Pillow size: standard formats and what really matters
Most standard pillows are sold in a few common formats that mainly match the bed linen. For your neck, though, the format says little: what matters is the height of the pillow, and that depends on your body, your sleeping position and your mattress.
Which pillow sizes are common?
If you search for the normal or standard pillow size, you will mainly find common formats that are tied to bed linen. In Austria, the word Polster is also often used for a pillow.
These formats are mainly a question of bed linen. Pillowcases are made to fit them, and many people buy the format they already know. The format is a matter of habit, not of fit. It tells you which pillowcase goes with it. It does not tell you whether the pillow suits your neck and shoulder. Two pillows in the same format can be very different in height, depending on the filling and the model.
Why does the surface area say so little about fit?
When you sleep, your head does not lie flat on the mattress. There is a gap between your head and the mattress, and the pillow has to fill that gap. How big it is depends on several things:
- Body measurements: shoulder width, neck circumference and neck length are different for everyone.
- Sleeping position: when you sleep on your side, the gap between your head and the mattress is usually bigger than when you sleep on your back, because your shoulder increases it. You can read more in the guide The right pillow for side sleepers.
- Mattress: on a soft mattress, your shoulder sinks in deeper than on a firm one. This changes how much height the pillow needs.
For your neck, what counts is not the surface area but the height. A pillow of the right height helps keep your head and cervical spine in line and gives your shoulder room. You can often tell for yourself whether a pillow is too high or too low. How to do that is explained in the article Pillow too high or too low?. We explain how the height can be worked out under Calculating pillow height.
We also say what a suitable pillow cannot do: it is not a cure. If you regularly wake up with neck or shoulder pain, please have the cause checked by a doctor.
Comparing formats: what matters?
| Format | What the size stands for | What matters for your neck |
|---|---|---|
| Square format | Common pillow format, square; matching bed linen is easy to find | The format does not determine the height. What matters is that the height suits your shoulder width, neck and mattress. |
| Narrow, long format | Common pillow format, narrow and long; also a matter of bed linen and habit | Here too, the format says nothing about the height. The same question decides: does the height suit you? |
| Pillowise: 55 x 35 cm | One format in six sizes that differ in height | The size follows from three measurements, your sleeping position and your mattress. |
| Pillow ToGo: 34 x 35 cm | Travel pillow with the same support as the regular pillow, available in all sizes | The same size as at home, so the height is right on the move too. |
Format is about bed linen; size is about your body. These are two different questions, and only the second determines how comfortably your neck rests.
How does Pillowise approach size?
The Pillowise pillow measures 55 x 35 cm. There are six sizes that differ in height, and each has its own colour: pink, orange, green, blue, red and purple. Which size is right for you is decided not by the format but by your measurements.
The core is 100% memory foam and is made in the Netherlands. The pillow has its own cover with a moisture-regulating top made of Tencel and a base layer made of polyester. The cover is machine washable at 40 °C. The materials are certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX.
The Pillow ToGo travel pillow measures 34 x 35 cm. It offers the same support as the regular pillow, is available in all sizes and comes in a sturdy travel bag. You can find more on travelling in the guide Neck pillows for travelling.
For children there is Pillowise Junior in three sizes (Junior 1, 2 and 3), for children aged 4 to 15. Here, the size is based on four details.
How do you work out your pillow size?
The method comes from practice. Thijs van der Hilst, physiotherapist and inventor of Pillowise, could not recommend a suitable pillow to his patients with neck complaints. So he developed a measuring method with three measurements. This led to Pillowise, created together with United Comfort Industries.
- Measure your shoulder width: around the curve of your back. The tape measure should not be pulled tight. You will find detailed instructions under Measuring shoulder width.
- Measure your neck circumference: once all the way around your neck.
- Measure your neck length: from the bottom of your ear to the tip of your shoulder.
You also need your sleeping position (back, side or stomach) and your mattress (soft, medium or firm). From these details, an algorithm selects the right pillow size.
You have two options:
- You can be measured at a Pillowise retailer using the Pillowise tape measure.
- You can work out your size yourself with PillowScan at scan.pillowise.com, using your phone or a QR code.
Three measurements, your sleeping position and your mattress replace trial and error.
So: which pillow size do you need?
If you sleep well on your pillow and wake up without neck complaints, you do not need to change anything. Whatever the format, it is then simply whatever suits your bed linen and your habits.
It is different if you are unsure whether your pillow is the right height, or if you have already tried several pillows without success. In that case, it helps to know your own measurements. The format will not help you here. If symptoms persist, the next step is to see a doctor.
Work out your size yourself or find a retailer near you. You can find more guides in our overview Guides: the right pillow.
Thijs van der Hilst, physiotherapist (non-practising)
Inventor of Pillowise
