These Are the Best Hotel Pillows Used in Luxury 5-Star Hotels

Updated July 27, 2022
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Cons
Best Bang for the Buck

Beckham Luxury Linens

Hotel Collection Bed Pillows

Bottom Line

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Customer Favorite The Beckham Hotel Collection’s bed pillows take the top spot on our list of the best hotel pillows. They're the perfect combination of comfort and value.

Pros

pros
  • Luxurious and comfortable
  • Fits all sleeping positions

Cons

cons
  • Firm pillow fans might not prefer these
Best of the Best

Snuggle-Pedic

Memory Foam Pillow

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Adjustable Pick The Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Pillow is our pick for the best premium hotel-like pillow available online.

Pros

pros
  • Comes with extra memory foam for firmness
  • Conforms to your head easily

Cons

cons
  • Premium price for a single pillow

Fern & Willow

Down Alternative Pillow

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Affordable Pick The Fern and Willow is down-alternative, making it friendlier than traditional down to those with allergies. The plush gel filling offers adequate support for back and side sleepers.

Pros

pros
  • Allergy-friendly
  • Affordable price

Cons

cons
  • Not quite as comfortable as Beckham Hotel or Snuggle-Pedic

Zen

Bamboo Pillows

Bottom Line

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Environmental Pick Arriving in an overstuffed state, you remove as much or as little of the shredded memory foam mix as you desire for a completely unique sleep experience.

Pros

pros
  • Temperature-regulating
  • Extra loft for head and neck support

Cons

cons
  • Not quite as comfortable as Beckham Hotel or Snuggle-Pedic

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These Are the Best Hotel Pillows Used in Luxury 5-Star Hotels

We’re sure you’d agree that there are few things better than getting into a comfortable hotel bed at the end of a long travel day. But what exactly makes those nights sleep on hotel pillows so comfortable? Here’s the scoop: Hotel pillows are so luxurious and comfortable because of the fill material inside. They’re typically made with large, goose down clusters that are extremely soft and fluffy. Some hotels also use a combination of down and feathers, which guests are sure to love.

It goes without saying that the type of pillows used in 5-star hotels can even make or break your experience, since they’ll determine how much of a good night’s sleep you can get. Let’s take a closer look at how hotels work their magic to make their pillows so fluffy and dreamy.

Quantity

It’s no secret that hotel beds generally have more pillows than you would have in your bed at home. In any given hotel room, you can typically find king-sized pillows, queen-sized pillows, standard pillows as well as decorative pillows. This clever approach gives adds to the illusion of even more luxury and finesse — as well as plenty of options of pillows to sleep on.

Quality

Five star hotels invest in top-of-the-line bedding items to provide a luxurious experience for each and every guest. This means the type of pillows used in 5-star hotels are very different to what the average person may have in their bedroom. Everything from the filling material to the pillow case and the color scheme is well-researched and hand-selected.

Maintenence

Pillows found in hotel rooms are also well-maintained and periodically replaced. At home, the average person may tend to hold on to pillows past their prime. Over time, pillows can become flat or lumpy and disrupt your good nights sleep.

What Pillows Do Luxury Hotels Use?

Generally speaking, there are three major types of pillows widely used in five star hotels. This includes goose (feather) down pillows, down alternative and feather/down blend pillows.

Goose or Duck Down Pillows

Down pillows are made from soft feathers obtained from either goose or duck down, and can give a luxury vibe to any night – not to mention that they are the most temperature regulated pillows. These are generally the most popular pick in hotels, so you’ll typically find these pillows dominating the rooms in big hotel chains, such as at Marriott and Hilton properties. One downside of note is that these may not be the best for allergy-sufferers and some people may be concerned that the down is sourced ethically. Additionally, because prices can be on the higher end — so you’ll typically only find them in the ritziest hotels.

Feather and Down Blend Pillows

These pillows have the same lavishness as down pillows, but at a more fair pricepoint. They offer medium-density firmness and bear a 50/50 feather ratio, which gives it a solid reputation in the market. The mature feathers, covered with down, prevent any feathers from poking out and also maintain that firm-yet-soft appeal. You can likely find these types of pillows in many Sheraton hotels.

Down Alternative Pillows

Down alternative pillows are the most commonly found pillow set in any hotel. As the name suggests, these pillows offer the same feel and appeal as any down pillows, but are an alternative as they’re completely hypoallergenic and generally made up polyester microfiber material. Hotels usually opt for these type of pillows because they offer a comprable experiece at a cheaper than standard down pillows. They’re ideal for people that are prone to getting usual neck strains and shoulder pains. You should be able to easily distinguish it from the other types of hotel pillows.

How to Shop for Hotel Pillows

If the bed is the most important amenity in a hotel room, then pillows are the most important thing on that bed, so if you’re trying to mimic that hotel luxury experience at home, there are a few things you should remember.

Established hotels replace their pillows after a year or so, whereas you probably can’t remember how long you’ve had your pillow, right? Big hotel chains go through thousands of pillows a year, making sure they’re always new and fresh. 

Natural down and feather pillows have a higher pricepoint to get that luxurious feel, while more inexpensive materials like synthetic fiber, microfiber and polyster don’t offer the same premium elevated feel. Those natural luxury materials are also much more temperature regulating while materials like memory foam can retain a lot of heat.

FAQ

Q. Where do hotels buy their pillows? A. Hotels often buy pillows in bulk directly from the pillow manufacturer or from name-brand pillow companies. Many of these pillow companies make custom pillows for a given hotel. That said, many hotels sell their pillows online so anyone can buy one — regardless of quantity.
Q. Why do hotels use down pillows? A. Traditional down (inner duck feathers) is one of the most premium fillings for a pillow, which is why you’ll often find them at 4- and 5-star hotels. Down pillows, while more expensive, tend to last longer than their foam and synthetic feather counterparts, reducing the frequency in which they need to be replaced by the hotel.
Q. Why are hotel pillows so fluffy? A. Hotel pillows are so fluffy because they are usually filled with a combination of down and feather, which brings them that satin soft and plush feel. Hotel staff also fluffs out pillows on a regular basis so that they can retain their softness.
Q. Do hotels wash their pillows? A. Hotels launder their bedding, such as pillows, sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers regularly. Depending on the type of pillows used, they will usually wash them between each guest stay to maintain hygiene standards and promise their guests a fresh and clean environment.

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About the Author Jacob Rollings

Jacob is a pillow and bedding enthusiast who loves experimenting with new pillows and mattresses to help our readers make informed decisions. He possesses broad knowledge of quality bedding including comforters, bedsheets, mattresses, pillows, etc. Jacob experiments and tests new bedding accessories with meticulously researched and detailed, unbiased reviews to ensure that consumers get the most out of their investment. Having tested a variety of bedding items from mattress toppers, unique pillow fillings to comforters and more, Jacob’s know-how of the bedding industry runs deep and continues to expand.

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