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.
Zinus Extra Firm iCoil
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.
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.
Ashley Furniture
Ashley Furniture
The Ashley Furniture has a 9” section of pocketed coils reigns supreme, resulting in a structure that bouncy and oh so very supportive.
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.
Tuft & Needle
Tuft & Needle
The all-foam Tuft & Needle mattress, a bed that packs a supportive punch with just two layers of foam.
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.
Linenspa
Linenspa
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.
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.
Signature Sleep
Signature Sleep
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.
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.
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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.
Of all the sleeping positions, stomach-sleeping is the least common. Some of us may sleep on our stomachs periodically, but people who do so for the majority of the night are a rare breed. In fact, just 16 percent of us stomach-sleep on a routine basis. As physical therapist and Sleepopolis Expert Network member Dr. Keith Poorbaugh tells us, the position can also be tricky when it comes to your health. That’s why it’s so important to find the right mattress or bed. Find out more in our roundup of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers!
The DreamCloud Premier is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great amount of firm support that stomach sleepers should really enjoy.
The DreamCloud Premier is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great amount of firm support that stomach sleepers should really enjoy.
The DreamCloud Premier is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great amount of firm support that stomach sleepers should really enjoy.
While there are a ton of hybrids available online, I particularly like the DreamCloud Premier for stomach sleepers because its top layers of foam are soft, but not too soft. What I mean is that they provide plenty of pressure relief at the shoulders and hips without causing the lumbar region to dip out of alignment with the rest of the torso. This results in an even line from head to hoof, which is ideal for those who sleep in prone. They’ll also get the support they need from a layer of springy pocketed coils at the bottom.
Pros
The combination of pressure relief and support starts right away with a Euro top layer that blends 1” of high-loft memory foam with 1” of soft support foam.
The layer of coils stands tall at 8.5”.
This is another mattress with great edge support.
Cons
The DreamCloud Premier does sleep a little hot, which you should keep in mind if you have a hard time staying cool at night.
Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain –Saatva
Best for Back Pain
Saatva Mattress
The Saatva is firm enough to keep the hips and shoulders aligned, which is important for stomach sleepers. This healthy, neutral position will help in relieving discomfort associated with back pain.
The Saatva is firm enough to keep the hips and shoulders aligned, which is important for stomach sleepers. This healthy, neutral position will help in relieving discomfort associated with back pain.
The Saatva is firm enough to keep the hips and shoulders aligned, which is important for stomach sleepers. This healthy, neutral position will help in relieving discomfort associated with back pain.
What’s most notable about the Saatva is its special coil-on-coil construction, where two rows of coils are stacked on top of each other. This results in a resoundingly firm feel, which could be ideal for stomach sleepersstruggling with back pain. Stomach sleepers most often experience back pain when their mattress allows their hips to sink into bed and fall out of alignment with their shoulders. The Saatva’s bouncy support prevents this issue.
Pros
The Saatva comes in three firmness levels, and stomach sleepers should be most comfortable on the Firm.
If you find that the Classic Saatva isn’t quite supportive enough for your needs, the brand also makes the Saatva HD, an ultra-firm model designed for heavy sleepers.
The coil-on-coil construction gives the Saatva excellentedge support.
Cons
The Saatva has high motion transfer, which is common for innerspring mattresses.
Best Mattress for Back and Stomach Sleepers –Helix Dawn
The Helix Dawn hybrid mattress is a nice fit for back and stomach sleepers due to its support and firmness. Back sleepers will enjoy how the latex foam alleviates tension in the lumbar region. Stomach sleepers will appreciate how the bed’s firmness elevates their hips, keeping their spines in a healthy, neutral alignment. If your hips dip while stomach sleeping, it can cause back pain down the road. The Helix Dawn also has a strong combination of bounce and responsiveness, so combination sleepers should be able to easily move around at night.
Pros
It has great edge support, so you can use the full surface of the mattress.
It comes at an affordable price point.
The Helix Dawn sleeps cool with its light fabric cover and pocketed coils.
