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A new mattress is a major purchase, and finding the right one isn’t quite as simple as going to a website picking the first one you see with decent reviews.
Everybody is different, which means that the best mattress for one person won’t be quite as comfortable for somebody else. You need to find a mattress that’s right for your body type. For heavier people, that means one with enough support to keep your body aligned while sleeping, while still having enough cushion to relieve pressure and some contour for your spine.
If you’re feeling bombarded by all the mattress options, worry not. We don’t expect you to know the difference between an innerspring mattress, a memory foam mattress and a latex mattress. We’ve done that legwork for you. Through our research, we’ve found the best mattresses for heavy people on the market today.
What is the best mattress for heavy people?
The Big Fig mattress, short for “bigger figure” has extra large steel coils in the foundation of the mattress, edge support reinforcements and is an all-around supportive mattress for heavier body types. Big Fig also bundles its foundation with the mattress for a low price.
Big FigThe Big Fig mattress takes the crown as our overall top pick for the best mattress for heavy people. It’s an ultradurable and supportive mattress designed at every turn with plus-size sleepers in mind. It’s also fairly priced compared to other premium, thick hybrid mattresses. That said, we provided a full list of suitable hybrid mattresses that would also be great additions to your bedroom.
Note that all prices below are for queen-size models. If you’re looking to upgrade your whole sleeping setup, we also have suggestions regarding pillows, sheets and other sleep essentials. So which is the best mattress for heavy people? Keep reading to see our picks.
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the best mattresses for heavy people.
Read more: Best Cheap Mattress for 2023
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Big Fig
Type
Hybrid mattress
Firmness
8 or medium-firm to firm
Warranty
20-year warranty Trial: 120 nights
Trial
120 nights
After studying how heavy sleepers’ mattresses commonly break down over time, the creators of the Big Fig put together a plan to address each issue with the components of their brand-new, problem-solving mattress. That’s why it earns the title of best overall mattress for heavy people. As if you needed more proof, you should know that Big Fig is short for “Bigger Figure.”
Big Fig mattresses only use the highest quality materials, including over 50% more individually wrapped coils than the average innerspring mattress on the market (1,600 of them, to be exact). The company also decided to offer extra-firm edge support to allow sleepers to comfortably sit or lie close to the edge without fear of rolling off.
Add in its hybrid foam construction, cooling technology and stabilizing tufts, and you have a mattress that caters to heavy people’s most important needs. This is a latex mattress with perforated gel-infused latex foam that allows air to flow freely, increasing overall comfort for heavy sleepers. You can also add on a durable Big Fig foundation for $299, a steal for a good foundation.
The Big Fig hybrid mattress comes with a 120-night trial, free seven- to 10-day shipping and returns, financing possibilities for those eligible and a 20-year warranty for free repair or replacement in case of manufacturing defects. With a warranty like that, you can rest assured you won’t be disappointed, and no matter what kind of sleeper you are, you’ll be a sound one.
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Titan by Brooklyn Bedding
The best firm mattress for heavy people goes to the Titan from the online bedding brand Brooklyn Bedding. Made in Arizona in the brand’s own factory, the Titan mattress offers up maximum support for heavier back and stomach sleepers who seek extra durability and back reinforcements.
The Titan Firm Hybrid first presents a full inch of cooling gel memory foam across its top surface. Woven into place beneath that are 2 inches of the company’s proprietary TitanFlex foam, which is infused with another patented cooling gel, called TitaniumGel. Need even more cooling? An optional temperature-regulating top panel can be sewn on as well — just look for the option at checkout. We also consider Titan one of the best cooling mattresses for heavy people.
This is followed by a remarkable 6 inches of nearly 1,000 supportive coils, finished on the bottom with a final 2 inches of high-density foam for sturdy and reinforced foundation. The quality craftsmanship, mattress thickness and dedicated support structure coupled with the TitaniumGel infused TitanFlex foam and top panel option truly make it the best mattress for heavy people in terms of cooling and comfort. The heavier sleeper can feel confident they will be well supported on this well-designed mattress.
