Written by Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Millions of people sleep on their stomachs, including yours truly. But because this position focuses pressure around the neck and hips, stomach sleepers have to be especially choosy when shopping for a mattress.
Stomach sleepers need a lot of support in order to keep our hips elevated and our spine in a healthy, neutral position. An overly soft bed can cause our midsections to sink too far into the bed, potentially leading to lower back pain, neck soreness, and other troubles.
The best mattresses for stomach sleepers therefore tend to be firm and sturdy. They prioritize lift over sink, and support over plushness.
Snoozing on your tummy should be just fine if you have a suitable surface—so take a look at the top beds for stomach sleepers below.
Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers
- Helix Dawn – Editor’s Pick
- Nectar Classic Hybrid – Best Mattress for Stomach and Back Sleepers
- DreamCloud Memory Foam – Best Memory Foam Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
- Nolah Evolution Comfort+ – Best Mattress for Stomach and Side Sleepers
- Saatva Classic – Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain
- Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe – Best Mattress for Heavy Stomach Sleepers
- Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Cooling Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
- Plank Firm – Best Firm Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
- Birch Natural – Best Latex Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
My Video Review of the Best Beds for Stomach Sleepers
Compare Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers
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| Helix Dawn Mattress | Nectar Classic Hybrid | DreamCloud Memory Foam | Nolah Evolution Comfort+ | Saatva Classic | Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress | Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Mattress | Birch Natural Mattress | |
| Rating | |||||||||
| Firmness | Firm: 7.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium: 5/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6/10 | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid | Innerspring | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | |||||||
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Lifetime warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| Shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping minus HI and AK | Free shipping minus HI and AK | Free shipping minus HI and AK | Free white glove delivery | Free shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping |
| Trial Period | 100 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 100 nights |
| Best For | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Couples | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Couples | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain, Seniors | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain, Couples | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Seniors | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Seniors |
How We Picked the Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers
At the Sleep Advisor studio, my team and I put mattresses through a series of in-person tests to evaluate how they perform for different sleeping positions and body types.
As a stomach sleeper, I have a vested interest in what makes a bed a good fit for snoozing in this prone posture. I look for two key factors: lots of support elements and a firmer feel.
Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a quadruple-board-certified physician and our Chief Medical Advisor, also gave me some advice:
“For stomach sleepers, a mattress needs to be just right—not too soft, not too hard. Look for something medium to medium-firm that keeps your spine aligned and supports your body evenly.”
Based on these criteria, all of the beds below have …
- A testing score of at least a 4 out of 5 in the support category
- A firmness rating between 5 and 8.5 on our mattress firmness scale
The Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers
Helix Dawn – Editor’s Pick
The Advisor Says: Helix’s firmest mattress certainly lives up to the hype. We recommend this bed to firm mattress fans (stomach or back sleepers, we’re looking at you) who are looking for a bed that prioritizes support.
Why It’s the Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers Overall
Stomach sleepers need a firm and supportive mattress to keep their lower back and hips from dipping out of alignment. Luckily, the Helix Dawn was explicitly designed for this demographic.
At a 7.5 on our scale, the Dawn has especially firm layers within its hybrid construction, and they really held up our team’s midsections during testing. In fact, this bed was so buoying that we think it’s a great option for plus-size stomach sleepers, too. This versatility, coupled with its affordable price, earned it the top spot on our list.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“This is best for back and stomach sleepers … that top foam layer gives you superior elevation and great responsiveness.”
Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
Helix Dynamic Foam. This is the bed’s first layer beneath the cover, and it’s a springy, firm material that behaves a bit like latex foam. Rather than sinking slowly, it demonstrated lots of bounce and helped to lift our lower backs and hips.
For a bit more softness, check out the Nolah Evolution Comfort+ instead.
Customer Reviews of the Helix Dawn
The Helix Dawn has an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars on the Helix website.