Cons
If you’re someone who wants a mattress with a lot of pressure relief or sinkage, then the highly-firm Helix Dawn isn’t for you.
The WinkBeds GravityLux is a memory foam mattress that’s supportive enough for heavier people, weighing over 250 pounds. It comes in a soft, medium, and firm model — so you can choose the firmness level that suits your needs best. Despite being all-foam, the firm model is a very firm mattress that offers a contouring “hug-like” feeling. It’d especially be a great option for back or stomach sleepers looking for a firm feel.
Pros
It’s a nice fit for couples with its strong edge support, motion isolation, and cooling technology.
It’s responsive, so combination sleepers can switch sleeping positions without any struggle.
WinkBeds is known for making durable, long-lasting mattresses.
Cons
You may not like this bed if you’re looking for a traditional memory foam feel that features slow-moving sinkage.
If you’re looking for a mattress where you can feel hugged by it, but not overheat, then the Nolah Signature could be the right bed for you. This all-foam mattress has a breathable organic cotton cover and cooling foam inside to help dissipate body heat and keep you cool. Its other layers of foam also provide pressure relief and support. It’s especially a great fit for back sleepers, as they should get a good combination of sinkage and support at the lumbar region.
Pros
Its pressure-relieving abilities would be a nice option for back or side sleepers with back pain.
It does a great job isolating motion, so you shouldn’t feel your partner tossing and turning in the night.
Couples will appreciate its edge support, as it will allow them to stretch out near the edge of the bed and use the full surface of the mattress.
Cons
This is not the best fit for stomach sleepers, as it isn’t firm enough to prop their hips up to be in alignment with their spine.
This mattress is no longer available for purchase. To help you find your next mattress, check out our list of the best mattresses available on the market now.
Coming in at a 7 out 10 on the firmness scale, the Casper is firm enough to promote a healthy, straight spine, while still giving a little bit of that memory-foam hug that so many love. It also works against the stigma of memory foam trapping body heat, thanks to an open-celled construction and the breathability of its top layer of foam.
Pros
The Casper uses Zoned Support, which means that the foams are firmer in the center of the bed and softer at the head and foot.
It has decent motion isolation, making it a good option for couples.
It’s also a good match for back sleepers.
Cons
Although the Casper should be comfortable for most lightweight stomach sleepers and some average-weight stomach sleepers, heavy stomach sleepers over 250 lb will probably need a firmer and more supportive bed..
Best Mattress for Side and Stomach Sleepers – Layla Hybrid
Best for Side and Stomach Sleepers
Layla Hybrid Mattress
The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress with both a soft and firm side, making it a good choice for side and stomach sleepers. The foam on the soft side contours to your body, while the firm side comforts and supports.
The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress with both a soft and firm side, making it a good choice for side and stomach sleepers. The foam on the soft side contours to your body, while the firm side comforts and supports.
The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress with both a soft and firm side, making it a good choice for side and stomach sleepers. The foam on the soft side contours to your body, while the firm side comforts and supports.
The Layla offers a one-two punch of pressure relief and support by incorporating both gentle memory foam and sturdy pocketed coils into its design. So, you should get enough lift at the hips while dozing on your stomach and enough cozy comfort at your shoulders when turning onto your side, ensuring sound sleep in both positions.
Pros
The mattress is flippable with a “Soft” and “Firm” side, allowing sleepers to experiment with different comfort levels before landing on the one that’s right for them.
Its memory foam layer has a copper infusion to help the bed sleep cool.
The Layla has low motion transfer, which should appeal to couples.
Cons
This isn’t the most responsive bed, so if you like a lot of bounce, the Layla might not be for you.
The Plank mattress is an all-foam, flippable mattress with a firm side and an extra-firm side, which makes it great for stomach sleepers. Both sides of the mattress should provide them with the right level support they need.
The Plank mattress is an all-foam, flippable mattress with a firm side and an extra-firm side, which makes it great for stomach sleepers. Both sides of the mattress should provide them with the right level support they need.
