The 2026 Esquire Sleep Awards

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Florence Sullivan2 min readGood sleep is hard work. If everyone could just flop down and immediately drift off, the world would be a different, more agreeable place. Instead, we all live life under-rested and over-caffeinated. The market’s response has turned sleep into a multibillion-dollar industry. You need the right pillow, the right mattress, silky sheets, and a few cozy pieces of loungewear. But it doesn’t stop there. There’s the alarm clock engineered to improve your habits, the lamp that wakes you up like a sunrise, not to mention the bed frame and rug that make your space feel like a true oasis. These are consumer choices, sure, but they are choices that have a real effect on your day-to-day life.With every new direct-to-consumer furniture brand and tech company promising you percentage points of improvement on sleep, the hard part is figuring out which products are actually worth a damn. The days of grabbing a pillow off a department-store shelf are long gone. That’s where our testers come in. Our editors have spent the past year working hard at sleeping and constantly visiting showrooms, swapping out bed frames, and testing the most outlandish tech you’ve ever heard of.This year, a few clear themes emerged. We all fell hard for sateen-style bedding. We loved adjustable pillows. As for bed frames, we unanimously gravitated toward a new kind of classic: rich woods with real character. The era of bouclé upholstery and light Scandinavian woods is over. We’re into California oaks, deep American walnuts, and cane furniture now. Homes are reverting back to something more traditionally warm.The rest of this list spans everything from an AI-assisted mattress cover to a hand-stitched quilt. Though their looks and functions are many, everything here has one goal: better sleep. Here’s what’s putting us to sleep.The Best in Bedding and TextilesFlorence SullivanThe Best Down-Alternative PillowBrooklinen Down-Alternative PillowCredit: BrooklinenIf you like firm pillows, keep reading. This year, Brooklinen made a soft—soft as a cloud—down-alternative pillow. It has everything you love about down: that fluff, that pliability, that sink-down-but-never-flat sleep. Most importantly, it’s not bulky. If that’s the type of pillow you like to sleep on, then this one is for you. It’s ethically made with recycled poly microgel fill and will make your neck and head feel weightless when you plop that bowling ball down every night.Ostermoor Low-Loft Down PillowCredit: Ostermoor“Hotel style” is the ultimate cliché in bedding. (It’s a good barometer, though; no promises that we don’t use it elsewhere in this story.) The problem with hotel-style pillows is not the high-quality down-feather construction; the problem is that the construction makes those pillows damn near a foot tall. It actually ruins your sleeping posture. Ostermoor came up with a deceptively simple solution: a low-loft down pillow. The density is there. The quality is there. But a lower height gives you a more natural sleeping position.The Best Supportive PillowCoop Orthopedic Adjustable PillowCredit: CoopAt this point, we’ve tried more pillows than we care to count. One crucial thing we’ve learned over the years is that there’s no perfect pillow for every person—but Coop’s comes close. The shredded memory-foam fill is soft but supportive. This new version is chambered for orthopedic-level support. And the best thing is that you can choose your own adventure when it comes to filling it up. Add fill if you need more support or height. Take fill out if you need less. A down pillow can never give you that.The Best Luxurious SheetsFrette Grace Sheet SetCredit: FretteYou’re either willing to spend this much money on a set of sheets or you aren’t—but if you are, you better be smart about what you get in return. Über-luxe Italian linen outfitter Frette has been a staple provider in opulent, five-star accommodations for 200 years. One sleep proves why: These are smooth and soft, light and airy, and they have just the right amount of sheen. The details matter, and the delicate shadow stitch on the sateen fabric looks beautiful against any style of room. It’s like the nicest hotel bed you’ve ever slept in except better, because it’s yours.The Citizenry Sateen Sheet SetCredit: The CitizenryIf you’re not the type to go for the pinnacle of luxury, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer. Enter the Citizenry’s new sateen sheets. Made from 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton, they’ll give you the best of both worlds. A little bit of crispness but somehow you’ll still feel as though you’re relaxing in something cool and silky smooth. We’re not quite sure how these achieved the perfect blend of breathable and luxurious, but this set is top-notch for the price.Boll & Branch Percale Embellished Sheet SetCredit: Boll & BranchIf you prefer a