Best mattress for lower back pain stomach sleeper

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Many people sleep on their stomachs— but the position isn’t ideal for back support. If you’re accustomed to sleeping on your tummy, finding a mattress suitable for stomach sleepers is essential for getting the necessary spinal alignment and extra support.

Stomach sleepers often struggle with scoliosis, whether mild or severe, because of their spine’s irregular curvature. This condition usually isn’t a cause for concern, but this might be why you find it more comfortable to sleep face-down. Many chiropractors recommend side or back sleeping; however, resting on your stomach should be just fine if you have a suitable bed.

10 Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers

• Nectar Premier Copper – Editor's Pick
• DreamCloud Premier – Best Luxury Mattress
• Saatva Classic – Best Mattress for Stomach and Side Sleepers
• The WinkBed – Best Innerspring Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
• Helix Plus – Best for Heavy Stomach Sleepers
• Signature Hybrid – Best Hybrid Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
• Leesa Legend – Best Mattress for Shoulder and Hip Pain
• Nolah Natural – Best Hypoallergenic Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
• Plank Firm – Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
• Birch Natural – Best Organic Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

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If you’re a stomach sleeper and frequently wake up with lower back pain or achy joints, you may be sleeping on a bed that’s too soft and hyperextending your spine. Read our best mattress for stomach sleepers guide, and find the one that offers a good night’s sleep and excellent support to help you wake up rested daily.

Shopping Recommendation:

Are you confident that a mattress for stomach sleepers is the perfect option for you? If so, continue exploring this page!

If you're unsure or want to learn about more great mattress options available then we recommend you check out our best mattress picks for 2022. Our best mattress list is a great starting place for most mattress shoppers because it includes a diverse list of mattress picks based on various preferences, styles, and needs. 

Editor's Pick

Nectar Premier Copper

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Nectar Premier Copper mattress has a mid-range firmness that should accommodate most stomach sleepers, though significantly heavier individuals may prefer a firmer model or firm topper with this bed. Furthermore, if you sleep with a partner, this middle-ground comfort feel should complement them as well. The bed offers support without sinkage, hugging your body while keeping your spine aligned.

The construction of the Nectar Premier Copper mattress starts with a gel-infused memory foam comfort layer, followed by a polyfoam transition layer, and polyfoam support layers. The cover is made of polyester, nylon, and polyethylene. 

What stands out?

• The 4-inch gel-infused memory foam layer helps keep hot sleepers cool by preventing the foam from overheating.
• Most sleepers should feel the memory foam hugging the body without allowing you to sink deep into the bed, which is especially important for those who sleep on their stomach.

Best Luxury Mattress

DreamCloud Premier

HIGHLIGHTS:

The DreamCloud Premier is a hybrid mattress with a Euro top, memory foam layers, and a coil unit. The combination allows sleepers to experience the best of both worlds – the comfort and body-hugging of memory foam and the bounce and responsiveness of the coils.

Adding to the luxurious feel of the mattress is the Mongolian cashmere cover. Below the cover are the Euro top cradle and support layers, each measuring 1 inch in height. Side and back sleepers should like the softness of the foams, while couples should enjoy motion isolation from the coils.

What stands out about it?

• The DreamCloud Premier has higher gauge coils around the perimeter to support the edges. This allows couples and people who like to spread out to use the entire surface of the bed.
• The mattress is good for hot sleepers thanks to the gel-infused memory foam that prevents overheating.

Best Mattress for Stomach and Side Sleepers

Saatva Classic

HIGHLIGHTS:

Saatva offers three firmness levels, making the Saatva Classic mattress suitable for side and stomach sleepers. Side sleepers should find pressure relief in the softer mattress designed to prevent build-up. Stomach sleepers may prefer firmer models for their support and spinal alignment.

The Saatva Classic is available in 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch heights. The contouring Euro pillow top with Lumbar Zone® quilting supports the center third of the mattress, which is where it’s most needed. The bed has two coil units made of individually-wrapped and interconnected coils.

Why we picked it

• The Saatva Classic mattress has high-density foam rails to support the edges and prevent them from sagging.
• The bed is available in two heights and three firmness levels to fit different sleeping positions.

Best Innerspring Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

WinkBed

HIGHLIGHTS:

The WinkBed mattress is available in three firmness options, but we feel the Luxury Firm and Firm models would be best for stomach sleepers. Each model features the Euro top layer of plush gel-infused foam to keep hot sleepers cool. The second layer is the SupportCell foam, followed by the innerspring unit.

