Which Pillow Is the Best? The Honest Answer

There is no single best pillow. There is only the pillow that suits your body, your sleeping position and your mattress. On this page, we explain how to find it.

Why is there no single best pillow?

A pillow (often called a Polster in Austria) is meant to fill the gap between your head and the mattress. How big that gap is depends on you. Shoulder width, neck circumference and neck length are different for everyone. For side sleepers, for example, the distance between the ear and the shoulder point matters a great deal.

Then there are your sleeping position and your mattress. A pillow that feels just right for one person is too high or too low for another. That has nothing to do with quality. It is a question of fit.

The right height comes from your body measurements, your sleeping position and your mattress, not from the price or popularity of a pillow.

Which criteria decide which pillow suits me?

The table below shows what matters. Height comes first because it makes the biggest difference.

No single criterion decides on its own. It's the combination that determines which pillow suits you.

What exactly is an ergonomic pillow?

On its own, the term “ergonomic” says little about whether a pillow suits you. It usually means a pillow that supports your head and cervical spine so that both are in line. At the same time, your shoulder shouldn't press against the pillow.

Whether that works depends on your measurements once again. A pillow can be thoughtfully shaped and still turn out too high for you. So ergonomics isn't a quality a pillow brings equally to everyone. It only comes about when pillow and body fit together.

Which material is the right one?

You can compare honestly here. Each material has its own characteristics, and none is inherently worse than another.

• Memory foam (viscoelastic foam): gives way slowly and adapts to the shape of your head and neck. The height stays stable, but the pillow can't be fluffed up. You can read more in our guide to memory foam pillows.
• Latex: feels more elastic and springy. Your head rests more on the pillow than in it.
• Feathers and down: can be shaped and fluffed up. The height changes depending on the filling and how the pillow is used.
• Synthetic fibre: is often light and easy to care for. The height depends heavily on the amount of filling and the age of the pillow.

Any material can work if the height is right and you like how it feels to lie on. So sort out the height first and the material afterwards.

Which height suits my sleeping position and mattress?

Your sleeping position gives a first indication:

• Side sleepers need to bridge the distance between head and mattress. That usually calls for more height. You'll find details in the guide The right pillow for side sleepers.
• Back sleepers usually need less height because the head lies closer to the mattress. More on this: Pillows for back sleepers.
• Stomach sleepers lie with their head turned. A fairly flat pillow stops the neck from being overextended. More on this: Pillows for stomach sleepers.

Your mattress shifts these guide values. If you sleep on a soft mattress, your shoulder sinks in deeper, so you often need a lower pillow than you would on a firm mattress. That explains why two people with the same sleeping position can need different pillows.

The page Calculating your pillow height shows how to work out the height in general. If you already have a pillow and aren't sure about it, Is your pillow too high or too low? can help.

How does Pillowise approach these criteria?

Pillowise grew out of a physiotherapy practice. Thijs van der Hilst specialised as a physiotherapist in neck and shoulder complaints. He couldn't recommend a suitable pillow to his patients, so he developed a method for measuring the right pillow. Together with United Comfort Industries, who have been making ergonomic sleep products in their own factory in the Netherlands since 1990, this became Pillowise.

Your size comes from three measurements:

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

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 top layer made of Tencel and a bottom layer made of polyester. It is machine washable at 40 °C. The materials are certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX. You can find out more about the product on the page The Pillowise pillow.

You have two ways to get measured:

Pillowise doesn't have its own online shop for end customers. The pillow is available through the stockists. There, a display unit shows all six pillows. That way, you can try your size and, for comparison, another size.

For children aged 4 to 15, there is Pillowise Junior in three sizes. You'll find more guides in the overview Guides: the right pillow.

We replace guessing with measuring. Even so, the right pillow remains a personal decision.

What can the right pillow do, and what can't it do?

The right pillow helps your head and cervical spine lie in line and gives your shoulder room. That can improve your sleeping comfort. It is not a cure.

If you regularly wake up with neck or shoulder complaints, the cause may lie elsewhere. Please have this assessed by a doctor. You'll find general information on the topic in the guide Pillows for neck tension. It does not replace treatment.

Also keep in mind: if you've slept on a different pillow for a long time, a new one often feels unfamiliar at first. Your body may need a few nights to adjust.

So: which pillow is the best?

The one that suits you. Height comes first, followed by firmness and material. Your sleeping position and mattress determine how high the pillow should be. Your body measurements show which size that is.

If you're happy with your pillow and wake up relaxed in the morning, you don't need to change anything. A pillow that works well doesn't need replacing. You can find out whether and when a change might still make sense at How often should you replace a pillow? If, on the other hand, you've already tried several pillows or aren't sure about the height, getting measured is worthwhile.

Which pillow suits you?

With three measurements, you can work out your pillow size, either yourself or with the help of a stockist.

Find your size or find a stockist near you

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