Best Pillows for Back Sleepers in 2024

You may have heard of Coop Sleep Good’s Eden Pillow, as it often tops lists of the best pillows. If you thought that pillow was cool, let me tell you, it got even better. The Coop Eden Cool Plus Pillow is the new version of the Eden Pillow. It has a similar cool-to-the-touch cover, but now it also has a heat-wicking inner liner, a gel layer and shredded gel-infused memory foam, which is great for hot sleepers. The filling is Greenguard Gold and CertiPur-US certified.

This pillow is also adjustable. It comes with extra filling, as well as an option to pull out the filling. Make it as firm or soft as you desire, as long as it isn’t too high. I like that the memory foam lets you sink a little into the pillow, regardless of how much you fill it. Back sleepers will feel fully supported with this pillow. 

Sleeping positions: Back and side

Pros:

• Cool to the touch; great for hot sleepers
• Adjustable and hypoallergenic 
• Removable, washable cover

Cons:

• Not for those who don’t like to sink a little into pillows 
• On the expensive side

If you’re unsure about how supportive you want or need your pillow to be, finding an adjustable pillow is the right move. The Nolah Squishy Pillow is my favorite adjustable pillow for back sleepers. It’s made of cube-cut foam that’s super squishy, hence the name. My head sunk into the pillow a little, but I felt supported enough to sleep through the night. 

Its cover is soft, machine washable and made of Oeko-Tex-certified bamboo-blend fibers. The best part is that one box comes with two queen-size pillows, so you get two for the price of one. Nolah even has frequent deals, so look for sales where you can get these two pillows for $20 cheaper.   

Sleeping positions: Back and side

Pros:

• Soft and comfortable 
• Sold as a set of two queen pillows
• Adjustable foam filling 

Cons:

• Some sleepers might find it too lumpy
• Not for those who don’t like to sink a little into pillows

Memory foam is great for back sleepers who have neck pain because the foam will contour to the head and neck. The Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Memory Foam Pillow in a low loft is great for these back sleepers. The pillow’s memory foam is perforated, and the top is infused with copper. This natural mineral helps fight against mold, allergens and dust mites. It’s around a medium firmness.

This Brooklyn Bedding pillow is also ideal for hot sleepers, as the cover is cool to the touch and can be removed and washed. Also, Brooklyn Bedding often has deals, so you can usually grab this pillow for under $99.  

Sleeping positions: Back, stomach, side and combination

Pros:

• Cool to the touch; great for hot sleepers
• Good for combination sleepers who switch to their back
• Machine-washable cover

Cons:

• On the thinner side
• Not for back sleepers who like a loftier pillow

If you’re a back sleeper who often overheats at night, the Bear Pillow is a great option. It has a cover that’s cool to the touch. Both ends of the pillow have mesh, allowing for more airflow. It’s also hypoallergenic and resistant to mold, bacteria and dust mites. At its core, the Bear Pillow is made with a hybrid foam, which I consider halfway between bouncy latex foam and slow-molding memory foam. I think it’s right down the middle when it comes to firmness and softness — the perfect combination for back sleepers.

Note that you can’t wash the Bear Pillow cover. Spot clean only, and use a light, breathable pillowcase to feel the full effects of the cool-to-the-touch cover.

Sleeping positions: Back and side

Pros:

• Cool to the touch; great for hot sleepers
• Hypoallergenic 
• Not too soft, not too firm

Cons:

• Not machine washable
• On the expensive side

You might have heard of Purple and its unique honeycomb-patterned grid layer. This feature, found in all products including the Purple Harmony Pillow, is flexible, supportive and slightly moldable, like memory foam. The pillow also has a Talalay latex core that’s perforated for airflow. (Talalay is a natural latex sourced from rubber trees.) When you put your head down on this pillow, it feels light and slightly bouncy. My head never sank too far into the pillow.

The machine-washable mesh cover is slightly cool to the touch. This pillow should support back sleepers and also back sleepers who may switch to their sides.

Sleeping positions: Back and side

Pros:

• Well-ventilated; great for hot sleepers
• Bouncy feel keeps head from sinking in too far 
• Soft, machine-washable cover

Cons:

• Expensive
• Its unique latex grid isn’t for everyone

Whether you’re particular about the materials that go into your bedding, have allergies or want a pillow that’s both eco-conscious and all-natural, the Avocado Green Pillow could be for you. Made with shredded GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic kapok and cotton, the pillow is nontoxic, holds the Made Safe seal and is certified vegan. The removable, washable cotton cover is quilted and has a zipper for easy adjustability. Remove or add filling to your liking.

