Everyone seems to have their own favorite sleep position, but doctors and sleep specialists agree that those who sleep on their back are choosing the healthiest position. 

If you are one of the approximately 8% of Americans who sleep comfortably on their back, you are doing yourself a favor by providing your spine with the level of support it needs. By choosing the healthiest of sleep positions, your head, neck and spine are perfectly aligned. Aside from ensuring neck and spine health, you’re also improving blood flow, which helps minimize morning aches and pains. An added benefit is that this sleep position can also prevent wrinkles, since your face isn’t being smushed up against your pillow night after night. 

The one main problem with sleeping on your back is that it can exacerbate sleep apnea and snoring because the tongue naturally slides back, blocking to some extent the airway. 

No matter which sleep position you choose, your pillow can make a huge difference as to whether you get a good night’s sleep or not. Sleep specialists will often recommend that back sleepers use a tall firm pillow so that the head and neck get the support they need while minimizing snoring. But the perfect loft and firmness varies person to person depending on the shape of their head, their weight and a lot of other factors. 

If you’re a back sleeper, continue reading if you want to know how to choose the best pillow for your sleep position. We’ve reviewed the best pillows for back sleepers, listed certain factors you should consider before buying, and more. 


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The Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

Picture

Product

Key Features

Price

YourFacePillow Back & Side Sleeping Pillow

YourFacePillow Back & Side Sleeping Pillow

- Anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, and acne prevention pillow
- Patented design keeps pressure off your face
- Certified CertiPUR memory foam filling

Bluewave Bedding Gel Memory Foam Pillow

Bluewave Bedding Gel Memory Foam Pillow

- Super slim design for back sleepers
- CertiPUR-US Certified Memory Foam
- Regulates temperature while maximizing airflow

Sweetnight Shredded Gel Memory Foam Pillow

Sweetnight Shredded Gel Memory Foam Pillow

- Adjustable loft to accommodate your sleep position
- Soft, breathable cotton and rayon cover
- Shredded gel memory foam filling stays cool

Nature's Guest Adjustable Cervical Pillow

Nature's Guest Adjustable Cervical Pillow

- Chiropractor and orthopedic recommended design
- Gusseted edge designed to support back sleepers
- Adjustable for soft to medium firmness

MARNUR Contour Memory Foam Orthopedic Pillow

MARNUR Contour Memory Foam Orthopedic Pillow

- Supports the natural curve of the neck
- Center cavity perfectly cradles the head
- The custom fit of high and low surface curves

Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow

Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow

- Innovative adjustable design
- Breathable with soft Lulltra cover
- CertiPUR-US & GREENGUARD Gold certifications

Sobel Westex Sahara Nights Pillow

Sobel Westex Sahara Nights Pillow

- Feels just like a down pillow
- Used in top hotels for comfort
- Hypoallergenic filling and fabric cover


YourFacePillow Back & Side Sleeping Pillow Review

YourFacePillow Pillow Review

- Anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, and acne prevention pillow
- Patented design keeps pressure off your face
- Certified CertiPUR memory foam filling

Price: 

Numerous medical studies show that continuous pressure on your face can form facial wrinkles and cause premature skin aging. Rather than smashing your face against your pillow every night, you can use the YourFacePillow Back & Side Sleeping Pillow to comfortably support your head while sleeping on your back. This keeps your facial skin free from wrinkle-causing contact with your pillow and allows you to breathe easily. Therefore, this product is your overall skincare solution for preventing wrinkles and developing acne.

This back sleeper pillow is made with two towering memory foam head supports protruding from each of its sides. The breathable middle area between the two supports is where you lay your head face-up. Below that there is a tapered neck area with cooling channels to keep you comfortable. The YourFacePillow keeps your head comfortably in place for the entire night. Designed for back sleepers, it works for side sleepers as well.

The YourFacePillow Back & Side Sleeping Pillow comes in two sizes, standard or large, and has a removable, machine-washable bamboo fabric cover. You can also buy a separate silk carrying case. The product is certified CertiPUR for safety, optimal comfort, and support.