The Plank mattress is an all-foam, flippable mattress with a firm side and an extra-firm side, which makes it great for stomach sleepers. Both sides of the mattress should provide them with the right level support they need.
The Brooklyn Bedding Plank is one of the firmest mattresses on the market, meaning there’s very little room for sinkage when you lie on your stomach. That’s always the main thing I look for when recommending a mattress to stomach sleepers, since it helps align their spine and hips. This bed gives extra support around those delicate areas, making it ideal for those who want to maintain “perfect” sleep posture.
Pros
This is a flippable mattress, so you can choose from a firm and an extra-firm side.
Back sleepers who appreciate a firm mattress might also enjoy the Plank.
It could also be a good choice for combination sleepers.
Cons
Being all-foam, the Plank sleeps a bit hot, but you can add an optional cooling panel for an additional charge.
Best Mattress for Lightweight Stomach Sleepers – Tuft & Needle
Although this bed has a fairly simple design, it’s still quite firm and a great fit for lightweight stomach sleepers, who weigh less than 130 pounds. It’s key for stomach sleepers to have their hips elevated, so they’re in alignment with their spine. This helps prevent future back pain. The Tuft & Needle is a touch firmer than average, making it ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers since it’ll feel firmer to them than to heavier sleepers. It’d also be a great fit for back sleepers.
Pros
It has good edge support for an all-foam mattress.
The comfort layer in the mattress has cooling and gel graphite infused into it, which hot sleepers should appreciate.
It comes at an affordable price.
Cons
This bed is not going to be supportive enough for heavier folks.
The Birch makes a great bed for stomach sleepers, as it has a firmer feel and offers lots of support to keep the hips properly elevated. And as a bonus, it’s made from natural materials such as Talalay latex, organic cotton, and wool fibers. Along with individually wrapped coils, the latex gives the Birch a super-bouncy feel.
Pros
If you sleep in a position other than your stomach, the Birch’s responsiveness should make it easy to switch positions.
The latex and coil construction help the Birch sleep quite cool, so you won’t have to worry about overheating at night.
The Birch has solid edge support, so you should be secure sleeping near the edge of the bed.
Cons
If you want a lot of sinkage and contouring, you may want to look for a different bed.
Many stomach sleepers find lying on their stomachs comfortable, and may fall asleep more easily in this position.
Sleeping on the stomach can help lower the risk of snoring andsleep apnea due to the position of the throat and tongue.
Stomach-sleeping may decrease the likelihood of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Cons
Sleeping on the stomach can contort and put pressure on the spine due to the concentration of weight in the middle of the body and the effects of gravity.
Reports of neck, shoulder, and back strain are common among stomach sleepers, especially those who sleep with both arms raised. One study found that using a computer or watching TV in the prone position can cause tension in the lumbar region of the back, while another showed that stomach-sleeping may disrupt breathing. (1) (2)
Muscle and joint strain caused by stomach-sleeping can result in repeated awakenings during the night. This can lead to sleep interruption andsleep deprivation, which may trigger fatigue, irritability, trouble with learning and memory, and weight gain.
The right mattress can help mitigate some of the cons of stomach-sleeping, but may not relieve them entirely. Proper firmness and support are key to sleeping with minimal tension on the neck and spine.
Best Mattress Firmness for Stomach Sleepers
What does firmness mean when it comes to your mattress? Though firmness and support may sound similar, they have different definitions. Firmness refers to the initial feel when you first lie on a mattress. If the mattress immediately pushes back with a stiff sleeping surface, most people would consider it firm or very firm. Other mattresses have more of a cloud-like comfort with cushioning that immediately contours around the body. This would be considered plush or soft. A balanced level of push-back, hug, and contour would be considered a medium feel.
Mattress firmness is described by a numerical 1-to-10 scale, with one being the softest and ten being the firmest. Most soft mattresses measure around 3 on the scale, while extra-firm mattresses measure around 8.