The Titan Firm Hybrid is available exclusively online, but it comes with a 10-year warranty and a 120-night risk-free trial so you can decide whether you want to keep it or not.
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Helix Sleep
Specially designed for plus-size as well as tall sleepers, the Helix Plus mattress meets that elusive ideal of support and comfort for heavy people. At 13 inches tall with a five-layer construction, Helix Plus features a blend of pressure relieving memory foam, the brand’s responsive Dynamic foam and XL pocketed steel coils for maximum support. Enveloping it all is an airy Tencel cover, ensuring maximum breathability and airflow throughout the night.
It’s rated around a medium-firm, giving it a comfortable balance between supportive and pressure relieving. It’ll be best suited for back, stomach and combination sleepers who need a firmer profile to ensure proper spinal alignment.
Made in the US, the Helix Plus comes with free shipping in the contiguous US, a 100-night sleep trial period, financing options and a 15-year limited warranty. Read more in our full Helix mattress review.
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Saatva
Known as the “first luxury heavy duty mattress for bigger bodies,” the Saatva HD mattress is specially designed to support a sleeper weighing up to 500 pounds while they rest in restorative slumber.
The Saatva HD is beneficial for all sleeping positions, as the sturdy innersprings maintain support throughout the mattress while patented spinal zone technology backs up the lumbar region. It also has a five-zoned latex foam layer for targeted pressure relief to your shoulders and extra support underneath your lower back.
One of the best parts is a plush, 3-inch Euro Pillow Top that covers the surface of the Saatva mattress, enveloped in hypoallergenic cotton and a gentle botanical antimicrobial treatment. It’s blissful to sink into, and the support that heavy sleepers need is definitely there with this combination of features.
Finished with strategically placed hand-tufting as well as a blend of memory foam, the Saatva HD integrates bountifully packed foam edges for excellent support for heavier people all the way around. This helps larger folks get in and out of bed easily, while providing more useful space across the bed’s surface.
One downside is its return fee. If you decide you don’t want your mattress during the trial period, you’ll have to contact the company who will pick it up for a $99 transportation fee.
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WinkBeds
Type
Hybrid mattress
Firmness
8-9 or medium-firm to firm
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Trial
120 nights
The WinkBed Plus is designed so that heavy sleepers can enjoy long-term support and the experience of a luxury mattress. Most important for our purposes, however, is the Plus’ ability to alleviate pain. This trait has been confirmed numerous times in verified customer reviews.
“I’ve had almost no back pain since this bed arrived. I still have some stiffness from time to time, but that is mostly caused by the activity I was doing that day (mostly lifting something I shouldn’t have). I can honestly say I’d buy this bed again and I recommend it to those who have back pain.”
Depending upon your weight, the Winkbed Plus mattress may be experienced differently. For example, according to the company, the WinkBed Plus will feel like a density of 6.5 out of 10 for customers weighing 300 or more pounds, while those weighing 200 will say it feels like an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Handmade to order in Wisconsin, it’s designed to provide heavy sleepers with uniquely blended foams and innersprings, firm edge support and stellar motion isolation, and it also utilizes sustainably manufactured ingredients, including a chemical-free fire barrier, recycled steel coils and eucalyptus harvested only from forests certified by the Stewardship Council. That’s why it’s one of the best mattresses for heavy people, especially if you live with back pain.
The WinkBed Plus comes with a 120-night sleep trial, fully refunded if you decide you don’t want to keep it. There’s also a lifetime warranty, free shipping both ways and financing options.
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Amerisleep
The Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid, which is pitched as the company’s softest, most plush mattress, was designed to be supportive and ultra pressure-relieving. Since it “gives” generously and moves as you move, it’s going to be ideal for strict side sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds.
