Experts agree that back-sleeping is the healthiest sleep position for most people, as compared to side- and stomach-sleeping. The benefits center on the ability for the head, neck, and spine to find a neutral alignment and achieve sufficient pressure relief. This becomes much easier if you have the right pillow. That’s why we’re sharing our list of the best pillows for back sleepers. You can say goodbye to experiencing stress, stiffness, or pain when waking up in the morning.
The 9 Best Pillows for Back Sleepers
- Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex – Editor’s Pick
- Saatva Latex – Best Pillow for Back Sleepers with Neck Pain
- Purple Harmony – Best Pillow for Side & Back Sleepers
- Layla Memory Foam Pillow – Best Soft Pillow for Back Sleepers
- Avocado Molded Latex Pillow – Best Firm Pillow for Back Sleepers
- Coop Home Goods Original Pillow – Best Memory Foam Pillow for Back Sleepers
- Plushbeds Goose Down Pillow – Best Down Pillow for Back Sleepers
- Bear – Best Cool Pillow for Back Sleepers
- TEMPUR-Cloud – Best Contour Pillow for Back Sleepers
Video Review: Best Pillows for Back Sleepers
Editor’s Pick – Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
Brooklyn Bedding's Talalay Latex Pillow is a supportive and pressure relieving blended latex foam pillow. It has a ventilated core and removable soft knit cover. It comes in two loft options, making it a good choice for any sleep position.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.70 / 5
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Back sleepers, no matter the body type, need a pillow that’s right in the middle in terms of height. You want your head and neck in a neutral position, while keeping your chin in line with your sternum. And Brooklyn Bedding makes a pillow that’s a win for back sleepers out there.
The brand’s Talalay latex pillow is soft but supportive at the same time. You won’t sink too far into this pillow, but you’ll get plush comfort and support.
This pillow won’t sleep hot thanks to the perforated latex foam, and it comes in two loft options, low and high. Back sleepers have the luxury of using either loft, but the high loft option is a win if you have a snoring problem.
What Makes Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow Stand Out?
- This pillow combines comfort and support all while being relatively affordable!
- It won’t trap heat due to perforations in the foam and a breathable cotton cover.
- Two loft options makes it truly versatile for all back sleepers.
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex pillow review.
Best for Neck Pain – Saatva Latex Pillow
Saatva Latex Pillow
The Saatva Pillow has an organic cotton cover that is removable. Underneath is an outer pillow made up of hypoallergenic microfibers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
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If you’re a back sleeper suffering from neck pain, chances are your pillow isn’t the right height and isn’t doing a good job relieving pressure. Luckily the Saatva latex pillow will do the job.
This pillow combines soft down alternative that surrounds a shredded latex foam core. You’ll get great plush comfort from the down alternative while getting exceptional support from the latex foam. This balanced support is what’s going to help relieve neck pain over time.
What Makes Saatva Latex Pillow Stand Out?
- It’s a fully organic pillow that’s also hypoallergenic!
- It’s made of breathable materials that will keep you cool.
- The combination of plush down alternative with supportive latex will keep you sleeping in a neutral position to relieve neck pain.
Read our full Saatva Latex pillow review.
Best for Side & Back Sleepers – Purple Harmony Pillow
Purple Harmony Pillow
The Purple Harmony pillow combines a solid and bouncy feel - thanks to its ventilated latex core - with the squishy nature of the Hex Grid that's made with the brand's Hyper-Elastic Polymer.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.40 / 5
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Let’s face it, not all of us stay in one position while we sleep. Side and back combination sleepers need a pillow that’s tall enough for both positions and easy to move around on.
The Purple Harmony comes in three loft options, and the mid and high loft will work for most back and side combo sleepers out there.
This pillow combines Purple’s proprietary gel grid that has been incorporated into the outer cover. And this surrounds a springy, responsive latex core. The mid loft option will work better for back and side combo sleepers with narrower frames, while the high loft will work best for those with bigger frames.
