7 Signs It’s Time for a New Pillow

Your pillow doesn’t pass this “shoe test”

As a rule of thumb, you should replace feather, down, and synthetic-filled pillows every 18 months, and get a new memory foam pillow after you’ve had it for three years. Not sure if your pillow makes the cut? A simple test can help you figure it out, says Michael Breus, PhD, clinical sleep specialist and author of The Power of When. “Fold it in half and put a shoe on top,” he says. “If the shoe flips off, your pillow is good.” Here’s how to tell if you should replace your mattress.