility

Why we like it: “I often toss and turn a lot when trying to get to sleep, so I find I’m particularly wriggly when trying to get comfortable on a flight. This kind of flexible twist style of the pillow was perfect for me, as I was able to shape it to exactly where I needed it to be. I ended up settling with it half behind my neck and half under my chin, so I could lie on my side and get a couple of hours of precious sleep.” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor

Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow

Best travel pillow for: ergonomic design with a luxurious feel

Ostrichpillow has a number of interesting travel pillows (are you brave enough to try this napping aid ?), including a genius padded headband -come-eye mask that makes quickly grabbing some shut-eye while leaning against the window actually comfortable. The Go pillow, however, is the brand’s most traditional offering. It has a memory foam core with a velcro closure to ensure a snug fit, no matter the shape or size of your neck. It compresses down impressively small when stored in the included drawstring travel bag, making it easy to bring along in even the smallest cases. It has a removable and washable cover as well.

Why we like it: “It’s really, really soft, and satisfyingly squishy at the same time; the memory foam filling is clearly high-quality. In fact, out of all the travel pillows I’ve tried, this one feels the most luxurious when in use. It kept my neck at a good angle to avoid aches and pains – it was surprisingly supportive, in fact. It’s easy to adjust and I like that the cover can be slung straight in the washing machine, so it’s ready to go for your next trip.” Charley Ward, commerce writer

Ecosafeter’s portable travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: price

The Ecosafeter travel pillow is a memory foam style with a slight “hump” shape that’s designed to help relax the Cervical spine. The design is particularly great for sleeping upright, especially if you suffer from back or neck pain, with added neck support as well as a soft and flexible feel.

Why we like it: “I find it super difficult to sleep upright, which is why I loved the high back and firm cushioned support on this pillow. I took it with me on an overbooked flight with a 2am takeoff and did manage to get some sleep, admittedly in and out, but that’s better than my usual long haul wide-eyed experience.” Sophie Knight, visuals editor

BCozzy's neck pillow

Best travel pillow for: side sleepers

Similar to the trtl pillow but padded with soft microfleece and covered with microsuede, BCozzy's wrap-around design offers plenty of flexibility in terms of how you wear it. The pillow comes in two sizes and when wrapped around the neck offers double the support for your head, neck and chin. The real standout of this design is the flat back, which is not only great for maintaining a healthy posture but also means you can fold the pillow in half and wear it on one side.

Why we like it: “Even on a plane, I'm a side sleeper. My go-to way to snooze is angling the side headrest as far as it can go so I can rest my head in the corner. Headrests can be very hit-and-miss on planes though, so being able to fold the BCozzy pillow in half is ideal as it can prop my neck and chin up on one side without feeling too suffocating." Lauren Burvill, commerce editor

Huzi infinity pillow

Best for: warmth

Our verdict: “I’d say this pillow is less about neck support and more about soft and cosy scarf–meets–pillow hybrid. It feels like a sleeping bag for your neck, ideal if you get cold easily and are looking for something that’s more snuggly rather than stiff.” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor

Snoooze travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: lying flat

One for not just the plane but also the hotel, this flat pillow from Snoooze is particularly suited to business or first class passengers flying in a flatbed. Danish designer Ann Sjogreen Sanger worked with scientists, sleep experts and leading UK manufacturers to create the two travel pillows – a full size and mini option. Both are machine washable, come with a soft 100 per cent cotton pillow case and roll up into compact travel bags – the mini fits into a cylindrical bag that’s 30cm by 11cm.

Why we like it: “This pillow feels surprisingly full and thick compared to how compact it can be stored. I always struggle with hotel pillows (they’re often too big and fluffy), but the Snoooze feels firm yet squidgy and helped me get proper deep sleep during a hotel stay in Greece recently. I tested the full size, but think the mini can do the same job if you’re short on carry-on space or would prefer to use a flat pillow to get some sleep in economy.”

Lifeventure inflatable travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: space-saving

You won’t find any bells and whistles with Lifeventure’s inflatable travel pillow, but at £12.99, the price is hard to beat for your standard u-shaped travel pillow. It packs down into a remarkably bijou carrying case and weighs in at just 54 grams. A dual valve makes it easy to blow up very quickly – I inflated it by mouth in two minutes.

Why we like it: “I wasn’t convinced by the idea of an inflatable polyester travel pillow, especially not in comparison to some of the super-soft memory foam numbers I’ve tried (Ostrichpillow cinches it for me in the cosiness stakes). However, I was pleasantly surprised on test. The material is clearly good quality and it provides decent enough neck support when fully inflated. But really, the main plus point of this pillow is how compact and lightweight it is when deflated. It folds down smaller than your average purse. If you have back or neck issues, avoid this one. But if you’re off backpacking, or space in your bag is an especially hot commodity, then this pillow is the one to buy.” Charley Ward, commerce writer

Slip travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: fashionistas

Beauty aficionados will know that silk pillowcases are superior to cotton offerings for those seeking smoother, sleeker hair – studies have shown that its slippery, friction-free surface helps to both tackle frizz and reduce stress on delicate facial skin while you slumber. So why compromise when you’re on a plane? Luxury silk pillowcase brand Slip has used the same 22 momme long fibre mulberry silk for its travel pillow as it does its regular cases, along with a super-dense foam inner that secures around the neck with an adjustable strap for 360-degree support. It’s available to purchase separately or as a set with a matching silk eye mask for an extra cost (currently on sale ).

Why we like it: “This is another unusual option – its vivacious appearance generated some comments in the office upon unboxing. It’s not one for wallflowers; it’s very colourful and one of the largest pillows (if not the largest) we’ve ever seen. Nobody’s going to miss you while you’re wearing it – and if you’re especially petite, it likely won’t suit. Nonetheless, the silky finish feels both luxurious and cooling when around the neck, which doesn’t go amiss on a stuffy aeroplane. The traditional U shape doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but for those seeking a little luxury on long haul flights, this is a welcome treat. Be warned: this pillow isn’t going to squeeze into your suitcase, so bear that in mind, but it gives a high level of support and keeps your neck upright, so a good choice if this is the most comfortable position for you on a plane.” Charley Ward, commerce writer

Snugl travel pillow

Best travel pillow for: versatility

Snugl’s well-designed and thoughtful memory foam travel pillow is available in three sizes to ensure you get the best fit (taking a different approach to Trtl, with its adjustable number above). It’s made from quality, hypoallergenic memory foam with a removable washable cover. There are a selection of colours to choose from, and there’s a carabiner clip to attach the travel bag to your suitcase.

Why we like it: “Don’t be fooled by the chunky appearance – this Snugl pillow packs down into an impressively small bag. It toes the line well between portability and being robust enough to ensure a lack of neck ache when you disembark the plane; this really impressed. But what we like the most is how adjustable it is. There are two straps to secure it around your neck to your preferred tightness, and it’s been created to comfortably sit around your neck in either a conventional, reversed, forward facing or shoulder-facing arrangement to accommodate your sleeping style – a real plus for me as a side-sleeper.” Charley Ward, commerce writer

11 Best Travel Pillows for Long Flights, Train Rides, and Road Trips

Middle-seat naps are possible—without the neck pain.

Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

If you don't already have a neck pillow, now's the time to add it to your list of travel accessories , right up there with your go-to carry-on bag and healthy snacks . You may be most familiar with the ubiquitous U-shape, but travel neck pillows have come a long way.

From memory foam pillows that alleviate neck pain to inflatable crossbody cushions, these are the best travel pillows to help you wake up feeling refreshed after a long-haul trip.

What to consider

Size and shape.

If you only need to support your head, a smaller wrap-around travel pillow should do the job of letting you relax enough to take a nap. However, if you need more support, there are larger crossbody options, as well as travel pillows that you can roll up and use on your tray table. You'll also need to consider how easy it is to carry around or pack away. Fortunately, most travel pillows pack down and have snaps or straps to attach to your luggage.

Fabric and care

All travel pillows will have some kind of soft outer shell that's easy to spot clean, but many also have a removable cover that you can put in the washer and dryer. If machine-washing the pillow itself is important to you, you don't want a memory foam pillow. Instead, look for one with a polyester or down-alternative filling.

How we chose

In addition to including a pillow from Oprah's Favorite Things , we also considered travel pillows with excellent online reviews. Our picks fill a variety of needs, whether you want memory foam, a washable cover, or something with full-body support.

MLVOC Travel Pillow

Reviewers love this travel pillow because it's made with comfortable memory foam that's super supportive and features breathable, sweat-resistant fabric. Its ergonomic shape cradles the back of your head and your neck. The icing on the cake? It comes with ear plugs and an eye mask to help you stay asleep longer.

Huzi Infinity Pillow

If you have trouble sleeping in those small, stiff airplane seats, this soft pillow will revolutionize your travels. For superior support no matter which way you turn, simply wrap it around your neck like a scarf and snuggle in, or you can roll it up and use it on your tray table like a traditional pillow. It's a little larger than most travel pillows, but the versatility you get is worth it.

BCOZZY Chin-Supporting Travel Pillow

A great wraparound option, this travel pillow will give you the neck and head support to sleep comfortably during long-haul flights because it also supports your chin. We like that it comes in several sizes, from a smaller kids' size to an extra large. Plus, the whole pillow is hypoallergenic and machine-washable.

Ostrich Pillow Go Neck Pillow

This travel pillow is much more practical than the original Ostrich Pillow but still offers many of the perks, like a snug fit and soft, breathable fabric. High-density memory foam makes this a favorite neck pillow among travelers because no matter how you position it, it offers exceptional support every time.

TravelMate Memory Foam Neck Pillow

This inexpensive travel pillow is shaped like the classic neck pillow you see everywhere but offers one important upgrade: It features a removable insert that allows you to adjust the thickness of the pillow based on your personal preference and sitting position. The pillow is made of memory foam, and its velour cover is removable and machine-washable.

Travelon Deluxe Wrap-n-Rest Pillow

If you've ever fallen asleep on a plane, chances are you're all too familiar with the head bob. This travel pillow has interlocking ends that wrap all the way around your neck to prevent your head from falling forward while you snooze. Because it gently supports your chin, it also saves you from neck pain. Reviewers like that there are no snaps to worry about; you just wrap it into place.