WinkBed has individually-wrapped coils with zoned support. Zoned support offers enough pushback in the shoulders, hips, and other areas prone to pressure build-up. Below the coil unit is a layer of polyfoam that gives the bed durability and structure.

What stands out?

• Each WinkBed is handcrafted, so no two mattresses are the same. You may notice slight variations between the beds.
• Foams used in the WinkBed mattress are CertiPUR-US certified. The bed received the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Class 1 certification for the cover.

Need more details? Check out our WinkBed overview.

Best for Heavy Stomach Sleepers

Helix Plus

HIGHLIGHTS:

Heavier sleepers will like the firmness and support the Helix Plus provides. The mattress has a strong core under foam layers that ease the pressure at typical pressure points. The Helix Plus supports stomach sleepers by not allowing the hips to sink into the bed.

The design works together to provide pressure relief and support. The top layer has Helix Dynamic Foam and Ultra-Dense memory foam, allowing side sleepers to sink just enough to relieve pressure. Stomach sleepers will benefit from the firmer memory foam that works as a transition layer above the individually-wrapped coils. The foam layered on top of the coils provides a high IFD (Indentation Force Deflection), keeping you from sinking into the bed when sleeping on your stomach.

Why we love it

• The Helix Plus should keep hot sleepers cool thanks to the coil system that improves airflow. The coils move individually to allow better motion isolation and more breathability.

Best Hybrid Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Signature Hybrid

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Signature is a hybrid mattress that fits couples and single individuals looking for support, pressure relief, and comfort. The bed is available in three firmness options to accommodate all sleeping positions.

This hybrid features the Brooklyn Bedding’s proprietary TitanFlex™ and VariFlex™ foam. TitanFlex™ is a latex-like foam that contours the body and is responsive for easy repositioning. VariFlex™ is a transition layer that separates the TitanFlex™ from the coils. Stomach sleepers may like medium and firm models, while side sleepers may prefer the plushness of the softer model.

Why we picked it

• The Signature Hybrid is available in three firmness options, making it easy to find a mattress suitable for all sleeping positions.
• The Signature Hybrid offers good motion isolation couples will benefit from. The bed doesn’t allow motion transfer, so partners with different sleeping styles don’t disturb one another.

Best Mattress Shoulder and Hip Pain

Leesa Legend

HIGHLIGHTS:

People experiencing shoulder and hip pain need a mattress that helps mitigate the pressure. The Leesa Legend is rated 6/10 on our firmness scale, which should fit back and side sleepers, though stomach sleepers may want a firmer mattress.

Side sleepers often experience shoulder and hip pain due to pressure build-up. The right kind of mattress can help ease the pain by preventing the pressure from building up in these areas. The Legend does this by including micro coils in the areas under your head and feet with polyfoam between the two points. This design should melt away pressure and pain in these areas, while the second coil unit gives the bed bounce, airflow, and support. The second coil unit features individually-wrapped coils.

What makes it unique?

• The mattress features two coil systems and a comfort layer with aerated punch holes, allowing maximum airflow and cooling.

Need more details? Check out our Leesa Legend  overview.

Best Hypoallergenic Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Nolah Natural

HIGHLIGHTS:

Latex is quickly gaining momentum as an eco-friendly, buoyant, and cooler alternative to memory foam. This hybrid from Nolah combines natural Talalay latex with individually wrapped coils that should give sleepers incredible responsiveness, pressure relief, and support.

Allergies can easily keep sleepers up all hours of the night, but the Nolah Natural is a hypoallergenic option that is resistant to common allergens like dirt and dust mites. Furthermore, this bed is a more environmentally-conscious product that should appeal to shoppers who are actively interested in these types of mattresses.

Why we picked it

• The 8-inch HDMax™️ Tri-Zone™️ Support Coil System should ensure the sleeper’s hips and stomach don’t sink into the bed. This is important for spinal alignment and preventing back pain due to poor posture.
• We rated this bed at a 6.5 on our firmness scale, which should work well for many stomach sleepers, though back sleepers could also find this mattress suitable.

Want more info? Read our full Nolah brand review.

Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Plank Firm

HIGHLIGHTS:

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 mattress boasting two separate firmness options. On one side, you have the Firm option, and on the other side is the Extra-Firm feel. Beds this firm will likely appeal to heavier-set individuals. The reason for this is that the durable layers will help prevent their mid-section from sinking more than a softer model would. Plus, since the bed is dual-sided, you get the added convenience of two feels in one, allowing you to choose what feels most comfortable.

Why we love it

• This mattress is one of the firmest designs on the market, while also offering a dual-sided construction for optimal customization.
• If you run hot at night, you can choose to have the manufacturer put in an optional cooling panel to help with temperature regulation.

Need more details? Check out our Plank Firm overview.

Best Organic Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Birch Natural

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Birch Natural uses organic cotton, Talalay latex, and organic wool to provide breathability and comfort for eco-friendly sleepers. The cotton is GOTS certified, while the Talalay latex is eco-INSTITUT certified for low emissions.

This hybrid has three layers above the hundreds of steel coils that support the body in all sleeping positions. The coils move separately to limit motion transfer and help with repositioning. The Birch Natural has a reinforced perimeter for edge support, allowing sleepers to spread out and sit near the edge of the bed without it sinking. The layers provide pressure relief and support, preventing your hips from falling into the bed when you sleep on your stomach.

What makes it special?

• The Birch Natural is hypoallergenic as it uses organic materials.
• The wool used in this hybrid mattress comes from individual farms in New Zealand, all of which are compliant with the PGC Wrightson Wool Integrity Program to guarantee best farming practices.

Need more details? Check out our Birch overview.

Stomach sleepers often go to bed every single night in what seems to be one of the worst sleep positions for your body. With this in mind, you should know that the proper mattress, as well as a comfortable pillow, could make a tremendous difference to seriously overcome the overall negative effects that stomach sleeping can cause on your body.

Proper back support, a feel which is medium to slightly firmer, and taking advantage of the most appropriate and comfortable pillow, are essential if you want to get a proper rest while sleeping on your belly.

Adequate support should be a top priority when picking out a bed. This is because your mid-section carries more weight, and this added weight can put pressure on the lower back and misalign the spine when lying on your stomach.

Proper support should prevent this from happening, but most stomach sleepers can only get this from a medium to firm mattress as they are known to provide consistent support.

Contouring is when a mattress conforms to the shape of your body. This often happens right after you lie on the bed, although some beds take longer than others. For example, innerspring mattresses conform to the body immediately, whereas memory foam takes a few minutes to adapt to your curves. 

Stomach sleepers should seek a bit of contouring, but keep in mind that too much may lead to back pain. You need a firmer mattress to prevent your body from sinking in. However, a bit of memory foam won’t hurt if you want some contouring. 

Stomach sleepers should benefit from medium to firm mattresses. These are the most supportive, keeping the spine in proper alignment, so you’re unlikely to wake up with back pain. Medium-range firmness is the most versatile, so it should work for other sleeping positions too, which is good for couples with different sleeping preferences. 

Stomach sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds should stick to medium-firm and firm beds, whereas those weighing under 130 pounds may prefer a softer one. 

Responsiveness is important for people with mobility issues and those who often toss and turn. Most innerspring mattresses are responsive, adapting to the shape of your body rather quickly. Memory foam isn’t as responsive, which makes it a better option for couples because it offers excellent motion isolation. 

A good mattress should include quality materials in its construction. This can determine its comfort and longevity regardless of your preferred sleeping position. Quality materials often have certain certifications like CertiPUR® and OEKO-TEX®, so these are a safe option. Stomach sleepers should focus on quality materials to provide a better sleeping experience, especially those who sleep hot and are allergy-prone. 

Stomach sleepers tend to keep a very flat sleeping profile. This results in a lot fewer gaps between your body and the mattress.

Therefore, the best mattress for this type of sleeping should be on the medium to firmer side. This makes it about 5 to 8 on the mattress firmness scale if we assume that 10 is the most firm, but this is also subjective since the sleeper’s weight will affect the feel. For example, a heavy person will require more firmness than a lightweight individual.

This firmness should help keep your back from arching and prevent stiffness. If you compare it to a mattress which is too soft, your pelvis may start sinking down. This can lead to spine misalignment, which could result in chronic back problems.

The right level of firmness can help ensure proper support from your mattress.

