Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers

Why It’s the Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers Overall

Stomach sleepers need a firm and supportive mattress to keep their lower back and hips from dipping out of alignment. Luckily, the Helix Dawn was explicitly designed for this demographic. 

At a 7.5 on our scale, the Dawn has especially firm layers within its hybrid construction, and they really held up our team’s midsections during testing. In fact, this bed was so buoying that we think it’s a great option for plus-size stomach sleepers, too. This versatility, coupled with its affordable price, earned it the top spot on our list. 

Testing Studio Soundbite

“This is best for back and stomach sleepers … that top foam layer gives you superior elevation and great responsiveness.”

Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

Helix Dynamic Foam. This is the bed’s first layer beneath the cover, and it’s a springy, firm material that behaves a bit like latex foam. Rather than sinking slowly, it demonstrated lots of bounce and helped to lift our lower backs and hips. 

Helix Dawn Pros

• Great for heavier folks – If you’re a plus-size stomach sleeper, we think the Helix Dawn should provide you with enough lumbar support to keep your lower back from sinking.
• Breathable construction – The Helix Dawn should feel pretty cool thanks to its thinner foam layers and innerspring unit, which allows for plenty of airflow through the mattress. For even more cooling, you can purchase the optional GlacioTex™ cover.

Helix Dawn Cons

• Too firm for lighter sleepers – If you weigh less than 130 pounds, the Helix Dawn may not have a comfortable amount of give.
• Little pressure relief – If you move around in bed at night and tend to end up on your side, this mattress might not feel cushy enough around your hips and shoulders. For a bit more softness, check out the Nolah Evolution Comfort+ instead. 

Customer Reviews of the Helix Dawn

The Helix Dawn has an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars on the Helix website. 

On Reddit, users’ opinions of the Dawn seem to depend on their experience of its firmness. One person (u/Jaggar345) slept on it comfortably for two years and said they’ve had “a good experience with Helix.” Another (u/Chilipowderfingers) was “disappointed” that the Dawn wasn’t more firm. 

Looking to learn more? Read our Helix Dawn mattress review or check out our picks for the best mattresses of 2024.

Why It’s Great for Stomach and Back Sleepers

If you enjoy the contouring powers of memory foam but still want advanced support for both back and stomach sleeping, you’ll probably enjoy the Nectar Classic Hybrid. It clocks in at a 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale, so it’s on the softer end of medium-firm. 

Our tester, Sosha, said that she loved this bed while resting on her stomach and back. Whereas she felt some pressure buildup around her shoulder on her side, the hybrid’s combination of hugging memory foam and strong springs proved extremely cozy in the other two positions. 

Testing Studio Soundbite

“I was surprised by how much I liked this on my stomach. The thinner layers of foam offered enough but not too much cushioning, and the coils came through and kept my hips elevated, leaving me with a happy spine.”

Sosha Lewis, Senior Staff Writer

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

Support foam. The 2-inch layer of support foam (beneath the single inch of memory foam at the very top) helps to keep this hybrid from feeling too soft for stomach sleepers. It should encourage healthy spinal alignment on your back and belly. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid Pros

• Temperature regulation – Memory foam has a reputation for running hot, but the Nectar Hybrid performed very well during our cooling tests, earning a higher score than we expected. 
• Cancels out motion – Even though it has springs, this bed was an absolute champ at isolating motion and during testing. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid Cons

• Not for side sleeping – Sosha felt some noticeable pressure around her shoulder when she tried to relax on her side. 
• Not very bouncy – The memory foam up top muffles the responsiveness of the bed somewhat. If you’d like a bed that will really bounce back, consider the Bear Elite Hybrid from further down this list.  

Customer Reviews of the Nectar Classic Hybrid

The Nectar Classic Hybrid has more than 2,400 reviews on Nectar’s site, and an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

On Reddit, one user (u/royalduck4488) echoed Sosha’s experience, saying that “the center [of the] bed will contour to your body but it springs back pretty fast and feels super sturdy.” On the same thread, however, another user (u/qvMvp) complained that “it’s hard and uncomfortable to me.” 