Trtl Travel Pillow

The Trtl neck pillow has an internal frame designed to cradle your head and neck, but it's wrapped in a plush cushion and soft fleece. The result is some seriously comfortable support. It weighs only 4.5 ounces, too, so it's perfect for air travel where weight is a concern.

Dot&Dot Bendable Memory Foam Travel Pillow

If you have trouble getting comfortable, try this adjustable neck pillow. The memory foam pillow has a flexible core that bends and twists every which way to offer extra support wherever you need it most. This is also what makes it easy to pack in your suitcase! Even if you don't use it for travel, many reviewers love it as a neck pillow at home, too.

J-Pillow Travel Pillow

This travel pillow has a unique shape that might not look like it works, but it definitely does. The three sides each cradle a different part of your head—the back, the side, and the chin—to provide ample neck support and keep your head from falling forward. It has a medium firmness and a soft fleece cover, and the entire pillow can go in the washing machine.

Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow

It may look unusual, but the long design of this travel pillow makes it one of the only to offer ample support for side sleepers, and you can wear it as a crossbody. Don't let the size deter you: It inflates and deflates quickly and easily, and packs down small. It comes with a soft outer shell, but you can buy a separate cover for it if you like.

Pillow Bar Jetsetter Mini Travel Pillow

We love that you can choose to get this travel pillow filled with down or a down alternative and that you can get it monogrammed for free. When Oprah chose the Jetsetter Mini as one of her Favorite Things , she said, "These hypoallergenic neck pillows with a washable cover make circling Detroit just another opportunity to nap." We couldn't agree more!

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

Jess is a Commerce Editor, covering best-selling products for Hearst Magazines. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two kids.

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12 best travel pillows for long-haul flights and adventures in 2024

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Travel pillows are everywhere – slung around the necks of passengers waiting to check in, poking out of backpacks and dangling from cabin cases . But they’re not just designed for use on planes – they’re great for arduous journeys by car, bus or ferry, too, and can be a lifesaver when (god forbid) a delayed flight means you’re forced to spend the night on a cold airport floor.

Most importantly, they play a crucial role when it comes to body alignment, lightening the load on our neck, head and shoulders by preventing the dreading head bob and making sure that our head stays upright even when we’re out for the count.

The key thing to finding the best travel pillow is that it provides support for your head – if a pillow does this, your neck, back and shoulders will benefit, too. This doesn’t necessarily mean pillows that loop around the neck are the only option because different people sleep in different ways (something reflected in the wide range of options we’ve recommended).

Beyond the shape and filling, there are other, less important factors to consider. Is the lining removable? This isn’t the be-all and end-all, but bear in mind travel pillows are quick to acquire stains and signs of wear and tear, so if it’s not, consider a design that hides those pesky marks. How well does it fit around your headphones , if your go-tos are over-ear models ? This isn’t a problem with most pillows, although there are certainly some options in our round-up that score better than others in this regard.

Finally, in an era when airlines are rolling out increasingly restrictive regulations relating to cabin baggage, how does it do in the stash-ability stakes? If you’re prone to exceeding your size or weight allowance, an inflatable pillow in a carry sack which can be stuffed into a side pocket or dangled from your backpack’s carabiner attachment might be the best option.

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How we tested the best travel pillows

A selection of the best travel pillows that we tried for this review

We tested these travel pillows in a whole host of scenarios – at our desks, on long flights, on painfully arduous train journeys and bus journeys across southeast Asia . And trust us – as keen travellers accustomed to long trips on planes, trains and automobiles, we’ve got through more travel pillows than we can count.

We considered multiple factors – were they suitable for trips on which space was at a premium? What did the outer lining and stuffing feel like? Were they as useful on trains and long car journeys as they were on planes (anything that means we get more bang for our buck can only be positive, after all)? In other words, you can rest assured you’re (well, your head, neck and shoulders specifically) in good hands.

The best travel pillows for 2024 are:

Best travel pillow overall – Ostrichpillow go neck pillow: £55, Amazon.co.uk
Best budget travel pillow – Lifeventure inflatable neck pillow: £12.99, Amazon.co.uk
Best luxury travel pillow – Slip jet setter travel pillow: £79.29, Beautybay.com
Best breathable travel pillow – Trtl pillow cool: £29.99, Amazon.co.uk

Ostrichpillow go neck pillow

Best : Travel pillow overall
Material : Viscose
Filling : Memory foam
Weight : 350g
Dimensions : 25cm x 17cm x 7cm
Ultra-soft materials
Brilliant ergonomic design

This fantastic memory foam pillow ticked all of the boxes – a removable, ultra-soft lining, a top-quality memory foam filling and generous patches of Velcro to keep it in place, which allows for more adjustability than we’re used to. It’s got a more ergonomic design than other pillows of this size, with a tapered shape which allows it to tuck neatly under our chin. The two-tone colourway also looks incredibly stylish, and we appreciated the tiny size of the label – all too often these are too large and attached to parts of travel pillows where they’re almost certainly going to rub against our skin.

Lifeventure inflatable neck pillow

Best : Budget travel pillows
Material : Polyester and TPU bonded fabric
Filling : Inflatable
Weight : 54g
Dimensions : 33cm x 47cm x 12cm
Very tough fabric on the pillow and stuff sack
Great value
No fastening to secure the ends at the neck

These days a growing number of travel pillows are made from memory foam. But as travellers who are perpetually short on space, we’ve got a major soft spot for inflatable ones, such as this piece of portable perfection. It inflated and deflated in seconds and the material – a combination of polyester and TPU-bonded fabric – didn’t chafe or rub, even on long flights. We also loved that it came in its very own bag – an ultra-tough one made with ripstop fabric.

Snugpak butterfly neck pillow

Best : For travellers short on space
Material : Nylon
Weight : 100g
Dimensions : 37cm x 15cm x 8cm
Stashes into the smallest of pockets and pouches
Butterfly shape might not appeal to all

This pillow’s outer material was wonderfully soft, with a thickness that did a fantastic job of ramping up the comfort. It’s a great option for jet-setters who don’t gel with traditional travel pillows worn around the neck – we loved the way its butterfly shape meant it could be jammed into awkward corners and used as a headrest against airplane windows. It inflated and deflated incredibly quickly, and bonus points were awarded for its handy stuff sack, which can be dangled from buckles on backpacks.

Vango deep sleep ergo pillow

Best : For frequent flyers
Material : Knitted elastic
Weight : 80g
Dimensions : 41cm x 30cm x 11cm
Incredibly soft fabric
Supersized valve makes inflation and deflation a breeze
Not the best option for those in need of neck (rather than head) support

The shape of this one is inspired by traditional pillows in that it doesn’t loop around the neck but acts as a headrest. Its small size makes it both wonderfully portable and versatile – it works just as well on planes as it does on long coach journeys and camping trips. The large valve means it takes just seconds to inflate and deflate, and the combination of the super soft fabric and a slightly sunken area in the centre did a great job of cushioning our head on a long-haul flight.

Slip jet setter travel pillow

Best : Luxury travel pillow
Material : Silk
Filling : Foam
Weight : Unspecified
Dimensions : 25cm x 25cm x 12.5cm
Soft outer cover
The filling is not memory foam

Twenty years ago, when we were backpacking around the world using our wallet, socks or pants as pillows on bus journeys and flights, we’d have loved a pillow such as this one. Yes, it’s expensive but it’s also ridiculously comfortable – a thick curve of foam covered with top-quality mulberry silk (which didn’t just feel great on the skin but kept our hair frizz-free too). An integrated zip allows the cover to be removed and washed (because let’s face it, we’re all prone to the odd mid-snooze dribble). We’re not quite willing to award this a full five stars on account of the filling, which is standard foam. Yes, it’s top-quality stuff but we were hoping for memory foam given the use of the finest silk for the exterior.

Ostrichpillow light versatile pillow

Best : Lightweight travel pillow
Materials : Viscose
Filling : Microbeads
Weight : 110g
Dimensions : 31.5cm x 16.5cm x 7cm
Comfortable
The toggle is great for adjusting the fit
No washable lining

Yes, this particular pillow looks a little different to the average travel pillow – the suggested way of wearing it is to place it around your head, halo-style, so that it covers your ears and eyes while also cushioning your bonce in all the right places (we could use the toggle to adjust to fit).

We were initially a little nervous about the filling, which consisted of microbeads that felt similar to the ones inside bean bags, albeit slightly smaller. However, our concerns were unfounded – perhaps due to their small size, the result is a wonderful mouldability which provided high levels of comfort, boosted by the ultra-soft lining. The only reason we’re not giving this pillow five out of five is because there’s no removable outer covering should it get dirty, but trust us – this is a minor issue when comfort levels are this high.

Trtl pillow cool

Best : Breathable travel pillow
Material : Tencel
Weight : 299g
Dimensions : ‎25.4cm x 20.32cm x 10.16cm
Innovative design
Breathable material
Not the most compact of travel pillows
The fastening can be a little fiddly at first

We’ve not come across many travel pillows that come with instruction manuals and were somewhat sceptical about the slightly more complicated design of Trtl’s pillow. In summary, it’s got a built-in rigid section designed to offer firm support for the neck – you keep this section in place by wrapping the scarf-like section around your neck. It was much more comfortable than we imagined and did a great job eliminating the dreaded head-bob, although it only offers support on one side. Despite the built-in rigid section, it’s incredibly light, and the material is surprisingly breathable, too.

Vango Shangri-La memory foam pillow

Best : For superior comfort
Material : Brushed polyester
Filling : Memory foam and an air pocket
Weight : 450g
Dimensions : 36cm x 11cm
Superior comfort
Soft fabric

We loved everything about this pillow, which has a precision-engineered ergonomic shape and is covered by some of the softest fabric we’ve come across. The memory foam provided the optimal amount of cushioning, and a colleague who borrowed it for a few moments described his experience as “similar to sleeping on a cloud”. What that actually feels like is anybody’s guess, but we reckon that’s a pretty good endorsement.

The secret to the superior comfort lies in its design, which comprises an outer layer of memory foam and a central air pocket. The result? The mouldability of memory foam and the support which comes courtesy of the air pocket – AKA the ultimate double act, we reckon.

