The Best Type of Pillow for Broad Shoulders
Most standard pillows are built for an average frame. If you have broad or muscular shoulders and sleep on your side, a regular pillow often flattens to a height that's several centimeters too low, and your neck pays for it.
Why broad shoulders need more loft
The wider your shoulders are compared with your head, the higher your head sits off the mattress when you lie on your side. Someone with 46 cm shoulders and a 15 cm head has a gap of about 15.5 cm to fill. Many pillows sold as "standard" compress to 8–10 cm, which leaves the head hanging.
What to look for
- Listed height of 6 inches (15 cm) or more. That leaves room for compression.
- Gusseted sides. A gusset is a strip of fabric around the edge that turns the pillow into a box shape, so the full height is under your head instead of only in the middle.
- Firm or adjustable fill. Shredded memory foam, latex and dense fiber hold their height. Soft down usually doesn't.
- Removable fill. Adjustable pillows let you add or take out filling until the height is exactly right. For many people this is the safest buy.
Pillow styles compared
| Style | Holds height | Adjustable | Good for broad shoulders? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustable shredded foam | Well | Yes | Yes, best all-round choice |
| Gusseted latex | Very well | No | Yes, if the height matches |
| Solid memory foam block | Well | Sometimes | Yes, in tall versions |
| Contour cervical | Well | Sometimes | Only tall models |
| Down or down-alternative | Poorly | Sometimes | Usually too soft |
Don't stack two pillows
Stacking pillows adds height, but the two pillows slide apart and compress unevenly, so your head ends up at a different height each time you move. One pillow at the right height works better.
LoftFit gives general sizing guidance, not medical advice. If you have neck or shoulder pain that lasts more than a couple of weeks, numbness or tingling in your arms, or pain after an injury, see a doctor or physical therapist.