Cons: The brand recommends you air the pillows each day without the cover on top of them to prevent any unpleasant odours. Wool pillows are resistant to dust mites and bacteria, and naturally hypoallergenic. They’re temperature-regulating — so will keep you cool in the summer months — and are also completely biodegradable. Cons: If you’re a side sleeper who still likes quite a bit of softness, this pillow might feel a little too firm. And let’s face it — it’s also crazy expensive! The position you sleep in will largely determine the type of pillow you need to keep your spine aligned nicely straight. Cons: They're not quilted, so the filling won’t necessarily always be evenly distributed. Basically, be prepared to do some pillow punching and plumping!

Well, as you may have come to realise if you’re tossing and turning at night squishing your current pillow into all kinds of shapes to try and get comfy, when it comes to pillows, one size does not fit all.

Combination sleepers– If you tend to change position a lot in the night you need a more versatile pillow to keep up with you. Look for something with a more responsive feel, and maybe even with an adjustable fill so that you can get it to your perfect depth. After the best budget pillows? You can't go wrong with these Dorma full-forever pillows that don't go flat thanks to their luxurious spiral fibre polyester filling. For added luxury, the cover is made from 100% cotton with a 223 thread count — so it’s super soft to the touch — and the piped edges have been double stitched to ensure maximum durability. Basically, they’re so plump and bouncy that if they brought out a collagen skincare range, we’d be the first in line to shop. Seriously! The average person spends 26-years of their lives in bed — so why are so many of us still slumming it with sub-par pillows? If it feels like there’s nothing but air between your head and the mattress, then this guide on the best pillows on the market should elevate your next night’s sleep. Depending on the recycling center you visit, the fibers inside pillows can be recycled into clothing, rugs and carpets, cleaning cloths, and other household items. You can take your pillows to a textile recycling facility as long as they aren’t stained with sweat, oil, blood or grease.

Side sleepers– Look for a pillow with high loft and firm support to relieve pressure at the shoulder and help maintain a neutral spine position. Adjustable pillows with fluffable materials will also help you adjust the shape more easily to suit your position. Pros: Technogel® is the only polyurethane gel made without plasticiser oils that’s currently on the market — so it’s virtually odourless, and completely non-toxic.Pros: It’s got a breathable cotton case, and is also machine washable and suitable for the tumble dryer. Cons: While it may cocoon your head for sleep apnoea sufferers, it can be a tad much for non-snorers. Pros: Compared to the Emma Original pillow, this one is 100% washable — as opposed to just the cover on the previous model.

Confusingly many manufacturers 'invent' their own terminology to dress things up to sound a bit more fancy, but the basic synthetic options are hollowfibre, microfibre, and memory foam. With regular nightly use, your dead skin cells, hair, sweat and more build up on your pillow. This moist environment provides plenty of food and nourishment for dust mites, and these microscopic bugs and their droppings can trigger allergies and make asthma worse. Although there are affordable pillows to be found, investing in the best pillows on the market doesn't usually come cheap. But, if you're after a better night's sleep, then we think it really is one area of your sleep set-up where it pays to spend a little more. While you’ll still need to wash your sleep pillow regularly and replace it every two years, a protector will do the majority of the heavy lifting for you when keeping your pillow clean. You should wash the protector monthly, or more often if you experience night sweats, dandruff or skin irritations.Microfibre– the 'luxury' version of hollowfibre, a microfibre fill is made of much finer strands of polyester resulting in a very lightweight pillow with a, yes, more luxurious feel. Some compare microfibre to the feel of down, but it has the upside of not running the risk of animal cruelty. However, again, being made of synthetics, the environmental impact of production and disposal is a concern. Like hollowfibre, microfibre can also cause overheating. Stomach sleepers– A pillow with low loft and soft support will help keep the spine in alignment, and prevent the head from being too propped up. A compressible fill allows the pillow to be shaped into a comfortable low loft. Overheating is one of the most common reasons for disrupted sleep or night-time waking. If you regularly flip your pillow over at night looking for the cooler side, it’s likely you need a ‘cooler’ more breathable option. However by thinking about the factors that make up the best pillows, such as materials, responsiveness, firmness and loft, and considering how you actually sleep, you're much better placed to choose a pillow that'll work well for you and deliver a much more comfortable night. A pillow protector keeps your pillow clean for longer, safeguarding it from dust mites, spills, stains and germs in the same way a good mattress protector looks after your mattress. While spills and stains are unsightly and a breeding ground for bacteria, dust mites are the other big problem with unprotected pillows - especially those that aren’t cleaned regularly.

Although it’s undeniably expensive, it’s worth noting that the unique gel formula has been designed to withstand years of daily use. But perhaps its biggest selling point is the patent-pending air-tunnel design that makes this pillow rival even the very best breathable ones on the market. It comes with a soft and snuggly cover that’s perfect for the winter months, but when the temperature amps up, it’s well worth taking it off so you can reap maximum benefit from the innovative gel cubes.

How we tested the best pillows

Pillows aren’t usually accepted in curbside recycling bins, so you’ll need to visit a textile recycling center. When recycled, pillows are broken down into their separate components, with the material shredded or ground up for reuse in another item.