Lifeventure inflatable pillow

best travel pillows neck flights support memory foam

Best : For a traditional pillow option
Material : Polyester and TPU fabric
Weight : 77g
Dimensions : 36cm x 51cm x 10cm
Ergonomic shape provides support

An ergonomic shape provided just the right amount of support (including all-important lumbar support) and the deep grooves aided airflow during a particularly hot, sticky night on a cramped red-eye flight. It’s got enough flexibility to use on planes and trains, and the combination of polyester and TPU fabric makes for an extremely durable pillow. The carry case, made from ripstop fabric, is equally rugged.

Exped air pillow

Best : For durability
Material : Polyester and TPU polyether film laminate
Weight : 60g
Dimensions : 46cm x 30cm x 12 cm
Easy to adjust rigidness
Quick to inflate

Another pillow with an unusual shape – in this case, a semi-rectangular profile – the Exped air pillow isn’t the softest of travel accessories, but it’s ridiculously quick to inflate and wonderfully easy to adjust when it comes to rigidity. It took five short breaths to inflate it fully, and the presence of separate, dedicated inflation and deflation valves cranks up the efficiency. An internal flap in the intake valve means a minimal chance of leaks, too.

Go Travel memory dreamer travel pillow

Best : For lumbar support
Material : Polyester
Weight : 355g
Dimensions : 26cm x 25.5cm x 12.5cm
Memory foam core provides great lumbar support
Thick lining
No hook to hang it off backpacks

A memory foam core provides great lumbar support along with cushioning for the head and shoulders, and the lining has a surprising thickness – one which suggests that the memory dreamer is more than capable of standing up to some serious wear and tear. There’s no hook to hang it off backpacks, but we loved the buckle-style clip, which meant we could quickly and easily tweak the fit (something which press studs don’t allow).

Outwell dream boat ergo pillow

Best : Multipurpose travel pillow
Materials : Polyester
Weight : 300g
Dimensions : 50cm x 29cm x 10cm
Large makes it versatile
Top-quality memory foam construction
Provides great support

This pillow is one of the largest we’ve tested, but we can confirm it’s still perfectly suitable for plane journeys, thanks to its amazing squishiness. The upside to its supersized design is that it can be used for camping holidays too, and its versatility is ramped up due to a number of factors.

Firstly, the low-flat valves, which are easy to inflate but won’t snag when the pillow is squashed into small spaces or stashed into backpacks. Add a top-quality memory foam construction, super soft fabric and a shape designed to support not just the head but the back and shoulders too, and you’ve got a one-way ticket to the land of nod.

Travel pillow FAQs

What is the best travel pillow shape.

If you’re lucky enough to be one of those few people whose in-flight discomfort doesn’t come from head bobbing but the displeasure stemming from resting your head against hard surfaces, opt for a travel pillow with a traditional shape, rather than a looping design (another benefit of these is that they’re more versatile, and double as great camping pillows when space is at a premium).

What is the best travel pillow filling?

Don’t make the mistake of insisting on memory foam – although memory foam is usually best when it comes to fantastic support, there are plenty of other fillings (such as lightweight microbeads) which work just as well, while inflatable pillows are handy if you’re short on space.

The verdict: Travel pillows

What’s not to love about a cloud-like neck pillow filled with the finest quality memory foam and precision-engineered to support our head, neck and shoulders? Nothing – which is exactly why Ostrichpillow’s go neck pillow bags the top spot. Snugpak’s butterfly neck pillow comes second for its wonderful versatility while Lifeventure’s inflatable neck pillow earns a special mention for its hat trick of practicality, comfort and value for money.

Make travelling light work with one of these travel backpacks for hiking holidays and city breaks

Voucher Codes

The 5 Best Neck Pillows for Jet-Setters

T raveling can be exciting but also exhausting. No matter your travel reasons, you want to arrive at your destination feeling refreshed and ready to explore. That’s why having reliable travel accessories is essential for any jet-setter. A good neck pillow can provide comfort and support for your head and neck, preventing stiffness, pain, and fatigue. However, not all neck pillows are created equal. Some are too bulky, too soft, or too hot. To help you find the best neck pillow for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of the five best neck pillows based on expert reviews, customer feedback, and product features.

Our Top 5 Picks for the Best Neck Pillows

Travelrest ultimate, mlvoc 100% pure memory foam neck pillow, huzi infinity pillow, dot&dot twist memory foam travel pillow, lucear twist memory foam travel pillow.

The Travelrest Ultimate is one of the best neck pillows, especially to avoid jet lag after long-haul flights . Secure this pillow to your seatbelt or headrest for a sling-like neck and head support. Easy to pack and transport, it inflates and deflates in seconds. In addition, the removable and washable plush cover is a bonus. Sleeping in any position—leaning to the left, right, or forward—is no problem with the Travelrest Ultimate.

Key specs: Material: Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and microfleece. Color: Blue, gray, or red.
Pros: Features full lateral support for the head and neck. Compact and lightweight when deflated.
Cons: It may not fit well with some airline seats or headrests. It can slide off or lose air during use.

When traveling with a memory foam cushion, the finest option is the MLVOC 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck cushion. Super comfy and supportive, this pillow’s high-quality memory foam molds to your head and neck for a perfect fit. A curved shape keeps your head from slouching forward, and a raised side holds your chin in place. The cover is removable, washable, soft, and breathable.

Key specs: Material: Memory foam and magnetic therapy cloth. Color: Black, blue, gray, or navy blue.
Pros: Provides ergonomic and customized support for the neck and head. Reduces pressure and pain on the cervical spine.
Cons : It can have a strong odor when new and may be too firm or too high for some.

If you suffer from neck pain and are traveling, you should get a Huzi Infinity Pillow. The loop shape of this pillow allows it to be twisted and wrapped in various ways, giving it varied shapes and functions. The versatility of this pillow means it may serve multiple purposes. It can be a neck pillow, back pillow, lumbar cushion, window pillow, or noise-canceling pillow. The hypoallergenic, hypoventilating, and delightfully smooth bamboo fabric and microfiber filling make this an ideal choice.

Key specs : Material: Bamboo fabric and microfiber. Color: Burgundy, gray, navy, or olive.
Pros : Allows multiple ways to use and adjust the pillow. Supports the neck and other parts of the body.
Cons: Some passengers might find it overly bulky or heavy. For others, it might not be firm enough.

No other travel pillow compares to the Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Pillow for your back. Thanks to its shape-changing tube design, you can mold this pillow to fit any area of your body. As a headrest, neck pillow, leg cushion, or lumbar pillow, it’s got you covered. Durable and comfy, it’s crafted from memory foam and cotton fabric.

Key specs: Material: Memory foam and cotton. Color: Black, gray, or pink.
Pros: Has flexible and personalized support for any body part. Relieves pressure and pain in the back and spine.
Cons: Some people may find it too short or thin. It may not hold its shape well after twisting.

Travel comfortably with the Lucear Twist Memory Foam Pillow, which is shaped like a fluffy tube to accommodate your head and neck. The combination of memory foam and velour makes it warm and inviting. Travelers looking to rest and unwind on their flight will love the Lucear Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow.

Key specs : Material: Memory foam and velour. Color: Blue, gray, or purple.
Pros: Provides soft and snug support for the neck and head. Adapts to different shapes and sizes.
Cons: It could be too low or too soft for some individuals. It can leave the head vulnerable due to insufficient side support.

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The Best Memory Foam Pillows

By Jackie Reeve

Jackie Reeve is a writer covering all things bedding. She has also reported on towels, rugs, and chicken coops (with help from her 20 backyard pets).

If your current down or down-alternative pillow seems comfortable at first but sinks too low while you sleep, or if you wake up with pain in your head, neck, and shoulders, you might like a memory-foam pillow instead—they’re firmer, and they keep their shape. These generally come in four types of foam: shredded, single slab, layered, and contoured. We tried 18 memory-foam pillows and picked our favorite of each type, but the one that was the most popular with our testers was the adjustable shredded-foam Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow .

Everything we recommend

Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow

Best memory-foam pillow.

Our testers love shredded foam more than any other type, and this pillow is a longtime favorite. It has moldable, customizable filling that gives back- and side-sleepers firm support.

Buying Options

Budget pick.

Weekender Gel Memory Foam Pillow

An inexpensive, supportive foam rectangle.

The most affordable memory-foam pillow we tried is also our favorite one-piece foam pillow. It offered some of the best neck and shoulder support without overheating our testers.

Upgrade pick

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Pro + Cooling Pillow (mid-density)

A high-quality layered-foam pillow.

This pillow is made with stacked sheets of foam and has a better cover than any other foam pillow we tried—it’s luxe, cool, and soft but substantial. The pillow comes in three thicknesses, and it’s one of the few we tested that you can try in a store.

Ecosa Pillow

Best contoured memory-foam pillow.

Height-adjustable and curved to provide targeted neck support, the Ecosa was the best contoured pillow we tested. It’s pricier than others we recommend, but it’s the favorite of our back- and side-sleepers who struggle with pain.

The Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow is our overall favorite memory-foam pillow, and it has been a consistent tester favorite since 2016. Our testers generally prefer shredded foam to solid, layered, or contoured foam, and the Easy Breather is one of the most comfortable shredded-foam pillows we’ve found.

It’s adjustable—you can unzip the cover and scoop out filling to get your ideal loft—and it offers firm support. It has a soft, cool cover, and the shredded foam is encased in its own washable inner pouch (making it the first fully washable shredded foam pillow we’ve tested). The pouch also has a zipper, so you can still add and remove as much shredded-foam filling as necessary to get your ideal loft. Another plus: The Easy Breather doesn’t have the chemical smell we’ve found in other shredded-foam pillows we’ve tried.

Nest Bedding offers a 30-day return policy and a two-year warranty on the Easy Breather.

The Weekender Gel Memory Foam Pillow is our favorite solid memory-foam pillow—it felt cool to use, it’s the lightest of our picks, and our side- and back-sleepers found it more supportive than several pricier pillows they tried. It’s also one of the highest-rated and least expensive memory-foam pillows we found on Amazon.

Its cover does feel less luxe than those of our other picks, and the foam inside makes it much squishier than the layered Tempur-Pedic and contoured Ecosa pillows we recommend, so your head sinks a bit more (but not as much as with down or down-alternative pillows). This pillow could be a better choice if you often find memory foam too stiff and lofty, or if you just want to try a memory-foam pillow to see if it’s right for you.

