Likely match
Lift Plus
Higher support for larger shoulder gaps
- Loft @ 50 N
- 118 mm
- Firmness (IFD25)
- 75–90 N
- Family
- side
Next pick if Lift Plus feels off: Rise.
Custom pillow · Shoulder support
Shoulder pressure is usually a pillow-height problem.
If your shoulder hurts after side sleeping, the fix is rarely a softer mattress — it's a taller pillow that fills the gap so your shoulder isn't doing the support work.
Measured pillow heightMade in Canada90-day fit trial
Quick answer
When side sleepers wake up with shoulder pressure, the pillow is almost always too short. The shoulder sinks, the head drops, and the head's weight transfers down through the deltoid and joint. A pillow tall enough to fill the head-to-mattress gap removes that load. The mattress itself rarely needs to change.
The problem
Why shoulder pain shows up first
Side sleeping puts your full upper-body weight onto a single shoulder. If the pillow is the right height, your head and neck aren't transferring weight onto the shoulder — the pillow is. If the pillow is too short, the head's weight loads through the deltoid for hours, and the shoulder is the first place that complains in the morning.
- Pillows under 100 mm tall fail most average-shouldered side sleepers
- Pillows under 115 mm tall fail most broad-shouldered side sleepers
- Foam that settles overnight (creep) recreates the original problem by morning
- Folding the pillow in half means the support is unstable
- Broad shoulders → +10 mm of recommended height
- Arm-under-pillow → +6 mm (you're already using your arm to fill the gap)
- Stacking two pillows → +8 mm (same signal)
- Firm mattress → +6 mm (your shoulder isn't sinking, the gap is wider)
Fit logic
How the fit logic responds to shoulder issues
Two signals push the recommendation taller: shoulder breadth, and any current habits that suggest the existing pillow is too short.
Recommended profile
Recommended profile
The Lift Plus profile is Maple's everyday answer for shoulder pressure — taller loft, balanced firmness, and a creep delta tight enough that the height holds. For broader shoulders or sleepers who currently stack pillows, the Rise profile adds another 8 mm of measured height.
Profile: Loft: medium-high to high · Feel: medium-firm · Best for: side sleepers feeling shoulder pressure or pinched-arm sensations
See the Lift Plus profileWhat to avoid
What to avoid
- Soft adjustable pillows that compress under the head and lose loft overnight
- Down pillows for shoulder support — they collapse exactly when you need them
- Buying a softer mattress before trying a taller pillow
- Stacking two pillows — unstable and the height shifts
Frequently asked
Shoulder support questions, answered.
Why does my shoulder hurt after side sleeping?
Almost always because the pillow is too short. Your head's weight transfers down through the deltoid instead of being held by the pillow. Try a taller pillow before changing the mattress — it's the cheaper test and usually the right one.
Will a mattress topper fix shoulder pressure?
Sometimes — a softer surface lets the shoulder sink more, which reduces direct pressure on the joint. But that also raises the head relative to the spine, which means you'll need a slightly lower pillow afterwards. Get the pillow fit right first.
How tall should a pillow be for broad shoulders?
Broad-shouldered side sleepers usually land between 118 mm and 130 mm of measured height under a 50 N load. The Rise profile is built for this range and is Maple's tallest measured-height option.
Ready to confirm the fit?
The fit quiz takes about 60 seconds.
Eight inputs, one specific match, a 90-day fit trial if it isn't right.
This page is fit guidance, not medical advice. Persistent or severe discomfort warrants a conversation with a qualified healthcare professional.