Find the perfect sleep: Best mattresses for stomach sleepers
Sleeping on your stomach might feel comfy at first, but without the right mattress, it can quickly turn from restful to regretful. This sleeping position often puts extra pressure on your back, neck, and spine, quickly throwing things out of alignment.
When you sleep on your stomach, buying a new mattress isn’t just about comfort. It’s about avoiding that awkward morning twist in your back. You need support in all the right places, firmness that keeps your hips lifted, and just enough cushioning to stay cosy.
At Koala, we’ve designed responsive mattresses that take care of all that (and more). Whether you’re after a value option, a cooler night’s sleep, or simply solid support that won’t cave under pressure, we’ve got budget and luxury mattresses for you, belly-down snoozing and all.
In this guide, Koala explores the best mattresses for stomach sleepers, plus everything you need to know about stomach sleeping and why it requires special consideration when choosing a mattress. Wake up feeling refreshed, not stiff as a board.
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Key takeaways
Stomach sleepers have unique needs: This sleeping position puts extra pressure on different parts of your body, making proper mattress firmness and support essential for a pain-free snooze.
Firmness and support matter most: A firm to medium-firm mattress keeps your midsection lifted and your spine aligned, preventing that dreaded “U-shape” back strain.
It’s all about balance: The best mattresses for stomach sleepers offer the ideal mix of pressure relief and stability so you can sleep better, move freely, and wake up ache-free.
Koala Mattresses are built for belly sleepers: From the customisable comfort of the Koala Mattress, to the cooling layers of the Plus, or the budget-smart support of the SE, there’s a Koala for every stomach sleeper.
Koala Plus Mattress
If you're a committed tummy sleeper, the Koala Plus Mattress has your back, quite literally. It delivers firm, stable support across your midsection to keep your spine aligned and take pressure off your chest, hips, and knees.
The double-sided Kloudcell® Comfort Layer lets you flip between medium-firm and firm feels—perfect if you're chasing that sweet spot between a firm bed and cosy comfort. Whether your body wants extra back support or a little relief after a long day, this mattress lets you dial it in.
What sets the Plus apart is its clever approach to climate control. With Cooling Gel Kloudcell® and moisture-wicking CoolThread™ fibres, it sleeps 13% cooler than leading online mattresses, ideal for stomach sleepers with high-contact heat build-up.
The seasonal quilted topper also adds versatility: flip to Organic Cotton for winter or CoolThread™ during warmer months. Built for Aussie conditions and belly-down snoozers alike, the Koala Plus brings spine-safe support and breezy comfort in one smart package.
Koala Mattress
Stomach sleepers looking for balance and flexibility will love the award-winning Koala Mattress. Its flippable Kloudcell® Comfort Layer lets you choose between medium-firm and firm—no tools, no fuss, just unzip and flip to what feels best.
The firmer side offers essential support under your midsection to help prevent that dreaded hammock effect, while the Kloudcell® layer helps maintain spinal alignment and leads to fewer aches in the morning. Three targeted support zones work with your body, cushioning hips and chest while keeping your back straight, just what tummy sleepers need to stay comfy and aligned.
Breathability’s built in too, thanks to a TENCEL™ Lyocell cover that manages moisture and an open-cell Kloudcell® core that helps release trapped heat.
Add in Zero Disturbance® tech for motion isolation and an optional Partner Preference layer (firm for you, medium-firm for your partner), and you’ve got a new mattress that performs brilliantly for all kinds of sleepers. It’s no wonder this one’s earned top ratings across Australia.
Koala SE Mattress
Want the right support and high sleep quality without a hefty price tag? The Koala SE Mattress is an affordable choice that doesn’t skimp where it counts. CHOICE®-Recommended and built with medium-firm comfort, it’s ideal for stomach sleepers who need their hips lifted and spines kept in check.
A fixed quilted top adds that float-on-top plushness, while the 3-Zone Support design targets your shoulders, hips and feet for pressure relief where stomach sleepers need it most. Translation: no more waking up with a cranky lower back.
Underneath, Koala’s Kloudcell® foam is breathable, supportive, and built to last, with a 95% comfort retention score after eight years of use. You’ve also got a carbon-zero TENCEL™ Lyocell cover and open-cell structure keeping airflow consistent, so you stay cool even when sleeping face-down.
Lightweight and tool-free, the SE makes premium sleep accessible.
Understanding stomach sleeping
For some, sleeping on the tummy just feels right. Maybe it calms the nerves, helps ease snoring, or it’s how you started out as a kid and never switched. It can feel like a full-body hug from the mattress—warm, secure, and strangely comfortable. No wonder it’s hard to give up.
But as comfy as it feels, belly sleeping can come with a few curveballs. Here’s what you need to watch for:
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Breathing restrictions: With your face partially pressed into the pillow, you might not get the same airflow quality as in other positions.
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Neck pain: Unless you've figured out how to breathe through your mattress (if so, please share your secret!), you need to turn your head to one side. This rotation can strain your neck muscles and cause stiffness over time.
