Sleep Style

If you frequently wake up with a sore back or neck, your pillow might be to blame. Different sleeping positions require different lofts (a pillow's fill volume) to provide maximum comfort and support. The type of pillow that's best for you depends on the position you most often sleep in.

Pillows for back sleepers - are firm with a medium loft to support the head and neck comfortably.
Pillows for side sleepers - are firm to keep the spine aligned and provide ample head, neck and shoulder support.
Pillows for stomach sleepers - are soft and thin to cradle the head and neck without putting pressure on the neck and spine.

Pillow Firmness

Your sleep position will dictate what firmness is best for you. Pick a pillow that both provides adequate support and fulfills personal preferences. Firmness is determined by the type of fill used and how tightly or lightly the fill is packed into the pillow.

Pillow Fill

Pillows can be filled with natural or synthetic fibers to give them their loft.

Natural pillow fillers are down, feathers, cotton and wool. A soft- or medium-fill down pillow is a popular choice, especially among sleepers who like to fluff their pillows to get comfortable. When buying a down pillow, look for tightly woven cotton covers. This will help prevent the down and feathers from peeking out.

Wool and cotton both have hypoallergenic qualities that make them a natural choice for allergy sufferers. Cotton pillows are softer than wool pillows, but flatten over time and might not be compatible with sleep styles that require more support.

The synthetic fillers in polyester pillows, memory foam pillows and foam latex pillows are also hypoallergenic options. Foam pillows offer more support than down pillows and stay firm throughout the night. Pillows filled with polyester are firmer than down, but softer than foam pillows.