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Don’t lay your head on your pillow.
That is, unless you bought it recently. According to the National Sleep Foundation, you’re supposed to replace your pillows every one to two years — though plenty of us don’t. (Scroll down for the under-$50 pillows that experts recommend, including this Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow, for roughly $50 on Amazon, which several experts said they loved.)
Why do you need to get a new pillow so frequently? “Night after night of sleeping on a pillow causes it to absorb body oil, dead skin cells, and hair. This isn’t just gross-sounding—it can also make the pillow smell and, what’s worse, can create the perfect environment for dust mites,” the organization writes on its website. Dust mites are tiny, crawling pests that feed on dead skin and can worsen allergies and asthma.
And fungus is rampant on your pillow too. “The typical used pillow contains a substantial load of many species of fungi,” according to a study published in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. And other research shows that pillows can be rife with germs and bacteria — especially if you’ve had them for a bit.
Of course, you may be reluctant to buy a new pillow because they’re often pricey — some easily topping $100 to $150. So MarketWatch asked experts to pick out the best pillows for under $50.
- Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow, roughly $50 on Amazon. Multiple experts recommended this pillow, with Logan Block, the director of content at bedding review site Sleepopolis, noting that “this pillow is an incredible value for the price, with shredded memory foam and a soft cover, it is a great option if you’re pillow shopping on a budget,” and Ben Trapskin, the founder of bedding review site SleepSherpa.com, saying it’s “been around for years and is a top pick.”
Plus, Jonathan Prichard, the CEO of bedding review site MattressInsider.com, says this pillow is “as comfortable as many of its higher-priced competitors.” And he likes memory foam pillows in general because they ease the pressure on your neck and spine better, he says.
- Talalay Latex Pillow from Brooklyn Bedding, roughly $40 on Amazon. Matthew Ross, the co-owner and COO of bedding reviews site The Slumber Yard, says that this is an “underrated pillow” with “high-quality construction” and a “good amount of airflow.” Another pick from the same company is the Brooklyn Bedding Premium Shredded Foam Pillow, roughly $40 on Amazon, which Caleb Backe, a health and wellness expert for wellness site Maple Holistics, recommends, noting that it’s great for regulating temperature.
- Digital Decor Down Alternative Pillows, roughly $20 for a set of two. If you’re on a serious budget — or looking for guest pillows that will be comfy enough — these may be the pillows to consider. John Breese, CEO of bedding review site Happysleepyhead, says that the value for the money on these is “incredible” and he likes that they come in multiple levels of firmness making it “universally comfortable.” His other uber budget pick is Utopia Bedding’s Gusseted Quilted Pillow roughly $20 for a 2-pack.
