Choosing the Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers — Detailed Guide and 5 mattress recommendations

Our List of the Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers

Best Overall - Editor’s Choice — Puffy Mattress

The Puffy is my editor’s choice for the best mattress for stomach sleepers due to its thick, conforming layers, the Puffy’s ability to muffle motion, and its removable cover. I had the opportunity to test Puffy and found its 4 inches of comfort layers adequate for relieving tension and re-distributing weight. Even with a sinkage of 2.5 inches, I was more than supported while on my stomach, with similar sinkage levels as the AS3. I also found Puffy had good motion isolation due to its slow-moving layers, taking 1.7 seconds to bounce back from compressions fully. That means motion from a partner is less likely to disturb you at night.

Another feature I tested with the Puffy was its removable cover, which is not only breathable and soft, but it can be taken off in a matter of seconds via zippers. It can then be thrown in the wash, which can help keep your bedroom looking and feeling fresh.

I reviewed the Puffy to have about a 1.7-second bounce-back time, which is enough to cradle pressure points in the hips and shoulders while lying on your stomach and absorbing motion, so your sleep is less disturbed. This contrasts the Winkbed, where Puffy had a more than 5 times much slower response.

What I Don't Like About This Mattress

One thing I don’t like about this mattress is that its thick comfort layers may not adequately support heavier stomach sleepers over 230 pounds.

Read our full Puffy mattress review for more information.

The Plank is my best firm mattress for stomach sleepers due to its higher firmness, ability to support more weight, and keep the spine in proper alignment.

Stomach sleepers need a firm surface to sleep on, especially if they’re heavier at over 230 pounds, which, from my tests, is why I think the Plank is perfectly suited for this. I measured a sinkage of about an inch on its Extra Firm size, and 2 inches on its Firm side, which means that the Plank may not feel as cradling as the Puffy or Winkbed, but it certainly feels firmer and gives more support if you’re a stomach sleeper.

Compared to soft foams, firm ones offer several benefits, such as cooler sleep and better edge support — and that’s exactly what you can expect from this model. It will provide a uniform surface that will offer little cradling but enough to prevent pressure points and relax your muscles.

Also, the Plank can support a larger weight, which makes it a great pick for heavier sleepers.

Additionally, I tested the Plank with its optional GlaxioTex cooling cover, infused with Phase Change Material. While I wasn’t stuck sleeping deep in memory foam layers that are known to trap heat (like Puffy or the AS3), in addition to a cool-to-the-touch cover, I never slept hot while testing the Plank.

When reviewing the Plank, I found its bounce value of 7.9 inches to be a strong indicator of its robust core, which can handle the weight of a stomach sleeper and keep their spine level. The Plank is so sturdy that it feels similar to hybrids like the Winkbed, with a bounce rate of 22% less.

What I Don't Like About This Mattress

One thing I don’t like about the Plank is that, due to its firmness, it may not be soft enough for petite sleepers to feel comfortable, especially if they are side sleepers as the hips and shoulders won’t sink enough to be cradled, creating pressure areas.

Read our full Plank mattress review for more information.

Best Hybrid Mattress for Stomach Sleepers — Winkbed

Highlights

• comes in Soft, Medium, Firm, and Firm Plus options;
• one of the sturdiest mattresses on the market;
• sleeps cool because the coil layer doesn’t restrict airflow.

Our Methodology - Why I Picked These Mattresses

The best mattresses for stomach sleepers need to be cradling just enough to ease pressure points while emphasizing firmness and a strong core to keep the hips lifted and spine straight. 

When choosing mattresses for this list, I looked for mattresses with a firm core, such as high-density foam (Puffy and Plank), or coils (like the Winkbed), as a strong core can support the hips and keep the spine neutral. I looked for bounce levels of at least 4 inches, which is high enough to keep you from sinking in the layers too much. I also chose mattresses emphasizing support over comfort, and allowed lower sinkages of at least 1 inch in my criteria. A lower sinkage usually means the mattress is firmer and better for stomach support. While testing my mattresses, I also reviewed other things, such as their ability to cool, their edge support, and their response time. I share more methodology tips in the article so you can better choose the right mattress for a stomach sleeper for yourself.

What Is the Best Type of Mattress for Stomach Sleepers?

