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The best mattress for you largely depends on your firmness preferences and sleep positions. If you're prone to stomach sleeping, you'll have different needs than back or side sleepers. You need a mattress that provides the right level of pressure relief and support to keep your spine aligned while you get a restful sleep.
I have tested over 50 mattresses throughout the years and am a stomach sleeper myself. I’ve found that the best mattresses for stomach sleepers are usually soft enough to make you feel comfortable but firm enough to offer proper back support. To save you some time, I've put together this list of my favorite seven mattress picks for stomach sleepers. Here’s how to choose the best one for you.
What's the best mattress for stomach sleepers?
While there are several good options for stomach sleepers, the WinkBed stands out as my best overall pick. Stomach sleepers typically need a firmer mattress to properly support their spine, but the WinkBed offers three firmness options. If you're a stomach sleeper who doesn’t like sleeping on a brick, a softer option is available. The same can be said for a stomach sleeper looking for a firm option -- the Luxury Firm and Firm options are perfect. The WinkBed is very accommodating, cushiony and supportive.
Note that the prices listed in our recommendations for the best mattress for stomach sleepers are MSRP for queen mattress sizes.
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Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
Best mattresses for stomach sleepers of 2024
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Why we chose the WinkBed mattress: The WinkBed mattress reminds me of a fancy five-star hotel mattress thanks to its supportive innerspring and responsive, soft foam feel. Plus, its plush pillow top -- my favorite feature of this bed -- adds a noticeable coziness to the mattress. Stomach sleepers of all sizes will like the WinkBed mattress due to its feel, support and multiple firmness options.
The bottommost layer of the WinkBed is a system of pocketed coils with thinner, stronger coils on the sides to enhance edge support. This layer is also zoned to help give support and pressure relief where it's needed. Above it are four layers of foam, including a "Lumbarlayer" to give additional support under the lumbar region and a fluffy gel-infused pillow top. It also has three firmness levels to choose from, so you can opt for the best level of support for you. That said, the Luxury Firm is rated a medium, and the Firmer option is around a medium firm. I recommend either firmness for most stomach sleepers. However, if you are a stomach sleeper with a sensitive chest or someone who despises firm beds, the Luxury Firm or Softer options will be better suited for you.
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Pricing based on Queen model
Why we chose the Saatva Classic mattress: The Saatva Classic combines supportive innerspring coils with a comfort layer of memory foam on top. This great combination of features provides a stomach sleeper with the optimal bed of support. With three firmnesses to choose from, stomach sleepers should benefit from the Luxury Firm or Firm option.
Another great aspect of the Saatva Classic is its excellent motion isolation. The comfort layer of memory foam and the pocketed coils help deaden your partner’s movements during the night. From its sturdy foundation of tempered steel coils to its layer of pocketed coils in the middle to its upper comfort foam layer and the Euro pillow top made with organic cotton, this mattress provides stomach sleepers with optimal durability and minimal motion transfer. Keep in mind that this is a very firm mattress (too firm for me), so the Soft opinion might be better suited for petite stomach sleepers or those with sensitive chests.
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Why we chose the Nolah Original mattress: Combination sleepers switch between one or more positions during the night and need a mattress with a middle-of-the-road firmness level to fully accommodate them. Given its versatility and universally comfortable feel, the Nolah Original mattress is a perfect option. We rate it a medium or around a five on our firmness scale -- which should appeal to stomach sleepers who switch to their side during the night or petite stomach sleepers looking for a softer mattress.
The Nolah Original is soft enough to relieve pressure around your shoulders and hips when on your side, and your spine won’t sag into the mattress when you’re on your stomach. It’s 10 inches tall and features a layer of comfort-conforming AirFoam and a zoned AirFoam layer, which has billions of microscopic air bubbles -- making it more durable than traditional memory foam. As a stomach sleeper that often switches to my side, this is my favorite mattress on this list. It’s affordable, has a neutral foam feel and is slightly cool to the touch. Most importantly, I can comfortably switch from one position to another.
Because the Nolah Original is made with all foam, we recommend it for side and stomach sleepers who are on the lighter side. If you want a Nolah bed with more support, check out the Nolah Original Hybrid, which includes a strong base of steel Tri-Zone coils rather than foam.
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Pricing based on Queen model
Why we chose the Helix Plus mattress: Plus-sized stomach sleepers require a mattress that is extremely supportive, thick, durable and, of course, comfortable. The Helix Plus is a quality choice that won't break the bank. It’s over 11 inches tall, with a thick primary support layer and an XL system of pocketed coils -- they are longer and stronger than the coils inside the average hybrid bed. Heavy stomach sleepers will undoubtedly be supported on this bed.
The top two layers of foam include high-density memory foam and contouring, comfort foam. While you might think this gives Helix Plus a strong memory foam feel, it's actually more neutral and responsive than traditional dense, stuck-in-the-mud memory foam. I find this bed to feel very uniform, meaning that I can’t feel the coils poking out or determine one layer from the other while I’m lying on the bed. This is a huge plus, as some hybrid beds can feel like multiple materials slabbed together rather than one solid bed. The Helix Plus also lands around a seven out of 10 on our scale, making it a great medium-firm mattress for plus-size sleepers. You also have the option to add a cooling GlacioTex pillow top, which I recommend for hot sleepers like myself.
