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An adjustable pillow lets you change its sleeping height instead of hoping a fixed loft fits. Some use loose fill that you add or remove, while others use solid booster layers for cleaner changes. These five picks cover both styles, plus cooling covers, a side-sleeper cutout, and a two-pillow set. For a broader comparison, start with the best bed pillows.
Best Overall
Best Cooling Adjustable
Best Booster-Based Loft Control
Adjustable Pillows at a Glance
| Pick | Adjustment method | Fill or core | Best fit | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coop Original | Add or remove loose fill | Memory foam and microfiber | Broad loft control | Fill can clump or scatter |
| Coop Cool+ | Add or remove loose fill | Gel-infused foam and microfiber | Warm sleepers who want adjustability | Cooling feel varies |
| Purple DreamLayer | Add or remove two boosters | MicroAir Foam and GelFlex Grid | Quick, measured height changes | Heavy with a distinct grid feel |
| Eli & Elm | Add or remove loose fill | Latex noodles and polyester fiber | Side sleepers who like a shoulder cutout | Fill changes can be cumbersome |
| QUTOOL | Add or remove loose fill | Memory foam and microfiber | Adjusting two pillows separately | May feel bulky or warm |
Decide How You Want to Adjust the Pillow
Loose fill gives you the smallest steps. You can remove a handful at a time, test the pillow, and repeat until your head settles at a comfortable height. It takes more setup and can get messy, but it offers finer control than fixed layers. Our pillow loft guide explains how sleep position and mattress softness affect the finished height.
Booster layers are cleaner and faster. They create a few known height settings, but you cannot fine-tune the pillow between those steps. Whichever style you choose, judge the loft after your head compresses the pillow rather than measuring only its full edge.
Our Five Picks
1 / 5
Coop Original Adjustable Pillow
Fill
76% cross-cut memory foam and 24% polyester gel fiber
Size
Queen
Adjustment
Removable fill with extra fill included
Cover
Lulltra fabric
Coop Original uses a blend of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber inside a queen pillow. A zippered opening lets you remove fill for a lower, softer shape, while the included extra fill can raise the loft and make the pillow feel firmer.
The wide adjustment range makes this the most flexible starting point here. The tradeoff is upkeep: loose pieces can be messy during setup, and the fill may need fluffing or redistribution as it settles. Some sleepers keep a steady shape for years, while others notice flattening or clumps much sooner.
Why It Works
- Loose fill allows small changes to loft and firmness.
- Extra fill expands the available height range.
- The foam-and-fiber blend balances contour and fluffiness.
What To Keep In Mind
- Make changes a handful at a time and save removed fill.
- The foam interior is harder to clean than the removable outer cover.
2 / 5
Coop Cool+ Adjustable Pillow
Fill
Gel-infused foam and microfiber
Size
Queen
Adjustment
Removable fill with extra fill included
Cooling design
Heat-wicking liner and dual-feel cover
Coop Cool+ builds on the loose-fill design with gel-infused foam pieces, microfiber, a heat-wicking liner, and a cool-touch cover. You can unzip it to add or remove fill, and an extra bag gives you room to raise the starting loft.
This model makes sense when you want both height control and more heat-management features near the surface. The cool feel is not guaranteed to last in every room or under every pillowcase. Feedback on the surface ranges from noticeably cool to comfortable but less cooling than expected.
Why It Works
- Removable fill changes height and firmness together.
- Gel-infused pieces leave airflow gaps through the center.
- Two cover faces offer different surface feels.
What To Keep In Mind
- A warm or thick pillowcase can hide the cool-touch surface.
- Loose fill still needs occasional reshaping.
3 / 5
Purple DreamLayer Pillow
Core
MicroAir Foam with GelFlex Grid
Size
Standard, 22 x 16 in
Height settings
5, 6, or 7 in
Adjustment
Two removable boosters
Purple DreamLayer changes height with two removable booster pads rather than loose stuffing. The standard model fits a standard case and offers three listed settings: five inches with no boosters, six inches with one, and seven inches with both.
The MicroAir Foam core and GelFlex Grid create a soft, springy contour that feels different from shredded foam. Height changes are quick and clean, but the pillow is heavy and the grid texture can be noticeable. Experiences with unpacking odor and firmness also vary.
Why It Works
- Three set heights make loft changes easy to repeat.
- Solid boosters avoid loose-fill cleanup.
- The grid and foam core return to shape without fluffing.
What To Keep In Mind
- Three fixed settings offer less precision than handfuls of loose fill.
- Air the pillow before use if you notice a foam smell.
