The Best Buckwheat Pillows for Sleeping
Could sobakawa pillows be the key to a better night's sleep?
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Pillows come in all shapes and sizes, and finding the best pillow depends on a lot of factors: What's your sleeping position, body temperature, and personal preference for firmness and materials? Beyond familiar options like memory foam and down, buckwheat pillows—also called sobakawa pillows—offer a unique alternative. They're filled with the firm outer hulls of buckwheat seeds and can be molded to your head, neck, and shoulders for adjustability, durability, and improved airflow. They also tend to be a good choice for those allergic to dust mites, down, or latex.
During hands-on testing in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we found buckwheat pillows to be very firm overall. They're most comfortable for those who like a hard, supportive pillow. The hulls also can’t be washed, and some testers did experience minor skin irritation. But if this style suits your preferences, we've recommend these picks.
Pros
- Highly adjustable loft
- Company sells additional hulls in bulk
- Comes in five sizes
Cons
- Some users say its heft makes it hard to maneuver
At about 9 pounds, Turmerry’s buckwheat pillow is on the heavier side, which can make it a bit tricky to maneuver, but the tradeoff is that it’s highly adjustable. You can add or remove hulls to achieve your preferred height and level of firmness. Turmerry even sells extra hulls in bulk (starting at $20 per pound) if you want to refresh the fill over time. The pillow comes in several sizes, including standard, travel, lumbar, mini and a neck roll.
No matter which style you choose, the U.S.-sourced buckwheat hulls are encased in a cotton cover, but there's no outer case, so we recommend purchasing an additional cover to transfer your hulls to when machine-washing the case. Also worth noting: One of our testers said they could feel the hulls through the fabric, but that's pretty typical for this style of pillow.
| Sizes available | Queen, travel, mini, neckroll, lumbar |
| Dimensions | 20" x 30" |
| Weight | 9.1 pounds |
Pros
- GOTS-certified organic cotton cover
- Comes in four sizes and two colors
Cons
- May not come with enough hulls for some preferences
If you're new to buckwheat pillows and looking for an affordable introduction, the Lofe Organic Buckwheat Pillow is worth a try. Filled with 100% tartary buckwheat hulls, it offers adjustable firmness via an easy to use side zipper to support your neck and head comfortably. The company doesn’t list the hull amount, but some users might find it slightly under-stuffed at first. You can, however, purchase six pounds of extra hulls for about $40 to further customize the loft.
We appreciate the GOTS-certified organic cotton cover,
which has a natural and breathable feel. The pillow also comes in four sizes and two colors.
| Sizes | 11" x 16",14" x 20",16" x 22", 20" x 26" |
| Dimensions | 20" x 26" |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs |
Pros
- Hefty, for easy adjustment
- Company sells additional hulls in bulk
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
Though it’s on the pricier side, Hullo’s offering is a solid investment for anyone who knows they prefer buckwheat pillows. The buckwheat filling is grown and milled in the U.S., and the standard size comes generously packed with eight pounds of hulls, giving you plenty of flexibility to adjust the loft to your liking. You can also purchase 5-, 10-, or 20-pound refill bags if you want to refresh the fill.
Users say the pillow takes some getting used to, but after an initial adjustment period, they find the pillow extremely comfortable and supportive. Many reviewers note they prefer it to traditional pillows for a restful night’s sleep.
It's also available in small and king sizes, and it comes with a machine-washable cotton twill case. Like our top overall pick, it doesn’t include an outer case (so you'll need a cover to hold the hulls while you wash the case), but Hullo does offer a 60-night money-back guarantee so you can make sure it suits your sleep.
| Sizes | Small, standard, king |
| Dimensions | 20" x 26" |
| Weight | 8.5 pounds |
Pros
- Highly adjustable
- High-quality hulls for better loft and airflow
- Machine-washable casing
Cons
- Noisy when shifting
This option, which weighs between 7 and 10 pounds, offers plenty of adjustability and is relatively easy to manipulate. Users say it provides excellent support for back and side sleepers, and they like that the fill can be easily customized to their liking.
Some online reviewers noted that it helped with neck pain, with one noting that it was "very easy to make a hollow spot or build up more neck support where you want it."
Some note that the buckwheat hulls can be a bit noisy when the pillow shifts, though this is typical for this style. It's also available in queen, king, Japanese and travel sizes.
Our Lab pros appreciate that the buckwheat hulls are grown in the U.S. To adjust the fill, simply unzip the three-layer quilted cotton case. Just note: While the casing is machine-washable, you'll likely want to purchase a second case for convenience when cleaning.
RELATED: Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
| Sizes | Twin/standard, queen, king, Japanese, travel |
| Dimensions | 20" x 26" |
| Weight | 7–10 lbs, depending on fill |
Pros
- Comes with an inner and outer case
- Hefty and highly adjustable
- Includes an additional pound of hulls
Cons
- Expensive
Hemp hulls differ from buckwheat hulls in a few important ways. First, hemp hulls are a bit smaller than buckwheat hulls. They're also more granular, which allows them to more readily stick together—a characteristic some say makes them more malleable and, therefore, more comfortable.