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Why we chose the Purple Restore Hybrid mattress: If you're looking for a truly unique bed that provides the support and comfort of a hybrid mattress but also gives you a weightless feel, Purple is the one for you. The Purple Restore mattress is made with a GelFlex grid that has airy support, comfort foam and pocketed coils. I like that this mattress cradles me firmly but has more give than dense memory foam.
I describe the Purple Restore as having a “weightless” feel simply because the open-cell grid effortlessly supports me. When you push down on the bed with your fists, it feels soft and spongy. Yet, when you lie on your stomach, the Purple Restore pushes up under you, supporting your spine. However, memory foam haters can be at ease. It doesn’t feel dense like traditional memory foam. The material has more give, and I can easily turn from my stomach to my side. This design also makes the bed very breathable, which is great for hot sleepers like myself. The Purple Restore comes in Soft and Firm options, and I think Firm would work for most stomach sleepers.
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Why we chose the Bear Original mattress: For memory foam lovers who love a good value, the Bear Original mattress is one of the best in class. Its layers are made with high-density support foam on the bottom for support and durability, Responsive Transition Foam for pressure relief and Cooling Graphite-Gel Memory Foam for temperature regulation. You also have the option to add Bear’s breathable Celliant-infused cover.
We rated the Bear Original around a medium to medium-firm or a six out of 10 on the firmness scale. In addition to its firmness, it has a classic memory foam feel that hugs and contours around your body's curves. When lying on my stomach, I stay directly on top of the mattress, hardly sinking in at all. As a petite stomach sleeper, I found this bed to be firmer than the Saatva Classic. This mattress is best for stomach sleepers under 230 pounds because this all-foam model isn’t supportive enough for heavier people. If you are interested in Bear hybrid mattresses, the Bear Elite Hybrid is a great option.
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Why we chose the Allswell mattress: Stomach sleepers looking for the ultimate deal should consider the very affordable Allswell mattress. You can buy the Allswell directly from Walmart, where a queen-size model costs around $317. It is very rare to find a hybrid mattress under $1,000, let alone $500. Additionally, this medium-firm mattress is a supportive sleeping surface for stomach sleepers.
The Allswell mattress is 10 inches thick and has three layers of foam (high-density, gel and comfort) sandwiched between the pocketed coil base layer and the knitted top cover. The bottommost layer is high-density foam for an even sturdier base. It's a simple mattress with a slightly firmer profile. We rated it around a six out of 10 on the firmness scale, somewhere around medium to medium-firm.
When lying on my stomach, I stayed more on top of the bed rather than sinking in like soft memory foam, a plus for stomach or back sleepers looking for a supportive bed. It's a responsive mattress with comfortable foam that bounces back quickly to pressure, making it easy to switch positions. It reminds me of a traditional innerspring bed, with the added cushion of foam layers.
The beds listed below are additional mattresses tested by CNET that just barely missed the cut.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress: Brooklyn Bedding’s Signature mattress is a hybrid bed made up of a quilted top, a layer of comfort foam then transition foam, about 760 pocketed coils and finally a flex base. It offers three different firmness levels, but the firm option is the best mattress for stomach sleepers as it will keep your spine in a neutral position throughout the night. However, the medium option is also good for stomach sleepers who don’t want a firm bed. Considering its supportive construction, it can also accommodate heavier stomach sleepers. At $1,332, it lands within the more affordable price range of mattresses.
Loom & Leaf mattress: Saatva's Loom & Leaf mattress has a memory foam feel that regulates your temperature better than typical memory foam beds thanks to its cooling gel layer. There are two firm firmness levels: Relaxed Firm and Firm, which come out to medium-firm and firm. The Firm option is responsive and provides more pushback, which is ideal for stomach sleepers to keep the spine from sagging. Coming in at $2,999, this mattress is more expensive, but Saatva frequently offers it at a discounted rate.
My fellow CNET Sleep editors and I are the brains behind our mattress best lists. We have tested over 200 different beds and have countless years of experience under our belts. Our unique mattress warehouse currently houses about 100 mattresses, but new beds are constantly coming to us. Our mattress-filled office and testing protocols enable us to create honest and unbiased mattress roundups that include our favorite picks.
The best mattresses for stomach sleepers were rated on several factors including firmness, construction, performance, price and warranty information. When testing we also considered how the bed performs in specific categories like motion isolation, edge support and temperature. Overall, the mattresses that made our list were the best of the best due to their design, firmness level and price.
CNET sleep expert Dillon Payne testing out the Helix Plus as a stomach sleeper.
Jonathon Gomez/CNETJust because a mattress is an objectively good bed, it doesn't mean it's the best mattress for your sleeping needs. The best mattress for you is based on your sleeping position, weight and additional needs. When shopping for the best mattress for stomach sleepers, there are a few key factors you should keep in mind.
Most stomach sleepers will benefit from a firm mattress that keeps the spine from sagging and in neutral alignment with the neck.