On Reddit, users’ opinions of the Dawn seem to depend on their experience of its firmness. One person (u/Jaggar345) slept on it comfortably for two years and said they’ve had “a good experience with Helix.” Another (u/Chilipowderfingers) was “disappointed” that the Dawn wasn’t more firm.
Looking to learn more? Read our Helix Dawn mattress review or check out our picks for the best mattresses of 2024.
Nectar Classic Hybrid – Best Mattress for Stomach and Back Sleepers
The Advisor Says: This is the hybrid version of Nectar’s flagship mattress, and unexpectedly, it feels a bit softer than its all-foam counterpart! We recommend it for back sleepers, restless couples, and anyone looking for an affordable mattress with generous policies.
Why It’s Great for Stomach and Back Sleepers
If you enjoy the contouring powers of memory foam but still want advanced support for both back and stomach sleeping, you’ll probably enjoy the Nectar Classic Hybrid. It clocks in at a 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale, so it’s on the softer end of medium-firm.
Our tester, Sosha, said that she loved this bed while resting on her stomach and back. Whereas she felt some pressure buildup around her shoulder on her side, the hybrid’s combination of hugging memory foam and strong springs proved extremely cozy in the other two positions.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“I was surprised by how much I liked this on my stomach. The thinner layers of foam offered enough but not too much cushioning, and the coils came through and kept my hips elevated, leaving me with a happy spine.”
Sosha Lewis, Senior Staff Writer
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
Support foam. The 2-inch layer of support foam (beneath the single inch of memory foam at the very top) helps to keep this hybrid from feeling too soft for stomach sleepers. It should encourage healthy spinal alignment on your back and belly.
If you’d like a bed that will really bounce back, consider the Bear Elite Hybrid from further down this list.
Customer Reviews of the Nectar Classic Hybrid
The Nectar Classic Hybrid has more than 2,400 reviews on Nectar’s site, and an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
On Reddit, one user (u/royalduck4488) echoed Sosha’s experience, saying that “the center [of the] bed will contour to your body but it springs back pretty fast and feels super sturdy.” On the same thread, however, another user (u/qvMvp) complained that “it’s hard and uncomfortable to me.”
Keep in mind that this Nectar model underwent some updates in 2024, so older reviews may not apply to this newer version of the bed!
Want to see more information? Read our full Nectar Hybrid mattress review or check out some other mattress options on our best mattresses for back sleepers list.
DreamCloud Memory Foam – Best Memory Foam Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
The Advisor Says: DreamCloud released this all-foam version of their original hybrid to appeal to shoppers looking for a memory foam bed that brings a lot to the table. We think the DreamCloud Memory Foam’s medium-firm feel should work for folks looking for a supportive foam feel that still has that pressure-relieving capability. Couples should also appreciate its A+ motion absorption.
DreamCloud Memory Foam
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Why It’s a Great Memory Foam Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
I don’t usually recommend all-foam beds for stomach sleepers, but the DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress is a different breed.
It’s squarely medium-firm at a 6.5 out of 10 on our scale, and it feels extremely supportive with little sink.
All three testers—lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight—felt comfortable lying on their stomachs on this bed. In fact, it was probably the position we enjoyed the most.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“As a stomach sleeper, this is my ideal mattress, full stop. I’m comfortable, cushioned, and lifted.”
Loren Bullock, Former Lead Product Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
Quilted Cashmere-Blend Cover. We don’t see cashmere in covers very often, so that’s already a notable touch. Quilted to this cover are two foam layers: one for contouring, and one for support. Together, they help create a cozy environment for stomach sleeping right off the bat.
If you’d rather order a bed that’s never packaged in a box, take a look at the Saatva Classic.
Customer Reviews of the DreamCloud Memory Foam
Customers gave the DreamCloud Original Memory Foam a solid 4.6 out of 5 stars on the company’s website, where you can read more than 8,800 customer reviews for the brand.
As this model is a relatively new offering, we were unable to find any Reddit posts focused on its performance.
Interested in more details? See our full DreamCloud memory foam mattress review or check out the best memory foam mattresses.
