Regardless of your sleeping position, you need the right accessories to get a restful night's sleep. However, getting a new mattress can be expensive, so a supportive pillow might be a better option. The perfect pillow for back sleepers strikes the right balance between height and firmness. It should be supportive enough to ensure your neck and spine are properly aligned, but not so firm that it leaves you with a stiff neck. I have tested over 25 pillows during my time as a CNET sleep expert, and each pillow for this article was slept on for three nights. Using years of experience testing sleep products, I've compiled this list of the best pillows for back sleepers.
The best overall pillow for back sleepers
Caroline Igo/CNET
The best overall pillow for back sleepers is the Coop Eden Cool+ Adjustable Pillow. This pillow is adjustable (meaning you can add and remove the filling to your liking), and it's made of high-quality, shredded memory foam that's CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold Certified. It also keeps your neck and spine supported and aligned. Another perk of this pillow: It's cool to the touch and great for hot sleepers. It also made our list of the best cooling pillows.
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What We Updated: July 2025 We added direct recommendations in each listicle. Products on this list stayed the same.
Best pillow for back sleepers
Editors' choice Caroline Igo/CNET Coop Eden Cool+ Adjustable Pillow Best overall pillow for back sleepers $139 at Amazon Why we like it: You may have heard of the Coop Sleep 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. 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. Who it is best for: This pillow is also adjustable, making it ideal for those who aren’t sure how soft or firm they want their pillows. 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. Who shouldn’t get it: If you're a back sleeper who enjoys thick memory foam pillows or firmer pillows that don’t allow for the head to sink into the surface too much, this might not be for you. 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
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