crisp, cool sheet, choose percale over sateen; this set from Boll & Branch is as good as percale gets. It’s made from 100 percent organic cotton percale in a pretty open weave that allows your temperature to regulate naturally. Finished with nautical-inspired embroidery, it’s the kind of bedding that makes climbing into bed the best part of your day.Ettitude Luxe Bamboo Sheet SetCredit: EttitudeA few hundred bucks for bamboo-derived sheets? We were also surprised at how much we loved them. Ettitude’s proprietary fabric is cool like linen, silky like a luxe sateen, and easy to care for like an old-school cotton percale. It’s the fabric of the future. If you ask us what people will be sleeping on in 2126, we’d say something like this.Saatva Down ComforterCredit: SaatvaWe have always praised Saatva’s mattresses—in fact, everyone has. You don’t need to hear about that. What you need to hear is that Saatva is starting to really nail down its accessory products. This down duvet insert is cozy without being heavy, warm without being sweltering. Of all the upgrades you could make to your bedding, this is the one that will have the greatest immediate impact on the luxuriousness of your sleep.The Best Lightweight ComforterParachute Cotton Drift ComforterNow 7% OffCredit: ParachuteIt’s hard to get good sleep in the summer. It’s hot as Hades outside, but you have the AC blasting inside. You need warm ... not too warm. This Parachute comforter is the solution. It’s lightweight and warm enough, and that ogee quilting adds a bit of panache to any style of decor.Pottery Barn Cloud QuiltCredit: Pottery BarnYour bed is where you spend most of your life. And as much as we love a down or down-alternative duvet, an old-school quilt is much better suited to last the whole of your life. If you don’t have an aunt or grandmother to make you one from old shirts, go to Pottery Barn. This cotton-linen quilt feels so soft, so natural on the skin. It’s one of the only true four-season top layers we recommend.The Best in MattressesFlorence SullivanThe Best Organic MattressCoyuchi The Marin REM MattressCredit: CoyuchiWhy should you only get deep sleep, feel true rest, at a hotel? Coyuchi’s made-to-order Marin REM mattress—which comes in two firmness options, Plush and Medium-Firm—is better than whatever is in the chicest of hotels. Certified organic cotton, wool, and latex are made into the ideal balance of pressure relief, responsive support, and breathability—made to last for decades.The Best Mattress for Back SupportSealy Posturepedic Elite CollectionCredit: SealyWe first thought the biggest benefit of this mattress would be the support. It’s a hybrid, using both foam and springs, and our tester decided on a firmer option to deal with hip and back pain. (Those chronic strains are gone now, by the way.) The support is real, but the biggest advantage was how cool the High Point II sleeps. That fancy down duvet that was on your registry but has been “just too hot” to ever use? Get it back out.Bear Ultra Hybrid EliteCredit: BearBear has been a perennial winner in this awards series, but this one—a revamp of its flagship model—is special. It’s like Jordan’s sixth ring, Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or. The pressure relief is better than anything else on this list, and the coils at the core of the bed are plenty supportive. Add a new cooling layer and you have it—a mattress that makes the rest of your life better.The Best Cooling MattressHelix Midnight Elite MattressCredit: HelixWhatever sleep science Helix perfected resulted in a mattress that somehow hugs the body without making you feel as if you’re sinking into the bed frame. It stays cool for hot sleepers, and it also comes with a second layer of padding that zips into the top of the mattress for extra comfort. If that’s not enough to completely fix your night’s sleep, I don’t know what else will.Airweave Japanese FutonCredit: AirweaveAirweave is one of Japan’s foremost brands for beds that go on tatami-mat floors. If you happen to have a traditional Japanese layout, or prefer sleeping near the floor for chiropractic reasons, we assume you know that. If that’s not your jam, let us blow your mind: It fits perfectly into Western-style living. Keep one in your guest-room closet for when you have more than two staying the night. Keep another in the nursery for when the baby won’t let you tiptoe back to your own bed. It’s so good we’d happily sleep on it every single night.Avocado Mattress Eco Organic Kids MattressCredit: AvocadoWe could all benefit from picking healthier sleep products for our homes. After all, humans spend roughly 35 percent of their lives sleeping. That stat is even higher in young children—and little bodies are particularly vulnerable to pollutants like microplastics. So if you’re going to start somewhere, start in your kids’ bedrooms. This is our tester’s second organic kids mattress and, after a few months, the favorite. The list of