Best Latex Pillows
Is latex the right pillow material for you?
Written by Becca Fair, Certified Sleep Science Coach
Latex is a material used in mattresses, pillows, and other commercial products. It’s extracted from the sap of rubber trees and can be processed through two methods that each give the final product unique properties and benefits. Many people associate latex with things like hospital gloves, rubber bands, toys, and even paint, all of which aren’t ideal places to rest one’s head at night. However, when used inside a pillow, latex is extremely responsive, cool, and durable— all of which are key for achieving great sleep night after night.
Whether you’re in the market for a latex pillow or simply wanting to learn more, this guide will help. In it, we’re sharing the best latex pillows on the market, pros and cons, buying tips, and more.
Best Latex Pillows
- Nerd’s Pick – The Saatva Pillow
- Best Value Latex Pillow – Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
- Most Comfortable Latex Pillow – Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Pillow
- Best Organic Latex Pillow – Avocado Green Pillow
- Best Latex Pillow for Hot Sleepers – PlushBeds Pillow
Watch Our Video Review
Watch our full length video review, which gives you a closer look at each latex pillow model.
Nerd’s Pick – The Saatva Pillow
The Saatva pillow features a pillow-on-pillow design that enables users to easily adjust the height to their needs, leading to a great night’s sleep.
Saatva Latex Pillow
Mattress Nerd Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full Review
Saatva is known for quality products, and their latex pillow doesn’t disappoint. It’s made with a 100% Talalay latex core that’s shredded for improved breathability while providing responsiveness for head and neck support. The core is surrounded by an organic cotton that’s filled with micro-denier fiber for a silky feel and then covered in an organic cotton cover, which wicks moisture and keeps the pillow cool. Available in king and queen sizes, this is a nice luxury option that has all the bells and whistles.
What our testers say: “Almost all Saatva products are geared toward high-end, eco-friendly shoppers. The Saatva pillow is no exception—it’s made with high-quality materials like organic cotton, American Talalay latex, and microdenier fiber.” –Becca, Editor & Lead Accessories Tester
Who Might Like the Saatva Latex Pillow
- Side and back sleepers especially
- Hot sleepers
- Eco-conscious shoppers
Who Might Not Like the Saatva Latex Pillow
- Budget shoppers
- Stomach sleepers
Best Value – Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
The Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow is a latex pillow available in high and low loft.
Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
Mattress Nerd Score
4.70 / 5
The Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex pillow has a simple construction, made from one big block of all-natural Talalay latex, wrapped in an organic cotton cover. The latex core is also ventilated with little tiny holes throughout, so no body heat will get trapped within the materials— perfect if you’re a hot sleeper! Choose between two height options: low or high, to find what’s most comfortable for you. As for the feel, expect your head to feel buoyant atop the surface, with a slight give from the latex core. It has a perfect medium firmness level, so it’s not too soft or too firm. Best yet— this pillow retails for under $100!
What our testers say: “Latex pillows are great for just about everyone. Brooklyn Bedding created the perfect cooling, responsive, and relatively affordable option with their Talalay Latex pillow!” –Becca, Editor & Lead Accessories Tester
Who Might Like the Brooklyn Talalay Latex Pillow
- Hot sleepers
- Those with allergies
- Combination sleepers
Who Might Not Like the Brooklyn Talalay Latex Pillow
- Soft pillow lovers
Most Comfortable – Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Pillow
The Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow is made with a shredded latex foam filling that supports all types of sleepers.
Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Pillow
Mattress Nerd Score
4.60 / 5
Read Full Review
The Easy Breather Natural by Nest Bedding comes with a fill of shredded, natural latex and smooth fibers, all wrapped up in an organic knit cotton cover. It’s a perfect fit for everyone— it comes in four size options: standard, side sleeper, queen, and king, and the fill is also adjustable, so you can add or remove that shredded latex fill to what feels most comfortable to you. When we tested this pillow for ourselves, it gave a perfect balance of support and softness. The blend between the shredded foam and fibers kept our testers propped up, but was still plush enough to snuggle into and get cozy.
