Bed Pillow Sizes and Dimensions

Pillows cushion the head and cradle the neck. A pillow is an insert filled with memory foam, latex, down feathers, down alternative, buckwheat, or water, and are encased in a pillow cover for protection. The size you choose depends on your personal preferences. For example, you may prefer a larger pillow, like a queen, if you have a queen size bed.

Pillow Sizes

Pillows are available in standard, queen, or king sizes. These pillows are excellent for any size bed.

Standard

A standard size pillow is a common choice among sleepers. You may enjoy this pillow size if you don’t toss and turn at night. Its compact size is also perfect for children.

Standard size pillows are a perfect fit for twin and twin XL size mattresses. For larger bed sizes, like queen beds, you may need two or more to fit across a bed’s width.

A variant of the standard size is super standard. The super standard is 20 inches by 28 inches. Some sleepers may prefer a standard size slightly longer to accommodate their sleeping style.

Both standard and super standard sizes can fit comfortably inside a standard pillowcase.

Queen

A queen size pillow is designed for two pillows to rest side by side across a queen size bed. Queen pillows are 20 inches by 30 inches and are perfect for a queen sized bed and larger. You may also prefer a queen size pillow for a smaller mattress, such as twin beds.

The extra length is great if you’re a combination sleeper and regularly switch sleeping positions every night. You won’t have to worry about your head falling into the gap between your pillow and the edge of your bed.

Despite their extra length, queen pillows can fit inside a standard pillowcase.

King

King size pillows measure 20 inches by 36 inches and are one of the largest standard pillow sizes available. Two king pillows placed next to each other fit perfectly across a king bed or California king mattress, hence the name.

While longer than a queen or standard, many sleepers prefer a queen or standard size over a king. You may feel a king size pillow is too long or too heavy to maneuver at night. Instead, many king pillows are used for back support, or to prop up your body when reading or watching TV in bed.

Unlike standard or queen, king size pillows need their own pillowcase size. They’re too big for sizes smaller than a king.

Specialty Pillow Sizes

If you’re looking for a specific kind of pillow outside standard sizing, then you should look at specialty pillows. These types of pillows are unique in shape—they may be designed to offer support for a specific area of the body or simply used as decoration.

Body

A body pillow is 20 inches by 54 inches, but there are some options with slightly different sizing. If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll love the features a body pillow offers. Because they’re so long, a body pillow can easily rest under your head and curve around to be placed between your knees. It’s highly recommended side sleepers have a pillow between their knees to relieve hip pressure and prevent the spine from twisting.

Body pillows are also an excellent option if you’re pregnant. Body pillows can support a growing belly and encourage expectant mothers to rest in the side sleeping position, one of the best sleeping positions for pregnancy.

Some sleepers use a body pillow to train their bodies to sleep in a different sleeping position. A body pillow can prevent you from rolling onto your back and stomach, and train you to sleep on your side, one of the healthiest sleeping positions.

Orthopedic

Orthopedic pillows have a unique shape to relieve pain in the neck, shoulder, or back. Their design follows orthopedic guidelines to correct body positioning while lying down. If you suffer from pain in these areas, talk to your healthcare provider about orthopedic pillow recommendations for better sleep.

Euro

Euro pillows have a large square shape and typically measure 26 inches by 26 inches. Euro pillows can be used as extra support for the back, hip, or legs. They’re mostly used for decoration and placed behind standard-sized pillows on the bed.

Travel

Travel pillows are one of the smallest pillow sizes available at 12 inches by 16 inches. While some are rectangular, the most common travel pillow has a circular shape with a space in the middle. This travel pillow is meant to circle the neck and provide a place for your head to rest. Travel pillows can fit inside suitcases and carry-on bags, perfect for air or car travel.

Throw

Throw pillows vary in size but usually have a square shape. Throw pillows are mostly designed as decorative pillows rather than for practical use. However, you can use a throw pillow to bolster support in another pillow or to elevate your legs. Throw pillows are used to decorate beds, couches, and chairs.

Boudoir

Like travel pillows, boudoir pillows also measure 12 inches by 16 inches. But they have a rectangular shape instead of circular. Boudoir pillows are also used for decoration, but they can also be used to bolster support in another pillow. For example, if you’re propping yourself up in bed with a Euro pillow, you may add a boudoir pillow for enhanced lumbar support.

Considerations to Find the Best Pillow

Before buying just any pillow, look at factors such as pillow type and sleeping position. Considering these things can help you score the best pillow and may ensure a better night’s sleep. Otherwise, you may get stuck with the wrong type of pillow and experience more pressure points in your neck.

Pillow Type

Many types of pillows offer different levels of comfort and support. While some may only come in one firmness option, like buckwheat, others are available in different firmness levels, like memory foam and latex. Some may even provide customized support, like a water pillow.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a popular bedding material, found in mattresses, mattress toppers, and pillows. A memory foam pillow softens from heat and pressure, causing the foam to contour to your head and neck for optimal pressure point relief. Memory foam pillows also provide consistent support to keep the spine aligned.

Memory foam pillows usually cost around $50 to $60. Special features, like shredded memory foam or cooling properties, may drive up the price.

Down

Down is one of the softest materials available. Down is soft fluff found underneath bird feathers, providing warmth and insulation. Down pillows are easy to fluff and contort into a preferred shape.

Most down pillows contain a combination of feathers and down—the feathers give the pillow more support because down lacks support if left on its own. A true down pillow must contain at least 75 percent down.

Down pillows are one of the most expensive pillow types available. Their price can reach over $200, depending on the brand.