Nolah Evolution Comfort+ – Best Mattress for Stomach and Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: The Nolah Evolution Comfort+ was made to please plus-size sleepers, but it’s a fan-favorite among our testers, regardless of size. Its perfect scores in pressure relief and support and medium feel should work for a variety of folks looking for a comfy luxury bed.
Why It’s Great for Stomach and Side Sleepers
The Nolah Evolution Comfort+ seems like a paradox. It’s quite soft—a 5 out of 10 on our firmness scale—and yet it kept our spines aligned across all three sleeping positions during testing. Even though I felt a lot of cozy sink at the surface, I couldn’t deny that I was also being lifted by the bed’s firmer foams and springs.
This combination is exactly what a stomach and side sleeper will need: lots of pressure relief, balanced with lots of support. Usually, we don’t see this much plushness in a bed that can accommodate stomach sleepers, so it’s really something special.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“I’m kind of shocked, as my first guess was that my lumbar would sink too much given the soft Euro pillow top. I was wrong! I’m feeling very supported while enjoying a softer-feeling mattress, which usually doesn’t happen for stomach sleepers.”
Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
AirFoam™ HD. This proprietary foam is said to be an improvement over memory foam, as it runs cooler, lasts longer, and takes more pressure off. But this “HD” version is denser and more supportive than the AirFoam™ used in the Nolah Evolution, making it a great fit for stomach sleepers and heavyweight folks.
For more consistent edge support while stomach sleeping, check out beds like the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe.
Customer Reviews of the Nolah Evolution Comfort+
The Nolah Evolution Comfort+ rates 4.8 stars out of 5 on Nolah’s website.
On Reddit, the bed has garnered mainly positive reviews. One user (u/Distinct-Confusion95) said, “It’s been 60 days and I’m so so happy … Within the first 3 days my upper back pain that had creeped up recently was gone.”
Another (u/Fusic) was also satisfied, adding, “Only complaint is the edge support while sitting on the edge to put on socks and such.”
Want more info? Read our full Nolah Evolution Comfort+ review or check out the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Saatva Classic – Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain
The Advisor Says: The Saatva Classic is the gold standard for lower-back support, strong edges, and customizable luxury. It’s not the softest or most motion-isolating bed out there, but it’s a dependable, bouncy hybrid that consistently impresses our testers with its two coil units.
Why It’s Great for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain
With multiple firmness options and lots of lumbar-zone enhancements, the Saatva is a solid mattress for just about anyone with back pain. Speaking as an exclusive stomach sleeper, I dig how elevated my midsection felt on this bed. It actually felt more lifted when I was on my stomach than it did when I was on my back.
I definitely noticed how the bed firms up around the lower back and hip region, but I didn’t experience any uptick in pressure as a result of the support.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“The firmer stitching and lumbar support layer at the center of the bed are working wonders for keeping the spine straight and posture aligned while laying down … No matter what sleep position we opted for, the midsection was firmly held up.”
Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
Dual innerspring units. The Saatva classic has a superior construction when it comes to lower-back support: it features two stacked innerspring units and a Lumbar Zone® Active Spinal Wire, which further braces the lumbar region and promotes proper alignment.
If you or your partner is a light sleeper, you might want to look at models that have lots of motion-absorbing foams, like the DreamCloud Memory Foam.
Customer Reviews of the Saatva Classic
The Saatva Classic rates 4.8 stars out of 5 on Saatva’s website.
On Reddit, people tend to love this bed or have trouble finding the most comfortable firmness level for them. One user (u/cyberwizkiddo123) said “[It’s] beautifully constructed and very comfortable. I don’t recommend it if you are a very light sleeper and easily disturbed, the motion isolation for me is an issue.”
Want to read more? See our Saatva mattress review and our list of the best mattresses for back pain.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe – Best Mattress for Heavy Stomach Sleepers
The Advisor Says: Brooklyn Bedding’s Aurora Luxe features a swath of cooling features in its quality hybrid construction. We recommend this bed for anyone who wants a firmer, luxurious-feeling bed without the high price tag.
