Shredded Memory Foam Pillow: How to Get the Right Loft

Key takeaways

• Loose filling is the reason a shredded foam pillow can be adjusted. A solid foam pillow has one fixed height.
• The right loft depends on your body, your sleeping position and your mattress. It is not the same for everyone.
• With Yourzzz you order first. When the pillow arrives, the calculator tells you how much filling to remove, and you keep the rest in the storage bag.

What is a shredded memory foam pillow?

Most memory foam pillows are cut from a single piece of foam. A shredded memory foam pillow is different. The foam is broken into small pieces and sealed inside a cover. The pieces move and settle around your head and neck. Because the filling is loose, you can open the pillow and change how much is inside.

That is the main advantage. A pillow that is too high or too low is a common reason people feel it does not suit them, and a fixed-height pillow offers no way to correct that. Loose filling does.

Shredded foam also has limits. A pillow with more filling is higher and firmer, and a pillow with less is lower and softer, but only if you know how much to take out. Without a guide, most people guess, and guessing is how they end up with a pillow that is still not right.

Why does pillow height matter?

When you lie down, there is a space between your head and the mattress. Your shoulder, neck and mattress shape that space. If the pillow is too low, your head can tilt down toward the mattress. If it is too high, your neck can bend upward. The pillow is there to fill that space so your head and neck rest in a comfortable line with the rest of your body.

It is similar to shoe sizing. You would not walk around in shoes a size too small, and a store that carries one size rarely has yours. A pillow works the same way. A single fixed height will suit some sleepers and not others.

How does sleeping position change the loft you need?

Position changes the size of the gap between your head and the mattress.

• Side sleepers have the largest gap, because the shoulder holds the head away from the mattress. They usually need more loft.
• Back sleepers have a smaller gap and usually need a medium loft.
• Stomach sleepers have the smallest gap and usually need the lowest loft.

Your mattress matters too. On a soft mattress your shoulder sinks in, which changes how much pillow you need compared with a firm one. Your height and weight also affect the gap. This is why the Yourzzz calculator asks about your height, weight, sleeping position and mattress firmness. For more on positions, read our tips on the best sleeping position or the Yourzzz sleep guide.

What can a shredded foam pillow not do?

We want to be clear about the limits. A pillow that fits is about comfort and support. We do not claim that a pillow removes the cause of neck stiffness or pain, and pillow research is limited. A well-fitted pillow will not make up for a worn-out mattress, and it will not help with every sleep problem.

If you wake up with pain that lasts, or you have numbness, tingling, weakness or pain after an injury, see a healthcare provider. A pillow is not a substitute for that.

How is the Yourzzz pillow adjusted?

We designed Yourzzz around one idea: you order the pillow first, then adjust it once it is in your hands. You do not need to pick a size or work anything out before you buy. The algorithm behind the calculator was developed by Dutch physiotherapist Thijs van der Hilst.

1. Order the pillow. One pillow is $89. If you buy 2, you get 10% off. Shipping is free.
2. Use the calculator. When the pillow has arrived, open the calculator and enter your height (inches), weight (lbs), sleeping position (side, back or stomach) and mattress firmness (soft, medium or firm).
3. Take out the filling. The calculator tells you how much to remove and shows the final weight of the pillow. A kitchen scale is the easiest way to weigh it. Without a scale, a 200 ml (6.8 fl oz) glass holds about 50 g (1.8 oz) of filling.
4. Keep the extra filling. Store what you removed in the storage bag. If your mattress, position or body changes, you can adjust again later.

You can also order extra filling separately if you want the pillow higher.

What is inside the Yourzzz pillow?

Note that the filling is a blend of memory foam flakes and polyester fibers, not foam alone. The inner cover also gives you a choice: one side is firmer and the other is softer, so you can turn the pillow to the side that feels better.

How long does it last, and what if it does not suit me?

For hygiene, we advise replacing the pillow after 5 years at most. Some users replace theirs every 3 years. The outer cover can go in the washing machine, but the inner cover and the filling cannot be washed.

You can try the pillow for 100 nights. If you are not satisfied, you can return it. We do not provide a prepaid label, so return shipping is at your expense, and you need to include the return form. The refund goes to your original payment method 5 to 7 business days after we receive the pillow. The pillow also has a 5-year warranty on material and production faults. Normal wear and changes in firmness are not covered. More answers are in our frequently asked questions.

Is a shredded memory foam pillow right for you?

It is a good fit if you have found that fixed-height pillows are always a little too high or too low, if you sleep in more than one position, or if you want to adjust the pillow again when your mattress changes. It is a weaker fit if you prefer a pillow you never touch, since you do need to take filling out once to get the benefit.

You can read more about the Yourzzz pillow or about the story behind it. When you are ready, you can order your Yourzzz pillow here. You have 100 nights to decide if it suits you.

After delivery

Once your pillow has arrived, open the calculator. It tells you how much filling to remove from the pillow you received. Put the extra filling in the storage bag so you can adjust again later.