Keep in mind that this Nectar model underwent some updates in 2024, so older reviews may not apply to this newer version of the bed! 

Want to see more information? Read our full Nectar Hybrid mattress review or check out some other mattress options on our best mattresses for back sleepers list.

Why It’s a Great Memory Foam Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

I don’t usually recommend all-foam beds for stomach sleepers, but the DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress is a different breed.

It’s squarely medium-firm at a 6.5 out of 10 on our scale, and it feels extremely supportive with little sink. 

All three testers—lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight—felt comfortable lying on their stomachs on this bed. In fact, it was probably the position we enjoyed the most. 

Testing Studio Soundbite

“As a stomach sleeper, this is my ideal mattress, full stop. I’m comfortable, cushioned, and lifted.”

Loren Bullock, Former Lead Product Tester

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

Quilted Cashmere-Blend Cover. We don’t see cashmere in covers very often, so that’s already a notable touch. Quilted to this cover are two foam layers: one for contouring, and one for support. Together, they help create a cozy environment for stomach sleeping right off the bat. 

DreamCloud Memory Foam Pros

• Amazing edges – This bed continued to surprise us with its great edge support, a rarity among all-foam models. 
• Very little motion transfer – Movement was easily absorbed by the many layers of foam. 

DreamCloud Memory Foam Cons

• Not quite as supportive as a hybrid – Springs will usually give you the best all-over support, and the DreamCloud hybrid is only about $100 more than this foam model. 
• Slow to expand – When we unpacked this mattress, it was slow to decompress, especially around the corners. If you’d rather order a bed that’s never packaged in a box, take a look at the Saatva Classic. 

Customer Reviews of the DreamCloud Memory Foam

Customers gave the DreamCloud Original Memory Foam a solid 4.6 out of 5 stars on the company’s website, where you can read more than 8,800 customer reviews for the brand. 

As this model is a relatively new offering, we were unable to find any Reddit posts focused on its performance. 

Interested in more details? See our full DreamCloud memory foam mattress review or check out the best memory foam mattresses.

Why It’s Great for Stomach and Side Sleepers

The Nolah Evolution Comfort+ seems like a paradox. It’s quite soft—a 5 out of 10 on our firmness scale—and yet it kept our spines aligned across all three sleeping positions during testing. Even though I felt a lot of cozy sink at the surface, I couldn’t deny that I was also being lifted by the bed’s firmer foams and springs. 

This combination is exactly what a stomach and side sleeper will need: lots of pressure relief, balanced with lots of support. Usually, we don’t see this much plushness in a bed that can accommodate stomach sleepers, so it’s really something special. 

Testing Studio Soundbite

“I’m kind of shocked, as my first guess was that my lumbar would sink too much given the soft Euro pillow top. I was wrong! I’m feeling very supported while enjoying a softer-feeling mattress, which usually doesn’t happen for stomach sleepers.” 

Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester 

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

AirFoam™ HD. This proprietary foam is said to be an improvement over memory foam, as it runs cooler, lasts longer, and takes more pressure off. But this “HD” version is denser and more supportive than the AirFoam™ used in the Nolah Evolution, making it a great fit for stomach sleepers and heavyweight folks .

Nolah Evolution Comfort+ Pros

• Soft yet supportive – We don’t often give full marks in both pressure relief and support categories, but this bed earned them. 
• Motion isolation and bounce – Another surprise: this bed can contain motion pretty well without sacrificing too much responsiveness. It earned a 4 out of 5 in both testing categories. 