The Weekender pillow comes with Amazon’s 30-day return policy.

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Pro + Cooling Pillow (mid-density) is made with some of the best foam we’ve tried—it feels dense and luxurious.

The pillow comes in three heights, or densities, and the “lo” and “mid” options are made with two sheets of memory foam sandwiching a middle layer of “micro cushions” (the layer looks a bit like hundreds of mini marshmallows squished together). The “hi” height is a single, thick block of memory foam. We tried the layered mid-density version with testers of various body sizes in various sleep positions, and we wouldn’t recommend anything taller unless you have especially broad shoulders or need significant height.

Most of our side- and back-sleepers found this pillow very supportive, but some thought it was too big. The outer cover is made from the highest-quality fabric of any foam pillow we tested; it’s well stitched and taut, and the material stayed cooler than most others we tried.

This pillow comes with a five-year limited warranty—the longest warranty of our picks—and it’s one of the few pillows we’ve tested that you can try in stores to make sure your choice fits your body before you buy. (Tempur-Pedic accepts returns only if the pillow is damaged.)

The Ecosa Pillow is made with contoured memory foam to offer extra support for the natural curve of the neck, and it was the overall favorite in our testing with back- and side-sleepers who struggle with neck, shoulder, or arm pain while they sleep.

The pillow is firm with a bit of squish, so our testers felt cradled without sinking. It’s also more adjustable than any other solid-foam pillow we tested—it comes with two sheets of extra foam you can add to the bottom (inside the cover) to adjust its height. We think it’s the best contoured pillow for most bodies.

Ecosa offers a 100-night return policy, so you can try this pillow risk-free.

The research

Why you should trust us, who should use memory-foam pillows, how we picked and tested, our favorite shredded-foam pillow: nest bedding easy breather pillow, an affordable single-piece foam pillow: weekender gel memory foam pillow, a luxurious layered-foam pillow: tempur-pedic tempur-adapt pro + cooling pillow, a supportive contoured-foam pillow: ecosa pillow, care and maintenance, the competition.

I personally prefer memory-foam pillows. As a side-sleeper I like a fair amount of height and a very firm pillow to keep my shoulders and arms from getting sore, and in testing for this guide I had some of the better nights of sleep I can remember. I also co-wrote our main guide to bed pillows . Our picks are the pillows I would spend money on myself.

For this guide I built on the research from our main guide to pillows , and I also interviewed Dr. Jonathan Kirschner , a physiatrist at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery . We talked about pain caused by using the wrong pillow for your body and neck shape, and he explained the proper alignment for the neck during sleep. He also shared what to look for in any good pillow.

Memory-foam pillows (shredded foam, solid foam, layered foam, or contoured) are best for people who sleep on their side or back and don’t get enough support from down and down-alternative pillows. We don’t recommend most memory-foam pillows for stomach-sleepers unless you can customize the fill or you specifically need more height. Although some of these pillows are adjustable, most of our picks are pretty lofty; in our testing, the extra-firm, extra-high support didn’t feel comfortable to most stomach-sleepers.

Dr. Jonathan Kirschner of New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery told us that, when choosing a pillow, you should maintain your body’s natural alignment. “In the neck we have a natural curve called the lordosis,” he said, “and you want the pillow to accommodate for that.” In testing I’ve found that the most supportive pillows make my head feel like it’s comfortably floating and not pulled in any one direction. If you like the feel of memory foam but need a smaller, softer pillow (in our test panel stomach-sleepers and side- and back-sleepers with smaller frames tended to have this preference), we have more options in the Competition section . To see the pillows we tested with other fills (as well as more options in shredded foam, our testers’ favorite style), read our main guide to bed pillows .

Our four memory foam pillow picks, stacked together

We used the same criteria for this guide as we used for our main guide to pillows :

Comfort: We looked for pillows with good neck and shoulder support, and we ruled out most pillows that caused overheating. Memory foam can feel hotter than down and down-alternative pillows, though, so in some cases we considered pillows with great support that felt a little warm.

Construction: As with all pillows we’ve tested, we looked for strong stitching along the seams, we noted the quality and thickness of the outer cover, and we judged the cover’s ability to protect the foam inside. We also checked the foam to see if it was fragile.

Return policy and warranty: Determining whether a pillow is a good fit takes a few nights, so we looked for generous return policies (from 30 to 100 days) from the companies whose pillows we recommend. Only one of our recommended pillows—from Tempur-Pedic—doesn’t offer returns, but unlike the others, it’s available to try in stores. Most of our picks also come with three- to six-year warranties (which mainly cover manufacturer defects).

In 2019 we tried a total of 18 memory-foam pillows in shredded, solid, layered, and contour styles. We’ve tested shredded-foam pillows for several years for our main pillows guide , but this was our first time considering all styles of foam pillows. After conducting first-round testing that eliminated the least comfortable models, we had a panel of six testers (representing side-sleepers, back-sleepers, stomach-sleepers, and some combo sleepers) spend a few weeks sleeping on the 14 remaining pillows. Going by their notes on comfort and breathability—and building on our years of shredded-foam pillow testing—we made our picks.

The Nest Bedding's The Easy Breather Pillow shown on a bed.

Over the years, we’ve tried more than 100 pillows—stuffed with down, down alternative, and foam—with dozens of sleep testers. And the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow has consistently been one of the most popular among back- and side-sleepers because of its firm but soft support, its adjustable shredded-foam fill, its high-quality materials, and Nest Bedding’s decent return and warranty policies.

We’ve been recommending versions of the Easy Breather since 2016. This pillow is comfy and firm, offering neck support that doesn’t cause pain. The Easy Breather stands out for being completely machine-washable. It’s the top-ranked shredded-foam pillow among our side- and back-sleepers, scoring higher than the Xtreme Comforts , Leesa Hybrid , and Sleep Number ComfortFit Classic pillows. We also found that our testers almost universally preferred the feel and support of shredded foam to that of solid, layered, or contoured foam.

One of our favorite features of shredded-foam pillows over other memory-foam pillows is their adjustability. Although you can choose from three heights on the Tempur-Pedic pillow or add foam sheets to the Ecosa pillow, neither is as customizable as the Easy Breather, from which you can remove clumps of fill to get a loft that feels just right for you. Easy Breather contains all the foam in a zippered, all-cotton inner pouch that tucks inside the outer cover. You can remove clumps of the shredded foam until you get the loft just right (and maybe save those pieces in a bag for future adjustments); we think this makes it the most flexible of our memory-foam pillow picks.

The Easy Breather’s thick Tencel-blend cover is softer than the covers on our other memory-foam pillow picks, with a stippled surface that masks the slightly lumpy texture of the shredded-foam fill. Compared with other shredded-foam pillows we’ve tested, the Easy Breather also has less of a chemical smell when you first open the package (it dissipates in a day or so).

The Easy Breather comes with a 30-day return policy (just save the original packaging for returns), which should be long enough for you to make sure it’s the right choice, plus a two-year warranty covering manufacturer defects. Tempur-Pedic offers a longer warranty and Ecosa offers a longer return policy, but Nest’s protection is still better than what we’ve seen from most competitors in our years of pillow testing. Nest also has 13 showrooms , so if you live near one you might be able to try this pillow in person.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

If you find this pillow to be too lofty, you can adjust it by removing some fill, but the process can be messy. Some of our testers have said that when they’ve done this, the fill has left dusty clumps of foam everywhere. They still love the Easy Breather’s adjustability, though, and we think it’s worth the temporary mess—keep a vacuum handy.

The Weekender Gel Memory Foam Pillow was the highest-rated solid memory-foam pillow for our testers, and it’s one of the cheapest foam pillows we tried. It’s the perfect choice if you want a low-risk way to try a memory-foam pillow for the first time, or if you know you don’t like the feel of shredded foam. The Weekender’s foam feels less high-tech and engineered than that of our other picks—it reminded me of the inexpensive foam you can buy at sewing and craft stores. It doesn’t offer as much resistance to the head and neck (what helps keep them elevated and aligned), but for most of our testers it got the job done.

One tester praised its “cushiony softness” and noted that it was just the right thickness for her shoulders. It’s not as tall or as firm as the Nest Bedding, Tempur-Pedic, and Ecosa pillows, but another tester, who has a small frame and generally prefers low pillows, still found it too high. It might be a good choice if you prefer a medium-height pillow.

It’s available in standard (which we tested), queen, and king sizes. Our testers were divided on the quality of the quilted outer cover—some thought it felt cheap, others noted it was cool and soft—but when it’s inside a pillow case, we don’t think you’ll notice. The cover fits the pillow tautly and is removable for easy washing. From a style perspective, we thought the contrast piping looked cute. The Weekender comes with a three-year warranty, and if you buy through Amazon, you have 30 days to return it.

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Pro + Cooling Pillow (mid-density) , with its three layers of foam, is the highest-quality foam pillow we tried—it molds to the shape of your head and neck and is better than the Easy Breather at keeping its shape throughout the night. The outer cover is also cooler and better quality than anything else we tested.

We tried the mid-density version—the pillow also comes in a “hi” height that consists of a single block of memory foam and a “lo” version with thinner layers inside—and the foam was firm but spongy, so our heads and necks were cradled but didn’t sink. When squeezed, the foam inside returned to its original shape faster than that of any other memory-foam pillow we tried, so we think this pillow will probably hold its shape and provide comfortable support for longer than any of our other picks. When you remove the cover, this pillow looks like solid foam, but unlike most solid-foam pillows, which are flat rectangles, this one is rounded and overstuffed. That’s because of the “micro cushion” layer sealed inside the memory foam, which gives it more resistance, extra loft, and a rounded shape. It’s the only memory-foam pillow we’ve tried made with layered sheets of solid foam, and it’s particularly comfortable if you need a lofty, dense pillow to keep the curve of your neck properly aligned.

It’s the only one of our picks that’s sold widely in stores (the Easy Breather is available in Nest showrooms, but only a handful of them exist nationwide), and because Tempur-Pedic will accept returns only if the pillow is defective or damaged from shipping, we think you should try it out in person. For this kind of money, it’s worth the extra step. It does come with a five-year limited warranty.

