Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers in 2023

Sleeping on your stomach is the least common sleeping position, and thought to be the least healthy. The best mattress for stomach sleepers will provide the proper support and durability needed to keep the body in proper alignment and reduce pressure on the lower back.

In this guide, we’ll share our reviews of our best mattresses for stomach sleepers that meet these requirements. Then in our buyer’s guide, we’ll walk you through how stomach sleepers can find a good mattress that supports their sleeping position.

Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers: Our Top Picks

• Best Innerspring Mattress – WinkBed
• Best Budget Mattress – Brooklyn Signature Hybrid
• Best Mattress for Heavy People – Plank Firm
• Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers – Saatva Classic
• Best Mattress for Back Pain – Helix Dawn
• Best Mattress for Kids – Nolah Nurture
• Best Mattress for Spine Alignment – Loom & Leaf
• Best Mattress for Restless Sleepers – Layla

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The WinkBed

If you like the bouncy feel of innerspring mattresses, the WinkBed has you covered with not one but two coil layers. Combined with multiple foam layers and a lumbar-support pad, this advanced hybrid provides balanced support from top to bottom.

We recommend the Luxury Firm option for average-weight stomach sleepers. Heavier sleepers who may require a bit more support should opt for the Firmer or Plus version. The WinkBed’s Mattress Advisor score for responsiveness (9/10) is also good news for combination back-stomach sleepers, since a highly responsive mattress is easier to move around on.

The WinkBed is pricier than comparable mattresses, but we believe its high-quality materials make it a great value (starting at $1,799 for a queen size, including sales and discounts). The 120-night sleep trial is in line with industry standards, but the lifetime warranty is far above average.

Read our full WinkBed mattress review.

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Brooklyn Signature

The Brooklyn Signature Hybrid (with the Medium or Firm firmness options) mattress is a great budget mattress for people who sleep on their stomach and keep their mind on dollar-for-dollar value.

One reason we like the Brooklyn Signature for stomach sleepers is how it performs in key performance categories: pressure relief (9.5/10) and spine alignment (8.5/10). With those scores, this hybrid should excel at keeping you in a healthy, neutral alignment during sleep while cradling your pressure-sensitive lower back and hip areas. The mattress has three layers, including a 2-inch foam top layer with cooling gel for temperature regulation.

The standard price for a queen Brooklyn Signature is $1,249, but holiday sales and discounts can help you trim a few hundred dollars off the already affordable price. It’s backed by a 120-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty.

Read our full Brooklyn Signature Hybrid mattress review.

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Plank Firm

Finding a mattress firm enough to support heavier stomach sleepers can be a challenge, but the Plank Firm by Brooklyn Bedding offers two possible solutions. This flippable mattress has a firm side (7/10 on the firmness scale) and a very firm side (9/10).

The Plank Firm can support up to 950 lbs, or 475 lbs on each side for two people sharing the mattress. This capacity makes the Plank Firm a great mattress for heavy people, although Brooklyn Bedding recommends its higher-capacity Titan Plus series for people weighing over 300 lbs.

Testing reveals positive signs for sleepers with back pain—the Plank Firm scores 9/10 in pressure relief and 8.75/10 in spine alignment.

The Plank Firm mattress is competitively priced (starting at $1,249 for a queen size, not counting sales or discounts). The 120-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty are in line with industry standards.

Read our full Plank Firm mattress review.

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Saatva Classic

With a 9/10 cooling score in Mattress Advisor testing, the Saatva Classic is in the top tier of best cooling mattresses. The hybrid bed’s dual-coil design and organic cotton cover help promote airflow and breathability through multiple layers. Also, its three firmness options include two that can support stomach sleepers: Luxury Firm (6/10) and Firm (8/10).

In addition to its excellent cooling performance, the Saatva Classic performs very well in several other testing categories. It scores a flawless 10/10 for both spine alignment and edge support while earning 9/10 in pressure relief. The only performance category where it doesn’t excel is motion transfer (7.5/10), so couples who toss and turn might want to consider an alternative like the DreamCloud Premier.

The Saatva Classic’s 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty are first rate, which could alleviate budget shoppers’ concerns about price (queen size starts at $1,770).

Read our full Saatva Classic mattress review.

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Helix Dawn

The Dawn is Helix’s firmest mattress and designed to provide the type of adaptive support that back and stomach sleepers tend to prefer. The bed earned a 9/10 in our testing for alignment, which suggests it does a good job of keeping your spine in a neutral position while you sleep instead of allowing it to sink into the bed. Back pain sufferers will find that this neutral positioning and support can lessen or alleviate their symptoms. 

