Is Sleeping on Your Stomach Bad for You? Experts Weigh in on Which Mattress Is Best

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If you’re a stomach sleeper, you’ve probably been told it can cause everything from neck and back pain to wrinkles, breathing trouble, and more. However, changing your sleeping position isn’t easy—nor is it necessarily essential. If you don’t want to switch up how you fall asleep, the best mattresses for stomach sleepers can help keep your body supported while allowing you to drift off comfortably.

Our editors conducted extensive research and spoke with sleep experts to determine th best mattresses for stomach sleepers based on material, support, price, and more. We also considered weight capacity, warranty information, and mattress size ranges to inform our selections. According to Shelby Harris, Psy.D., director of sleep at Sleepopolis, stomach sleepers will want a firmer-than-usual mattress to help keep hips level and the belly supported at night.

Meet the experts: Shelby Harris, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist; and Karen Litzy, P.T., D.P.T., owner of the Manhattan-based practice Karen Litzy Physical Therapy.

“Your mattress is a big deal when it comes to how well you sleep and your overall health,” Harris says. “It should keep your spine aligned and distribute your weight evenly to avoid any aches and pains. A good mattress means less tossing and turning at night, leading to better sleep...If you share your bed, it can also minimize disturbances from your partner’s movements.”

Ahead, we break down some of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers of 2024 for a wide range of sleep needs and budgets.

Classic Mattress

The Saatva Classic mattress is our top choice for stomach sleepers because of its supportive blend of individually wrapped steel coils that contour to your body and its patented Lumbar Zone layer for added spinal support. Available in three firmness levels—plush soft, luxury firm, and firm—it’s great for stomach sleepers who want pressure-relief without sacrificing plushness. Plus, we love that Saatva mattresses offer a relatively affordable price, quality design, a 365-day trial, and free white glove delivery with your purchase.

Customer review: “I bought my Saatva four years ago and it’s held up beautifully; there’s no sag, no visible wear and tear, just as supportive and comfortable as it was on day one,” said one Saatva shopper. “It doesn’t transfer much movement from a partner, supports my spine exactly as I need, and overall I’m just extremely satisfied with this purchase.”

Elite Hybrid

We love the pressure-relieving softness of the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress. Since stomach sleepers require extra support around their hips, this mattress features a zoned layer under your torso for added firmness without sacrificing softness around your shoulders and legs. Plus, the combination of high-density foam, pocketed coils, and a top layer of cooling memory foam contours to your body as you sleep for all-over comfort. If you tend to sleep hot, you’ll also appreciate that this mattress uses copper-infused foam and phase change material (also known as PCM, which is designed to absorb body heat) to help dissipate excess warmth while you sleep.

Customer review: “I have been searching for a comfortable mattress for years,” wrote one shopper. “I have fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis and need a supportive mattress with pressure point relief. I’m thrilled that I finally found it!”

Brick 12-Inch Hybrid Mattress

You don’t have to fork over a thousand dollars just to get a good night’s sleep, and this hybrid mattress from Walmart is a prime example. A firmer option than Allswell’s most-popular 10-inch mattress, this model features a combination of high-density foam and supportive coils that’s just right for stomach sleepers. We love that it ships in a box to your doorstep, making delivery and setup a breeze compared to other options, and the manufacturer claims that the copper coils will help wick away excess heat. Best of all, it’s under $500 for a queen-sized mattress.

Customer review: “I have one Allswell Hybrid mattress at my own home and bought a second one,” one five-star reviewer said. “On my previous mattress, I couldn’t sleep on my stomach as it hurt my lower back. With this hybrid, I can sleep in any position and never wake up achy. There is no motion transfer that I have felt, either.”

Original Mattress

If you prefer the pressure-relieving comfort of a memory foam mattress over the buoyancy of a hybrid or innerspring model, consider the Tuft & Needle Original. It’s designed with two foam layers—a high-density base to keep your body aligned, topped with an adaptive foam layer that’s built to cradle pressure points. According to the brand, this mattress is infused with cooling gel to help draw excess heat away from your body as you sleep, making it a more breathable option than other foam mattresses. We also appreciate the under-$1,000 price point for a queen size.