Closeup of the Tempur-Pedic pillow cover

The cover is cool and smooth, and it fits the foam inside perfectly, with less bunching and excess material around the edges than on other pillows we tested. It’s one of the few pillows I’ve tried with cooling technologies (in this case, the proprietary cover fabric) that actually worked through the night. It’s a big pillow, though—it’s tall and fat, and it comes in only queen and king sizes, unlike our other picks. If a lower, squishier pillow works best for your neck and body shape, this one is not for you.

If you need focused support for your neck muscles or struggle with any kind of upper-body pain (including headaches), the contoured Ecosa Pillow might help you get a better night’s sleep. Its raised curves are more rigid than the fill of our other memory-foam picks, and it keeps its shape—your head doesn’t feel as molded into the foam as with our other picks—but also stays squishy so you don’t feel like you’re sleeping on a brick.

Our experts have told us time and time again that a good pillow should work with the natural contour of your neck, and the Ecosa’s shape sits right against the neck to directly support its arc. We tried three contoured pillows, and the Ecosa was the most comfortable and supportive of the neck. I’m a side-sleeper prone to stiff arms and shoulders, and this was my favorite memory-foam pillow (though it did cause me a bit of overheating). I also reached for it while battling sinus headaches. In our testing, a back-sleeper with chronic neck problems also preferred the Ecosa to other memory-foam pillows, and she chose it over another contoured pillow she had been using. It comes with two thin sheets of foam that you can add inside the cover to raise the height, and in our tests we found that Ecosa’s guidance on the number of layers to use was fairly accurate.

The Ecosa pillow stacked on top of the foam inserts it comes with.

The breathable, zippered cover of the pillow is nice quality, too. It’s soft to the touch and hugs the contours of the pillow well, so there’s no bunching as you shift in the night. As with all of our picks, the cover is removable and washable. Ecosa says the pillow has a layer of activated charcoal to give it antibacterial properties, but we didn’t test for that nor do we put a lot of stock into antibacterial claims.

Although the surface has a bumpy texture that split our test panel, it’s less lumpy, and more uniform, than the shredded foam of the Nest Bedding pillow, so it may require less of a transition if you’ve previously been sleeping on down or down alternative. The Ecosa has a 100-night return policy, the longest of any pillow we recommend. It does not come with a warranty, whereas our other picks do.

We’ve talked to some textile experts who said you can wash shredded-foam pillows (though not single-piece foam pillows) in a washing machine without removing their stuffing, but most manufacturers do not recommend it. The Easy Breather is the only shredded foam pillow we tested that can be washed , due to the inner pouch that holds all the foam.

Washing a non-machine washable pillow could void the warranty or affect the ability to return pillows you’ve purchased. We also think it’s possible that washing foam filling could damage it, cause mold if it’s not dried thoroughly, or possibly harm your washer and dryer (if the stuffing leaks). Our safest suggestion is to wash foam-pillow covers only.

You can remove single-piece or shredded foam from its cover (you’ll need a big basket or bag to hold the shredded foam, as it expands quite a bit when you scoop it out). Always check the cleaning instructions on the label, but generally we recommend washing the cover in cold water and drying it on low heat to prevent any damage. Make sure the cover is completely dry before restuffing it.

Notable contenders

Shredded foam.

The Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow Ultimate is our upgrade pick for back- and side-sleepers in our main pillows guide , and it’s a fantastic option if you don’t like the mess of removing shredded foam. In this guide we recommend only our top memory-foam pillow pick in each style (shredded, solid, layered, and contoured), but this Sleep Number model is the next-best after the Easy Breather. It has three sealed envelopes of shredded foam inside a soft cover, and you can remove these pouches to adjust the loft for your needs.

The Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow (standard) is our budget pick for side- and back-sleepers in our main pillows guide, and like the Easy Breather it has been a recommendation of ours since 2016. It typically costs more than twice the price of the Weekender solid-foam pillow, but it’s loftier and also has adjustable fill—it’s consistently popular among testers. It was our former top pick, but half of our test Xtreme Comforts pillows in 2019 had a strong chemical smell that didn’t dissipate; if you end up with a smelly one, you may have to replace it. We also tried the Xtreme Comforts Slim Sleeper Shredded Memory Foam Pillow , the same pillow with less fill, but we found that people who preferred a flattish pillow liked down options more, and that people who wanted a pillow with more support needed more loft.

In several years of testing, side-sleepers have liked the Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow Classic a lot, and it ranked in the middle of the pack for back- and stomach-sleepers. But no one in our testing liked it better than the Nest Bedding Easy Breather or the Xtreme Comforts.

The SleepNumber Classic True Temp Pillow was the highest rated pillow overall in our 2023 bed pillow testing , and sleepers in every position loved it. It’s a solid foam insert inside a cooling cover that’s also lined with some down alternative polyfill stuffing to provide more cushioning than solid foam alone. Eight of our 10 testers rated it 6 out of 10 or higher. Though one tester who disliked it said it actually gave her back pain.

The Malouf Z Zoned ActiveDough Pillow is thinner than the other solid-foam pillows we tried, but one of our smaller-framed testers (a side- and back-sleeper who prefers memory foam to other fills) gave it the highest ratings. It’s cool to sleep on, and the outer cover is high quality, but the foam is a little more fragile than that of our picks—be careful when taking it out of its cover, because it tears easily. It’s also smellier than most other memory-foam pillows we tried, so you need to air it out for a day or two before using it. But if you’re looking for a supportive but squishy pillow and need something thinner than most memory-foam options, this pillow is excellent.

The Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow was the favorite solid-foam pillow in testing with our stomach-sleeper. The company told us it isn’t technically made of memory foam (it’s an open-cell foam), and maybe that’s why our stomach-sleeper found it more supportive than the memory-foam options we tried.

If you like the squishy feel of down alternative but need firmer, loftier support, you might like the shredded-latex and down-alternative Saatva Pillow . As a side-sleeper who likes a tall, firm pillow, I chose the Saatva as my overall favorite in 2019 testing, as it was softly supportive and cloudlike. The shredded Talalay latex core is surrounded by down-alternative fill, and you can remove the core—although one of our sleep-testers tried this and found that the resulting pillow wasn’t supportive at all. Most of our testers didn’t like the texture, which was soft but not as squishy as a plain down-alternative pillow.

Nest Bedding’s Easy Breather Natural Pillow is a version of our favorite pillow, the Easy Breather . It has an organic-cotton cover and is made with shredded latex foam instead of memory foam. It smelled a bit when it arrived, but that odor faded after a few days. It didn’t feel as comfortable as the original Easy Breather during our first round of testing, so we didn’t see a reason to sleep-test both.

We’ve tested versions of the Pillow Cube , rectangular pillows that are advertised for side-sleepers only due to their height and shape. Some versions of the Pillow Cube come in 4-, 5-, and 6-inch thicknesses; the size is meant to correlate with the space between your neck and the side of your body. When we tested a Pillow Cube, one of our sleep testers thought it was fine (“I do like that the support of the pillow starts lower down my neck than it would with a traditional pillow, so I’m probably going to stick with it for a while—but it definitely hasn’t changed my life”), but it gave me a headache after about 10 minutes of use. We think the addition of half-sizes in the future would help buyers get a more accurate fit and prevent pain.

We tried the Purple Pillow , which is made with the same purple, jiggly “Hyper-Elastic Polymer” as the top layer of the Purple Mattress we tested . As with the Purple mattresses, our testers didn’t respond well to the sensation of lying on the gel-like foam. The pillow is very flat and very heavy. Our stomach-sleeper thought it was supportive but just couldn’t get past the feel.

The Live and Sleep Resort Classic Memory Foam Pillow costs about the same as the Weekender pillow, but our testers gave it lower marks because it was notably stiff.

The Epabo Contour Memory Foam Pillow has a concave dip in the center for your head and neck and is thinner than the Ecosa and Therapedic contoured pillows we tested, but it didn’t give our testers enough support.

This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Christine Ryan.

Jonathan Kirschner, MD, RMSK, physiatrist at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery , phone interview, March 4, 2019, email interview, April 23, 2019

Rebecca Robbins, sleep consultant at The Benjamin , phone interview , May 7, 2018

Sean Bergman, chief marketing officer at PureCare , phone interview , October 27, 2015

Michael Breus, PhD, psychologist and American Academy of Sleep fellow , interview

Terry Cralle, RN, sleep industry consultant , phone interview , October 27, 2015

Shannon Maher, assistant professor of home products development at the Fashion Institute of Technology , phone interview , October 26, 2015

Meet your guide

Jackie Reeve

Jackie Reeve is a senior staff writer covering bedding, organization, and home goods at Wirecutter since 2015. Previously she was a school librarian, and she’s been a quilter for about 15 years. Her quilt patterns and her other written work have appeared in various publications. She moderates Wirecutter’s staff book club and makes her bed every morning.

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9 Best Toddler Pillows, Approved by Pediatricians and Moms

By Jana Pollack

Best toddler pillows collage featuring two products on blue background

There’s so much info out there about infant sleep . But once your little sleepyhead grows up (a tiny bit) and the rules are loosened, even more questions arise—like, what about toddler pillows?

It wasn’t until my son turned two and had started to keep stuffies and toddler blankets in his crib that it suddenly dawned on me that he might need a toddler pillow. I was staring lovingly at the monitor (he’s so cute once he’s finally agreed to go to sleep) when I first had the thought. His little head lay flush against his mattress, and I wondered: Does a two year-old need a pillow? And if so, what type of pillow should he have? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , a child should not have a pillow until age two. Dana Sanderson, MD , a pediatrician who practices in the Bronx, says that if you notice your toddler using a stuffed animal or their arm as a pillow, that’s when to start considering buying them a pillow. You might be wondering, Is it okay to simply use an extra adult pillow in the toddler bed? “While any appropriately sized pillow that is not too soft is usually okay, toddler pillows are great because they’re slightly firmer and smaller than adult-sized pillows,” she says. “This supports your toddler’s neck and reduces the risk of the pillow becoming a suffocation hazard.” As for which ones to pick: “Organic materials such as 100% cotton are great options, as are breathable and easy to clean materials,” says Dr. Sanderson. And for kids with environmental allergies, a hypoallergenic pillow is key. “Hypoallergenic pillows are made from synthetic materials that do not allow dust mites and allergens to be trapped inside.”

After testing a bunch of popular pillows for toddlers, below are the best ones for your little one’s head—all approved by experts.

