How to choose your pillow loft

Start with your sleep position

Most of us have a dominant position we fall asleep in. That position decides how big the gap is between your head and the mattress — and so how much pillow you need to fill it.

• Side sleepers need the most loft. Your shoulder lifts your head well off the mattress, so a taller, firmer pillow keeps your neck level — look at the Standard Tall or Contour Tall.
• Back sleepers need a medium loft that supports the natural curve of the neck without pushing your head forward — the Standard or Contour Regular suit most people.
• Stomach sleepers need the least loft. A tall pillow cranes the neck backwards, so a slim, soft pillow keeps your spine flatter — the Contour Slim is the gentlest.

Factor in your shoulders and mattress

Two side sleepers can need different pillows. Broad shoulders create a bigger gap to fill, so they want more loft; narrow shoulders want less.

Your mattress matters too. A soft mattress lets your shoulder sink in, closing the gap and reducing the loft you need. A firm mattress keeps your shoulder proud, so you need a little more height to compensate.

How latex changes the maths

Down and polyester pillows compress through the night, so the loft you feel at bedtime isn't the loft you have at 3am. Natural latex springs back instantly and holds its height, so the loft you choose is the loft you keep — which makes choosing by position far more reliable.

Still not sure?

If you sleep in more than one position or you're between sizes, the Contour's dual-height design lets you turn the pillow to the edge that suits the night. And because every pillow comes with the 100-night trial, you can test your choice at home and change it if it isn't right.