Neck pillow: who it suits and what really matters

A neck pillow, also called a neck support pillow, is a pillow designed to support the neck in a targeted way. Whether it suits you is not decided by shape alone, but by height: it has to match your shoulder width, your neck and your mattress.

What exactly is a neck pillow?

The term is not protected. Under “neck pillow” or “neck support pillow” you will find pillows with a hollow for the head and a roll or raised section for the neck. You will also find wave-shaped pillows and traditionally shaped memory foam pillows. The aim is always the same: to keep the head and cervical spine in line while you lie down.

A neck pillow is not a distinct type of pillow with fixed features, but a promise: good support for the neck. Whether it keeps that promise for you depends on how well it fits your body.

This is different from the travel pillow that you wear around your neck on a plane or train. You can read more in our guide Neck pillows for travel.

Wave shape or classic shape: what is the difference?

Both shapes have their place. We explain the pros and cons of each.

• Wave shape: The pillow has a higher and a lower side, often with a hollow in between. The idea behind it: one side for lying on your back, one for lying on your side. This can work if the preset heights happen to match your body measurements. If one of the two heights is too high or too low, there is hardly anything you can do to correct it. On top of that, if you turn over during the night, you will not always end up in the spot the pillow was designed for.
• Classic shape: The pillow has an even shape, usually rectangular. Here the support depends mainly on height and material. It is simpler, but leaves more freedom in how you lie in bed.

Neither the wave shape nor the classic shape is better in itself; the height decides. A high-quality pillow at the wrong height still sits wrong.

Which height suits me?

Three things determine how high a pillow should be:

1. Your body measurements. The broader your shoulders, the more space the pillow has to fill between your head and the mattress when you lie on your side. Neck circumference and neck length also play a part.
2. Your sleeping position. When lying on your back, the neck usually needs less height than when lying on your side. When lying on your stomach, your head should be tilted back as little as possible.
3. Your mattress. On a soft mattress, your shoulder and hips sink in deeper; on a firm one, less so. This changes the distance between your head and the surface.

The same pillow height can turn out very differently for two people, because their bodies and mattresses are different.

You can read how to work out a suitable height roughly under Calculating pillow height. Our article Pillow too high or too low? explains how to tell that your pillow is not right.

Which neck pillow is suitable for side sleepers?

When you lie on your side, the distance between your ear and the mattress is greatest. The pillow fills this gap. If it is too low, your head sags towards the mattress. If it is too high, your head is bent upwards. That is why shoulder width is decisive: it determines how much height your head needs to lie in line with your spine.

The mattress also matters. If your shoulder sinks in deeper on a soft mattress, the pillow generally needs less height than on a firm one. That is why there is no one-size-fits-all “best” neck pillow for side sleepers.

As a side sleeper, you need a pillow that suits your shoulder width and mattress, not simply the highest one possible.

You can find more under The right pillow for side sleepers. If you mainly sleep on your back or your stomach, the pages Pillows for back sleepers and Pillows for stomach sleepers will help.

How do I read a neck pillow review properly?

Tests and comparisons are a sensible starting point. They show how pillows are made and how they feel. We deliberately do not name any brands here or claim a test winner. Instead, we explain what to look out for in a test:

• Who did the testing? A pillow that sits well for a tester with narrow shoulders may be too low for you if you have broad shoulders. Check whether the testers’ body measurements and sleeping positions are given.
• How long was it tested? The body often needs a few nights to get used to a new pillow. An impression after one night says little.
• What was assessed? Workmanship, smell, cover and washability are easy to compare. Fit is individual and can hardly be captured in a table.
• Which mattress was underneath? It affects the height needed. If this information is missing, the rating only applies to your bed to a limited extent.
• What does a certification label tell you? A label for harmful substances such as STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX relates to the materials. It says nothing about how well the pillow fits your body.

A test winner is the pillow that fitted the testers best, and that does not have to be you. Use tests to assess quality, and have the height worked out from your own measurements.

How does Pillowise approach this?

Pillowise is a made-to-measure memory foam pillow. It grew out of practice: Thijs van der Hilst, a physiotherapist specialising in neck and shoulder complaints, could not recommend a suitable pillow to his patients. So he developed a measuring method that determines the right pillow size with 3 measurements.

Your sleeping position (back, side, stomach) and your mattress (soft, normal, firm) are also factored in. An algorithm uses these to select the best-fitting pillow. There are six sizes, each with its own colour: pink, orange, green, blue, red and purple.

The pillow measures 55 x 35 cm. The core is made of 100% memory foam and is manufactured in the Netherlands. The cover has a moisture-regulating Tencel top and a polyester underside. It is machine washable at 40 °C. The materials are certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX. We give a 5-year guarantee on every Pillowise pillow. You can find the terms under Guarantee terms. You can read more about the material in our guide Memory foam pillows, and more about the pillow itself under The Pillowise pillow.

For travelling, there is Pillow ToGo, a travel pillow measuring 34 x 35 cm. It offers the same support as the standard pillow, is available in all sizes and comes in a sturdy travel bag.

We do not choose the height by feel, but from your body measurements.

What can a neck pillow do, and what can it not do?

A suitable pillow helps your head lie in line with the cervical spine and gives your shoulder room. This can improve sleeping comfort. It is not a cure. Neck pain can have many causes, and a pillow is no substitute for a medical examination. If you have persistent or severe symptoms, please have them assessed by a doctor. You can find general information under Which pillow for a tense neck?

So: do you need a neck pillow?

If you wake up rested in the morning and your pillow feels good, you do not need to change anything. A new pillow is not necessary then, whatever it is called. If, on the other hand, you are unsure whether your pillow is the right height, or have already tried several pillows, a measurement is worthwhile. It shows which height suits your shoulders, your neck and your mattress. This applies regardless of whether you end up choosing a wave-shaped pillow, a classic pillow or a Pillowise.

How to find your size

There are two ways: you can have yourself measured at a Pillowise stockist with the Pillowise tape measure. Or you can work out your size yourself with PillowScan, using your smartphone or via QR code.

Work out your size yourself or find a stockist near you.

You can find more pillow guides in our guide overview.

Thijs van der Hilst, physiotherapist (non-practising)
Inventor of Pillowise