Likely match
Balance
Medium support for neutral alignment
- Loft @ 50 N
- 100 mm
- Firmness (IFD25)
- 55–65 N
- Family
- back
Next pick if Balance feels off: Ease Low.
Custom pillow · Back sleeper
A back-sleeper pillow that supports the curve, not the chin.
Medium loft, predictable rebound, no over-engineered contour. Maple's fit logic finds the height that holds the natural neck curve without tipping your head forward.
Measured pillow heightMade in Canada90-day fit trial
Quick answer
Most back sleepers land between 80 mm and 105 mm of measured height under a 50 N load. The right number depends on neck length, mattress firmness, and whether your current pillow already feels too tall. The two main mistakes are too much loft (chin jams toward chest) and too little loft (head tips backward and the neck overextends).
The problem
Why back sleepers usually pick the wrong pillow
Most pillows on the market are tuned for side sleeping because side sleepers complain the loudest. Back sleepers end up with whatever loft is left over — usually too tall. Sleeping with your chin pushed toward your chest all night closes off the airway, strains the upper traps, and slowly grinds down sleep quality without ever feeling acutely wrong.
- Tall side-sleeper pillows pin the chin forward
- Plush down pillows collapse and let the head tip backward
- Cervical contours can be too aggressive for sleepers who shift positions
- "Adjustable" pillows usually settle to the wrong height by month two
- Soft mattress → −8 mm (your head sinks with your shoulders)
- Firm mattress → +6 mm (your head sits higher, the gap is wider)
- Long neck → +4 mm of loft to keep the natural curve filled
- If you already feel "propped up," the Ease Low profile is the right next step
Fit logic
What changes the back-sleeper recommendation
Back sleeping is the most consistent position for pillow geometry, but small inputs still move the target by 5–10 mm.
Recommended profile
Recommended profile
The Balance profile is Maple's default back-sleeper match — medium height under a 50 N load, balanced rebound, and a creep delta tight enough that the height you fall asleep on is the height you wake up on. If you tend toward feeling propped up, the Ease Low profile drops the target loft by about 10 mm.
Profile: Loft: medium · Feel: medium · Best for: dedicated back sleepers and combo sleepers who want a versatile starting point
See the Balance profileWhat to avoid
What to avoid
- Tall side-sleeper pillows — they push the chin forward
- Cervical contour pillows if you also sleep on your side
- Two stacked thin pillows — they shift independently overnight
- Buckwheat or extremely firm pillows that don't conform under the occiput
Frequently asked
Back sleeper questions, answered.
What's the best pillow loft for back sleepers?
An average back sleeper on a medium mattress usually lands between 90–100 mm of measured height. Long-necked sleepers benefit from another 4 mm. Soft mattresses subtract about 8 mm because the shoulders sink with the head.
Should back sleepers use a contour pillow?
A subtle contour can help, but a deeply scooped cervical pillow forces a single position. If you ever drift onto your side, an aggressive contour becomes uncomfortable. Maple's back-sleeper profiles use a flat-but-supportive shape that works whether you stay on your back or roll occasionally.
How do I know my pillow is too tall for back sleeping?
The clearest sign is waking up with the back of your head pushed forward — chin closer to your chest than feels neutral. You may also notice the front of your neck feels stretched after a full night, or that you keep folding the pillow in half to make it work.
Ready to confirm the fit?
The fit quiz takes about 60 seconds.
Eight inputs, one specific match, a 90-day fit trial if it isn't right.