You can spend a lot of time choosing the right mattress and then put your head on whatever pillow happens to be sitting on the bed.

We think the pillow deserves a little more attention.

Your mattress supports most of your body, but your pillow has an important job of its own: supporting your head and neck while helping maintain a comfortable sleeping position. And just like mattresses, pillows are not necessarily one-size-fits-all.

The right choice can depend on how you sleep, your body type, the height of the pillow and even how warm you tend to sleep. BEDGEAR takes this idea seriously enough to offer multiple pillow profiles designed around different sleepers rather than one universal pillow height.

Your Pillow Is Part of Your Sleep System

We talk a lot about choosing the right mattress firmness, but your mattress and pillow are working together.

The goal is to keep your head and neck in a comfortable, relatively neutral position while you sleep. A pillow that is too high can push your head upward. One that is too low may allow your head to drop toward the mattress.

And here's something that's easy to miss: the mattress you're sleeping on can influence pillow fit too.

If your shoulder sinks farther into a plush mattress, the distance between your head and the mattress may be different than it would be on a firmer surface. That's another reason to think about the mattress and pillow as a system instead of two unrelated purchases. BEDGEAR's own in-store fitting guidance incorporates mattress firmness alongside sleep position and shoulder width when determining pillow loft.

OUR INSIDE SCOOP: If you're spending hundreds of dollars finding the mattress that feels right, don't make the pillow an afterthought. Your head and neck are spending the same eight-ish hours in bed that the rest of you are.

Start With How You Sleep

Your normal sleeping position is one of the easiest places to begin.

• Side sleepers generally need more pillow height because the pillow has to fill the space created by the shoulder.
• Back sleepers generally need a medium or lower profile that supports the neck without pushing the head too far forward.
• Stomach sleepers generally need a lower-profile pillow because too much height can increase the angle of the neck.
• Combination sleepers need to consider the positions they spend the most time in and find a comfortable middle ground.

These aren't rigid rules. Shoulder width, body type, mattress firmness and personal comfort can change what works for you. That's exactly why trying different profiles can be more useful than simply grabbing a pillow labeled “side sleeper.”

Pillow Height — or “Loft” — Matters

Here's a mattress-store word worth knowing: loft.

Loft essentially describes the height or profile of the pillow. BEDGEAR offers Performance Pillows in multiple profiles, ranging from lower options intended for sleepers who need minimal elevation to higher profiles that can better accommodate side sleepers and broader shoulders.

Think about the space between your head and the mattress when you're lying in your normal sleeping position. Your pillow needs to comfortably fill that space without forcing your head noticeably upward or allowing it to fall downward.

Two people who both sleep on their sides may therefore prefer completely different pillows.

A smaller-framed side sleeper may need less loft than someone with broad shoulders. The sleeping position is the same; the bodies aren't.

Your T-Shirt Size Might Actually Tell Us Something

This is where BEDGEAR's fitting process gets interesting.

On its current pillow-fitting tools, BEDGEAR asks shoppers about factors including body size and normal sleep position before recommending a pillow height. Some product fitting tools use T-shirt size as a simple way to help estimate body profile.

That's a much different way of shopping than squeezing a pillow in the aisle and deciding, “Yep, squishy enough.”

The bigger idea is simple: fit the pillow to the sleeper.

Hot Sleeper? Your Pillow Can Matter There Too

Pillow comfort isn't only about height.

If you're constantly flipping your pillow looking for “the cool side,” breathability and temperature-management materials may be worth comparing.

BEDGEAR Performance Pillows use technologies including breathable Air-X mesh, ventilation and moisture-wicking or cooling fabrics on select models to help manage airflow, heat and moisture around the pillow. The exact construction varies by model.

So when comparing pillows, consider more than soft versus firm:

• Pillow height/profile
• Sleep position
• Body type and shoulder width
• Feel and fill material
• Breathability and airflow
• Temperature preference

Suddenly the humble pillow has a résumé.

Your Partner Probably Shouldn't Automatically Have the Same Pillow

Matching pillows look great when the bed is made.

That doesn't mean they're necessarily the best choice for two different people.

If one person is a broad-shouldered side sleeper and the other is a smaller-framed stomach sleeper, their ideal pillow profiles could be very different. BEDGEAR's fitting philosophy is built around that idea: pillow fit should reflect the individual sleeper, rather than the mattress size or what the other person in the bed uses.

OUR INSIDE SCOOP: Match the pillowcases. Fit the pillows to the people sleeping on them.

Pay Attention to What Your Current Pillow Is Telling You

You don't necessarily need to become a pillow expert.

Start by thinking about what you dislike about the one you already have.

Are you constantly folding it in half to make it taller? Pushing it away because your head feels too elevated? Flipping it looking for a cooler surface? Waking up and rearranging it throughout the night?

Those are useful clues.

Rather than automatically replacing your pillow with another version of the same thing, use those frustrations to figure out what you might want to change.

Don't Buy a Pillow With the Five-Second Squeeze Test

You know the move.

Pick pillow up. Squeeze pillow. Nod thoughtfully. Purchase pillow.

We'd suggest going a little further.

When possible, evaluate a pillow in something close to your normal sleeping position. Think about how high your head sits relative to your shoulders and spine. Compare more than one profile. And if you're buying a new mattress at the same time, consider the pillow while you're actually lying on that mattress.

American Freight associates have access to BEDGEAR's pillow-fitting training, which specifically focuses on personalized sleep systems and fitting pillows rather than simply selling individual sleep products.

The Mattress Gets All the Attention. The Pillow Deserves Some Too.

A mattress is obviously a major part of your sleep setup, but it isn't working alone.

Your pillow supports one of the most important areas the mattress doesn't directly support: your head and neck.

So when you're building a new sleep setup, think beyond mattress size and firmness. Consider how the pillow fits your sleeping position, body type, mattress and temperature preferences.

You may discover that getting comfortable isn't about adding more pillows.

It's about getting the right pillow.

A Simple Pillow-Fitting Checklist

Before choosing your next pillow, ask:

• What position do I normally sleep in?
• How much space is there between my head and mattress?
• Do I have narrow, average or broad shoulders?
• Does my current pillow feel too high or too low?
• Do I prefer a softer, conforming feel or more responsive support?
• Do I regularly get warm around my head and neck?
• Am I choosing this pillow for me, or just buying the same one as my partner?

If you can answer those questions, you're already shopping smarter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Pillow

What pillow is best for side sleepers?

Side sleepers generally benefit from more loft because the pillow needs to fill the space between the shoulder and head. Body size, shoulder width and mattress firmness can affect the amount of height you need.

What pillow is best for back sleepers?

Back sleepers generally need enough height to support the natural position of the head and neck without pushing the head too far forward. A lower-to-medium profile is often a useful starting point.

What pillow is best for stomach sleepers?

Stomach sleepers generally require less pillow height because their head is already turned to the side. BEDGEAR recommends its lowest profiles as a starting point for stomach sleepers.

What does pillow loft mean?

Pillow loft refers to the pillow's height or profile. The appropriate loft depends on factors including sleep position, shoulder width, body type and the sleep surface underneath you.

Do couples need the same pillow?

No. Two people sharing the same mattress can have different body types, sleep positions and comfort preferences. Each sleeper should choose a pillow based on their own fit.

Does a cooling pillow really stay cooler?

Cooling and breathable materials can help manage heat around the pillow, but construction varies. BEDGEAR uses technologies such as Air-X breathable mesh, ventilation, moisture-wicking fabrics and cooling covers across different Performance Pillow models.