When shopping for a new mattress, there can be a lot of factors that seem to complicate things, but your weight shouldn’t be one of them. In many cases, the best mattresses for heavy people tend to have a lot of the same attributes of a good mattress for thinner people as well. However, there are different functionality and design needs that a mattress should have in order to provide an optimal sleeping experience for heavier, overweight, and larger than average sleepers.
Best Mattress for Heavy, Large, and Overweight People
There are a lot of quality mattresses out there that are great for a heavier sleeper – but some people find it useful for a short list. Thus below are some of my favorite mattresses for heavy persons, though note this list is not comprehensive, and naturally reflects some of my own biases and preferences. So the top picks:
Best Mattress for Back Sleepers | ||
WinkBeds Plus  | WinkBeds Plus The WinkBed Plus was designed to be bouncy, cooling, and particularly supportive for heavier sleepers! This mattress is a take on the original Winkbeds mattress for folks that are 250 lbs or more. | |
Best Cooling Mattress | ||
Helix Plus  | Helix Plus Its cooling properties and deep pressure relief make the Helix Plus great for heavier side sleepers who need help keeping cool throughout the night! Enjoy $75 off a standard mattress or $125 off a LUXE mattress by using either SLEEPOPOLIS75 or SLEEPOPOLIS125! | |
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers | ||
Bear Hybrid  | Bear Hybrid Specifically designed for athletes, the coils in the Bear Hybrid allow sleepers to change position easily, without any stuck feeling. Enjoy 20% off your purchase with code SLEEPOPOLIS. | |
Best Hybrid Mattress | ||
Brooklyn Titan  | Brooklyn Titan The Titan mattress was specifically designed by Brooklyn Bedding to provide support and comfort to heavy folks who have trouble with standard mattresses. Use code SLEEPOPOLIS20 to save 20% on your purchase! | Doesn't expire |
Best Innerspring Mattress | ||
Saatva HD  | Saatva HD The Saatva HD is a sturdy innerspring mattress that was built with the specific sleep needs of heavier folks in mind. | Doesn't expire |
Best Foam Mattress | ||
Casper Wave Mattress  | Casper Wave Mattress Casper's most luxurious mattress, the Wave is built with pressure relief in mind. Though not designed specifically for heavy sleepers, Casper pulled out all the stops with the Wave, so it should prove comfortable for a sleeper of any weight. Plus with a balanced foam feel minimizing motion transfer, you won't feel your partner tossing and turning throughout the night! |
Read on for more information on each of these top picks, or click here to skip to my mattress buying guide for heavier people section.
Best Mattress for Back Sleepers
WinkBeds Plus
Back sleepers of all weights and sizes need a mattress with enough support to keep their spine in proper alignment. The WinkBed Plus is designed to deliver this kind of support. While WinkBed makes a few different models (including the natural latex EcoCloud and all-foam MemoryLux), the Plus is designed specifically with heavier folks in mind. Its super firm feel is ideal for providing the extra support required by heavy back sleepers, while its quilted cover helps cushion the lumbar area.
The WinkBed Plus derives its support from a combination of foam and pocketed coil layers, which also have great bounce. The mattress’s bounciness and quick-responding latex foam ensure that it’s easy to move around on the bed, and you’re likely to sleep on top of the mattress as opposed to “in” it. Sleeping on top of the mattress helps keep you cool, as do the Tencel cover and pocketed coils, which provide plenty of space for airflow. You can enjoy supportive comfort on the farthest reaches of the mattress thanks to its high-density polyfoam edge support.
Will this mattress be a plus for your bedroom? Decide by reading my full WinkBed Plus review.
The WinkBeds Plus was designed to be bouncy, cooling, and particularly supportive for heavier sleepers! Save $200 on your order with our exclusive discount code SLEEPOPOLIS200!
Best Cooling Mattress
Helix Plus
Helix is known for offering a range of mattresses in different feels that can be personalized to your (and a partner’s) sleep styles. Among Helix’s diverse lineup, the hybrid Plus stands out as being designed specifically for heavy folks who weigh between 250 and 300 pounds. The company has created a sturdy, medium firm, and supportive mattress using a variety of foams and a pocketed coil support system. The combination of support and pressure relief is a good fit for combo sleepers, who will also appreciate that it’s easy to adjust positions on this mattress.
This mattress also does a great job of sleeping cool, so it’s ideal for folks who tend to sleep hot. Several factors contribute to this cooling effect, including open-cell foam (which allows for more airflow than conventional foam), a breathable cover, a gel infusion in the memory foam comfort layer (which helps dissipate heat), and coils, which further promote airflow. And because the mattress is medium-firm, you’re liable to sleep more on top of it than “in” it, so you’re unlikely to experience that “swaddled” feeling that can crop up on beds with a lot of sinkage.
