Premier Inn Pillows Review – Is This the Secret to Hotel-Level Comfort?

Written By Alex Petrović

Certified Sleep Consultant

29 March 2024 9 min read

In this Premier Inn pillows review, we're going to see whether these pillows are really hotel quality and whether they'd be perfect for you!

If you've ever slept in a hotel room, you know that hotel pillows are somehow always the most comfortable pillows you've ever seen. And seeing how the Premier Inn is the biggest hotel chain in the UK, Premier Inn pillows have received a lot of praise over the years.

However, are these pillows really that good? Or are you just so comfortable in a hotel that even a mediocre pillow feels like it's premium quality?

Well, let's take a closer look at Premier Inn pillows and see what they actually have to offer.

What are the main features of Premier Inn pillows?

To start things off, we're going to look at the main features Premier Inn pillows bring to the table.

And while we're sure that some people might think “a pillow is just a pillow”, there's actually quite a bit going on here.

But don't worry, we'll only focus on the most important features and how they can help or stop you from getting a good night's sleep.

So, we'll first look at the materials that make up these pillows, both the filling and the cover.

We'll then discuss added features, such as the the firmness options.

And lastly, we'll cover some general info such as the price and how it compares to other pillows in the UK market.

Low denier hollowfibre filling

A pillow is only as good as its filling! After all, this is what makes Premier Inn pillows what they are. But how good is a hollowfibre filling?

Well, for one, it's a synthetic filling. So, it might not be as luxurious as a feather and down pillow. And it also won't have the same hugging sensation many people love about memory foam pillows. However, hollofibre is very bouncy and supportive.

Plus, it allows the pillows to be relatively cheap.

A low denier basically means that the hollowfibre filling is less dense than usual. This lower density then allows your head to sink in a bit more and makes the pillow more breathable.

So, as we can see, the pillows used in Premier Inn beds aren't perfect but they definitely have their upsides.

Quilted cotton-polyester protectors

Instead of the usual pillow cover, Premier Inn pillows opt instead for quilted pillow protectors. And having a pillow protector comes with a few advantages. Namely, cleaning your pillows becomes a lot easier, as any potential spill likely won't affect the filling.

Obviously, this is incredibly helpful and is likely why Premier Inn hotels often use these pillows.

As far as the cotton-polyester blend is concerned, it's a mixed bag. And this is because it's not nearly as high-quality as a 100% cotton cover. Not to mention that bamboo or eucalyptus covers likely offer a lot more breathability. And silk covers are a lot cooler to the touch.

So, once again, we're not dealing with the best pillows on the market in terms of quality. However, for the price, it's still a very decent choice.

Different firmness options

While this pillow isn't adjustable, you do get a choice of whether you want a soft or a firm pillow. And this decision can ensure that you enjoy your new pillow a lot more!

Generally, for side sleepers, the firm pillows are going to be ideal. This is because they have a higher loft and can properly support your head.

Back sleepers and stomach sleepers on the other hand will want to get the soft pillows. This way the pillow can compress and allow your neck to be in a more natural position.

However, even the soft pillow might not be the perfect pillow for stomach sleepers, as they typically need pillows that are completely flat. But we'll discuss that in more detail later on.

What do we like about Premier Inn pillows?

Now that we've covered all of the features, let's talk about what makes premier inn pillows stand out! We've specifically pointed out three things that make these pillows worth considering:

• They're affordable – If you want a budget-friendly pillow, Premier Inn make for an excellent choice.
• They're durable – Thanks to the pillow protectors, these pillows won't give in to wear and tear as easily as similar pillows in this price range.
• They're fairly breathable – While they can't compete with high-end cooling pillows, hot sleepers should still be fairly satisfied.

What don't we like about Premier Inn pillows?

When choosing a pillow, it's important to know that no pillow is perfect. And when it comes to Premier Inn pillows, there are three areas where you can definitely find better alternatives.