4 / 5
Eli & Elm Side Sleeper Pillow
Fill
Latex noodles and polyester fiber
Size
Queen, 17 x 29 in
Shape
U-shaped shoulder cutout
Adjustment
Add or remove loose fill
Our memory foam pillow guide covers the differences between shredded and solid cores.
Eli & Elm uses a U-shaped cutout that gives the shoulder space along the lower edge. The selected queen model combines latex noodles with soft polyester fiber, and a zippered liner lets you remove fill to lower the loft or add compatible fill to make it fuller.
The contour is the key reason to choose it over a regular rectangle. Side sleepers may like how the curved edge fits around the shoulder, but the feel is not universal. Some find the fill too soft and prone to spreading, while others describe it as dense or firm after adjustment.
Why It Works
- The shoulder cutout creates a distinct side-sleeping shape.
- Loose fill lets you tune height inside the contour.
- Latex pieces add more spring than an all-fiber pillow.
What To Keep In Mind
- Removing and replacing loose fill takes time.
- The unusual shape needs a compatible pillowcase.
5 / 5
QUTOOL Cooling Pillow Pair
Fill
85% cross-cut memory foam and 15% microfiber
Size
Queen pair
Adjustment
Zippered inner and outer covers
Cover
Cool-touch face and polyester-rayon face
QUTOOL provides two queen pillows filled with shredded memory foam and microfiber. Each pillow has zippered layers so you can remove or add fill, letting two sleepers set different heights from the same package.
The dual-sided cover has a slick cool-touch face and a softer face made with polyester and rayon derived from bamboo. Comfort and cooling are mixed: some sleepers enjoy the full, supportive shape, while others find the pillows too bulky, firm, warm, or slow to lose their unpacking smell.
Why It Works
- Two pillows can be adjusted independently.
- Inner and outer zippered layers help contain the loose fill.
- Two cover faces provide different surface textures.
What To Keep In Mind
- Let the compressed pillows expand and air before adjusting them.
- The cooling face may warm after contact or under a pillowcase.
How to Set Up an Adjustable Pillow
Start with the pillow as supplied and use it briefly before removing anything. If it pushes your head too high, take out a small amount of fill. If your head drops too low, add some back. Store spare fill in a sealed bag so it stays clean and available.
Sleep position gives you a starting range, not a final answer. Compare the needs of side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers if you spend most of the night in one position. Combination sleepers may need a middle setting that works reasonably well in more than one pose.
Material changes the feel after you set the height. Shredded foam is moldable and can leave airflow spaces, while latex feels springier and solid foam gives a smoother surface.
Cooling designs can reduce heat buildup, but no pillow stays cold in every bedroom. Covers, room temperature, and how deeply you sink all matter. Compare the dedicated cooling pillow picks if temperature is more important than the widest adjustment range.
Follow the label when cleaning. Most foam fill should stay out of the washer even when the outer cover is removable. Read how to wash pillows before opening a fill compartment or wetting a foam core.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which adjustable pillow is best overall?
Coop Original is the best overall choice here because its removable foam-and-fiber fill and included extra fill provide a broad range of small loft changes.
How does an adjustable pillow work?
Most adjustable pillows let you add or remove loose fill. Others use removable booster layers that create several fixed height settings without loose pieces.
How much fill should I remove?
Remove one small handful at a time, reshape the pillow, and test it after your head settles. Large changes make it easier to pass the height you actually need.
Are adjustable pillows good for every sleep position?
They can work for side, back, stomach, or combination sleeping when the available loft range fits the sleeper. The final compressed height matters more than the adjustable label.
Do adjustable pillows sleep cool?
Some use shredded fill, gel, airflow channels, or cool-touch covers, but results vary. Loose fill can improve airflow without guaranteeing a cold surface all night.
Can I wash an adjustable pillow?
Often only the removable cover is machine washable. Keep loose fill contained and follow the care label before washing any liner, foam, or booster layer.
How often should I readjust the fill?
Readjust it when the pillow settles unevenly, feels too high or low, or needs frequent fluffing. If the fill no longer recovers, check the usual signs that it is time to replace a pillow.
Readjust it when the pillow settles unevenly, feels too high or low, or needs frequent fluffing; if the fill no longer recovers, check the usual signs that it is time to replace a pillow. Compare three low-profile pillows for stomach sleepers by height, foam density, firmness, cooling design, expansion, and cover care to find a flatter fit. Compare six pillows for side sleepers by loft, firmness, fill, cooling, shoulder shape, and adjustability to find a comfortable fit for your bed.