Are you possibly falling in love with the Plus? Find out in my comprehensive Helix Plus review.
Its cooling properties and deep pressure relief make the Helix Plus great for heavier side sleepers who need help keeping cool throughout the night! Enjoy $75 off a standard mattress or $125 off a LUXE mattress by using either SLEEPOPOLIS75 or SLEEPOPOLIS125!
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Bear Hybrid
While many mattresses for heavy people are on the firmer side, the Bear Hybrid stands out for having a plusher feel that’s just a touch softer than medium firm (without sacrificing the support required by heavier folks). The Bear Hybrid features soft layers of foam that allow you to sink into the mattress. That softness is ideal for side sleepers, as it promotes body contouring, defends against pressure around sensitive areas such as the shoulders and hips, and helps to avoid the “jammed up” feeling that can sometimes happen on firmer mattresses..
While the Bear Hybrid offers a fairly soft feel, the mattress should still be supportive enough to maintain healthy spinal alignment when you’re on your side. It includes pocketed coils, which contribute to the supportive nature of the bed while providing great bounce (so you’re unlikely to feel stuck). And even though the mattress uses several layers of foam on top of its coils, it sleeps fairly cool thanks to gel infusions and a Celliant cover, which some studies suggest could support athletic recovery.
Can’t bear to go another second without knowing more about this mattress? Check out my Bear Hybrid review.
Specifically designed for athletes, the Bear Hybrid is a great supportive option for active sleepers. Enjoy 20% off your purchase with code SLEEPOPOLIS.
Best Hybrid Mattress
Brooklyn Titan
Hybrid beds are enjoying a lot of popularity these days. To qualify as a hybrid, a mattress must use a combination of foam and coil layers. The Titan does this with a design that’s tailored to the needs of folks who weigh 250 pounds or more. That design boasts a mix of support (to help maintain proper spinal alignment) and pressure relief. This vibe should be ideal for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, or combo sleepers who don’t spend a ton of time on their side.
The mattress gets its feel from the brand’s proprietary TitanFlex foam, pocketed coils, and high-density poly foam. Together, these resilient materials offer a number of perks. The bounce from the TitanFlex foam and pocketed coils means you won’t feel stuck in the mattress, and it’s fairly easy to move around on top of it. (Again, this could appeal to combo sleepers.) Meanwhile, the combination of foam and coils also does a great job at isolating motion, so this could be a good choice for couples.
Is this the Titan-ic shift that your bedroom needs? Learn more about this mattress in my comprehensive review.
The Titan mattress was specifically designed by Brooklyn Bedding to provide support and comfort to heavy folks who have trouble with standard mattresses. Use code SLEEPOPOLIS20 to save 20% on your purchase!
Best Innerspring Mattress
Saatva HD
Saatva is an online mattress retailer that specializes in luxury beds, and the Saatva HD is their model for heavier folks. Not only does the HD stand out among Saatva’s other models, but it also stands out on this list: While most of these mattresses are bed-in-a-box options, the Saatva HD will appeal to people who prefer the sturdiness of a more traditional (uncompressed) bed. It offers a classic innerspring feel that’s on the firmer side, and it’s made with high-quality materials that boast great support and durability. In fact, the bed comes with a 20-year warranty.
Sturdiness isn’t the only thing going for this mattress. The pillow-top features bouncy Talalay Latex that is naturally cooling and full of supportive lift. Beneath the latex, you’ll find a contouring layer of memory foam followed by a transitional layer of poly foam, which helps defend against sinking so far into the mattress that you feel discomfort from the coils. Together, these layers balance comfort and support to create a feel that should appeal to combo sleepers, since the mattress promotes pressure relief in multiple positions.. Strict back and stomach sleepers will also find a lot to love about this mattress.
Intrigued by this innerspring mattress? Read up on the Saatva HD in my full review.
The Saatva HD is a sturdy innerspring mattress that was built with the specific sleep needs of heavier folks in mind.
Best Foam Mattress
Casper Wave
The bed-in-a-box Casper Wave is distinct from other options on this list thanks to its all-foam construction. The Wave has five foam layers and a combination of poly, latex, and memory foam. Together, these foams provide nice pressure relief and a plusher feel. That plush feel should appeal to side sleepers, who might also like that the mattress is pretty tall, so there’s plenty of room to sink into the foam and avoid feeling jammed up around the shoulder. At the same time, the latex foam offers enough responsiveness to safeguard against feeling trapped.
While some foam mattresses simply don’t offer enough support to suit heavier folks, the Casper Wave’s Zoned Support structure counteracts this issue by providing extra support around the hips. This means side sleepers can enjoy pressure relief at the shoulder without losing spinal support, and it also means the mattress should adequately align the spine if you spend some time on your back or stomach. (That said, it might be too soft for strict stomach sleepers who spend all night in that position.) If the Casper Wave sounds appealing but you really want the bounce of coils, the mattress also comes in a hybrid version.