Why It’s Great for Heavy Stomach Sleepers
Without the proper support, plus-size stomach sleepers are likely to sink into a mattress’s layers and compromise their spinal alignment. They need a very strong bed that doesn’t sacrifice too much pressure relief in the upper layers.
Enter the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. Our heavyweight tester, Spencer, felt great on this bed while resting on his back and stomach. (I’m an average-weight sleeper, and I liked it in all three sleeping positions!)
It comes in three distinct firmness levels and it’s extremely bouncy, so shifting between positions was a breeze.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“I love how this mattress feels in the lumbar zone area [on my stomach], and pressure relief levels are there for the hips.”
Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
CopperFlex™ Foam. This upper layer of foam has latex-like bounce and phase-change material for added cooling properties. It’s firmer than the memory foams you’d typically see at the top of a bed, so it’s a beneficial layer for heavy stomach sleepers.
Petite people will probably want to pick the softest model, or go with a plusher mattress overall, like the Nectar Classic Hybrid.
Customer Reviews of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
On Brooklyn Bedding’s site, the Aurora Luxe has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars and more than 4,000 reviews.
On Reddit, one user (now inactive) reported their experience with the bed over the course of a week, and concluded that “We still really like the mattress. It has helped with my back and shoulder pain quite a bit.”
Another user (u/koopa00) was disappointed and didn’t experience much temperature regulation from the bed: “I notice no cooling effect at all, regardless of what sheets I use. I’m not saying the bed runs hot, but it’s honestly no different than my previous memory foam mattress.”
Need more details? Check out our Aurora Luxe mattress review or our roundup of the best beds for heavy people.
Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Cooling Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
The Advisor Says: This is a memorably bouncy and supportive hybrid with state-of-the-art cooling elements. It had a delightful balance of cushion and lift for back and stomach sleeping in particular.
Why It’s a Great Cooling Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes in three firmness levels. Stomach sleepers may enjoy the Firm option the most, but we tested the Medium model and all three of us —lightweight, heavyweight, and average-weight—thought it felt heavenly when on our stomachs.
In addition to springs that foster airflow, the Bear Elite has a cool-to-the-touch cover and heat-conducting copper infused into its memory foam. During testing, we saw the temperature rise less than average after we had laid down on the bed for some time, so we gave this bed a high cooling score.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“[On my stomach,] I thought the lift for my lower back was great, and always appreciate the cushion around the hips and chest. I could see this being a great option if you have back pain, because of the balance of softer cushioning with sturdy support underneath.”
Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
Zoned coils. The springs in the center of this bed give enhanced support to the lumbar region, so our lower backs were lifted even as the cushiony surface of the bed cradled our hips. It was a super comfortable hybrid for this sleeping position!
If you’re on a budget, we recommend one of the more affordable options on this list, such as the Helix Dawn.
Customer Reviews of the Bear Elite Hybrid
According to Bear’s website, the Bear Elite scores about 4.5 out of 5 stars.
On Reddit, not everyone was as impressed with this bed’s cooling abilities. “I doubt it’s going to impress when summer comes around,” said one user (u/ephrion). Another user (u/kligoretr88) left a more positive review, saying, “It’s both firm and super supportive such that I think I can adapt to this and feel comforted by it. Instant relaxation when laying down.”
Need more details? Check out our Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review or explore the best cooling mattresses.
Plank Firm – Best Firm Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
The Advisor Says: We’re constantly calling this mattress one of the firmest in the online market, and if you don’t believe us, try it for yourself! It offers both a classic firm and extra-firm feel in its flippable design, alongside posture-aligning support. Bonus points for good marks in performance for cooling, bounce, and couples.
Why It’s a Great Firm Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers already tend to gravitate towards firmer beds, but if you’re looking for something exceptionally hard, the Plank Firm is a great choice.
