# How many pillows do you sleep with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400 "2026-01-06T16:04:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/1 "2026-01-06T16:04:42Z")
How many pillows do you use to sleep, not how many are on your bed. Body pillows count as 2. _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/1))_ ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/2 "2026-01-06T16:06:54Z")
2 plus a body pillow, I’m a side sleeper. I occasionally steal one of my wife’s (she uses two) during the night, but not intentionally. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/3 "2026-01-06T16:26:15Z")
Currently one, since I found one at Mattress Firm (formerly Sleep Train) a few years ago that works very well for a side sleeper with a touchy neck. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/4 "2026-01-06T16:48:06Z")
One at night (and answered accordingly) but two for reading in bed; I put the extra pillow aside on a laundry hamper before goint to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/5 "2026-01-06T16:50:44Z")
Zero. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/6 "2026-01-06T16:51:38Z")
None. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/7 "2026-01-06T16:56:57Z")
I have three for sleeping on, of varying thickness and firmness, plus three more tucked between the frame and the wall, to help anchor the curtain and also keep me from wacking into the wall myself. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/8 "2026-01-06T17:17:04Z")
One regular pillow per person is plenty. I also have a small “dog bone” neck pillow that gets used for some parts of some nights. ETA: should have been a reply to the thread, not specifically **Fins**. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/9 "2026-01-06T17:21:21Z")
@DCnDC and @SuntanLotion What position do you sleep in? ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/10 "2026-01-06T17:24:51Z")
One. So why are there so many god damned pillows on this bed??? ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/11 "2026-01-06T17:27:09Z")
Actually 1/2 a pillow. I like mine real flat. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/12 "2026-01-06T17:46:46Z")
On my right side. I sometimes fold a small blanket and put my head on it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/13 "2026-01-06T17:49:11Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > So why are there so many god damned pillows on this bed??? One for my head, and one for each arm. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/14 "2026-01-06T17:50:22Z")
Use one memory-foam pillow. Have four on my bed (one for me, three for the dog to choose from). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/15 "2026-01-06T18:03:02Z")
Three, starting a while ago when I had a cold and the third pillow helped my nose drain over night. But I’m long overdue to get new pillows, so I might go back to two then. Two are relatively thin so they add up to less than two hotel pillows. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/16 "2026-01-06T18:05:03Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > What position do you sleep in? On my back or either side. Upper part of the bed is slightly upright. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/17 "2026-01-06T18:10:55Z")
Two. One under and one covering my head (eyes and ears really) leaving my mouth and nose out. If you say that’s weird my wife agrees. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/18 "2026-01-06T18:24:38Z")
I can get by with one if I must ( I mean, whaddya gonna do? ) but I prefer three and a half. - Under my head - Spooning pillow, used primarily as a support “sling” for my outside or upper arm ( I sleep on my side ) - A blackout pillow to cover my eyes and help deaden sound - A small ( one foot square ) thin pillow placed between my knees because I can’t stand that bone-to-bone feeling. I’ll also wad up the bedding between my ankles for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/19 "2026-01-07T01:41:40Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Spooning pillow I used to use a spooning pillow but then I moved on to forking in bed. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400/20 "2026-01-07T01:52:43Z")
3 superflat down + one space filling pillows to stop those 3 from sliding between the headboard and the mattress but not used in sleeping. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pillows-do-you-sleep-with/1026400.md?page=2)