Bluewave Bedding Gel Memory Foam Pillow Review

Bluewave Bedding Pillow Review

- Super slim design for back sleepers
- CertiPUR-US Certified Memory Foam
- Regulates temperature while maximizing airflow

Price: 

Many of today's pillow manufacturers are focused on breathability, and cooling features and Bluewave Bedding absolutely succeeded with the ultra thin pillow design. Less than 3 inches high, the Bluewave Bedding Gel Memory Foam Pillow is extremely comfortable for back sleepers, as well as stomach and side sleepers with small frames. The thin flat design has been known to reduce snoring for some individuals while relieving neck, shoulder, and back pain. Additionally, its half-pillow design with a rounded top and flat bottom works well for people who do not flip their pillow when sleeping.

The Bluewave Bedding Gel Memory Foam Pillow is filled with a temperature controlling cooling gel that keeps it from absorbing body heat while you sleep. The gel, along with the well-placed ventilation holes, prevents the pillow from heating up. It comes with a 40% bamboo rayon and 60% polyester cover, for a soft, breathable surface.

Furthermore, this product is hypoallergenic, low-odor, and CertiPUR-US certified, guaranteeing that the memory foam inside contains no harmful toxins. The soft removable cover is machine-washable and moisture-wicking.


Sweetnight Shredded Gel Memory Foam Pillow Review

Sweetnight Pillow Review

- Adjustable loft to accommodate your sleep position
- Soft, breathable cotton and rayon cover
- Shredded gel memory foam filling stays cool

Price: 

The Sweetnight Shredded Gel Memory Foam Pillow comes in standard, queen and king sizes to fit any size bed. Designed for back sleepers, it also works well for those who sleep on their stomach and/or sides. So, if you mainly sleep on your back, but change positions throughout the night, this may be the right option for you.

One reason why the Sweetnight fits any style of sleeper is because you can adjust the loft to suit your preferences. Two small zippers on each side allow you to add or remove antibacterial, hypoallergenic memory foam shreds - add foam if you want to sleep on your side, keep it "as is" for back sleeping and remove foam if you want to sleep on your stomach. You can store the excess in a small storage bag that comes with the pillow. Customizing the pillow to suit your sleeping position will keep you from tossing and turning so you can get a better night's sleep.

The Sweetnight Shredded Gel Memory Foam Pillow is made of 90% high-density shredded foam with 10% gel foam for cooling. This ergonomically designed pillow perfectly aligns your upper body for a good posture so that you can avoid waking up with annoying neck and back pain. Another great feature of this pillow for back sleepers is that it maintains its fluffy yet firm shape, so you don't need to worry about it getting lumpy or going flat.

The soft cotton and rayon cover is easy to keep clean as it is removable and machine washable. The Sweetnight offers a money-back guarantee and ships in a small eco-friendly box.


Nature's Guest Adjustable Cervical Pillow Review

Nature's Guest Pillow Review

- Chiropractor and orthopedic recommended design
- Gusseted edge designed to support back sleepers
- Adjustable for soft to medium firmness

Price: 

Many people suffer from back pain, which is often worse when waking up in the morning. While the mattress quality and sleeping position can contribute, some people experience relief with the right pillow. The Nature's Guest Adjustable Cervical Pillow is designed to optimally support the cervical area while properly aligning the head, neck, and spine during sleep.

This pillow features a significant depression in the center for the head to rest. The areas above and below the depression are also reduced but less so, to allow for cervical support without irritation. The raised side of the pillow helps keep the head in place in the center. Nature's Guest promotes its unique design as meeting chiropractor and orthopedic recommendations. 

In addition to the pillow's design, you can customize its shape by using the two zippers to add or remove fill in both the back (neck roll cushion) and side sleeping areas. The Nature's Guest Adjustable Cervical Pillow is made with a microfiber filling and a hypoallergenic cotton cover. The company offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.


MARNUR Contour Memory Foam Orthopedic Pillow Review

MARNUR Pillow Review

- Supports the natural curve of the neck
- Center cavity perfectly cradles the head
- The custom fit of high and low surface curves

Price: 

If you wake up with a stiff neck, cervical pain, or a major headache, your pillow could be the culprit. The MARNUR Contour Memory Foam Orthopedic Pillow is designed to relieve common neck pain while providing a comfortable night's sleep.

