Feather Pillow Reviews You Can Actually Trust
No commission • No endorsements • Based on owner experiences • Since 2008 • More
THE GOOD: Often soft & moldable • few reports of sleeping hot • above-average longevity • often reasonably priced.
THE BAD: Can lack adequate support & loft • feather quills may poke • potential for noise and odor • may need to be fluffed and shaken to maintain loft / comfort.
THE PILLOWS: They are filled mostly or entirely with feathers from geese and duck. Usually about 5-10% of a feather pillow contains down (the plumage under feathers) to provide additional softness.
THE COMPETITION: Down pillows and down alternative pillows. See how feather pillows compare to these and other types in the pillow reviews summary.
Feather Pillow Ratings: As a Group
Ratings below show how the pillows as a group compare to the average pillow as evaluated by owners. For information on top-rated models, see the following section.
| Affordable | B | They are priced $20-$90 per pillow with average being about $36. They are often sold in pairs. |
| Durability / longevity | b | They tend to have at least a 25% greater lifespan than the average pillow. |
| Less pain | c | Feather pillows perform about average overall in regard to providing relief from pain, including neck pain, compared to other pillow types. Feather quills may poke through the cover which can cause discomfort. |
| Supportive | c+ | For a significant number of owners, feather pillows flatten excessively when compressed. |
| Moldable | b | A moldable pillow is one whose shape can be easily altered or scrunched to increase comfort and support. |
| Cuddly | b | A cuddly pillow is one that is soft and huggable, as opposed to hard, rigid, stiff and or heavy. |
| Short break in | B- | About three or four night's use on average are required to obtain normal comfort. |
| Firmness options | C- | Firmness is almost always considered to be between medium-soft and medium-firm. |
| Loft options | c- | Both thicker and thinner feather pillows are available. However, when compressed they tend to have no more than medium loft, regardless of fill quantity. |
| Contents won't shift | C- | Feathers may shift to one side resulting in a hollow spot(s). |
| Back sleep friendly | b- | Back sleepers are generally satisfied overall. But loft / support may be inadequate for some, namely those with large / heavy heads. |
| Side sleep friendly | b- | They often provide the softness side sleepers seek. But loft / support may be inadequate especially for those with large / heavy heads. |
| Stomach sleep friendly | c+ | Feather pillows tend to be soft on one's face, but one's face and or upper body may sink in too far to allow for easy breathing. And too high of loft may result in neck or back pain. |
| Reduces snoring | C- | Firmer models often perform best on this issue. |
| No initial odor | d+ | At least 12% of owners report a lingering and unpleasant odor. |
| Not a heat trap | b | Fewer than 3% of owners report excessive heat retention. |
| No noise | d | Roughly 15% of owners say that feather pillows make a crunching noise when compressed because feathers can have hard parts or because the pillow has a plastic layer to prevent feathers from poking through. |
| Fewer allergies | c | A feather pillow can be allergy causing unless the feathers have been cleaned by having all dander and microbes removed. The pillows may be susceptible to large dust mite populations. |
| Easy to maintain | d | Fluffing or shaking is often necessary to return the pillow to its desired loft and or to combat lumpiness. As the pillow ages, increased fluffing / shaking may become necessary. |
| Ease of cleaning | c | Some are machine washable. For others, dry cleaning is best. |
| Easy to lift, turn, move | b- | Average weight is about 2.5 pounds. |
Top-Rated Feather Pillows
The table below evaluates feather pillows with at least 82% owner satisfaction based on 100+ consumer experiences. Important: Information below regarding firmness, loft and sleep position shows what tends to be true for owners. Your own personal evaluation may differ.
| Luxury Goose Feather Pillow | Old Fashion Style Granny Ticking Feather Pillow | Classic Feather Pillow | ECB |
| Owner Satisfaction (sample) | |||
| 90% (277) | 83% (268) | 82% (227) | 82% (112) |
| Price | |||
| 2 for $60-$70 | $44-$54 | $20-$25 | 2 for $30-$50 |
| Sizes Available | |||
| std, qn, king | std, qn, king | std/qn, king | std, qn, king |
| Firmness | |||
| med-firm | med | med | med |
| Loft* | |||
| med | med-high | med | med |
| Person Size Best Suited For | |||
| avg | avg, large | avg | avg, small |
| Sleep Position Best Suited For* | |||
| back, side | back, side | back, side | back, side |
| Scrunchable / Moldable | |||
| fair | good to fair | good | fair |
| Ounces of Fill | |||
| 30 std 38 qn 45 king |
32 std 39 qn 47 king |
42 std/qn 48 king |
29 std 34 qn 35 king |
| Return Policy | |||
| 30 days | 30 days | 30+ days | 30 days |
| Retailer | |||
| amazon | overstock .com | jcpenney .com | amazon |
* See the pillow loft guide and loft calculators.
About our feather pillow reviews and research
Our research is based on over 800 actual feather pillow owner reviews and experiences that were collected using an unbiased, accurate methodology.