The hybrid mattress is made with a pocketed coil support layer sandwiched between layers of foam, which provide a nice mix of contouring, responsiveness, and lumbar support. If you’re a side sleeper or prefer a soft bed, it might not be right for you. But all others should appreciate the Dawn’s support and pain-relieving qualities, particularly plus-sized sleepers and lighter sleepers who like a firm bed. 

At $1,249 for a queen-size mattress before discounts, the Dawn is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive mattress; however, we think it’s a good value for its handmade-in-the-USA construction and durability. It comes with a 100-night sleep trial and 10-year limited warranty, which are in line with industry standards. 

Read our full Helix Dawn mattress review.

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Nolah Nurture

This flippable, organic mattress for kids gives you two options: a firm side and a softer side, so you can find the best fit for your child’s sleep style, and switch things up if their preferences change as they grow. Stomach sleepers will likely prefer the Nurture’s firmer side, but both sides of the mattress provide excellent support and responsiveness—making it well suited to those who like to change positions throughout the night. The mattress also offers great pressure relief, which is crucial for the muscle recovery of active kids.

The eco-friendly construction of the Nurture is another area in which this hybrid mattress stands out—it’s made from hypoallergenic Talalay latex, so it doesn’t exacerbate allergies or asthma. The mattress is also OEKO-TEX certified, which means it’s been tested and cleared for harmful chemicals. 

The Nurture isn’t a good pick for shoppers with a tight budget—it will run you $1,499 for a twin and $1,799 for a full, before discounts and sales. But it’s technically two beds in one. Nolah also offers a 120-night sleep trial—so you can return it if neither side of the mattress works for your child—plus a lifetime limited warranty.

Read our full Nolah Nurture mattress review.

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Loom & Leaf

The Loom & Leaf by Saatva earns a 9/10 Mattress Advisor score for spine alignment, a performance category that matters a great deal to stomach sleepers. A mattress that keeps the spine in a healthy alignment can help prevent a stomach sleeper’s lower back from sinking into a stressful “U” shape.

The 12-inch Loom & Leaf mattress has two firmness options: Firm (8/10) or Relaxed Firm (6/10). Both will work for stomach sleepers, although Relaxed Firm will be a better choice for people with sensitivity in the chest, hips, and other pressure points, as it provides a bit more soft cushion. The Firm option will work better for most other people. The Loom & Leaf mattress is topped with an organic cotton covering. Inside you’ll find cooling gel, eco-friendly premium foam, and a dual-layer breathable support base.

The standard price for a queen Loom & Leaf mattress is $2,174, but it has a lifetime warranty and a 365-night sleep trial.

Read our full Loom & Leaf mattress review.

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Layla

Restless sleepers, including those who use the stomach sleeping position, need a highly responsive mattress. The Layla mattress fits the bill in that regard, with a near-perfect 9.5/10 Mattress Advisor score for responsiveness. A mattress that reacts smoothly to your movement, as opposed to reacting against it, can make your tossing and turning less strenuous.

The Layla is dual-sided, and we recommend that stomach sleepers use the firm side (7/10) to get more lower back support. This flippable mattress also earns solid testing scores for pressure relief (9/10) and spine alignment (8/10). Layla uses memory foam infused with copper, which has a great reputation for reducing joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

The standard price for a queen Layla mattress is quite affordable at $1,099. With the help of a Mattress Advisor discount or a holiday sale, you could pay even less.

Read our full Layla mattress review.

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Stomach Sleepers Mattress Buyer’s Guide

Stomach sleeping is the most rare position, so mattress aren’t always made with stomach sleeper’s needs in mind. As a unique sleeper, it’s important that you know exactly what to look for in a mattress and why it matters for your sleep and well-being.

In this buyer’s guide, we’ll go over:

• Why Stomach Sleepers Need a Good Mattress
• What You Need to Look For in a Mattress
• Sleeping Tips for Stomach Sleepers

Why Stomach Sleepers Need a Good Mattress

Stomach sleeping is the rarest sleep position out there, accounting for only 7% of the adult population. People gravitate toward sleeping on their stomachs for a variety of reasons, from habit to comfort, but like any other sleep position, most who choose it can’t imagine sleeping any other way.

The problem is that getting stuck in this particular rut can make it very difficult to enjoy a restorative night’s sleep on a consistent basis.

How Sleeping on Your Stomach Affects Your Body

When you consider the pros and cons of the various sleep positions, stomach sleeping really has only one advantage: it eases snoring. On the other hand, you could fill an entire sleep journal with the disadvantages of stomach sleeping, which can lead to problems including:

• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Added pressure on muscles and joints
• Difficulty breathing

All these factors can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. If you want to change to a healthier position like back sleeping, you’ll need to make a plan that includes everything from committing to a start date to strategically arranging pillows.