What our testers say: “I’m primarily a back and side combo sleeper, and I only needed to remove half of a handful of filling to accommodate for my body and sleeping preferences. I felt aligned as I fell asleep and woke up with no aches or pains.” –Becca, Editor & Lead Accessories Tester
Who Might Like the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Pillow
- Side sleepers
- Hot sleepers
Who Might Not Like the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Natural Pillow
- Budget sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
Best Organic – Avocado Green Pillow
Avocado is well-known for creating eco-friendly sleep products that don’t harm the planet. In this review, we want to take a look at whether the Avocado Green Pillow can help you get the rest you need.
Avocado Green Pillow
Mattress Nerd Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
Made with 100% vegan and organic materials, the Avocado Green pillow simply had to be our choice for the best organic latex pillow on the market. It has a nice, middle-of-the-road firmness level that should appeal to most types of sleepers, plus the latex and kapok fill can be removed or added in order to adjust the loft to your liking.
What our testers say: “The Avocado Green pillow has a medium-plush feel, which means it’s more soft than it is firm. This is ideal for stomach sleepers, who actually don’t want a pillow that’s too firm because it can lift the head too high above the bed, bring the spine out of alignment and give you a nasty crick in your neck in the morning.” –Becca, Editor & Lead Accessories Tester
Who Might Like the Avocado Green Pillow
- Stomach sleepers
- Eco-conscious shoppers
Who Might Not Like the Avocado Green Pillow
- Back and side sleepers
- Budget shoppers
Best For Hot Sleepers – PlushBeds Pillow
The organic PlushbBeds Pillow is adjustable, which is ideal for every sleeping position
PlushBeds Pillow
Mattress Nerd Score
5.00 / 5
Just like our last two pillows on this list, this PlushBeds model also has a cotton cover and shredded Dunlop latex form fill, but this time the fill is solely latex, it’s not a blend of materials. So this will be slightly more springy than plush, it’ll also keep things very cool. Expect a medium-firm firmness level fully stuffed, but you can adjust the firmness by removing the shredded fill. Our testers didn’t notice any body heat retention, so it’ll definitely help hot sleepers stay nice and comfortable while sleeping. The PlushBeds pillow is available in standard, queen, and king sizes.
What our testers say: “When I tried the PlushBeds pillow for myself, I noticed it felt medium-firm and supportive, but still conformed to my head nicely.” –Becca, Editor & Lead Accessories Tester
Who Might Like the PlushBeds Pillow
- Back sleepers
- Eco-conscious shoppers
- Combination sleepers
Who Might Not Like the PlushBeds Pillow
- Budget shoppers
Types of Latex Pillows
Latex is one of the best pillow materials available thanks to its breathability, softness, and resiliency. The overwhelming variety of latex pillows on the market today can be distinguished by the process through which they’re made, their materials, and their construction.
Latex can be rendered using one of two processes: Dunlop or Talalay. To create Dunlop, liquid latex is foamed, poured into a mold, and then heated, resulting in a dense final product. In the Talalay process, the mold is partially filled and then sealed. Gas is then used to disperse the latex throughout the mold, resulting in a foam that’s softer, lighter, and generally more breathable.
Latex pillows can also be characterized by the makeup of their materials: natural, synthetic, or blended. 100% natural latex pillows have powerful hypoallergenic properties and are also dust mite and mold-resistant. Synthetic latex pillows are made from materials that mimic the properties of latex and will have a similar feel at a more affordable price. On the downside, synthetic latex pillows can have a distinct odor. Blended latex pillows combine natural and synthetic latex. Synthetic and blended latex pillows are a nice option for those who find 100% latex pillows too expensive or whose allergy symptoms are triggered by latex.
The two main latex pillow options to consider with regard to form are shredded and solid. Shredded latex pillows are plush, shapeable, and adjustable. They also receive greater airflow. Solid latex pillows are denser, but they’re often made with breathable channels for improved breathability.
Latex pillows also come in a variety of sizes, ranging from standard to king and queen. While less common, some companies offer latex body pillows, which can benefit sleepers who need additional spinal support or pressure point relief, or simply like the feeling of hugging a pillow as they sleep.
Benefits of Sleeping With a Latex Pillow
Latex pillows can provide a myriad of benefits for sleepers.
- Bounce: The original material latex is made from has a high degree of elasticity. While other foams, like memory foam, can result in a sinking or stuck feeling, latex tends to have more bounce.
- Pressure Relief and Support: Latex pillows can conform to the head and neck to help alleviate pain. Sleepers often find that latex provides a nice combination of pressure relief and spinal support.