Down Alternative

Down alternative refers to any material that imitates the feel of down—usually polyester. Down alternative pillows may not be quite as fluffy or breathable as down, but they may be more supportive. Plus, unlike down, many down alternatives are hypoallergenic.

Down alternative pillows are more affordable than other pillow types, ranging between $10 to $30. However, down alternative pillows are the least durable and may only last a couple of years.

Latex

Latex is similar to memory foam—both contour to the head and neck for pressure point relief. Latex is a bit firmer and more responsive than memory foam. Latex foam is created from rubber tree sap, which is whipped into a froth and baked at a specific temperature. Latex pillows have a spongy texture, a unique feel that you may enjoy.

Latex pillows can be pricey, depending on how much natural latex they contain. The average price for a latex pillow is between $40 to $60.

Buckwheat

If you’re looking for a firmer pillow option, you might like the buckwheat pillow. Buckwheat pillows are filled with thousands of buckwheat hulls. Buckwheat pillows contour to the head and neck and provide firm support, a feature best suited for back and stomach sleepers.

Buckwheat pillows can be expensive, with some costing  up to $100. Unlike other pillow types, like down or down alternative, buckwheat pillows can’t be fluffed, but they can be manipulated into a different shape to suit your needs. Also, because they’re heavier (some weigh up to ten pounds), they’re harder to maneuver.

Water

Water pillows have two layers: an inner chamber for water and an outer layer of down alternative. What makes water pillows special is that you can control the firmness and loft based on how much water is inside the pillow. A customized loft makes it an excellent choice for any type of sleeper.

Water pillows can cost up to $60, depending on the brand. Keep in mind that water pillows are also heavier and may be hard to maneuver if you toss and turn at night.

Sleeping Position

Each sleeping position needs a certain level of comfort and support for a good night’s sleep. That’s because each sleeping position leaves a gap under the lower back. There is also a noticeable gap in the head and neck area.

Side

Side sleeping is one of the healthiest sleeping positions. Side sleeping enables better breathing, reduces acid reflux, and improves heart health.

As a side sleeper, there is a larger gap between the head and sleep surface. The best pillows for side sleepers have a high loft to fill in this gap and cradle the head and neck. Some pillow brands have a gusset option—a strip of fabric sewn along the edges to give the pillow more height. Gusseted pillows also conform better to the shoulders.

A pillow with a loft lower than a medium could strain the neck and throw the spine out of alignment.

Back

Back sleeping encourages spinal alignment because the body is in a neutral position. But, there are some risks to back sleeping, including developing sleep apnea and snoring potential.

A medium loft is best for back sleepers. A medium loft pillow supports the head and helps align the neck with the spine, preserving the spine’s natural curvature. A loft higher or lower than a medium loft could create more pressure points and lead to back pain for back sleepers.

Stomach

Stomach sleeping is the least healthy sleeping position due to the high amount of pressure placed on the spine. This pressure could lead to neck strain and back pain. Placing an extra thin pillow under your hips may relieve pressure.

Low loft pillows are perfect for stomach sleepers. Because they sleep pressed against the mattress, stomach sleepers have the smallest gap between their body and the bed. Low loft pillows support the head and neck without arching the spine, though some stomach sleepers prefer sleeping without a pillow.

A higher loft pillow could cause the spine to arch and increase pain and pressure in the back.

Combination

Combination sleepers, also known as restless sleepers, toss and turn all night. They enjoy the benefits of each sleeping position, like better heart health and natural alignment. However, they may face the drawbacks too, including back pain and snoring.

Combination sleepers find the best comfort in a medium loft pillow. A medium loft provides the perfect balance of cushion and support for each sleeping position and consistently keeps the spine in alignment.

FAQs

How often should you change your pillow?

Like your mattress, your pillow encourages spinal alignment. When your pillow becomes worn down, it loses its support and may create pressure in the spine. Most high-quality pillows can last up to five years, depending on what materials they contain and how often they’re used. If you wake with a sore neck or back in the morning, but that soreness fades during the day, it might be time to replace your pillow.

Is it bad to sleep with your arm under your pillow?

More than 70 percent of American adults sleep on their side. Many side sleepers end up sleeping with their arm under their pillow because it feels comfortable. Unfortunately, sleeping with your arm under your pillow can cause pain and numbness in your arm and shoulder.

Some side sleepers may like sleeping with their arm under their pillow because it gives more support. However, it doesn’t provide the right support and may create pressure points in your neck.

If you feel that your arm gives you more support than your pillow, you may actually need a new pillow. Pillows should provide plenty of cushion and support on their own. If you need your arm for more support, your pillow may be too flat or worn out. For side sleepers, you want a high loft pillow to cushion your head and cradle your neck.

What is the standard size of a pillow?

A standard pillow measures 20 inches by 26 to 28 inches. These pillows are a good choice for twin mattresses or for anyone sharing a queen mattress. While you can use a standard pillow with larger sizes, you might want to treat yourself and enjoy the luxury of a larger pillow.

How much bigger should a pillowcase be than the pillow?

A pillowcase should be at least 1.5 inches longer and wider than your pillow. The same dimensions apply to a pillow protector, as well. Thicker pillows may require larger pillowcases and protectors.

How often should pillows be washed?

Your pillow itself should be washed about every six months. If it’s not machine washable, you can freshen up your pillow with a sprinkle of baking soda. For best results, pillowcases should be changed twice a week. While that might seem excessive, it prevents debris from building up and keeps you from pressing your face into a dirty pillow.

Finding the Right Pillow

The type of pillow you choose may determine your overall comfort during sleep. Taking time to research pillow options based on your needs can help you score the best pillow and may even improve your sleep quality. The right pillow size should fit your mattress and match your sleep style.