Customer review: “This is our fifth time buying a Tuft & Needle original,” one reviewer said on Tuft & Needle’s site. “We have them as all the mattresses in our house and even bought one for the guest room...We find them very comfortable and they hold up well. No complaints!”

TEMPUR-Cloud Mattress

Couples with different sleeping preferences may have trouble finding that perfect Goldilocks mattress to suit both of their needs, which is why we love the versatility of the TEMPUR-Cloud. The medium-firm, pressure-relieving design is comfortable for both stomach and side sleepers, so it’s particularly great for couples with different sleeping preferences. Superior edge support maximizes sleeping space across the entire surface of your bed, meaning you can sleep closer to the edge without feeling like you’re sinking. Shoppers also report that the TEMPUR-Cloud mattress minimizes motion transfer, so you’re less likely to be disturbed if your partner moves a lot in the night.

Customer review: “I have owned the Tempur-Cloud for about five weeks now and have gotten a good night’s sleep ever since,” wrote a five-star reviewer. “It is the perfect combination of soft and firm and I can find a comfortable position whether I’m sleeping on my side, stomach, or back.”

Dusk Luxe

Sleepers who tend to switch from their stomach to their side in the night will appreciate the medium firmness of the Helix Dusk Luxe mattress. It’s still supportive enough to prevent your hips from sinking too deep into the bed when you sleep on your stomach, yet the plush pillow top won’t feel too firm on your shoulders when you flip onto your side. The individually wrapped coils are designed to support your hips and lumbar spine as you sleep while also providing edge-to-edge support and the multiple foam layers contour to your body’s shape. And while this mattress comes with a breathable Tencel cover, you can opt to upgrade it to a cooling cover for even more heat dissipation.

Customer review: “As someone who has long struggled with back issues, finding the right mattress has been crucial for my comfort and health,” one Helix shopper wrote. “I’m thrilled to say that the Helix Dusk Luxe has been an absolute game-changer. This mattress has transformed my sleep experience. I wake up feeling refreshed and free of the usual morning stiffness and soreness.”

Original 10” Mattress

According to Litzy, stomach sleepers are more likely to experience back pain than those who sleep in other positions. “This is because these areas tend to be in end ranges of motion for extended periods,” she says. “Your neck moves into end rage rotation to one side (so you can breathe), your back moves into extension due to the weight of your body on the mattress, and your shoulders tend to be in an elevated and externally rotated position.”

To help alleviate back pain in stomach sleepers, Litzy recommends looking for a firmer mattress that can limit how much your pelvis sinks into the bed—like this option from Nolah. It has a medium-firm feel with reinforced support in the middle of the mattress, providing extra lift for your lumbar spine and hips. We also love the cooling cover, which helps dissipate excess heat, per the brand. Plus, extra perforations near the head of the mattress add softness and flexibility around your shoulders.

Customer review: “I was hesitant to buy a foam mattress—I thought they would be squishy and uncomfortable,” one shopper said. “I took a chance with this one because of price and ease of having it delivered…literally feel like I’m sleeping on air, it’s that comfortable.”

Estate Collection

If you prefer a highly firm mattress over sink-in softness, we’ve got you covered. This hybrid model from Stearns and Foster comes in three different firmness levels to suit your specific needs. According to the manufacturer, the firmest option offers enhanced support for stomach sleepers. The coil-and-foam design, paired with a plush pillow top, provides edge-to-edge structure across the entire surface of your bed, preventing any sagging. We also love that this mattress has cooling features, such as a stretch-knit cover and ventilated coils to increase breathability on hot nights.

Customer review: “I am a side sleeper who prefers the firmest mattress I can find,” said one Stearns & Foster shopper. “My first S&F lasted 20 years and my new firm Estate mattress is proving its worth for fabulous sound sleep....The reinforced side walls are amazing and will hold up to sitting on the bed edge when necessary.”

Mattress (Plus)

Arguably the most versatile mattress option on our list, the WinkBed has four different firmness levels to customize how you sleep. For stomach sleepers over 250 pounds, we recommend the Plus option—it’s specifically made with higher-density foam and durable coils to provide maximum support while you sleep. Per the manufacturer, this mattress uses cooling foam to help wick away excess heat, and the reinforced edge support prevents sagging if you prefer to lay near the sides of your bed. Shoppers also report that the WinkBed mattress is great for couples who vary in weight; just note that the Plus will feel firmer for shoppers under 250 pounds than those over.