Mattresses that are considered appropriate for stomach sleepers generally come in at 6 to 8 on the firmness scale. This level will prevent the back from arching out of alignment and keep the hips lifted in line with the shoulders. Anything softer could cause discomfort in the pelvis and lower back.
Body weight is also a factor when choosing a mattress. A stomach sleeper of average weight might consider a medium mattress (about a 5 on the scale) or a medium-firm mattress (around 6 to 7). Mattresses in this firmness range will be soft enough to conform to the body without sinking excessively. A mattress that measures above a 7 may help prevent heavier stomach sleepers from sinking too deeply and exacerbating joint and muscle strain.
Though the firmness of your mattress is an important factor in how comfortably you sleep, Dr. Poorbaugh warns that it may not be enough to undo existing sleep posture issues. Put simply, if you already suffer from back pain, you should avoid sleeping on your stomach.
“I advise clients to avoid stomach-sleeping if they are experiencing any type of spinal pain,” he says. “The primary area of concern for stomach sleepers is spinal alignment. Even with proper pillow placement [discussed below], it’s difficult to maintain a neutral spine position in prone.”
If you’re a dedicated stomach sleeper and want to be as kind as possible to your muscles and joints, make sure you have the right mattress.
What About Mattress Support?
After firmness, support may be the most important concern for stomach sleepers. Support describes the uniformity of the mattress surface and the way it conforms to the body. Sound support will help to bolster the lumbar region, lift the hips, and reduce tension in the neck and shoulders.
To find a bed with solid support, consider the following:
Firmness doesn’t always equal support, so pay attention to materials and construction. Hybrid beds utilize both foam and pocketed coils, and typically offer the most well-rounded support.
When you try out a bed, make sure your hips and shoulders aren’t sinking out of alignment. Give your body a few minutes to settle before deciding if the support feels right.
Focus less on the comfort layers and more on the support sections. Pillow-tops can be tantalizing, but stomach sleepers need to feel what’s going on underneath.
Best Type of Mattress for Stomach-Sleeping
A firmer, more supportive mattress can help reduce the discomfort and joint strain of stomach-sleeping. But which type of mattress is best for you? Mattress options for people who sleep on their stomachs include the following:
Latex is a responsive material with a slightly spongy feel. The responsiveness of latex can help reduce the “stuck” feeling that may occur with memory foam, so that switching positions is easier. Latex is known as a cooler material, making it a great choice for stomach sleepers who tend to perspire or wake up hot. It’s also a natural material made from the sap of the rubber tree, and may be a good option for people with respiratory allergies or concerns about the environmental impact of their mattress.
Memory foam mattresses conform to the body and offer solid support and pressure relief. Though memory foam is known for sleeping hot, recent, more advanced memory foams sleep cooler due to their larger cellular structure. The thickness, density, and firmness of memory foam varies by mattress, brand, and price. In general, changing sleeping positions on memory foam is not as easy as it is with some other mattress materials. Finally, memory foam is durable and typically makes for a very supportive mattress. Intrigued? Take a look at ourmemory foam mattress reviews!
Traditional coil mattresses are made with a structure of steel springs throughout the bed. Coils usually make for a bouncy bed that transfers motion easily. Pocketed coils are less likely to transfer motion due to the material that encases each individual coil.
Hybrid mattresses achieve support and firmness using a variety of materials rather than one. They can be made of various blends of latex, memory, other polyurethane foams, coils, or something else. They’re also available in any firmness level, from soft to very firm. Take a look at some of ourhybrid mattress reviews to see if one of these beds fits your sleeping style!
Pillow-top mattresses may be made of latex, memory foam, hybrid combinations, or other mattress materials. “Pillow-top” describes the layer of plush material either filling or affixed to the cover.
Tri-zone construction utilizes three different levels of comfort to support the lumbar region of the back and align the spine. The upper section of a tri-zone mattress is typically made of a softer layer that cushions and cradles the head and shoulders. A firmer foam is used for the middle zone to support the heavier torso and prevent it from sinking too deeply into the mattress. Making up the lower zone is a medium foam that supports the hips, glutes, and legs.
