Best Pillow For Back Sleepers & Side Sleepers - Pillow Reviews
Last Updated: December, 2022
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Nothing is worse than waking up sore with a stiff neck or not being able to fall asleep because you're so uncomfortable. If you’re a back sleeper or a side sleeper, the key to getting a comfortable night’s sleep is having a high quality, supportive pillow for back sleepers that will keep you aligned.
If you’re ready to improve your sleep quality and find the best pillow, check out these great pillow options for back sleepers.
According to our tests, the best pillow for back sleepers is the Zoma Pillow This innovative pillow provides all-night support and unmatched ventilation and airflow for a restful night sleep, free of aches and pains.
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9 Best Pillow For Back Sleepers
Zoma Pillow
This adaptive support pillow uses microcushions that give you a customized level of support that will never go flat or lose support.
GhostPillow
Over half a million were sold because of its cooling phase-changing material that adjusts to your body in real time to keep your cool. It's made of an aerated cooling gel memory foam that's designed to help support your head and neck when you sleep on your back.
Puffy Pillow
If you're into memory foam pillows, but still want a product that's supportive and alignment-friendly, the Puffy pillow is the option for you. This adjustable pillow comes in both king and standard sizes. With a hypoallergenic cooling cover on top and memory foam on the insides, the Puffy pillow offers an affordable option for back sleepers.
Layla Kapok Pillow
This luxurious pillow is a mix of Kapok fibers and a reactive foam that gives the pillow great moldability, while keeping you cool and supported all night.
AmeriSleep Dual Comfort Pillow
If you value versatility, the Amerisleep dual comfort pillow will impress you. It has a soft side and a firm side so you can adjust the way the pillow feels on the fly.
Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Bamboo Pillow
This is a medium-firm pillow that can be adjusted to your exact needs. Additional filling is included to help your customize your level of comfort.
Snuggle-Pedic Supreme Plush Gel-Infused Pillow
This adjustable, shredded gel foam pillow was created by a doctor for ultimate neck and spine alignment. It is ideal for all types of sleepers.
Sormag Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
This is a shredded foam pillow with ergonomic design for ultimate support and alignment. Breathable, bamboo case keeps you from overheating and is machine washable.
BedStory Down Alternative Luxury Pillows
Ergonomically designed pillow filled with plush down alternative for resilient support. Both the pillow and cover are 100% machine washable and dryer safe.
1. Zoma Pillow
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As a back sleeper, you generally need a thicker pillow that won't flatten throughout the night. Down alternative and cotton will compress and need to be refluffed, this pillow isn't like that. It's made out of microcushions that can be completely customized to fit the exact shape of your head and neck. These microcushions are also great because unlike a normal pillow, they won't lose their fluffiness over time. This pillow will last much longer than a down alternative or cotton pillow will.
This pillow is often called a sports pillow, and is built with "performance" in mind. Now, we're not quite sure how much performance you can do with a pillow, but having a pillow that actively cools you and conforms to your shape will help you get more restful sleep, which is essential.
There isn't another pillow out there like the Zoma. It's a high quality, unique product that works great for back sleepers and need thick support while they sleep.
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The Ghost Pillow is an innovate and affordable gel memory foam pillow that's designed for a wide range of sleep styles, but caters very well to back sleepers. It's just the right thickness to cradle your head, but doesn't cause you to either over extend or under extend your neck in the process.
Unlike the other options on this list, this pillow as 4 unique layers that set it apart. The first layer is a removable, washable "ice fabric" cover. This cover helps keep you cool, especially if you're prone to night sweats. The second layer is the support core. This layer is made from aerated memory foam that provides excellent support without hindering airflow.
The next layer isa performance cooling phase change material. Instead of just being cool to the touch, this material adapts to your body temperature in real time to help keep you cool in the summer, but warm in the winter.
The final layer is an inner aerated mesh cover that adds additional airflow. If you're in the market for a cooling pillow that's designed to support your neck when you sleep on your back, the GhostPillow is a safe bet. They also offer a competitive 101 night sleep trial. Normally, you only get a full sleep trial if you also buy a mattress, but GhostBed offers it on just the pillow alone as well.
Related Content: Best mattress for side sleepers
3. Puffy Pillow
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Uncomfortable heat retention can be a problem for most memory foam pillows, but this luxurious model from Puffy sleeps relatively cool and comfortable thanks to its unique design. It features a cooling bamboo rayon blend cover that's designed to sleep nice and cool throughout the night. It also comes with shredded memory foam that promotes maximum airflow within the pillow. As an adjustable pillow, you can add or remove shreds of memory foam fillings to match your loft preference.
The medium feel and thick profile of this pillow make it well-suited for back and side sleepers. Plus, the close contouring will be perfect for back sleepers who experience pain along the neck. So if you often sleep on your back and you need a balance of contouring and support to keep your spine, neck, and head properly aligned, consider purchasing the Puffy pillow. has received CERTIPUR-US certification, meaning you can comfortably breathe during the night knowing that the memory foam filling has no heavy metals and other harmful substances.
Puffy pillows are backed by a 10-year limited warranty. The company provides free shipping for customers within the contiguous U.S. and a 101-night sleep trial. After an initial 30-day period, you can return the pillow for a full refund if you don't like how it performs.
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This unique memory foam hybrid pillow is designed for all sleep styles, but is especially great when it comes to pillows for back sleepers and side sleepers since its firm, yet fluffy and supportive. The stuffing is made out of a combination of kapok fiber and reactive memory foam which gives the pillow a moldable feel to conform to the shape of your head and neck and stay in place.
