The 7 Absolute Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers- 2021 Reviews

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There are very few stomach sleepers in the United States. According to a recent study, 63% of Americans sleep on their side, 14% sleep on their back and 16% sleep on their stomach. If you belong to these few people who deviate from the majority, you need to find the best pillow to aid you in your sleep, as most commercialized pillows are designed for the lot.

The pillow needed by stomach sleepers is very simple; it doesn’t need to be recommended by a physician and you don’t need anything that is created and designed for those who need support for a number of medical problems. The only pillow you need is one that is not too high as to raise or bed your neck toward the back too much.

More of these things will be discussed below, especially if you are a stomach sleeper who seem to can’t find comfort in every pillow you have tried.

Factors to Consider When Choosing From Quality Stomach Sleeper Pillows

The best stomach sleeper pillow to choose from depends on the following factors:

Softness – Stomach sleepers need the softest pillow the can find so as not to put pressure on the neck and face. It shouldn’t turn the heat unnaturally to either side and shouldn’t force the neck to be on an angle. The softness can be determined by how much fill your pillow has. The best one that conforms to your head like a cloud are natural fill pillows.

Pillow Fill – As discussed above, what stomach sleepers need is a pillow that is soft. These pillows are usually filled with natural fill, as this is the softest and most comfortable you can get. For more information, check out the different fills below:

  • Natural-filled – These pillows contain either feathers, down, or a blend of both. Natural feathers come from ducks or geese and are sourced from the coldest parts of the world. Natural filled pillows are the best for stomach sleepers because they are capable of trapping down air and molding to the shape of your head and neck.
  • Synthetic Fill – This is good for people who want a soft pillow but still has a bit of support and resistance. It’s almost as similar as down but the filler used is a bit packed and firmer so you’ll get more support.
  • Memory Foam Fill – This is good for people who experience discomfort due to lack of support. Pillows filled with memory foam feel extremely supportive and a bit dense, but it doesn’t hurt your neck as it conforms to the shape of your neck. They are a bit expensive though and are prone to soften a bit over time.

The difference between feather and down is that feathers are flat and curved in shape with a quill shaft down the spine. They are firmer and heavier than down so they provide more support. Down, on the other hand, is a cluster with no shaft making it lighter and loftier than feather and the one that offers the softest pillows.

Our Top-Rated Pillows For Stomach Sleeping

Check out our team's curated list of the top 7 pillows for those who prefer to sleep on their stomachs. All of the mentioned pillows below are publicly available for sale on Amazon.

Ikea GOSA PINJE Pillow, Standard Size

ExceptionalSheets Extra Soft Down Pillow

Synthetic/Polyester Filled – This is a technologically advanced man-made microfiber that can also produce a pillow that is very smooth and fine. Sleepers can choose whether they want soft, medium, or firm. This is also good for people who are allergic to natural-filled pillows.

When buying synthetic or polyester filled, make sure to pick only high quality ones as the cheaper ones are prone to become lumpy, flat, and uncomfortable over time. Synthetic pillows can be machine washed and dried.

Indulgence Back/Stomach Sleeper Pillow

This top-rated luxury pillow is filled with synthetic down that emulates white goose down, and the high thread count pillow offers the utmost in comfort. It’s soft and fluffy and will be your favorite pillow for years to come! By far one of the best stomach sleepers as well as back sleepers.

Set of 2 Down Alternative Hypoallergenic Pillow

This is a good option if you don’t want to have a down or feather filled pillow. This one is filled with hollow, siliconized, polyester cluster fiber that are very soft and recommended for people who are stomach sleepers. It is hypoallergenic and is housed in a 200-thread count 100% cotton.

This pillow is recommended for being fluffy after being used and washed for years. Other continuous filament fiber flattens out quickly or becomes lumpy when washed but this one maintains its shape because of its much loftier cluster fiber. It averages a lifetime of 3-5 years. For the price, you’ll get two quality pillows that don’t get squished very easily. This is good for people who want to have a little bit of head support.

Cuddledown 300 Thread Count Synthetic Stripe Pillow

Foam – There are normal foams that are comfortable but can easily lose their firmness and there’s the so-called memory foam that took the sleeping world by storm. These spongy foams that molds to the natural shape of your face, neck, and shoulders are great for people on therapy because it offers a lot of support.

Memory foam is more recommended for back and side sleepers than stomach sleepers. The latter doesn’t need support for the neck; it only needs a very comfortable pillow to rest on to alleviate pressure. If you really want to try foam, there are shredded memory foam pillows that are suited for stomach sleepers.

Coop Home Goods Shredded Memory Foam Hypoallergenic Pillow

Thread Count – Although not as important as the fill or the stiffness of the pillow, the thread count should still be pondered upon as it increases comfort, especially if lying with your cheek down for hours at a time. The higher the thread count, the more durable, plush, and soft it will feel.

The usual thread count starts at 300 – this is cost efficient and already comfortable to sleep in. If you want to have a soft and luxurious pillow that feels like the ones in a hotel, go for a higher thread count – around 500-800. If you’re not satisfied enough, there are ones that can go as high as 1000-thread count but it is also equally high in terms of the price tag.

Pacific Coast Double Down Around Pillow – Standard

This pillow is very luxurious; It has hyperclean 95% natural duck feather and 5% natural duck down fill. The feather and down are enclosed in a cover made from 100% cotton with 300-thread count. It also has a unique pillow-in-pillow construction for more durability and features AllerRest Fabric prevents dust, dirt, and allergen exposure.

It can fit beds of all sizes as it comes in three size options: Standard, Queen, and King. It has a 1.5” gusset that makes the pillow fluffy up to the edges, which is good for stomach sleepers. Also, for this affordable price, you’ll get a pillow that is almost equivalent to the high quality ones used in five star hotels. For your convenience, it can be machine washed and dried.

Pros and Cons of Sleeping On Your Stomach

Sleeping on your stomach is good especially if you have lower back pain as it can relieve pressure on your disc spaces. When you’ve been leaning all day or hunched in front of your computer for hours, it’s good to lie on your stomach as it stretches out the backbones and muscles.

It is also good for people who snore because face down sleeping keeps the upper airways more open. If you snore and you don’t suffer from any back and neck pain, sleeping on the belly is fine.

On the contrary, it is also the sleeping position with the most risk as it flattens the natural curve in the lower back and keeps only one side of your neck turned to the side, which can cause stress on the neck muscles. This position also distorts the natural straight line of the neck and the spine.

Key Takeaway: To alleviate this distortion, you need a pillow that won’t put more pressure to your already pressured neck. You only need just one pillow and it should be soft and thin enough as not to raise your neck up too much.

Conclusion on Pillows For Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers may be the most difficult position to sleep in, but it’s very easy to find the right pillow for them. The only thing that you need to consider when looking for the best pillow for stomach sleepers is the softness and the height, so that it doesn’t put pressure onto your neck. Although all of the 7 top-rated pillows above are all great choices and come at different price points, our #1 choice for restful stomach sleeping is the Coop Home Goods Pillow.