Key Points
In order to find the best pillow, you’ll need to consider your favourite sleeping position, personal preferences, and budget. The right pillow should support your head and neck and enhance your overall comfort. Picking a pillow that has the right loft, fill material, and shape for your needs can prevent discomfort (especially a ‘crick’ in the neck) and increase sleep quality.

With the vast number of pillows available to shoppers, finding the right combination of shape, loft, firmness, and fill material can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, understanding your sleep habits and personal preferences will help you narrow your search.

We’ll cover the most important aspects of shopping for a pillow, from the features of popular fill materials to how to pick the best loft for your sleeping position. You’ll discover how much you should expect to pay for a pillow and where to find the best deals. You’ll also learn how to spot signs that indicate it’s time for a replacement.

Why Pillows Matter

The right pillow can help you get a better night’s sleep by supporting your head and neck and keeping you comfortable. Pillows without the right loft and firmness can contribute to muscle strain in the neck and shoulders, which may cause you to wake up with aches and pains. The best pillows promote spinal alignment by properly supporting the head and neck – similar to the way the best mattresses contour, cushion, and support the body.

How to Choose a Pillow

Though some pillow manufacturers market one-size-fits-all pillows intended to work for everyone, choosing the best pillow possible involves taking your individual needs into account. Your budget, sleeping position, body type, and personal preferences are all factors to consider when shopping for a pillow.

Cost

Pillows are available at a wide range of price-points on our website, from as little as €32.00 for a pair of pillows up to €195.00 each. Style, fill type, cover material, and quality all impact the cost of a pillow. Though well-made options tend to have higher price tags, cost isn’t always indicative of quality. You can find many good options for less than €50.00 and if you follow us on our social media platforms you can be kept up to date with excellent sale deals.

Sleeping Positions

Sleep position is among the most important factors to consider when choosing a pillow. While it’s common to change positions throughout the night, consider your preferred sleeping position when pillow shopping.

  • Side sleepers: Relatively thick pillows that support the head and neck generally work best for side sleepers. Pillows that are too thin or too soft may allow the head to bend or sink, creating misalignment in the spine.
  • Back sleepers: Back sleepers typically do well with medium-loft pillows that are somewhat firm. These pillows provide enough height to keep the head from leaning back but not so much that it tilts forward.
  • Stomach sleepers: People who sleep on their stomach tend to prefer soft pillows with low loft, although some don’t use a pillow at all. Thick pillows may put pressure on the neck, causing discomfort.

Loft

Loft refers to a pillow’s height or thickness. People who sleep on their side generally benefit from the thicker profile of a high-loft pillow, while back sleepers tend to prefer mid-loft pillows between 3 and 5 inches thick to avoid tilting the neck at an uncomfortable angle. Stomach sleepers typically like a very thin pillow. Body weight also affects how much a pillow compresses, so sleepers in higher weight ranges may need pillows with more loft.

Temperature Control

A pillow’s fill and cover materials affect temperature regulation more than any other characteristic. Certain fills, such as memory foam, are prone to retaining heat, while others are designed especially for people who sleep hot. If you want a cooling pillow, look for natural fibres and designs that promote airflow. You may also consider using a cotton pillow protector which, besides protecting your pillow, will act as a ‘cooling’ layer – especially with memory foam pillows.

Firmness

Pillows are available in firmness levels ranging from very soft to extra firm. As with loft, your sleeping position and body weight factor into which firmness level is best for your needs. Generally, stomach sleepers benefit from soft pillows, while back and side sleepers are best served by firmer pillows. Keep in mind that firmness is strongly influenced by fill material.

In part 2 we will look at the pros and cons of various pillow types and, as always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any specific questions you would like answered.