Our verdict
The Casper Original scores 5.7, 44th of 53. Care earns 10.0 because inner and outer pillows both go in the machine, and satisfaction is a solid 7.0. Value at 3.8 and a complaint profile of 3.8 sink it: you pay $67.50 for one standard fiber pillow, and shape is what buyers complain about.
Suits
- Back and side sleepers of average build who like a medium loft
- Anyone who washes pillows often and wants the fill to survive it
- Owners replacing an older Casper they already know they like
Think twice if
- Petite sleepers or anyone who needs a low pillow
- Buyers who want a trial that covers a pillow they have slept on
- Shoppers comparing on price: fiber pillows rated higher cost a fraction
Buyer ratings
What 12,155 buyers say
Buyers give the Original Pillow 4.3 out of 5 from 12,155 ratings. Adjusted for pool size, the Original Pillow averages 4.30, with 10% of its ratings at one or two stars.
- 5 star69%
- 4 star14%
- 3 star7%
- 2 star4%
- 1 star6%
Topics buyers raise most
- Quality1,115 mentions: 75% positive, 25% negative
- Softness559 mentions: 63% positive, 37% negative
- Support443 mentions: 56% positive, 44% negative
- Comfort369 mentions: 63% positive, 37% negative
- Value for money360 mentions: 47% positive, 53% negative
- Shape219 mentions: 37% positive, 63% negative
- Appearance160 mentions: 95% positive, 5% negative
- Durability147 mentions: 58% positive, 42% negative
69% of 12,155 ratings are five stars and 10% are one or two. Appearance draws near-universal praise, 95% positive, and quality 75% across 1,115 mentions. The pillow looks the part.
Holding its shape is another story. Of 219 buyers who talk about shape, 63% are negative, and support is nearly split at 56% positive. The quotes below come from reviews published on Casper's own website, which the brand moderates; there, long-time owners praise the pillow while shorter buyers call it too thick and one says a new pillow went flat the first night.
Removable center allows for periodic full washing without the loss of loft since both can be washed a dried separately. Firm yet accommodating of a side sleeper.
I've been sleeping with Casper for 10 years and just needed an upgrade/replacement. Still as good now as when I bought my first set a decade ago.
I am 5'1 and this pillow is too thick for me. When I tried it in the store it was somehow not as fluffy but once I opened a new one at home, it's become too chunky
This pillow went completely flat the first night of sleeping on it, and customer service said it was a preference issue, so, no refund or exchange.
Fill and feel
A firmer pillow zipped inside a softer one
Casper builds the Original as two pillows: a supportive inner pillow sits inside a softer outer one, both filled with polyester microfiber. The brand calls the feel medium-soft with a medium loft and says it suits side, back and stomach sleepers. Softness draws 559 buyer mentions at 63% positive.
The cover is 100% cotton percale at a 280 thread count, which Casper sells as breathable and cool. No certification is named for this pillow; the CertiPUR-US directory lists Casper with pillows among its categories, which leaves proof at 4.0. Our down alternative guide explains how microfiber fill holds up over time.
Size and loft
Twenty-six by eighteen, with no height adjustment
The standard measures 26 by 18 inches, and a king is offered too. You cannot add or remove fill, so the loft you unpack is the loft you keep. Shorter buyers on Casper's site find it too thick, while a side sleeper there calls it firm yet accommodating.
A cooling version of the Original sits above it in price in both sizes. If you are small-framed, a lower pillow will serve you better than either.
Care
Separate the two pillows, wash both
Unzip the outer pillow, take out the inner one, rezip the shell and wash them separately; Casper asks that both be completely dry before you put them back together. Being able to wash the whole thing is why care scores 10.0, and two long-time owners on the brand site single it out.
Value
A premium for the name and the wash
A single standard costs $67.50, and the two-pack lowers the cost per pillow. Compare that with the $25 median for fiber pillows, or the Serta Medium Soft Bed Pillow, which scores 7.4 at $25. Our down alternative ranking lists the fiber pillows that score best.
Casper's 30-day return window applies only to pillows bought direct that are unused and in their original packaging, so it will not rescue a pillow you dislike after a night. A 1-year limited warranty covers the original purchaser. Our Casper vs Purple comparison weighs it against a latex pillow, and the Casper brand page lists the rest of the range.
Sizes and prices
Sizes, packs and prices
| Option | Size | Pillows | Price | Per pillow | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard / Original Pillow / Two Pack | Standard | 2 | $120 | $60 |  |
| Standard / Original Pillow / Single Pack | Standard | 1 | $67.50 | $67.50 | |
| King / Original Pillow / Two Pack | King | 2 | $136.80 | $68.40 | |
| Standard / Original Cooling Pillow / Two Pack | Standard | 2 | $158.40 | $79.20 | |
| King / Original Pillow / Single Pack | King | 1 | $85.50 | $85.50 | |
| Standard / Original Cooling Pillow / Single Pack | Standard | 1 | $89.10 | $89.10 | |
| King / Original Cooling Pillow / Two Pack | King | 2 | $238.40 | $119.20 | |
| King / Original Cooling Pillow / Single Pack | King | 1 | $134.10 | $134.10 | |
The score
How the 5.7 adds up
Six parts, the same weights for every pillow on this site. The full method, with the formula for each part, is on our scoring page.
| Part | Weight | Score | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buyer satisfaction | 35% | 7.0 | 4.3 stars from 12,155 ratings, adjusted 4.30; 10% one or two stars |
| Complaint profile | 20% | 3.8 | 35.8% of fault-type topic mentions are negative |
| Fit range | 15% | 5.0 | fixed fill, 2 sizes |
| Materials & proof | 10% | 4.0 | No certification stated |
| Care & cover | 10% | 10.0 | Whole pillow machine washable |
| Value | 10% | 3.8 | $67.50 per pillow against a $25 median for down alternative fiber |
Alternatives
Other down alternative fiber pillows
JOLLYVOGUE Down Alternative Pillows, Set of 4
Down alternative fiber
7.5$9.25 per pillow
Serta Medium Soft Bed Pillow
Down alternative fiber
7.4$25 per pillow
Utopia Bedding Hotel Pillows, Set of 4
Down alternative fiber
7.2$7.62 per pillow
JOLLYVOGUE Hotel Collection Pillows, Set of 4
Down alternative fiber
7.2$8.25 per pillowSame brand
More from Casper
The Original Pillow is one of 4 Casper pillows we score. Who makes the Original Pillow, and what the trial and warranty say, is on the Casper brand page.
Questions
Questions about the Casper Original Pillow
Can you machine wash the Casper Original Pillow?
Yes. Separate the inner and outer pillows, rezip the outer one, wash both and dry them completely before reassembling.
Can you return a Casper Original after sleeping on it?
Not under Casper's return policy, which takes back only unused pillows in their original packaging within 30 days of delivery. One buyer on the brand site was refused after a single night.
Is the Casper Original too thick for a small frame?
Two buyers on Casper's site say it sits too high for them, one of them 5 feet 1. Casper gives no loft figure, and the fill cannot be removed, so if you prefer a low pillow, look elsewhere.