• No premium materials – When compared to higher-end pillows that use natural latex, multiple foam layers, and surprisingly advanced pillow technology, Premier Inn pillows fall short in terms of quality.
• Not ideal for stomach sleepers – There are way better pillows for front sleepers. Even the Premier Inn soft pillows are simply too thick to properly support your neck if you sleep on your stomach.
• Limited options – Both the firm and soft pillows only come in one size. And since the pillows also aren't adjustable, there isn't much you can do if they're too small or too big for your frame.

Best alternatives to Premier Inn pillows

While Premier Inn are sure to be perfect for some, others might want to look at other options. After all, if you want a soft and silky feeling that comes with 100% cotton covers or the hugging sensation memory foam pillows provide, you'll need a different pillow.

Plus, as we've already mentioned, stomach sleepers need a flatter pillow altogether. So, we've compiled a list of the best alternatives we think you should check out.

Higher-end alternatives to Premier Inn pillows

If you want a pillow that represents true luxury and doesn't hold back, there are a few options we think you should check out.

• Simba Hybrid pillow – You'd be pressed to find a single other hybrid pillow without doing some research. And that's because the Simba Hybrid pillow is kind of the champion in this field. With Stratos temperature regulating technology, a high-end cover, and a filling of Nano cubes, this pillow feels like it came from the future.
• Scooms Hungarian Goose Down Pillow – For a lot of people, down pillows will always be the height of luxury. And we can't blame them! And seeing how this pillow utilises high-quality down, it's one of the fluffiest and lightest pillows you'll likely ever see. Plus, it makes for quite the pillow fight weapon.
• Aeyla The FOAMO Pillow – If you don't want to take your chances with the Premier Inn pillow, this is an excellent choice. And that's because it's fully adjustable! So, it's only a matter of “when” and not “if” it's going to fit you like a glove. Plus, the cover is miles above the Premier Inn pillow protectors.

Premier Inn pillow alternatives for stomach sleepers

Like we said before, stomach sleepers need a flatter pillow. So, if you are a stomach sleeper, let's save you some time and recommend a few pillows that will be better suited for your sleeping position.

• Emma Original Pillow – The Emma Original pillow is likely one of the best higher-end pillows that are suited for stomach sleepers. And this is because it's basically comprised of three smaller pillows. And when you take two out, you get a perfectly flat pillow that's still comfortable but keeps your neck and spine properly aligned.

Other bedding from the Premier Inn hotel

If you liked the Premier Inn pillows, there's a good chance you'll like other Premier Inn bedding. So, let's take a look at what else they have for sale and see how it compares to the rest of the market.

After all, if you want a true hotel bed experience, you need more than just pillows!

The Premier Inn mattress

First off, let's talk about the Premier Inn mattress as it's one of the more surprising offers we've found. And that's because this mattress actually comes with a built-in mattress topper!

Said topper can be easily zipped off, meaning that both keeping the mattress clean and rotating the mattress are quite easy.

When it comes to the mattress itself, it's pretty decent but not too special. It has a 1000-spring system, which is about standard for mid-range mattresses. And it uses Geltex to provide better motion isolation and bounciness.

However, the top layer is polyester. And while they do claim it's breathable and cooling, we find it hard to believe it can compete with a bamboo or eucalyptus cover.

In other words, the main selling point should be the topper. If you'd like to clean or rotate your mattress quite often, it could be worth buying the Premier Inn mattress. Otherwise, stick around and we'll get you a better alternative.

The Premier Inn duvets

The Premier Inn duvets are very similar to the Premier Inn pillows in that they're more focused on keeping things budget-friendly.

However, that also means that if you're looking for the best duvets on the market, you're not really going to find them here.

They have a polyester-microfiber construction and come in two TOG ratings: 10.5 and 4.5. So, they can't really keep you warm during the winter. And even when it comes to warmer months, we'd say you'd still need a high-end cover if you wanted to stay relatively cool.

With that being said, like most Premier Inn bedding, these duvets are pretty cheap and come in a few different sizes.

So, while they're not the best in the world, they will suit some people. But we will give you a few recommendations for higher-end duvets a bit later on.

