Best Feather and Down Pillows – UK 2022

There’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep. If you love the idea of sleeping on a fluffy cloud that gently contours to your head and neck, you might want to consider buying a feather and/or down pillow. Down and feather pillows cost more than synthetic down alternatives but are designed to offer a similar cushioned feel. At the same time, these soft pillows are considered luxury pillow options.

It’s a good idea to figure out what’s important for your sleep requirements. Do you enjoy sinking into a soft pillow? Do you prefer firm support? Down pillows, made from goose or duck tufts, are lightweight, comfortable, and can last for years. Feather pillows offer a firmer night’s rest since they contain feathers with quills attached. You can purchase different options depending on your sleep preference.

If you’re considering buying a feather and/or down pillow, there are some amazing benefits that can be gained from them.

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The Best Feather And Down Pillows

Best Overall – UMI By Amazon Goose Feather Pillow

Best For Value – Homescapes White Duck Feather Pillow

Best For Comfort – Snuggledown Hungarian Goose Down

Best Duck Feather Pillow – Adam Home Luxury White Duck Feather And Down Pillow

Best Goose Feather Pillow – Homefoucs Luxury Goose Feather And Down Pillow

Best Down Alternative Pillow – Silentnight Just Like Down Pillow

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What are Down and Feather Pillows?

Down and feather pillows are sourced from natural feathers that come from geese and ducks. Although they both come from birds, these pillows have a few important differences. Feather pillows come from the bird’s stiff external plumage. Down comes from the soft insulation under a bird’s feathers.

What’s the Difference Between Down and Feather Pillows?

You’ve probably heard most people refer to down and feather pillows as the same thing. The truth is that they are made from different parts of a bird’s feathers. 

Feather pillows are structured. These firmer pillows also have more support. Down comes from birds’ chests and underbelly fluff. Down doesn’t have poky quills, so it offers a softer sleep experience.

1. Super Soft

Soft as a baby’s hair, these pillows offer spa-like rest. A down pillow’s lightweight body makes it a great travel pillow. If you want to feel like you are floating on air, plump up your pillows regularly to keep them feathery light.

2. Thermally Insulated  

Natural down pillows sleep hotter than synthetic materials. In winter, this can be good news for your heating bill. Down feathers are nature’s great insulators. They trap body heat and keep out cold air to help you stay warm.

3. Comfy Support 

Down pillows are also excellent for being comfortable yet supportive. They feel plushy and contour to your favourite position like those opulent hotel pillows that some of us are still dreaming about.

4. Anti-Allergic

If your down pillow is clean, it’s generally a naturally anti-allergic option. Unlike synthetic pillows, down doesn’t tend to attract mould, fungus, bacteria, or other nasty microbes.

To reduce any allergies risk, always buy new from a reputable source and make sure that your pillow has a hypoallergenic cover.

5. Longer Lasting

Compared to pillows made from down alternatives (usually polyester), which last 1-2 years, pure down pillows last between 5-10 years with proper care.

Some of us toss and turn or treat our pillow like a punching bag. Others have a more blissful sleeping style. Whatever your preference, treating your pillow gently can help your pillow keep its cushy shape longer. 

Our Best Selections

Best Overall – UMI By Amazon Goose Feather Pillow

UMI By Amazon is a collection of products that are from a third party but approved by Amazon. The pillow has a higher than average price but the pillow is outstanding. This is backed up by the several thousand positive reviews it has on Amazon. Some examples state that ‘I can’t fault their quality and ‘they feel high quality. The pillow uses a three-chamber design which prevents even distribution of the feathers and prevents them from sticking out. 

If there are negatives, there is one main point that seems to pop up quite often. Reviewers state that it has a significant amount of sinkage compared to its fluffed upsize. This results in the pillow being lower than a regular one. If you are used to a higher head resting position as you sleep then it may be best to use two or pair it with another pillow to get the best of both worlds.

Overall, the UMI goose feather pillow is extremely impressive. The pillow is certified to be safe and sustainable. It also has a great design that helps keep the head supported and allow you to sleep comfortably. The price is on the higher end but it can be worth paying for a comfortable night’s sleep. 

Read Our Full Review Of This Pillow HERE.

