The Best Buckwheat Pillows for Sleeping
Could sobakawa pillows be the key to a sounder night's sleep?
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Pillows come in all shapes and sizes, and finding the the best pillow depends on factors like sleeping position, body temperature, and personal preferences for firmness and materials. Beyond familiar options like memory foam and down, buckwheat pillows—also called sobakawa pillows—offer a unique alternative. They're filled with the firm outer hulls of buckwheat seeds and can be molded to your head, neck, and shoulders for adjustability, durability, and improved airflow. They also tend to be a good choice for those allergic to dust mites, down, or latex.
That said, during hands-on testing in the Good Housekeeping Institute, we found buckwheat pillows to be very firm overall—most comfortable for those who like a hard, supportive pillow. The hulls also can’t be washed, and some testers did experience minor skin irritation. Still, if this style suits your preferences, we think these pillows are our top picks.
Pros
- Highly adjustable loft
- Comes in five sizes
- Company sells additional hulls in bulk
Cons
- Some users say its heft makes it hard to maneuver
At about 9 pounds, Turmerry’s buckwheat pillow is on the heavier side, which can make it a bit tricky to maneuver (and certainly not great for travel), but the tradeoff is that it’s highly adjustable. You can add or remove hulls to achieve your preferred level of height and firmness. Turmerry even sells extra hulls in bulk (starting at $20 per pound) if you want to refresh the fill over time. The pillow also comes in several sizes, including standard, travel, lumbar, and a neck roll.
No matter which style you choose, the U.S.-sourced buckwheat hulls are encased in a cotton cover, but there's no outer case, so we recommend purchasing an additional cover to keep your hulls in when machine-washing the case. Also worth noting: One of our testers said they could feel the hulls through the fabric, but that's pretty typical for this style of pillow.
| Sizes available | Queen, travel, mini, neckroll, lumbar |
| Dimensions | 20" x 30" |
| Weight | 9.1 pounds |
Pros
- Hefty, for easy adjustment
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Company sells additional hulls in bulk
Cons
- Expensive
- Doesn't come with an outer case
Though it’s on the pricier side, Hullo’s buckwheat pillow is a solid investment for anyone who knows they prefer this style. The buckwheat filling is grown and milled in the U.S., and the standard size comes generously packed with eight pounds of hulls, giving you plenty of flexibility to adjust the loft to your liking. You can also purchase 5-, 10-, or 20-pound refill bags if you want to refresh the fill over time.
Users say the pillow does take some getting used to, but after an initial adjustment period, they find the pillow extremely comfortable and supportive. Many reviewers note they actually prefer it to traditional pillows for a restful night’s sleep.
It's available in small, standard, and king sizes, and comes with a machine-washable cotton twill case. Like our top overall pick, it doesn’t include an outer case, but Hullo does offer a 60-night money-back guarantee if you have any doubts.
| Sizes | Small, standard, king |
| Dimensions | 20" x 26" |
| Weight | 8.5 pounds |
Pros
- Highly adjustable
- High-quality hulls for better loft and airflow
- Machine-washable casing
Cons
- Comes in limited sizes
This option, which weighs between 7 and 10 pounds, may not come in many sizes, but still offers plenty of adjustability and is relatively easy to manipulate. Users also say it provides excellent support for back and side sleepers, and like that the fill can be easily customized to their liking.
Our Lab pros appreciate that the buckwheat hulls are grown in the U.S. and hand-picked to ensure quality. This means the hulls are more likely remain intact to provide ample loft and optimal airflow. To adjust the fill, simply unzip the three-layer quilted cotton case. Just note: While the casing is machine-washable, you'll likely want to purchase a second case for convenience when cleaning.RELATED: Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
| Sizes | Twin/standard |
| Dimensions | 20" x 26" |
| Weight | 7-10 lbs., depending on fill |
Solera Weighted Organic Hemp Hull Pillow
Pros
- Comes with an inner and outer case
- Hefty and highly adjustable
- Comes with an additional pound of hulls
Cons
- Expensive
Hemp hulls differ from buckwheat hulls in a few important ways. First, hemp hulls are a bit smaller than buckwheat hulls. They're also more granular, which allows them to more readily stick together—a characteristic some say makes them more malleable and therefore, more comfortable.
That said, our testers didn't distinguish much of a difference between this pillow and the other buckwheat pillows we tested. We found it had similar adjustability so users could tailor shape, volume, and loft for custom support.