Latex beds or hybrids are the most suitable mattresses for stomach sleepers. They provide good responsiveness and will help maintain the natural lumbar curve. The most important thing to consider when choosing a mattress is maintaining the natural lumbar curve of your spine when sleeping in the frontal position (2). Plus, both latex and hybrids don’t restrict your movements during the night, which is good if you aren’t a strict stomach sleeper and switch between different positions during the night.

Another good option, especially for heavier users, is innerspring beds. They generally have a uniform surface and can support larger weights without sinking too deep or sagging too soon.

Memory foam mattresses also work; however, it is better to find a mattress with a strong core, such as the Puffy, or fewer comfort layers, such as the Plank. This ensures your memory foam mattress is firm enough to keep the hips lifted while still feeling comfortable.

Memory foams with high-density foam are also better options (like the Puffy) as the slow-adaptive foam is more resilient to weight, and less likely to sag or lose its shape as with low-density foams. A good way to tell if a memory foam mattress is high-density or not is to do a compression test. The slower the foam bounces back, the higher the foam's density.

Also Read: Best Tempurpedic Alternatives

How Firm a Mattress for a Stomach Sleeper Should Be?

Source: https://vesgantti.com/blogs/news/how-to-choose-your-mattress

Generally, medium-firm and firm mattresses work best for most stomach sleepers. They don’t provide as much sinkage as soft beds and will keep your pelvis properly aligned, so you won’t experience morning pain.

But this is where it gets tricky:

See, firmness perception is pretty subjective and tied to some external factors, such as your weight. The larger you are, the deeper you will sink into the mattress layers, and hence, the softer your bed will feel to you, and vice versa.

So, here’s what you need to know before choosing a good mattress for a stomach sleeper:

• lightweight stomach sleepers (less than 130 lbs) may benefit from a medium-soft mattress (4/10);
• users who weigh 130 to 200 lbs will feel comfortable on a medium (5/10) or medium-firm (6-7/10) mattress;
• heavier stomach sleepers (200 lbs and above) may want a firm (7-8/10) or extra-firm mattress (8-9/10) (3).

If you aren’t sure about the exact firmness level you need, you can also try models with a flippable design which have a different firmness on each of the two sides.

Understanding Firmness and Support for Stomach Sleepers

Here’s the deal:

Firmness does not always mean proper support.

The thing is, a mattress can be rated “firm”, but if it uses lower-quality materials or has overly thick comfort layers, it might not be able to deliver the needed support for stomach sleepers.

That’s why shoppers need to pay close attention not only to the firmness level of the mattress but to its construction as well.

For instance, pillow-top models aren’t ideal for this sleeping style, even if they are rated “firm” by the manufacturer. After all, that top section is not very likely to offer decent support. This could potentially lead to unhealthy back curvatures during sleep. Having said that, pillow-top models will still work if their soft top layers are balanced by a firm core that keeps the hips and spine in alignment.

Stomach sleepers will prefer a model with fewer comfort materials, which puts them closer to the supportive core and improves spinal alignment.

If it’s a spring or a hybrid mattress, coils should be thicker (which means a lower gauge number). If it’s latex or foam, it should be a high-density material.

Also Read: Best Mattresses Made in the USA

How to Choose the Best Mattress for a Stomach Sleeper?

To choose the best mattress for stomach sleepers, there are several factors to keep in mind, such as:

• Having proper lumbar support.
• Good thermoregulation.
• Quality mattress materials.
• Strong edge support.
• High motion isolation.
• A good amount of comfort layers.
• High durability of the mattress.

Proper Lumbar Support in Your Mattress

The main problem with stomach sleeping is that the pelvic area might sink into the mattress layers, which puts a strain on a lumbar curve and makes your back hurt. To prevent this, choose beds with pronounced lumbar support — e.g. those with zoned layers or a sewn-in lumbar pad to support specifically the lower back area.

In addition, mattresses with firmer cores and fewer comfort layers, such as the Plank, can be beneficial in keeping the hips lifted.

Note that even though stomach sleeping is considered the worst position for spinal health, it can be more beneficial than other positions for people with certain back conditions, such as degenerative disc disease and herniated lumbar disks (4). Stomach sleeping in these cases removes the pressure from the discs and brings you relief.

Good Thermoregulation in Your Mattress

A study conducted in 2019 supports the idea that falling and staying asleep is connected with the temperature of your body and the surroundings (5). When we prepare to fall asleep, or body temperature drops and triggers melatonin production that supports stable shut-eye with little to no awakenings.

