Last updated: Oct 3, 2026
Best Adjustable Pillow: 7 Types Compared (2026)
Words by
Calm Eden Sleep Journal
The best adjustable pillow is the one whose height you can set for how you sleep: loose fill you add or remove gives the widest range, while layers or two edges give a quicker change.
Pillow height is the part most people get wrong, because the right height depends on your sleep position, your shoulders and your mattress. An adjustable pillow lets you change it at home instead of guessing in a shop. How it adjusts matters more than the label.
This guide compares seven adjustable pillow types by how the height changes, the range, the fill and the care. Three are Calm Eden products; the other four are general types, not tested or ranked brands.
A shredded-foam pillow with a zipper and a bag for the spare fill is the most common kind, which is how the Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow is built.
What This Comparison Looks At
How the height changes
The height range
What the fill is
Where spare fill goes
Pillow size
Cover and washing
How long a change takes
Who each type suits
Why The Type Matters
Adjustable is one word for several mechanisms. Adding or removing fill changes the height by small amounts. Lifting out a layer changes it in one step. Turning a pillow to a different edge takes a second.
Fine control and speed pull against each other. Loose fill gives the widest range but takes a few minutes and leaves you with spare fill to store. Layers and two-edge pillows are quicker, with fewer heights to choose from.
This is a comfort and positioning product, not a medical device. Your mattress and sleep position belong in the comparison too.
Seven Adjustable Pillow Types Compared
Type 1 -
Shredded foam, zip-in fill
Best for setting your own height
1. Shredded-foam adjustable pillow
The Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow is this type: open the zipper, take out or put back shredded memory foam, and close it. It adjusts from about 2 to 6 inches and takes about five minutes. The pillow is 26 x 18 inches.
The quilted outer cover zips off for a cold, gentle machine wash; the foam fill is never washed. A storage bag comes with it for the fill you take out, and fully loaded the pillow holds about 1,000 g of fill.
Good to know: as a starting point, keep most of the fill for side sleeping, remove some for back sleeping and remove most for stomach sleeping. Take out a handful at a time; small changes make a clear difference.
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Type 2 -
Shredded foam, two sizes
2. Shredded-foam pillow in Standard or King
The Flex Shredded Foam Adjustable Pillow is the same idea in two pillow sizes, Standard and King. You add or remove shredded memory foam until the height and firmness suit you. Choose this type if the pillow has to match a king pillowcase.
It comes with a separate bag of extra foam fill and a removable cover you can machine wash cold. Its listing does not state a height range or dimensions, so ask support for measurements if they matter.
Type 3 -
Two-height pillow
3. Two-height pillow
The Grid Honeycomb Gel Support Pillow adjusts a different way: its two edges are different heights, 8 cm and 10 cm, so you turn the pillow instead of changing the fill. The core is a flexible TPE honeycomb.
There is nothing to store and the change takes a second, but there are two heights, not a range. Choose it when you already know roughly what height you want.
Type 4 -
Removable layers
4. Layered pillow with removable inserts
Layered pillows usually hold two or three flat inserts inside one cover. You lift a layer out to lower the pillow. The change is quick and tidy, but each layer is a fixed step, so check how thick each insert is before buying.
Type 5 -
Air-adjustable
5. Air-adjustable pillow
Air-adjustable pillows change height with a valve or a small pump. They tend to be light and easy to pack, which is why the type is common for travel. The trade-off is that air feels different from foam under the head; check the cover and the valve.
Type 6 -
Water-base
6. Water-base pillow
A water-base pillow usually has a sealed water layer under a soft top. You change the firmness and height by adding or pouring out water. It may suit someone who wants a heavier pillow that stays in place.
Check the weight when filled and how the cap seals. Filling and emptying takes longer than moving fill, and this is not a pillow to adjust every night.
Type 7 -
Buckwheat hulls
7. Buckwheat hull pillow
Buckwheat pillows are filled with hulls you can add or remove through a zipper, much like shredded foam. The hulls tend to hold the shape you press into them and feel firm, and they make a soft rustling sound when you move.