Premier Inn mattress protectors

All things considered, the Premier Inn mattress protectors are a pleasant surprise. While they're very cheap, they're also higher quality than some of the other bedding we've looked at so far.

Again, they're not truly the best, but given the low price, we'd say you're getting very good value!

For one, this protector has a nice bit of padding. This means that you're more likely to get a great night's sleep if your mattress is on the firmer side.

And the cover uses a cotton-polyester blend, which is definitely more breathable than most of the covers so far.

Plus, we were surprised to see that this mattress protector is waterproof and supposedly doesn't make too much noise. So, while we still think there are better mattress protectors, this one is not too shabby either.

Premier Inn beds

Lastly, let's take a look at the beds Premier Inn has to offer. The first thing you'll notice is that, unlike the previous products, you get quite a bit of customisability here. You get to choose between divans and regular bed frames, the frame itself, the leg type, and even the fabric colour.

So, you can fine-tune the bed frame that suits you best!

All of the beds also seem to use sustainably sourced wood and come with a slatted base, which is quite nice to see. Plus, if you were planning on getting the Premier Inn mattress, you can add it here and get all your bedroom shopping done in one go.

So, while you can still check out our list of the best bed frames in the UK, the Premier Inn beds aren't too bad of a choice either.

Premier Inn mattress alternatives

At The Sleep Advisors, we've reviewed hundreds of mattresses (give or take). So, it shouldn't be a surprise that we have quite a few picks that are higher quality than the Premier Inn mattress. However, we also want to stick to what made the Premier Inn mattress so tempting. Therefore, we'll focus on medium-firmness mattresses that are a bit softer on top.

• Silentnight Mirapocket 1000 Geltex Mattress – This mattress is almost indistinguishable from the Premier Inn mattress at first glance. It has a pillow top, 1000 pocket springs, and even a similar price point. However, this mattress is a bit softer, a bit thicker and has a slightly softer cover. So, we'd say it's an upgrade for side sleepers who are on the lighter side, especially if they want a slightly softer feel.
• Hypnia Supreme Hybrid Mattress – Just like the Premier Inn mattress, the Hypnia Supreme Hybrid comes with a built-in mattress topper that offers extra comfort and makes maintenance a lot easier. However, unlike the Premier Inn mattress, Hypnia didn't skimp out when it came to the cover. By utilising bamboo, this mattress can keep even hot sleepers cool during the night. Plus, with taller and sturdier pocket springs, this mattress should also provide noticeably more support.

Premier Inn duvets alternatives

Like we promised, we're going to suggest a few other duvets if the Premier Inn duvet isn't quite to your liking. And, seeing how the main downside of the Premier Inn duvet is a lack of quality, we will mostly stick to mid-to-high range duvets that are bound to give you a more premium sleeping environment.

• The Panda Cloud duvet – When it comes to higher-end all-season duvets, the Panda Cloud duvet is among our favourites. It cleverly utilises sustainable bamboo to both keep you cool and offer an anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic sleeping space. Of course, it's also more expensive than the Premier Inn duvet but we'd say it's your best bet if you want the best duvet on the market.
• The Nectar duvet – The Nectar duvet is closer to the Premier Inn duvet in terms of price but still offers a slightly more premium experience. For one, its SmartFill super fine fibres are better at keeping you cool. And the microfibre cover is a bit softer than the one you get with the Premier Inn duvet.

Conclusion

Overall, we'd say the Premier Inn is a decent choice if you're looking for budget-friendly bedding. They're typically really good quality for the price but if you thought that hotel bedding was “the best of the best”, we think there are better options on the market.

But after reading our Premier Inn pilows review, what do you think – are these pillows truly hotel quality? Let us know in the comment section!

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About the author

Alex Petrović

Sleep Consultant

A CPD certified Sleep Consultant with more than 2000 hours of research into all the different ways we can get a great night's sleep. As a former insomniac, I know how difficult life can be without a nightly recovery and I love that I get to share everything I've learned with you all. So hopefully we can all sleep soundly!