The MARNUR is constructed in a unique way, with a shape specifically designed for back sleepers who suffer from neck pain. This is not your typical rectangular pillow, as it's made with a valley in the middle to support the head and neck, a deeper cavity in the center, a cervical contour shaped to support the neck and spine, plus an extended wedge for the back. In addition, the MARNUR Contour Memory Foam Orthopedic Pillow has edge guards to ensure the head is kept in place and armrests on each side.

The filling is slow-rebound memory foam, so it keeps its shape. The machine-washable removable cover is made 40% bamboo and 60% polyester. Although this is one of the best choices for back sleepers, it's also recommended for people who sleep on their sides and/or stomachs.


Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow Review

Coop Home Goods Pillow Review

- Innovative adjustable design
- Breathable with soft Lulltra cover
- CertiPUR-US & GREENGUARD Gold certifications

Price: 

This classically shaped pillow is filled with shredded memory foam mixed with microfiber, resulting in a medium-firm pillow. The Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow perfectly balances support with comfort, offering the deepest, most restful sleep possible. It is pliable and great for back sleepers who prefer molding their pillow to the most comfortable shape. Users can adjust the medium-firm filling by adding or removing memory foam to suit their shape, size, and sleep position.

The Lulltra fabric pillow cover is made from a perfect blend of bamboo viscose rayon and polyester, for a breathable and soft sleeping surface. The pillow and cover are hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant, providing allergy sufferers with a good night's sleep. The Coop Home Goods has undergone a very strict series of lab tests, earning both the CertiPur-US and GREENGUARD Gold certifications. This assures buyers that the product contains no toxic chemicals and meets the highest standards of quality and safety, making it one of the best pillows for back sleepers.

Although back sleepers find this pillow very comfortable, stomach sleepers often say it has too high a loft. So, if you toss and turn during the night, this may not be the right choice for you. However, many buyers claim the Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft Pillow relieved their pain and gave them a very comfortable night's sleep. The product arrives shrink-wrapped and may have a faint odor that will dissipate once it's had time to expand and breathe. The pillow comes with a 5-year warranty.


Sobel Westex Sahara Nights Pillow Review

Sobel Westex Pillow Review

- Feels just like a down pillow
- Used in top hotels for comfort
- Hypoallergenic filling and fabric cover

Price: 

Have you ever been on a fabulous vacation and absolutely loved the pillows in your luxury hotel? The chances are that you slept on the Sobel Westex Sahara Nights Pillow because it feels just like a down pillow although it's filled with a polyester gel fiber. If you haven't slept on one of these yet, you really must! Most users claim they first tried one while on a trip and then just had to buy one for their home.

Shaped like a standard bed pillow, it looks just great on any bed. This pillow for back sleepers offers the perfect level of firmness for most people. Some consumers describe it as feeling "soft but firm." The polyester gel fiber filling and soft 100% cotton cover make for a perfectly comfortable, long-lasting, and hypoallergenic.

Some of the country's top hotels count the Sobel Westex Sahara Nights Pillow as one their best-kept secrets. This is one of the best options for people who love the feel of sleeping with a down pillow but need the durability of a synthetic.


2019 Buying Guide for the Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

Benefits of Sleeping on Your Back

Many medical professionals believe that sleeping on your back is the healthiest of all sleep positions providing quite a few health benefits, as follows:  

  • Optimal Cervical Spinal Alignment: Sleeping in your back allows your spine to be better aligned than in other sleeping positions. Yet, many experts agree that the best possible spinal alignment is achieved when you sleep without a pillow. Most people can’t get comfortable without a pillow. A thick, firm pillow that cradles the head and supports the neck without allowing the head to tilt far back, is the best type of pillow for back sleepers.  
  • Just One Pillow Needed: When you sleep on your back you only need one pillow, whereas side and stomach sleepers often need a second pillow placed between or under their legs to feel supported. Most back sleepers only sleep with one pillow, but some will use a second pillow for added comfort. 
  • Wrinkle Prevention: Stomach and side sleepers routinely sleep with their face smashed against the pillow, which can lead to wrinkles. Because back sleepers are face up, the don’t have this worry. 
  • Relieve Acid Reflux: People suffering from acid reflux have stomach acid that rises up into the esophagus causing heartburn. When you sleep on your back under a supportive, slightly elevated pillow, this can be avoided. However, if you are sleeping flat on your back with no pillow, your acid reflux symptoms can be exacerbated. 

