Reasonable narrow coal pillar width is very important to ensure the stability of surrounding rock. The reasonable width of coal pillar for gob side entry driving in 4305 working face of Shaqu No.1 Mine was taken as the engineering background. Through the research methods of theoretical calculation, numerical simulation and field observation, the width of plastic zone of roadway pillar was calculated, and the distribution law of roadway surrounding rock displacement field with different width coal pillar was analyzed. The results showed that the width of plastic zone of roadway pillar was 7.8 m. Through comparative analysis of the displacement field distribution of roadway surrounding rock with 5 m, 8 m and 15 m coal pillars, it was determined that 8 m width coal pillar can meet the stability of surrounding rock of roadway. The field observation of surrounding rock deformation showed that the 8 m wide coal pillar can ensure the normal use of the roadway in the driving and recovery mining stages.