Not only does the company use the supportive Active Flex foam to assist with spinal alignment, but the Bio-Pur plant-based, Earth-conscious memory foam is also added for cooling as well as contouring. It gives the mattress a dense, slow-responding feel that feels like a cushiony hug. With memory foam comfort, Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid is a good mattress for heavy people who sleep on their side.
One major highlight of the Amerisleep AS5 mattress is its Celliant-infused cover. Celliant is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration as a medical device and its purpose is to absorb your body heat, and transfer it back into your body as infrared energy. It helps boost circulation, aids in the recovery process and leaves you feeling more refreshed in the morning when you wake up. Only a handful of beds have this feature, including the Bear mattress.
Amerisleep sends the AS5 Hybrid with a 100-night risk-free sleep trial, easy and free returns, free shipping and a 20-year warranty. Read more in our full Amerisleep mattress review.
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My Slumber Yard
For heavy sleepers who love the hugging, contouring feel of memory foam, the DreamCloud Premier option is a great option. Not only does it have an affordable price compared to the other mattresses for heavy people on this list, but it offers a luxury sleeping experience fit with a supportive pocketed coil base layer, a comfortable memory foam top layer and a fluffy pillow top for the icing on the cake.
Overall, it’s a hefty 14-inch thick mattress that isn’t designed specifically for plus-size sleepers, but it sure does fill that role. I rate it around a medium to medium-firm on the mattress scale, or a 6 to 7 out of 10 with 10 being the firmest, but heavier sleepers over 230 pounds may find it to be a little softer. So, this one might be a better mattress for heavy side and combination sleepers.
Another one of my favorite things about this mattress is the cover. Remember when I called this a luxury mattress for heavy people? Well, you can find soft cashmere woven throughout the cover with rayon and polyester, which makes it feel just as soft and cozy as it looks. The DreamCloud Premier is really an inviting bed, and gives you that “ahhh” feel just as you lay down.
DreamCloud Premier comes with generous company policies, the best on this list. You’ll have a full year to try out your bed, and a lifetime warranty to back it.
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Brooklyn Bedding
One of the primary things heavy sleepers over 230 pounds should look for is support. Hybrid mattresses with coils in the bottom layer typically deliver on this, and Brooklyn Bedding Signature is one of the most affordable, quality hybrid mattresses for heavy people you can buy on the internet.
The whole mattress is 11 inches thick, and a majority of the bed is made up of its 8-inch thick coil system made up of almost 1,000 individually pocketed coils. In the comfort layer you can find the brand’s “Titan Flex” foam which feels like responsive, soft neutral-foam that quickly bounces back to normal. Compare this to the feel of memory foam, which nestles around your body and slowly responds to pressure. This makes Brooklyn Bedding Signature very easy to switch positions on.
This bed for heavy people is offered in three different firmness levels, so any sleeping position from stomach sleepers to side sleepers can find a mattress they like. However, I recommend the firm model to most heavy sleepers unless you strictly sleep on your side. It will feel around a medium or a 5 on the firmness scale, meaning it offers a nice balance of support and pressure relief. Read more about this mattress in our full-length Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress review.
The Signature mattress from Brooklyn Bedding comes with a 120-night trial and a 10-year warranty.
Other mattresses we’ve tested
The CNET Sleep editors test out mattresses for the purpose of writing honest mattress reviews and best lists. They’ve had their hands on hundreds of different beds and have valuable insight on the best and worst mattresses on the market.
Purple Hybrid Premier mattress: The Purple Hybrid Premier is a durable, quality mattress that sleeps cool, thanks to the Purple Grid. This proprietary flexible gel-like material makes you feel like you’re floating. For heavier sleepers, Purple Hybrid Premier will feel like medium to medium-soft, so it would be best for those who favor their side.
Loom & Leaf mattress: Loom & Leaf is a memory foam bed with special cooling tech. It doesn’t retain heat like traditional memory foam beds. It has two firmness levels to choose from, both on the firmer end. For a heavy sleeper, the firmness would be either a medium or medium-firm.
