For many people, sleeping on their stomach is considered the best sleeping position, despite the fact that it can also be the most harmful. For this guide we’re not going to debate the pros and cons of stomach sleeping (we’ll save that for another time), but instead we’ll focus on helping to ensure you get the very best sleep possible on your stomach. So without any further adieu let’s dive into the best mattresses for stomach sleepers! Want to see the full list of recommendations for stomach sleepers? Click here to jump down to the summary. Stomach sleepers go to bed night after night in one of the worst sleeping positions for your body. That being said, the proper mattress and pillow can help to overcome the negative effects of stomach sleeping. Proper support for your back, a medium to slight firmer feel, and choosing the right pillow are essential to getting a good night’s rest on your belly. A mattress with these traits will provide your body with the support it needs to sleep through the night and wake feeling refreshed and pain free.
When sleeping on your stomach, getting the proper support helps to promote a restful night’s sleep and is critical due to the amount of pressure that is localized at your body’s midsection. Be sure to consider the following key characteristics when shopping for your new mattress. For stomach sleepers, support may be the number one concern. Whether you realize it or not, your mid-section carries an intense amount of pressure and weight throughout the day. When you sleep on your stomach, that pressure continues to build up in your torso and that pressure can not only lead to a restless night’s sleep, but also prolonged back pain. In order to prevent that discomfort, look for a mattress that has great support. Foam mattresses are well known for their consistent support through layers of responsive and pressure relieving foam that conform to the natural curves of your body. Spring or hybrid mattresses can also a good fit provided they have adequate support, contouring hug, and an appropriate level of firmness (see below).
Stomach sleepers keep a very flat profile which results in fewer gaps between your body and the mattress. The best mattress for stomach sleepers should be on the medium to slightly firmer side, around a 4-7 on the firmness scale (where 10 is the most firm). A medium to slightly firm mattress keeps your back from arching and causing stiffness. By comparison, a mattress that is too soft will cause your pelvis to sink down, resulting in the misalignment of your spine. This may cause you to wake with lower back pain or pain elsewhere. This pain can be nagging and reoccurring if you don’t have an appropriate firmness level to help keep your body in alignment. In the population of stomach sleepers, there are many that prefer soft mattresses. If you find yourself in this category, look for a mattress that has either 1) highly advanced foam or other materials that provide both softness and support (some advanced foams do this) or 2) a mattress that has a thin, but soft foam or pillow-top type layer (mattresses with traditional padded covers can provide this, while still offering the support needed).
The right level of firmness is perhaps the most critical factor for stomach sleepers. With the right firmness level you’ll eliminate and prevent many back issues. However, even a firmness level that is just slightly wrong can cause significant pains. I’m a stomach sleeper and my body tends to prefer a firmness of 4-6 out of 10. I’ve tested numerous mattresses that are slightly softer (3-3.5 out of 10) and slightly firmer (7 out of 10). In both of these scenarios I awake with back pain. It’s common for shoppers to put a lot of effort into selecting the right mattress, so why not put the same about of attention into choosing the right pillow? While there are many different styles and densities of pillows, stomach sleepers do best with flatter pillows. Unlike back and side sleepers, which need more and a different type of support, stomach sleepers require pillows that help keep the body as flat as possible. Because your body lays so flat against the mattress, it’s important to use a pillow that continues that position from your head to your feet.
An overstuffed pillow can elevate the head too much and cause pressure points or spinal misalignment in your neck. As a stomach sleeper myself I know the importance of a proper pillow. Pillows for me tend to be very good or very bad (not much middle ground). The vast majority of the time the attribute that makes them a bad pillow for a stomach sleeper is simply the height. Other important pillow factors for stomach sleepers include: moldability, huggability, and cooling. If you’re on the hunt for a new pillow I would highly recommend the Nest Easy Breather pillow. It is leaps and bounds better than any other pillow I have tested to date in terms of meeting the needs of stomach sleepers. It’s a type of shredded foam pillow (noodled foam) that comes in latex and memory foam version (they feel basically the same). Additionally, it’s fully adjustable, so you can make it the exact height you need. Balanced feel, good bounce / hug, great support. Simple design, but great feel.
Slightly firm feel at a 7 out of 10 firmness.$799 Great support, balanced hug, very good cooling. Best in the medium for stomach sleepers (available in 3 firmness levels). Gel polymer + polyfoam. Instant response, good bounce, great cooling. Pronounced sinkage / hug, great bounce. Nice softness, but backed with excellent zoned support. Good bounce, response, edges, and cooling. Available in two firmnesses (medium and luxury firm).$999 Fully customizable / personalized mattress. Can split for two different feels.$945 Coil-on-coil pillow top design. Excellent bounce, edge support, response, and cooling. Available in soft, medium, and firm.$999If there’s one consistent piece of advice researchers offer about sleeping (other than getting at least seven hours of it each night) it’s that a prone position in which the stomach rests on the bed is to be avoided at all costs. The National Sleep Foundation reports that stomach sleeping is the preferred option for seven percent of adults, but also that it is one of the most harmful positions.