This pillow feels a little firmer than the other pillows on this list, but while lying on my back, I felt properly supported. The filling also contours to your head and neck, but not as much as memory foam filling. Note that this pillow requires frequent fluffing.

Sleeping positions: Back and side

Pros:

Cons:

• Requires frequent fluffing 
• Not for people who want a softer pillow

A good down pillow is made of quality materials, with evenly distributed down clusters, and it should cushion the head without feeling lumpy. The Brooklinen Down Pillow checks all those boxes. It’s made of 100% down clusters and feathers, and it’s covered with a cotton sateen shell. You can also choose your ideal support by opting for plush, mid-plush or firm. I tested the mid-plush option, and I’d say it’s the best for back sleepers (in fact, this option should suit most sleepers). It’s optimal in terms of firmness and support. Stop-clean this pillow or dry-clean if needed.

Sleeping positions: Back, side, stomach and combination 

Pros:

• Available in plush, mid-plush and firm
• Soft and fluffy 
• Great for all sleepers

Cons:

• Not for people who are vegan or who have allergies 
• Besides picking the loft, it isn’t adjustable
• Requires daily fluffing

A more affordable version of the Avocado Green Pillow or other organic, all-natural pillows is a down alternative. These pillows are hypoallergenic and made without animal products while still being supportive and fluffy.

The Casper Original Pillow is my pick for the best down alternative pillow for back sleepers because it’s comfortable, versatile and doesn’t require constant fluffing. This pillow is made with a 100% cotton cover and polyester filling. Like foam, the pillow adapts to your head and returns to its original shape when you get up. I felt very supported by the Casper Original.

The removable cover is washable and the entire pillow can be machine-washed, as well.  

Sleeping positions: Back and side

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Fluffy and supportive 
• Entire pillow is machine washable 

Cons:

• Not for people who prefer solid foam pillows 
• A little firmer than the other pillows on this list

Wedge pillows are great for supporting your back while you’re lying in bed working, scrolling on your phone or watching TV. These pillows may also help with snoring, nasal drainage, acid reflux and heartburn. You can also place a wedge pillow under your knees if you have lower back pain.

The Helix Wedge Pillow is made with a layer of gel foam over a core of poly foam. The cover is a blend of rayon and polyester fibers and can be removed and washed. I liked how the pillow propped me up and supported my head and neck. I tested this pillow while I read in bed.    

Sleeping positions: Back and side

Pros:

• Great for working or watching TV in bed
• Can be used when you’re sick or having symptoms of acid reflux 
• Removable, washable cover

Cons:

• Takes up a lot of space (it’s 24 by 24 by 10 inches)
• Not for people looking for a traditional pillow

Looking for a new mattress? With this CNET-exclusive deal, you can take 27% off Helix sitewide and get two free pillows with any mattress purchase. This is the biggest discount available — you won’t find it anywhere else. Use code CNET27 at checkout.

The Parachute Down Alternative Pillow is my favorite of the honorable mentions. It’s made with a hypoallergenic microfill and a cotton sateen shell. I tested the Down Alternative Pillow in a medium firmness but soft, side sleeper and firm options are also available. I’d consider both the medium and firm to be good for back sleepers, and the firm should work for people who don’t want to sink too far into their pillow. 

Although I loved the feel of this soft pillow, it does require frequent fluffing. As someone who isn’t a big fan of down filling, I liked how this down-alternative pillow felt different. This won’t be for someone who’s a fan of down or down alternatives that feel like the real thing.  

This hefty pillow from Saatva is made with shredded memory foam and latex foam core. It comes with a soft knit cover that you can remove and wash. Around the core is a graphite-infused memory foam that may help you sleep cooler by pulling the heat away from your head.

I found this pillow to be much better suited for side sleepers. Because it has a high loft of almost 6 inches, back sleepers might hurt their necks on this pillow. While you do sink a little into the material, the loft is still too high. Side sleepers, on the other hand, should find this pillow comfortable. It gave me great support between my head and shoulder.   

Slumber Cloud is known for its cooling bedding. Its UltraCool Comforter made our list of the best cooling comforters. Its UltraCool Pillow is no different: cool to the touch and fluffy. Its down alternative filling is made of polyester fibers that won’t retain your body heat. For your firmness preferences, you can choose between soft/medium and medium/firm. The pillow itself isn’t adjustable.

For this review, I tested the medium/firm support, in consideration of back sleepers. I found this firmness level to be more medium than firm, which I was happy with. There isn’t as much support there as I found with other pillows on the list. This isn’t the pillow for back sleepers looking for more support.