They are usually heavier than foam pillows. Choose this type for a firm, mouldable feel, and check whether the hulls can be bought again later, because they wear down over time.
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The Bottom Line
If you do not know what height you need, loose fill gives you the most room to find out. If you want a range you can keep changing, the Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow adjusts from about 2 to 6 inches.
If you already know your height, a two-height or layered pillow is quicker to change and has nothing spare to store. Air and water types suit travel or a heavier feel. Start with how often you expect to change the height, then choose the mechanism.
Whatever the type, read its care label and give a new height a few nights before changing it again. A new mattress or a different sleep position is a reason to adjust.
💡Height Tip
Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow adjusts from about 2 to 6 inches. Start with most of the fill in for side sleeping, remove some for back sleeping and most for stomach sleeping. Your shoulder width and mattress change what feels right.
One Pillow, A Height You Set Yourself (Free standard shipping on every order)
The Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow is 26 x 18 inches at Calm Eden.
The store offer includes 30-day risk-free trial, and Orders are usually dispatched within 24 hours. See the Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow page.
Simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the zipper on your Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow and take out a handful of the shredded foam fill.
Step 2: Lie down on your Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow and check the height. Add or remove a little more until it feels right, then close the zipper.
Step 3: Keep the spare fill from your Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow in its storage bag so you can put it back later. The store offers a 30-day risk-free trial.
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Adjustable pillow side-by-side comparison
| Type | How the height changes | Range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shredded foam, zip-in fill: Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow | Add or remove fill | About 2 to 6 inches | Finding your own height |
| Shredded foam, two sizes: Flex Shredded Foam Adjustable Pillow | Add or remove fill | Not stated | A Standard or King pillow |
| Two-height: Grid Honeycomb Gel Support Pillow | Turn to the other edge | 8 cm or 10 cm | A quick change, nothing to store |
| Removable layers type | Lift out an insert | One step per layer | A tidy, quick change |
| Air-adjustable type | Valve or small pump | Depends on the pillow | Travel and packing |
| Water-base type | Add or pour out water | Depends on the pillow | A heavier pillow that stays put |
| Buckwheat hull type | Add or remove hulls | Depends on the fill | A firm, mouldable feel |
How to choose in three questions
- Do you know the height you need, or do you need to find it?
- How often will you change it: once, or every time your sleep position or mattress changes?
- Do you have somewhere to keep spare fill?
Adjustable pillow FAQ
What is an adjustable pillow?
An adjustable pillow lets you change its height. Most do it with loose fill you add or remove through a zipper; others use removable layers, two different edges, air or water.
How do I adjust a shredded foam pillow?
Open the zipper, take out or put back fill until the height feels right, and close it. On Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow this takes about five minutes and the spare fill goes in the storage bag that comes with it.
What height should an adjustable pillow be?
It depends on your sleep position, shoulder width and mattress. As a starting point, keep most of the fill for side sleeping, remove some for back sleeping and remove most for stomach sleeping. Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow adjusts from about 2 to 6 inches.
Can you wash an adjustable pillow?
Check the care label. On Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow the quilted outer cover zips off for a cold, gentle machine wash, and the foam fill is never washed.
Is an adjustable pillow good for side sleepers?
Side sleeping usually needs the most height, so start with most of the fill in and remove a handful at a time. Comfort varies by sleeper and mattress.
What if it is not right for me?
You have a 30-day risk-free trial from delivery. If you are not happy for any reason, tell us within 30 days and return it for a refund, opened or used.
Keep reading
- Adjustable Pillow: 5 Reasons to Set Your Own Height With the Tune
- Adjustable Pillow Guide: How Adjustable Loft Works and How to Tune It
- Choosing pillow height for side sleeping
- Memory Foam Pillow Guide: Solid, Shredded and Gel Compared
- Honeycomb Gel Pillow: 7 Things to Know About the Grid
- Adjustable pillows
- Shop the Tune Adjustable Loft Pillow