- Durability: Latex is one of the most durable pillow materials on the market. Latex pillows can last up to 3 or 4 years, which is much longer than memory foam, down, or other types. Dunlop latex is slightly more durable than Talalay.
- Naturally Cooling: Latex is naturally much cooler than memory foam. Pillows with shredded latex amplify this benefit further, limiting heat retention by allowing airflow through the shreds. Solid latex pillows are cool as well, however, thanks to air channels in the foam that aid in breathability.
- Hypoallergenic and Eco-Friendly: Generally, latex pillows are made by manufacturers with a focus on eco-friendly and natural materials. Both the environmentally-conscious and those who gravitate toward hypoallergenic materials for health or other reasons will find a plethora of natural and organic options in the latex pillow market.
Cons of Latex Pillows
- Price: Latex pillows tend to be more expensive than other types, ranging from $50 to $300, with luxury and 100% natural latex pillows on the higher end of that spectrum. While the cost is partially offset by the durability of the product, it can still feel like a hefty chunk to pay for a pillow.
- Responsiveness: Latex can feel difficult to move on or adjust throughout the night due to the density. They return to their original shape faster than memory foam and can feel heavy to sleepers who are used to lighter varieties, like down.
- Smell: One of the most common complaints about latex is the smell. Off-gassing smells similar to rubber are common in both organic and synthetic latex products.
- Allergy Symptoms: Those with latex allergies may find that latex pillows trigger symptoms. If you have mild allergies, a blended or synthetic latex pillow may not bother you.
Memory Foam vs. Latex Pillows
Latex and memory foam pillows are two birds of a feather, attracting sleepers who want a durable, contouring, soft product. Neither requires fluffing, as they return to their original shape after use, and both are dust mite resistant and last longer than their down or polyester pillow alternatives.
While similar, they have their differences. Memory foam, the newer of the two materials, contours beautifully to the neck, head, and shoulders, distributing weight evenly and relieving pain. However, it’s known for trapping heat, and latex is naturally cool. Latex also lasts slightly longer than memory foam, but it tends to be more expensive.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice. Those who enjoy the close contouring of a memory foam pillow but want a springier feel with more bounce and breathability will likely enjoy latex.
How Often Should I Change My Pillow?
The National Sleep Foundation recommends changing your pillow every 1 to 2 years. They absorb oil, hair, and dead skin cells over time. They’re also a perfect environment for dust mites and other allergens.
The longevity of a pillow will depend on its material, however. Latex pillows are the longest-lasting of the bunch, with average lifespans of 3 to 4 years. Feather, memory foam, and down pillows can last anywhere from 18 months to 3 years.
Even if a pillow that isn’t technically aged out, it may need replacing. If you’ve switched sleeping positions recently or can afford a pillow that would offer better spinal alignment, there’s no reason to wait.
Here are a few indicators that it’s time to replace your pillow:
- You wake with aches and pains in your neck or shoulders on a regular basis.
- You’re sneezing more often, which could be due to dust mites.
- You break out more frequently, which could signal oil and dirt build-up.
- When you fold your pillow in half, it doesn’t expand back to its original shape.
- There are lumps in the foam or filler or permanent stains on the cover.
Latex Pillow FAQs
What is the difference between latex and memory foam pillows?
Memory foam is a newer material that specializes in contouring, sinkage, and pain relief. Latex, on the other hand, provides a bouncier, more responsive feel. It’s also far more cooling than most memory foam pillows, and often more durable.
What is the best firmness for a latex pillow?
The proper firmness depends less on the type of pillow material and more on your sleep position. Side sleepers tend to appreciate a firmer, more lofted pillow, while stomach sleepers gravitate towards lower lofted and softer pillows. Back sleepers often opt for something in between.
Are latex pillows good for side sleepers?
Yes, latex pillows offer a firmer feel that can really appeal to side sleepers. Because latex pillows tend to hold their shape, it prevents side sleepers’ necks from craning out of alignment during the night.
Final Thoughts
As consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally aware, manufacturers are responding with latex pillow options. Whether you want to splurge on an all-natural, luxury latex pillow or want a blended option that can provide you with the cooling and pressure-relieving benefits, there’s a latex pillow option out there for everyone.
