Best Pillows for Back Pain (2026), Expert-Backed Choices for Better Sleep

The Luxome LAYR pillow is our top pick for alleviating back pain because its premium design makes back sleeping a luxurious experience. During his at-home testing trial, our product expert loved this pillow for its adjustable fill, breathability, and ease of care. Our tester rated the LAYR a 4.5 out of 5 or higher in our materials, experience, and care categories.

Among its many high scores, the perfect 5-star experience rating stood out the most. It earned a 5 out of 5 in this category because its adjustability makes it easy to adapt for any sleeper, regardless of their preferred sleeping position. During testing, our expert preferred it for back sleeping.

“Back sleeping with this pillow is divine,” our tester said. “My head feels cradled and supported. This pillow is like a Sleep Number for your head.”

Our product tester was also impressed by the luxurious and high-quality feel of the Luxome LAYR, awarding it a 4.5 out of 5 in this category.

“This pillow felt very comfortable right away,” our tester said. “It feels durable without being stifling. With this pillow, Luxome has balanced being sturdy and tear-resistant with breathability enough for hot sleepers.”

After washing the pillow cover and insert covers, he noted that the materials showed no signs of wear and tear after repeated cycles. The easy-to-wash cover and insert covers helped this pillow earn another 4.5 out of 5 rating in the care category. The instructions were easy to follow and clearly laid out on the Luxome website and on the LAYR pillow packaging. The cover and insert covers are all machine washable. 

The LAYR is as close to perfect as a pillow can get. However, our tester noted that stomach sleepers may experience neck pain or tension. He also docked half a point in the care category because the pillow stuffing was not machine-washable; only the covers were.

For sleepers with back pain, the right pillow loft can make or break a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, the Nectar Resident Pillow allows you to adjust the firmness to find the perfect level of support. During testing, product expert Dan Caffrey rated this affordable pillow a 4.5 out of 5 or higher in our experience and value categories.

At its default (highest) loft, Dan noted that the Nectar Resident Pillow was ideal for side sleeping. However, it was easy for him to remove the fill and adjust it for stomach and back sleeping. He gave it a 4.5 out of 5 in the experience category.

“The customization of the Nectar Resident made it comfortable for all three sleeping positions,” Dan said. “However, on the first night, the fill kept bunching up on one side of the pillow after removing a substantial portion of it. Thankfully, it all evened out by the second night.”

Dan also praised the value that Nectar offers with its Resident Pillow. Many high-quality adjustable pillows are pricier at $150 or more for a single pillow. Before any promotions, the Nectar Resident is only $75 per pillow, which is a steal for something of this quality. Dan awarded it a perfect 5 out of 5 in the value category.

The only other complaint Dan had about the Nectar Resident Pillow was that it was spot-clean only. For this reason, he docked a point for care, giving it a 4 out of 5 in this category.

“The care instructions are clearly laid out on both the website and the pillow’s inner tag, but you aren’t able to machine-wash any of the materials,” Dan said. “This is usually the case with adjustable pillows, but spot cleaning is still kind of a pain. Despite that minor grievance, I would still recommend this to anyone who has trouble finding the perfect loft while pillow hunting.”

A firm, responsive sleep surface can help sleepers with back pain maintain a neutral position and quickly adjust when they feel uncomfortable. The Saatva Latex Pillow is the perfect match for sleepers with back pain who prefer responsive support. This latex pillow won over product expert Cait Giddings during testing, thanks to its comfortable materials and straightforward care instructions. Cait gave it a 5 out of 5 in experience, materials, and care.

Cait spent a few months with the Saatva Latex Pillow and found that it was an ideal fit for side and back sleeping. Its versatility helped it earn a perfect 5 out of 5 from Cait in this category.

“If you are someone who prefers a firm and supportive pillow, the Saatva flattens down just enough for well-supported back sleeping,” Cait said. “However, I would not recommend this pillow to stomach sleepers, as its loft is likely just a touch too high for them to maintain spinal alignment.”

The malleability of the Saatva Latex Pillow also earned it another 5-star rating for its materials. During testing, Cait described the Saatva pillow as plush, breathable, and impressively strong.

“Saatva uses high-quality materials in its mattresses, and fortunately, that extends to its pillows,” Cait said. “This latex pillow uses organic cotton and features a removable and machine-washable outer fill layer.”

Speaking of machine-washable, care was another category that stood out to Cait. She gave the Saatva Latex Pillow another 5 out of 5 because it was easy for her to wash, refresh, and maintain. That said, only its outer layers are machine washable; the shredded latex core is not.

The only other drawback of the Saatva Latex Pillow is that it costs $165 for the standard queen-size before discounts. However, this is a great option for sleepers with back pain seeking a supportive and durable pillow.