Drawbacks of Sleeping on Your Back

While there are quite a few benefits, sleeping on your back does have several drawbacks. Here are some of most significant ones: 

  • More Likely to Snore: When you’re sleeping on your back, the muscles in your airway that help you breathe relax, which can cause you to snore. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are highly prone to snoring when sleeping on their back. This is why doctors recommend that those with sleep apnea sleep on their sides, along with those who snore for other reasons. 
  • May Lead to Neck Pain: Many back sleepers can relieve their aches and pains when using a pillow that offers sufficient support while keeping their head, neck, shoulders and back aligned all night long. But, if you sleep with your neck off to one side, your alignment is disrupted, which can cause pain and the development of sensitive pressure points. This can happen even if your pillow provides sufficient support. 
  • Can be Problematic for Pregnant Women: If you’re pregnant and you start sleeping on your back you are increasing your risk of compressed veins. One of the major veins that could become compressed is the inferior vena cava, running beneath your uterus. If this happens it can cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously. Most Ob/Gyns urge their pregnant patients to sleep propped up on their sides. This is quite comfortable, especially in the latter months of a pregnancy and will minimize the odds of any vein compression. 

Important Details About the Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

The pillow you sleep with affects far more than just your head and neck. The reality is that your pillow has the job of keeping your spine properly aligned while you sleep. 

The best pillows for back sleepers will fill the entire space between the mattress and the sleeper’s neck, specifically following how the head and neck contour. The ideal pillow would provide the neck with sufficient support, without lifting the head too much, a pillow that keeps the neck properly aligned with the back down to the chest. 

A well-designed pillow for people who sleep on their backs would provide sufficient support while evenly distributing their body weight as it molds to their body’s contours. 

It would also fill in the space between the head, neck and shoulders, keeping the spine in alignment. There are even back pillows designed to address cervical spine issues by providing excellent support while being comfortable enough to provide a good night’s sleep. 

When shopping for new pillows, you need to keep in mind what sleeping position you prefer and get one that works best for that position so that you don’t wake up with aches and pains. 

If you sleep on your back, you are part of a very small percentage of people do even though many doctors say this as the healthiest position since it keeps the spine perfectly aligned. Being a back sleeper, you would best be served by a medium firm pillow. Ideally you would want a pillow that will give your head, neck, shoulders and upper back the necessary support, while ensuring that your spine remains aligned along its natural curve. 

When sleeping on your back it often helps to put a pillow under slightly raised knees. This provides support to the lower back while reducing pressure on the spine. 

Back Pain Sufferers 

Records show that in the U.S. approximately 31 million people suffer from back pain to some degree. Furthermore, doctors agree that sleeping in the wrong position can often be the cause. 

Back pain can be minimized if you sleep on your back because your body weight can be spread out, putting the least amount of strain on sensitive pressure points. At the same time, your spine is better aligned when you’re lying on your back. 

Benefits of a Pillow Designed for Back Sleepers

Sleeping on your back with a pillow specifically designed for this provides a number of benefits, as follows: 