materials is stellar, but so are the sturdiness and shape. We’re all resting easy, indeed.The Best in Furniture and DecorFlorence SullivanKathy Kuo Home Nigel Coastal Canopy BedCredit: Kathy Kuo HomeThere comes a time in every adult’s life when they are finally ready for a forever bed, a bed that doesn’t need to be broken down every two years to accommodate a lease’s end and another short-term move. Something that can live through a decade-plus of future style changes and evolutions. Enter: the Nigel Coastal Canopy Bed, sold by Kathy Kuo. We went for the dark-brown colorway—a light oak is also available—and it is, literally, everything we wanted. It’s hefty enough to anchor a big bedroom (this isn’t a piece you’ll push around casually), but the style is undoubtedly relaxed. It looks equally good with a big, crumbled linen duvet as it does with crisp Frette linens.Room & Board Emerson BedCredit: Room & BoardThe biggest surprise in this whole sleep-testing business is how much the actual bed—not the mattress itself—affects the feel of a mattress. This Room & Board bed is simple but made of real wood, not plywood with veneer. The slats are metal, with reinforced hardware. It’s a bed frame that can make a cheap mattress feel like something triple the price, and it’ll take that investment piece to new heights. We love the walnut-colored option, and our tester praised the simple, straightforward design. This is one that will stay in your life until, well ... probably till the end of your life.The Best Affordable Bed FrameSilk & Snow Tofino Bed FrameCredit: Silk & SnowThe bed frame market is ever-changing. You can get something like the two picks we just saw, or you can go above that to über-expensive and designer. The trouble, really, is the under-$1,000 category, where everything is held against an Amazon bed frame that’s “not too bad for the price.” Silk & Snow knows that and solves the problem for the everyday buyer. The brand makes simple-to-assemble beds out of high-quality American oak. Stylish and practical—with under-bed storage as an add-on—it’s the everyman bed.Koala Sofa BedCredit: KoalaA sofa bed is by its very definition multipurpose. But Koala’s pull-out couch is versatile enough to—in addition to nailing its basic duties (i.e., being comfy enough to give your couch-crashing brother/sister/friend a good night’s sleep)—look good enough to fit just about every room. It holds its own as a living-room centerpiece or basement lounger, which is also all too rare in a sofa bed. But that’s not to take away from how damn good this bed feels. Consider your guests lucky.Sabai Eclipse ChairCredit: SabaiNow, a sleeper chair? That’s an entirely different conundrum. You want something that can fade into a corner of a living room, basement man cave, or nursery. It only needs to be comfortable for one, but that makes our testers a lot more picky on the comfort front. The Sabai Eclipse Chair is the one true choice here. It’s comfortable, practically sized, and tastefully minimal in shape. But it’s the myriad fabric options that make it a perfect recommendation, fit for any room.Thuma Essential NightstandCredit: ThumaNightstands can quickly become a nightmare. Essentials (phone, lamp, glasses) drown in clutter (jewelry, that book you’ve been meaning to finish, magazines, coasters, that other book you’ve been meaning to finish), turning a refuge into a source of anxiety. Thuma’s Essential Nightstand, however, is a godsend. Its inverted top tray keeps everything on top in place, while the hardware-free soft-close drawers offer a spacious hideaway for everything else.Le Maé Logan DresserCredit: Le MaéLe Maé is a new-to-Esquire brand for this year’s testing, but we’re warning you now: You’ll be seeing interior designer Lindye Galloway’s brainchild for years to come in these pages. The Logan dresser is bold in its dimensions—we’re talking 80 inches long by 20 inches wide by 32 inches high, so make sure you measure before you commit—but that’s not all for show. The curved ends, however, mean this is a piece that, remarkably, doesn’t feel heavy in the room. Bonus points to the maker that offers such specific, easy-to-implement styling notes in the product description.The Best Bed Frame for KidsCrate & Kids Jenny Lind Spindle BedCredit: Crate & BarrelSo often, when shopping for kids rooms, parents are forced to pick between tasteful and playful. Things are either beautiful to the adults and boring for the youngsters or a delight to the little ones and an eyesore to everyone else. Not when it comes to this spindle bed. The frame feels light and fun but also tasteful. Each solid-wood spindle is made by hand and hand-sanded for a perfect finish. The piece is both sturdy and welcoming, with six finishes for an endless number of interior-design pairings.Nestig Cove DaybedCredit: NestigA daybed is tricky. You have to think about size, shape, quality, and, if it’s going in a nursery as this one did, whether it’s