In the mood for a supportive all-foam mattress? Learn more about the Casper Wave in my full review.
Casper's most luxurious mattress, the Wave is built with pressure relief in mind. Customers in the US can use code SLEEPOPOLIS to save $200!
Mattress Buying for Heavier People
Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, there are a few factors that are critically important for overweight or large sleepers. As you’re beginning your research and shopping experience you’ll want to make sure to consider all of the following factors. These factors and attributes are of critical importance and purchasing a mattress with these characteristics will ensure the best sleep for heavy people.
An important note – “heavy”, “‘large”, and “overweight” are a bit general as terms. For the purpose of this guide all three of these terms will mean sleepers above 200 pounds. Not ever sleeper over 200 pounds is overweight, by the same token, just because you’re 150 pounds doesn’t mean you’re not overweight. That said, to help keep things as simple as possible we’ll consider heavy / large / overweight as anything above 200 pounds. All mattresses discussed below can support up to at least 300 pounds, with several capable of supporting 350-450 pounds.
Mattress Thickness
This could seem obvious, but mattress thickness is a topic that many people may overlook. For sleepers under 200 pounds, a 10” mattress is usually sufficient. For heavier sleepers, you’ll want to look for a mattress that is at least 12” thick or thicker. What you’re really looking for in these thicker mattresses is deep compression support. Heavier sleepers (whether you’re overweight or simply larger) create a larger amount of pressure on the mattress and many thinner mattresses fall short in providing the support you may need.
Some 10″ mattresses that utilize advanced foams, an extra thick comfort layer, or other design specs that improve deep compression support can allow them to function well for heavier sleepers as well (depending on your firmness preferences and sleeping position). However, as a general rule it’s best to find a mattress with a thicker profile as it will more likely be able to offer consistent support and deep compression support. Deep compression support and the need for a thicker profile mattress only becomes more and more of an issue the heavier you are.
Firmness
The firmness level of your new mattress should be determined by what type of sleeper you are. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my mattress firmness guide. This informational guide will walk you through the steps of identifying the correct firmness for you. Most heavier sleepers tend to require and prefer a mattress on the medium to medium firm side (around a 4-7 on the firmness scale).
When considering the right firmness for you the most important factor to address is your weight with respect to the firmness and feel. The heavier you are the deeper and more pronounced the sinkage and hug you’re going to experience. Many sleepers associate increased sinkage with increased softness. For example, a mattress that is normally rated at an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale might feel more like a 7 out of 10 for a sleeper that’s 250 pounds or more. All mattress reviews on Sleepopolis sinkage measurements and firmness ratings.
As a general rule, if you’re over 250 pounds you’ll experience 1-2″ of additional sinkage (varies by mattress and body type).
Edge Support
To ensure the best mattress for heavier, larger, and/or overweight people, be sure to consider the edge support as well. Mattresses are mostly used for sleeping at night, but your bed can play a lot of roles during the day. If you frequently find yourself sitting on the edge of your bed throughout the day, edge support will be that much more important. Edge support can also be important for amorous activities.
Lastly, in addition to simply sitting on the edge of the mattress, a mattress with strong and stable edges will help to prevent any significant sagging or collapse when sleeping near the edge of the mattress.
In general, mattresses built from springs, coil-on-coil construction, or hybrid designs (utilizing springs + foam) will offer the best edge support. Most foam mattresses tend to struggle with edge support, especially with heavier sleepers. This is simply a byproduct of the foam design. This is less of an issue for thicker foam mattresses, but still something to keep in mind.
Sleeping Hot
A common complaint from heavy people is the nightly reality of “sleeping hot.” This term is used for mattresses that do not ventilate or breathe well throughout the night. Add two warm bodies, sheets, a comforter, pets, kids – well, you see how this can get uncomfortable quickly. For heavier sleepers, there is more mass, hence more heat is generated. Without a mattress that breathes, you may find yourself waking up in the middle of the night and quickly throwing off all the covers.
Foam mattress tend to sleep warmer than spring / hybrid mattresses. However, many advanced foam mattresses have largely solved the problems with heat retention. I would recommend avoiding inexpensive memory foam mattresses and more traditional / basic memory foams. These types of foam mattresses are more likely to be the type of basic memory foam that absorbs and retains heat.
Innerspring and hybrid mattresses don’t absorb heat as much and inherently help to keep the mattress cool. Additionally, foams like latex, Avena, advanced open cell memory foam, or mattresses that utilize gel or other cooling layers (do your research on the gel though, many gels don’t do what they claim) will improve cooling.
