Pillows buying guide: how to choose the best pillow
The best pillow is the one that keeps your head in line with your spine in the position you actually sleep in. That comes down to two things: how high the pillow sits (its loft) and whether it holds that height through the night instead of flattening by 3am. Fill, size and washing matter too, but get the height and firmness right for your sleeping position first. Below we compare the main pillow types sold in the UK, who each one suits, and where our contoured memory foam pillow fits.
Start with how you sleep
Your sleeping position decides how much space the pillow has to fill between your head and the mattress.
- Side sleepers have the biggest gap, roughly the distance from your ear to the outside edge of your shoulder. A higher, firmer pillow stops your head tipping down towards the mattress.
- Back sleepers need less height but want something under the curve of the neck. A pillow that is too thick pushes the chin towards the chest.
- Stomach sleepers need the least. A thick pillow bends the neck backwards, which is why some stomach sleepers use a very thin pillow or none at all.
- If you change position through the night, look for a medium height and a fill that recovers quickly when you roll over.
Loft, firmness and your mattress
Packaging usually describes loft as low, medium or high, and firmness as soft, medium or firm. These labels aren't standardised, so a "medium" from one shop can feel firm from another. Read the actual height in centimetres where it's given.
Two things shift what you need. Broader shoulders mean a bigger gap for side sleepers, so more height. And your mattress plays a part: on a soft mattress your shoulder sinks further, so you need a slightly lower pillow than you would on a firm one. If you've just changed mattress and your old pillow suddenly feels wrong, this is often why.
Pillow fillings compared
| Fill | How it feels | Suits | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollowfibre or microfibre | Light and squashy, soft to medium | Tight budgets, and anyone who wants to put the whole pillow in the washing machine | Flattens sooner than most fills, so expect to replace it more often |
| Feather and down | Soft and mouldable; down is lighter, feather has more weight | People who like to scrunch and shape their pillow, often back and stomach sleepers | Needs plumping; quills can poke through; not for anyone bothered by feathers |
| Solid or contoured memory foam | Firm, slow to respond, keeps a set shape | Side and back sleepers who want the same support all night | Can feel warmer than loose fills; fixed height; some people dislike the slow sink |
| Shredded memory foam | Medium, mouldable | People who want foam but like to adjust height by removing fill | Can clump; heavier than fibre |
| Latex | Springy and resilient | Those who want support without the slow sink of memory foam | Heavy, usually pricier, and unsuitable if you have a latex allergy |
| Wool | Dense, medium to firm | Warm sleepers who want a natural fill | Can compact over time; check the care label, as many can't go in the machine |
Fill also changes how warm a pillow feels. Air moves easily through feather, down and wool. Solid foam holds more heat, which is why many foam pillows come with a cooling or breathable cover.
If you have a dust mite allergy, washability matters more than the fill itself. A pillow you can wash at 60°C, or a foam pillow with a removable cover plus a separate protector, is easier to keep clean than a pillow that needs dry cleaning.
Size, covers and knowing when to replace
Most UK bedding is sold in three pillow sizes:
- Standard: 50 x 75 cm, the size most pillowcases fit
- King: 50 x 90 cm, longer for wider beds
- Square or continental: 65 x 65 cm, mostly used for sitting up in bed
Shaped pillows such as contoured foam may not match these exactly, so check the pillowcase situation before you buy.
For fibre and feather pillows, the fold test tells you when it's time to replace: fold the pillow in half, and if it stays folded instead of springing open, the fill has broken down. Lumps, yellowing and a smell that survives a wash are other signs. Foam doesn't fold the same way. Look for dips that stay put or foam that has started to crumble.
Where the Dosaze pillow fits
The Dosaze Contoured Orthopaedic Pillow is a shaped memory foam pillow. Its contour is designed to cradle the natural curve of your neck and keep your spine aligned while you sleep, and it works for side, back and stomach sleepers. The cover is a naturally cooling, anti-microbial fabric that comes off for washing, which helps with the warmth that foam can hold. The memory foam is CertiPUR-US certified, and the pillow ships locally within the UK.
It makes most sense if your current pillow collapses overnight and you wake with your head close to the mattress, or if you want the same support at 6am as at 11pm. People who turn between positions often like a pillow that doesn't need plumping every time they move.
Where it isn't the right choice
- If you love sinking into a plump feather pillow, memory foam will feel firmer and slower than you're used to.
- If you like to fold, bunch or hug your pillow, a moulded shape won't do that.
- A solid contoured pillow has a fixed shape, so you can't take fill out to lower it the way you can with shredded foam.
- Any contoured pillow can take some getting used to, because your head rests in a set position instead of a mound you've shaped yourself.
When the pillow isn't the problem
A new pillow can't correct a mattress that lets your hips sag or pushes your shoulder up towards your ear. If you sleep on your side and wake with pressure in your shoulder or hip, look at the mattress surface as well as the pillow; we make the DreamAlign Side Sleeper Mattress Topper for side sleepers. If your mattress has gone soft and you sink too far, the DreamAlign Firm Mattress Topper adds a firmer layer on top.
After any change to your mattress, check your pillow height again. How far you sink into the bed changes how much gap the pillow needs to fill.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I replace my pillow?
There's no fixed date, so go by condition. Fibre and feather pillows that stay folded when you bend them in half, feel lumpy or smell after washing are due for replacing. Foam and latex usually last longer, but replace them if they develop permanent dips or start to crumble.
What is the best pillow for side sleepers?
Side sleepers usually need a higher, firmer pillow to fill the gap between the ear and the shoulder. Memory foam, latex and firm fibre pillows all hold height better than soft feather. A contoured pillow such as the Dosaze Contoured Orthopaedic Pillow is designed to cradle the neck and works for side sleepers.
Are memory foam pillows good for neck pain?
A memory foam pillow can't treat neck pain, but it holds its shape, so your neck gets the same support all night instead of a pillow that flattens. That suits many people who wake stiff. If neck pain carries on or is severe, speak to your GP or a physiotherapist.
What size is a standard pillow in the UK?
A standard UK pillow is 50 x 75 cm, and most pillowcases are made to fit it. King pillows are 50 x 90 cm and square or continental pillows are 65 x 65 cm. Shaped pillows may differ, so check the measurements before buying cases.
Should I sleep with one pillow or two?
One pillow of the right height is usually better than two stacked ones. Two pillows often lift a back sleeper's head too far forward, and soft pillows can slide apart during the night. Some side sleepers with broad shoulders use two, but a single higher, firmer pillow does the same job more steadily.
