Restorative stomach sleeping doesn’t always come easy. Though the position can be quite comfortable at first, over the course of a night, it can put unnecessary strain on the neck and lower back. Therefore, it’s important for stomach sleepers to find a mattress that supports a healthy spine alignment throughout an entire evening.
The best way to achieve this is to snag an ultra-firm mattress. Though firmness doesn’t always equal support (we’ll go into this more later!), a firm structure is going to be better at lifting the spine into a neutral alignment than a softer one would be. In addition to firmness, you’ll also want to focus on bounce in your search, as buoyant mattresses are designed to position the sleeper more on top of the structure than in it, an important feature for those who like to doze in prone.
So, which mattresses fit the bill? We’re glad you asked! Below, we’re going to introduce you to some of our favorite beds for stomach sleepers. Then, we’ll go over the methodology we used to make our selections and wrap up the guide with a few tips you can use to improve your mattress search.
Firmest Support
Zinus Extra Firm iCoil
If you’re in the market for extra-firm support, we recommend going with the Zinus Extra iCoil Mattress, a supremely bouncy, firm, and supportive bed. At 7.5” tall, the iCoil Pocketed Spring system dominates the vibe, ensuring not only excellent spinel alignment for individual stomach sleepers, but also low motion transfer rates for couples.
Pros
- If you like the bouncy feel of a traditional innerspring mattress, this Zinus model could be a fantastic pick for you as its thin foam topper doesn’t really get in the way of the coil system’s powerful lift.
- In general, stomach sleepers could find a lot to love in this supportive vibe, as the iCoil system works to alleviate tension at the hips and promote a healthy spine alignment.
- The tremendous bounce of the individually wrapped coils results in some great mobility, which could be a big plus for sleepers who need to change positions in the night.
Cons
- There’s not a lot of contouring going on here, which could be a dealbreaker for folks after deep pressure relief.
- Side sleepers, in particular, should stay away from this mattress as it’s not nearly gentle enough to support their needs.
If you’re in the market for extra-firm support, we recommend going with the Zinus Extra iCoil Mattress, a supremely bouncy, firm, and supportive bed.
Best Hybrid
Ashley Furniture
It’s no secret that stomach sleepers enjoy the buoyant lift of a hybrid mattress, and there’s perhaps no better model out there than the Chime Express Hybrid from Ashley Furniture. Here, a 9” section of pocketed coils reigns supreme, resulting in a structure that bouncy and oh so very supportive.
Pros
- Stomach and combo sleepers will likely enjoy the bed’s incredible bounce, which lifts the body up and out of the structure.
- The bed also has a fantastic innerspring vibe, making it an excellent choice for stomach sleepers after a firm bed.
- Another plus? All the materials in the bed are hypoallergenic, meaning they’re free of airborne pests, dust, and pet dander.
Cons
- Side sleepers may find the structure just a bit too firm, resulting in some tension at the shoulders and hips.
- Even though there’s a little bit of memory foam above the coils, you’re not going to get much body-contouring or sinkage from this bed.
The Ashley Furniture has a 9” section of pocketed coils reigns supreme, resulting in a structure that bouncy and oh so very supportive.
Best Foam
Tuft & Needle
Though most folks who sleep in the prone position will want a bed with coils for bounce and lift, others will prefer the more gentle feel of foam. For this latter group, we suggest the all-foam Tuft & Needle mattress, a bed that packs a supportive punch with just two layers of foam. This straightforward design also features a cooling graphite infusion to help regulate temperatures throughout the night.
Pros
- A big selling point for the Tuft & Needle is its cooling power, which you get via the breathable cover and graphite-infused comfort layer.
- The T&N mattress is also an amazing value buy! When compared to other beds of its quality, this model is certainly more budget-friendly.
- With its firm feel and supportive bounce, the T&N will likely work best for back and stomach sleepers.
Cons
- With just two layers, the profile here is a tad thin, which could pose a problem for heavier sleepers who will likely push straight through the comfort layer.
- The overall firmness of the mattress could also be an issue for side sleepers, who tend toward gentler structures for pressure relief at the shoulders and hips.
The all-foam Tuft & Needle mattress, a bed that packs a supportive punch with just two layers of foam.
Best Value
Linenspa
A latex hybrid can be great for stomach sleepers after a ton of bounce, as they combine the natural buoyancy of latex with springy coils. There are a lot of these models on the market, but our favorite is the 10” Latex Hybrid from Linenspa. It’s got a straightforward construction composed just of latex and coils, so nothing gets between the sleeper and its supportive vibe.
Pros
- Combo sleepers might really enjoy the feel of this mattress, as it’s bouncy enough to allow them to move around and change positions with ease.
- It could also work well for younger folks who need to be able to spring up and out of their mattress.
- And finally, the mattress is relatively affordable, so might be good for college students, people moving into a first apartment, or homeowners shopping for a mattress for a spare bedroom.
Cons
- There’s not a lot of contouring to this mattress, so probably won’t jive with folks who need deep pressure relief at the shoulders, hips, or lower back.
