Tom's Guide Sleep Awards 2025: Best Pillow for Back Sleepers

TG bedding writer sleeping on the Coop Original Adjustable in TG Sleep Studio and the TG Sleep Awards badge on the left — (Image credit: Future)

The best pillow for back sleepers has to hit a sweet spot of being neither too firm or too soft, too low or too high, and on top of that, individual body types and weights can influence the exact firmness and loft back sleepers need.

But there is one pillow that can allow back sleepers to rest comfortably night after night; the Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow which received a 4.5/5 star score in our review.

The Coop Original Adjustable white pillow and extra fill — (Image credit: Future)

Nail great sleep every night with our Best Pillow for Back Sleepers

When you're on your back, you need to keep your head and neck supported and aligned with your spine — a pillow that is too low or too soft can cause your head and neck to dip into your mattress, while one that's too high or too firm can push them forward. The best pillow for back sleepers should be a high-quality headrest with a medium to medium-firm feel and a medium loft.

Our winner, the Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable pillow, can provide exactly that. It even performs if your preferences and body type impact the exact back-sleeping pillow you need (for example, a heavier back sleeper might need a slightly firmer pillow than a very light sleeper, or you may just prefer a softer feel).

So how does it achieve this incredible feat? The answer is its fully adjustable build. Featuring a plush, cushioning cross-cut memory foam and microfiber fill, (and coming with an extra half pound bag of said fill) you can simply add or remove to create the ultimate back-sleeping headrest for you.

The lead tester in our Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow review, a combination sleeper (back and side), found that adding about a quarter of the additional fill delivered "a comfy balance of softness and medium-firmness" for her in either sleeping position. This was undoubtedly helped by the two-way stretch inner polyester liner, which is designed to adapt to support your neck.

We were so impressed, we awarded the Original Adjustable Pillow 5 out of 5 for comfort and support.

Coop Original Adjustable pillow details — (Image credit: Future)

Despite not being a dedicated cooling pillow, the Coop Original Adjustable comes with a super breathable cover made of Lulltra fabric — a blend of polyester and bamboo-derived viscose rayon — and the fill allows for airflow. During four weeks of testing, our reviewer felt cool and comfortable, and gave the Coop Original Adjustable a perfect score of 5/5 for temperature regulation.

The one downside we spotted is that it requires regular re-fluffing to maintain its shape and support (something our reviewer enjoyed as part of a nighttime routine). This is exactly where the runner-ups in this category — the Layla Kapok Adjustable and the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Neck — both excelled.

However, the Layla remained a medium-firm pillow (which might not suit all back sleepers) irrespective of how much fill was taken out, and the Tempur-Neck has a firmer feel and curved design which cannot be adjusted at all.

The Coop Original Adjustable is also more affordable, even at full MSRP. And the Black Friday bedding deals mean Coop currently has 25% off this pillow, dropping the cost of a queen-size classic to an even more budget-friendly $63.75 (was $85).

You'll also get the best sleep benefits we've come across for pillows: a 100-night sleep trial, 5-year warranty and free shipping. Considering how well it performed across all parameters, we think you can't go wrong with the Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable for back sleeping; it's quite simply the best pillow on the market now.

Becky is a Sleep Staff Writer at Tom’s Guide covering all things sleep-related including product reviews, research studies, news and explainers. She works on specialist bedding content and is responsible for buyer’s guides like the best pillows for all sleepers and best mattress protectors focusing on popular brands such as Tempur-Pedic, Avocado, Coop Home Goods and more. Becky is a PPA accredited journalist who is keen to explore the intricacies of sleep, its effects on skincare, mental wellbeing and work performance. While not thinking of sleep, she can be seen reading in cosy bookshops or learning about global food culture.

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