Organic bedding is hypoallergenic, better for the planet, and offers other benefits that can improve your sleep quality. In the case of the Birch Organic Pillow, its GOLS-certified latex provides ample lift to help back sleepers maintain neutral spinal alignment at night. Our in-house product tester awarded the Birch Organic Pillow 4 stars or more in our value and materials categories.

After spending weeks with the Birch Organic Pillow in every sleeping position, our product tester found that it was ideal for back sleeping. The construction of the Birch Organic Pillow provided plenty of responsive support similar to what our testers find on latex mattresses. Our tester praised the feel of its shredded latex while lying on his back and awarded it a 4 out of 5 in the materials category.

“I would say this pillow is ideal for strict back sleeping,” he said. “I love the cradling feeling of the shredded latex. However, it flattens somewhat as you lie on it, which might bother some folks. I don’t mind it, because it does a great job of keeping my upper body aligned with the rest of me.”

Our product expert was also impressed with how well the Birch Organic Pillow holds up with regular use. Upon feeling its materials, our tester found that the Birch Organic Pillow was designed with longevity in mind. The balance of comfort and durability won it a 4 out of 5 in our value category.

“At full price, the Birch pillow is $200,” our tester said. “However, it feels quite durable, and even heavy. You can tell Birch uses dense, high-quality materials in the pillow’s construction. I didn’t give it a 5 because it needs some additional features, like maybe some additional fill or an insert to get a ‘firmer’ option.”

Fortunately, Birch often discounts this pillow to $150, which is more in line with comparable organic options.

The Peacock Alley Down Alternative Pillow is my pick for combination sleepers with back pain, as it is supportive and comfortable in every position. According to product tester Sosha Lewis, it struck the right chord no matter how she slept. Sosha gave this pillow a 4.5-star rating or higher across our key categories for pillows: experience, materials, and care.

“I knew we were going to have a great love story the minute I took it out of its packaging,” Sosha said. “I’ve now snuck the one from my husband’s side of the bed and replaced it with an inferior pillow so I can use both.”

Unsurprisingly, Sosha awarded the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Pillow a perfect 5 out of 5 for experience and materials. She noted that the pillow’s goose-down alternative fill offers a hypoallergenic, cloud-like sleep surface. Moreover, it maintains its shape night after night, and its outer cover feels durable and built to withstand wear and tear.

“I’m a side sleeper and prefer them for this position,” she said. “It’s a higher pillow that allows just the right amount of sinkage to align your spine and eliminate tension buildup. I also found it surprisingly comfy for stomach and back sleeping because it lets you sink just enough without throwing your head and neck out of alignment.”

According to Sosha, this pillow is a must-have for combination sleepers who want to experience hotel-like comfort every night. No matter what position she slept in, the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Pillow was able to meet the moment.

Sosha also awarded the pillow a strong 4.5 out of 5 for care. While the pillow is machine-washable, Peacock Alley recommends laundering it in a commercial washer or opting for professional cleaning due to its size and density. Sosha also appreciated that Peacock Alley provides an online care guide.

If you’re always on the hunt for a good deal like me, the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow might be the perfect fit for you. This budget-friendly option is just $49 (or $34.40 each when you purchase a 4-pack). However, the best part about this pillow is that it overcame expectations during testing. After spending a few weeks with the Marlow Pillow, I gave it a 4 out of 5 or higher for overall experience, materials, and value.

Like many other excellent pillows for back pain, the Marlow Pillow is adjustable. Unzipping both sides creates the plush setting, while unzipping only one side gives it a medium-firm feel. Leaving both sides of the pillow makes it even firmer. During testing, I found that the medium-firm and firm settings were best for stomach and back sleeping, as they help your neck and head stay aligned with the rest of your spine.

Personally, as a stomach sleeper, I prefer a low loft, so the firmest setting on the Marlow was outstanding. Unlike other pillows that led to neck and lower back pain, it didn’t elevate my head too much. I felt like my whole body was in alignment and tension-free, so I gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 for experience.

I also appreciate this pillow’s hypoallergenic construction and adjustable loft, so I gave it a 4 out of 5 for materials. That said, it didn’t live up to the brand’s cooling claims during testing, so I subtracted a point from its score in this category. Most importantly, though, I thought its materials felt durable and could withstand everyday use. 

Despite being a great deal at $49, I had another complaint during testing: it is spot-clean only, and there’s no removable, machine-washable cover to make my life easier. However, this is still a fantastic and affordable option. I gave it a 5 out of 5 for value because it makes comfortable bedding more accessible to budget-conscious shoppers.