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SleepSetupCalc

Comfort

Pillow Loft Calculator

Last updated Researched from published specifications and owner reviews, not tested in person

Quick answer

Pillow height by sleeping position, adjusted for shoulder width when you measure it.

Pillow height by sleeping position, adjusted for shoulder width when you measure it. The formula is shown under the calculator, and every figure it uses is labelled as either an industry standard or a convention, so you can see which parts are settled and which are guidance.

Calculator Convention, not a measured standard

Result

5 to 7 in

pillow loft

Position
Side
Loft range
5 to 7 in
Shoulder width used
not used

Loft means compressed height with your head on it, not the height on the shelf. An adjustable pillow you can remove fill from is the most reliable way to land in this range.

The formula

Loft is matched to sleeping position: stomach 2 to 3 in, back 3 to 5 in, side 5 to 7 in. Side sleepers adjust by shoulder width, because the pillow fills the ear to shoulder gap.

Products for this answer

These re-order as you change the numbers above. Prices change often.

Frequently asked questions

How does the pillow loft calculator work?

Loft is matched to sleeping position: stomach 2 to 3 in, back 3 to 5 in, side 5 to 7 in. Side sleepers adjust by shoulder width, because the pillow fills the ear to shoulder gap. The calculation runs in your browser as you type, and the working is shown line by line beside the result so you can check it against your own measurements rather than taking the number on trust.

Are these figures an industry standard or a convention?

This is convention rather than a measured standard. Guidance such as replacement intervals, firmness by body weight, pillow loft by position and walking clearance is widely repeated across the industry but is not defined by any standards body. Treat the result as a sensible starting point, and use the figure your own manufacturer publishes wherever one exists.

What happens if I enter numbers outside the usual range?

It stops and says so rather than guessing. When the inputs fall outside what the published data supports, the result reads "Not enough to answer" instead of showing a confident figure. A disclaimer does not make a wrong number right, so returning nothing is the honest outcome when the underlying data does not cover your case.

Does this calculator store the numbers I enter?

No. Everything is computed in your browser and nothing you type is transmitted or saved. There is no account, no login and no record of your measurements. You can block cookies entirely and every calculator on this site will still work exactly the same way.

How to read the numbers on this page. Standard mattress and bedding dimensions are industry-wide and the same across manufacturers. Guidance like replacement intervals, firmness by body weight and walking clearance is convention rather than a measured standard, and every table here says which it is. Where a manufacturer does not publish a figure we leave it out instead of estimating. This is not medical advice: a mattress is not a treatment for a medical condition, and persistent pain is a reason to see a clinician.