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:
- Heavy Back and Side Sleepers: WinkBeds Plus
- Designed for Heavy Sleepers: Big Fig
- Hybrid: Sapira
- Budget: GhostBed
- Heavy Couples: Casper Wave
- Sleeps Cool: Purple
- Memory Foam: Nest Bedding Alexander Signature
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 for Heavy Back and Side Sleepers
Queen size WinkBeds mattress
WinkBeds Plus is an innerspring mattress made specifically for heavy sleepers – particularly with back and side sleepers in mind.
The mattress comes with all sorts of reinforcement to ensure the mattress is both comfortable for heavy sleepers as well as durable.
The extra bit of foam on top gives it a nice plush feel initially, helping ease those pressure points and provide a comfortable sleeping experience. Learn more in our full WinkBeds Plus review.
If you’re a heavy sleeper and looking for other picks for back and side sleepers, I’d have a look at the Nest Bedding Alexander Luxury Contour Hybrid and the Brooklyn Bedding mattress.
Designed Specifically for Heavy Sleepers
Corner view of the Big Fig
Big Fig is specifically designed for heavy sleepers – they’re the only site (to my knowledge) that actually feature bigger people on the site! The team is laser focused on this demographic – and it shows, with a mattress that is clearly one of the sturdiest on the market, rated for up to 500 lb individuals or 1000 lb couples.
The Big Fig also has a foundation add-on that provides additional support. Though the foundation makes the bed extremely high, it definitely has the look and feel of a mattress that can support the heaviest of us. Learn more in my full Big Fig review.
The only other mattress I’ve reviewed that specifically mentions design for heavy people is the WinkBeds Plus.
Best Hybrid for Heavy Sleepers
Sapira layers
There are a number of great hybrids on the market these days, many of them a good option for heavy people. However Sapira jumps to mind because of its quality, and because I found it to be slightly firmer – which may make it a better fit for some heavy sleepers.
Sapira is made by Leesa, one of the most popular bed-in-a-box companies. Learn more about Sapira in my full Sapira mattress review.
Some other hybrid options that would be good for heavy people would be the Nest Bedding Alexander Hybrid and Tomorrow Sleep.
Best Budget Mattress for Heavy Sleepers
Queen size GhostBed mattress
Many mattresses in the lower budget range, though still good mattresses, won’t get it done for heavy people. GhostBed is an exception, with a quality 11 inches thick latex-over-memory-foam construction.
The GhostBed is priced at $795 for a queen (without discount), making it priced significantly lower than other mattress options on this list. Learn more about the GhostBed in my full GhostBed mattress review.
Two other lower-cost options that might be a good option for heavier sleepers are Zinus and Nest Bedding Love & Sleep.
Best Mattress for Heavy Couples
Showing the zoned construction of the Casper Wave mattress
The Casper Wave is the top of the line mattress from Casper, which also has the Casper and the Casper Essential.
The Casper Wave has 5 quality layers of foam with zoned construction to offer different levels of support along your body as you lay on the mattress.
In addition to offering great support and comfort for any sized sleeper – the Casper Wave is all foam, and performed very well on our motion transfer test, making it a great option for couples. Learn more about this luxury mattress in our full Casper Wave review.
Other mattresses I’d suggest for heavy couples are the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora and Tempur-Pedic.
Best for Heavy Sleepers to Sleep Cool
Corner view of the Purple mattress
The Purple mattress is another option for heavy sleepers. Its specialty gel comfort layer is temperature neutral, making it for a big person prioritizing sleeping cool.
On top of sleeping cool, the gel layer of the purple mattress is great for pressure relief. If you are looking to resolve those pressure points as a heavy person, Purple is definitely an option to consider. Learn more in my Purple mattress review.
Some other good options for sleeping cool for heavy sleepers are the GhostBed Luxe and the Zenhaven.
Best Memory Foam for Heavy Sleepers
Pressing into the Alexander Signature Series
A high quality mattress with dense foams is a good and durable option for heavy sleepers. One of our top picks for this is the Nest Bedding Alexander mattress, one of the most popular in the Nest Bedding line.
This mattress comes in 3 firmness options, but I would recommend heavy sleepers going with the medium or firm version.
Learn more about this mattress in our full Nest Alexander mattress review.
For other memory foam options for heavy sleepers, I would suggest looking at Amerisleep and Novosbed.
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.
Loom & Leaf mattress layers (top to bottom) – 2″ conforming gel foam, 2.5″ visco-elastic memory foam, 2″ transitional support layer, 5.5″ high-density support layer
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).
Ideal firmness range for heavy people – look for 4-7 out of 10 (where 10 is the most firm
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.
Featured above, the Purple mattress – utilizes a high elastic polymer + poly foams to delivery incredible cooling, bounce, and responsiveness.
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.
Memory foam mattress example – 6.5″ memory foam, 5.5″ support foam
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.
Latex mattress example – 4″ latex, 6″ support foam
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.
Coil mattress example – 4″ pocketed coils, 8″ support coils
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.
Hybrid mattress example – 1.5″ latex, 1.5″ memory foam, 7″ support foam
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)
Logan Block
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