In the eternal quest for a pillow that induces sleep on contact, there’s no one answer. Some like theirs soft or flat, others firm or sky-high. Still others look for neck-pain relief or a good scrunch. To whittle down the seemingly endless choices out there, 25 testers took turns sleeping (or not) on 20 nominees for best supporting role. With pillows, trying is believing, so ask if there’s a comfort guarantee, which lets you return a pillow that doesn’t please. Sweet dreams.

Types of Pillows Tested

Down: Soft, fluffy, scrunchy, and breathable.
Synthetic Down: Made with polyester fibers to simulate down.
Memory Foam: A spongelike block that molds around the head and the neck for support.
Combos: Pillows that combine the virtues — and offset the flaws — of two different materials.