The back and side positions are the best sleeping positions for your body, because in these positions you keep your neck and spine aligned. When choosing the best pillow for back sleepers, you need to make sure that your neck and head are well supported so that the neck and spine line does not deviate. How exactly you can pay attention to this and what pillows you should definitely not buy, read below.
The 7 best pillows for back sleepers in 2022
- Best supportive pillow for back sleepers – Down & natural latex soft pillow
- Best pillow for back sleepers a medium posture – 3-chamber duck down Premium medium pillow
- Best pillow for back sleepers with a small build – Tukker 90% goose down pillow
- Best pillow for back sleepers of large posture – Ducky Dons 3-chamber pillow
- Best luxury pillow for back sleepers – Vandyck pure nature 65% goose down pillow
- Best value for money – Ducky Dons 60% duck down box edge pillow
- Coolest pillow for back sleepers – Vandyck kapok pillow
1. Our pick for back sleepers
Since 2020 in our collection. This ergonomically shaped pillow is a great success. The combination of natural latex with down just works really well. The 7cm thick natural latex layer retains its shape and provides good support for your neck and head. While the down layer actually gives you a soft and comfortable feeling.
Also, the down absorbs the moisture you lose during sleep well and ventilates extremely well. The talalay latex block also ventilates reasonably well due to the ventilation holes in it. However, it does feel a bit warmer than a pillow with only down and feathers.
It takes some getting used to at first, but then once you get used to this pillow you won’t want anything else. The space between the head and the mattress is relatively small for back sleepers. This pillow is relatively soft and therefore very suitable for back sleepers. Also, both down and latex last a very long time without losing their supportive properties.
2. Best pillow for back sleepers of average build
The Three Chamber Duck Down Premium Medium Pillow consists of three chambers. The core of feathers and down provides firmness, while the outer chambers have a down filling and provide a pleasantly soft feel. The pillow is for suitable for back sleepers weighing between 70 – 90 kg. Are you lighter? Then it’s better to opt for the soft version.
When you lie down on the pillow, it feels soft. Furthermore, the pillow breathes very well thanks to its natural filling and cotton ticking. The down also absorbs your moisture well, so the pillow doesn’t feel sweaty or clammy easily. The down is responsible and certified Downpass down. That sleeps so well.
3. Best pillow for back sleepers with small stature
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The Tukker 90% goose down pillow brings the hotel feel to your bedroom. Thanks to the goose down filling and the percale cotton ticking, the pillow feels silky soft. You really sink nicely into this pillow, very important for back sleepers. As a back sleeper with a small build, the space between your head and the mattress is very small. The down filling in the pillow is also very malleable and flexible. So you can shape the pillow completely to your liking.
The pillow has a recess on the side of your head, so you won’t lie on the pillow with your shoulders. As a result, you quickly adopt a good ergonomic posture on this pillow. All in all, this luxurious pillow is great for back sleepers who want to treat themselves.
4. Best pillow for back sleepers with large stature
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The Ducky Dons three-room box pillow is highly recommended for doubters and back sleepers with large stature. Do you sleep on your side and back and have a small to medium stature? Then this is really a pillow for you. The core of the pillow is filled with duck feathers. This gives the pillow its firmness.
The outer two layers of the pillow are filled with 60% duck down / 40% duck feathers and 100% goose down respectively. Which still makes the pillow feel nice and soft. As a result, you can choose to put the medium or the soft side on top. Thanks to the down and feathers, this pillow ventilates extremely well and absorbs a lot of moisture. So it doesn’t feel warm.
Many people sleep with their shoulders on the pillow, to prevent that, this pillow has a raised edge. As a result, it supports your shoulders and neck better than a regular pointy pillow.
Of the pillows in this list, the Ducky Dons three-chamber box pillow is the most voluminous and firm pillow. This is also very important for you as a (partly) side sleeper, because the space between your head and mattress is relatively large. It is better to nod your head slightly too much towards the bed than upwards, which is why I advise against choosing a pillow that is too firm. The box pillow is therefore a good choice for combined sleepers.
5. Best luxury pillow for back sleepers
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As a back sleeper, it is important that the pillow you use provides sufficient firmness. Not too much and not too little. You quickly end up with a pillow filled with 60% down and 40% feathers. Do you want a luxurious pillow? Then opt for the Vandyck yellow label pillow. That pillow has exactly that combination of down and feathers.
Vandyck uses goose down instead of duck down as its filling. The big advantage? Goose down is odour-neutral, absorbs more moisture and is more durable (in this case). Vandyck also uses a strong ticking for this pillow where no feathers poke through. So you can enjoy a wonderfully soft but supported pillow for years to come.
6. Best value for money
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The Ducky Dons 60% duck down box pillow looks like the number three in this list, but make no mistake. The price differs considerably. Duck down may have a slightly stronger smell than goose down. Duck down is less scarce, so the price is a lot lower. And let’s face it, in practice it is hard to tell duck and goose down apart. Especially when it comes to filling a pillow.
The combination of down and feathers in this pillow have good moisture management and breathability. The raised edge also makes this pillow special, providing better support for your head and neck than a pointy pillow. For the price, you have a fantastic pillow as a back sleeper.
7. The coolest pillow for back sleepers
A down & feather pillow is wonderfully soft, supports well and absorbs your moisture well. Yet these pillows are relatively pricey. For that or another reason, you’d rather not have a down pillow. Then plant down or kapok is a good alternative as filling for a pillow.
A kapok pillow does not last as long, but it is wonderfully cool. Another big advantage is that the filling can be adjusted to your liking. The kapok pillow is initially quite firm, but by removing some filling from the pillow, you can create a good pillow for yourself as a back sleeper. Also, kapok is plant-based and very eco-friendly.
The right pillow for a back sleeper
It is important that your cervical vertebra forms one straight line with the vertebra during sleep. A pillow should therefore ensure that your head does not lie lower or higher than your body. When this does not happen, you can suffer from neck pain and other physical discomforts! Therefore, it is important to choose a pillow with a medium firmness and medium fill weight.
Recommended pillow firmness Recommended fill weight Medium / medium 600 – 1000 grams
The filling weight of a pillow is objective and is checked by TUV at almost all suppliers. It depends on your preference and build which fill weight suits you best. Do you have broad shoulders? Then choose a firmer pillow. A pillow with a filling weight of 1000 grams is then a good option.
Do you have a more petite build? Then you’re better off with a slightly softer pillow. In that case, it is better to look at a filling weight around 600 grams.
A pillow to suit your sleeping position and stature
If you are both a back and side sleeper then a box pillow is recommended. This is a pillow with a raised edge that follows the contours of your body better. If you alternate between the back position and the stomach position, choose the classic pointed pillow. Want to know which pillow suits your sleeping position and posture best? Then take the pillow test!
