How To Choose a Pillow: Buying Guide
Your pillow plays an important role in how well you sleep. A good pillow supports your head and neck while keeping both aligned with your spine. When your pillow is doing its job, you’re more likely to sleep well and wake up rested—with minimal aches and pains.
With so many pillows to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. In this guide, we walk you through how to buy your perfect pillow, from accounting for sleep position and fill options to understanding your maintenance expectations and preferences.
Know Your Sleep Position
Choosing the right pillow starts with understanding your preferred sleep position—whether you sleep on your stomach, back, side, or in a combination of positions throughout the night. This will determine which pillow density is best for you.
Stomach Sleeper
Stomach sleepers do best with a soft, thin pillow that keeps the spine as straight as possible and cushions the head and neck at comfortable angles.
Back Sleeper
If you sleep on your back, choose a medium-density pillow that provides adequate support for your head and neck while cradling the natural curvature of the upper spine.
Side Sleeper
Side sleepers should choose a firm, extra firm, or gusseted pillow that contours and cradles the head, neck, and shoulders, providing an even sleeping surface to help keep the body in a horizontal line.
Combination Sleeper
A medium-density pillow or specialty pillow can offer a good balance of support and softness to accommodate different sleeping positions.
