What are the best non toxic pillows to avoid chemicals and toxins? I have had a hard time finding a pillow that I like that is supportive yet natural and healthy. And I’m surprised at how many of you have messaged me looking for the pillows that I recommend because you can’t find a good one, too.
So I knew it was the perfect time to share my best picks of non toxic pillows.
You can see my three favorites in the video below. I’ve listed many more best options for safe pillows below, too:
Are My Pillows Toxic?
First, you might be wondering if you should even worry about the pillow that you currently use. Could it be toxic?
Possibly. But it all depends. Which is a very frustrating answer, right?
If you feel that you have health symptoms when laying down at night, such as a headache, runny nose, coughing, etc, then your pillow or bedding might be to blame. So if you feel unhealthy when in your bed or after sleeping all night, your pillow, bed or bedding could be to blame. That would be one sign.
Are Memory Foam Pillows Toxic? Are Cooling Pillows Toxic? Traditional memory foam or cooling pillows aren’t exactly known for using natural materials. A majority of them are made with new and innovative synthetic materials. And these lab-made materials might not be the safest choices for you in the long term.
Finally, your pillows could be toxic even if they are not made of toxic materials. How? If you have had your pillows for many years, there could be dust mites in your pillows that can affect your health.
What Are Non Toxic Pillows?
Everyone’s version of what is a non-toxic pillow is different. So you need to know what is most important for you.
For me, a non toxic pillow would be one made with natural ingredients that don’t off gas chemicals. And that is what I recommend in my best non toxic pillows shopping guide.
However, for many people, a non toxic pillow would be one that is considered hypoallergenic. Yet hypoallergenic pillows are often made with man-made materials. They are often pillows made with polyester or other petroleum-based products.
The term hypoallergenic doesn’t really mean much today. Because everyone reacts to ingredients differently. I would never buy pillows simply because it promised to be hypoallergenic. After all, wool pillows are among some of the safest and healthiest pillows available. They certainly wouldn’t be classified hypoallergenic because some people are allergic to wool. However, wool pillow benefits of dust-mite resistance and natural cooling, can far outweigh the benefits of polyester batting that is labeled hypoallergenic.
Safest Natural Pillow Materials
Pillows can be made from a lot of different materials. And some of the safest, most natural pillows probably use materials that you might not be familiar with or don’t even know what it is!
That’s okay!
Here’s a simple explanation of some of the safest pillow materials you can use:
- Cotton We’re all familiar with cotton. Just choose organic cotton. Otherwise, conventional cotton is one of the most pesticide-heavy products there is. While cotton can be firm at the beginning, this material does compress over time.
- Wool A natural material from sheep. Wool is fabulous at keeping you cool throughout the year. It is a great natural insulator, keeping you warm when it is cold, and cooling you off when it is hot. Wool also is naturally dust-mite resistant. However, make sure you choose untreated wool. Otherwise the wool can be coated in pesticides and other products.
- Buckwheat Not just a food source, buckwheat hulls can be used for pillows. I have an in-depth review of buckwheat pillows.
- Kapok This is a great down-alternative made from a tree. I talk more extensively about how great this material is in my kapok pillow guide.
- Latex Not all latex is bad! In fact, natural latex made from a rubber tree is one of the best non-toxic choices. Latex comes in two different types: talalay and dunlop. Latex pillows also come in either molded one piece latex, or shredded latex fill.
Best Non Toxic Pillows Shopping Guide: Natural and Safe
Savvy Rest
I’ve got to say, our Savvy Rest pillow is among the best we’ve ever had. And we’ve gone through A LOT of pillows trying to find one that’s soft but supportive.
We tried the Organic Wool and Latex pillow that Savvy Rest gave us to review. And my husband absolutely LOVES it! And he rarely find a pillow that he loves. In fact, he’s known for switching them out every few months trying to find something better.
It has a good amount of fill in it, so you’ll have a pillow with a high loft. He actually needed to remove some fill so that it was a little thinner. So you’re definitely going to get your money’s worth with this one!
You can see more of the pillow and other Savvy Rest bedding items in my video:
Savvy Rest has a variety of other natural, non toxic pillows, including:
**Get 20% off EVERYTHING at Savvy Rest (here are some more of my favorite Savvy Rest items) using my Coupon Code GETGREEN
Naturepedic
Naturepedic is also one of my all time favorites!
When I was first searching for natural pillows almost a decade ago (long before there were so many brands to choose from), Naturepedic was one of the only (and the best) options. I bought their Trio pillow and absolutely loved it!
Photo: Naturepedic
In fact, I used it for so many years that I wore it out. When I went to replace my Trio pillow, I was surprised to find out that it had been discontinued, but the Organic 2-in-1 Latex Pillow was very much the same. Naturepedic sent me a couple to review, and I fell in love with them! It’s the one I sleep on every night.
Naturepedic has several other safe pillows to choose from, including:
Happsy
I bought a Happsy pillow to try out. This natural bedding company is a great, affordable option. They have one type of pillow, a latex core wrapped in organic cotton. This is definitely a firmer pillow and it’s a bit thinner than shredded latex pillows.
It’s not a great fit for me as a sometimes side-sleeper. But I do think it’s a GREAT pillow, especially if you only sleep on your back or don’t like a pillow that’s too thick.
Essentia
The only truly non toxic memory foam pillow, Essentia offers a variety of molded natural memory foam pillows. I have reviewed an Essentia pillow that they gave me and an Essentia mattress.
I think they are both great options if you like the feel of memory foam. However, I feel that memory foam is too heavy and sleeps too hot. Also, the price of these natural memory foam pillows is pretty expensive. So it can be cost prohibitive for some.
Cheat Sheet: Healthiest Pillows
Inexpensive Non-Toxic Pillows
Most Selection
Non Toxic Memory Foam
Down-Like Pillows
- Kapok pillows (Savvy Rest)
Cooling Pillows
- Wool pillows (Savvy Rest)
Adjustable Pillows
MADE SAFE Certified
Free Returns
Ashley says
Do you have any recommendations for toddler pillows?
Kimberly Button says
Hi Ashley! It is harder to find kids pillows, though Naturepedic has some of the best options. Check them out: https://shrsl.com/2ifb6 (affiliate link)