A pillow might feel great for five minutes in a store, but how does it hold up after weeks of real sleep? At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, our fiber scientists and analysts combine hands-on Lab testing with at-home sleep trials to find out. The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing home products like pillows since its inception in 1900, providing product recommendations and expert shopping guides for decades. As a fiber scientist in the Textiles Lab, I have tested over 200 pillows, including memory foam, down, down alternative, and latex pillows.
Our testing combines both analytical in-Lab testing with feedback from hundreds of at-home sleep testers, including side, back, and stomach sleepers.
How we test pillows in the Textiles Lab
Up-to-date research
Analysts follow new launches from brands, updates to previously tested styles, and exciting innovations to ensure our testing stays current. We test pillows every year to keep our data updated and accurate.
Pressure resistance
To mimic the pressure of a person's head resting on a pillow each night, analysts conduct support and recovery tests. We put weights on the pillows for a set period before measuring how long it takes to return to its original shape.
Washability
We wash each pillow according to its care label, whether it’s fully machine washable and dryer safe, just has a washable cover, or is only spot clean. After three wash cycles to mimic repeated home laundering, we rate any changes in appearance and visible shrinkage.
Pillowcase fit
To ensure a cohesive look on your bed, we put each pillow in a Standard-sized pillowcase to evaluate its fit.
Expert claim review
Fiber scientists review all product claims to weed out pillows that overpromise on performance, use misleading language, or violate FTC guidelines. We take an especially close look at health, sustainability, and organic claims.
At-home testers use the pillows in their own beds
Prospective testers complete an initial screening survey so analysts can properly match them to a pillow. They answer questions about their sleeping position, height, body shape, material preferences, and even if they have neck pain or are a hot sleeper. Testers use the pillows at home then provide extensive feedback, answering both scored and open-ended questions about comfort, support, temperature regulation, and more.
We analyze all the results before making our recommendations
Analysts combine the feedback from testers with our testing in the Textiles Lab to make our recommendations. We also sort our data by testers who identify as hot sleepers or experience neck pain to find the best picks for everyone.
Who tests pillows for Good Housekeeping
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is comprised of fiber scientists and bedding experts who test pillows in addition to all types of bedding and fiber-based products.
Emma Seymour is the associate director of the Textiles, Apparel, and Paper Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Seymour has a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for more than seven years at Good Housekeeping. She oversees all pillow testing and coverage in digital and print features.
Amanda Constantine is a home & apparel reviews analyst, testing home items like pillows and assigning products to at-home sleep testers. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University.
Grace Wu is a textiles product analyst and conducts in-Lab testing for pillows. Prior to joining GH, she earned a master of engineering in materials science & engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University.
