Pillows

Start With Your Sleeping Position

Your usual sleeping position is one of the first things to consider when choosing a pillow. Side, back, and stomach sleeping place your head and neck in different positions relative to the mattress, so the pillow height and feel that works well for one sleeper may be uncomfortable for another.

If you change positions throughout the night, look for a pillow that feels comfortable in the positions you use most rather than trying to choose based on a single label or recommendation.

Pillow Height Matters

The height of a pillow—sometimes called its loft—affects where your head rests in relation to the rest of your body. A pillow that feels too tall can be just as uncomfortable as one that feels too flat.

Your ideal pillow height isn't determined by sleeping position alone. Shoulder width, body proportions, mattress firmness, and how deeply you settle into the mattress all influence how much space the pillow needs to fill.

Your Mattress Changes How Your Pillow Fits

Your pillow and mattress work together. On a softer mattress, your shoulders and body may settle farther into the sleep surface, changing the distance between your head and the mattress. On a firmer surface, your body may remain higher and create a different amount of space for the pillow to fill.

That's one reason a pillow that felt great on one mattress may feel completely different after changing mattresses.

Side Sleepers

When sleeping on your side, the pillow fills the space between your head and the mattress created by your shoulders. Shoulder width, mattress firmness, and how deeply your shoulder sinks into the mattress can all affect the pillow height that feels comfortable.

Some side sleepers also enjoy additional support elsewhere along the body. A body pillow or a pillow positioned between the knees may provide a more comfortable resting position depending on personal preference.

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers often look for a pillow that comfortably fills the space behind the head and neck without making the head feel excessively elevated. The shape of the pillow can be just as important as its overall thickness.

Contoured pillows, traditional-shaped pillows, and pillows with different support zones can all feel very different when lying on your back, which makes trying them particularly useful.

Stomach Sleepers

Because the head is typically turned to one side when sleeping on the stomach, some stomach sleepers prefer a lower-profile pillow or a softer pillow that compresses more easily beneath the head.

Personal preference and mattress feel still matter, so a pillow shouldn't be chosen by sleeping position alone.

Think Beyond Soft or Firm

Two pillows described as the same firmness can feel very different. Memory foam, specialty foams, fibers, and other materials respond differently to pressure and movement, while the pillow's shape and construction can affect how those materials feel beneath your head.

Instead of focusing only on whether a pillow is labeled soft, medium, or firm, consider how easily it compresses, how it responds when you change positions, and whether its shape feels natural to you.

Temperature Can Matter Too

If you tend to feel warm while sleeping, the materials and construction of your pillow may be important. Different foams, covers, ventilation designs, and temperature-management technologies can affect how a pillow handles heat and airflow.

Cooling features vary significantly by product, so look at the construction of the individual pillow rather than assuming all foam or specialty pillows will feel the same.

Shape Can Change the Experience

Not every pillow has to be a traditional rectangle with the same height from edge to edge. Contoured shapes, specialized profiles, and other designs can change how your head and neck rest on the pillow.

There isn't one shape that's automatically better. What matters is whether the design fits comfortably with your body, sleeping position, and personal preferences.

Pillows Aren't Just for Your Head

Pillows and positioning products can also be used elsewhere for comfort. Depending on your needs and preferences, body pillows, knee pillows, wedges, bolsters, and other specialty shapes can provide additional positioning options while sleeping or resting.

The appropriate size and shape depend on where you want the pillow positioned and what feels comfortable to you.

Give Yourself Time to Adjust

A new pillow can feel noticeably different from one you've slept on for months or years. The materials themselves may also change somewhat as a new pillow is used.

Give yourself time to become familiar with the new feel and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for use and care.

Try Your Pillow Before You Decide

Specifications can tell you the dimensions, materials, and features of a pillow, but they can't completely tell you how it will feel to you. Whenever possible, experiencing different pillow shapes and feels in person can help narrow down your choices.

Visit The Bone Store and let us help you compare your options. Rather than simply asking which pillow is "best," we'll help you think about how you sleep, what you're sleeping on, and what feels comfortable to you.