Looking to replace your old, flat pillows with a brand new organic pillow but not sure what brand is best? I’ve got you covered! I tested pillows from all the best eco-friendly bedding brands and chose my favorite ones. Read on to find the best organic pillows for your sleep needs.
Our Verdict: What’s the Best Organic Pillow?
I chose the Saatva Latex pillow as the best overall pillow. It combines an organic cotton cover with fluffy down alternative filling and a removable shredded latex core. Hot sleepers, side sleepers, back sleepers, and combinations sleepers should all be comfortable on this versatile pillow.
Best Organic Pillows: Our Top Picks
- Saatva Latex — Best Overall
- Nest Easy Breather Natural – Best for Side Sleepers
- Avocado Molded Latex – Best for Combo Sleepers
- Avocado Green – Best Cooling Organic Pillow
- PlushBeds Shredded Latex – Best for Neck Pain
Best Organic Pillows: Video Review
How We Chose Our Top Picks
When it comes to organic pillows, it’s all about the materials. That’s why our experts looked specifically at natural latex, organic cotton, and organic wool options. The pillows on the list contain organic materials and many even have Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifications, which is how you know you’re sleeping on high-quality organic bedding.
Aside from looking for the best materials, we examined each pillow’s support, durability, cooling, and softness to find options that work for all sorts of sleepers.
Best Overall – Saatva Latex
Saatva Latex Pillow
The Saatva Pillow has an organic cotton cover that is removable. Underneath is an outer pillow made up of hypoallergenic microfibers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
The Saatva Pillow features an organic cotton cover with a luxurious sateen weave. It’s made with a certified organic microdenier fiber outer layer that is more breathable than traditional down, but feels just as cushy. This layer gives the pillow a soft, fluffy feel that down is known for.
But, the inner core of the pillow is made of organic Talalay latex that doesn’t compress under your head. That means side and back sleepers should get the support they need to avoid neck and shoulder pain at night, without sacrificing the fluffy feel of down. Stomach sleepers can remove the latex center for a softer feel.
The Saatva pillow is also hypoallergenic, and its outer layers are machine-washable. The inner layer is hypoallergenic and dust mite and mildew-resistant.
What our testers say: “Saatva is all about that luxury sleep experience, and the latex pillow certainly delivers there. It’s soft and very cushy, but the latex core kept me from bottoming out. Admittedly, this is a luxury pick with a price tag to match, but it should last a handful of years.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the Saatva Latex Pillow
- This pillow is made with a number of breathable materials. Because of this, hot sleepers shouldn’t need to flip over to the “cool side” of the pillow.
- It has a soft, plush feeling, but a supportive shredded latex foam core. This makes it an ideal pick for back sleepers who want a combination of both comfort and support. However, it does come in two loft options, with a high loft for side sleepers.
- All the materials are hypoallergenic, and you can even remove the outer cover and machine-wash it, further eliminating any other allergens.
What to Keep In Mind About the Saatva Latex Pillow
- This pillow isn’t the most budget-friendly pick, costing around $170. This might put it out of range for some.
Interested in the Saatva? Check out my full Saatva pillow review.
Best for Side Sleepers – Nest Easy Breather Natural
Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Pillow
The Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural pillow contains eco-friendly materials and has a soft cotton cover. It’s also adjustable, so you can easily match it to your needs.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.00 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
The Nest Easy Breather Natural is an adjustable pillow that contains organic cotton in its outer cover and organic latex as its fill material. The latex gives this pillow a soft, yet springy feel. Plus, with it being adjustable, you’re able to control the amount of fill material within the pillow. Side sleepers may want to pack the pillow with plenty of fill to make it nice and tall, but still comfortable.
Both cotton and latex are breathable materials, making this a good choice for hot sleepers. You shouldn’t overheat or need to turn the pillow over in order to cool off. All the materials have an OEKO-TEX® certification, meaning the materials are produced in a safe way without the use of harsh chemicals.
What our testers say: “I am a side sleeper through and through. I’ve dealt with pillows that were either too tall, or too flat for my liking. With an adjsutable pillow like the Nest Easy Breather Natural, I was able to find that ‘Goldilocks’ option that worked best for me.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the Nest Easy Breather Natural
- It’s made with organic cotton and latex, both of which are very breathable materials. This means hot sleepers can rest easy on this pillow.
- The shredded latex foam gives the pillow a soft, yet bouncy and responsive feeling. This helps support your head and neck while you sleep.
- The materials have an OEKO-TEX® certification, ensuring that the products are safe to use.
What to Keep in Mind About the Nest Easy Breather Natural
- While I do love this pillow for its adjustability, shredded latex foam has a tendency to get everywhere if you’re not careful. This means it’s very easy to make a mess when you go to adjust the pillow.
