Best Bed Pillows for Stomach Sleepers

Sleeping face down already turns the neck to one side. A tall pillow tips it back as well. The right pillow is the one you barely notice.

By the Bonwits editorsUpdated October 13, 20265 picks

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Our top picks

5 picks, each linked to the exact listing

1
Best overallPacific Coast Down Pillow, Luxury Hotel Collection, Standard Size, 100% Organic Cotton Shell, 650 Fill Power, 17 OZ, Low Loft
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2
The sensible entry pointBluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow for Stomach and Back Sleepers, 2.75-Inches Height, Standard Size
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3
The adjustable oneCoop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, Queen Size
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4
Memory foam, extra softTEMPUR-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow, Standard, 2-Pack
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5
If money is no objectBOLL & BRANCH Down Chamber Pillow, Soft, Standard
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Stomach sleepers need the opposite of what side sleepers need. Lying face down, the head turns to one side, and any height under it bends the neck backward too. The Sleep Foundation's guidance is that a low-loft pillow, under about 3 inches tall, generally suits stomach sleepers best, with medium loft of 3 to 5 inches workable for some, and a soft to medium-firm feel.

That rules out most pillows sold as hotel or luxury pillows, which are made full and tall. What works is either a pillow built thin, a soft down pillow that compresses almost flat under the head, or an adjustable pillow with most of its fill taken out. Some stomach sleepers use no pillow at all, or a thin one under the forehead to keep the head straight.

The five below cover each approach, from a $39 slim foam pillow to a soft all-down chamber pillow at about $159. All are sold on Amazon by Amazon.com or by the maker. For pillows that suit other positions, see our main bed pillow guide and our guide for side sleepers.

How we chose

Low loft. Under about 3 inches when compressed, or soft or adjustable enough to get there.
Soft enough. Soft to medium firm, so the pillow gives under the face rather than pushing the head up.
Keeps its shape. A thin pillow still has to stay even across its width, without lumps or a ridge in the middle.
Care. A washable pillow or a removable, washable cover, since stomach sleepers spend the night face against it.

We read makers’ specifications, warranties, care instructions and the sources listed at the end. We do not accept paid placements. How we choose

The 5 picks, in detail

Best overallNo. 1

Pacific Coast Down Pillow, Luxury Hotel Collection, Standard Size, 100% Organic Cotton Shell, 650 Fill Power, 17 OZ, Low Loft

Our take. A soft down pillow in a deliberately low fill, which flattens under the face and fluffs back by morning.

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Keeps for: Many years with a pillow protector and occasional washing
Size: Standard
Fill: Down, 650 fill power, 17 oz
Loft: Low (made in Low, Medium and High)
Shell: GOTS certified organic cotton, down-proof
Care: Machine washable; dry thoroughly

Pacific Coast, the Seattle down bedding maker that supplies many U.S. hotels, sells this down pillow in three lofts, and the Low Loft version is the one it suggests for stomach sleepers. The standard size holds 17 ounces of 650 fill power down in a shell of GOTS certified organic cotton, with a down-proof weave and double-stitched piping.

Down is the traditional stomach sleeper's pillow for a reason. It is soft, so it gives way under the face instead of propping the head up, and it can be pushed and folded into whatever shape suits the night. A low fill keeps it from mounding up.

Skip it if you are allergic to down or dislike daily fluffing. The listing says it can be machine washed and dried, but down takes a long, low dryer cycle to dry completely.

The catch. Down needs fluffing and slow drying, and the low fill leaves little to spare if you prefer a bit more height.

The sensible entry pointNo. 2

Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow for Stomach and Back Sleepers, 2.75-Inches Height, Standard Size

Our take. A flat slab of gel memory foam, 2.75 inches high, made for exactly this job.

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Keeps for: A few years; foam softens slowly with use
Height: 2.75 in
Fill: Gel-infused memory foam, 3.25 lb density (maker)
Size: Standard
Cover: Removable; machine wash and dry

Bluewave's Ultra Slim is a single piece of gel-infused memory foam, 2.75 inches tall, in a standard size. The maker gives the foam density as 3.25 pounds, which is denser than many budget foam pillows, and it has ventilation channels to let heat out. The cover unzips and goes in the washer and dryer.

At under 3 inches it sits inside the Sleep Foundation's low-loft range without any adjusting, and it stays that height all night rather than flattening further. Bluewave, a family business selling since 2016, also makes the same pillow in other heights.

Skip it if you like a pillow to scrunch under your arm. Foam is a fixed shape, and some sleepers find memory foam warm or notice a smell when it is new.

The catch. A fixed foam shape that cannot be fluffed or folded, and foam can sleep warm.

The adjustable oneNo. 3

Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, Queen Size

Our take. Shredded memory foam you can take out until the pillow is as thin as you want it.

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Keeps for: Several years; fill can be added back as it compresses
Size: Queen, 19 x 29 in
Fill: Cross-cut memory foam and microfiber
Adjustable: Zippered; extra fill included
Cover: Lulltra fabric, machine washable
Certifications: CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold

Coop's Original is a zippered pillow of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber, sold full and medium firm, with an extra bag of fill in the box. Coop's instruction is simple: remove fill for a softer, lower pillow. A stomach sleeper will take out a good deal of it, and should save what comes out in a bag in case they overshoot.

The queen is 19 by 29 inches. The fill is CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified, and the cover, in Coop's Lulltra fabric, comes off for the washing machine.

