Memory Foam Pillow: Effects, Pros and Cons, Care and Smell

A memory foam pillow is made from viscoelastic foam. It responds to pressure and body heat and supports your head and neck evenly. Whether a pillow like this suits you depends less on the material than on the height: it has to suit your body, your sleeping position and your mattress.

What does memory foam actually do?

Memory foam, technically viscoelastic foam, reacts slowly. When you rest your head on it, the foam gives way and moulds itself around your head and neck. When the pressure eases, it gradually returns to its original shape. This sets it apart from innerspring, down or loose fillings, which spring back faster or shift around.

Memory foam gives way to pressure and supports the surface your head and neck rest on. What it doesn't do: it doesn't make up for the wrong pillow height. A pillow that is too high or too low stays too high or too low, even when it's made of memory foam.

What are the benefits of a memory foam pillow?

• It adapts. The foam moulds to your head and neck.
• It supports evenly. Pressure is spread over a larger area instead of sitting at individual points.
• It stays put. The pillow doesn't shift around and can't be scrunched up like a pillow with a loose filling.

And what are the downsides?

We'll be honest: memory foam pillows aren't the right choice for everyone, and getting started isn't always comfortable.

• It often feels firmer at first. If you've slept on a soft feather pillow for years, the support feels unfamiliar to begin with.
• Your body needs time. Your neck and shoulders have to get used to the new support. So don't judge a pillow after the first night.
• The foam reacts slowly. Some people find this sluggish when they turn over in their sleep.
• Some people find it warmer. This is a matter of personal perception.
• You can't top up the height. With a loose-fill pillow, you change the height by moving filling in or out, but you can't with a foam core. That makes the right height from the start all the more important.

A memory foam pillow takes getting used to, and it needs the right height.

What height is right for me?

Three things determine how high a pillow should be:

• Your body measurements: Shoulder width, neck circumference and neck length are different for everyone.
• Your sleeping position: On your back, on your side or on your front, your head needs a different amount of distance from the mattress.
• Your mattress: On a soft mattress, your shoulder sinks in deeper than on a medium or firm one.

When the height is right, your head and cervical spine are in line and your shoulder has room. That's all a suitable pillow can do. It's not a cure. If you have neck or shoulder complaints, please have them checked by a doctor.

You can find out how to estimate the height in the article Calculating pillow height. If you already have a pillow and aren't sure about it, Is your pillow too high or too low? can help. We also have a dedicated guide for side sleeping: The right pillow for side sleepers.

How does Pillowise handle this?

Pillowise is a made-to-measure memory foam pillow. Thijs van der Hilst developed it as a physiotherapist, together with United Comfort Industries. The background: he couldn't recommend a suitable pillow to his patients with neck complaints, so he developed a measuring method. Three measurements determine the right pillow:

Add to that your sleeping position (back, side, front) and your mattress (soft, medium, firm). An algorithm uses these to choose 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. United Comfort Industries has been making ergonomic sleep products there since 1990. The cover has a moisture-regulating top layer made of Tencel and a bottom layer made of polyester. The materials are certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX. We give a 5-year warranty on every Pillowise pillow. You'll find more on the page The Pillowise pillow.

For when you're on the go, there's Pillow ToGo, a 34 x 35 cm travel pillow with the same support as the standard pillow. It's available in all sizes and comes in a sturdy travel bag. Read more in our article on the travel pillow for your neck.

With Pillowise, your measurements determine the size, not the material alone.

How do I wash a memory foam pillow?

When washing, you need to distinguish between the cover and the foam core:

1. Remove the cover. The cover can be cared for separately from the core.
2. Wash the cover at 40 °C. The Pillowise cover is suitable for the washing machine at 40 °C.
3. Don't put the foam core in the washing machine. The core can't withstand the drum or the spin cycle.
4. Let everything dry thoroughly. Only put the cover back on once it's completely dry.

The cover goes in the washing machine, the foam core doesn't.

What should I do if my memory foam pillow smells?

New foam often has a smell at first. That's not unusual with memory foam. Take the pillow out of its packaging, remove the cover and let the core and cover air in a well-ventilated spot before you use the pillow. The smell usually fades during this time.

If a pillow you've been using for a while smells unpleasant, first wash the cover at 40 °C and air the core. If the smell stays noticeably strong, ask at the place where you bought it or write to us at info@pillowise.com.

Airing is what helps with a new-foam smell.

So: is a memory foam pillow right for you?

Memory foam is a good material if you like even, steady support and are willing to get used to it. It's not a miracle product: without the right height, you won't lie properly on foam either. And if you sleep well on your current pillow and wake up without discomfort in the morning, you don't need to change anything. If and when a replacement can still make sense, you can read in the article How often should you replace a pillow?.

If, on the other hand, you regularly doubt the height or have already tried several pillows, it's worth measuring once. You'll find an overview of the options in our guide to choosing the right pillow.

Which size suits you?

You can get measured at a Pillowise retailer near you, using 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 retailer

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