If you’re interested in a natural bed pillow but prefer something firmer than down, latex is a solid choice. “The sustainability benefit of latex is that it comes from a renewable resource,” says Kiersten Muenchinger, Head of the Department of Product Design at University of Oregon. “Certifications show the company is committed to you knowing that they are actively trying to produce a sustainable and/or healthy product.”
We compiled insights from Muenchinger, then researched today’s most comfortable, eco-friendly options with the certifications to prove it. Our number one pick is the Easy Breather Pillow from Nest Bedding, which is filled with a plush shredded latex blend and covered in organic cotton.
Below, the best latex pillows currently on the market based on our research.
Plush yet supportive
Adjustable fill
Organic certifications
Our favorite latex bed pillow is the Easy Breather from Nest. It’s filled with 75 percent shredded latex and 25 percent smooth, lightweight poly fibers for a plush yet supportive feel. Not only that, but you can add and remove the fill as needed to achieve your ideal loft.
A cotton pouch holds the fill, and the whole thing is housed in a soft, stretchy organic cotton shell. The latex component is certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), ensuring it’s naturally sourced from organically grown rubber trees. The machine-washable case holds a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification, and the entire pillow is OEKO-TEX certified, meaning it’s made without a long list of potentially harmful chemicals.
As the name suggests, the Easy Breather is breathable, allowing air to pass through and preventing heat from getting trapped. It’s available in three sizes (standard, queen, and king), plus a side-sleeper option with a contoured cutout for your neck.
Price at time of publish: $107
Buoyant structure
Gentle support
Naturally breathable
High-quality latex bed products generally aren’t very cheap, as the raw material is relatively scarce. Having said that, the eLuxury Latex Pillow is one of the most affordable options we found. It’s got a solid latex foam core naturally sourced from rubber trees to help keep odor-causing bacteria at bay.
You can count on gentle head and neck support with a buoyant structure that resists flattening and lasts several years. It’s got a soft and breathable 100 percent cotton cover, which you can remove and wash as needed, and the whole thing is OEKO-TEX certified. Just a heads up, it weighs about 5 pounds, so it’s substantially heavier than most bed pillows.
Price at time of publish: $76
If you’re willing to invest a bit more in the perfect pillow, the Purple Harmony is an excellent choice. Its Talalay latex core is wrapped in the brand’s signature Grid Hex, a supremely bouncy and responsive hyper-elastic polymer. The case is a breathable, moisture-wicking, and machine-washable blend of nylon and spandex.
While the latex in this particular pillow doesn’t hold any certifications, the outer grid is CleanAir GOLD and CertiPUR-US certified. It comes in two sizes (standard and king) and three height options to accommodate different sleeping styles. One thing to note is that depending on the size, it can be heavy. The tallest version of the Harmony weighs as much as 7 pounds, which is a lot to shift around if you like to switch your pillow’s placement as you move at night.
Price at time of publish: $179
Courtesy of Avocado
Renewable materials
Four certifications
Adjustable fill
Avocado’s medium-plush Green Pillow is filled with a blend of shredded GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic kapok tree fibers. The latter is an ultra-lightweight, highly absorbent, moisture-wicking material sourced from renewable trees. An inner zippered liner houses the fill, which you can add and remove as needed to adjust the plushness.
There’s also a machine-washable quilted cotton cover. Unfortunately, the zipper on the case can be finicky, sometimes getting stuck or taking lots of elbow grease to secure, so it’s best to use a pillowcase to reduce the number of times you need to wash it. In addition to GOLS and GOTS, this pillow boasts OEKO-TEX and Greenguard Gold certifications to give you peace of mind that the materials are safe for you and the planet.
Price at time of publish: $109
Naturally breathable
Temperature-regulating
Moisture-wicking
For those who sleep hot or get night sweats, we recommend the Sijo Clima Pillow. The solid core is made of naturally breathable and buoyant Talalay latex with perforated holes to encourage airflow. As for the cover, you’re looking at a blend of the brand’s patented Clima fiber and Tencel lyocell, a moisture-wicking material with inherent temperature-regulating abilities.
The lyocell is sustainably sourced from PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified eucalyptus wood. Designed to draw excess heat away from your body, you can count on this pillow to provide a comfortably cool sleeping experience.