The best toddler pillows, at a glance

Best Overall : KeaBabies My Little Dreamy Pillow With Pillowcase , $20
Best Budget : Utopia Bedding Pillow , $17
Best for Travel : Coolbebe Kids Chin-Supporting Travel Neck Pillow , $17
Best Hypoallergenic : Choc Chick Hypoallergenic Pillow , $20
Best Cooling : Nestl Cooling Toddler Pillow , $33
Best Organic : Avocado Organic Toddler Pillow , $34

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Best Overall: KeaBabies My Little Dreamy Pillow With Pillowcase

KeaBabies My Little Dreamy Pillow with Pillowcase

Original image by Glamour tester Jana Pollack

This is the first pillow that I bought my son. It’s a simple, comfy option that’s hypoallergenic and meets Oeko-Tex 100 standards (Translation: It’s made of high-quality textiles without any harmful substances). It’s firm enough to offer great spinal support, and the 100% cotton removable pillowcase is machine washable. Even better? There are 50 choices of design for the pillowcase, including options like The Wild (pictured, and preferred by my son), Dinoworld, Hot Air Balloon, and Swan Lake.

Save when you shop for the best toddler pillows with these Amazon promo codes .

Best Budget: Utopia Bedding Pillow

Utopia Bedding Pillow (2-Pack)

This two-pack of pillows is great if you’re on a lower budget. They were fluffier than I expected, with a cotton-blend cover and a striped pattern that comes in a variety of kid-friendly colors. And having two is a nice way to guarantee that at least one will always be clean and ready to pop in the toddler bed.

Softest Toddler Pillow: Toddler Pillow With Pillowcase

Toddler Pillow With Pillowcase (2-Pack)

This is another two-pack option that’s breathable, though a bit thinner than the others. It’s made of polyester filling with a microfiber shell that makes it supersoft, and the included pillowcase is made of 100% organic cotton. It feels like it, too — it’s light and cool and will be perfect for your little sleeper’s cheeks.

Best for Travel: Coolbebe Kids Chin-Supporting Travel Neck Pillow

Coolbebe Kids Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow

If you have long car rides or plane trips coming up, this travel pillow is a must for better sleep. It’s soft and supportive, and stops your toddler’s head and neck from falling forward while they snooze. My son took a minute to warm up to the idea of having it strapped around his neck but then promptly fell asleep and stayed that way for our recent two-and-a-half-hour car ride.

Best Pillow for Naps: Urban Infant Pipsqueak Small Pillow

Urban Infant Pipsqueak Small Pillow

This one is even cuter in person than it looks on Amazon—the listing notes that it’s “very small,” and it really is. That said, it’s not designed to be used as a nighttime pillow and is really meant for naps outside the home or on the go (it’s great to pack for school or to bring on an airplane). And because traveling with toddlers means frequent messes, fear not, the poly-cotton blend is machine washable.

Best Hypoallergenic: Choc Chick Hypoallergenic Pillow

Choc Chick Hypoallergenic Pillow

This hypoallergenic pillow with its bunny ears is cute , and when my son saw it he literally squealed. It’s ergonomic, made with 100% organic cotton, and filled with fiber that also meets Oeko-Tex standards. Unlike an adult pillow, has a seam across the center, which lets your kiddo roll around without having to readjust its position. It’s also conveniently machine washable.

Fluffiest: My Little North Star Sweet Dreams Pillow & Pillowcase

My Little North Star Sweet Dreams Pillow & Pillowcase

This is another great hypoallergenic option. It’s soft and breathable, and the accompanying 100% organic cotton pillowcase is cool to the touch. It’s also machine washable and manufactured to Oeko-Tex 100 standards. This is so fluffy that it feels a bit like the equivalent of a hotel pillow, but for your toddler.

Best Cooling: Nestl Cooling Toddler Pillow

Nestl Cooling Toddler Pillow

If your little one is a hot sleeper, this can help. It’s filled with cooling, gel-infused shredded memory foam which has been certified by CertiPur-US—which means it’s made without mercury, lead, and other heavy materials (you can read more about that here ). It’s also customizable—you can add or remove foam pieces to create a pillow that’s the perfect size for your toddler’s neck. I loved that the (removable, machine-washable) cover has two sides, one silky and one soft bamboo rayon.

Best Organic: Avocado Organic Toddler Pillow

Avocado Organic Toddler Pillow

This is on the pricier end, but it’s worth the extra bucks. It’s organic and breathable, filled with GOLS-certified organic latex and kapok fiber. The pillow is covered with GOTS-certified organic cotton, and the whole thing is GreenGuard Gold Certified, which means that it’s certified for low chemical emissions. Impressive certifications aside, it’s just comfy—I may or may not have stolen it from my son’s room while he was at school to use it as a nap pillow, which I also highly recommend.

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18 best pillows to buy for a good night's sleep

The Good Housekeeping Institute snoozed on 31 pillows to find these best buys

But nothing can help you nod off quite like a comfortable pillow. So, to make finding the one that little bit easier, the Good Housekeeping Institute put 31 different types to the test and created this handy guide, detailing everything you need to know before you buy.

What is the best pillow to buy in 2024?

Simply after our top recommendations? Here’s a list of our winners:

Joint best pillow and best memory foam pillow

Rem-fit 500 cool gel pillow.

Joint best pillow and best cooling pillow

Luff mayfair gel pillow.

Joint best down pillow

Scooms hungarian goose down pillow.

Snuggledown Sumptuous Hungarian Goose Down Soft Support Front Sleeper Pillow

$Fine Bedding Company Natural Latex Foam Pillow$

Best latex pillow

Fine bedding company natural latex foam pillow.

The White Company Luxury Hungarian Goose Down Pillow

Best adjustable pillow

Simba hybrid firm pillow.

Kuddly Dream Pillow

Best bamboo pillow

Ethical bedding bamboo pillow.

Soak and Sleep Soft As Down Pillows

What type of pillow suits your sleeping style.

Think about the positions you tend to fall asleep and wake up in, as this will help you find the right pillow for you. Here’s what you should be looking for, according to how you sleep.

Back sleepers : You’re looking for a fairly supportive pillow with thin to medium height, so try one of our memory foam pillows .

Side sleepers : Choose a thicker, firmer pillow to align your neck and spine correctly. Memory foam, once again, could be best, but check that its height suits you first. To align your hips and prevent lower back pain, sleep with another pillow between your knees.

Front sleepers : Opt for a flat pillow so your head can lay at a comfortable angle. Choose a soft filling such as down or microfibre or if you prefer a more supportive pillow, try wool.

Combination sleepers : Most of us are combination sleepers, but one pillow can’t suit every angle. It’s best to meet in the middle and go for medium firmness and height to give you the best chance of comfort on your back and side. You could also try using two softer pillows and mould them to suit you.

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How we test pillows

We recruited a panel of testers to drift off on a range of pillows at home for at least two weeks.

They rated each one on comfort, support, breathability, washability and overall design, and told us whether they'd continue to use it or not.

At the GHI , we conducted a further wash test and checked for any damage to the pillow's filling or performance.Scroll on to discover all you need to know about our top picks.

Score: 96/100

Our joint winning pillow only dropped four marks overall (its lofty cooling claims disappointed slightly). In every other regard, it surpassed itself. Every tester gave it 10/10 and said they would both buy it and recommend it to friends and family.

It moulded quickly and effectively to our heads, offering optimal support to help ease neck pain. It didn't smell in any way chemical and the soft outer cover washed brilliantly, without noticeably shrinking.

It's breathable, albeit no more than most other pillows we tested, and while there's no trial period, its five-year guarantee feels generous.

Key specifications

In the words of one of our panellists, there was absolutely “nothing to dislike” about this pillow. They loved its level of support (firm but still soft enough to snuggle into it) and general softness. Our in-house experts agreed, too, awarding it strong scores for its high-quality design and bamboo cover that washed well.

This pillow is double-sided; one side is made with soft bamboo, and the other has a cooling gel pad. This worked wonders for some, although others found it almost too cold. However, we tested over winter and if you’re a hot sleeper, this is undoubtedly a positive. Anyway, there’s always the bamboo side within easy reach if you do need warming up.

Score: 95/100

For luxurious comfort that’s hypoallergenic to boot, treat yourself to this fluffy down pillow with a firm feather core.

Testers found it a dream to drift off on, no matter their sleeping style, as it offers both softness and support. It delivered a great night's sleep overall, staying satisfyingly cool and quiet throughout.

No feathers poked through to scratch us and it successfully prevented sniffles. It also stayed plump for the duration of the testing period and emerged from the washing machine looking as good as new. It’s pricey and there’s no trial offer, but it’s bliss to sink into.

Just like the pillow above, this is also made from soft Hungarian goose down and it helped our panellists enjoy a great night’s sleep. They praised its soft, sink-in feel that was still supportive. One tester even stated: “This is the nicest pillow I’ve had.”

It was a hit with our experts too, scoring highly even after going through the washing machine. The pillow kept its shape, bouncing back to its pre-wash height, and the quality of stitching remained the same. Note, when drying, we needed to run a second tumble dryer cycle to loosen up the filling. But overall, it’s an airy dream.

Score: 94/100

This is the only latex pillow on our list, but there’s no need to be dubious about its unusual filling. It mimics memory foam, but it’s designed to be more breathable. And it earned high praise on test; every single panellist would recommend this pillow to a friend, thanks to their excellent slumber and the way it helped regulate their body temperatures.

There’s no plasticky smell, and testers found the bouncy design balanced softness and support dreamily, making it helpful for both back and side sleepers alike. One even compared it to “sleeping on a supportive cloud”.

You can’t adjust the padding inside the pillow; however, its thick, quilted cover can be removed if you want to make it slimmer.

Another goose down pillow, another hit with our testers who gushed about its luxuriously bouncy and fluffy design. In fact, every single tester agreed that it helped them sleep soundly.

As you’d expect from The White Company, its premium design stood-out; its down is cruelty-free and no feathers poked through the cover. Plus, it’s available in two different sizes (standard or super king) as well as in three firmness levels (soft, medium or firm) to suit all kinds of sleepers. There’s even a handy bag for easy travel and storage.

While the pillow remained in good shape after washing, we did notice a slight loss of support so that’s something to keep in mind. Overall, though, it ticked the boxes for super soft comfort.