Customer review: “Amazing mattress in every way,” noted a five-star reviewer on WinkBeds’ site. “We have the plus for heavier people and I cannot rave enough how comfortable this mattress is. Amazing company to deal with. 10 stars!”

Green Mattress

This innerspring mattress from Avocado is constructed with all organic materials including cotton, wool, and latex—all certified by the GOTS (Global Organic Textiles Standard). The latex construction offers a firmer and bouncier feel than traditional memory foam, and its breathable construction is built to help wick away moisture and keep you cool. Designed to support your hips, back, and shoulders, the Avocado mattress uses seven different “zones” to provide customized structure where you need it. While it’s available in three different firmness levels, we recommend the firmest option for stomach sleepers for the right balance of buoyancy and structure.

Customer review: “Hip pain and a bout of sciatica caused me to take a hard look at my old memory foam mattress and I decided it was time to replace it,” wrote a five-star reviewer. “Ordering and delivery were a breeze and now one month later, I feel that I made the best choice. The support is excellent and my hip/back pain is almost gone.”

What makes a good mattress for stomach sleepers?

According to Harris, stomach sleepers will likely want a firmer mattress to support their hips and spine as they sleep—but that shouldn’t mean sacrificing softness.

“Stomach sleepers need some special attention when it comes to mattresses and pillows,” Harris says. “They typically prefer firmer mattresses to keep their spine aligned and may do better with a thinner pillow to avoid straining their neck. Cushioning is crucial to relieve pressure points on their chest, abdomen, and hips. Good airflow in the mattress is also important for comfortable breathing during sleep.”

Is it bad to sleep on your stomach?

While Litzy warns that sleeping on your stomach is the least favorable position in terms of pain management, that doesn’t mean you should never sleep on your stomach.

“From a pain standpoint, sleeping on your stomach can increase the likelihood of neck, back, and shoulder pain,” Litzy says. “This is because these areas tend to be in end ranges of motion for extended periods. Your neck moves into end rage rotation to one side (so you can breathe), your back moves into extension due to the weight of your body on the mattress, and your shoulders tend to be in an elevated and externally rotated position.”

For shoppers who sleep best on their stomachs, both Litzy and Harris recommend opting for a firmer mattress while paying special attention to those with features to help support your hips and spine.

“When it comes to mattress recommendations for stomach sleepers, look for medium to firm options that provide good support without feeling too soft,” Harris says. “Look for mattresses with memory foam or hybrid designs, as they often offer a nice balance of comfort and support. It's less about specific brands and more about finding what feels right for you.”

How we chose the best mattresses for stomach sleepers

Mattress type: There’s no one-size-fits-all mattress for stomach sleepers, which means you’ll want to test a variety of different styles to determine which is best for you. Our experts recommend memory foam or hybrid mattresses for people who sleep primarily on their stomachs since these styles tend to offer a firmer, more pressure-relieving feel than an innerspring bed.

Mattress firmness: Both Harris and Litzy agree that a medium-firm to firm mattress will help promote better spinal alignment for stomach sleepers. You’ll want to find an option that keeps your hips from sinking too much to limit excess strain on your back, neck, and spine.

Price: Your personal budget and price range should be a huge consideration when shopping for mattresses. Thankfully, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars just to get a good night’s sleep; our list of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers includes options starting at $400.

Warranty and trial period: It’ll take a few nights of sleeping on your new mattress to truly decide if it’s right for you. While our list is designed to help you narrow down your options, you’ll also want to keep in mind how long you can test it for with the option to return it and how many years your new mattress will last. In general, look for a mattress that offers at least a 90-day trial and a 10-year limited warranty.

Why trust us

Prevention conducts extensive research and works closely with experts to answer your questions about your overall health and sleep. In addition to our own testing, we also consulted Shelby Harris, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and director of sleep health at Sleepopolis; and Karen Litzy, P.T., D.P.T. for their expert insights on stomach sleeping.

Samantha Jones is a commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she frequently writes about and tests the best mattress and bedding products for a good night’s sleep. Throughout her career, she’s researched, tested, and written about mattresses for a wide range of sleep needs and preferences at Prevention and beyond.

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