Layla Sleep is best known for their copper infused pillow materials, which helps keep their products cooler and cleaner than anything else out there. This pillow won't feel like anything you've felt before and may take a night or two to get used to. It's dense yet airy, but provides the level of support for your neck that a back sleeper needs.
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There really isn't a pillow like the AmeriSleep Dual Comfort. This two sided pillow features a soft and firm side, allowing you to fully customize your comfort on the fly. The pillow also comes in two heights, with the mid-loft style being best suited for back sleepers.
The firm side of the pillow will provide extra support for your neck, while the soft side provides a more cushioned, contouring feel. The pillow is also very cooling. It has a cooling cover, as well as air channels within the pillow itself to help maximize airflow.
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This adjustable is filled with a combination of memory foam and microfibers to provide perfect medium-firm support. The balance of softness and support will help you fall asleep and stay asleep with minimal tossing and turning. The side of this pillow allows you to access the stuffing so that you can add or remove filling to customize the support and height to your exact liking.
The cover is made of soft, breathable polyester and viscose rayon derived from bamboo that is hypoallergenic and prevents dust mites.
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Keep your spine properly aligned all night with this pressure relief pillow, which was actually created by a doctor. It’s made with gel-infused shredded memory foam filling that automatically adapts to any position. You can easily remove the outer cover to adjust the amount of filling inside. The foam is both CertiPur and Biogreen certified making it very eco-friendly.
The soft, bamboo cover is made with Kool-Flow technology and is machine washable.
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This ergonomically designed pillow provides your neck with optimal support and promotes prolonged sleep. It’s filled with soft, CertiPur-US certified foam that perfectly contours your neck and never goes flat. The cover is made from breathable, woven bamboo fiber that is both comfy and cooling.
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This pillow is expertly designed according to a specific ratio that balances your head and supports your cervical spine. It is filled with a fluffy down alternative that never flattens out and is chemical and allergen-free. Both the cover and microfibers and breathable and 100% machine washable, making them very easy to care for.
The Importance of a Back Sleeping Pillow
Spine Alignment
Many people are back sleepers, but back sleepers still have issues finding a good pillow. Back pillows will help back sleepers maintain a proper cervical spine curvature while supporting the head, neck, chest, back and shoulders. Having proper spine alignment will help to prevent muscle aches, strain, and discomfort during the night and upon waking up in the morning.
Waking up in the morning in pain from an uncomfortable body alignment can be a horrible experience, but a proper back sleeping pillow can help ease at least some of that pain.
If you're one of the stomach sleepers, for example, you need a completely different pillow. Stomach sleepers need a much thinner pillow than combination sleepers or back sleepers to keep proper spinal alignment.
Reducing Neck and Back Pain
Back sleepers pillows are designed specifically to offer an adequate level of support to reduce neck and back pain in a specific sleeping position. If you experience back pain and discomfort regularly, back sleeping pillows will be able to help you cope with a bit of the pain and offer support to your neck and back. They do so by helping you maintain a proper spinal alignment while you sleep. A good back sleeper pillow can also help with symptoms of sleep apnea.
Conforming and Supporting Your Body
Memory foam pillows for back sleepers have a knack for conforming to your unique body in this sleep position, or similar sleep positions. Memory foam can maintain its shape so you can rest easy every night, knowing that your neck and back will receive the support it needs. Find a pillow that is easily adjustable, particularly ones that you can fluff and form to further enhance your personal sleeping experience.
What to Consider When Purchasing a Back Sleeping Pillow
Material
The material that your pillow for back sleepers is made of can contribute to the amount of support and comfort you will receive during the night. You will want a pillow that is thick and firm enough to be able to support your head and neck while remaining comfortable enough to sleep on. Feather pillows, for example, aren't great for back sleepers since they tend to sink and stay sunk.
Each type of materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. So it’s important to look into the different benefits of the materials you are considering before you make a purchase.
Firmness Levels
The firmness levels that a pillow has can directly affect spinal alignment. Generally, you will want your pillow to keep your neck aligned properly along with the rest of your body. You will not want your neck to drop too far back or rise too far up while you sleep.
Your neck should be placed in a neutral position and your pillow should be able to form properly to the space beneath your neck.
Moldability
The moldability of your pillow will determine how well your pillow can conform to your body shape for a more personalized level of comfort and support. Your pillow should be able to form easily to the contour of your neck and head. It should be able to retain its form in order to ease neck pain.
Conclusion
While back sleeping may be the healthiest sleeping position, it is still important to be aware of how your pillow can affect the amount of support and comfort you get every night and get health information specific to your needs from a professional. Find a pillow for back sleepers that can form to the natural curvature of your neck and back while also providing the comfort you need for a peaceful sleep.
Gabe is the newest member of The Sleep Shop team. If you like the design of The Sleep Shop, give Gabe a thumbs up. He’s a digital marketing and design guru and the brains behind the design and SEO of The Sleep Shop. He also won’t say no to testing a ton of mattresses either, and helps on almost every mattress review.
A good pillow is key to getting restful sleep, but finding the best one is no simple task. With so many options to choose from, it all comes down to your personal preferences for material and your sleep position. Side sleepers should choose a thick, firm pillow; stomach sleepers need a soft, thinner one; and back sleepers need somethingin between. The goal is to have your head and neck aligned so that when you re lying down, your neck isn t tilting in any direction.
Thanks for this info. I’m struggling to find a good pillow to sleep on. I have hundreds and none works. I’m very petite female and need something small yet supportive. I’ve even been sleeping with NO pillow but that’s worse cuz now I wake up with no support and pain. HELP! Thanks!