Price at time of publish: $110
Unique curved shape
Adaptable support
Adjustable fill
If you’re part of the 60 percent majority of adults who doze on their side, this one’s for you. Eli & Elm’s Side Sleeper Pillow is engineered with a unique curved shape to promote proper alignment and alleviate neck pain. Filled with 75 percent latex and 25 percent poly fibers, it conforms to the shape of your neck and head while still offering ample support.
This adaptable pillow has a zippered inner liner, allowing you to adjust the fill to your preferred height and loftiness. You can also remove the cotton cover and machine-wash it as needed. Besides the steep price, the one downside is that it only comes in a standard size.
Price at time of publish: $130
Very tall loft
No king size
If you tend to snooze on your back, Coyuchi’s Turiya Pillow has your name on it. The solid foam core is made of relatively dense GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex with perforated air holes to ensure breathability. Three divots are carved out of the core, a large one for your head and two slimmer ones to prevent your ears from crushing if you also sleep on your side.
This bed pillow is supportive and resilient, resisting flattening while keeping your head and neck in a neutral position. The removable, machine-washable cover is GOTS-certified organic cotton with a silky-smooth sateen weave. Aside from the expensive price tag, our only complaint is that it doesn’t come in king size.
Price at time of publish: $150
Dense and bouncy latex isn’t always ideal for folks who sleep on their stomachs. However, the low-loft version of Brooklyn Bedding’s Latex Pillow is on the thinner side, so it’ll minimize strain by helping your neck and spine stay in a neutral position. (There’s also a high-loft option for back and side sleepers).
Made of hyper-responsive Talalay latex foam, the aerated core conforms to the shape of your head and neck while you sleep. The material is also naturally antimicrobial (meaning it won’t harbor bacteria) with natural cooling properties. Though this pillow doesn’t list any certifications, the washable cover is woven from breathable, organic cotton.
Price at time of publish: $89
Plush yet supportive
Gusseted sides
Naturally breathable
If you’re partial to shredded fill, go with the Saatva Latex Pillow. It has a responsive, resilient shredded latex core surrounded by a soft and light down-alternative fiber made out of polyester. Gusseted sides create the pillow’s lofty shape, which supports your head and neck while you sleep.
The entire thing is OEKO-TEX certified, and the cover is GOTS organic cotton with a smooth sateen weave and a lustrous finish. While you can’t wash the inner layers, you can remove the case and toss it in your washing machine as needed. There’s a lot to love about this plush, naturally breathable pillow. We only wish the price was more accessible.
Price at time of publish: $165
For those partial to a solid pillow, we suggest Buffy’s Foam Breeze Pillow. It’s a single slab of foam made of 93 percent sustainably sourced latex, with 7 percent synthetic foam for extra stability. At over 5 inches thick, you’ll have plenty of support for your head and neck while sleeping on your back or side—stomach sleepers will likely find it too thick for their comfort. Despite being made of a single piece of foam, the standard size is still only about 2.5 pounds, so it’s easy to move around if you reposition yourself often at night.
The foam blend is dense and resilient yet plush and bouncy, cradling your head and neck in a continually comfortable position. It leans on the inherent breathability of latex, plus perforated holes, to ensure air can pass through. And the eucalyptus-derived Tencel lyocell cover helps keep you cool and wicks away sweat while you catch your Zs.
Price at time of publish: $99
Sustainable company
Six certifications
Supportive buoyancy
This pillow from Naturepedic has a GOLS-certified organic latex foam core sourced from reputable suppliers in the Rainforest Alliance that adhere to fair labor practices. In addition to the sustainable practices that go into making the pillows, these pillows benefit from the natural buoyancy and pressure-point relief of latex foam, so they are exceptionally comfortable and endlessly supportive.
With a commitment to sustainability, Naturepedic products also hold Greenguard Gold, Made Safe, and 1% for the Planet certifications. While the GOTS-certified, zippered cover is removable, the care instructions recommend spot-cleaning only.
Price at time of publish: $99
Final Verdict
Our top choice is the Nest Easy Breather, a plush yet supportive organic bed pillow with adjustable shredded fill and a washable cotton cover (view at Nest Bedding). On a budget? Consider the eLuxury Latex Foam Pillow (view at Walmart). And if you’re open to spending more on the perfect latex pillow, go with the Purple Harmony (view at Amazon).
