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Mattresses for front sleepers
Front sleepers, also called stomach sleepers, usually need a medium-firm to firm mattress, 7 to 10 on our 1 to 10 scale, so the hips don't sink and arch the lower back. Each mattress page gives its number on that scale.
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What's the best mattress for stomach sleepers?
The best mattress for stomach sleepers is usually medium-firm to firm, 7 to 10 on our 1 to 10 scale, with a supportive core and only a thin layer of cushioning on top, so the hips stay level with the shoulders.
Lighter front sleepers often find medium-firm (7 to 8) firm enough, as a very firm mattress can press at the hip bones and knees. Heavier front sleepers usually need firm (9 to 10), ideally in a deeper mattress with a strong spring unit and firm edges. Our medium firm mattresses and firm mattresses cover both ends of that range.
What does front sleeping do to your back and neck?
Front sleeping presses your hips and stomach, the heaviest part of you, straight down into the mattress, so if it gives too much the lower back arches; your head is also turned to one side for most of the night.
Your shoulders matter less than they do for a side sleeper, because they lie flat instead of taking your weight on one point, so you don't need deep cushioning at the surface. What you need is a mattress that holds your middle up. That's why the firmness guidance for front sleepers starts where the guidance for side sleepers stops. Here's how each part of our scale behaves when you lie face down:
| Firmness | On your front | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|
| Soft to medium-soft (1 to 4) | Hips sink well below the shoulders | Not front sleepers |
| Medium (5 to 6) | Hips dip a little | People who spend only part of the night on their front |
| Medium-firm (7 to 8) | Hips stay nearly level | Most front sleepers, especially lighter ones |
| Firm (9 to 10) | Hips held level, very little give | Heavier front sleepers |
Which type of mattress suits front sleepers?
Pocket sprung mattresses and firmer hybrids suit front sleepers best, because the springs hold the hips level; deep, soft memory foam usually doesn't, because it lets the middle of the body sink.
- Pocket sprung: independent springs keep the surface even under your hips, and air moves through them.
- Firmer hybrid: pocket springs with a thin foam layer on top, for a little cushioning without much sink.
- Memory foam: workable as a thin layer over a firm base, but a thick, soft layer moulds around the hips and lets them drop.
- Open coil: one linked unit of springs, lighter, cheaper and bouncier than pocket springs, but it passes more movement across the bed, so it suits a guest room better than a shared bed.
What pillow should a front sleeper use?
A front sleeper needs a low, soft pillow or none at all, because a thick pillow pushes the head back while it's already turned to one side.
If you'd rather not give up a pillow altogether, choose the lowest, softest one you're comfortable with. Some front sleepers also put a thin pillow under the hips, which reduces the arch in the lower back. When you look through our pillows, go for the flattest.
Is sleeping on your front bad for your back?
Sleeping on your front isn't harmful for everyone, but it asks the most of your mattress: on a surface that gives too much, the lower back arches, and your neck stays turned all night whatever you sleep on.
Many people sleep on their front comfortably on a mattress firm enough to keep their hips level, with a low pillow or none. If you regularly wake with back or neck pain, see a GP or physiotherapist, who can look at the cause and advise on sleep position; a mattress can't treat it. Babies are a separate case: the Lullaby Trust's safer sleep advice is to always put a baby under 12 months to sleep on their back.
If you're not sure whether medium-firm or firm suits you, drop us a line about how you sleep and we'll suggest which end of the range to start from.
Mattresses for front sleepers: your questions answered
Can't see your question? Ask us and we'll get back to you.
Is memory foam good for stomach sleepers?
Memory foam suits stomach sleepers only in a firmer mattress, as a thin layer over a firm base. Deep, soft memory foam moulds around the hips and lets them sink, which arches the lower back. A pocket sprung or firmer hybrid mattress is usually the safer choice if you sleep on your front.
Are firm mattresses good for stomach sleepers?
Firm mattresses suit many stomach sleepers, especially heavier ones, because they stop the hips sinking. Lighter people often find very firm mattresses hard, so lighter stomach sleepers usually prefer medium-firm (7 to 8 on our scale) to firm (9 to 10). Whichever you choose, keep the pillow low.
Is a hybrid mattress good for front sleepers?
A hybrid mattress can suit front sleepers if it's on the firmer side: pocket springs underneath hold the hips level, and a thin foam comfort layer adds a little cushioning. Avoid hybrids with a deep, soft top, which let the middle sink. Look for 7 to 10 on our firmness scale.
What mattress suits a front sleeper and a side sleeper sharing a bed?
A front sleeper and a side sleeper want opposite things (7 to 10 on our scale against 3 to 6), so any one firmness is a compromise for one of you. One way round it is two European single mattresses, each 90 x 200 cm, side by side on a super king bed: together they make exactly 180 x 200 cm, and each of you picks your own firmness, with a join down the middle.
Why do I wake with a stiff neck after sleeping on my front?
A stiff neck after front sleeping can come from keeping your head turned to one side for hours, especially on a pillow that also tips it back. A low, soft pillow or none keeps your neck flatter. If stiffness carries on through the day or keeps returning, see a GP or physiotherapist rather than relying on a new mattress or pillow.
Is an orthopaedic mattress good for front sleepers?
An orthopaedic mattress can suit a front sleeper, but only because it's usually firmer. The word orthopaedic isn't legally or medically defined in the UK, so check the firmness number on the mattress page and look for 7 to 10 on our scale rather than relying on the name.
Should front sleepers use a mattress topper?
A mattress topper usually makes a mattress softer, which is the opposite of what most front sleepers need: extra give lets the hips sink and the lower back arch. A topper also can't fix a mattress that sags. If your mattress has gone soft in the middle, replace it rather than adding layers.
Do front sleepers need a firmer mattress than back sleepers?
Front sleepers usually need a firmer mattress than back sleepers: medium-firm to firm (7 to 10 on our scale) against medium to medium-firm (5 to 8). On your back, the shoulders and hips share your weight; on your front, the hips press straight down and the lower back arches if they sink, so the mattress has to do more of the work.
Not sure which mattress?
Tell us about your bed and how you sleep, and we'll suggest a few that fit.