- That being said, side sleepers may find the structure too firm for their specific sleep needs, which tend toward a more pressure-relieving feel.
The 10” Latex Hybrid from Linenspa has a straightforward construction composed just of latex and coils, so nothing gets between the sleeper and its supportive vibe.
Best for Kids
Signature Sleep
But stomach sleeping isn’t just for adults! If your child enjoys the prone position, you may want to consider snagging this bed from Signature Sleep. A top layer of supportive high-density poly foam is complemented by a tall layer of pocketed coils, ensuring your little one will remain positioned squarely on top of the bed throughout the night.
Pros
- This is an ultra-supportive mattress, so could be great for young sleepers as their bodies grow and change.
- It’s also super bouncy, making it a great fit for sleepers who need to move around and change positions in the night.
- Stomach sleepers will enjoy the extra lift they get at the hips, which help to set their spines in a nice, neutral alignment.
Cons
- If you prefer a softer feel, you’ll want to keep on looking, as this is one supremely firm mattress.
- Additionally, it’s not the most cooling, so may not be a good fit for sleepers who tend to overheat at night.
The Signature Sleep has a top layer of supportive high-density poly foam is complemented by a tall layer of pocketed coils, ensuring your little one will remain positioned squarely on top of the bed throughout the night.
How We Picked
Now that we’ve gone over our picks, let’s discuss the methodology we used to pick them. Below, we’ll walk you through the most important factors to consider when buying a mattress to satisfy your stomach-sleeping needs.
Firmness
First and foremost, you’ll want to consider firmness. Stomach sleepers will want to land on a structure that’s super firm, typically in the 7.5-8.5/10 range. For reference, the industry standard for medium firmness is 6.5, so you’ll want to skew slightly higher than that for your own mattress.
And why so firm? Because firm mattresses are typically better at lifting the sleeper up and out of the structure to promote healthy spine alignment. It’s crucial that a stomach sleeper feels as though their hips are in line with their shoulders; otherwise, they may experience uncomfortable bowing in the lumbar region. .
Support
But firmness isn’t the same thing as support, so don’t just go with a bed because it’s hard as a rock. Instead, find a mattress that actively supports the hips and lumbar region, the two most sensitive zones for stomach sleepers. Stay on the lookout for beds with individually wrapped coil systems or foam layers that have been zoned for support. These key words and phrases typically indicate that a brand has taken a more nuanced approach to support, which could benefit you greatly!
Materials
When it comes to specific bedding materials, some are better suited to stomach sleepers’ unique firmness and support needs than others. If you’re going all-foam, focus on high-density poly foam and latex. These two materials provide a lot of lift and bounce, which helps to position the sleeper more on top of the structure than in it.
Though all-foam beds are technically fine, we recommend stomach sleepers consider opting for either a hybrid or innerspring mattress. The added support of a coil system can do wonders for this group, especially when it comes to positioning the hips in line with the shoulders.
Quilted covers and top layers of memory foam should generally be avoided by stomach sleepers, unless they’re quite thin. Otherwise, the sinkage could offset the alignment of the hips and shoulders, causing unnecessary discomfort in the night.
Pillows
In addition to landing on a firmly supportive mattress, stomach sleepers will want to be extra wary of the pillows they use. We suggest going with a pillow that’s soft, short, and compressible enough to keep the spine aligned to relieve pressure in the lower back. You can go with whatever material feels best to you, just make sure the loft is low so you don’t break your stomach-sleeping flow.
Sleepopolis Tips
Still feeling a little lost? No worries! We’re going to close out this guide with a few handy tricks you can use to make your mattress search a breeze.
- Pay extra close attention to a bed’s top layer. A thick section of memory foam, for example, may be great for side sleepers, but could cause stomach sleepers quite a bit of discomfort. In general, you’ll want to make sure the top layer of foam is no more than 1-2” thick.
- Edge support is going to be another crucial buzzword for stomach sleepers. When a brand says that its mattress features “edge support,” it basically means that the sides of the bed are as sturdy as its center. This indicates more uniform support, which is a great thing for those who doze in prone.
- If your partner doesn’t need a mattress quite as firm as you do, you may want to consider going with a “split firmness.” This means the bed is divided in half and features two different firmnesses on either side.
- All in all, the biggest thing to remember is that you want to keep a straight line all the way from the crown of your head to your feet. Any mattress that supports this alignment is likely to work wonders for stomach sleepers.
Wrapping Up
Well folks, that’s it for our guide to the best mattresses for stomach sleepers! Though everyone’s search will look a little different, if you keep the focus on firmness, support, and neutral spine alignment, you’ll be well on your way to securing the perfect bed for your stomach-sleeping needs.
Logan Block
Logan is the content director of Sleepopolis, which means he not only reviews new mattresses every week, but also curates all the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. He takes a straightforward, honest approach to his reviews and endeavors to give viewers an objective look at each new product he tries out. Logan has perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.