So, your mattress should be able to support this natural temperature decline and facilitate better sleep by withdrawing excess body heat. 

The best candidates for this are natural latex and hybrid beds, as they’re initially more breathable.

Latex accomplishes this by being perforated and not retaining heat like memory foam can be known for. Hybrid mattresses with coils are breathable throughout the base, which helps to draw heated air away from the body and disperse it through the layers of the mattress. Ideally, your latex or hybrid mattress should feel cool at around 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, the Winkbed recorded a temperature of around 90 degrees, which is the max I like to see for comfortable, temperature-neutral sleep.

All-foam mattresses don’t have to be entirely ruled out, however. Many all-foam mattresses, such as the Plank, come with optional cooling covers, or the AS3, with its Bio-Pur® foam that’s open-celled and doesn’t retain heat as much as standard foams.

Quality Mattress Materials

Stomach sleepers are recommended to sleep without a pillow, as this prevents putting extra pressure on the cervical region (6). But when there’s no pillow, your head comes into direct contact with the mattress, and if it’s made with synthetic materials or harsh chemicals, you may develop allergic reactions.

That’s why it’s important to choose hypoallergenic options, such as Puffy, or non-toxic options, like the AS3.

Also, look out for certification tags, such as GOLS, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, or GreenGuard Gold. These labels will prove that your mattress doesn’t have any harsh mixtures in its layers and doesn’t emit harmful levels of VOCs.

Edge Support of the Mattress

This is an aspect that many shoppers disregard. However, good edge support can offer many benefits. First of all, getting a mattress with strong edges can help sleepers use more space and thus, feel more comfortable (especially when sharing a bed with a partner).

Additionally, many stomach sleepers enjoy lying close to the edge of the bed, often with one of their arms hanging down. In this case, a mattress has to have strong edges to prevent the sleeper from rolling off.

Now, hybrid and interpreting models usually deliver the best edge support. Many of them even have enhanced coils around the perimeter, which would come in handy for heavier stomach sleepers who like lying close to the mattress edge.

High Motion Isolation in the Mattress

Having a high motion isolation in your mattress is useful if you’re a stomach sleeper that gets woken easily. High motion isolation means the comfort layers absorb a lot of the movements and shifting from a partner (the Puffy is a great example of this), keeping you less disturbed while sleeping. Only a few select mattresses can pull off a good mix of motion isolation and support, however, such as the Puffy, followed by the AS3. 

Fair Mattress Comfort Layers

Having fair mattress comfort layers means your mattress strikes a balance between comfort and support. Too many comfort layers and you may risk getting ‘stuck’ in the mattress, which can cause your spine to become misaligned. Too little, and you may feel not enough pressure relief or conformity. If you are a stomach sleeper, the best amount of comfort layers tends to be on the lower side, at around 1-5 inches.

The Plank is an excellent example of a good mix between comfort and support; however, it may feel too firm for some stomach sleepers. The WinkBed is also a good example of a fair amount of comfort layers, using 3 inches in its euro pillow top, followed by solid coils that help lift the hips.

High Durability of the Mattress

High durability in your mattress is crucial for stomach sleepers, as this is how long your mattress is going to last. Factors that affect mattress longevity are the solidness of the core, and the density of the foam. A solid core, such as Winkbed’s coils, ensures the mattress can handle weight longer. High dentist foams that are slow-adaptive, such as Puffy, mean the foam is more resistant to impressions and sagging, meaning that it’s more durable as well. And mattresses that are meant for heavier weight or more support, such as the Plank, typically last longer as they are designed to hold up against more pressure.

In addition, a mattress with a long warranty also factors into how durable a mattress is, as those with warranties of 10 years (or, in Puffy’s case, a lifetime warranty), are designed with quality materials to live up to their warranty. That means they will last longer, in the long run.

F.A.Q.

Final Word

A proper mattress for stomach sleepers can easily compensate for some of the drawbacks of this sleeping position and make your shut-eye more restorative. Essential factors to consider are suitable firmness (the more you weigh, the firmer your mattress should be), pronounced lumbar support, and chemical-free design, as you might sleep on your mattress without a pillow.

In my opinion, the Puffy is the best mattress for stomach sleepers as it has slow-adaptive, conforming layers that cradle and support the hips and spine. The Puffy also has good motion-isolating properties, helping you sleep comfortably on your stomach without feeling the jostling of a restless partner.