What Makes the Purple Harmony Stand Out?
- This pillow is springy and responsive and easy to move around on.
- Multiple loft options make it a win for multiple body types.
- The grid and the latex foam have open constructions meaning the pillow won’t trap heat.
Read our full Purple Harmony pillow review.
Best Soft – Layla Memory Foam Pillow
Layla Memory Foam Pillow
The Layla Memory Foam pillow is an affordable plush pillow with loads of cooling features. Because you can easily remove the filling, it's easy to customize the loft.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.50 / 5
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Memory foam is a good choice for those who prefer a soft, slow-moving pillow to sink into. If that’s your preference while back sleeping, then check out the Layla memory foam pillow.
This pillow is full of shredded memory foam that is full of soft foam and polyester fibers. This pillow’s fill is removable, so depending on how much foam you decide to keep in this pillow can change how firm or soft it feels. If you take out some fill, it’ll feel much softer than if it’s stuffed full.
And being made of foam, it’ll contour to your head and neck while you sleep on your back, and keep you in a neutral position while you sleep.
What Makes the Layla Memory Foam Pillow Stand Out?
- This pillow has an impressive 5-year warranty so it should last that long.
- It’s full of slow-moving memory foam that feels plush and soft and will contour to your head and neck.
- When discounted, this pillow is fairly affordable!
Read our Layla pillows review.
Best Firm – Avocado Molded Latex Pillow
Avocado Pillow
The Avocado pillow is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly pillow filled with a combination of Kapok fibers and natural shredded latex. It has a smooth and plush feel but the shredded latex brings in a lot of support. It is adjustable, making it a good fit for all sleep positions, but its firmness lends itself to side and back sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.50 / 5
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If you’re a back sleeper who likes a firm pillow, then Avocado’s molded latex pillow is great for you.
It’s made from a single piece of molded Talalay latex that has been perforated, which allows air to flow through very easily. But being latex, this pillow feels very bouncy and responsive, and you’re not going to sink too far into this pillow.
This pillow is a mid-loft option perfect for back sleeping and will keep you in a neutral alignment while you sleep.
What Makes the Avocado Molded Latex Pillow Stand Out?
- It’s made of 100% certified organic materials for eco-conscious shoppers.
- It is quite firm and responsive while still being soft and supportive.
- It won’t trap heat due to multiple breathable components.
Read our full Avocado Molded Latex pillow review.
Best Memory Foam – Coop Home Goods Original Pillow
Coop Home Goods Original Pillow
The Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow from Coop Home Goods is distinct in more than one way. The memory foam shredded filling is responsive and guarantees the pillow will never go flat, plus sleepers can remove as much filling as they like which makes it great for people who sleep in several positions.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.70 / 5
Read Full Review
Memory foam can come to you either in a single slab, or shredded. For back sleepers, shredded memory foam pillows can often be adjusted to get a loft that’s right for you. And one of the best memory foam pillows is the Coop Home Goods Original Pillow.
This pillow is full of a proprietary blend of foam and microfibers that give it a perfect medium-firm feel. Back sleepers who love memory foam will enjoy this pillow because it’ll conform to your head and neck and keep you in a comfortable, neutral alignment.
What Makes Coop Home Goods Original Pillow Stand Out?
- It comes to you with an extra bag of fill to adjust its height, but you can use the bag to take out fill to get a loft that’s right for you.
- It has that classic, slow-moving feel that memory foam fans love.
- It’s a great hypoallergenic pick.
Read our full Coop Home Goods Original pillow review.
Best Down – Plushbeds Goose Down Pillow
Plushbeds Goose Down Pillow
If you love down pillows, then check out the Plushbeds Goose Down pillow. Goose down is some of the softest out there, but with two firmnesses available, there's something for everyone.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
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Plushbeds’ Goose Down pillow is a fantastic choice for back sleepers who love down pillows because it has two firmness options available. Both will be great for back sleepers depending on your body type.