Score: 93/100

Panellists liked how this firm option from Simba didn’t squish too much or change shape throughout the night – one even found their sleep tracker reported that they were dosing more deeply after they made the switch.

It’s filled with two layers of foam and another of tiny springs, and handily, you can remove and reorder them to suit your sleep style and preferences. This feature went down well with testers, even though some found it took a few nights to find the right combination for maximum support.

The price point is high, but Simba is a registered B Corp, meaning the pillow ticks our boxes for comfortable support and sustainability.

Living up to its name, our panel liked this pillow’s soft outer fabric and the fact you can increase or reduce the amount of foam inside to make it work for your sleep style.

Its outer cover scored full marks in our lab wash tests, and there’s a 30-day money back guarantee if you can’t adjust it to a level that suits you. Just note that it’s big when fully fitted, so you may need to invest in a larger pillowcase.

Packed with puffy fibre that’s a blend of bamboo and recycled plastic and covered in 100% eucalyptus silk, this pillow ticks our boxes for being hypoallergenic, temperature regulating, and amazingly soft. Other eco credentials include eco-friendly packaging, and carbon neutral delivery.

Testers slept soundly and liked the pillow’s overall quality. It’s deep, but their heads sunk in pleasingly – even winning over those who prefer a slimmer pillow. It aced our wash tests too, although some testers would have liked more detailed care instructions. A small niggle, for an otherwise stellar buy.

Score: 92/100

Sometimes it's the finer touches that transform a pillow from good to great, and that’s certainly the case with this luxuriously soft microfibre buy. Testers said it arrived in high-quality packaging, had no lingering ‘new’ smell and appeared plump and plush.

There was barely anything to fault when it came to night time either – testers found it comfortable in all sleeping positions. So, what’s the downside? Some said that it needed squishing a little for extra height and comfort and the care details weren’t as good as some other products, but really, there wasn’t much to dislike at all.

Soak & Sleep Hungarian Goose Down Pillow

Score : 90/100

This pillow comes in a choice of three levels of firmness, of which we tried the firmest. Its down outer layer gives it a cloud-like quality but its feathery inner stops your head from sinking in too deeply.

It regulated temperature brilliantly, keeping testers cosy but never sweaty, and it helped to improve the length and quality of their sleep.

It didn’t once lose its shape or fullness during use, but it looked slightly deflated after washing. It rustled a bit when we changed positions, too, but we welcome the generous five-year guarantee.

Emma Original Pillow

Score: 89/100

With three layers of memory foam, you can easily adjust this pillow by removing a layer so it’s the perfect height for your head. You can machine wash the cover, too – note, it can’t be tumble dried – and on test it washed well with no shrinking.

Most of our panel found it a comfortable bedtime addition, noting that it maintained its buoyancy throughout the trial period. It’s quiet and breathable as well, with most of our panel reporting an excellent night’s sleep.

REM-Fit Snow Pillow

This pillow is made with a soft quilted cover that’s designed to keep you fresh and comfortable throughout hot nights. Our testers found this super effective, although for some popping another pillowcase on top limited the cooling effect. But the cover washed impeccably in the lab, so you could easily go without an extra layer.

As for the firm memory foam filling, our panel found it pleasingly supportive. It wasn’t plump enough for everyone, but if you’re a hot sleeper it’s a great buy.

The Original Groove Pillow

Score: 87/100

Uniquely shaped, this pillow is carefully designed to offer maximum support to your head and neck. Due to its mouldable foam, only the case can be washed, but we found it fared well on test, emerging from our washing machine in pristine condition.

In terms of comfort, our panel was pleasantly surprised with how the pillow relieved pressure around the neck. Its look wasn’t for everyone, but it's one to consider if you often wake up with neck pain – the brand even offers a 100-day trial, so you can return it if it doesn’t ease your aches.

Slumberdown Climate Control Firm Pillow

Despite being the cheapest option on this list, Slumberdown’s Climate Control pillow doesn’t skimp on plumpness. Most testers found the design provided enough support to the neck and head, always reverting to their original shape in the morning.

The thick pillows land on the softer side of firm, so if you like yours verging on stiff, it may be worth trying the super support level. However, it’s hypoallergenic, and filled with breathable microfibre that’s designed to keep you cool in the heat.

Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Pillow

Naturally temperature regulating, wool is a great pick if you’re after a pillow that keeps your head cool. Don’t worry about that typical wool smell either – on test, it vanished quickly, while the pillow is also Allergy UK approved. You can even trace the wool back to the farm it originates from, thanks to its tracing scheme.

Our panel found the high-quality pillow comfortable to sleep on, with all saying the filling remained light and fluffy. You can add or remove wool too, to tailor it to your sleep style, and it emerged from our wash test in excellent condition.

Simba Hybrid Memory Foam Pillow

Score: 86/100

It’s hard to beat memory foam in the support stakes, as no other filling moulds to your head and neck as well. And this cleverly designed pillow is also adjustable, offering more control over the thickness than most – you simply remove the memory foam ‘nanocubes’ until you’re happy with its depth. Though not very breathable, we found it a joy to nestle into, and it impressed us by staying plump, with no dips in sight.

Its synthetic materials are hypoallergenic, but they gave off a funny smell at first. Thankfully, this soon dissipated. Only the cover is machine washable and there’s no trial offer or guarantee.

Aeyla The FOAMO Pillow

Score: 84/100

If it’s luxury you’re after, then this premium pillow should please. Its outer casing is pure cotton, making it breathable and machine washable, while its memory foam centre is soft and supportive.

Another adjustable design, it’s a notably thick pillow that offers welcome flexibility. Testers had to play around a bit to find the right height and said it needed regular plumping when they removed too much. However, if you don’t like a thin pillow, this high-quality design should be just right.

Pillow types explained

With so many pillows on the market, it can be hard to decipher which designs will work for you. Here’s our expert guide to the different styles you can buy.

Microfibre : These lightweight man-made styles, also known as synthetic or polyester pillows, tend to be the cheapest type. They come in a range of heights and firmness levels, making them suitable for all sleeping styles, and are usually hypoallergenic. However, they’re not very breathable and can retain moisture and heat, meaning you could wake up in a hot sweat. They’re also known to flatten quickly and have the shortest life span, with some lasting less than a year.

Feather and down : This premium pillow type is unrivalled in the comfort stakes. To be classed as down, a pillow needs to be compiled of at least 70% down feathers, with the rest being made up of regular feathers. Down feathers are softer, retain heat better, and are not as sharp if they poke out of the pillow. They're expensive as they’re naturally soft, mouldable, airy and long-lasting. They’re not the best choice for those who require height (side sleepers) and they’ll flatten over time, needing occasional fluffing to regain shape. They’re not typically suitable for those with allergies, but anti-allergy options do exist.

Memory foam : Memory foam is like Marmite, so expect to love or hate it. It offers strong support by moulding to the shape of your neck and shoulders, making it a smart choice for anyone struggling with neck pain. These pillows are durable, long-lasting and easy to care for, but the height is rarely adjustable, meaning they’re best suited to either back or side sleepers. They can feel quite rigid, so are better for still sleepers than active ones. This limited airflow means they can get very hot, particularly in the summer.

Wool : Eco-friendly and naturally hypoallergenic, wool pillows are a good choice for those who suffer from allergies as they keep dust mites at bay. They help regulate your temperature, keeping you cosy in winter and cool in summer while absorbing any moisture in the process. Front sleepers benefit the most from this type of pillow, as they are normally firm and supportive without giving much height. They are heavy, though, and they flatten quickly. They can also smell a little sheepy!

Latex : They're firm, durable and supportive, making them helpful for neck ache, and they're naturally hypoallergenic too. Though much more breathable than memory foam, they are pricey, often heavy and can have a distinct smell when new.

Other things to consider before buying

There are a few other factors to consider before investing in a pillow, ranging from allergies to cooling properties. It’s worth investing in one that meets as many of your requirements as possible.

Adjustability : Some pillows feature fillings or layers that can be removed or added to adjust the thickness. Examples on our roundup include the Kally Sleep Adjustable Pillow and the Simba Hybrid Pillow .

Hypoallergenic or anti-allergy: Most synthetic pillows are hypoallergenic, which means they’re unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, either from feathers or dust mites. If a pillow is described as anti-allergy, this usually means it has been treated with chemicals to help keep your sniffles at bay.

Cooling : Some pillows are designed to regulate your temperature using a cooling gel or an innovative breathable liner.

Anti-snore : These pillows are designed to better support your head and neck to help open your airways and improve breathing. As a result, they can reduce or sometimes even stop snoring.

How to wash your pillows

You should aim to wash or clean your pillows at least every six months (and your pillowcases every two months), according to our household advice editor. How you wash them depends on the type of filling – head to our handy guide to get all the tips and tricks.

Complete your bedding set

Making sure you have the right pillow will certainly go a long way to helping you sleep at night, but if your back is aching or you just can’t get comfortable, it may be worth looking at your mattress too.

If you don’t want to buy a replacement, a topper would also help you get the right comfort and support.

The verdict: What is the best-rated pillow?

It was a tight at the top in our testing, with both REM-Fit's 500 Cool Gel Pillow and Luff’s Mayfair Gel Pillow barely dropping a mark. They're excellent choices for support and both received rave reviews from our panellists. The former suits a range of sleep styles, while the latter also has a cooling gel pad on one side, which may prove helpful if a heatwave strikes.

If you’re after a down pillow, we’d recommend either Scooms’ Hungarian Goose Down Pillow or Snuggledown’s Sumptuous Hungarian Goose Down Pillow as they both delivered a soft, dreamy night’s sleep for our testers.

And if you don’t want to spend too much on a new pillow, then Slumberdown’s Climate Control Pillow is a savvy buy for less than £20.

Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute

In our hunt for the best bedroom additions, we’ve tested 84 different pillows here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, and had the help of 420 panellists who tried them out at home. Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd , has then coordinated all the results and scored them based on feedback to help you find the very best for your sleep set-up.

Our homes editor, Hannah Mendelsohn, and writer, Megan Geall , have written hundreds of reviews between them so know a thing or two about what makes a top-quality sleep product. Hannah has also studied sustainable textiles at the University of the Arts, London, so is able to analyse brands' sustainability claims and tell you what you need to know.

Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows , and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist , working for Stylist , Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

Blossom is our Senior Homes Tester. Passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for our readers, she has tested everything from blenders to pizza ovens. Blossom enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols for hundreds of items. Innovative items like robot vacuum cleaners and wine coolers are among her favourite tests to date, and her most notable accomplishment is toasting 360 slices of bread in a determined bid to find the best toaster. In her free time, Blossom openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.

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Hot Sale Moscow Kremlin U Neck Pillow Compact Memory Foam Travel Pillow-Comfortable For Sleeping On Airplane

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Hot Sale Moscow Kremlin U Neck Pillow Compact Memory Foam Travel Pillow-Comfortable For Sleeping On Airplane

About this item.

Made Of High Quality Memory Foam Which Molds Perfectly To Your Neck (Size: 11.8 X 11.8 Inches)
Material: 100% Polyester 100% Pillowcase Memory Foam Pillow Core Material
U-shape Design Conforms To Head And Neck

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NECK SUPPORT: With The Memory Foam Filling Inside, The Pillow Holds Its Shape To Give Gentle Support Around Your Head And Neck; The Raised Arch Holds Your Head Upright, And Takes The Stress Off Your Neck And Shoulders.

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Travelrest Ultimate Travel Neck Pillow. $40 now 25% off. $30. Shape: Neck pillow | Fill: Inflatable | Thickness: 3.5 inches | Packability: Easy. This inflatable pillow is worn like a sash, and it ...
The Travel Pillow Alternative That Stops Head Bobbing
The Travel Pillow Alternative That Stops Head Bobbing - Airplane Straps and Car Support Band Great on Upright Super Comfy & Neck Small Compact . Brand: SeatSleeper. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 692 ratings. Amazon's Choice highlights highly rated, well-priced products available to ship immediately.
5 Best Travel Pillows for 2024
The Best Travel Pillows: My Top 5 Picks. Editor's Pick - Cabeau Evolution S3. Best Travel Pillow for Long Flights - BCOZZY Neck Pillow. Best Travel Neck Pillow - trtl Travel Pillow. Best Inflatable Travel Pillow - TRAVELREST Ultimate Travel Pillow. Best Memory Foam Travel Pillow - TravelMate Memory Foam Neck Pillow.
8 Best Travel Pillows for Long-Haul Flights (2023)
Best overall travel pillow: Cabeau Evolution S3 travel pillow. Best for neck support: Trtl travel pillow. Best for side sleepers: BCozzy neck pillow. Best budget buy: Dot & Dot Twist memory foam ...
The best travel pillows of 2024, tried and tested
Best travel pillow: Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Neck Pillow. Best splurge travel pillow: Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow. Travel pillows need to strike a tricky balance. Not supportive enough and you ...
The Best Travel Pillows of 2024
How we tested travel pillows. Our pick for the best travel pillow: Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow. Runner-up for the best travel pillow: Cabeau Evolution Classic Pillow. Also ...
The 10 Best Neck Pillows For Travel, According To Experts
Best Neck Pillow For Travel For Window Seats: Trtl Travel Pillow. Best All-In-One Neck Pillow For Travel: Pluto POD. Best Cooling Neck Pillow For Travel: Cabeau Evolution Cool Pillow. Best ...
10 Best Travel Pillows of 2024
Cabeau Evolution S3. $40 at Amazon $40 at Walmart. Credit: Cabeau. This isn't your typical travel neck pillow, as its memory foam fill holds its shape better than similar neck pillow styles. Our ...
The best travel pillows in 2024, tested by editors
Mlvoc Travel Pillow. With its ergonomic, curved design for neck and head support, this travel pillow comes wrapped in a cover that is both machine-washable and sweat-resistant. The travel pillow ...
Lay Your Head In The Clouds With These 11 Best Travel Pillows
BCOZZY Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow: Best inflatable travel pillow. Ultra-compact and lightweight, the BCOZZY Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow is easy to inflate, with a handy valve which allows you to adjust the firmness of your pillow. The innovative overlap design wraps snugly around in a 360° style, so your chin benefits from as much support ...
Best travel pillows 2024: tested by our editors
The best travel pillow to buy in 2024 at a glance. Best overall: Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow. Best for neck support: Trtl travel pillow. Best for side sleepers: BCozzy neck pillow and Travelrest pillow. Best for price: Ecosafeter portable travel pillow. Best lie flat pillow: Mini Snoooze travel pillow.
The Best Travel Neck Pillows of 2024
The Pluto Pod is a travel pillow that was engineered based on feedback from frequent travelers. The result is a pillow designed to support your head and neck while also protecting you from the kind of noise and light that can disrupt rest while you're traveling. The pillow consists of a neck component and a hood.
Amazon.com: Travel Head Pillow
Travel Pillow Memory Foam - Head Neck Support Airplane Pillow for Traveling, Car, Home, Office, Travel Neck Flight Pillow with Attachable Snap Strap Soft Washable Cover. 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,083. 1K+ bought in past month. Limited time deal. $11.99 $ 11. 99. List: $17.99 $17.99.
13 Best Travel Pillows for Long Flights
J-Pillow Travel Pillow. $50 at Amazon. Credit: J-Pillow. This travel pillow may have a funny shape, but it's that shape that makes it so well-loved. The three sides each cradle a different part of your head—the back, the side, and the chin—to provide ample neck support and keep your head from falling forward. 9.
Best travel pillows for long-haul flights 2024
The best travel pillows for 2024 are: Best travel pillow overall - Ostrichpillow go neck pillow: £55, Amazon.co.uk. Best budget travel pillow - Lifeventure inflatable neck pillow: £12.99 ...
Amazon.com: SNUGL Neck Travel Pillow
BUYUE Travel Neck Pillows for Airplanes, 360° Head Support Sleeping Essentials for Long Flight, Skin-Friendly & Breathable, Kit with 3D Contoured Eye Mask, Earplugs and Storage Bag (Adult, Grey) ... Choosing the right size for your SNUGL Travel Pillow is easy! Determine your size based on your height, not neck circumference. Both pillows ...
The 5 Best Neck Pillows for Jet-Setters
Travel comfortably with the Lucear Twist Memory Foam Pillow, which is shaped like a fluffy tube to accommodate your head and neck. The combination of memory foam and velour makes it warm and inviting.
Budget Travel
BCOZZY Chin-Supporting Travel Pillow, $30; amazon.com. (Budget Travel readers receive 20% off with coupon code BUDGETTRAVEL, good through April 15, 2019.) 4. The Compact One (Courtesy Trtl) When you're committed to traveling light, the Trtl pillow is a good bet. It folds to take up the least amount of room in your bag, and its scarf-like ...
The Best Memory Foam Pillows for 2024
Best contoured memory-foam pillow. Height-adjustable and curved to provide targeted neck support, the Ecosa was the best contoured pillow we tested. It's pricier than others we recommend, but it ...
9 Best Toddler Pillows, According to Pediatricians and Moms 2024
Best for Travel: Coolbebe Kids Chin-Supporting Travel Neck Pillow, $17 Best Hypoallergenic : Choc Chick Hypoallergenic Pillow , $20 Best Cooling : Nestl Cooling Toddler Pillow , $33
Moscow Kremlin Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow U Shaped Travel Neck
Buy Moscow Kremlin Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow U Shaped Travel Neck Support Cushion: Travel Pillows - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases. Skip to main content.us. Delivering to Lebanon 66952 Update location Home & Kitchen ...
18 best pillows to buy for side, front and back sleepers UK 2024
Naturally temperature regulating, wool is a great pick if you're after a pillow that keeps your head cool. Don't worry about that typical wool smell either - on test, it vanished quickly ...
Missing Toddler Search: Seraya Aung's Grandmother Joins ...
Seraya Aung's grandmother joins Court TV to discuss the search for the missing 2-year-old. Seraya went missing on May 29 when her father, Aaron Aung, did...
Hot Sale Moscow Kremlin U Neck Pillow Compact Memory Foam Travel Pillow
Buy Hot Sale Moscow Kremlin U Neck Pillow Compact Memory Foam Travel Pillow-Comfortable For Sleeping On Airplane: Neck & Cervical Pillows - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

The Best Travel Pillows of 2024

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow

TRLT Travel Pillow

Blabok Inflatable Travel Pillow

J-Pillow Travel Pillow

Cabeau The Neck’s Evolution S3 Neck Pillow

Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Pillow

Ostrich Go Neck Pillow

BCOZZY Neck Pillow

Honeydew Sleep Company Scrumptious Travel Pillow

Sea To Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow

Hest Travel Pillow

Travel Pillow Comparison Chart

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Travel Pillow for You

Memory Foam

Down and Synthetic Fill

Inflated Air

Packed Size

Travel Tricks: Get a Good Night’s Sleep on a Plane

Bring an Eye Mask

Keep the Essentials at Hand

The Best Camping Pillows of 2023

The Best Travel Backpacks of 2024

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The 10 Best Travel Pillows of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Our Testing Process

Best Overall

Most Comfortable

Best Infinity-style

Aeris Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Best Hooded

Gingerlily Silk Travel Pillow

Best Adjustability

Samsonite 2-in-1 Magic Travel Pillow

Best Splurge

Best Breathable

Other Travel Pillows We Liked

Tips for Buying a Travel Pillow

Portability is key

Consider the filling material

Think about how you plan to use it

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Related Articles

The 9 Best Travel Pillows of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Final Verdict

Why Trust TripSavvy

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Best Budget

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow

Best Splurge

Best Cooling

Best Memory Foam

Gingerlily Silk Travel Pillow

Best Support

What to Look For in a Travel Pillow

Best in Class

The 11 Very Best Travel Pillows

In this article

What we’re looking for

Packability

Best less-expensive travel pillow

Best memory-foam travel neck pillow

Best inflatable travel neck pillow

Best inflatable travel lumbar pillow

Best travel pillow for the middle seat

Best travel pillow for the window seat

Best travel pillow for tray-table sleeping

Best pillow for traveling with kids

Best travel knee pillow

Best stuffable travel pillow

Some more travel pillows we’ve written about

Our experts

Deal of the Day

Today’s Top Clicked

5 Best Travel Pillows for 2024

Written by Julia Forbes, Lead Product Tester

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