Pillows for Back Sleepers
Back sleeping needs less height than side sleeping, but it is the position where an unsupported neck curve is most noticeable.
By the Somnora editorial team · Last updated September 1, 2026
The gap you are filling
Lying on your back, the back of your head rests near the mattress while your neck curves away from it. That hollow is the space a pillow should occupy. A tall, soft pillow tends to do the opposite: it lifts the skull and leaves the neck bridging air.
What to look for
- A neck-first profile — either a contoured foam roll, a gusseted edge, or shredded fill you can push toward the neck.
- Moderate loft. If your chin is angled toward your chest in the morning, the pillow is likely too high.
- Stable height overnight, so the support does not disappear an hour after you lie down.
- Adjustable fill if you also spend part of the night on your side.
Shapes that suit back sleeping
Cervical pillows are built for this position. Traditional pillows work too, provided the loft is right and the fill stays where you put it. See pillow materials for how each fill behaves.
Who may prefer another category
- Sleepers who spend most of the night on their side — see pillows for side sleepers.
- People who switch positions constantly, covered in combination sleeping.
- Anyone who finds a fixed contour uncomfortable; an adjustable shredded-fill pillow gives similar control without fixed geometry.
Can back sleepers use a contoured pillow?
Many do — contoured designs were largely conceived around back sleeping. The trade-off is that the shape is fixed, so if the contour does not match your neck it cannot be adjusted.
Should back sleepers use two pillows?
Stacking usually raises the head too much. If you need more support under the neck specifically, a shaped or gusseted pillow is a more controlled way to get it.