Lightweight to average weight back sleepers will enjoy the medium-firm option, while heavier back sleepers will want the firm option. Regardless, both will give you that plush feeling that down is known for.
This pillow comes to you in a cotton sateen shell and feels luxuriously soft. Down can be an insulator, but Plushbeds has optimized this pillow for breathability.
What Makes the Plushbeds Goose Down Pillow Stand Out?
- This pillow is full of plush down that is also supportive enough for a neutral alignment while back sleeping.
- The goose down has been responsibly sourced.
- This pillow has been optimized for breathability and temperature regulation so it won’t trap heat.
Read our full Plushbeds Goose Down pillow review.
Best Cool – Bear Pillow
Bear Pillow
For those who love latex foam or hybrid foam pillows, this one might be worth the price. Click the button below to save 20% on a Bear pillow!
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
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Back sleepers who run hot should look at the Bear pillow to stay cool all night long. Made from a single piece of Loft-X foam, this pillow provides ample support and comfort, perfect for back sleeping.
But what makes it a great option for hot sleepers is the outer cover. It’s made from Double Ice fabric, which will stay cool to the touch all night long.
And at the ends of this cover, you’ll find mesh corners which will promote airflow.
What Makes the Bear Pillow Stand Out?
- It feels soft, but springy and responsive, making it easy to move around on.
- The cover has been designed to stay cool all night long.
- Bear mentions that this is a hypoallergenic pillow to fight dust mites and allergens in your sleep environment.
Read our full Bear pillow review.
Best Contour – TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow
TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow
The TEMPUR-Cloud pillow is a traditional memory foam-like pillow made with a solid piece of TEMPUR material.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.50 / 5
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Pillows that can contour to your head are great for things like pressure relief and keeping your head and neck in a neutral position. TEMPUR-Pedic changed the game with TEMPUR material in its beds, and its pillows followed suit.
The TEMPUR-Cloud pillow is made from a single slab of TEMPUR material that will adapt and contour to your head. It has that classic, slow-moving feel to memory foam, and can be easily compressed for travel, too!
What Makes the TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow Stand Out?
- The single piece of memory foam will contour and adapt to your head.
- It has an outer, removable cover that is hypoallergenic, too.
- TEMPUR-Pedic has many pillows available, and this is an ideal pick for back sleeping.
Read our full TEMPUR-Cloud pillow review.
How We Chose Our Products
Our team of sleep specialists tested many pillows currently on the market, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to find the best of the best for our readers. When building our roundup for the best pillows for back sleepers, we paid special attention to support, durability, loft, and quality of materials.
Pillows made for back-sleeping require different attributes than pillows made for other positions like stomach-sleeping, so we made sure to keep this in mind when it came to selecting pillows with a proper loft. Additionally, we featured pillows that should maintain their support and durability through the night to keep your spine properly aligned. Lastly, we wanted to place an emphasis on pillows featuring quality materials.
For more, we encourage you to check out our Buyer’s Guide at the bottom of the page. There we take a deeper dive into all of these attributes so you can make the most informed purchase possible.
What Back Sleepers Should Look For In A Pillow
As we mentioned before, people want to find a pillow that helps the head, neck, and spine stay in a neutral position. This will prevent unnecessary stress on the joints. Pay attention to these factors so you wake up feeling refreshed:
Materials
There are many great pillow options for back sleepers from a variety of material types.
- Latex pillows offer great pressure relief and long-term support. Plus, latex quickly responds to your movements so you can sleep comfortably.
- Memory foam pillows also have effective contouring to match the natural curvature of your neck and spine. Additionally, they’re very durable and offer long-lasting support.
- Down pillows are soft and cooling, though they tend to become flat more quickly and may not offer long-lasting support.
- Cotton pillows are also softer and may lose support more quickly.
- Gel-infused pillows can help keep you cool at night.
Loft
Your neck has a normal curvature that should be supported by the pillow. If there’s too much loft, the neck will straighten out. If the pillow is too low, the curve is intensified. Either of these positions will leave a person with soreness and stiffness.