  • Keeps you from straining your neck. The best pillows for back sleepers properly cradle your head so that it doesn’t force your neck out of alignment. 
  • They position your head so that your airways remain open, so you breathe more easily and snore less. If you sleep flat on your back your airways will constrict, which is bad for people who have difficulty breathing or suffer from sleep apnea. The best pillows for back sleepers raise the head and neck so that breathing is perfectly normal during sleep. 
  • If you suffer from persistent neck pain as the result of a medical condition or injury, a high- quality pillow designed for back sleepers can help. Pillows that are properly contoured and offer the right head and neck support work best. 
  • A specialized back-sleeping pillow keeps your head, neck, and cervical spine all aligned and at the same level. This keeps you from waking up with a stiff neck and/or neck pain while also preventing back pain by keeping you from tossing and turning during sleep. People who move around a lot at night do this because they can’t get comfortable. When you have a good back-sleeping pillow, you’ll sleep more soundly with less tossing and turning. 
  • If you suffer from acid reflux, as 20% of people in the U.S. do, you can be helped by sleeping on your back. The best pillows for back sleepers elevate the head just enough that stomach acid can’t make its way up to the esophagus, which is what causes the heartburn that accompanies acid reflux. 

Which Type of Pillow is Best for Back Sleepers?

The best pillows for back sleepers would ideally have certain specifications regarding firmness and thickness. If either of these are wrong, it could disrupt your sleep and cause you a lot of unnecessary pain and aggravation. If your pillow is too soft, your head will sink back too far and ultimately cause neck and shoulder pain. If your pillow is too firm, you could wake up with a stiff neck and other annoying aches and pains. 

What you need is a pillow with medium firmness, but not one that’s too thick because it would force your chin forward. If that happens, the natural curvature of your spine would be put out of alignment, causing you to wake up in pain and possible long-term discomfort.  

Having said that, the best pillows for back sleepers follow the body’s natural contour and shape. Here are some steps you can take to determine whether the pillow you have is best for you:

  1. Stand straight up with your back against the wall and imagine that you’re lying down on your bed. 
  1. Rest your head on the wall. At this point you’ll realize that your head and neck are not in alignment with your spine. Your pillow is needed to fill the gap. 
  1. Put your pillow between your head and the wall and observe the alignment now. 
  1. If your pillow is doing its job right, your eyes will be gazing straight ahead with your neck perfectly straight as well. Your head, neck and spine should be perfectly. 

Factors to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Back-Sleeping Pillow

It can be a challenge trying to choose the right back-sleeping pillow for you. There are a number of things you’ll want to consider before you actually make a purchase, as follows:   

Pillow Size

Standard pillows are made in six different sizes. There is also a smaller size that is specifically made for particular purposes, which few brands offer: 

  • Small = 20” x 12”: This is the Small specialty size, which is typically made of memory foam, buckwheat or other materials and designed to support the cervical spine. 
  • Standard = 20” x 26”: Most people use Standard sized pillows, and these are the most compact and typically the one with the lowest price tag. People who move around a lot in their sleep are not well served by this size pillow because their heads can slip off too easily. 
  • Super Standard = 20” x 28”: As you can see this pillow is 2” longer than the Standard, which makes it better for those who toss and turn a lot in their sleep. 
  • Queen = 20” x 30”: This size pillow works great for most people who tend to toss and turn at night because it’s a full 4” longer than the Standard. 
  • King = 20” x 36”: Many people love a King-sized pillow because it’s long enough to serve as a headrest or backrest for those who love watching TV or reading in bed. 
  • Euro = various square sizes: Euro-sized pillow are not rectangular in shape, they’re square and typically not used for sleeping, but more as headrests or backrest. The most common dimensions are 20” x 20” and 26” x 26”. 
  • Body = various dimensions: People who are most comfortable snuggling with their pillow at night love Body pillows. These typically range in length from 48” to 54” based on its shape, which also varies. They can be rectangular, square, C-shaped, U-shaped or J-shaped. 

Pillow Loft 

This is the thickness of the pillow and an important feature for back sleepers. If there is too much or not enough loft it can throw their spinal alignment out of whack with painful results. There are three different pillow lofts:

  • Low = Less than 3” thick
  • Medium = 3” to 5” in thickness
  • High = More than 5” in thickness

For back sleepers we recommend they get a pillow with at least a medium loft, but sometimes a high-loft pillow provides the head, neck and cervical spine with a little better support. But you need to be careful because if the loft is too high, it won’t follow the neck’s natural curvature. A pillow with too little loft can make the head drop too far back, creating too much curvature in the neck, with even worse results. The best pillows for back sleepers usually have a medium loft. 