However, many of the typically cited downsides of stomach sleeping can be avoided simply by investing in the right mattress. I am primarily a stomach sleeper and it can be hard to find a good mattress that has the right amount of firmness but still giving you good pressure relief. Stomach sleeping consistently gets a bad rap, but there are a few situations in which this position can be beneficial. Among adults, stomach sleeping can minimize snoring, and some sleep apnea sufferers report that stomach sleeping allows them to get a better night’s sleep. The research does not necessarily back this opinion up, however, as a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine indicates that prone sleeping actually increases the frequency of apneas, albeit not the duration. As mentioned above, supine sleeping may actually be detrimental for those with sleep apnea, even if it reduces snoring. It’s also a poor choice for those who suffer from chronic back pain, as the position inevitably involves the compression of the lower back.
Most stomach sleepers rest with their head turned to the side, an extreme position that can be hard on the neck. Stomach sleeping is believed to speed up the formation of wrinkles, as the skin crunches up against the sleeper’s pillow. This problem can be eased, somewhat, with the use of a silk pillowcase, which, in addition to preventing short-term creasing, is believed to assist with sebum retention. If, after reading up on all the downsides of stomach sleeping, you are determined to continue to rest in a supine position, it is imperative that you invest in a good mattress that will give your body the support it needs. The right mattress can ease a lot of the problems associated with stomach sleeping — especially morning aches and pain. A firm mattress is best, as it allows your body to maintain the best possible alignment while in the supine position. The following mattresses are great choices for stubborn stomach sleepers: Best Spring mattress for Stomach Sleepers: The Winkbed is a great choice for stomach sleepers because it is firm enough so you don’t get a hammock effect which can strain your lower back and it is still soft on the top layer.
It feels like a quality traditional spring mattress. It sleeps cool and is breathable. If you are a stomach sleeper and sleep with a side sleeper this is a great choice because it is accommodating to side sleepers as well. Get the full Winkbed Mattress Review Best All Foam Mattress for Stomach Sleepers: If you want an all foam mattress that you won’t sink too far into, check out the Amerisleep Revere. This mattress has a firm base layer and a layer of dense foam as the top layer that really helps with pressure relief while still supporting your lumbar. When you sleep on this mattress on your stomach, you get a sort of floating sensation. Although this mattress is a little more expensive than some of the other foam options on the market, it is a great choice for people that want excellent pressure relief. This is one of my favorite foam stomach sleeper mattresses. The mattress cover is woven with celliant fibers that turn body heat into infrared energy that claims to promote recovery.
Get the full Amerisleep Revere Review. Best Performance Mattress for Stomach Sleepers: Foam mattresses are generally best suited to side sleepers, who prefer to feel as if they are sleeping “in” the mattress, as opposed to “on” it. This slight feel of sinking is to be avoided at all costs for stomach sleepers, as it causes the back to bow out, thereby harming alignment. A few select foam mattresses are acceptable, however — particularly those specifically designed for firmness. Layla mattresses are unique in that they have two built-in firmness ratings. Stomach sleepers tend to prefer the firmer side, which features copper-infused memory foam. The Layla is a preferred option for those who, over time, wish to switch from sleeping on their stomach to sleeping on their side or back. If stomach sleeping is eventually achieved, the mattress can simply be flipped onto its softer side. Get the full Layla Mattress Review Best Customizable Mattress for Stomach Sleepers:
Stomach sleepers have specific needs that often cannot be accommodated by standard mattresses, which are frequently constructed with back and side sleepers in mind. A personalized mattress can better accommodate sleeping quirks, especially if constructed according to the sleeper’s weight, height, and body contour. Helix excels at personalization, requiring all customers to complete a questionnaire before ordering a mattress specifically designed to meet their needs via four key performance characteristics: point elasticity, temperature regulation, support, and feel. The mattresses feature a mix of microcoils, latex, and high-grade foam to ensure both support and comfort all night long. Get the full Helix Mattress Review Best Luxury Mattress for Stomach Sleepers: If you’re looking for luxury at an accessible price, look no further than Brentwood Home. They make all their mattresses in house, by hand using the best materials in the business. The Sequioa mattress is firm enough to give you excellent support but also soft enough to keep you from having to shift positions at night, perfect for stomach sleepers.