Read my Nest Easy Breather pillow review to learn more.
Best for Combo Sleepers – Avocado Molded Latex
Avocado Molded Latex Pillow
The Avocado pillow is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly pillow filled with a combination of Kapok fibers and natural shredded latex. It has a smooth and plush feel but the shredded latex brings in a lot of support. It is adjustable, making it a good fit for all sleep positions, but its firmness lends itself to side and back sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.40 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
The Avocado Molded Latex pillow is made of a block of solid latex covered by organic cotton. The latex is perforated to create airflow, so the pillow feels breathable and cool. The Avocado pillow is also GREENGUARD Gold and GOTS certified, which means it is 100% organic and free of pesticides. It’s also free of chemical flame retardants.
The Avocado Molded Latex pillow is charcoal-infused, meaning it’s antimicrobial and odor-resistant. This pillow has a firm, supportive feel that makes it great for side sleepers, combination sleepers, and heavy people. If you enjoy a firm, springy pillow this could be a great pick for you.
What our testers say: “The Avocado Molded Latex pillow is a firm, but springy and responsive pillow. Because of this, I had no problems moving around on it during the night. Because it is so firm, however, it might not be the best choice for those who prefer softer pillows.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the Avocado Organic Latex Pillow
- Avocado acquires the highest standard, third-party certifications for its organic products. This is a good choice if you’re trying to be eco-friendly.
- The latex foam core is perforated with holes, giving this pillow a good amount of breathability. It’s a good choice for hot sleepers.
- This is a rather firm pillow, so it’s supportive enough for back and side sleepers.
What to Keep In Mind About the Avocado Organic Latex Pillow
- Because of how firm the pillow is, some stomach sleepers may not be able to compress the foam enough to get it flat enough for this sleeping position. With their necks craning upwards, stomach sleepers may develop neck pain on this pillow.
Check out my complete Avocado Molded Latex Pillow review.
Best Cooling Organic Pillow – Avocado Green
Avocado Green Pillow
The Avocado pillow is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly pillow filled with a combination of Kapok fibers and natural shredded latex. It has a smooth and plush feel but the shredded latex brings in a lot of support. It is adjustable, making it a good fit for all sleep positions, but its firmness lends itself to side and back sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
If you sleep hot, you’ll definitely want to check out the Avocado Green pillow. It’s made with natural shredded Dunlop latex and fluffy kapok fibers. Kapok is a silky natural fiber that comes from trees in the rainforest. Organic kapok fibers feel soft and downy. When combined with natural latex, this kapok pillow has a medium-firm feel.
The shredded pillow filling offers plenty of airflow, which means hot sleepers should have a good night on the Avocado Green. It also features an organic cotton pillow cover, which is nice and breathable. The pillow is also adjustable, so side, back, and stomach sleepers should find this pillow comfortable (though stomach sleepers might need to remove a lot of filling).
What our testers say: “Shredded pillows offer a lot of breathability. And when you combine that with naturally breathable materials like latex and cotton, you’ve got a pillow that simply won’t trap heat. I liked this pillow most for back and side sleeping. However, I did have to remove a good portion of the fill to make it work best for me.” – Katie Golde
What We Love About the Avocado Pillow
- Just like the other Avocado pillow on this list, this pillow also has the highest standard certifications for organic textiles.
- The use of cotton and latex make it a good pick for hot sleepers because both materials are very breathable.
- The adjustable nature of the pillow means it’ll work well for all three sleeping positions.
What to Keep In Mind About the Avocado Pillow
- This pillow comes with a good deal of fill already in it. Even for some side sleepers, this may be too tall or too firm. So, it’s not quite perfect for use right out of the box.
Read our complete Avocado Pillow Review.
Best for Neck Pain – PlushBeds Shredded Latex
PlushBeds Pillow
Plushbeds’ Organic Shredded Latex pillow is full of shredded latex that is super responsive and easy to move around on! This pillow has an adjustable loft, meaning you can take out or add in the fill to make it a height that works for you.
Mattress Clarity Score
5.00 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
The PlushBeds shredded latex pillow feels fluffy and soft, but it’s still springy and supportive. It’s filled with certified organic latex and does not include any synthetic latex or fillers. In fact, unlike some of the other pillows on this list, the PlushBeds pillow contains GOLS-certified latex, so you know it’s high quality and eco-friendly.
This pillow is lofty and supportive, but still moldable and fluffy. This means it offers springy support that is great for people with neck pain.