safe. Oh, and most important: Does it look good? Nestig excels on all fronts. Every damn item it sells is cute, and the Cove Bed is no exception. The curved edges make it so that there are no accidents when kids inevitably jump off. The cane is sturdy and trendy. And the large underneath space is perfect for extra storage or a trundle bed. Can’t go wrong at this price point.The Best in Sleep TechFlorence SulivanSomnee Smart Sleep HeadbandCredit: SomneeThe Somnee 2.0 is, simply, the best sleep tracker on the market: It provides the most personalized support of any tracker we’ve seen, with a two-week personalization period during which the device monitors your brain rhythms so it can provide the most efficient sessions before bed. It also gives in-depth sleep reports with a sleep-efficiency score based on how much time you spend awake and in different types of sleep, like light, deep, and REM. It’s comfortable, helps you get to sleep, and gives you all the scores and data that you get from the other wearables out there.The Best Device for RelaxingPulsetto FIT Vagus-Nerve StimulatorCredit: PulsettoThis device slips right onto your neck with some gel and sends small pulse waves to stimulate your vagus nerve—the longest nerve in your body, with all sorts of regulatory functions. Sounds woo-woo, but our tester now swears by it. Even during the tester’s most stressed nights, their sessions (tracked from their phone) actually resulted in more relaxed, better-quality sleep. If you’re big on nighttime rituals, adding this to a red-light or skin-care/relaxation routine will (we’re near certain) result in better sleep.The Best Smart Alarm ClockAmbient DreamieCredit: AmbientCalling the Dreamie merely a smart alarm clock doesn’t quite get the point across. It’s more of an all-purpose bedside device. In addition to helping you fall asleep with ambient sounds and wake up with soothing, natural lights, the Dreamie is designed so you can rely on your phone less before bed. The night time routine puts us straight to sleep, and snoozing is just enough of a hassle that we genuinely have to put in an effort, waking us up slowly in the process. Come fall, the brand will complete the device with a roll out of sleep tracking capability and personalized sleep insights, sans wearable.Eight Sleep Pod 5Now 8% OffCredit: Eight SleepWe have written at length about the Eight Sleep; our senior commerce director, Krista Jones, is an advocate for how much it’s impacted her sleep for the better and honestly changed her life. She has been an owner of the older Pod 4 for more than two years, and this year she upgraded to the new Pod 5. She tested it while pregnant and postpartum. The brand has introduced new features to help support women’s hormone cycles throughout life. It’s been a major upgrade, and she might just be the most well-rested person with a newborn and a toddler at home.Ohm Resonance LampCredit: OhmThis smart alarm clock/lamp has the same goal as everything else on this list: get you to sleep, get you good sleep. But our tester really felt that it took the best route. There is a companion app—because everything has to have one now—but it’s not really needed. You can use the Ohm and its little bio-tracking stone as a completely screen-free get-to-sleep aid. You don’t have to read reports or do all these routines. You just hold the stone and follow the breath-work patterns.NextSense SmartbudsCredit: NextsenseYou’d be shocked how many earbuds are made “for sleep,” don’t sound good, and still cost a couple hundred dollars. Nextsense actually gives us a reason to not just use our AirPods. The Smartbuds are comfortable and secure during even the biggest tosses and turns. For music and podcasts, the audio is clean and clear, even at quieter bedtime-appropriate volumes. And—and!—they can double as a sleep tracker.Maxi-Cosi Starling Smart BassinetCredit: Maxi-CosiOur tester of the Starling Smart Bassinet has a newborn and previously owned the popular Snoo electronic bassinet. While the Snoo was ahead of its time tech-wise, since its launch other brands like Maxi-Cosi have caught up. The Starling can be used as a normal bassinet but has handy features like light sway and rocking motions, at three different intensities. It also has songs and white noise for creating the perfect sleeping environment. It’s traditional meets high-tech.The Best in PJ’s & LoungewearFlorence SullivanBrooks Brothers Linen Short PJ’sCredit: Brooks BrothersYou watch an old movie with a scene where a man wakes up and you say, “Wow, that looks incredible.” Your wife turns and says, “You mean that they’re sleeping in separate beds?” And you have to explain: No, darling, the pj’s. When did men stop wearing nice pajamas? This year, we started wearing Brooks Brothers linen sets, and it has been life-changing. This is one thing they had right back in the day.Hommey Robe - ChocolateCredit: HommeyA bathrobe is for that final step of drying off and maybe a