How to Choose a Pillow for Broad Shoulders
Broader shoulders leave a bigger gap between the ear and the mattress when you lie on your side, so you need a higher, firmer pillow, reduced by however far your mattress lets you sink.
Key points
- Method. Estimate the gap: half the difference between shoulder width and head width, minus the sink into your mattress.
- Adjustable options. An adjustable-fill pillow is useful because you can tune the loft.
- Check. Lying on your side, your nose should line up with the middle of your chest and your neck should feel neutral.
Method
Estimate the gap: half the difference between shoulder width and head width, minus the sink into your mattress.
Adjustable options
An adjustable-fill pillow is useful because you can tune the loft.
Check
Lying on your side, your nose should line up with the middle of your chest and your neck should feel neutral.
Frequently asked questions
How high should it be?
The Profiler estimates a range in centimetres.
Can I use two pillows?
One properly sized pillow is usually more stable.
Sources
- Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers KA, Trott PH. Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical pain, sleep quality and pillow comfort in side sleepers. Man Ther 2009;14(6):671–678. PubMed
Links go to PubMed searches for the paper title or to the official guideline or regulator page. Standards and regulations are revised, so check the current edition before relying on them. Mattress and pillow research is limited; treat findings as a starting point.
Keep reading
Pillows: Height, Fill and Neck Comfort Guide
How to pick a pillow by sleeping position, shoulder width and mattress, with notes on adjustable, memory foam and latex pillows.
Read more →Pillows & beddingHow to Choose a Premium Pillow
What makes a pillow premium: fill quality, adjustable height, shape, cover and care.
Read more →Pillows & beddingHow to Find the Right Pillow Height
A simple method to find your ideal pillow height based on sleeping position, shoulder width and mattress softness.
Read more →Pillows & beddingHow Your Mattress Affects Your Pillow Choice
Why softer mattresses need lower pillows and firmer mattresses need higher ones, with a simple loft estimate.
Read more →Pillows & beddingAdjustable Pillow vs Fixed Pillow: Which Should You Choose?
Adjustable-fill pillows let you tune height; fixed pillows keep one shape. Compare comfort, convenience and cost.
Read more →This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have persistent pain or sleep problems, please speak to a doctor.
Related reading
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