Firmness
Back sleepers should avoid extra-soft or extra-firm pillows. For proper support, back sleepers will want a medium to medium-firm pillow. This should keep the spine aligned properly.
Certain materials affect the density and firmness of the pillow. For example, latex and memory foam pillows are denser and offer a different feel than down and feather pillows.
What Else Can Back Sleepers Do?
Back sleepers should consider more than just the pillow resting under their head. Here are a few more tips for a good night’s sleep.
- Sleep on a supportive mattress: Back sleepers need a medium-firm mattress offering solid support, especially in the lumbar region of the spine. Check out our roundup of the best mattresses for back sleepers if you’re on the market for a new mattress!
- Add a mattress topper to a too-firm mattress: If your mattress is too firm and you aren’t ready for a new one, try adding a memory foam or latex mattress topper for an extra layer of comfort. If your mattress is too soft, some high-density toppers may help make your sleep surface slightly more firm.
- Add another pillow to the bed: Sleeping with a pillow underneath your knees can help the natural curvature of the spine. This is especially true for back sleepers who experience lower back pain.
- Stretch before bed: Doing some light stretches before bed to release muscle tension can help you avoid pressure and pain in the lower back.
- Looking into pillows that offer trial periods: This way, you can sleep on several pillows for a few nights and see which one leaves you feeling the best in the morning.
Summary
| Pillow | Best For |
| Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex | Editor’s Pick |
| Saatva Latex | Best Pillow for Back Sleepers with Neck Pain |
| Purple Harmony | Best Pillow for Side and Back Sleepers |
| Layla Memory Foam | Best Soft Pillow For Back Sleepers |
| Avocado Molded Latex Pillow | Best Firm Pillow For Back Sleepers |
| Coop Home Goods Original | Best Memory Foam Pillow For Back Sleepers |
| Plushbeds Goose Down Pillow | Most Best Down Pillow for Back Sleepers |
| Bear | Best Cool Pillow for Back Sleepers |
| TEMPUR-Cloud | Best Contour Pillow for Back Sleepers |
FAQs
What kind of pillow is best for back sleepers?
The best pillow for back sleepers is one that will support the natural head, neck and spinal alignment of the body. Please keep in mind that this is not the same thing as an exact straight line. Our bodies have a natural curve to them - this is noticeable when sleepers place their hands behind their heads and move them down toward the shoulders - the curvature is prominent in this point. The best pillow for back sleepers is one that supports this natural curve. One that is too firm will push the head forward, generating neck strain and discomfort. Likewise, a pillow that’s too soft or flat will cause the head to fall too far back, exaggerating the curve of the neck and increasing the likelihood of neck pain as well.
Are memory foam pillows good for back sleepers?
Memory foam pillows can be a great option for back sleepers; the natural contouring and pressure-relieving properties that memory foam provides can help support the neck and the head and keep it in the right alignment, all without falling flat or changing shape overnight. The key is to find the right support level and height for a person’s body type - not all memory foams are created the same in terms of feel or support.
Should back sleepers even use a pillow?
Yes, in most cases back sleepers should use a pillow. How tall or supportive the pillow should be will be determined by body shape and size and also how firm or soft one’s mattress is. The firmer the mattress, the more one’s body will sleep on top of the bed, as opposed to sinking into the bed. This correlates to how supportive one’s pillow should be - the firmer the mattress, the taller and the more supportive the pillow will need to be. Likewise, the softer the pillow the more someone will sink into the mattress and a flatter pillow will be sufficient.
Tony Klespis
Tony is a staff writer at Mattress Clarity where he analyzes sleep products and appears in review videos. He earned a B.A in English from Sam Houston State University and a M.A in Mass Communication from Texas State University.
When he isn’t writing about sleep products, Tony loves to unwind with a good book or can be found playing Pokemon Go outside with his friends, or cuddling with his cat, Penguin. He’s always down to try a new, local restaurant and try new foods.