Serta Down Illusion Pillow review

Buyer ratings

What 1,177 buyers say

Buyers give the Down Illusion Pillow 4.3 out of 5 from 1,177 ratings. Adjusted for pool size, the Down Illusion Pillow averages 4.31, with 10% of its ratings at one or two stars.

• 5 star69%
• 4 star13%
• 3 star8%
• 2 star4%
• 1 star6%

Topics buyers raise most

• Appearance161 mentions: 84% positive, 16% negative
• Comfort95 mentions: 81% positive, 19% negative
• Neck support46 mentions: 76% positive, 24% negative
• Sleep quality44 mentions: 82% positive, 18% negative
• Flatness31 mentions: 52% positive, 48% negative
• Feel19 mentions: 84% positive, 16% negative
• Size19 mentions: 58% positive, 42% negative
• Filling14 mentions: 50% positive, 50% negative

Most ratings are five stars (69%), and 10% are one or two. The topic counts are small. Appearance leads with 161 mentions, 84% positive, and comfort follows at 81% positive across 95. Neck support reads 76% positive in 46 mentions.

Flatness is the topic to watch even at this size: 31 buyers raise it and 48% of them are negative. Size draws 19 comments, 42% negative, and the filling splits 50% positive to 50% negative. Read those as early signals rather than settled verdicts: a pool this size has room to move.

Fill and feel

Polyester fiber in a 300 thread count cotton shell

Despite the name, there is no down inside. Serta calls the fill down-free fiber, sold for its fluffiness, and the shell is 100% cotton at 300 thread count, which the maker says stays soft wash after wash. The firmness label for the Balanced Support version reads soft/medium.

Serta also lists an odor-inhibiting treatment and something it calls Allergen Barrier Weaving. We pass those on as the maker's words, not as results, and the bullet describing the odor treatment calls the product a comforter, which suggests it was written for another item. More on shell fabrics is on our covers and fabrics page.

Size and loft

Standard/queen at 28 by 20, with no usable loft figure

The standard/queen measures 28 by 20 inches, and a king is also offered, so fit range scores 5.0. Its details table lists a thickness of 1.5 inches, a number that cannot describe a lofted fiber pillow, so treat the loft as unstated. If you want more height from the same pillow, the line includes an Ultra Support version alongside Balanced Support, plus a White Cooling option.

Care

Front loader, cold water, low heat

Serta says to wash each pillow on its own in a large front-loading machine, on a cold, gentle cycle, then tumble dry low. Because the whole pillow goes in, care scores 10.0. Out of the box, give it 24 to 48 hours to reach full fluffiness before you decide whether it is too flat.

Value

Low price, plain return terms

The lead Balanced Support pair costs $51.10, or $25.55 a pillow, against a $25 median for down alternative fiber. Within Serta's own range, the Serta Medium Soft Bed Pillow scores 7.4 at $25 a pillow.

Serta states no pillow trial. Pillows bought on serta.com get free returns, limited to one return or exchange per 12 months, and retailer purchases go back to the retailer. For licensed Serta pillows, the manufacturer's warranty is available on request with no term stated. The rest of the brand sits on the Serta brand page, and the field is ranked in the best down alternative pillows.

Photos

The Serta Down Illusion Pillow in photos

Product photos published by Serta.

Sizes and prices

Sizes, packs and prices

Option	Size	Pillows	Price	Per pillow	Buy
Standard/Queen / Balanced Support	Standard/Queen	2	$51.10	$25.55
Standard/Queen / Ultra Support	Standard/Queen	2	$58.19	$29.10
King / Balanced Support	King	2	$59.99	$30
White Cooling / Standard/Queen / Balanced Support	Standard/Queen	2	$64.49	$32.24
White Cooling / King / Ultra Support	King	2	$75.98	$37.99
White Cooling / King / Balanced Support	King	2	$76.49	$38.24

The score

How the 6.6 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.

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 pillow

Same brand

More from Serta

The Down Illusion Pillow is one of 6 Serta pillows we score. Who makes the Down Illusion Pillow, and what the trial and warranty say, is on the Serta brand page.

Serta Medium Soft Bed Pillow

Down alternative fiber

7.4$25 per pillow

Serta Cooling Bed Pillow

Down alternative fiber

6.4$30 per pillow

Serta Hotel Collection Pillow

Feather & down

6.2$30.92 per pillow

Serta Goose Feather & Down Fiber Pillow

Feather & down

5.5$26.28 per pillow

Questions

Questions about the Serta Down Illusion Pillow