The 5 Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

Last Updated June 30, 2023

There is a lot of disagreement among sleep experts around which position is the best position to sleep in. Each sleeping position – whether it’s the front, back, side or a combo of them – has its pros and cons for your health. Most people suggest that if there was one ultimate sleeping position, it would be the back because it helps the head, neck, and spine find a neutral alignment and achieve sufficient pressure relief. However, it’s not the ideal sleeping position for anyone.

Nonetheless, a lot of people do enjoy sleeping on their back and find it a comfortable position. The pillow you choose to sleep on can also have a major effect on whether you get a pain-free and comfortable sleep on your back or not. As such, we’ve put together a list of the best pillows for back-sleepers to ensure you get a comfortable and restful night’s sleep.

We’d say back sleepers benefit most from pillows that raise their head slightly to promote a natural spinal alignment, which is why we recommend a firmness rating of medium-firm. Not only will you feel more comfortable, but you’ll also be making sure the contours of your head, neck, and shoulders are also supported. So, without further ado, here’s our guide to the best pillows for back sleepers.

1. Koala

Price: $170

Material: Memory foam

Trial: 120 nights

Warranty: 1 year

The Koala memory foam pillow is great for back sleepers as it’s designed on the firmer side to give good neck support, but the pillow can also be flipped if it’s too hard in its original setting. The outer edges of the pillow are firmer than the rest which means your neck is supported in any position. It also comes with 120-night money back guarantee, which gives you great peace of mind that you can get your money back if it’s not the right pillow for you. The dimensions are also a bit longer than the standard bedroom pillow, at 74 cm x 40.5 cm.

 

2. Ecosa

Price: $150

Material: Memory foam

Trial: 100 nights

Warranty: 100 days

The Ecosa pillow is a hugely popular memory Foam pillow with over +8,000 positive reviews . And, with a 100-day guarantee there’s no harm in giving it a go! What’s cool about the Ecosa pillow is it’s designed to be the perfect fit for your shoulder alignment. Complete with two elevation pads, you can adjust the pillow to suit your sleeping style. Another very cool added feature is that they provide compression bags so you can compress your pillow and take it with you travelling. With all the squish, plus all the support, the Ecosa pillow perfectly contours to your head and neck at all pressure points.

 

3. Posture Form

Price: $189

Material: Memory foam

Trial: None

Warranty: 3 years

Posture Form’s NexGen smooth profile pillow combines leading design, cutting edge science and medical-grade materials to cradle and support your spine as you sleep on your back. With fully open-cell and graphite infused memory foam, this pillow provides superior performance, comfort and longevity come as standard. It successfully helps you achieve a neutral stress-free position for your spine when you sleep on your back.

 

4. Sleeping Duck

Price: $120

Material: Foam

Trial: 100 nights

Warranty: 1 year

The Sleeping Duck Pillow gives you the best of both worlds: the cushioning comfort and pressure-relieving properties of memory foam with the mobility properties of latex. It will enable you to change positions easily and leave your neck and upper back feeling supple, limber, and well-rested. The structure of our AntiGravity® foam means the SD pillows are 8x more open than standard latex and memory foam combinations, which in turn provides a cool and comfortable night’s sleep.

 

5. Tempur

Price: $219

Material: Tempur

Trial: None

Warranty: 3 years

Boasting an innovative design catering specifically to back sleepers, the Tempur Millennium Pillow was developed with a firm feel to relieve neck discomfort. Featuring a curved shape, the front gently tilts forward to promote spinal alignment, while a central notch further supports the neck. Firm and resilient foam fillings mould and adapt to provide targeted comfort while relieving pressure. It also comes available in two sizes (medium and large)

 

Pillows for Back Sleepers – Buyer’s Guide

Thickness

One of the most important factors that you should keep in mind before purchasing a pillow is how thick it is. When it comes to back-sleepers, the ideal pillow should be thick enough to fill in the gap between your back and mattress because this helps to keep your spine in the correct position and alignment. However, it shouldn’t be too thick that your neck is placed in an unnatural position. 

Firmness

When it comes to pillows that are suitable for back sleepers, you want to make sure that the pillow you select isn’t super firm. Therefore, a pillow with medium firmness is the best option as it provides just enough support so that your neck and head do not roll backward (potentially leading to muscle strains) all the while ensuring that the pillow still remains plush and fluffy.

Responsiveness

The responsiveness of your pillow will make all the difference, especially if you find yourself switching positions throughout the night or fidgeting. The best pillows for back sleepers will be able to follow the natural contour of your neck and head. So, if you do happen to turn your neck sideways during your sleep, for example, your pillow will be able to respond to your movements and re-contour itself to your neck, upper back, and shoulders as you move in your sleep.

Material

Another aspect you could consider is the material of your pillow. Here are some of the most common materials used:

  • Memory foam – this is one of the most common materials used in pillows for back sleepers. It offers excellent support and comfort.
  • Polyurethane – this is an affordable material that offers a good amount of support to the neck and shoulder area.
  • Gel fiberfill – this is a newer material that is similar to memory foam, except it is known for its cooling properties.
  • Bamboo – this material offers a good level of firmness while still remaining a plush and comfortable feel. 

Final Verdict

It’s impossible to say what the ultimate pillow for back sleepers is because everyone is different and will find different materials, thicknesses and styles work better (or worse) for them. Our best advice would be to try out the pillow and see how you go. If you can find a pillow that offers a trial – even better! You can see how you like it and if it doesn’t work for you, you can return it without any worries. Or, just get in touch with one of our sleep experts who can help you find the right pillow for you.

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Ally Burnie
Head Dreamer Ally Burnie
Journalist, presenter and host based in Sydney with a passion for cooking, outdoor adventures, hiking, humanitarianism, and travel.
Ally Burnie Head Dreamer Ally Burnie
Journalist, presenter and host based in Sydney with a passion for cooking, outdoor adventures, hiking, humanitarianism, and travel.

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