Nolah Evolution Comfort+ Cons

• Cooling could be better – We didn’t feel any active chilling-out while on this bed, though we didn’t overheat, either. 
• Edge support feels sporadic – The edges are strong, but they don’t feel super secure initially because of the soft pillow top. Then you encounter the reinforced coils and it’s like a guard rail along the sides. For more consistent edge support while stomach sleeping, check out beds like the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. 

Customer Reviews of the Nolah Evolution Comfort+

The Nolah Evolution Comfort+ rates 4.8 stars out of 5 on Nolah’s website. 

On Reddit, the bed has garnered mainly positive reviews. One user (u/Distinct-Confusion95) said, “It’s been 60 days and I’m so so happy … Within the first 3 days my upper back pain that had creeped up recently was gone.”

Another (u/Fusic) was also satisfied, adding, “Only complaint is the edge support while sitting on the edge to put on socks and such.”

Want more info? Read our full Nolah Evolution Comfort+ review or check out the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Why It’s Great for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain

With multiple firmness options and lots of lumbar-zone enhancements, the Saatva is a solid mattress for just about anyone with back pain. Speaking as an exclusive stomach sleeper, I dig how elevated my midsection felt on this bed. It actually felt more lifted when I was on my stomach than it did when I was on my back.

I definitely noticed how the bed firms up around the lower back and hip region, but I didn’t experience any uptick in pressure as a result of the support.

Testing Studio Soundbite

“The firmer stitching and lumbar support layer at the center of the bed are working wonders for keeping the spine straight and posture aligned while laying down … No matter what sleep position we opted for, the midsection was firmly held up.”

Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester 

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

Dual innerspring units. The Saatva classic has a superior construction when it comes to lower-back support: it features two stacked innerspring units and a Lumbar Zone® Active Spinal Wire, which further braces the lumbar region and promotes proper alignment. 

Saatva Classic Pros

• Sturdy edges – The Saatva Classic has reinforced sides that prevent sagging, so you should be able to sit or sleep on the edge without worry. The perimeter foam is so firm, I’d classify the edge support as near-perfect.
• White glove delivery – Saatva offers free white glove delivery with all of their products to complete the luxury experience. They’ll send workers to your house to get rid of your old mattress and install your new one.

Saatva Classic Cons

• Return fees – If you’re not happy with your Saatva mattress, you can return it, but it’ll run you $99—even if you’re still within the sleep trial window. 
• Sub-par motion isolation – Despite scoring high marks in most categories, the motion-dampening of the Saatva Classic is just average. If you or your partner is a light sleeper, you might want to look at models that have lots of motion-absorbing foams, like the DreamCloud Memory Foam. 

Customer Reviews of the Saatva Classic

The Saatva Classic rates 4.8 stars out of 5 on Saatva’s website. 

On Reddit, people tend to love this bed or have trouble finding the most comfortable firmness level for them. One user (u/cyberwizkiddo123) said “[It’s] beautifully constructed and very comfortable. I don’t recommend it if you are a very light sleeper and easily disturbed, the motion isolation for me is an issue.”

Want to read more? See our Saatva mattress review and our list of the best mattresses for back pain.

Why It’s Great for Heavy Stomach Sleepers 

Without the proper support, plus-size stomach sleepers are likely to sink into a mattress’s layers and compromise their spinal alignment. They need a very strong bed that doesn’t sacrifice too much pressure relief in the upper layers. 

Enter the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. Our heavyweight tester, Spencer, felt great on this bed while resting on his back and stomach. (I’m an average-weight sleeper, and I liked it in all three sleeping positions!)

It comes in three distinct firmness levels and it’s extremely bouncy, so shifting between positions was a breeze. 

Testing Studio Soundbite

“I love how this mattress feels in the lumbar zone area [on my stomach], and pressure relief levels are there for the hips.”

Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

CopperFlex™ Foam. This upper layer of foam has latex-like bounce and phase-change material for added cooling properties. It’s firmer than the memory foams you’d typically see at the top of a bed, so it’s a beneficial layer for heavy stomach sleepers. 