quick lounge. It’s as simple as that. If you’re looking for something to luxuriate in, you want a dresser robe—next aisle over. When it comes to stylish utility, this Hommey robe does it all. It’s a breathable cotton-and-ramie blend that only gets softer as you wash it. And it’s got pockets. Truly the most invaluable addition to a robe ever made.Petite Plume Silk Long Robe in Navy Polka DotCredit: Petite PlumeA silk dressing robe is the ultimate self-indulgence. No one will really ever see this besides you and your spouse. (Or, if this is still something you do, your friends will see you wear it as a smoking jacket.) The fact that it’s indulgent does not make it unimportant. In fact, we believe that this is one of the most important things you can own. Even when no one is watching, take your appearance, and your comfort, seriously.Del Toro Shoes Friulane in Chocolate CanvasCredit: Del ToroA friulane is a style of Italian slipper, originating in the northeast of Italy, made with a soft upper and reused bike-tire sole. They became the de facto shoe of Venetian gondoliers, and now Del Toro is making the one true luxury edition. It stays true to the form with bike-tire soles and a barely-there canvas upper. You can use them as real shoes, sure. But as with a silk dressing robe, we think they are best worn at home.Sunspel Classic BoxerCredit: SunspelIf you’re not the type to spend on fancy pajamas, robes, or slippers, you have money in those pockets that our editors do not. You could put it toward some sort of fund for you or your children. Or you could make the best bang-for-your-buck loungewear purchase of all time: good boxers. Sunspel, inventor of the style, makes our favorite, with high-quality cotton and a double seam on the ass so that you never get wedgies and they always sit in the most flattering way.The Best in DecorFlorence SullivanArhaus Viona Hand-Knotted RugCredit: ArhausWe have reviewed a lot of rugs over the years. And while this means 100 percent of Esquire staff partners are tired of rolling up rugs, pushing furniture out of the way, and laying down new pieces, it means we feel uniquely qualified to tell you when a high-priced item like this is worth its listing. Using a Tibetan weave tradition, this hand-knotted number from Arhaus strikes a stunning balance between being plush and sturdy underfoot. The abstract design comes in five earthy colorways, but it’s hard to imagine any of them could pull you in the wrong direction.The Best Bedroom CurtainsPepper Home Slate CurtainCredit: Pepper HomePepper Home continues to impress. Its fabrics are luxe and feature patterns you won’t find from other makers. When picking drapes, all that choice can be daunting to the average consumer—but its in-house design service solves that problem. The designers are happy to email back and forth, review photos of your space, and make suggestions. Consider custom window treatments officially behind the gatekeepers no more.Greenrow Betty Remnant Patchwork QuiltCredit: GreenrowThis patchwork quilt can make you nostalgic for a grandmother’s home that you never had. Greenrow’s commitment to sustainable and organic materials is the perfect way to bring this old-school touch into the modern world of online shopping. The 100-percent-cotton quilt was one of our testers’ favorite pieces of the year. It looks nice draped over the sofa, lying at the end of a bed, or tucked into a daybed. It’s an heirloom-worthy blanket that you’ll pass down to your kids. In the decades before that happens, you can come up with a good fake story about your partner’s great-grandmother who made it when they lived on the frontier.Lulu & Georgia Cass Table LampCredit: Lulu and GeorgiaEver wanted a lamp that feels like a sculpture? Wow, you’re in luck. The Cass Table Lamp from Lulu & Georgia, with a stately ceramic base and an organic-edged shade, has a compelling, curious energy to offer any room. But the way the light casts—muted, warm, and largely downward—means this piece feels especially fit for a bedroom. What a treat to sleep surrounded by beautiful things.Joon Loloi Heidi Caillier Lief Wool RugCredit: June LoloiIt gets scary when budget is your main concern about buying a rug. It’s easier than ever to find something online, but blind-buying a rug is a crapshoot. That’s why going with a trusted brand like Joon Loloi is worth it, even if that involves a bit more of an investment. The designs are right on trend—especially this one, in collaboration with one of our favorite interior designers, Heidi Caillier. The price is fair. And the quality is unmatched.Cozy Earth Channel Cuddle BlanketCredit: Cozy EarthCozy Earth lives up to its name with this one, as it’s hard to imagine anything getting cozier than this massive, ultra-plush faux-fur blanket. In our opinion, everybody needs one. There is no greater mood booster at the end of an unimaginably brutal workday than snuggling up in the endless folds of this blanket—pure serotonin.