The Parachute Down Pillow ($89) and Brooklinen Down Pillow ($84.15). 

Is there anything more important than the pillow you sleep on every night? Oh sure, your health, your job, your family. But there’s one thing that will give you a boost when it comes to dealing with each of these parts of your life, and that’s a good night’s sleep.  

Let’s face it, we all have to sleep — and if we don’t get enough of it, then pretty soon we’re toast. So we should take some time (yes, and spend a little money) on what might be our closest life companion: the humble bed pillow.

Not all pillows are created equal, as most of us know — but what makes a pillow “the one” for you? We’ve taken some of the most frequently asked questions about how to buy a pillow and compiled them below so you have everything you need for your own personal quest. 

Come on now, let’s get started.

Is it when the coffee stains outnumber the clean spots, the smell is more than you can handle . . . or even before that?

 According to professionals (pillowologists?), the general rule is 18 months to three years, depending on what it’s made from. 

Memory foam lasts longer, natural materials outlast synthetics, and, yep, expensive pillows do better than the cheap ones. 

Dr. Michael Breus, PhD (thesleepdoctor.com), says your pillow can become literally “unhealthy.” In fact, your little slumber buddy can harbor more than half its weight in dead skin, mildew, mold, fungus, and dust mites (as well as their feces). 

The point is, you get cozy with your pillow for something like eight hours a night — and in terms of time spent, that adds up as the months (or years) pass. Consider pillows a biannual-ish replacement to build into your budget — and don’t get too emotionally attached to yours in the meantime. 

The position you sleep in can naturally can impact the kind of pillow you choose, but the key goal is always to keep your  head and neck in line with your spine. 

Here are the three main types of sleepers and the pillows you should be looking out for, depending on your snooze style.  

Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow Set  - $72 from Tuft & Needle 

Grab that big fat pillow (maybe not too fat), and be sure it’s on the firm side. Your pillow should fill the space between the mattress and the near side of your head. 

To get a rough idea of what you need, stand with your shoulder barely touching against a wall or door frame. Now insert a pillow between the wall and your head (remembering not to tilt it as you do!). Does it fill the space completely? If it’s a yes, well done.

Coop Home Goods - Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow - $63.99 from Amazon 

Bad news, stomach snoozers: As much as you love ‘em, a pillow can only push your head and neck backward from your spine — that is, out of proper alignment. If you feel you’d like a pillow, make it tortilla-thin and soft.

And, uh, not to be a downer, but, you might consider training yourself to catch your ZZZs in another sleep position altogether. Most experts say stomach sleepers are putting dangerous stress on their necks and spines and asking for trouble in the future. 

Parachute Down Pillow - $89 from Parachute 

Thin is the operative word for back sleepers. Why? When you’re lying on your back, there’s not much space between your head and the mattress. But you also want some support too: Enter this Parachute pillow, with 750 fill power European white down and soft, medium, and firm densities. 

Remember, you want to keep your head and neck in alignment with your spine. If you just keep sight of this guideline and choose a pillow that keeps its shape, you can avoid a lot of future discomfort — and potential trips to the chiropractor.

Just as important as the loft of the pillow is what’s inside of it — after all, that’s what we’re depending on to get the squish factor we need for a good night’s sleep. Here’s what they’re usually filled with. 

Brooklinen Down Pillow - $84.15 from Brooklinen

Still the king of softness, down pillows can be a little pricey, but if you find a brand/product you trust, the results can be awesome. Some folks are prone to allergies here, but according to the Sleep Doctor, reactions most often come from whole feathers not properly cleaned. Brooklinen’s antimicrobial take is much-loved for its supportive two-core structure made of feathers on the inner part and down clusters on the outer. 

Casper Original Pillow - $52 from Casper 

Down alternative pillows are great for those sensitive to the natural version of the fibers or who prefer something non-animal-based. They usually have a poly fill and offer a lot of plush at a mostly lower price point. This one, from Casper, is made from microfiber and gets top marks for side and back sleepers who want great value for money. 

Holy Lamb Organics Woolly "Down" Pillow - $149 from Amazon

A natural but hypo-allergenic product, wool is resistant to mold and dust mites. It will wick the moisture from your head and neck and help regulate your body temperature, too. On the softness spectrum, it leans toward firmness (alpaca wool is softer) and lasts a long time. This adjustable wool pillow is made from textile “nibs” that mimic the feel of a down pillow as you’re nodding off. 

Saatva Latex Pillow - $155 from Saatya

Comfortable, clean, supportive, but firm — latex pillows are not “fluffable” pillows. But they do provide great support, and some are cleverly engineered for the best of both worlds, like this Saatva Latex Pillow made from a 100% natural latex core and a removable inner pillow with a down-like filling. 

Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow - $89 from Nest Bedding

Memory foam pillows respond to your weight and body heat, forming a custom mold for your head and neck. What could be more supportive? This one from Nest Bedding is adjustable, too. Memory foam retains heat, so they’re not super-great for hot sleepers. 

When you’re shopping for a pillow, or ordering online, you’ll find some products have a “loft” label. All that indicates is the height (fatness) of your pillow. Anything three inches or under is “low loft,” between three and six is medium, and six or above is “high loft.”

When you shop for your new pillow, make it a place where you can also try them on a proper mattress. Furniture stores are good, and the staff can assist, although the pillows could be a little pricey (which is where places like IKEA come in as the best of both worlds). If you order online, which is a totally fine option, make sure your purchase can be returned.

It helps to have a plus-one along, as weird as it might feel to ask a pal to come along. When you’re trying out your pillow, have them sit at your level (perhaps on a nearby mattress) to check if your body is aligned. They should do this at eye-level. When your head and neck are in a straight line with your chest — neither dropping toward the mattress nor angling upward — you’re good. It’s OK to turn your head — it’s bound to happen as you sleep. Just no tilting.