Material
Latex is a durable, naturally hypoallergenic, and antimicrobial material, meaning it won’t harbor the bacteria that cause odors. It also has inherent moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating abilities. It can also be a renewable resource. Kiersten Muenchinger, Head of the Department of Product Design at University of Oregon, says, “When it is harvested well, the mature plant lives to have latex tapped for many seasons,” she tells The Spruce.
All natural latex is sourced from rubber trees, but there are a few different types. Some pillow brands use Talalay latex, which is poured in liquid form into molds, then vacuumed to expand it into a lighter-weight material. Then there’s Dunlop latex. A denser form of the material, it’s made by whipping rubber tree sap into a froth, then baking it into blocks.
You’ll also want to pay attention to the cover. Ideally, it should be a breathable material, such as cotton, bamboo, or lyocell. However, synthetic fabrics like polyester can be made to optimize airflow and moisture-resistance.
Thickness
When buying a latex pillow, check the dimensions to see how thick it is. Thicker (or taller) options with solid foam cores or gusseted sides tend to be best for back and stomach sleepers, as the added height supports the head and neck. Stomach sleepers will want to look for a thinner pillow to minimize neck strain and maintain a neutral spine.
Firmness
Firmness is another key consideration, but depends much more on your own sleeping preferences. Known for its durability and resilience, latex is a relatively dense material. It’s firmer than many other fill materials but still somewhat bouncy.
Pillows with Dunlop latex or otherwise solid foam cores will typically have firmer support, which is ideal for back and side sleepers. Softer options (such as those filled with shredded latex) are generally better for stomach sleepers since they minimize pressure on the neck. Some shredded options come with the ability to add or remove filling to make them more or less firm. Pillows with this feature are ideal for anyone who is still figuring out what their preferred firmness is.
Certifications
Certifications from third-party organizations can provide insight into the quality, sustainability, and safety of the materials that make up a bed pillow. “Natural latex can be certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and/or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),” says Muenchinger.
Additionally, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) can certify that a pillow’s fabric exterior is organic. Many pillows also carry an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label, which tells you they’re made without upwards of 100 substances that could be harmful to you or the environment.
Some of the most eco-conscious companies have various other certifications to ensure ethical production and a minimized carbon footprint. This includes Greenguard Gold, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), Made Safe, 1% for the Planet, Climate Neutral, Fair Trade, and Rainforest Alliance.
FAQ
“The best health benefit, other than a good night’s sleep because you’re so very comfortable, can be that you may not be allergic to latex and are to other pillow materials,” says Muenchinger. “Latex has microbial- and mold-resistant properties too.” And since the material resists bacteria and mildew growth, it won’t need to be replaced as often.
Additionally, inherently dense yet buoyant latex provides substantial support without being too firm. While pillows made of the material are often on the pricier side, they tend to last longer than other types of bed pillows.
Latex pillows are relatively firm and dense. Since they help support the head and neck, they’re best for people who sleep on their backs and sides.
Some latex pillows can work for stomach sleepers. If you sleep face-down, a thinner option with shredded fill can reduce strain on your neck while helping you maintain a neutral spine. Latex is naturally breathable, too, so it can be a good option for people folks who run hot at night.
The proper way to clean a latex pillow depends on the design. Whether solid foam or shredded fill, most cores can only be spot-cleaned. (Placing a solid foam block in your washing machine could cause it to break). That said, many have removable covers, which can typically be tossed in the washer and tumble-dried or air-dried. We recommend checking the brand’s care instructions before cleaning your pillow just to be safe.
Theresa Holland is a commerce writer, copy editor, and product tester. For this article, she interviewed Kiersten Muenchinger, associate professor and Head of the Department of Product Design at University of Oregon, whose work focuses on the sustainability of consumer materials. After considering a wide range of options from various brands and retailers, she chose comfortable, supportive pillows of varying thicknesses and firmness levels with certifications confirming the quality and sustainability of the design.
Theresa has personally tried the Nest Easy Breather, Avocado Green, and Purple Harmony pillows. She covers textiles, sleep gadgets, and home decor at The Spruce. You can read more of her work on Travel + Leisure and MyDomaine.
Disclaimer: Curated and re-published here. We do not claim anything as we translated and re-published using google translator. All images and Tattoo Design ideas shared only for information purpose.