Pillow filling: which one suits you and what matters more than the material

The right pillow filling depends on what feels good to you and on the height your body needs. Feathers, fibres, latex and memory foam all feel different. If the height doesn't suit you, the filling won't make up for it.

What pillow fillings are there?

Every filling has its strengths and weaknesses. There is no single filling that is right for everyone.

• Feathers and down: soft and easy to shape. The pillow gives way under your head, so its height changes over the course of the night.
• Synthetic fibres: light and often easy to care for. Depending on the quality, they lose volume over time.
• Latex: elastic and springy, with noticeable resistance.
• Memory foam: moulds to the shape of your head and neck and keeps its height. Some people don't like how it feels to lie on.
• Natural fillings such as millet or spelt: shapeable and fairly firm.

What matters more than the filling?

Height decides whether your head and cervical spine sit in a line and your shoulder has room. It depends on your shoulder width, neck circumference and neck length. Your sleeping position and mattress also play a part: on a soft mattress your shoulder sinks in deeper than on a firm one. You can read more at Calculating pillow height and Pillow too high or too low.

A suitable pillow is not a cure. If you have neck pain or other complaints, please have the cause assessed by a doctor.

What filling does a Pillowise pillow have?

The core is made of 100% memory foam and is manufactured in the Netherlands. With Pillowise, the filling is always the same; what is individual is the size. There are six sizes, each with its own colour: pink, orange, green, blue, red and purple. The pillow measures 55 x 35 cm.

The cover has a moisture-regulating top layer made of Tencel and an underside made of polyester. It is machine washable at 40 °C. The materials are certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX. We give a 5-year warranty on every pillow (warranty terms). To find out how memory foam behaves in everyday use, see Memory foam pillows.

How do you find the right size?

Your size is based on three measurements:

1. Measure your shoulder width: around the curve of your back, with the tape measure not pulled tight.
2. Measure your neck circumference: once all the way around.
3. Measure your neck length: from the bottom edge of your ear to the tip of your shoulder.

Together with your sleeping position (back, side, stomach) and your mattress (soft, medium, firm), an algorithm uses these to choose the right pillow. You can have yourself measured at a stockist with the Pillowise tape measure, or work out your size yourself with PillowScan at scan.pillowise.com, using your smartphone or a QR code.

The method comes from practice: as a physiotherapist, Thijs van der Hilst couldn't recommend a suitable pillow to patients with neck complaints. So he developed a measuring method, and together with United Comfort Industries it became Pillowise.

So: which pillow filling?

Choose the filling you feel comfortable on, and check the height first. If you sleep well on your pillow and wake up feeling good, you don't need to change anything. If you've already tried several fillings, though, the height may have been the problem. You'll find more guidance at Which pillow is best?

Work out your size yourself or find a stockist

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