Abstract This work investigates the stabilization mechanisms of two types of longitudinal pulsations in rotating detonation combustors. The first type is linked to operating modes with two counter-rotating waves in combustors with open outlets and appears as a minor peak in the pressure spectrum. The second type is observed as pulsed operation of the combustor when the outlet is restricted. Different combustor lengths are studied and the susceptibility to these longitudinal pulsations is investigated. Pressure measurements along the length of the combustor and around the perimeter are used to identify the operating mode and to describe the propagation and stabilization mechanisms of the two longitudinal modes. The results show that both modes are linked to the longitudinal acoustic resonance of the combustor. The length-to-perimeter ratio and the mass flux are identified as the driving parameters for the existence of these longitudinal modes. The first mode is shown to be an acoustic resonance supported by the intersections of counter-rotating waves. The second mode is controlled by the reflection of an explosion induced shock wave propagating through a high velocity bulk flow.