Pillows - Choose your size

How to choose a pillow size

Fit your pillow to your body and your bed

To select the right pillow, you must consider your body, your sleeping positions, and your mattress. Whether you sleep on your back, side, stomach, or somewhere in between, the ideal neck (orthopedic or cervical) pillow should comfortably support your natural spinal curves.

Fit your pillow to your sleeping positions

Do you sleep on your side, your back, or your stomach? Or all three?

People who sleep on their backs need a flatter, thinner neck support. Those who sleep on their sides may need a thicker pillow. People who sleep on their stomachs usually prefer a pillow under their chest, a very thin head pillow, or no pillow at all. Good neck alignment is difficult to maintain while sleeping on the stomach. Your habitual sleeping positions determine the key contours your pillow should support.

Traditional pillows raise the head, leaving the length of the neck unsupported and sagging. Well-fitting neck pillows are usually thicker or firmer at the neck and thinner or softer under the head.

Fit your pillow to your mattress

Mattress firmness influences how a pillow performs. If your mattress is very firm you need a thicker pillow. If your mattress is very soft you need a thinner pillow. The point is to

Choose a pillow that will support the positions you sleep in most of the night. When you shop for a pillow, remember that it is not unusual for one person to need pillows of different sizes for different sleeping positions. Some pillows have different shapes on each side to accommodate different sleeping positions.