Still, if you have the budget, it's a worthy choice. In addition to the above attributes, the Canadian-grown hemp hulls are housed in a double-knit cotton inner shell and a jersey cotton outer case complete with hidden zippers that make adjustments seamless. We also appreciate that this already hefty 10-pound pillow comes with an additional pound of hulls, if you need even more support.
| Sizes | One size |
| Dimensions | 18" x 25" |
| Weight | 10 pounds |
How we test and evaluate buckwheat pillows
In recent years, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested more than 100 pillows of all types to find the most comfortable options, including latex pillows, cooling pillows, and down alternative pillows.
During testing, our textile pros evaluate each pillow in the Lab for things like washability and durability—they wash each pillow three times before looking for changes in appearance and shrinkage. To determine how well the pillow holds it shape, they also place each pillow inside of a standard pillowcase to see if it fits. Then, they fold each pillow in half and place a weight on it for a set amount of time before timing how long it takes to return to its original shape. Finally, our experts have real-life testers sleep on each one to find the most comfortable and supportive styles.
While our textiles analysts got hands-on with several of the buckwheat pillows on our list, including picks from Turmerry and Solera, our editors rounded out our recommendations by researching dozens of top-selling options and reading through countless online reviews to find the best options out there.
Are buckwheat pillows good for sleeping?
Truthfully, we think the jury is still out on this one. In general, buckwheat pillows haven't tested well in our Textiles Lab, and because of this, our analysts aren't enthusiastic about recommending them. Specifically, they didn't find that buckwheat pillows were as durable or comfortable as other more conventional options, like down and memory foam. On top of that, some of our testers said the fill in these pillows was exceptionally firm and actually irritated their skin (though we should note that buckwheat allergies are rare).
Still, while our Lab pros remain unconvinced, many online reviewers—particularly side sleepers and those who experience chronic neck pain—sing their praises.
What to look for when shopping for buckwheat pillows
There's no one-size-fits-all buckwheat pillow, but here are a few things to keep in mind as you pick out your best pillow:
✔️Loft: Part of the appeal of buckwheat pillows is the adjustability. While all buckwheat pillows are firmer than most other types of pillows, the amount of loft and support is typically customizable. The best buckwheat pillows come packed with lots of hulls, so users can remove them to their liking, ultimately landing on a volume that suits their personal preferences and needs. To ensure maximum flexibility, take a look at the specs and look for a weightier pillow—at least five pounds should be sufficient.
✔️Shape: Like other types of pillows, buckwheat pillows come in various sizes to suit different beds, like standard, queen, and king, plus special shapes like travel-size and cylindrical neck pillows. But remember: Since buckwheat pillows are naturally adjustable, you can generally create the shape you want.
✔️Materials: Buckwheat pillows are naturally temperature-regulating, but if you run hot or tend to sweat at night, look for one with a breathable cotton cover. (Typically buckwheat pillows come with a standard cotton, organic cotton, or rayon case.)
It's also worth noting that lots of buckwheat pillows claim to be made with organic materials, including organic cotton covers. Some brands use the word "organic," because they contain a fiber that’s grown organically, but a truly organic product follows strict production standards. When it comes to organic fabrics like cotton and wool, the gold standard of certifications is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). If you prefer a pillow that is fully organic, you'll want to check for a trusted certification like GOTS, which uses strict standards throughout the entire supply chain and certifies the final product (not just the material) contains at least 95% organic fibers. GOTS has a public database where you can quickly type in a brand to see if it's on the list.
✔️Care: While most buckwheat pillows come with cotton covers that can be machine-washed, you can't wash buckwheat pillows when they're filled with hulls. Because of that, it's important to look for a pillow that comes with an additional protective case (so you have somewhere to empty out all of the hulls when you want to wash it) or buy an extra one. If not, you can place the hulls in a plastic bin while you wash the cover.
✔️ Cost: Our evaluations show that a good buckwheat pillow typically costs between $50 and $100 for a standard size, which is a bit pricer than other pillow types. That said, you can still find solid options starting at $30, and there are also pricier picks that may be worth the splurge if you know your preferences. When it comes to buying extra hulls in bulk, expect to pay between $5 and $15 per pound.
How long do buckwheat pillows last?
Buckwheat hulls do eventually break down over time, but manufacturers say buckwheat pillows can generally last for several years, sometimes 10 or more. You'll know it's time to replace yours if:
- It's stopped holding its shape
- Has diminished air circulation
- It's stopped providing ample support
- It's flatter and less voluminous than it once was
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Brigitt Earley is a writer, editor and content creator with over 15 years of experience writing about home products and bedding, including pillows. For this story, she worked with the pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab—including associate director Emma Seymour—who have years of expertise testing all types of pillows, including buckwheat pillows. She also conducted her own independent research, culling through countless online reviews in order to review the picks recommended here.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
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