Written by Tony Klespis, Staff Writer
If you’re tired of pillows from the bargain bin, and want something that is long-lasting and keeps you cool, you should consider getting a bamboo pillow.
I’ve tested dozens of pillows, and many with bamboo covers. I’ve compiled my findings to put together a list of the best bamboo pillows. Spoiler: I use one of these pillows every night! Want to see which one? Keep reading to find out.
Our Top Picks for the Best Bamboo Pillows
- Best Overall – Lagoon Otter
- Best Bamboo Pillow for Neck Pain – Coop Sleep Goods Eden
- Best Luxury Bamboo – Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
- Best Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow – Luxome LAYR
- Best Affordable Bamboo Pillow – Snuggle-Pedic
Our Verdict
The best bamboo pillow is the Lagoon Otter. This pillow is not only comfy and supportive–it also helps sleepers stay cool at night.
How We Chose the Best Bamboo Pillows
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed over 100 sleep accessories, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to establish easy-to-understand scores. In addition to an overall score, we measure subscores for support, cooling, durability, trial period, and warranty, to name a few.
To choose the Best Bamboo Pillows, we focused on several pillows with bamboo covers. We also kept a close eye on the category of support and adjustability. All pillows scored at least an overall average score of 4.0/5.
Best Overall – Lagoon Otter
Lagoon Otter Pillow
The Lagoon Otter pillow works best for side sleepers who like soft plushness.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
The Lagoon Otter is one of the brand’s softer pillows, thanks to the shredded memory foam filling. The softness is balanced out by some nice contouring, giving it an overall medium-firm feel. The outside of the Otter is made with bamboo which is naturally moisture-wicking and should keep you cool at night.
On the inside, Lagoon uses gel-infused memory foam, and since the foam is shredded, it allows the pillow to be moldable to accommodate different sleeping positions. You also have the option to adjust the height and firmness of this pillow by taking out or adding in additional memory foam.
What our testers say: “The Lagoon Otter is truly one of my favorite pillows: I sleep with it every night. I love its soft, slow-moving feel. I’m typically a hot sleeper, but I’ve never had issues with overheating while using this pillow.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
Pros of the Lagoon Otter
- Won’t trap heat
- Works for all sleeping positions
- Comes with a 5-year warranty
Cons of the Lagoon Otter
- Could be pricey for some
Read what we have to say about some popular Lagoon pillows!
Best for Neck Pain – Coop Sleep Goods Eden
Coop Eden Pillow
Filled with pieces of gel-infused memory foam, this pillow has a soft and luxurious feel.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.60 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
Adjustable pillows are good for neck pain because you can find that sweet spot to keep your head and neck in a proper alignment while you sleep. The Coop Sleep Goods Eden pillow is a good bamboo pillow for people who want to help alleviate neck pain because of its adjustability.
If you’re a back sleeper, try finding a good medium loft in this pillow, which will be around 4” tall. This will keep your chin from jutting into your chest. Side sleepers should keep the pillow stuffed full — a nice and tall loft will prevent your head from dipping down. Stomach sleepers should make the pillow flat to keep their heads from craning upwards.
What our testers say: “Though this is a memory foam pillow, it has a more responsive feel to it. The Eden will feel like it has soft down feathers in it, giving it a great cushioning feel.” – Katie Golde, Reviewer
Pros of the Eden pillow
- Comes in single, double, or four pillow packs
- Hypoallergenic
- You can change the firmness and loft
Cons of the Eden pillow
- Trial and error to find that sweet spot
Read our full Coop Sleep Goods Eden pillow review.
Best Luxury – Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow is filled with soft silk and covered with a material made out of naturally cooling bamboo viscose.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
Our Expert’s Take
Luxury takes the form of a pillow with the Cozy Earth Silk pillow. Even though this has silk in the name, the outer cover of this pillow is 100% bamboo. This gives it a luxuriously soft, almost silk-like feel already! But it’s what’s in this pillow that makes it true luxury.
Cozy Earth uses 100% Mulberry silk fibers for the inside of this pillow. This gives the pillow a soft, yet supportive feel. You can’t adjust this pillow, but it should work well for most back sleepers. You won’t sink through this pillow because of the supportive silk fibers.
What our testers say: “Silk fibers as a fill for a pillow is a unique choice. I found that it gave the pillow a soft feel, but it was still very supportive. I liked it best for back sleeping, because it kept my head from jutting into my chin, while also supporting it from going too far back.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
Pros of the Cozy Earth Silk pillow
- Made with luxury materials
- Good for back sleeping
- Materials are certified to be ethical and safe
Cons of the Cozy Earth Silk pillow
- Luxury means it’s an investment
- Might not be supportive for everyone
Read our full Cozy Earth Silk pillow review.
Best Memory Foam – Luxome LAYR
Luxome LAYR Pillow
The LUXOME LAYR Pillow is a high-quality adjustable option that allows you to create your own comfort.
Our Expert’s Take
Memory foam comes in two forms for pillows: a single piece or shredded. One pillow that combines both, and adds in some soft down alternative, is the Luxome LAYR. This pillow is the epitome of an adjustable pillow. With three separate fill pieces, you can make this pillow your perfect match.
For the memory foam lovers, use the firm single foam piece with the shredded medium-firm piece. The firm foam provides support to keep you from bottoming out of the pillow, while the shredded foam provides plush comfort. And this all comes inside a soft, breathable bamboo cover.