In selecting the right pillow, you will not only need to consider your weight and head size but also the width of your shoulders. To determine what the correct loft would be, you’ll need to lie down on the bed while you have a friend or family member evaluate your position. They could also take a picture so you can evaluate it yourself. When your pillow is in place, your spine should be in a straight line horizontally. 

Firmness 

Generally speaking, when you’re sleeping on your back the pillow shouldn’t be overly firm. When you increase the loft, it usually increases the firmness. A medium-firm pillow works best for back sleepers. This level of firmness provides sufficient support for the head and neck and should prevent stiffness in the neck and shoulders. 

Malleability 

If you sleep on your back it’s especially important that you have a malleable pillow, which refers to how easily it will conform to the shape and curvature of your head and neck when you move around. For example, if you turn your head to the side, does the pillow follow along and continue offering you the support you need? Also, how easily does it keep its original shape so that you don’t strain your neck during the night?

Moldability

A pillow’s moldability is matter of personal preference. Do you want a pillow that keeps its shape no matter which way you hold it? Or do you want a pillow that you can scrunch up to accommodate your sleeping position and have it stay scrunched up? You’re the only one who can decide. 

Your most moldable choices would be shredded memory foam, buckwheat, feathers or down, whereas the least moldable pillows would be made with solid memory foam or latex. 

Shape 

Pillows come in a variety of shapes with either contoured or even surfaces. Pillows with an even surface are the most common. They can be flat- or full-shaped, according to the materials they’re filled with. But they are never contoured. 

Pillows with contoured (curved) surfaces work well for all sleeping positions. They are especially helpful for people suffering from neck or shoulder pain and often sleep with contoured cervical memory foam pillows to relieve their pain. 

Durability 

Durability is also important in a pillow. You want a pillow that you can be confident will be long lasting and one that won’t flatten out with regular use. When choosing a pillow consider that both latex and memory foam pillows last a lot longer than feather or buckwheat pillows that have to be constantly fluffed up, even when they’re new. 

Type of Filling Material 

Back sleepers need a pillow filled with a material that is sufficiently firm to support and slightly elevate and support the head and neck. Because there are so many different materials that pillows are filled with, we’ve compiled a list of the most common. We then explain how well each one accommodates the back-sleeping position, as follows:  

Latex  

You can choose either a natural latex filling or synthetic and either of these can work well if you sleep on your back. Latex is durable and long lasting, hold its shape well and is sufficiently firm to support your head and neck. Latex is also will not retain your body heat so you can sleep cool throughout the night. The only downside is that you’re going to spend more for a latex pillow. 

Memory Foam 

A pillow that contains solid memory foam will conform to your shape, offering you ideal support. If you select a firm contour or cervical memory foam pillow, you should be quite comfortable sleeping on your back. However, if you tend to get hot and sweaty at night, a solid memory foam pillow would not be your best choice because they do retain heat. 

Shredded Memory Foam

Pillows filled with shredded memory foam have many of the same benefits of solid memory foam pillows, but they do have a couple of additional benefits: First, you can adjust a shredded memory foam pillow by adding or removing the shredded foam pieces inside to customize the firmness and loft. Second, the shredded pieces inside allows for the free flow of air, which can keep you from getting too hot during the night. For these reasons, shredded memory foam pillows are among the best pillows for back sleepers. 

Buckwheat

These pillows are filled with buckwheat husks, which can be added or removed to suit your needs. This is a great choice for back sleepers because they offer the firmness and support you need and allows you adjust the loft to the thickness that you’re most comfortable with. 

Down Feathers

Down pillows are filled the softest inner feathers from the bellies of ducks and geese. These make for very soft fluffy pillows that the head can sink way down into. We cannot honestly recommend that you choose down-filled pillows if you’re a back sleeper. They are just too soft to provide your head and neck with sufficient support. 

Ordinary Feathers

Standard feather pillows are filled with the outer feathers of geese and ducks, which are much sturdier than down. Since standard feathers have more heft than down feathers, pillows filled with these types of feathers are firmer and can provide more support, which may be just fine for back sleepers. 