What our testers say: “The PlushBeds Shredded Latex pillow is stuffed full of shredded latex, which is great if you have broad shoulders and sleep on your side. That means you won’t have to adjust the pillow as much. However, I have more average shoulders and adjusting this pillow can be a bit messy.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the PlushBeds Shredded Latex Pillow
- Adjustable pillows are great for those with neck pain because it means you can find the right height and firmness for your pillow, especially if a pillow that’s too tall or too flat is the source of that neck pain.
- PlushBeds offers an impressive three-year warranty on this pillow. This is much longer than some other brands, which either don’t offer a warranty or only offer one-year warranties.
- The shredded foam gives this pillow a soft, yet bouncy feeling.
What to Keep In Mind About the PlushBeds Shredded Latex Pillow
- The shredded latex is more akin to small, crumble-like pieces of latex. When I first opened the pillow to adjust it, the fill material almost sprang out, immediately causing a mess. Be sure to open and adjust the pillow carefully.
What is an Organic Pillow?
An organic pillow is made with natural, organic materials like latex, organic cotton, organic kapok, and buckwheat hulls. Wool pillows are also often organic. If you want to be sure you’re getting an organic pillow, look for GOLS, GOTS, OEKO-Tex®, and GREENGUARD Gold certifications on the manufacturer’s website. Think of these labels like the USDA-certified seals on organic veggies at the grocery store.
Pros and Cons of Organic Pillows
There are many pros of sleeping on an organic pillow, but it’s not without a few drawbacks.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for people with sensitive skin | Have higher price points than non-organic pillows |
| Good for people with allergies | Don’t offer a slow-moving, memory foam feel |
| Organic pillows tend to dissipate body heat and stay cool throughout the night. | Many stomach sleepers will find organic pillows are too lofty. If you rest in this sleeping position, you should consider getting an adjustable pillow. This way, you can easily remove the filling. |
| They’re more eco-friendly than other pillows. |
Who Should Use an Organic Pillow
Organic pillows are great picks for all sorts of sleepers! We especially recommend them to:
- Sleepers with sensitive skin or allergies who are looking for gentle, antibacterial pillows.
- Hot sleepers looking for temperature regulating materials like wool, latex, and cotton.
- Environmentally-conscious shoppers who want to buy green, USA-made, or fair trade products.
- Anyone looking for a durable pillow made of high-quality materials.
You can get many of the benefits of sleeping on an organic pillow from other bedding. If you want to shop for all-natural bedding, check out our best organic sheets and best organic mattress roundups.
How to Choose an Organic Pillow
Certain you want an organic pillow but not sure how to choose the right one for you? Check out the brief guide below for help.
Sleeping Position
The first thing to consider when buying a new pillow is what position you sleep in. If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll need a firm, lofty pillow that can help keep your ear aligned with your shoulder. Back sleepers need a medium-firm, medium-loft pillow that can keep the neck aligned with the sternum. And stomach sleepers need soft, low loft pillows that help keep their necks in the proper alignment.
Loft
A pillow’s loft is how tall it is. A lofty pillow made of springy latex will retain its shape and stay tall all night long. A lofty pillow made of soft down will compress under your head and become a medium or low loft pillow when you lie down. So pay attention to both height and materials when choosing your new pillow. Remember, side sleepers should stick to lofty pillows, stomach sleepers to flatter pillows, and back sleepers should find something in between.
Feel
You’ll also want to consider whether your pillow feels comfortable to you! If you like squishy, moldable pillows you’ll probably prefer something with a shredded kapok or latex filling. If you prefer springy support, an organic latex pillow might be for you. And if you like a traditional, fluffy feel, an organic down alternative pillow is a great pick.
Price
Finally, make sure to consider the price when choosing your new pillow. Organic pillows tend to be on the more expensive side, so you might want to shop during a sale to save a little. Pillows with long warranties, like the Plushbeds Shredded Latex pillow, should also last a long time, which can make up for the price.
FAQs
What is the safest pillow material?
Pillows made with certified organic latex and cotton are very safe. Look for Global Organic Textile, Global Organic Latex, and GREENGUARD Gold certifications to ensure your pillow is 100% chemical-free.
Should you buy organic pillows?
If you normally shop for organic products, you might want to opt for an organic pillow. Natural latex pillows or pillows with covers made of natural fibers are also good picks if you have sensitive skin or allergies.
How long do organic pillows last?
Organic pillows made with latex are very durable and can last up to four years. Organic buckwheat pillows are so durable they can last up to twenty years. Organic pillows made with down alternative may only last one year.
How do I clean an organic pillow?
It depends what kind of pillow it is! Take a look at your pillow’s care tag to find out. If your pillow is spot clean only (many are), check out our how to clean your pillow guide for step-by-step cleaning instructions.