Skip it if you would rather not experiment. Getting a shredded foam pillow thin enough takes a few nights of trial, and the fill needs shaking now and then to stay even. Coop notes that the foam feels firmer in a cold room.

The catch. It arrives far too full for a stomach sleeper; expect to remove much of the fill.

Memory foam, extra softNo. 4

TEMPUR-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow, Standard, 2-Pack

Our take. Tempur-Pedic's softest one-piece pillow, low enough for most stomach sleepers who want foam.

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Keeps for: Years; one-piece foam does not clump
Fill: One piece of TEMPUR-Material, extra soft
Height: About 5 in (Mattress Clarity)
Cover: Polyester knit, removable, machine washable
Pack: 2 standard pillows

The TEMPUR-Cloud is a single piece of Tempur-Pedic's own memory foam in an extra-soft feel, under a polyester knit cover that is removable and machine washable. Mattress Clarity gives its height as about 5 inches and rates it a fit for back and stomach sleepers, especially heavier stomach sleepers.

It is taller than the Bluewave, but softer, and it sinks under the face to a lower profile once you lie on it. This listing is a pair, sold by Amazon.com, which brings the price per pillow to about $70.

Skip it if you are slight or want the flattest possible pillow. A 5 inch foam pillow is at the top of the range for stomach sleepers, and the Bluewave or the Pacific Coast will sit lower.

The catch. Tall for a stomach pillow before you lie on it, and foam holds heat.

If money is no objectNo. 5

BOLL & BRANCH Down Chamber Pillow, Soft, Standard

Our take. The Soft version of Boll & Branch's chamber pillow is all down, in an organic cotton shell.

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Made in: Filled and finished in the USA
Keeps for: Several years with a pillow protector
Size: Standard
Fill: All down (Soft version)
Shell: 100% certified organic long-staple cotton
Certification: IDFL Down Standard
Care: Machine wash cold, alone; tumble dry low

Boll & Branch makes its Down Chamber Pillow in Soft, Medium and Firm. The Medium and Firm hide a feather and down inner chamber for support; the Soft, the one for stomach sleepers, is all down. The down is traceable to U.S. farms and certified to the IDFL Down Standard, and the pillow is filled and finished in the United States.

The shell is certified organic long-staple cotton, woven tightly enough to be down-proof without chemical finishes, and the company is Fair Trade Certified. Boll & Branch says to machine wash it alone in cold water once a season and tumble dry on low with wool dryer balls.

Skip it unless traceable down matters to you; the Pacific Coast pillow does the same job for less. The maker does not publish a fill power.

The catch. The most expensive pillow here, with no published fill power or loft figure.

Compare the picks

Pick	Best for	Made in	Keeps for	Buy
Pacific Coast Down Pillow, Luxury Hotel Collection, Standard Size, 100% Organic Cotton Shell, 650 Fill Power, 17 OZ, Low Loft	Best overall	Not stated	Many years with a pillow protector and occasional washing	Check priceAmazon
Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow for Stomach and Back Sleepers, 2.75-Inches Height, Standard Size	The sensible entry point	Not stated	A few years; foam softens slowly with use	Check priceAmazon
Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, Queen Size	The adjustable one	Not stated	Several years; fill can be added back as it compresses	Check priceAmazon
TEMPUR-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow, Standard, 2-Pack	Memory foam, extra soft	Not stated	Years; one-piece foam does not clump	Check priceAmazon
BOLL & BRANCH Down Chamber Pillow, Soft, Standard	If money is no object	Filled and finished in the USA	Several years with a pillow protector	Check priceAmazon

Compared.

Every comparison

How low to go

Start lower than feels natural. A pillow that seems pleasantly full when you sit on the bed will usually be too tall once you lie face down. If your neck or lower back aches in the morning, go thinner before going firmer.

Some stomach sleepers do best with no pillow under the head and a thin one under the forehead or chest. That is a reasonable answer, not a failure to find the right pillow.

A second pillow under the hips

Lying face down, the hips can sink into a soft mattress and arch the lower back. The Sleep Foundation suggests a thin pillow under the pelvis to lift the hips and take pressure off the spine. An old, flattened pillow often does this well.

Keeping it clean

Stomach sleepers spend the night face against the pillow, so a zippered pillow protector under the pillowcase is worth having. Wash the cases weekly, the protector monthly, and the pillow itself or its cover a few times a year, following the maker's instructions.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of pillow is best for stomach sleepers?

A low, soft pillow. The Sleep Foundation suggests a loft under about 3 inches as generally best, with soft to medium-firm feel. Thin foam, low-fill down and adjustable shredded foam with fill removed all work.

Should stomach sleepers use a pillow at all?

Many do without one. If your neck is comfortable with no pillow, that is fine. Others use a thin pillow under the forehead to keep the head straight, or under the hips to protect the lower back.

Is a down pillow good for stomach sleepers?

Yes, if it is soft and lightly filled. Down compresses under the face and can be shaped. Choose a low-loft or soft version rather than a standard full pillow.

Is memory foam good for stomach sleepers?

A thin or extra-soft memory foam pillow can be. A standard foam pillow is usually too tall. Foam also tends to sleep warmer than down.

How thick should a pillow be for a stomach sleeper?

Under about 3 inches compressed suits most. Heavier sleepers on a soft mattress may be comfortable at 3 to 5 inches.