That said, our testers didn't note much of a difference between this pillow and the buckwheat pillows we tested. We found it had similar adjustability so users could tailor shape, volume, and loft for custom support.
The Canadian-grown hemp hulls are housed in a double-knit cotton inner shell and a jersey cotton outer case complete with hidden zippers that make adjustments seamless. We also appreciate that this already hefty 10-pound pillow comes with an additional pound of hulls, if you need even more support.
| Sizes | One size |
| Dimensions | 18" x 25" |
| Weight | 10 pounds |
How we test and evaluate buckwheat pillows
In recent years, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested more than 200 pillows of all types to find the most comfortable options, including latex pillows, cooling pillows, and down alternative pillows.
During testing, our textiles pros evaluate each pillow in the Lab for things like washability and durability: They wash each pillow three times before looking for changes in appearance and shrinkage. To determine how well the pillow holds it shape, they also place each pillow inside of a standard pillowcase to see if it fits. Then, they fold each pillow in half and place a weight on it for a set amount of time before timing how long it takes to return to its original shape. Whenever possible, our experts have real-life testers sleep on the pillows to find the most comfortable and supportive styles.
While our textiles analysts got hands-on with several buckwheat pillows, including our picks from Turmerry and Solera, we rounded out our recommendations by researching dozens of top-selling options and reading through countless online reviews to find the best picks out there.
Are buckwheat pillows good for sleeping?
Truthfully, we think the jury is still out on this one. In general, buckwheat pillows haven't tested well in our Textiles Lab, and because of this, our analysts are selective about recommending them. Specifically, they didn't find that buckwheat pillows were as durable or comfortable as other more conventional options, like down and memory foam. In addition, some of our testers said the fill in these pillows was exceptionally firm and actually irritated their skin (though we should note that buckwheat allergies are rare).
Still, while our Lab pros remain unconvinced, many online reviewers—particularly side sleepers and those who experience chronic neck pain—sing the praises of buckwheat pillows.
What to look for when shopping for buckwheat pillows
There's no one-size-fits-all buckwheat pillow, but here are a few things to keep in mind as you pick out your best pillow:
✔️Loft: Part of the appeal of buckwheat pillows is the adjustability. While all buckwheat pillows are firmer than most other types of pillows, the amount of loft and support is typically customizable. The best buckwheat pillows come packed with lots of hulls, so users can remove them to their liking, ultimately landing on a volume that suits their personal preferences and needs. To ensure maximum flexibility, take a look at the specs and look for a weightier pillow—at least five pounds should be sufficient.
✔️Shape: Like other types of pillows, buckwheat pillows come in various sizes to suit different beds, like standard, queen, and king, plus special shapes like travel-size and cylindrical neck pillows. But remember: Since buckwheat pillows are naturally adjustable, you can generally create the shape you want.
✔️Materials: Buckwheat pillows are naturally temperature-regulating, but if you run hot or tend to sweat at night, look for one with a breathable cotton cover. (Typically buckwheat pillows come with a standard cotton, organic cotton, or rayon case.)
It's also worth noting that lots of buckwheat pillows claim to be made with organic materials, including organic cotton covers. Some brands use the word organic because they contain a fiber that’s grown organically, but a truly organic product follows strict production standards. When it comes to organic fabrics like cotton and wool, the gold standard of certifications is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). If you prefer a pillow that is fully organic, you'll want to check for a trusted certification like GOTS, which uses strict standards throughout the entire supply chain and certifies the final product (not just the material) contains at least 95% organic fibers. GOTS has a public database where you can quickly type in a brand to see if it's on the list.
✔️Care: While most buckwheat pillows come with cotton covers that can be machine-washed, you can't wash buckwheat pillows when they're filled with hulls. Because of that, it's important to look for a pillow that comes with an additional protective case (so you have somewhere to empty out all of the hulls when you want to wash the case) or to buy an extra one. You can also place the hulls in a plastic bin while you wash the cover.
✔️ Cost: Our evaluations show that a good buckwheat pillow typically costs between $50 and $100 for a standard size, which is a bit pricer than other pillow types. That said, you can still find solid options starting at $30, and there are also pricier picks that may be worth the splurge if you know your preferences. When it comes to buying extra hulls in bulk, expect to pay between $5 and $15 per pound.
How long do buckwheat pillows last?
Buckwheat hulls do eventually break down over time, but manufacturers say buckwheat pillows can generally last for several years, sometimes 10 or more. You'll know it's time to replace yours if:
- It's stopped holding its shape.
- It has diminished air circulation.
- It's stopped providing ample support.
- It's flatter and less voluminous than it once was.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Brigitt Earley is a writer, editor and content creator with over 15 years of experience writing about home products and bedding, including pillows. For this story, she worked with the pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab—including Associate Director Emma Seymour—who have years of expertise testing all types of pillows, including buckwheat pillows.
She also conducted independent research, culling through countless online reviews in order to review the picks recommended here.
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