The Plank Firm is a dual-sided, all-foam mattress with both a “traditional” firm side (7 out of 10 on the firmness scale) and an extra-firm side (8.5 out of 10).
Stomach sleepers should enjoy the Plank’s lifted feel and the spine alignment it provides, but be warned—all of us thought the extra-firm side was just too hard.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“The extra-firm side is like laying on the floor—no cushion whatsoever. On the firm side, I got a bit more happening for my hips. Alignment either way is on point.”
Spencer Bland, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
Dual-sided firmness. Though this bed is firm, it still has options, and some stomach sleepers may prefer the luxury of choice. The “traditional” firm side should accommodate most people, but folks who need even more support (such as heavier folks) can reap the benefits of the extra-firm side.
If you’re looking for a medium-firm feeling, explore some slightly softer options, such as the Birch Natural.
Customer Reviews of the Plank Firm
On Plank’s website, the Plank Firm gets 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Customers have discussed their experience with the Plank mattress on the r/Mattress subreddit. One user (u/salman15) originally stated that they “loved it so much that I didn’t want to get out of bed sometimes after a long night sleep.”
Later, though, they complained of the mattress starting to sag after years of use: “I noticed that the mattress was sagging from the center. There was a clear body imprint.” They noted that this happened on the traditional firm side, but the extra-firm side held up.
Need more details? Check out our Plank Firm mattress review or explore our best firm mattress options.
Birch Natural – Best Latex Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
The Advisor Says: Dare we say the Birch Natural is the bed that comes to mind when we think latex? As the name implies, this bed combines natural components with quality construction, yielding a supportive, luxurious, and eco-friendly mattress.
Why It’s a Great Latex Mattress For Stomach Sleepers
Finding a bed that’s both supportive enough for stomach sleeping and pillowy enough for comfort can be a challenge. But for my money, the Birch Natural really hits the sweet spot.
Laying on my stomach, I felt very well-aligned and cushioned by the layers of wool and latex. My hips were held aloft while being cradled, and the responsive surface made repositioning simple.
If you’re a fan of organic and natural materials, all the better—this bed has organic cotton, organic wool, and Talalay latex certified by eco-INSTITUT.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“After giving the Birch natural a whirl, we landed on a 6 out of 10—medium firmness level. The top layer is super squishy, like Jell-O, but you get some nice sink before feeling those coils lifting you up below. All to say, really balanced comfort and support.”
Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers
Talalay latex. This naturally hypoallergenic and springy foam cushions your body. Combine this with the sturdy coil unit below, and stomach sleepers should enjoy comfortable and buoyant support.
If price is a dealbreaker, opt for a more affordable mattress, such as the Plank Firm.
Customer Reviews of the Birch Natural
According to Birch’s website, the Birch Natural scores 4.6 out of 5 stars.
On the r/Mattress subreddit, one user (u/raindogsunderground) outlines the positives and negatives of their experience with the Birch mattress: “Motion isolation doesn’t really happen well with latex in my experience, especially compared to memory foam. It’s bouncy by nature. But for me the [p]eace of mind with no chemicals more than makes up for it. I recently bought a Birch, and am really happy with it.”
Want to see more information? Check out our full Birch mattress review or explore more options on our best latex mattresses list.
Other Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers
While these mattresses didn’t quite make our list, they may still be a good match for certain stomach sleepers. Give them a look if you want to explore other options.
| Tempur-Pedic Lux Adapt | Latex for Less Organic Mattress |
| Serta Perfect Sleeper Mattress | PlushBeds Botanical Bliss |
| Casper Original | Leesa Original |
What Should Stomach Sleepers Look For in a Mattress?
At Sleep Advisor, we evaluate beds using in-person tests across a variety of performance categories, including pressure relief, edge support, cooling, and more. I’m a lead product tester for the site, so I’ve tested many, many mattresses first-hand.
For this roundup, our team tested a large array of mattresses and scouted for features that are especially important for stomach sleepers: strong support and a medium-firm to firm feel.
