If your throw pillows are looking a bit flat and sad, it’s likely your pillow insert isn’t ideal. If you can (most covers unzip!), swapping out the insert can drastically improve the look of your throw pillow. But not every insert is created equal. I’ve bought many a pillow insert, and have discovered that it can honestly make or break everything. So how can you tell which pillow insert is the best?? Well, I bought the top 5 pillow inserts from Amazon and put them to the test so you don’t have to! The biggest things I want out of a pillow are density, weight, comfort, perky corners, and, of course, a good chop! Here’s what I found.
Side note: Always size up your pillow insert. If your cover is 20×20″, get a 22×22″ insert for a fuller, more dense-looking pillow.
Rating the Top 5 Amazon Pillow Inserts
5. Foamily Starting in last place, contrary to its name, this pillow isn’t actually made out of foam, but more of a synthetic polyfill. This pillow instantly fills with air upon opening, and the covering is more of a mesh material than cotton, which isn’t a deal breaker, but it is odd! This one is the most lightweight, which I don’t love, and it also has the quickest “rebound” when you squish it. Bounces right back, so you couldn’t get a chop if you wanted to. This one can’t stand on its own, and there’s no filling in the corners. The 22×22″ is $24, which feels fair.
Bottom line: I wouldn’t recommend this one. Have to disagree with all the Amazon reviews!
4. Edow: Next in line, this pillow came VERY flat. I definitely had to work with it a bit to fluff it up, but overall it fluffed decently! It’s lightweight, which means it can’t stand by itself. It’s hard to get the lumpy fill spread into the corners, which means they don’t have a very stiff point. It’s actually surprisingly comfortable!
Bottom line: This is a great price point of $13 for a 22″x22″, so if you don’t mind a slightly lumpier pillow, this could still be a great option. This pillow comes in 6 size options, all square.
3. MoonRest: This pillow came super small and rolled up, but fluffed up really nicely after some work. It has a much heavier weight to it, especially compared to pillows 4 & 5. I would love it if the corners were just a bit pointier and if it would stand on its own. After a good chop, it stays for a bit but does spring back. The 22×22″ is $26, which feels fair.
Bottom line: I do love that this is a down-alternative filling rather than a polyfill, plus it comes in 40+ size options! If you need a very specific size, this could be your pillow.
2. Phantoscope: This insert came in close second, was very easy to fluff up, and took shape quickly! It’s a nice medium-weight, and I love the finished piping around the edge. It can stand up on its own and holds a decent chop, which is an absolute must for me! My only teensy critique would be that I’d love a bit more density and weight to it. $24 for a 22×22″ is a price I can’t argue with, though!
Bottom line: This pillow insert checks almost all of my boxes. It’s a bit less expensive than my top pick, in case you want to save a bit!
1. Pillowflex: This insert is absolutely everything I want in a pillow–dense, full, and heavy, stiff corners! I didn’t really have to fluff it at all, and the shape is so substantial. I love a pillow with good stand-alone power, and that’s easy to chop. Bonus points for being comfy to lie on! If you want the best of the best, I would get this pillow at the price of $30 for a 22×22″.
Bottom line: The Pillowflex pillow insert is hands-down the best, but if you need one a bit more budget-friendly, the Phantoscope pillow in second place is still a really great option!
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Does anybody else nerd out on things like this? Check out all of my product reviews here!
I’d love a review or repost of your lightbulb choices.
Thank you for doing this, I love posts like these! I have been looking for new inserts for my couch pillows but sadly none of the ones you reviewed come in a large enough size. I would love to see a comparison like this on cooking sets/pans.
This is exactly what I needed! All my down pillows are shedding feathers.
I know that is is an affiliate link post so I understand what you don’t have a review of the IKEA feather inserts, but I would love to know what you think about those in comparison to the Amazon options. I have had great luck with those as pillow insert options. Speaking as someone that is spending my own money to furnish my house, I greatly miss the days of bloggers buying something and then giving their honest uninfluenced by compensation opinion. I get that this is your job and I’m not questioning your right to make money, but I wonder anytime money Is on the table (for ANY blogger, not specifically you) that the best option isn’t considered; only the best compensated option.
We have actually never lived close to an IKEA and don’t have any of their inserts. We bought these inserts with our own money and a lot more people have access to Amazon vs IKEA. There are hundreds of pillow inserts we could have treated. We have an honest review of the top five that were most accessible in price and availability and not all were glowing and hope this is helpful for many
Funny how things work out. On Monday I was listening to podcasts while shopping for an entryway redo. A Beautiful Mess named your blog as a fave. I went to their show notes, clicked on your blog, and the post of the day was about pillow inserts! That was literally my NEXT purchase. Thanks for doing the legwork for me!!