Worst Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers
The worst mattresses for stomach sleepers are softer, less supportive, and more prone to sagging under the weight of the torso. Too much sinkage can throw the spine out of alignment and increase muscle and joint pain. To help prevent poor alignment and discomfort, stomach-sleepers may want to avoid the following:
A mattress with a deep pillow-top. A cushiony outer layer can feel plush and cozy to sink into, but is more likely to cause a painful curvature of the neck and spine. A thick pillow-top could also make breathing more difficult.
A mattress made of softer memory foam. Stomach-sleepers are more likely to shift and change position during the night, which could be more difficult on a less-firm memory foam.
A hyperelastic polymer mattress. These mattresses typically have open cells of relatively bouncy material and a resilient feel. Hyperelastic polymer is responsive, making it easier to change positions, but may not offer the pressure relief and firmness that most stomach sleepers need. That being said, there are exceptions to the rule, such as the Purple Hybrid.
The Right Pillows for Stomach-Sleepers
More than almost any other type of sleeper, those who sleep primarily on their stomachs have the most to gain from effective pillow use. As Dr. Poorbaugh points out, it’s not just about focusing on the pillow that goes under your head (though that’s important, too), but getting creative with the ones you use along the rest of your body.
“To mitigate the risk of stomach-sleeping for articular pain in the shoulder or spine, the best option is to utilize proper pillow support,” he says. “Pillows should be placed under the pelvis and shoulders to maintain neutral spine postures and avoid impingement of the shoulder.”
Research from the Mayo Clinic supports this idea, indicating that the only sure way to ensure proper support for stomach sleepers is to nestle a flat pillow directly under the pelvis. (3) The goal is to manufacture a lift, creating a neutral position for sound sleeping.
Not exactly sure what kind of pillow to go with? Ourbedding expert Sarah breaks it down like this:
The goal is to find a pillow with a lower loft (shorter height) and an overall softer firmness level.
Stay on the lookout for soft, short, and compressible pillows that won’t exert too much control over your posture.
If stomach-sleeping is causing neck or back strain, you may want to break the habit. Try sewing a tennis ball into the front of your shirt or packing pillows around your body to keep you on your back or side. Try a supportive pillow that cradles your neck and head and makes it more difficult to sleep on your stomach.
What is considered the best position for sleeping?
Sleeping positions are a matter of personal preference, but most experts recommend back- or side-sleeping for optimal comfort, neck position, and spinal alignment.
Is it healthier to sleep on a firm mattress?
A mattress is a good fit for you if it’s comfortable, doesn’t cause or worsen aches and pains, and promotes a good night’s sleep. When sleeping on a firm mattress, the bones absorb most of the pressure and put less stress on joints and muscles. A firm mattress may be better for back and stomach sleepers, while a slightly softer mattress might be the best choice if you sleep on your side.
Is it okay to sleep without a pillow?
Sleeping without a pillow or with a flatter pillow may actually be best if you sleep on your stomach. The less you lift your head while sleeping on your stomach, the less your arch your neck, which helps to lower the risk of back and neck strain.
We’ve reviewed more than 220 products in our mattress lab, running each one through tests such as pressure-mapping and measuring motion transfer with a seismometer. From there, we give every bed an overall score based on materials, comfort, support, cooling, and edge support. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty.
For the Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers roundup, we’ve honed in specifically on the area of support. All of the products reviewed on this page scored at least a 4 out of 5 in this category, with eight of the 10 beds scoring a 4.5 or above. Jump back to our mattress picks or click here to learn more about our methodology.
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Bridget Chapman
Hi, friends! I'm Bridget, a Certified Sleep Science Coach and your Lead Reviewer here at Sleepopolis. From testing mattresses to writing about various sleep health topics, my goal is to help you get a good night's sleep. You can also find me in videos on our YouTube channel!