As a stomach sleeper myself, I know how critical these elements are to a good night’s sleep. In the sections below, we’ll cover why they (and other aspects) make such a big difference in comfort, and how exactly we put them to the test.
Very Strong Support
Support should be a top priority for a stomach sleeper.
The chief goal of support is healthy, neutral spine alignment. When lying on your stomach, your spine should look and feel as though it’s positioned in a relatively straight line from your head to your legs.
Stomach sleepers need lots of support around the hips and lower back in particular. Without enough lift beneath those areas, your midsection may sink into the mattress enough to misalign your spine and cause back pain.
Some mattresses have zoned coil units or special strips of foam that offer increased support beneath these areas.
How Do We Test Support?
We test support in a given mattress by lying and moving around the bed, taking photos in these positions, and recording our experience (typically across multiple testers) of the mattress’s support system.
As a stomach sleeper, I ask myself: do my hips and lower back feel lifted enough to keep my spine aligned? If there’s zoned support in the bed, can I feel the difference in support across the zones, and is it working as intended?
I then compare notes with other testers, and we agree on a rating from 1 to 5 in the “Support” performance category.
A bed also earns major points from me if it builds in bonus support features, particularly for the lumbar region (also known as the lower back). For example, the Saatva Classic has a lumbar support layer, and the Euro pillow top is quilted in such a way that the firmest support is right along your midriff.
Firmer Feel
Stomach sleepers should use a medium-firm bed or firm mattress. These are generally more supportive and likely to keep the spine in proper alignment. You’ll find that every mattress featured on this page has at least a medium to medium-firm feel — if not firmer.
If a mattress is between 5 and 7, we classify it as medium-firm, whereas beds with a rating of 7 and above are solidly firm. Most stomach sleepers should look for a mattress that’s at least a 6 on the firmness scale. Anything less than a 5 will probably be too soft and lead to troublesome sinkage.
That being said, it’s important to note that firmness is subjective. People with different body types will probably not assign a bed the exact same firmness level.
Finding the Right Firmness for Your Body Type
Your body type influences how a mattress feels to you. For example, a plus-sized person will usually experience a given mattress as softer than a lightweight person. This is because your weight determines how deeply you sink into a bed’s layers.
Petite Stomach Sleepers
Lightweight stomach sleepers may feel supported enough by a mattress with a lower firmness rating, perhaps around a 5 to a 7. They’re able to stay elevated on top of the layers and may require more pressure relief than an average-sized stomach sleeper.
Average-Weight Stomach Sleepers
If you’re an average-weight person who sleeps on your stomach, you’ll want a bed that feels pretty firm—probably a 6 to an 8 or so on our scale.
Heavy Stomach Sleepers
Heavy people require very firm, strong mattresses, and stomach sleepers will want the firmest beds of all. I’d advise looking at beds that are a 7 or above on our firmness scale, as well as keeping an eye out for those with zoned support and other features designed for larger bodies.
How Do We Test Mattress Firmness?
My fellow testers and I will lie on a bed and assign it a firmness level between 1 and 10. Ten signifies a bed that’s as hard as the floor; 1 means the bed is pretty much a cotton ball.
When testing a mattress, we want to know how it feels for different body types. So, we try to have three people work with each bed: one lightweight person (less than 130 pounds), one average-weight person (130-230 pounds), and one heavy person (more than 230 pounds).
We collect feedback from each tester so that we can confidently say which body types enjoyed the bed, and which found it lacking. Because we’ve tested so many beds, we’re able to mentally compare firmness levels and designate some mattresses as quite firm, quite soft, etc.
Other Comfort Factors
When we test mattresses, we want to be thorough. We always measure each bed’s performance in a variety of comfort categories, including cooling, edge support, and how well it meets the needs of couples. These metrics don’t necessarily make a bed better or worse for stomach sleeping, but they can affect whether you get a good night’s sleep more generally.
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief comes from materials that conform to the shape of your body. They’re able to absorb pressure rather than allowing it to build up around sensitive spots.
