Best Mattress for Heavy People

You’ll find that many mattresses on this list are made with specialized, highly durable materials aimed at delivering more advanced support, whether that be through denser foams or stronger coils. Multiple beds on this list are also specifically marketed toward plus-size sleepers, showing a genuine effort from brands to target the needs of this group.

Another important quality is that the mattress is thicker to help ensure the sleeper doesn’t bottom out. A heavyweight sleeper will naturally sink more into a bed, which is why the layers of a mattress must be thick enough that they don’t leave the sleeper unsupported and uncomfortable.

You’ll find that the mattresses on this list have at least a medium to medium-firm feel. Though firmness isn’t indicative of support, firmer beds are often more beneficial for heavier sleepers to help them remain more lifted.

If you’re a larger person, finding mattresses constructed with high-quality materials is a must. Make sure you look for things like dense CertiPUR-US® certified foams and high coil counts, as these things often translate into longer durability.

Our heavyweight tester, Spencer, also emphasized how prioritizing the unique needs of plus-size sleepers makes a big difference. “From what I’ve noticed with mattresses specifically made for heavier people, like the Titan Plus, whatever they are using seems to be working.”

Cheaper mattresses are usually made with lower-quality materials, which can result in sagging and discomfort, both of which tend to happen sooner for heavier folks than lightweight ones. When these problems set in, you may have to replace the bed much sooner than you’d like.

If you weigh more than 250 pounds, you should look for a bed that will accommodate your weight and potentially a partner’s. Most standard mattresses may not have the proper support mechanisms, but there are plenty of specialty mattresses that are made with heavy folks in mind. There are even bariatric mattresses available online if you need medically specialized support.

Many mattress manufacturers will list the bed’s weight capacity online as part of its specifications. If the bed’s weight capacity is hard to find, you can try contacting the manufacturer to ask about it.

For this list, we’ve tried to prioritize mattresses that have inclusive weight limits and proudly market to heavyweight people.

If you weigh more than 200 pounds, you may want to consider a bed with a profile of at least 12 inches and substantial compression support. Taller beds are indicative of more or thicker layers which can allow heavier people to transition through the layers at a proper rate. However, some higher-quality products offer extra thick layers that provide enough support even at 10-11 inches.

Spencer added that it’s not just the thickness of the bed that’s going to make the biggest impact but rather the materials that go inside of it. So even if you have a 16-inch thick mattress, you could still bottom out if it’s not supportive enough.

Although firmness is subjective, certain factors can be used to determine how soft or hard most people will find a given mattress. A higher weight tends to create more sinkage and hug. By sinking too far into a mattress, pressure will build up and your spine may not be aligned properly, both of which can cause pain.¹

Expect an additional 1-2 inches of sinkage if you are over 230-250 pounds. You can help to compensate for the extra sinkage by choosing a mattress that is 7-8 out of 10 on the Sleep Advisor mattress firmness scale. “Definitely the firmer mattresses do better at supporting heavier body types in all sleeping positions so heavier people, if they prefer it, should lean towards a slightly firmer build of a mattress,” said Spencer.

According to many large sleepers, memory foam is one of the best bed types out there. Why?

Memory foam mattresses, whether on the hard or soft side, are designed to even out pressure points. One of the biggest complaints that heavier sleepers have is that certain areas of their body end up hurting (i.e., their back or hips). Memory foam works to provide balanced support that contours the body.

Despite the numerous benefits, this mattress style can cause people to feel hot due to the lack of breathability in the material. Worry not because there are some great cooling memory foam options on the market today.

Mattresses that contain innersprings often work well for heavier people because the coils provide solid, balanced support.

Furthermore, the coils also often offer solutions to many of the common mattress complaints echoed by larger sleepers – including an unsupported mid-section and a lack of edge support. The coils also allow air to move freely through the mattress, which addresses another common problem of larger sleepers – overheating through the night.

As the name suggests, a hybrid mattress is simply the combination of two or more types of material. Hybrid mattresses are often a good choice for heavyweight sleepers because they provide the soft contouring of memory foam with the support and bounce of innerspring mattresses.

These mattresses also tend not to run as hot as traditional all-foam beds because of the breathability that the coils provide.

Many newer mattress models are being sold online and go through a compression process that allows them to be roll-packed into smaller boxes for easier shipping. This process greatly reduces overhead, and many bed-in-a-box brands can offer pretty outstanding savings and value for their price.

To help facilitate this boxing process, these brands use materials that can be compressed. Folks with heavier weight considerations should evaluate brands carefully for manufacturer-recommended weight limits and features that can offer them the additional support they might require. Boxed brands with zoned support systems, foam and coil hybrids, firmer materials, or extra height might be a better match.

You should not believe, however, that your weight considerations preclude you shopping for your mattress online. Many online brands specifically target higher weight concerns by not compressing their product, and there are bed-in-a-box brands with added details that should support your frame just as comfortably as an in-store model.

Check Out Our Complete Guide: Best Mattress in a Box.