Synthetic Down 

These pillows do not actually contain feathers, but rather puffs of polyester that offer the same feel as down. Just as down-filled pillows aren’t right for back sleepers, neither are synthetic down pillows, as they flatten out quite easily and in short order, offer little support for the head and neck. 

Gel Fiberfill 

A pillow made with gel fiberfill feels a lot like a memory foam pillow. But gel fiberfill is more malleable than memory form and adjustable as well while still able to offer you the support you need. Another benefit is that gel fiberfill will keep you cool during the night. 

Can It Be Cleaned?

Ideally, we should have a pillow that we can keep clean. It’s a matter of good hygiene, so you need to find out whether your pillow is machine-washable or not, and if not, how are you supposed to clean it? Some pillows can just be thrown in a washing machine and dryer, but others would be destroyed by this. Solid memory foam pillows are not machine-washable, so if you buy one of these make sure it has a machine-washable removable cover that you can wash as often as you want.  

Pillow Cover

Pillow covers come in many different fabrics, with the most common being cotton. What’s so great about cotton is that it provides you with a nice smooth sleeping surface. Cotton is also a breathable material that promotes good air circulation. This is important because many people get hot at night and a fabric like cotton helps dissipate the heat from your body so you can stay cooler. It’s important that your pillow have a removable machine-washable cover in a material that can help keep you cool throughout the night. 

Other Considerations

Clearly, the information we’ve already discussed above provides you with plenty of information on the best pillows for back sleepers in general, with recommendations for which ones might be best for you. However, there are other factors you’ll want to consider before you make the final decision. 

Are you a combination sleeper?

If you move around in your sleep, changing positions all the time you may be a combination sleeper. Some people toss and turn because they can’t get comfortable, while others do it naturally because that’s just the way they sleep. If you’re aware that you routinely change sleeping positions, you should look for the type of pillow that supports you comfortably in those particular positions. 

Have you been told you snore?

Blocked airways are what causes most people to snore and the right pillow can help open the airways to prevent snoring, unless an actual medical condition is what’s blocking the airways. Back sleepers are particularly prone to snoring because in this position their tongue can relax and slip back, creating the blockage. If you’ve been to your doctor and had sleep apnea ruled out as a cause, it might be a good idea to try a wedge pillow. It will lift your head and neck, which can help keep your airways open.  

Do you tend to get hot in your sleep?

When you get too warm during the night it makes it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. It’s hard to get comfortable, so if you have this problem you need to find a pillow with a cover made of natural fibers, like cotton or bamboo. It would also help to find a gel-infused pillow or one with a layered or shredded filling. These types of pillows do not retain body heat but rather draw body heat and moisture away from your body. 


Frequently Asked Questions

What firmness do you recommend for back sleepers?

A medium firm pillow works best.

Which type of pillow works best to relieve back pain?

If you suffer from chronic back pain you need a pillow that will support your head, neck and shoulders while keeping them aligned. We would recommend that you get a cervical neck pillow with a cavity in to cradle the head and raised edges for proper alignment. 

Which materials are the best pillows for back sleepers made of? 

The pillows of today come in a huge variety of materials and quite a few are well suited for back sleepers. Your best options would be memory foam, latex, polyester blends and buckwheat. 

How often should I replace my pillow?

The recommendation of many sleep experts is to replace your pillow every year. But everyone seems so busy these days that this rarely occurs. But you should definitely replace your pillow if you’ve been waking up with a stiff or sore neck and/or if the pillow you have doesn’t support your head, neck and spine in proper alignment. Whether you sleep on your back or on your sides, you need a pillow thick enough to keep you naturally aligned.  


Conclusion

No two people are alike, which means no two back sleepers are alike either. Therefore, there is no one “best pillow for back sleepers.” You need to look for a pillow that meets your own individual needs in terms of comfort and support. Generally speaking, back sleepers are more comfortable with a thinner, relatively responsive pillow that provides proper neck support. The types of pillows we’ve discussed above span a broad range of designs, fillings, shapes, sizes and types of covers. Given your sleeping preferences, body shape and size you should have the information you need to make the best choice for you. But to be safe, check the warranty and return policy before you buy. 


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