Best For Value – Homescapes White Duck Feather Pillow

Homescapes are specialists in fine homeware. They are a British based company operating since 2000. They offer a wide range of homeware products but their duck feather pillows are one that particularly stands out. It has over 2,500 Amazon reviews, with the vast majority being 4-5 stars. One reviewer states ‘For soft pillows look no further, very good quality.’ Homescapes state that they are hotel quality direct from the manufacturer. 

The Homescapes white duck feather pillows are manufactured to the responsible down standard (RDS). This ensures that the feathers used inside the product are ethically sourced and traceable. Featuring 100% new white duck feather filling, the pillows are filled to 900gsm fill weight. A bonus from Homescapes is that they only use small feathers and not the cheaper ‘curled’ feathers used by some other value pillows. The design of the pillows features double-stitched edges which keep the feathers inside the pillow. These features give the pillow a great cushioning effect, perfect for those who prefer a softer pillow.

Overall, these pillows are a great, high-quality duck feather pillow for a reasonable price. There are much cheaper pillows available but with the build and responsible sourcing feather sourcing we feel these are excellent value, should be long lasting and get our vote on best for value.

Best For Comfort – Snuggledown Hungarian Goose Down

Snuggledown is a bedding and pillow manufacturer that has over 100 years of experience in the industry. Offering a pillow for almost all types of sleepers, their products are well known and loved. Our best comfort pillow is their Hungarian Goose Down pillow. At first glance, some of the Amazon reviews on this pillows page do not look the best. Most of these are for some of the other Snuggledown pillows that are grouped and the vast majority of the Hungarian goose down specific reviews are extremely positive. One reviewer states ‘These are the most comfortable pillows I have ever bought! Your head just sinks right into them.’ 

The construction of this pillow is top quality. It features 80% Hungarian goose down for a soft, cushioned feel and 20% small Hungarian goose feathers. This gives a great balance of having some support to your head and neck but also a gentle sink, allowing you to sleep comfortably throughout the night. The down and feathers are encased in a 300 thread count cotton cover. A great finish to a high-quality pillow. 

This pillow has a higher than average price but we feel it justifies this price. It provides a super soft, comfortable sleeping experience. A perfect choice for front sleepers. They also wash well, keeping them fresh and longer-lasting than the average pillow. 

Best Duck Feather Pillow – Adam Home Luxury White Duck Feather And Down Pillow

Adam Home is a family-owned home furnishings company based in the Greater Manchester area. Established in 2012, they have grown over the years to provide a range of affordable bedding, blankets and cushions. Their white duck feather and down pillow has been a particular hit on Amazon, gaining several hundred positive reviews, over 80% of them being rated as 4 or 5 stars. One of the reviewer’s states ‘Pillows not overfilled. Soft and comfortable. Great price.’ and left a 5* rating. 

The AdamHome duck feather pillows feature a classic design with a soft-touch cotton cover, making the pillow breathable and anti-bacterial. Inside the pillows, there is a mix of 85% duck feathers and 15% down. This gives the pillow a soft comfortable sink and just enough support for your neck and back. The soft feel will probably suit stomach sleepers the best but that may change with personal preference. The use of main feathers in the pillow gives it a plump shape and it will need to be fluffed up less often than all down pillows.

Overall, the AdamHome Duck and Down pillow is a great choice of duck feather pillow. It gives a comfortable sinking feeling and avoids any feathers sticking into you in the process. A bonus is that it is machine washable in clean water and dryer friendly. It is a great example of a well priced, high-quality duck feather pillow.

Best Goose Feather Pillow – Homefoucs Luxury Goose Feather And Down Pillow

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Homefoucs is an online brand, their products can currently only be found on Amazon and eBay. All of their products are well regarded though, with an average product rating of 4.⅖ (at the time of writing). This pillow in particular has over 80% of reviews rated 4 or 5 stars. One reviewer praises the mattress with the following statement ‘Best nights sleep last night after finally finding the Perfect Pillow!’. 

The pillow features a fill of 40% goose down and 60% goose feather. This provides a balance of comfort while still being slightly supportive. Overall, the pillow has a soft sinking feeling when sleeping on it. Having 40% goose down gives the pillow a super soft, luxury feel but will need to be plumped up quite often to help it keep its shape for longer. 

Overall, the Luxury Goose Feather And Down pillow by Homefoucs is a great option for a goose feather pillow, it is quite affordable considering the higher than the average price of goose feather pillows and gives an excellent soft, comfortable sleeping experience.

