8 Best Travel Pillows, Vetted by AD (2025)

Whether you need earplugs to block out noise or a sleep mask to keep light out, there are plenty of hacks for more comfortable trips. The best travel pillows are at the top of our editors’ lists for long flights, road trips, and everything in between. But like the best bed pillows in the market, there’s a lot to choose from.

Our Top Picks for the Best Travel Pillows

Best Overall

Purple Harmony Anywhere Pillow

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Best Organic Pillow

Naturepedic Organic Travel Pillow

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Do you need a compressible pillow with a carrying case for portability? Are you a restless in-flight sleeper who needs an adjustable pillow for your ever-changing needs? Our testers (a.k.a.: our editors) have tried out the best offerings out there to take the guesswork out of shopping. Here are the best travel pillows we recommend for your next vacation.

Best Overall

Named the “anywhere” pillow, senior commerce editor Nashia Baker says this high-quality sleep accessory lives up to its name. “It is comfortable to bring out and about for traveling, but I keep it on the couch in the off-time and it’s just as cozy,” she says.

What makes this pillow stand out is its makeup. “Like the down alternative pillow I have from Purple, this has a unique grid texture that’s like pressing into a stretchy trampoline for head support,” she says, adding that the grid keeps the pillow airy and breathable. “Underneath this layer is a squishy fill that allows the pillow to gently cradle my head as I rest.” After countless naps, Baker shares that this pillow has kept the same shape. It also has a removable, machine washable cover too for easy cleaning.

Best Neck Pillow

When it comes to traveling, commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher says the versatility of this pillow is unmatched. “It mirrors the shape of an infinity scarf—the accessory that took over my school’s cold weather fashion trends in the early 2000s—but in pillow form,” she says. Plus, it eases aches beyond neck pain on long flights. “I often get lower back pain as well, and love that this loop-shaped pillow can be adapted in so many ways to cushion my body wherever I need it,” she adds. Aside from the unique design that gets positive reviews, it’s also washing machine friendly for germaphobes.

Best Organic Pillow

This plush travel pillow has changed how Baker naps on the plane for the better. “Made of organic, breathable materials like shredded latex chunks, I breathe easily knowing that it’s free of harmful substances to rest on,” she says. “Plus, it’s just so soft—it’s like cuddling up with a marshmallow.” While Baker says this can’t wrap around your neck like a U-shaped plane pillow, it is still nice to lean against—especially for travelers with a window seat. It also offers light support, so your head won’t feel like it flattens it out. But it’s still soft enough that you can fold it in half if you want an ultra-firm pillow.

Best Inflatable Pillow

Designed with an inflatable design to customize the firmness and a travel bag to stow it once you’ve made it to your destination, this pillow pretty much has it all. “Cleverly called the ‘AirJustable’ travel neck pillow, this option is great for customizing comfort without the mess of taking out or adding filling,” Baker says. “The drawstring is a nice touch so you can get the fit of the pillow just right depending on how firm or soft it is after it’s inflated. I really like how easy it is to take on the go with the compact carry bag I can tuck away in my carry-on before getting on a flight too.” When it’s fully inflated, you can wear the pillow six ways, whether you’re a side sleeper stuck in the middle seat or a binge-watcher who wants chin support for in-flight movie viewing.

Best Memory Foam Pillow

“This ergonomic travel neck pillow has been a comforting accessory on occasions ranging from quick road trips to hours-long flights abroad,” Baker says of this classic U-shaped pick. “Whenever I have a middle seat or aisle seat, this particularly comes in handy so my head has a soft place to land.” The memory foam filling is soft without feeling too malleable like a piece of cotton candy that falls flat. The snap closure is also a must so the pillow is in place for neck and chin support.

More AD-Approved Travel Pillows

Cozy Earth Bamboo Down Alternative Travel Pillow

Cozy Earth is a favorite brand of ours for sleep accessories that feel buttery to the touch, all thanks to bamboo materials. These sentiments ring true in the down alternative travel pillow too. “The pillowcase shell has a slight luster as it is made from viscose bamboo and feels like baby’s skin—delicate and velvety,” contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert says. Though she owns it in the standard size, the fabric makeup is the exact same, and Alpert notes that the comfy 60% recycled polyester and 40% bamboo viscose fill is like “hugging a bag of marshmallows. When I squeeze it, the shape has a give but goes right back to the perfect rectangle of a pillow.”

Commerce director Rachel Fletcher owns the Marlow pillow in its full size and says it’s “well made and well designed.” Like the larger version, this memory foam travel pillow has a customizable design with zippers that can adjust it to three different loft levels. Plus, it’s made with cooling infused foam and an airy mesh—great for travelers jet-setting to the tropics. All in all, it’s a firmer choice and Fletcher recommends it to “friends who appreciate more neck support.”

Cuddle up with this croissant-shaped travel pillow for ultimate comfort. Buffy is already buzzy for its cloud-like sleep products, and this one is defined by an oversized design that you can curl up with from the car to the airplane without losing its shape. Sustainable shoppers will also appreciate that this pillow is made with upcycled materials, including 25 recycled plastic bottles.