Abstract: To further study the layout horizon of roadway and the width of coal pillar after mining working face of upper section in thick coal seam, the 6208 working face of a mine in Shanxi Province is taken as the background of the project. A combination method of theoretical analysis and numerical simulation is used. Under the influence of mining, the width of coal pillar is calculated to be 7 m and the stress distribution characteristics of coal pillar are analyzed. The distribution of deformation and stress in the roof and floor, solid coal sidewall, pillar sidewall of the roadway and pillar on one side of the roadway under the roadway is excavated along the roof or floor of coal seam are analyzed by UDEC numerical software. It is found that the optimal pillar width is also different when the horizon of roadway is different. Compared with the wide pillar, the narrow pillar has a fairly stable effect on the pillar roadway, which is more conducive to the conservation and recovery of coal resources. Under the condition of permissible deformation, the test roadway is driven along the floor of coal seam, and the width of the pillar is 7 m finally, and the surrounding rock has good control effect.