Pillow Not High Enough? Boost the Loft Without Buying a New Bed
A pillow that sinks leaves your neck bent and sore. Add height with a folded towel tonight, then pick a riser or high-loft pillow that stays put.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read
- Time
- 5 min
- Cost
- Under $20
- Difficulty
- Easy
In this guide
Quick answer
If your pillow is not high enough, your head drops toward the mattress and your neck bends sideways all night. The quick free fix is a folded towel or a thin blanket under the pillow to raise it an inch or two. A foam riser or a firm high-loft pillow does the same job without the lump, and it keeps its shape night after night.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Fold a towel under the pillow
- Fold a bath towel into a flat rectangle
- Slide it under the pillow, not on top of it
- Add a layer at a time until your neck looks straight
How long it lasts: A few nights. It works, but towels slip, bunch up and shift when you turn.
A firm high-loft pillow, or a foam riser
A towel is soft and moves. A firm high-loft pillow or foam riser keeps the same height, with no sinking or shifting, so you stop waking up with a bent neck.
What to get: Firm high-loft pillow
How long it lasts: Years. It holds a fixed height, so your neck stays in line night after night.
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What you'll need
-
Bath towel or thin blanket
Fold to add height in small steps
You have it -
Tape measure or ruler
To measure the gap between your neck and the mattress
You have it - Our pick Illustration
High-loft pillow
A firm pillow that stays tall when you lie on it
- Illustration
Foam pillow riser or booster insert
Slides under or inside the pillowcase to add height
- Illustration
Adjustable pillow with removable filling
You add or remove fill until it fits your shoulder width
Why it happens
A pillow that compresses under your head
Soft down and low-density fiber squash flat under weight. A pillow that starts 5 inches tall can end up under 3 once your head is on it.
Wide shoulders on a side sleeper
On your side, the pillow has to fill the gap from shoulder to ear. Broader shoulders need more height than a standard pillow gives.
An old, worn pillow
Filling breaks down and clumps over time, so a pillow that once worked slowly goes flat.
A soft mattress
If your shoulder sinks deeply into the bed, your head hangs lower than it would on a firm one, so you need a taller pillow to match.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
Check how your neck sits
Lie in your usual position and have someone take a photo from behind or the side, or feel for it. Your head and spine should form a straight line. If your head tilts down toward the mattress, you need more loft.
-
Measure the gap
Tool used: Tape measure or rulerSit up straight and measure from the tip of your shoulder to the side of your neck, in line with your ear. That distance is roughly the pillow height a side sleeper needs once your head is on it. Compare it with how tall your pillow is when compressed.
-
Add a folded towel under the pillow
Tool used: Bath towel or thin blanketFold a bath towel in thirds, lay it flat under the pillow and test. Add a layer at a time, about half an inch each, until the neck feels level.
-
Try a stack with your second pillow
A firm second pillow under the first adds more height, but it can slip. Slide both into one pillowcase to keep them together.
-
Swap in a firm riser or high-loft pillow
Tool used: Foam pillow riser or booster insertOnce you know how much height you need, buy a pillow or insert at that height. A riser slides under your pillow and stays put.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Foam pillow riser or booster insert · Slides under or inside the pillowcase to add height
When free fixes aren't enough
The towel works while you are testing, and many people stop there. It will not last when it slips down, bunches under the pillowcase or lumps up in the middle of the night. If you need to keep adding to it, or you share the bed and want something tidy, that is where a firm pillow or a foam riser earns its place. Persistent neck pain, numbness or tingling down an arm is a reason to see a doctor, not a reason to buy another pillow.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Firm high-loft pillow | a pillow that sinks and leaves your neck bent | Side sleepers and broad-shouldered sleepers who want one pillow that does the job alone. | Check price |
| Budget pick | Foam pillow riser or booster insert | a pillow that is only an inch or two too low, using the one you already own | People who like their pillow but need a little more height. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Adjustable pillow with removable filling | not knowing the right height until you have slept on it | Anyone still working out the right height, or two people sharing a pillow style. | Check price |
Firm high-loft pillow
Fixes: a pillow that sinks and leaves your neck bent
Look for: A firm fill that does not flatten under your head; A loft or height listed in inches, often 5 inches or more for broad-shouldered side sleepers; A removable, washable cover.
- Who it's for
- Side sleepers and broad-shouldered sleepers who want one pillow that does the job alone.
- Honest downside
- You sleep on your stomach or back. A tall pillow can push your head too far forward.
Foam pillow riser or booster insert
Fixes: a pillow that is only an inch or two too low, using the one you already own
Look for: A height you can choose or trim, about 1 to 3 inches; Firm foam that keeps its shape; Slim enough to fit inside or under your current pillowcase.
- Who it's for
- People who like their pillow but need a little more height.
- Honest downside
- You need more than 3 inches. A taller pillow works better.
Adjustable pillow with removable filling
Fixes: not knowing the right height until you have slept on it
Look for: A zipper that lets you add or remove fill; Fill that does not clump or go flat; A washable cover.
- Who it's for
- Anyone still working out the right height, or two people sharing a pillow style.
- Honest downside
- You want something that never needs fussing. Fill still shifts a little.
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How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on pillow-height guidance for different sleep positions, sleep health advice and what owners report in reviews of high-loft pillows and risers. We do not test products by hand.
Pick height by how you sleep
- Side: a firm pillow that fills the gap from shoulder to ear. Often the tallest.
- Back: a medium pillow that supports the neck without pushing the head forward.
- Stomach: a thin or no pillow, so the neck is not bent back.
- Combination: an adjustable pillow, so you can set it for the position you hold longest.
What to skip
Stacking soft pillows
Two soft pillows compress together and slide apart, so the height you set at bedtime is gone by 3 a.m. If you stack, use a firm base, and slide both into one pillowcase.
Frequently asked questions
How high should my pillow be?
How do I know my pillow is too low?
Is a folded towel safe to sleep on?
Can a pillow be too high?
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