How to Choose Among the Various Types of Pillows?

It’s not always easy to pick just the right pillow to suit your needs. They come in many pillows shapes, and in fact there are plenty of different types of pillows to choose from.

The right kind of pillow can help you immensely if you’re not getting the quality of sleep you need. What’s more, a pillow is much more affordable than a new mattress. You may want to think about getting a new pillow instead if your mattress is already good enough.

But how do you pick one? They come in all shapes and sizes, and they can be designed for various functions. While there may seem to be an infinite number of choices for you to pick from, this guide can help you narrow down your options.

The Various Pillow Shapes and Sizes

Technically, manufacturers are free to create a pillow in any size or shape. But some shapes and sizes are more common because they’re the ones that are most popular with people.

Still, there are plenty of options here to choose from. They all have somewhat different designs, and these may be due to their different functions.

1. Standard

As the name implies, these are the regular ones you get. They’re very average in firmness and feel, and they measure 20 by 26 inches. That’s good enough for most beds.

2. Super Standard

While they’re standard in everything else, these pillows measure 28 inches long. It’s better suited for those who tend to toss, turn, or roll through the night.

3. Queen

These are also popular, and in fact they’re so popular that they’re considered “standard” as well. But they measure 30 inches long, which makes them more suited for bigger beds. You can put them inside a standard pillowcase to make them loftier.

4. King

These are 36 inches long. These can work for bigger beds, but many use this as a sort of body pillow. They offer a fair amount of huggable material when you sleep on your side.

5. European

Why do Europeans do things differently? In this case, the pillow is square rather than rectangular, and they measure 26 inches on each side. Many use these for decoration. But they can also be useful for back support and for cushioning joints. They don’t work as well as head support.

6. Body

The body pillow refers to a type of pillow that’s meant to support the body and not just the head. They’re often very long, averaging at 54 inches. You can use this to support your arm and leg when you sleep on your side or it can keep you from turning so you remain sleeping on your back.

7. Pregnancy

As you can very well imagine, sleep can become a rather complicated issue when you’re pregnant. It gets even more complicated when your doctor advises you to sleep on your side instead of on your back. Many of these body pillows for pregnant women coon their bodies to keep them from turning, while they also support the tummy while they sleep on their side.

8. Travel

It’s great to have your own pillows with you when you travel. Their familiarity makes them more comfortable to use. But they need to be smaller for better portability, which is why they often measure just 12 by 16 inches. They’re often great for toddlers too.

9. Wedge

These are often sued for special support and pain relief. They can be used by pregnant women, people with lumbar issues, and those who need to sleep in a more upright position.

10. Roll or Bolster

This is shaped like a cylinder cut lengthwise in half. You can use to keep your knees from knocking together when you sleep on your side. They can also support your neck when placed between your head and your shoulders when you sleep on your back.

Types Of Pillow According To Material

So what should your pillow be made from? Here are some of you options:

1. Down

These refer to the fibers near the chest of a goose, swan, or duck.

2. Synthetic Down Alternatives

These are manufactured materials designed to act like down, but supposedly without the drawbacks of down.

3. Memory Foam

This is a gel-like material that conforms to the contours of your body and head.

4. Shredded Memory Foam

This is the alternative to regular memory foam, which is a single block of foam.

5. Latex

This is a kind of rubber derived from a tree. Note, however, that some latex pillows use blends that contain polyurethane foam, which makes for an inferior pillow.

6. Body Pillow

This is a special type of pillow that also supports your body. They’re used for a wide variety of special needs, such as support for pregnant women, for pain relief, or just for extra comfort for side sleepers. It all depends on the design.

7. Adjustable

As the name implies, you can adjust the amount of filling inside this type of pillow. Basically, you can open the cover and take out an amount so that it raises your head at the right height.

8. Feather

This has long been the traditional type of filling for a pillow, though nowadays there are so many alternatives. Unlike down feathers, these regular feathers originally came from the top of the birds.

9. Buckwheat

These are the hard outer shells of buckwheat seeds.

10. Kapok Fiber

This is the seed pod fluff of a rain forest Ceiba tree.

11. Water Pillow

As there are also water beds, someone obviously though there will be a market for water pillows.

12. Gel

Often, the gel is paired with memory foam pillows.

13. Microbead

These pillows are made of tiny polystyrene beads.

14. Cotton

Cotton is a common filler material for mattresses, so some thought it would work for pillows too.

15. Wool

These are the natural fibers from sheep.

Pillow Casing Materials

Here are your material options for pillow casings:

• Cotton- Breathable, soft, and affordable
• Bamboo- Sustainable, breathable, and good for blends
• Poly-Threads- Strong, durable, and used for blends with cotton
• Eucalyptus Fiber- Blends well with synthetics to create soft, moisture-wicking pillow casing
• Wool- Helps with cooling and warming
• Copper Infusions- Supposedly releases “positive ions” to maintain your health

Pillow Uses

It all depends on how you use the pillow. Possible uses include:

• Rest for your head
• Support for joints
• Pressure relief
• Improves spinal alignment
• Can keeps train on lower back or hipsc
• Can help pregnant women along with sick or convalescing patients to sleep better

Questions to Ask

Before you pick a pillow, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this meant for my favorite sleeping position?
• Is it soft enough to lull me to sleep quickly?
• How warm or cool does it let me sleep?
• Does the pillow cradle my head properly?
• Is my neck sufficiently supported?
• Does my back feel right when I wake up?
• Does it cause (or reduce) my snoring?
• Am I allergic to the materials?

What’s Your Sleeping Position?

You’ve probably heard how some mattresses are designed for a particular sleeping position. Some mattresses are suitable for those who sleep on the back, others are for the side sleepers, and there are even mattresses which can help those who sleep on their stomachs. Pillows are much the same way.

The main reason why you need to factor in your favorite sleeping position is that your pillow, like your mattress, can help you get a good night’s rest. The pillow can also do its part in keeping your spine properly aligned and supported.

In addition, your pillow must keep you feeling comfortable while you sleep. How else are you going to sleep if you don’t feel comfortable? That’s why you need a pillow that works best for how you sleep.

Remember, just because you’re having some trouble sleeping doesn’t mean you have to spend a huge amount of money on a new mattress. You don’t have to renovate your bedroom either. You may first want to change your pillow—for a few dollars, the right pillow can provide you the good night’s sleep you’re looking for!