How high should your pillow be?

There is no single ideal pillow height. The useful target is the height that keeps your head comfortable relative to your torso in your usual sleeping position.

Why the number changes

• Position: side sleeping often creates a larger gap.
• Shoulder width: broader shoulders can increase the side-sleeping gap.
• Mattress firmness: deeper body sink reduces the gap.
• Compression: listed height is not always the height under load.

A practical comparison

Measure the uncompressed height of a pillow you already know is close to comfortable. Compare new pillows against that baseline while allowing for differences in firmness.