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Pros

• A cool choice – During testing, it managed to lower its surface temperature at an impressive speed, and we agreed that it felt both silky and cool to the touch. 
• Very responsive – The springback is pretty much instantaneous on this bed—you can change positions and feel like its surface is working with you, not against you. 

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cons

• Too firm for lightweight sleepers – We tested the Medium version of this bed, and it felt a bit firm to me. Petite people will probably want to pick the softest model, or go with a plusher mattress overall, like the Nectar Classic Hybrid.  
• Edges aren’t stellar – Although I could lie down on the edge of this bed without much issue, sitting at the edges caused more buckling than I like to see. 

Customer Reviews of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe

On Brooklyn Bedding’s site, the Aurora Luxe has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars and more than 4,000 reviews. 

On Reddit, one user (now inactive) reported their experience with the bed over the course of a week, and concluded that “We still really like the mattress. It has helped with my back and shoulder pain quite a bit.”

Another user (u/koopa00) was disappointed and didn’t experience much temperature regulation from the bed: “I notice no cooling effect at all, regardless of what sheets I use. I’m not saying the bed runs hot, but it’s honestly no different than my previous memory foam mattress.”

Need more details? Check out our Aurora Luxe mattress review or our roundup of the best beds for heavy people.

Why It’s a Great Cooling Mattress for Stomach Sleepers 

The Bear Elite Hybrid comes in three firmness levels. Stomach sleepers may enjoy the Firm option the most, but we tested the Medium model and all three of us —lightweight, heavyweight, and average-weight—thought it felt heavenly when on our stomachs. 

In addition to springs that foster airflow, the Bear Elite has a cool-to-the-touch cover and heat-conducting copper infused into its memory foam. During testing, we saw the temperature rise less than average after we had laid down on the bed for some time, so we gave this bed a high cooling score. 

Testing Studio Soundbite

“[On my stomach,] I thought the lift for my lower back was great, and always appreciate the cushion around the hips and chest. I could see this being a great option if you have back pain, because of the balance of softer cushioning with sturdy support underneath.”

Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester 

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

Zoned coils. The springs in the center of this bed give enhanced support to the lumbar region, so our lower backs were lifted even as the cushiony surface of the bed cradled our hips. It was a super comfortable hybrid for this sleeping position! 

Bear Elite Hybrid Pros

• Very responsive – This bed got a 5 out of 5 for its bounce, which enabled us to move around and switch positions seamlessly. 
• Special textile – For an added fee, you can add a performance textile called Celliant® to the cover. It’s said to transform your body heat into infrared energy, which is then redirected into your body for enhanced tissue recovery during sleep. If you’re an active person during the day, you may appreciate this added benefit when you lay down to rest.

Bear Elite Hybrid Cons

• Expensive – Living up to the “Elite” name, this bed has a high price point at over $2,000 for a queen. If you’re on a budget, we recommend one of the more affordable options on this list, such as the Helix Dawn. 
• Some pressure in the shoulders – On our sides, both Loren and I noted some pressure buildup around our shoulders. A softer model would serve side sleepers better. 

Customer Reviews of the Bear Elite Hybrid

According to Bear’s website, the Bear Elite scores about 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

On Reddit, not everyone was as impressed with this bed’s cooling abilities. “I doubt it’s going to impress when summer comes around,” said one user (u/ephrion). Another user (u/kligoretr88) left a more positive review, saying, “It’s both firm and super supportive such that I think I can adapt to this and feel comforted by it. Instant relaxation when laying down.”

Need more details? Check out our Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review or explore the best cooling mattresses.

Why It’s a Great Firm Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

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, all-foam mattress with both a “traditional” firm side (7 out of 10 on the firmness scale) and an extra-firm side (8.5 out of 10).

Stomach sleepers should enjoy the Plank’s lifted feel and the spine alignment it provides, but be warned—all of us thought the extra-firm side was just too hard.

