As much as a pile of fluffy pillows on your bed may look appealing, they're not necessarily going to guarantee the best night's sleep for you. Ultimately, the pillow that you lay your head on should keep your head, neck and spine all in neutral alignment, and support the natural curvature of your spine. This will alleviate not only neck pain, but also any pressure that might be felt throughout your body. 

When looking for the perfect pillow, you need to consider your sleeping position as it will ultimately determine the pillow loft (or profile) and firmness.

What is pillow loft?

A pillow 'loft' refers to the height of the pillow when it is laid flat on the bed. A pillow with a low loft will be thin, while a pillow with a high loft will be thick. Depending on the pillow's fill material, it can lose some of its loft over time. 

Pillow fill materials

A pillow's firmness is determined by the fill material, as well as the amount of fill in the pillow. Here are the main pillow fill materials: 

Polyester & microfibre - Most common fill materials. Suited to many types of sleepers.
Memory foam - Adjusts to body's contours, relieving pressure in neck and shoulders. Firmness can make it harder to move around throughout the night.
Feather & down - Can be more expensive depending on percentage of down in the fill. Can be moulded and fluffed to shape.
Latex - Good support. Hypoallergenic. Extremely durable.
Cotton & wool - Breathable. Hypoallergenic. Durable but not as long-lasting as latex. 
Bamboo - Sustainable material. Breathable. Hypoallergenic. Antimicrobial properties. 

The best pillows for different sleep positions

Each sleeping position requires a different type of pillow in order to maintain healthy posture. Discover the right loft, firmness and fill material that's right for you based on how you sleep. 


 

Stomach sleepers

Loft: Low loft to align head with spine
Firmness: Soft to give support without raising the head and neck
Fill material: Polyester & microfibre, feather & down, cotton & wool

Back sleepers

Loft: Medium loft to relieve pressure in your neck and shoulders
Firmness: Medium to firm to keep head supported at the same level as the upper spine
Fill material: Memory foam, feather & down, latex

Side sleepers

Loft: High loft to prop your head up and to relieve pressure in your shoulder and make sure it's not bearing your body weight
Firmness: Firm to extra firm to keep your head and neck in line with your spine 
Fill material: Memory foam, latex

Combination position sleepers

Loft: Variable 
Firmness: Soft to medium 
Fill material: Microfibre, bamboo, combination materials (e.g. inner latex and outer down)

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Specialty pillows

If you're pregnant, recovering from an injury or have a chronic neck or back problem, you may need a body pillow or contoured pillow to provide extra support. These can vary greatly in shape and fill material depending on your needs. 

Shop our range of pillows and find the one that's right for you.