The Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers Make Snoozing Facedown Feel Totally Normal

Body alignment for the win.
Mattresses Stomach Sleepers
Photo Credit: Aaron Bengochea

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Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.

How you sleep is a big factor in determining what kind of mattress you should have at home. That’s especially true for stomach sleepers, since laying facedown puts more pressure on the middle part of your body and can be harder on the spine. That means waking up stiff and achy—not so fun. Snoozing on your stomach with a mattress that absorbs and traps heat near the surface might leave you feeling too hot to fall asleep and stay that way. Sleep Foundation’s Keith Cushner says stomach sleepers and hot sleepers benefit from innerspring mattresses since they tend to have way more even support and less of that all-enveloping feeling (which can be one culprit for night sweats) as you doze. 

Most stomach sleepers also double as rotisserie sleepers, meaning they rotate in the night like, er, rotisserie chicken. So a mattress that lets you move around easily, as opposed to one where you get sunken into one spot, should be at the top of your checklist while upgrading your sleep game. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the five best mattresses for stomach sleepers of all types. 

Our Favorites

Best Overall: Saatva Classic

Best Overall

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Type: Hybrid | Cooling technology: No | Sleep trial: 365 nights | Edge support: Yes | Firmness: Very firm

What we like:

  • Extra lumbar support
  • Comes in split California king
  • Long sleep-trial period

Worth noting:

  • No cooling technology

Why we chose it: Targeted lumbar support for a night of good sleep and hopefully a way less creaky back in the morning.

Lumbar support is major for stomach sleepers: Lying flat on the stomach causes the back to arch, which in turn can throw your spine out of alignment and make you wake up feeling stiff. Saatva’s Classic mattress solves that problem by including a layer of contoured foam that adds dense support in the lower back area while maintaining the firmness many stomach sleepers love. We also like that it comes in a split California king, making it a great choice for couples who want their own space and then some. And if you usually get choice paralysis while shopping for bigger items, you can try the Saatva out for a full year before deciding if it stays or goes.  

Best Value: Zinus Tight Top Spring Mattress

Best Value

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Type: Innerspring | Cooling technology: No | Sleep trial: None, but returns are easy if you buy through Amazon Prime | Edge support: Foam layer provides moderate edge support | Firmness: Firm

What we like:

  • Affordable
  • Comes in 4 different heights

Worth noting:

  • Weight limit tops out at 500 pounds
  • No California king

Why we chose it: For stomach sleepers looking to not break the bank, it’s hard to do better than this under-$500 innerspring.

Many stomach sleepers appreciate a bed with some bounce, and this one has plenty of it thanks to a thick layer of heavy-duty steel springs designed to keep you elevated (and level) while you sleep. Above that is two layers of thick foam that lend extra comfort, and the top layer is plush microfiber quilting. It also comes in a few different heights, which means you can use it with almost any bed frame. All of this to say: If budget is your number-one priority, this is an easy pick. Shipping is also fast (and free with Amazon Prime)—when the box arrives, lay the mattress flat and wait for it to rise to its full height. Bed jumping can then commence. 

Best Cooling: Tuft & Needle Mint

Best Cooling

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Type: Hybrid | Cooling technology: Yes | Sleep trial: 100 nights | Edge support: Yes | Firmness: Medium-firm

What we like:

  • Layers of both cooling gel and heat-wicking foam
  • Reinforced edges for extra support
  • Washable cover

Worth noting:

  • Slightly softer than some of our other picks

Why we chose it: Each part of this bed is designed to keep you from overheating at night.

Not all stomach sleepers are hot sleepers, and not all hot sleepers are stomach sleepers, but you can find definite overlap in the two groups: There is little surprise in the fact that lying facedown does tend to feel warmer, in large part because you’re breathing into fabric instead of outward into your room. A lot of brands offer mattresses with some form of cooling technology, but this one from Tuft & Needle is a favorite of ours for its cooling gel layer and a second moisture-wicking layer designed to pull heat away from the body. Both are designed to work in tandem to keep body temperatures low throughout the night. And if your bed is subjected to spills and visitors (like kids with loose sippy cups or ones wanting to spend the night in your room), here’s a mattress that is also low-maintenance—just toss its washing machine–friendly cover right into the laundry. 

Best Versatile: Serta iComfort CF4000

Best Versatile

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Type: Foam | Cooling technology: Yes | Sleep trial: Varies depending on where you purchase | Edge support: Yes | Firmness: Firm

What we like:

  • Works for stomach and back sleepers alike
  • Foam infused with carbon fiber feels ultra-sturdy
  • Comes in a twin XL option

Worth noting:

  • One of the higher-priced options on our list

Why we chose it: If you fall asleep in one position and wake up in another, this bed has you covered. 

