Pillows are a highly personal piece of bedding.
Some folks prefer them cloudy soft while others need the tension of a rounded stone in order to drift off properly. Me? I’m solidly in the latter camp.
A firm pillow allows my head, neck and shoulders to completely relax so I can drift off in record time. In comparison, a soft pillow may be nice enough to cuddle but I’ve had plenty of restless nights (hotels are the biggest culprits here) where the lack of firmness has kept me up until the early hours. Worse, I’ve woken up with a sore neck and shoulders come the morning.
Sleeping on the wrong pillow isn’t just about comfort: doing so over a prolonged period can lead to all kinds of aches and pains, including in the lower back at the end of the spine. It’s all connected.
When it comes to filling, go for a more substantial texture like cotton, wool, latex or memory foam. While down and feather pillows sound dreamy, they're more likely to lose their shape when you're sleeping, leaving a head dent in the centre. If you must, a feather filling is firmer than down.
If you’ve been considering switching to a harder, firmer pillow, you’re in luck. We’ve picked out the best firm pillows for side, back and front sleepers, keeping your head, neck and spine supported and in perfect alignment so you’ll wake fresh as a daisy in the morning.
From established brands to little-known gems, see the selection below.
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TEMPUR Original Large Medium/ Firm Pillow
Tempur has built its reputation on memory foam sleep products, and many loyal customers won’t sleep on anything else. As well as mattresses, the brand also offers this medium-firm pillow specifically designed to conform to the natural curvature of your spine, allowing you to drift into slumber without any distractions.
The unusual shape can take some getting used to, but once you have, you’ll wonder how you managed without it. Ideal for side sleepers, but be warned, as is the case with memory foam, it can feel too warm. Something to note in the summer months. Medium and XL sizes are also available.
Buy now £99.00, Argos
The FOAMO Pillow
Fun name aside, the FOAMO pillow is filled to the brim with ultra-cooling, supportive and soft memory foam. However, unlike your standard memory foam pillows which feel more like rock-solid bricks than fluffy clouds which mould to the contours of your head - the foam filling has been broken up into small pieces so that the technology can work across an extended surface area as well as provide a far more comfortable feel.
Plus, because of the broken-up nature of the filling, you can add and remove the memory foam depending on your preferences with regards to firmness. The outer fabric cover is made from a bamboo viscose which is both breathable and moisture-wicking, helping to circulate airflow for an all-round cooler sleep.
Buy now £69.00, Aeyla
The Nectar Premium Foam Pillow
Crafted with a rhomboid memory foam core, quilted polyester cover and breathable Tencel mesh border, this pillow promises to not only support the head and neck during sleep but provide an always-cool feeling that prevents the need for restless pillow flipping on hot nights.
While definitely firm, it’s not a traditional spongey memory foam pillow. Instead, a shredded interior is largely propped up by the plush quilted cover. Its cooling power is by no means a magical revelation, but the mesh border indeed allows cool air to escape with every toss and turn.
Buy now £65.00, Nectar Sleep
TEMPUR Original SmartCool™ Standard Pillow, Medium/Firm
Legendary memory foam mattress label Tempur launched this speciality pillow with all the comfort, support and softness that the brand was known for. It comes in various sizes and has a patented CoolTouch heat-absorbing construction with a super comfy fabric cover. Your neck and head will feel cradled throughout the night as the foam adapts to your shape.
Buy now £119.20, John Lewis
Kally Neck Pain Pillow
Keep your head, neck and spine aligned with Kally's pillow, specifically designed to address neck pain.
The ergonomic butterfly shape does, at first, take a little getting used to, but you'll soon reap the benefits when you wake up feeling completely refreshed. It's on the firmer side, scoring 7/10 and is made with memory foam for unrivalled bounceback. Best of all, there's a 14-night trial period, so if it's not for you, simply return it for a full refund.
The only downside is that it’s a tad smaller than standard pillows, so you may need to fold your existing linen around it unless you’re happy to get the matching cover too.
Buy now £39.99, Kally
Aeyla The Dual Pillow
Walking the tightrope between support and squish, Aeyla’s osteo-approved Dual Pillow could say goodbye to neck discomfort for good. It's a bit of a Matryoshka-esque design with a smaller pillow sitting within a larger one for improved support without feeling like you're laying on a rock.