Testing Studio Soundbite

“The extra-firm side is like laying on the floor—no cushion whatsoever. On the firm side, I got a bit more happening for my hips. Alignment either way is on point.”

Spencer Bland, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

Dual-sided firmness. Though this bed is firm, it still has options, and some stomach sleepers may prefer the luxury of choice. The “traditional” firm side should accommodate most people, but folks who need even more support (such as heavier folks) can reap the benefits of the extra-firm side.

Plank Firm Pros

• Flippable – As we’ve said, you can switch the Plank Firm between its super-firm side and its more traditionally firm side depending on how you’re feeling. 
• Solid edges – Usually, foam mattresses have lackluster edges, but the firmness of the Plank gives it a literal edge. You should be able to sit or lay at near the perimeter of the mattress without any egregious sagging.

Plank Firm Cons

• Cooling costs extra – If you run hot at night and want your bed cooler, you’ll have to pay more for an optional cooling panel on both sides. 
• Too firm for some – When I say this bed is firm, I mean it—like a plank of wood. If you’re looking for a medium-firm feeling, explore some slightly softer options, such as the Birch Natural.

Customer Reviews of the Plank Firm

On Plank’s website, the Plank Firm gets 4.8 out of 5 stars. 

Customers have discussed their experience with the Plank mattress on the r/Mattress subreddit. One user (u/salman15) originally stated that they “loved it so much that I didn’t want to get out of bed sometimes after a long night sleep.”

Later, though, they complained of the mattress starting to sag after years of use: “I noticed that the mattress was sagging from the center. There was a clear body imprint.” They noted that this happened on the traditional firm side, but the extra-firm side held up.

Need more details? Check out our Plank Firm mattress review or explore our best firm mattress options.

Why It’s a Great Latex Mattress For Stomach Sleepers

Finding a bed that’s both supportive enough for stomach sleeping and pillowy enough for comfort can be a challenge. But for my money, the Birch Natural really hits the sweet spot. 

Laying on my stomach, I felt very well-aligned and cushioned by the layers of wool and latex. My hips were held aloft while being cradled, and the responsive surface made repositioning simple. 

If you’re a fan of organic and natural materials, all the better—this bed has organic cotton, organic wool, and Talalay latex certified by eco-INSTITUT. 

Testing Studio Soundbite

“After giving the Birch natural a whirl, we landed on a 6 out of 10—medium firmness level. The top layer is super squishy, like Jell-O, but you get some nice sink before feeling those coils lifting you up below. All to say, really balanced comfort and support.”

Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester

Our Favorite Feature for Stomach Sleepers

Talalay latex. This naturally hypoallergenic and springy foam cushions your body. Combine this with the sturdy coil unit below, and stomach sleepers should enjoy comfortable and buoyant support.

Birch Natural Pros

• Very bouncy – Latex and coils make this bed great for combination sleepers and anyone who moves around a lot in their sleep.
• Stays quite cool – Our testing showed little change in temperature after we rested on this bed for a while, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 in the cooling category.

Birch Natural Cons

• Iffy motion isolation – Because of the bounce, you’ll probably feel your partner’s movements from the other side of the bed. 
• Higher price – Due to its organic and eco-friendly materials, the Birch costs a bit more than your standard hybrid bed. If that’s a dealbreaker, opt for a more affordable mattress, such as the Plank Firm. 

Customer Reviews of the Birch Natural

According to Birch’s website, the Birch Natural scores 4.6 out of 5 stars. 

On the r/Mattress subreddit, one user (u/raindogsunderground) outlines the positives and negatives of their experience with the Birch mattress: “Motion isolation doesn’t really happen well with latex in my experience, especially compared to memory foam. It’s bouncy by nature. But for me the [p]eace of mind with no chemicals more than makes up for it. I recently bought a Birch, and am really happy with it.”

Want to see more information? Check out our full Birch mattress review or explore more options on our best latex mattresses list.