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 isn't 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 isn't protected. Under “neck pillow” or “neck support pillow” you'll find pillows with a hollow for the head and a roll or raised section for the neck. You'll also find wave-shaped pillows and classically shaped memory foam pillows. The aim is always the same: your head and cervical spine should stay in one line when you lie down.

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

A travel pillow, the kind you wear around your neck on a plane or train, is something different. You'll find more in our guide Neck pillows for travel.

Wave shape or classic shape: what's the difference?

Both shapes have their place. We explain what speaks for and against each.

• Wave shape: The pillow has a higher and a lower side, often with a hollow in between. The idea is one side for lying on your back and one for lying on your side. This can work if the set heights happen to match your body measurements. If either height is too high or too low, there's hardly any way to correct it. On top of that, if you move around during the night, you won't always be lying where the pillow is meant to be used.
• Classic shape: The pillow is evenly shaped, usually rectangular. Support here depends mainly on height and material. It's simpler, but leaves more freedom in how you lie in bed.

Neither wave shape nor classic shape is better in itself; height is what counts. 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 between your head and the mattress the pillow has to fill when you lie on your side. Neck circumference and neck length also play a part.
2. Your sleeping position. When you lie on your back, your neck usually needs less height than when you lie on your side. When you lie 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, and on a firm one they sink in less. 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 differ.

You can read how to work out a suitable height roughly in Calculating pillow height. How to tell that your pillow isn't right is explained in our article Pillow too high or too low?

Which neck pillow suits side sleepers?

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

Then there's the mattress. If your shoulder sinks in deeper on a soft mattress, the pillow generally needs less height than on a firm one. That's 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 you can find.

You'll find more at The right pillow for side sleepers. If you mostly 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 test properly?

Tests and comparisons are a sensible starting point. They show how pillows are made and how they feel. We deliberately don't name 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 can 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 for? Your body often needs a few nights to get used to a new pillow. An impression after one night says very 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 you need. If this isn't stated, the result 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 doesn't have to be you. Use tests to gauge quality, and have your 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 practical experience: Thijs van der Hilst, a physiotherapist specialising in neck and shoulder complaints, couldn't recommend a suitable pillow to his patients. So he developed a measuring method that determines the right pillow size using three measurements.

Your sleeping position (back, side, stomach) and your mattress (soft, medium, firm) are also taken into account. 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 can be washed in the washing machine at 40 °C. The materials are certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX. We give a 5-year warranty on every Pillowise pillow. You can find the terms at Warranty terms. You can read more about the material in our guide Memory foam pillows, and more about the pillow itself at The Pillowise pillow.

For when you're on the go, there's Pillow ToGo, a travel pillow measuring 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.

We don't choose the height by feel, but from your body measurements.

What can a neck pillow do, and what can't it do?

A suitable pillow helps your head sit in line with your cervical spine and gives your shoulder room. This can improve sleeping comfort. It isn't a cure. Neck pain can have many causes, and a pillow is no substitute for an examination. If you have ongoing or severe symptoms, please have them assessed by a doctor. You'll find general information on this at 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 don't need to change anything. A new pillow isn't necessary then, whatever it's called. If, on the other hand, you're unsure whether your pillow is the right height, or you've already tried several pillows, a measurement is worthwhile. It shows which height suits your shoulders, your neck and your mattress. That holds true 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 with the Pillowise tape measure at a Pillowise stockist. Or you can work out your size yourself with PillowScan, using your smartphone or a QR code.

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

You'll find more pillow guides in our guide overview.

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