Mattress Types
As with any shopper looking for a new mattress, there are many choices in what type of mattress to choose. To give an overview of your options, the most popular mattresses on the market are memory foam, latex, innerspring, or hybrids (utilizes a combination of materials).
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattresses are great options for larger sleepers. These mattresses can be super soft or very firm, depending on the make and material content. Foam mattresses are supportive and are known to relieve pressure points by providing even, consistent support that contours to your body, no matter what position you sleep in. With memory foam, be aware of breathability. Search for brands that outwardly address how they solve the “sleeping hot” issue so you know you will be comfortable throughout the night.
Look specifically for memory foam mattresses with an open cell structure, gel / other cooling layers, and/or a cover that uses a cooling material or textile.
Latex
For larger and heavier people, a latex mattress can be good option. Latex offers great comfort and good cooling (it does not absorb heat the same way most memory foams do). Additionally, it tends to offer better bounce than memory or other poly foams (not at the same level as spring mattresses, but not bad). Additionally, latex tends to have less of a pronounced contouring hug than memory foam. The hug on latex foam is more of a rounded contour vs. the sharp contour of memory foam. If you prefer a more balanced sinkage / hugging contour support latex is a great compromise.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses can be both very good or very bad for obese people. Lower quality innerspring mattresses can create pressure points or inconsistent support due to the nature of their construction. If you do elect to go with an innerspring try to look for coil-on-coil construction. This type of mattress uses two layers of springs which improves the feel, support, deep compression, and overall build quality of the mattress.
Innerspring mattresses do typically offer better edge support than foam mattress. If you sleep very close to the edge or otherwise use the edge of your mattress a great deal this can be a big pro.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses can utilize both coils and/or layers of foam. These types of mattresses have many of the same benefits that innerspring mattresses have, including: better cooling due to improved airflow from the coils, better edge support, more bounce, and better deep compression support. Hybrids generally use layers of memory, latex, or other foam. The result is a mattress that is designed to minimize some of the negatives of foam and coil mattresses, while emphasizing their pros.
Best Mattresses for Heavy, Larger, & Overweight People
As you can see, there are so many factors to consider when shopping for the best mattress for heavy people. Overall, you’re going to want a mattress that fits the profile below. Sleepopolis recommends the following mattresses for heavier, larger, and overweight people:
| Mattress Brand | Description | Weight Limit* | Price*** | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Hybrid design with coil on coil construction. There is a mix of gel and latex foams to provide cooling and bounce. The support system is zoned to provide extra support where needed most. | 450 lbs | $1,499 | See Current Offer | Coming Soon! |
 | Uses gel infusion in cover to promote cooling as well as high density foams to avoid sagging of the mattress over time. The support layer of the mattress consists of pocketed coils and there is a layer of edge support foam surrounding the coils to strengthen the side of the mattress. | 500 lbs | $1,499 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
 | Hybrid design using Aveena foam to provide cooling and memory foam below for pressure relief. The support system consists of a pocketed coil layer which helps with motion transfer and allows airflow for temperature regulation. | 350 lbs | $1,475 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
 | Comfort layer is latex foam to provide bounce and cooling to the mattress. There is a layer of memory foam below the comfort layer for pressure relief and contouring as you sink further in. | 375 lbs** | $795 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
 | Uses a combination of poly, latex and memory foams to provide comfort. The Wave includes a special polymer network in the construction to provide extra support. The base of the mattress is contoured to allow for pressure relief at the hips and shoulders. | Not Listed | $1,850 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
 | Comfort layer is made of a hyper-elastic polymer grid structure, creating columns of polymer that are supportive until a certain threshold of pressure is reached. Once that threshold is reached, the column releases to allow that area to sink in, providing pressure relief. | 300 lbs | $999 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
 | All foam design that uses high density memory foams to provide pressure relief. The high density of these materials improves the durability of the mattress, defending against the formation of imprints in the mattress. | Not Listed | $899 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
*These weight limits are based on one person sleeping on one side of the mattress. As a general rule, they can usually be doubled for the total supported weight of the mattress. Many of these mattresses are capable of supporting more weight, however, the weight limit is the manufacturer specific limit to which the warranty will be valid.
**Ghostbed lists suggested weight limit for entire mattress as 750 lbs. This number is meant to estimate the weight limit for a single sleeper on one side of the mattress.
***This is the default pricing for Queen size mattresses, be sure to check our Coupons page for available discounts.
The above mattresses:
- Are at least 12” thick (two exceptions, noted above)
- Provide an exceptional level of deep compression support
- Are 4-7 on the firmness scale, where 10 is the most firm (several available in harder or softer firmnesses if you need a firmness on the extremes)
- Provide great support to your spine, hips and neck
- Sleep very or exceptionally cool (due to a combination of construction and materials)
- All of these mattresses will work with an adjustable foundation
- Prices are Queen size and include the respective discount promo code (if available)
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