Not all people are loyal to one position—some stomach sleepers, for example, spend part of the night on their sides and backs, too. If you know you rotate (or are unsure how much time you actually spend on your belly), go with a mattress like the Serta iComfort, which offers features every kind of slumberer will benefit from like temperature-regulating materials for stomach sleepers and foam cushioning for side sleepers. That alone is perfect middle ground for couples with different sleep styles, but as a bonus, its foam is designed to promote motion control, so no one will be stirred awake each night by tossing and turning. 

Best Pressure Reliever: WinkBeds GravityLux

Best pressure reliever

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Type: Foam | Cooling technology: Yes | Sleep trial: 120 nights | Edge support: Yes | Firmness: Comes in soft, medium, and firm

What we like:

  • Comes in soft, medium, and firm
  • Works with different bed frames, including adjustable
  • Sleeps cooler than many all-foam models

Worth noting:

  • Can take time to adjust to the feel of memory foam

Why we chose it: This bed has your back (literally) and anywhere else you need pressure-point relief.

A great mattress supports your body’s proper alignment, helping ease muscle tension (aka pressure relief), and that’s why this one comes out on top to make our short list. With extra support in its midsection area, which helps prevent sinking, it takes that pressure off the lower back, a major issue for stomach sleepers whose backs arch while they’re asleep. This mattress is also made of polyfoam and memory foam that work together to isolate motion. The all-foam mattress could be an adjustment for those stomach sleepers who aren’t used to something a bit more contouring, but it also comes in a variety of firmness options where the firmest is almost as bouncy as an innerspring. And if you like the cradling feeling of foam but hate the heat retention that usually comes with it, you won’t have to worry about this memory foam trapping any excessive heat. 

How We Chose These Products

The world of bedding can feel overwhelming—so many ads for so many different mattresses. Sometimes you need a new mattress (or pillows or sheets or all of the above), and at Domino, we strive to prioritize bedding brands that balance style, high-quality manufacturing, and eco-conscious attributes. Our editors and writers conduct hands-on testing when possible, and we tap industry experts for their input, dig into brand stats, and conduct independent research to determine which types of sleepers should try which types of beds. The thing is: There’s really no shortcut to finding your ideal mattress—you just have to try them (that’s why we like sleep trials!).

Our Shopping Checklist

Design and Materials

While innerspring mattresses traditionally offer the bounce and firmness stomach sleepers often prefer, new foam options are increasingly able to replicate the support of innerspring while adding pressure-point relief and cooling technology. If you’re interested in a foam or a foam-innerspring hybrid, we suggest looking for one that offers increased support in the middle of the bed—that can help take pressure off of your spine and lower back, two areas of concern often raised by stomach sleepers. 

Warranties

When a mattress isn’t working properly—meaning it isn’t offering you the comfort and support promised—there’s usually one of two things at play: manufacturer defect or normal wear and tear. Warranties are generally designed to address manufacturer defects, such as if something is wrong with the bed to begin with or it starts to wear out much faster than expected. Most warranties in the mattress space last between five and 10 years, though, and at that point you may want to start shopping for a new one anyway. 

Delivery 

DTC companies like Tuft & Needle now offer free delivery, usually through a third-party carrier. If you’re buying in-person, from either a department store or a mattress-specific chain, delivery is often something you can negotiate—don’t be afraid to ask. It’s also worth noting that some mattresses come rolled up to fit in a smaller box and will need a few days to come up to full height before you start sleeping on it. 

Sleep Trials and Returns

If there’s one (or two or three) things to take away from our mattress guides, let it be the importance of a sleep trial. Cushner points out that while you can try sitting on a mattress in-store, you’ll never be able to replicate the feeling of actually sleeping on it without…actually sleeping on it. While sleep trials are more generous than ever, many do require you to hold onto a mattress for between 21 and 30 days before you return it, so keep that in mind when trying something new. 

Ask Domino

Q: How long does it take for your body to adjust to a new mattress?

While your new mattress should feel good enough to sleep on the night you bring it home and set it up, it can take up to 30 days to fully get your body adjusted—that’s why many sleep trials also include a provision requiring you to hold onto your mattress for between 21 and 30 days before exchanging it for a different style. 

Q: How do I get the best deal on a new mattress?

Start shopping before the need for a new one becomes pressing (like if your old, sagging mattress starts to impact your sleep), that way you’ll give yourself time to look around and plan ahead. Most major retailers run sales timed to holiday weekends, with January and May especially popular for sales and promotions. 

Q: How does cooling technology actually work?

Temperature-regulating and cooling technologies are a stomach sleeper’s best friend, and there are two major ways they function. One is by keeping bed temps down. Using a layer of gel or gel-infused foam that stays cool all the time is a tried-and-true technique, and many mattresses now combine it with another layer designed to actually pull heat generated while you sleep away from your body. Neat! Combine a cooling mattress with a breathable cover and sheets in a natural fabric like linen or bamboo for a night of sleep that won’t have you desperately turning down the thermostat before bed.

The Last Word

The best mattresses for stomach sleepers are all about offering support where it’s needed, materials that bring down temperatures, and motion control that minimizes disruption, so you too can get some good shut-eye, even with your face in a pillow all night.