A 100 per cent cotton cover keeps the pillow feeling blissfully cool, and there's built-in support along the edges, which helps the pillow maintain its height with minimal plumping on your part.
Buy now £59.00, Aeyla
Panda London Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow
Get comfortable and ready for a good night’s sleep with Panda’s Memory Foam pillow under your head. The super supportive third-generation memory foam is covered with a soft-touch cover made of bamboo fibres, helping to keep the design breathable as well as antibacterial. Comes with a 10 year guarantee.
Buy now £38.21, Panda London
Snuggledown of Norway Side Sleeper Pillow
Ticking both the firm and side sleeper boxes, this box wall construction pillow lends support to the head, neck and shoulder when it’s time for lights out. It boasts a polyester fill inside a 100 per cent cotton cover, making sure everything stays breathable. It offers a firm level of support.
Buy now £12.00, Very
The Simba Hybrid Pillow
Simba has revolutionised the pillow game by creating a customisable design that has made it easier than ever to achieve the perfect level of height, firmness and support to match your sleeping patterns - whether you doze off on your side, back or front. The pillow comes with hundreds of the brand’s specially designed Nanocubes that you can add or remove. This also comes in handy for temperature regulation as they are crafted from an open-cell foam that has an impressive airflow.
Was: £109
Buy now £87.20, Amazon
Slumberdown Cool Max Memory Support Firm Pillow
This memory foam iteration is designed for those of you who prefer firmer support when it comes to pillows. Made in the UK, Slumberdown has crafted this Cool Max sleep time companion to give you the utmost support, while drawing moisture away from your head. The cradled memory foam can also help relieve neck or back tension.
Buy now £23.00, Argos
Kally Sleep Cooling Pillow
If you’ve ever laid your head on a Kally pillow, you can attest to their comfort levels to which this iteration is no different. But unlike the anti-snore and body pillows that the brand is famous for, this model is designed specifically to keep you cool and comfortable while you catch Z’s.
It is filled with an air-permeable foam core and quality Hollowfibre that add extra breathability and an air vent system within the pillow to keep it at the optimal temperature. It has a medium firmness and can be used by all types of sleepers whether you are a side, front or back sleeper.
Buy now £31.49, Kally Sleep
DUSK Pair of Duck Feather & Down Pillows
Whether you sleep alone or you’re refreshing your pillows for both you and your partner, DUSK’s pair of duck feather and down pillows offer fantastic value while keeping quality at a premium.
The filling is a mix of 90 per cent duck feather with the rest luxury duck down. Everything comes wrapped in a 100 per cent cotton percale cover which feels cool against the skin. They are offered in soft, medium and firm support and you can buy them in super king size too.
Buy now £32.00, DUSK
John Lewis Temperature Regulating Breathable Standard Pillow, Medium/Firm
Always searching for the cool side of the pillow? John Lewis solves nightly tossing and turning with this temperature-regulating pillow which comes in a medium to firm tension.
Buy now £40.00, John Lewis
Slumberdown Support Firm Pillow - 2 Pack
Ideal for side sleepers, the pillow has a firm core block in its centre, offering a stable foundation for tired heads. The pillows offer good firm support even after continued use.
Buy now £16.00, Argos
Emma Original Pillow
There are three memory foam layers in Emma’s Original Pillow to ensure you get the rest you deserve: simply add or remove them to get the right combination for you.
Each pillow contains a pressure-relieving viscoelastic memory foam; a supportive HRX hyper-soft cold foam (one for the hot sleepers amongst you); and a ultra-breathable Airgocell memory foam.
It will keep its shape over time and the cover can be put in the washing machine when it’s time for a clean.
Buy now £48.75, Emma
Octaspring TrueEvolution Anatomic Pillow
Pillows have a habit of becoming misshapen over time, but this design incorporates a supportive memory foam layer that bounces back, night after night. It also comes with Octaspring’s trademarked technology, a set of pressure-relieving memory foam springs that are eight times more breathable than traditional memory foam, helping you stay cool as a cucumber through the night. The cover is also washable.
Buy now £49.00, Dormeo
