Tuft & Needle Pillow Review
Quick verdict
The Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow is a single-piece foam pillow with a soft, compressible feel. In our original review, the reviewer liked its simple design but found it too soft for their side-sleeping support needs. That experience describes an earlier sample; a pillow’s fit depends on body size, mattress softness and preference.
Who should consider it?
- Back or stomach sleepers: A softer, compressible pillow may be appealing if you prefer less lift under your head.
- Side sleepers: Compare how much height remains when your head is on the pillow. Our reviewer found the sample too soft for their needs, though others may feel differently.
- Adjustability: The solid foam core is not designed for removing fill. If you want to tune the loft, compare an adjustable-fill pillow.
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Construction, size and care
Tuft & Needle lists an open-cell Adaptive foam core infused with graphite and cooling gel, with a removable micro-polyamide and polyester cover. It lists standard and king sizes, both five inches high. The standard is approximately 25 × 16 inches and the king 34 × 16 inches. Check the current product page for specifications and availability.
The manufacturer lists a 100-night trial and a three-year limited warranty on this pillow for eligible direct purchases. Its current page displayed $100 for standard and $120 for king when checked; prices and availability can change. Other sellers’ terms can differ.
Wash the cover in cold water with light colors and hang dry; the brand says not to wash the foam core. Follow the label for your exact pillow. The foam’s CertiPUR-US certification addresses specified materials and emissions criteria; it does not mean a product is free of all chemicals or allergens.
The firsthand observations below describe the reviewer’s original sample and are subjective, not current laboratory measurements.
My Tuft & Needle Pillow Findings
The Tuft & Needle Pillow is beautiful. It’s designed well and it’s simple. There’s absolutely no guesswork and it even LOOKS great. You don’t have to fluff it, in fact you don’t really have to do a thing. It’s soft and comfortable (and it has almost zero off-gassing too, which is huge) but where I think most reviewers get it wrong is by trying too hard to make it sound like the one-size-fits-all that it’s creators originally meant and hoped for it to be. The reality is this: Many things aren’t what they seem to be. It’s not exactly a firm pillow so I won’t describe it that way. Heck, it’s not even medium firm. This is a SOFT pillow. The way it appears, because it’s made from a single piece of foam and because foam retains its shape, might give the impression or illusion that this is another “medium firm” pillow but it’s not. The moment you lay on the pillow you will know. The foam compresses significantly to hold space for your melon. It doesn’t dip just a little—it sinks. Due to its intrinsic properties, I think this could be a great product for back sleepers and stomach sleepers but side sleepers, heed caution. There’s no doubt that when it comes to customer reviews that the results are pretty varied here but one of the most common remarks that I found was that this pillow does tend to lose some loft throughout the night. That being the case, while it might seem “supportive” at first (I honestly have no idea how), it most likely won’t stay that way to see the morning.
My Tuft & Needle Pillow Recommendation
The pillow feels like a normal pillow should feel. I don’t want you to think that it suddenly meets mattress level the moment it’s met with any weight BUT if you’re a side sleeper, chances are you need copious amounts of support to avoid waking up with a stiff neck. The type of support that you can’t ever doubt and in my opinion, this pillow is just too soft to meet the requirements of such needy concerns. The Tuft & Needle Pillow is fabulous, aesthetically well executed and made with top-notch materials (you can see it and feel it) but I don’t believe this is a one-size-fits-all. While they nailed “soft and squishy,” I’m not sure “supportive” can really fit into the picture. Supportive is usually synonymous with a certain level of firmness.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I adjust the pillow’s loft?
No. The Original Foam Pillow has a single foam core rather than removable fill. Its compressed height will vary with the sleeper.
Can I wash it?
Tuft & Needle says to wash the removable cover in cold water with light colors and hang it to dry. Do not wash the foam core. Check the care label for your specific product.
Is it suitable for side sleepers?
It depends on your body and mattress. Our original reviewer found the sample too soft for their own side-sleeping needs; others may prefer its feel.
Does cooling gel guarantee a cool night?
No. The foam includes graphite and cooling gel, according to Tuft & Needle, but temperature perception depends on the sleeper, bedding and room.
What are the trial and warranty?
The manufacturer lists a 100-night trial and a three-year limited pillow warranty on the product page. Verify eligibility, fees and the terms of the seller you choose.