Pay attention to the areas that experience the highest amount of pressure while you’re lying down. These are often the “sharper” joints on your body.
For stomach sleepers, they’re typically your head (or the side of your face), your chest, your hips, and your knees. You’ll want to feel well-cushioned around these spots, with no signs of soreness after an extended length of time on the bed.
Overall, stomach sleepers should seek a bit of contouring and pressure relief, but keep in mind that too much may lead to sinkage and back pain. You want enough pressure relief to feel comfortable—but support should take priority.
How Do We Test Pressure Relief?
To test a mattress’s pressure-relieving prowess, we use what’s called a pressure map. First, we take a big rectangular plastic sheet and place it on the mattress before lying down on top of it. The sheet is connected to a machine that will give us a visual, color-coded pressure reading—the pressure map.
These maps look like the rough shape of your body, gridded out and filled in with different colors. Blue indicates contact, but with almost no pressure. Green indicates slight pressure, but at a normal, non-worrying level. Anything on the yellow-to-red spectrum indicates that more pressure is being exerted.
Mattresses that are exceptionally good at pressure relief will yield a pressure map colored exclusively (or almost exclusively) in blue and green. On the other hand, a pressure map showing a fair amount of yellow, orange, or red means the bed doesn’t do so well in this category.
For each mattress, we decide on a pressure-relief rating between 1 and 5.
Cooling
Staying cool throughout the night helps promote restorative sleep. Although keeping your bedroom cool is a great way to start, your bed can have beneficial cooling properties as well.
Stomach sleepers may find themselves sleeping hot because a large percentage of their bodies is in contact with the bed, especially when compared to side sleepers.
Fortunately, the beds that offer the kind of support that stomach sleepers need also tend to have standout cooling elements. Hybrid beds can offer both great support and breathability, as air flows freely between their coils.
How Do We Test Cooling?
We test a bed’s cooling capability by using a temperature gun. First, we’ll take a reading of the bed surface’s initial temperature. Then, one of us will lie on the bed for five minutes.
Once they get up, we’ll take another temperature reading, which will inevitably be hotter than the first (because someone was just warming the bed with their body heat). Finally, the person will lie on the bed for another five minutes, and we’ll then take a third reading to see how much the bed’s temperature has changed.
Beds with a big rise in temperature during this process aren’t very efficient at cooling, whereas those that keep the temperature relatively static earn a higher rating in this category (and a spot on our list of the best cooling mattresses).
Edge Support
Edge support refers to the strength of the mattress’s sides, and how well they resist buckling when weight is applied. This is particularly pertinent if you share a bed or simply prefer to sleep towards the edge. Additionally, good edge support helps you get into and out of bed more easily.
How Do We Test Edge Support?
We test edge support by both sitting and lying right at the edge of the bed for at least one minute. We take notes on how much the edges sink and how stable we feel in either position. Then, we give the bed a rating in this category between 1 and 5.
Motion Isolation
If your co-sleeper is restless, the motion they create can disrupt your rest. Mattresses that isolate motion can prevent movement from traveling across their surfaces.
How Do We Test Motion Isolation?
We use a seismograph tool to visualize the degree to which movement transfers across the surface of the bed.
Large spikes in the resulting readout mean there was lots of motion. On the other hand, a flatter line indicates that much of the motion was absorbed.
We also have testers lie next to each other on the mattress while one of them moves around (or even jumps into bed). This test allows us to take notes on someone’s actual experience of motion transfer, or lack thereof.
What’s the Best Type of Mattress for Stomach Sleepers?
I recommend hybrid mattresses for stomach sleepers. They’re the best at balancing pressure relief with lots of underlying support, and they’re available in a wide variety of firmness levels.
As a stomach sleeper, I tend to avoid foam mattresses. Although there are some exceptions, such as the Plank Firm and DreamCloud Memory Foam, the contouring nature of foam usually doesn’t allow enough pushback. This can lead to stomach sleepers sinking through the upper layers until their back is in an uncomfortable U-shape.
