Sleep position
Face down, your midsection is the low point. A mattress for stomach sleeping has to stop it from sagging.
| Body weight | Comfort window |
|---|---|
| Under 130 lb | 5–8/10 |
| 130–179 lbExample profile on this page | 6–9/10 |
| 180–229 lb | 7–10/10 |
| 230 lb and up | 8–10/10 |
Firmness on a 1–10 scale, from scoring rules v0.2. Updated .
Stomach sleeping means lying face down, usually with the head turned to one side. The Sleep Foundation describes it as the least common position, and it is the one where a mattress has the most direct effect on how the lower back is held.
Face down, your hips and midsection, which carry much of your weight, sit in the middle of the mattress. If the surface lets it sink, the lower back curves the wrong way. Deep, cradling comfort layers that suit side sleepers tend to work against stomach sleepers.
Source: Sleep Foundation: Best sleeping positions (opens in a new tab)
What matters
Support & alignment
The engine gives stomach sleepers the strongest boost to support of any position, because a sagging midsection is the main risk.
Pressure relief
Deep cushioning matters less face down, so pressure relief counts for less in the score. A thin comfort layer still helps at the chest and knees.
Cooling
Face down, more of your body is in contact with the top layer. If you also sleep hot, a breathable cover and a firmer surface that you sink into less both help.
| Dimension | Weight for this profile | Default weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure relief | 16%▼ down | 20% default |
| Support & alignment | 31%▲ up | 25% default |
| Cooling | 15% | 15% default |
| Motion isolation | 15% | 15% default |
| Edge support | 15% | 15% default |
| Durability | 10% | 10% default |
The thin mark on each bar is the default weight. Weights are re-balanced to total 100%, so when one rises the others fall slightly. Your own answers (temperature, partner, pain, edge, weight) change them further.
Stomach sleepers have the firmest comfort window of any position, and it rises with weight until it reaches the top of the scale.
If you mix stomach sleeping with time on your side, you may want the lower end of your stomach window rather than the top, so the side-sleeping part of the night is not uncomfortable.
Read more in how to choose mattress firmness.
Ranked by the Match Score engine
For the example profile below (stomach sleeper, 170 lb, prefers firm, neutral temperature), these rank highest in the current catalog.
Example profile used for this ranking
Rank 1: Helix
Strong match86/100 for the example profile
Its firmness (about 7/10) sits inside the 6–9/10 range that keeps a stomach sleeper at your weight aligned.
Rank 2: Big Fig
Strong match85/100 for the example profile
Its firmness (about 7.5/10) sits inside the 6–9/10 range that keeps a stomach sleeper at your weight aligned.
Rank 3: DreamCloud
Strong match82/100 for the example profile
Its firmness (about 8.5/10) sits inside the 6–9/10 range that keeps a stomach sleeper at your weight aligned.
Scores are calculated live by scoring model v0.2 for the example profile above, not for you. Change any answer and the order can change. No brand paid to appear here.
FAQ
In our scoring model the comfort window for a stomach sleeper runs from 5–8/10 under 130 lb to 8–10/10 at 230 lb and up, the firmest of any position.
Not automatically, but soft, deep memory foam lets the midsection sink, which is what stomach sleepers need to avoid. A firm foam mattress can work. What matters is where its firmness lands against your window, which the engine checks for you.
Less than other sleepers. The engine reduces the weight on pressure relief for stomach sleepers and increases the weight on support, because sinking at the hips is the bigger risk face down.
Start the quiz as a stomach sleeper and add your weight, temperature and partner to see your own comfort window and matches.