Stomach sleepers should be careful about the type of mattress and materials they choose. This is because sleeping on your stomach requires firm support as well as a bit of pressure relief. You want a mattress that supports your hips and prevents them from sinking in while also providing pressure relief for the sensitive areas like the shoulders and knees. That being said, different mattress materials will provide different results when it comes to these features. 

Memory foam is one of the most common types of materials used for beds. Memory foam is usually placed toward the top of the mattress, though some manufacturers place the material further below as well.

The main characteristic of this foam is that it closely contours your shape and adjusts to your sleeping position, which is why it excels at pressure relief.

Unlike the memory foam mattresses, latex beds are usually made out of the plant or petroleum-based materials. The latex could also be situated in the comfort layer, in a deeper core level of the bed, or make up the entirety of the layers.

PROS

• Temperature-neutral
• Responsive and buoyant
• Conforms to your body
• Should not make you feel stuck in the bed

For More Info: Best Latex Beds

A traditional innerspring mattress contains a coil unit and a thin comfort layer on top. The innerspring units in these beds usually have an interrconected coil system that provides lots of bounce and cooling but minimal motion isolation. Innerspring beds are usually great for support but not as good for pressure relief. These are the most used and oldest bed type.

PROS

• Traditional feel most people are familiar with
• Tend to be affordable
• Lots of bounce and airflow
• Good for support

View Our In-depth Guide: Top Innerspring Mattresses

A hybrid mattress has an innerspring core and  several foam layers on top, though some manufacturers include a foam base as well. Hybrids are considered an ideal solution for sleepers who want the benefits of foam and innerspring beds but without their drawbacks. The foam materials and amount of layers in hybrids vary. Some may use latex, memory foam, or both. Additionally, the springs in these beds are typically pocketed, which reduces motion transfer.

PROS

• More cushioning than traditional spring beds
• Great for different body types and sleeping styles
• Better motion isolation than innerspring mattresses
• Great for support and pressure relief

Read Our Full Guide: Best Hybrid Mattresses

An airbed is adjustable, so you can make it as firm or soft as you like. In some cases, there’s a built-in pump to make inflating them even easier. However, an airbed is only good for stomach sleepers if it’s inflated to a medium or firm level. If it’s too soft, it may not provide sufficient support for the hips and lower back. 

PROS

• Adjustable
• Easy to transport
• Highly affordable
• Good for guests and travel

If you're going to put a lot of effort into choosing the best mattress for stomach sleeping, you should do the same when picking your pillow because it's equally mportant for this sleep position.

With this in mind, if you have an overstuffed pillow, this will likely elevate your head too much, which can throw your spine out of whack and feel uncomfortable. Stomach sleepers typically do best with pillows that have a lower loft (height) for better alignment.

When testing out a new pillow, make sure that your neck is aligned with your spine when you lay on your stomach and you place your head on the pillow. 

Find Out More: Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers

• Use a thin pillow, so your neck and head aren’t at an awkward angle. 
• Try placing a pillow under your pelvis to keep your spine in a more neutral position. This should take pressure off your back. 
• Do stretching exercises for a few minutes after waking up. Stretching should help align your body and bring relief, especially if you wake up with a stiff neck.
• Look for the right mattress that supports the body and prevents it from sinking too much.  A medium to firm mattress should help you sleep better on your stomach.

Stomach sleepers should find a firm mattress more comfortable than a soft one. This is because a firm bed provides more support for the body, preventing your hips from dipping, which throws off spine alignment.

Sleeping on your stomach isn’t the recommended position, but if you have supportive bedding that promotes good body alignment, this can make it better. This position may help reduce snoring but can strain the neck and lower back without the right mattress and pillow.

Stomach sleepers should do well on a memory foam, innerspring, latex, or hybrid mattress. However, those who sleep on their stomach should focus on mattress firmness. Stick to medium and firm beds that support the hips. 

If you are a stomach sleeper, you've probably had trouble finding the right sleeping solutions. Some mattresses tend to feel too soft, while others feel rock solid.

We advise that you pay attention to the firmness of the mattress to ensure that it will provide sufficient support for your back. Get that right, and you're off to a great start.

Additionally, look for other important mattress qualities that are important to you and can help you get the most out of the bed as a stomach sleeper.

Resources:

• Sleeping Posture  – offices.depaul.edu
• Good Sleeping Posture Can Help Your Back – rochester.edu
• How Body Posture During Sleep Affect Your Brain – stonybrook.edu