Pillowise Sizing Guide: Three Measurements and Six Colour Codes

Pillowise does not ask you to choose a pillow by colour preference. Its six colours identify six fitted sizes. The suggested size comes from three body measurements—shoulder width, neck circumference and neck height—plus mattress firmness and preferred sleep position.

Bottom line: Accurate measurements give the Pillowise calculator a better starting point, but the result is still a fitting recommendation. Confirm comfort and head-neck position on your own mattress, and do not treat a colour code as a diagnosis or a promise of pain relief.

What the Pillowise colour code means

Each Pillowise colour corresponds to a distinct pillow size within the brand's system. The current Canadian standard and travel products use the colour lineup Pink, Orange, Green, Blue, Red and Purple. The colours are identifiers, not a simple ranking that every shopper should interpret as “soft to firm” or “small to large.”

Use the colour returned by the official calculator or a measured fitting. Do not select based on another person's colour: two people with visibly different builds may receive the same recommendation because the calculation combines several inputs.

The AMS Clinic Shop currently lists two active adult products in the Pillowise collection: the standard orthopaedic pillow and the compact travel pillow. The pediatric PillowFit Junior product is currently in draft and should not be promoted as available.

The three Pillowise measurements

Ask another person to help if possible. Use a flexible measuring tape and record each value in the units requested by the official calculator.

1. Shoulder width

Measure across the curve of the upper back from one acromion—the bony point at the outer shoulder—to the other. Keep the tape against the body without pulling it into a straight line through the air.

Why it may matter: when you lie on your side, shoulder dimensions and how the shoulder sinks into the mattress affect the space between the head and sleep surface. A small 2024 laboratory study in nine healthy side sleepers found that a shoulder-width-normalized pillow-height measure correlated with cervical-spine morphology. The sample was too small and too specific to validate Pillowise or define a clinical outcome.

2. Neck circumference

Wrap the tape around the middle of the neck. Keep it level and comfortably against the skin; do not pull it tight. Record the measurement without rounding aggressively.

3. Neck height

With the head upright, measure vertically from the lower earlobe or the bony area just behind it down toward the top of the shoulder, following the current Pillowise measuring guide. Identifying the landmarks consistently is more important than trying to measure yourself in a mirror.

The official Pillowise FAQ confirms these three measurements and recommends that a second person take them when possible.

Add mattress firmness and sleep position

The calculator also asks for mattress firmness and your preferred sleep position. These are not trivial extras:

• A shoulder may sink farther into a softer mattress, reducing the gap the pillow must fill in side-lying.
• A firmer mattress may leave more of that gap open.
• Side, back and stomach positions place the head and neck differently relative to the mattress.

Choose the firmness that best describes the mattress you actually use. Choose your primary sleep position, even if you change positions during the night. If you are split almost evenly between positions or are unsure about the mattress, note that uncertainty during a clinic fitting rather than guessing with false precision.

What the evidence can—and cannot—say about measurement

A 2021 review of pillow-height research identified body dimensions, cervical alignment, contact pressure and muscle activity as relevant factors in pillow design and selection. It also found that available studies could not establish one optimal pillow height for everyone who sleeps on the side or back.

That supports the logic of considering more than a generic pillow label. It does not independently validate the proprietary Pillowise algorithm, its six outputs or a claim of “perfect alignment.” No independent clinical validation study of the Pillowise system was located for this guide.

A separate systematic review of pillow designs found that some designs may improve neck symptoms, while effects varied and sleep quality did not clearly improve in chronic neck pain. Those findings cannot be transferred directly to Pillowise.

A practical decision guide after you get a colour

1. Save the three measurements and the mattress/position inputs you used.
2. Confirm that the selected product offers the recommended colour before ordering.
3. On your own mattress, check whether your head feels pushed up, dropped down or rotated away from a comfortable middle position.
4. Monitor morning comfort, neck stiffness, headaches and sleep disruption over several nights if the pillow remains comfortable.
5. Recheck the measurements if the recommendation feels clearly too high or too low.
6. Ask for help if you have unusual body proportions, recent surgery, a major injury, progressive neurological symptoms or persistent pain.

For the full measuring instructions and calculator link, use the AMS Pillowise fitting page. Product availability, exchange terms and current variants should always be confirmed on the live product page before purchase.

When to seek an assessment

A fitting cannot determine why your neck hurts. Arrange a healthcare assessment if pain persists, keeps returning, interrupts sleep or limits daily activity. Seek urgent care after significant trauma or for new or worsening arm or leg weakness, numbness, walking or balance problems, severe unusual headache, double vision, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, fainting, or changes in bladder or bowel function.

Also seek prompt medical advice if neck pain occurs with fever, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer or severe unremitting night pain.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose my favourite Pillowise colour?
No. The colour identifies the size suggested by the fitting system. Use the calculator result or a measured fitting.

Can I measure myself?
The official Pillowise instructions prefer a second person because the shoulder and neck landmarks are difficult to measure accurately on yourself.

What if I sleep in more than one position?
Enter your main position. If two positions are nearly equal, discuss that uncertainty during a fitting and confirm comfort in both positions.

Does my mattress really change the recommendation?
It can. Mattress firmness changes how far the shoulder and trunk sink, which changes the space the pillow must support.

Does the correct colour mean my neck pain will improve?
Not necessarily. The colour is a fit recommendation, not a treatment outcome. Persistent or worsening symptoms need a broader assessment.

Evidence note

Product-system details were checked against the official Pillowise FAQ and AMS Clinic Shop on July 13, 2026. The clinical boundary is based on a pillow-height review, a small 2024 side-sleeper biomechanics study and a systematic review of pillow designs. These sources support individualized considerations but do not clinically validate the proprietary Pillowise algorithm.

Medical disclaimer

This article provides general educational information and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for advice specific to your symptoms, medical history, and activity goals.