I would also caution my fellow stomach sleepers to stay away from traditional innerspring mattresses. This type of bed tends to lack pressure relief and sag over time, which could lead to less support around the midsection.
Is Stomach Sleeping Bad for Your Body?
Sleeping on your stomach arguably puts more strain on your body than other sleeping positions. As one 2019 study in the journal BMJ Open put it, it’s “clinically believed to increase load on spinal tissues, reducing recovery and provoking waking spinal symptoms.”1
If you think about how the position places force on your spine, you can see why it gets a bad rap. When you lie on your stomach, your hips and lower back push down into the bed, and you also have to turn your neck so you can rest your face on your pillow.
The overall effect? Your spine isn’t in its natural, neutral curvature. It’s bent at the neck, and it’s sinking down at the lumbar region.
For some people, this posture is a recipe for back and neck pain. It can worsen pre-existing pain or give rise to new aches, depending on everything from your unique anatomy to past injuries and sensitivities.
Stomach Sleeping Tips
If you can’t seem to switch to a different sleeping position, there are ways to reduce your risk of the problems outlined above. You’ll want a mattress that has enough firmness and support to preserve your spine’s natural alignment, and you can also follow these stomach-sleeping tips:
- Try to keep your legs straight. Many stomach sleepers pull one knee up while they sleep, but this posture negates a neutral spinal alignment.
- Use a low, flat pillow. Using a pillow that’s too tall could add to neck strain by causing your head and neck to arch upward. Some stomach sleepers may even prefer to use no pillow at all!
- Place a pillow under your hips. According to the Mayo Clinic, this added support can help keep your spine aligned while you rest on your belly.2
Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers FAQs
What’s the best mattress firmness for stomach sleepers?
Stomach sleepers should find a firm mattress more comfortable than a soft one. A firm bed is more likely to prevent your hips from dipping and throwing off your spinal alignment.
What’s the worst mattress for stomach sleepers?
The worst mattress for stomach sleepers is a bed that’s too soft and unsupportive. Firmness and support are not exactly synonymous in the mattress world, but they’re often related. We typically find that firmer beds are more supportive than their plush counterparts.
What’s the healthiest sleeping position?
Health experts generally recommend sleeping on your back if possible, as it encourages proper spinal alignment.3 However, it can exacerbate snoring.
Side sleeping may put extra pressure on the shoulders and hips, but it’s probably the most popular sleeping position for adults, and there aren’t any inherent health risks to it. Sleeping on your side can help reduce snoring and is especially recommended for pregnant women.
Stomach sleeping isn’t exactly recommended, as it can put strain on the neck and lower back. However, for many people, it’s the most comfortable way to sleep.
Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers: Price and Performance Comparison
| Mattress | Price (Queen Size) | Pressure Relief | Support | Motion Transfer | Cooling | Bounce | Edge Support | Couples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helix Dawn | $1,332 | 3.5 | 5 | 3.5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Nectar Classic Hybrid | $1,199 | 4.5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 |
| DreamCloud Memory Foam | $1,387 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Nolah Evolution Comfort+ | $2,499 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Saatva Classic | $2,095 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | $2,265 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | $2,305 | 4 | 5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Plank Firm | $1,332 | 3.5 | 5 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Birch Natural | $1,873.80 | 4 | 5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Julia Forbes
Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
About Author
Julia is a product tester at Sleep Advisor, specializing in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.
Stomach Sleeper
Education & Credentials
- Certified Sleep Science Coach
References:
- Cary D, Briffa K, McKenna L. “Identifying relationships between sleep posture and non-specific spinal symptoms in adults: A scoping review.” BMJ Open. June 2019.
- “Slide show: Sleeping positions that reduce back pain.” Mayo Clinic. Webpage accessed July 18, 2023.
- Yu, Elizabeth. “What sleep positions are best for your back?“ The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. October 04, 2018.