Nectar Premier and Copper mattresses: The Nectar Premier mattress boasts 3 inches of pressure-relieving foam and an all-foam construction. The Nectar Premier is a good pick for stomach, back and combo sleepers, but not the best choice for heavier sleepers. It has no coils, so heavier body types may compress the mattress too much.
Nolah Original 10 mattress: This mattress is plush, airy, and pressure-relieving thanks to its neutral foam feel. It’s a medium to a medium-soft on the firmness scale, making it ideal for side sleepers and some combination sleepers. It’s still a good, affordable foam mattress that won’t break the bank.
How we test mattresses for heavy people
For this in-depth mattress review list, I considered factors like mattress type, mattress materials and mattress firmness, and how they suit the needs of heavy sleepers. Purchasing elements were also taken into account, like price, shipping, warranty and trial period.
CNET editors choose the goods and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you purchase using our links, we may get a commission. Learn more about how we test mattresses.
What to consider when buying a mattress for heavy sleepers
When you’re shopping for the best mattress for heavy people, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
People over the 230 pound range might find that a lot of beds have a softer feel than advertised. Firmer, more supportive options are typically the best beds for heavy sleepers.
CNET/Zooey Liao- Firmness: Firmness is one of the most important factors when choosing a mattress. However, you should remember that your body type influences how you perceive a bed’s firmness. A petite person will put less pressure on the bed, making it feel firmer. A heavier sleeper will put more pressure, making the mattress feel softer.
- Durability: You want a mattress that will stand the test of time. The reality is that not all types of material will hold up. It’s a good idea to look for mattresses with reinforced materials like coils and high-density foam.
- Support: When you’re sleeping on a mattress that isn’t supportive enough, you’ll likely wake up with a sore back or neck. Most heavy sleepers should opt for something that guarantees support, like a hybrid or innerspring mattress.
- Edge support: Edge support is the strength of the bed’s perimeter. An easy way to test a bed’s edge support is by sitting on the edge; if you feel like you’re going to slip off because the edge gives way to your weight, then the edge support could be better. This matters for people who need access to the whole sleeping surface.
Best mattress construction for heavy people
If you’re a heavier sleeper, you should buy an innerspring or a hybrid mattress. All-foam bases just won’t be able to match the support and durability of coils. That’s not to say you can’t enjoy the feel of memory foam. Many hybrid mattresses have layers of memory foam on top of their coils.
FAQs
Do mattresses have a weight limit?
Technically, yes mattresses have a weight limit. Most mattresses support around 500 pounds (250 pounds on each side) due to the materials used. Certain brands like Casper claim to have no weight limits. And others, like Big Fig, make mattresses with materials that support more weight and advertise that. Big Fig mattresses support 1,100 pounds.
What is the best mattress for a heavy person?
The best mattress for a heavy sleeper is anything that is comfortable and gives them the support they need while sleeping. Those mattresses tend to include coils and fall at the firmer end of the scale. We think Big Fig is the best overall mattress for heavy people because of its high-quality materials and thick, 3-inch Euro pillow top.
What mattress types are best for heavier/larger sleepers?
Without a doubt, the best kind of mattress would be a hybrid mattress that combines pocketed coils or innersprings with some kind of foam, whether it be memory foam, latex foam, poly foam or some kind of blend. Hybrid mattresses offer more support than foam beds because steel coils are more durable and supportive than foam.
What mattress firmness is best for heavier/larger sleepers?
It primarily depends on your favorite sleeping position, but in general, firmer mattresses are better because they offer more support. Also, the heavier you are, the softer you typically think mattresses are. For example, a bed that feels like a medium to someone who weighs 175 pounds might feel more like a soft mattress to someone who weighs 230 pounds.
Is a memory foam mattress good for a heavy person?
Yes, memory foam mattresses offer contouring pressure relief that can be helpful for any person of any size. However, try to find a memory foam hybrid mattress that contains steel coils in the foundation layer to ensure your bed remains durable, supportive and comfortable throughout its lifetime.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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