For side sleepers, pressure relief is key. In this position, your full body weight is pressing into the mattress along a narrower surface area. For many sleepers in this position, a plusher bed is a better match because the softness allows all their weight to sink in and conform to their curves.

Heavier folks, however, should ensure that their weight will not cause them to push through the softer materials too quickly. Although firmer beds can cause pressure build-up, they may still be better suited for larger side sleepers.

The kind of mattresses that are best for heavier back sleepers will likely largely depend on where they carry their weight. Some back sleepers like a firmer bed that puts a greater emphasis on support, but a firmer bed may not be as comfortable for some, especially those with pain points to consider. You’ll want to look for the right balance to cradle your shape while also supporting your lumbar and spine alignment.

Our in-depth guide: Best Beds For Back Sleepers

Heavier folks, in particular, need to be mindful of stomach sleeping as beds that are not firm enough can leave their hips uncomfortably dipped inside the mattress. This can make it difficult for the spine to remain in a neutral position. If you carry most of your weight in your hips and abdomen, you’ll likely want to steer towards firmer beds.

Read more: Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers

If you like to mix up your sleep positions, you’ll want to consider beds that are aimed at versatility. Additionally, you’ll want to take a mattress’s bounce and reactivity into account—mattresses that have high bounce and good reactivity make it easier to reposition through the night.

Combo sleepers may not enjoy softer beds, as these might make you feel “stuck” in the bed.

Learn more: Top Mattresses for Combination Sleepers

The most common thing you might experience with any mattress is that it starts to sag. This is different than normal wear and tear–usually, impressions that your body makes are left behind and lingering when you lay down to rest the next night. It can happen in the center or around the edges of the bed. It can cause discomfort as it throws your spinal alignment out of whack, or just feel plain annoying when you notice it.

All mattresses can start to sag once they reach the end of their lifespan, but we’ve compiled a list of the best mattresses that won’t sag that should last much longer.

Sinking is most common with memory foam beds. There is usually supposed to be some sink, thanks to softer comfort layers on top, but as time goes on, you might find yourself sinking into the firmer support layer. It’s uncomfortable, and you won’t be reaping the benefits of combined pressure relief and support.

On the opposite end, a bed’s firmness should remain the same. When your medium-firm bed starts to feel more medium, it might be a sign that it’s time to replace it. Repeated weight-bearing can wear down the foam or coils in the mattress, causing it to feel softer than it did at time of purchase.

If you see any of these in your bed, and you’ve had it for a while, it may be time to throw in the towel and get an upgrade.

Heavy people typically feel most comfortable on a firm or medium-firm mattress. These firmness levels provide the level of support that a larger body needs, whereas a softer bed may result in too much sinkage and the sensation of being “stuck” in the mattress.

If you like soft mattresses or you sleep on your side, you can opt for a mattress that provides cushioning top layers as well as a supportive foundation. You can also look into mattress toppers that will up the initial plushness of your bed.

Heavy people with back pain should likely look at mattresses that combine robust support with a top layer that provides excellent pressure relief. We recommend you start by exploring our picks for the best beds for back pain here. 

Hybrid mattresses with a high coil count and a foam comfort layer that contours to the body are good bets.

Perhaps counterintuitively, you don’t want your mattress to be too soft if you’re experiencing back pain. With that said, firm and medium-firm mattresses that can support your spine are best¹.

Those who weigh in at 200 pounds or more will likely want to consider a taller mattress. Generally, mattresses with a profile of 12 inches or more are better fits for heavy people because the height indicates more or thicker support layers. This helps those on the larger side transition through the layers at a proper weight instead of crashing through too quickly.

Yes, bigger people certainly can sleep on and enjoy a bed-in-a-box, as long as the mattress has the proper support and comfort components. Many online mattress brands have designed models that cater specifically to plus-size customers, and they still ship these beds by first compressing them into boxes.

Just as you would with any mattress purchase, you should investigate the quality and durability of the materials in your bed-in-a-box order. But just because a mattress comes in a box does not mean it’s lower quality than a bed purchased from a brick-and-mortar store; in fact, these mattresses are often some of the most modern and advanced available.

If you’re a plus-size sleeper, we recommend exploring our picks for the best bed frames for heavy people. It’s important to find options that are sturdy and can accommodate a weight limit—plus a heavy mattress, as most of the mattresses on our list are sturdily constructed and can get pretty hefty. As some of these mattresses are tall, you may also want to stay away from platform/elevated frames.

Sleepers who weigh 300 pounds should prioritize finding a bed that properly supports them and suits their preferences. Generally, we recommend looking for a mattress with an enhanced support system—usually, this would be industrial coils, but a dense, firm foam core can work for some sleepers.

It’s also important to choose a firmer mattress, at the very least a medium-firm feel. This is because heavier bodies experience firmness differently, and what feels firm to a lightweight person can feel softer to a plus-size sleeper as they sink further into it. This is also the case for mattress thickness—look for a thicker or taller bed since you may be sinking deeper into the layers. You don’t want to bottom out and feel the uncomfortable support core.