Firmness level: Stomach sleepers have to be mindful of firmness level when shopping for a mattress. For most stomach sleepers, a slightly firmer mattress is best suited for your sleeping needs. We recommend medium-firm to firm mattresses for stomach sleepers; that way, your hips and spine are supported and comfortable. If a mattress is too soft, your hips will sink in, leading to back pain in the morning. However, if you despise a firm mattress, a medium mattress will be more comfortable -- especially if you are a stomach sleeper with a sensitive chest.
Your body type: Another factor that will influence which mattress a stomach sleeper should select is body type. Depending on how much you weigh, you may put more or less pressure on a mattress, which can change how you interpret the firmness level. Petite people put less pressure on the mattress, meaning they don't sink in as far. This means they will perceive the mattress as firmer. Heavier people will find that mattresses may feel softer because more pressure is put on the bed.
Mattress construction: A big thing to keep in mind is what your mattress is made of. A lot of this comes down to your preference for the feel and durability of your mattress, although there's more to it than that. All foam mattresses are budget-friendly and come in all ranges of firmness levels, but they typically aren't best suited for heavy people because they don't provide enough support. We recommend that plus-size sleepers opt for mattresses with coils like a traditional innerspring or hybrid mattress that combines pocketed coils and comfortable foam layers.
The different types of mattress construction include:
- Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses are the traditional type of bed -- the one in your grandma's house. They feature a layer of coils as the base. Coil types include pocketed coils, continuous-wire coils or offset coils. Innerspring mattresses boast thin comfort layers on top of the coils for comfort. Some innerspring mattresses have pillow top options for side sleepers. Stomach sleepers benefit from innerspring mattresses because they provide even support across the mattress.
- Foam: Foam mattresses are made entirely of either memory foam, polyfoam, latex foam or a mix. All-foam mattresses are often budget-friendly and provide an ample amount of pressure relief. Stomach sleepers have to be careful with all-foam mattresses, especially if they are heavier, as they can sink too far in and wake up with back pain. It's best to stick to firmer all-foam mattresses as a stomach sleeper.
- Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses combine the best parts of both innerspring and foam mattresses. This type of mattress strikes a really good balance between comfort and support thanks to the coils and varied comfort layers. Your stomach won't sink too far in, and there are plenty of foam layers to provide pressure relief.
Stomach sleeping may reduce snoring. However, of all the sleeping positions, sleeping on your stomach is considered the worst for your health. This is due to how most of your weight is put on the middle of your body. Sleeping on your stomach often puts your spine out of neutral alignment. It can also lead to neck and shoulder pain since you have to turn your head to the side to breathe.
If you are similar to me and find sleeping on your stomach most comfortable, there are things you can do to support your body while in this sleeping position. First and foremost, you could choose to sleep on a firmer mattress. This keeps your hips from sinking too far into the mattress and changing your spinal alignment. Next, you can opt for thinner pillows that do not require any awkward twisting of your neck.
Having one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers is a great start, but it doesn't have to be the end of your quest for ultimate comfort. Try adding a mattress topper or pillow for stomach sleepers to push your sleep quality to the next level.
Mattress toppers for stomach sleepers
Mattress toppers are cheaper than buying a whole new mattress. They can make your bed firmer or softer. We advise a medium-firm or firm mattress for optimal support when sleeping on your stomach.
Pillows for stomach sleepers
Pillows are a crucial part of how we sleep, and it's important to have the right one. The best pillows for stomach sleepers are flatter, which ensures your neck and head aren't twisted while you're sleeping on your stomach. What type of pillow is up to you: Some of the most popular types of pillows for stomach sleepers include latex foam, gel memory foam, feather pillows or organic cotton pillows.
Stomach sleepers should look for beds that offer ample support like hybrid mattresses that combine coils and foam. Foam beds are another good option. However, there isn't a particular type of foam that works best for stomach sleepers, as it primarily depends on the feel you're looking for. There are plenty of firmer memory foam, polyfoam and latex foam mattresses on the market.
Yes, stomach sleepers can sleep comfortably on memory foam mattresses. Foam mattresses are good options for stomach sleepers as long as the bed falls on the firmer side. Stomach sleepers need a mattress that is firm enough to support their hips and keep their spine in neutral alignment. If the memory foam mattress is too soft and they sink in, it can cause back pain.
The best pillow for stomach sleepers is a thin one, like pillows made with down, because they keep the neck in a straight alignment with the spine. A tall pillow will keep your neck kinked all night, a common culprit of neck pain.
Yes, a pillow top mattress can be great for stomach sleepers. The WinkBed, our top pick for stomach sleepers, has a Euro pillow top infused with gel foam. This special feature gives stomach sleepers like me extra comfort. However, if you are looking for a firmer, all-foam bed, then you won’t find one with a pillow top.
Stomach sleepers need a firm mattress because a firm bed supports the spine and prevents it from dipping and coming out of neutral alignment. However, not all stomach sleepers prefer a firm bed -- especially if you are a woman or an individual with a sensitive chest. While firmer mattresses are recommended for stomach sleepers, it’s important to find a mattress that you find comfortable.
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