The Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

The Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow is our top pick for back sleepers. Its fully adjustable cross-cut memory foam and microfiber fill lets you remove handfuls of fill until the loft matches a back sleeper’s need for a medium, not-too-high stack under the head and neck, and it carries CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certification plus a 5-year warranty, all for $89. Read the full Coop Home Goods review for more on how it performs.

If you want a latex feel with built-in airflow, the Purple Harmony Pillow adds a honeycomb GelFlex Grid over Talalay latex, though its loft is fixed at order time and its warranty runs a single year. Shoppers who prefer a natural fiber blend should look at the Layla Kapok Pillow, which mixes shredded memory foam with kapok and is also fully adjustable. Hot sleepers on a budget can check the Beckham Hotel Collection Adjustable Cooling Pillow, and anyone who wants a low, flat, fixed-loft foam pillow should consider the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow. See our picks for side sleepers if your position changes through the night, or our pillows for neck pain guide if alignment is your main concern.

How we picked

We scored every pillow on five weighted criteria: loft and adjustability (25%), support for your sleep position (25%), cooling (15%), washability and durability (15%), and value (20%). The full method for turning subscores into a final score is on how we score.

These are researched picks, not pillows we tested in person. We read each brand’s own product page, spec sheet, stated certifications and warranty terms, and weighed the consensus of expert and verified-buyer reviews we read along the way.

What to look for

• Loft under compression: back sleepers generally do best with a medium loft, roughly 4 to 5 inches once your head compresses the fill, more than a side sleeper needs and less than a stomach sleeper’s flatter option.
• Adjustable fill: a zippered inner liner that lets you add or remove fill means you are not stuck with the loft the pillow ships with.
• Cooling cover: look for a moisture-wicking knit, a gel-infused grid, or a Qmax-tested cool-touch fabric if you tend to sleep hot.
• Certifications: CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX both mean the foam or textile was tested for a list of harmful substances.
• Warranty length: the adjustable foam and kapok pillows on this list carry 5-year warranties. The latex pillow here carries a shorter 1-year term.
• Washability: check whether the whole pillow is machine washable or only the removable cover. Our guide to washing pillows covers the steps for each fill type.

FAQ

What loft height is best for back sleepers?

Most back sleepers do well with a medium loft of about 4 to 5 inches once the fill compresses, enough to fill the gap under the neck without tipping the chin toward the chest. An adjustable pillow lets you test this range without buying more than once.

Is an adjustable pillow worth the extra step of removing fill?

If you are unsure of your ideal loft, yes. Coop Home Goods, Layla, and Beckham all ship generously filled so you can remove material in small amounts until the height feels right, instead of guessing with a fixed-loft pillow.

Can a pillow fix neck pain from sleeping on your back?

A pillow that keeps your neck level with your spine can support better alignment while you sleep, but it does not treat or cure neck pain. If pain is persistent, see a doctor or physical therapist rather than relying on a pillow alone.

How often should you replace a pillow?

Most foam and latex pillows hold their shape for several years under a manufacturer’s warranty, commonly 1 to 5 years across this list, but replace any pillow once it stops springing back after you fold it in half and let go.

Do latex pillows sleep cooler than memory foam?

It depends on the design. The Purple Harmony Pillow’s open Talalay latex and gel grid are built for airflow, while a solid memory foam piece like the TEMPUR-Cloud has less structure for air to move through. Check the cover material too, since a moisture-wicking knit affects how hot a pillow sleeps as much as the core does.