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Pressure points: Your hips and chest bear most of your body weight in this position. Proper support can relieve pressure in these points.
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Spinal alignment issues: When you sleep on your stomach, your spine tends to arch unnaturally, especially if you use a super soft mattress. Over time, this can lead to lower back pain.
For stomach sleepers, finding a balance between support and comfort in your mattress is especially crucial. Too soft, and you'll sink; too firm, and you'll feel pressure points in your chest and hips.
It's a Goldilocks situation, but when you nail it, your sleep (and your back) will thank you for it.
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Memory Foam Mattress: Traditional memory foam and gel memory foam may feel plush, but for stomach sleepers, they can let your hips sink too deep. At Koala, we use Kloudcell® foam to give you that same contouring comfort but with better support and faster response. |
Key mattress features to consider for this sleeping position
If you're a dedicated tummy sleeper, you know all too well that not all mattresses are created equal. The wrong mattress can leave you waking up with a stiff neck or an achy back. Let's dive into what makes a mattress bloody brilliant for most stomach sleepers.
Cooling
Let’s be honest. Sleeping on your stomach means more of your body is pressed against the mattress, and that can turn up the heat real quick, especially if you are a hot sleeper. Without proper airflow, your comfy sleep can turn into a sweaty struggle.
That’s why breathable materials matter. Look for a mattress with a soft, moisture-wicking cover made from TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres, combined with open-cell foam that promotes airflow instead of locking heat in. Cooling features like CoolThread™ fabric or copper-infused Kloudcell® can also help regulate body temperature so you stay comfy through the night, even with full-body contact.
Edge support
Edge support might not be the first thing you think of, but for stomach sleepers, especially the starfish types, it’s a hidden hero. Sturdy edge support means you can sprawl out across the full mattress without feeling like you're about to slip off the side.
It’s even more useful if you share your bed with a partner or a pet (or both). With proper edge support, you've got more space to stretch out in your go-to position without getting nudged back to the middle.
Koala’s mattresses are built with adaptive Kloudcell® foam, multi-zone support systems, and stable base layers that help maintain structure and consistency from edge to edge.
Extra support
Support is all about how well the mattress keeps your spine in check while you sleep. For stomach sleepers, targeted support is a game-changer. Zoned systems give firmer support where you need it most, typically under your hips and torso, while being a bit softer elsewhere to keep things balanced and comfy.
Koala’s mattresses feature multi-layered designs and Kloudcell® comfort tech that responds to how your body applies pressure. That means proper support for your midsection, alignment for your back, and way fewer mornings feeling like you've been bent backwards overnight.
Firmness
If lying on your stomach is your preferred sleeping position, firmness is your best mate. There are multiple firmness options out there, and medium-firm to firm mattresses provide the essential support your body needs while lying face down.
This is exactly why many Koala mattresses feature flippable firmness options. Our innovative double-sided Kloudcell® Comfort Layer lets you choose between a firm and medium-firm feel. Simply unzip and flip the comfort layer to find your perfect firmness. It’s a game-changer for stomach sleepers who need that flexibility.
Low profile
Thick, plush mattresses might look luxe, but they often let heavy stomach sleepers sink in way too far, and that’s not great for your spine. A more streamlined design keeps your body closer to the support layers, helping maintain proper spinal alignment through the night.
Koala mattresses strike the perfect balance between support and comfort with heights ranging from 23-31 cm, providing the ideal foundation for stomach sleepers without sacrificing quality construction.
Motion isolation
If you sleep with a partner who tosses and turns (or gets up for midnight Tim Tams), good motion isolation is key. This feature helps ensure their movements won't disturb your sleep.
Our Zero Disturbance® technology is particularly effective at minimising motion transfer, keeping you sound asleep even if your partner is doing the midnight shuffle.
Pressure relief
When lying face-down, your chest, hips, and knees bear more weight and can develop uncomfortable pressure points. High-quality mattresses designed for stomach sleepers offer pressure relief without excessive sinking. This delicate balance ensures you're properly supported while still feeling comfortable on pressure-sensitive areas.
Our Kloudcell® technology is particularly brilliant at this balance act, gently supporting broad surfaces like your back while providing pressure relief across sensitive areas like shoulders, hips, and knees.
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How Other Mattresses Compare: Latex mattresses are naturally breathable and springy, while hybrid mattresses combine coils and foam layers for a mix of bounce and contouring. But for stomach sleepers, too much give or pushback can throw your spine out of whack. Koala mattresses offer a firmer, flatter feel with targeted support. |
Sleep face-down, wake up on top
Finding the best mattress for stomach sleepers isn’t rocket science, but it does take a bit of know-how. No need to lose sleep over it. With the right mix of breathability, firmness, and support, your mattress can go from "meh" to bloody brilliant.
Koala's range of supportive mattresses ticks all the boxes for belly snoozers, with innovative features like our Kloudcell® technology, cooling layers, flippable firmness, and targeted support zones.
Give your spine the night off and check out the full Koala range with our 120-night trial. Easy to buy. Easy to try. And your belly-snoozing back will definitely thank you.