What our testers say: “I’d never experienced a pillow with the level of adjustability that the LAYR has. There are so many options that make it work for just about anyone. I liked using the firm insert at the bottom, with the medium on top for side sleeping.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
Pros of the Luxome LAYR
- Uses different types of foam
- Can change height and firmness
- Doesn’t trap heat
Cons of the Luxome LAYR
- Can be confusing to make “just right”
Read our full Luxome LAYR pillow review.
Best Affordable – Snuggle-Pedic
Snuggle-Pedic Adjustable Pillow
There are plenty of aspects of this pillow to enjoy: the soft and breathable outer cover that is removable, the variety of shredded memory foam within the pillow that can be added or removed, and the fact that you can machine wash and dry the entire pillow.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.30 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
Some bamboo pillows can cost a pretty penny, but for those on the hunt with a budget, the Snuggle-Pedic pillow is a great choice. You can find it on Amazon, which is a convenient place for most shoppers to look. It comes in standard, queen, and king-size options, and the standard is the most affordable choice.
Like other pillows on this list, it contains shredded memory foam. It’s soft, slow-moving, and will provide some pressure relief along the neck and upper shoulders. The bamboo cover feels very soft and is both breathable and moisture-wicking. And because you can adjust the fill, you can make it work for your sleeping position.
What our testers say: “Combination sleepers looking for an affordable bamboo pillow will love the Snuggle-Pedic. Its shredded foam fill makes it easy to move around on and you can adjust the height and firmness to make it work for your sleeping position.” – Katie Golde, Reviewer
Pros of the Snuggle-Pedic
- The standard size is very affordable
- You can purchase on Amazon
- Good for all sleep positions
Cons of the Snuggle-Pedic
- Shredded fill might make a mess
- Might not be firm enough for everyone
Read our full Snuggle-Pedic pillow review.
What is a Bamboo Pillow?
Despite what the name might imply, bamboo pillows don’t often feature a bamboo fiber fill. All the pillows on this list featured a bamboo outer cover, and many bamboo pillows will have the same.
We’ve covered the best bamboo sheets before, but the bamboo used for pillowcases can feel a bit different than sheets. Some pillows on this list use 100% bamboo in its cover, like the Cozy Earth Silk pillow. This pillow’s cover had that classic bamboo sheet feel, which is very soft, and almost silk-like.
However, pillows like the Snuggle-Pedic have a more soft, almost quilted feel to them. These covers still perform the same, being breathable and moisture-wicking, but they have different feels. Some pillows, like the Lagoon Otter, also feature a bamboo blend in the cover, meaning that it isn’t 100% bamboo.
How to Choose a Bamboo Pillow
If you’ve never used a bamboo pillow before, there are some considerations to keep in mind. Bamboo is a great choice for hot sleepers, because it’s breathable and moisture-wicking. If you happen to sleep hot, bamboo pillows are already a good place to start.
However, all but one of the pillows on this list are adjustable in some shape or form. Adjustable pillows are great for their ability to work for just about anyone. But the downside is that it can take some trial and error to find that sweet spot. If this isn’t something you like to do with your pillows, sticking with a non-adjustable pillow like the Cozy Earth Silk pillow is the way to go.
You should also consider your budget. There are some good, affordable options on the market, such as the Snuggle-Pedic. But more often than not, bamboo pillows are a bit more expensive than pillows that feature cotton or polyester outer covers.
Here’s a quick pros and cons list to help you decide if bamboo pillows are for you:
| Pros | Cons |
| Good for hot sleepers | Many are adjustable, which can make a mess or take some trial and error to figure out |
| Covers are machine-washable | Some aren’t 100% bamboo covers, and can be blended with polyester |
| Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic | Might be more pricey than cotton or polyester cover pillows |
Who Should Use a Bamboo Pillow?
To sum everything up, a bamboo pillow is right for you if you are:
- A hot sleeper: Bamboo is a great, cooling material for hot sleepers that keeps most from overheating.
- Someone with sensitive allergies: Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic, and bamboo covers can be machine-washed.
- Looking for a durable pillow: In terms of durability, bamboo is very long lasting.
The Best Bamboo Pillows FAQs
How do you clean a bamboo pillow?
Bamboo pillows can be machine-washed. In most cases, bamboo pillows only have a bamboo cover. These are often removable and can be machine washed. But it’s worth looking into the care instructions provided by the manufacturer for best results.
If you want more general information on how to clean your pillow, we’ve put together a full guide!
How long do bamboo pillows last?
Bamboo is a durable material that can last anywhere from three to five years. A bamboo pillow might be more of an investment when compared to other pillows, but they are often a long lasting choice.
Do bamboo pillows have a smell?
In my experience, the bamboo pillows that have a smell are those that have memory foam fills. This is because memory foam pillows are often compressed to make shipping easier. If you notice a faint chemical smell to your bamboo pillow, don’t stress.
This usually dissipates after 24-48 hours. We call this “off-gassing” and for best results, we recommend letting pillows off-gas in a well ventilated area.
Do you put a pillow case on a bamboo pillow?
Yes! And you put it on the same way you put on any other pillow case! Most bamboo pillows have bamboo outer covers, but that won’t interfere with you putting on a pillow case. It’s as simple as putting on a case however you’d normally do so.