Best Down Alternative Pillow – Silentnight Just Like Down Pillow

Silentnight is one of the largest bed brands in the UK. Their products come with an expectation of being good quality and this pillow does not disappoint. The pillow uses a microfibre fill to imitate the soft, comfortable feel of down. As seen in some of the reviews, it does not provide a perfect imitation but it does result in an extremely comfortable pillow. 

A downside of using a microfiber fill for the pillow is that it will not last as long as real down. The price reflects this as it is much more affordable than most down or feather pillows. The fill level is slightly less than the average down pillow but they come as a pack of two so you can double up if needed. They are rated as a 4/10 for firmness so are on the softer side but should be a suitable fit for all sleeping positions. 

Overall, the Silentnight Just Like Down pillow is an extremely good product at the price. It does a pretty good job at providing the soft, comfortable feel that down provides while being free from actual down and uses 100% recycled materials inside the pillow instead. It is a fantastic choice for allergy sufferers or those just looking for an alternative to down.

Read Our Full Review Of The Silentnight Just Like Down Pillow HERE.

What to Consider When Purchasing a Feather Pillow?

Down Pillow Pros

• Comfortable
• Lightweight
• Non-allergic
• Easy-care
• Longer Lasting
  

Down Pillow Cons

• Higher price
• Retains heat
• Flattens over time
  

Feather Pillow Pros

• Keeps shape over time
• Lightweight 
• Longevity
  

Feather Pillow Cons 

• Sleeps hot
• Harder and flatter than down pillows
• Can contain organic dust from bird feathers

Goose vs. Duck

If you’re ready to buy a new down pillow, you’re probably curious about the difference between goose and duck down.

Goose down or feathers are softer than duck feathers. Goose down has larger and stronger feather clusters than duck down. Geese live longer than ducks, so their more mature down is better quality.

If you’re wondering about the best goose down to buy, European goose down with its pure white and super soft feathers is considered high-quality.

Down vs. Down Alternative

Some people just aren’t comfortable buying or using products made from animals. The good news is that there are many ethical down alternatives on the market today.

The main difference between natural and artificial down is the stuffing material. Down alternatives are created from polyester filling. The synthetic material is designed to imitate natural down’s fluffy texture.

Down alternatives are very breathable and offer a cooler sleeping experience than goose down.

If you’re looking for warmth or lightness, down is typically warmer than down alternatives. Natural down traps heat better. It also takes less real down to keep you warm. Down pillows are lighter than synthetic ones since it takes more man-made fill to obtain the same warmth levels as goose or duck down.

Down alternatives can last 1-2 years, this is compared to down’s expected lifespan of 5-10 years.

Proper Care

Caring for your down or feather pillows properly will help them last longer. For optimal health, wash pillowcases each week. You can wash pillows every 3-6 months.

Wash pillows in a gentle cycle. You can tumble-dry pillows on a low dryer setting for 20 minutes. Or you can air-dry them outside on a sunny day with low humidity. Don’t air-dry outside on a wet or humid day since this can prevent the pillows from drying properly and run the risk of mould or mildew growth. Always make sure to check the label of your pillow to make sure that washing it this way is OK.

FAQs About Feather Pillows

How Often Should I Replace Feather Pillows?

It’s a good idea to replace feather pillows in 1-3 years. With proper care, they can last 5-10 years or longer. If you notice that a pillow doesn’t spring back into shape when it’s folded in half, it’s time to replace the pillow.

Are Feather Pillows Recommended for Asthma Sufferers?

Some doctors may advise people who suffer from asthma to avoid using feather pillows. This is due to concern that dust mites or organic dust from bird feathers can cause pulmonary issues. Other research indicates that feather pillows are anti-allergic and that synthetic pillows harbour more dust and mould than feathers. It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before making any relevant lifestyle changes.

Final Thoughts 

Down and feather pillows are a good option if you are looking for alternatives to synthetic materials. They are warm, light, comfortable, and generally anti-allergic. 

Although down pillows are more expensive than polyester pillows, consumers report that the sleep quality is often better. If you sleep warm, you can always opt for a down alternative pillow.

With feather pillows’ reputation for luxury and longevity, choosing to buy a set of quality pillows ensures that your investment will remain usable for years to come.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API