But we understand that’s a pretty steep request. Read on to learn which mattresses can provide optimal comfort and support in this position and more about what stomach sleepers should look for in a mattress.

What You Need to Look for in a Mattress

Stomach sleepers need a firm mattress that supports their body to avoid improper alignment in the spine. When you’re buying a mattress as a stomach sleeper, you need to consider the following factors:

Firmness

Mattress firmness is a really important detail to consider when choosing a mattress for stomach sleeping. When you sleep on your stomach, your hips, chest, shoulders, and other body parts press into the mattress throughout the night.

To avoid pain at the pressure points and difficulty breathing, you’ll want to find a mattress that’s slightly soft on the top but firm enough to provide spinal alignment. For this reason, a firmer mattress—6-8 on the 10-point firmness scale, or sometimes higher—is usually the best bet for a stomach sleeper. The ideal mattress doesn’t allow you to sink in too deeply, but is still soft enough to provide relief at pressure points.

If you find yourself sinking into the mattress, you’re likely to wake up with a sore back. Sometimes, a firm mattress with a softer top layer will also do the trick.

Related: Mattress Firmness by Sleeping Position

Materials and Design

Multi-layered memory foam mattresses are usually comfortable for stomach sleepers, as they provide support while still lending comfort to pressure points. A firm mattress, such as one of our top picks for the best innerspring mattress, best latex mattress, or best hybrid mattress can still work, especially when it has a softer top layer.

On many mattresses, this soft top layer is important for reducing pressure on your joints. Whatever you choose, you’ll want something doesn’t break down too quickly, as a sagging mattress will not be comfortable for a stomach sleeper. Stomach sleepers will also want to stay away from waterbeds and other mattresses with extremely soft surfaces.

Spine Alignment

Regardless of sleeping position, proper spine alignment protects the spine and evenly distributes the weight of the body evenly. Stomach sleepers often find it difficult to find proper spinal alignment because a mattress too firm or too soft will lead to lower back pain.

Stomach sleepers should look for a balanced mattress that supports the natural curves of the body without causing the spine to dip or sink. Mattresses with zoned support layers provide softer support under the shoulders, for better pressure relief, and firmer support under the hips.

Pressure Relief

The stomach sleeping position puts stress on pressure-sensitive areas, especially the hips and lower back. It’s a case of gravity and the human body’s design converging to push those areas into the mattress, which is why you need a mattress that provides adequate pressure relief.

Pressure relief works by supporting the parts of the body that tend to sink the farthest into the mattress surface, parts where joints and nerves prone to inflammation are often located. Memory foam, which contours to the shape of your body with a cradling effect, is probably the best mattress material for pressure relief.

Sleeping Tips for Stomach Sleepers

Aside from trying to change your sleeping position (which trust us, isn’t easy), there are a few things stomach sleepers can do to alleviate pressure that’s placed on the head and neck in this position.

Here are three quick tips for sleeping better on your stomach:

1. Use a thin pillow or no pillow at all. The flatter the pillow, the less angled your head and neck will be, which will protect your spine. Learn more by checking out our list of best pillows for stomach sleepers.
2. Put a pillow under your pelvis. This will help keep your back in a more neutral position and take pressure off your spine.
3. Stretch in the mornings. A few minutes of stretching will help get your body back in alignment and gently strengthen supporting muscles. Be sure to warm up with a little movement before stretching, and be gentle!

Our best advice, though, is to really start thinking about training your body to sleep in a new position (side or back).

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A Closer Look at Our Selections

In choosing our best mattresses for stomach sleepers, we consider factors of particular importance for that sleeping position: testing scores for spine alignment and pressure relief, along with firmness. Here’s a look at how our selections stack up:

MATTRESS	AVERAGE (OUT OF 10) FOR SPINE ALIGNMENT, PRESSURE RELIEF, AND FIRMNESS
WinkBed	8.7
Brooklyn Signature Hybrid	8.7
Plank Firm	9.1
Saatva Classic	9.3
Helix Dawn	8.8
Nolah Nurture	8.0
Loom & Leaf	8.0
Layla	8.0

Note: The testing categories we focus on in this chart don’t reflect overall performance. Depending on your needs and preferences, you might put more or less value on particular qualities.

While stomach sleepers may not necessarily have picked the healthiest sleeping position, you still deserve comfortable, uninterrupted sleep. Remember, the best mattress for stomach sleepers with offer firm support, with a softer comfort layer on top. We hope this guide provides you with helpful tips on choosing a mattress that will give you just that.