Best Mattress for Heavy People (April 2024) - Rated by CherryPicks' Experts

Best Mattress for Heavy People: Ultimate Buying Guide

You have to be very specific when it comes to purchasing a mattress for heavyweight people. You must consider all these aspects before deciding otherwise you will spend your hard-earned money on the wrong option, one that will not stand the test of time.

As a Big Guy, What to Consider Before Buying

The most important considerations in choosing a mattress for sleepers with heavy bodies are:

Weight and Thickness

Most people overlook the thickness of a mattress when considering an option for heavyweight people. Nevertheless, it has a significant role to play in this scenario. For the people who weigh less than 220 lbs., a mattress with 10-inch thickness is sufficient.

People who weigh more than 220 lbs. should look for a mattress for heavy people with 10-inch (or even 12-inch) thickness or more.  A mattress must come with deep compression support. People who weigh more than 220 lbs. (either due to obesity or having a large body size and structure) create more pressure on the sleeping surface. The deep compression support is important to prevent bottoming out. If you’ve ever slept on an air mattress that deflated and found parts of your body touching the floor, that’s bottoming out.

A thin mattress doesn’t perform well enough to provide spinal support for heavier individuals. A mattress for heavy people needs to be deeper when it supports a heavy person or couple. The latest mattress designs feature advanced foams with a high-density comfort layer that improves compression support.

These work well for heavy people. Nevertheless, it is best to find a mattress for heavy people with a thick profile, deeper than 10-inches, so that it can consistently perform by providing spinal alignment and support.

The support core, or base layer, of a mattress is the lower part of the mattress. It is the part that supports the upper comfort layers. The support core should be at least six inches in any mattress. For heavier bodies, a thicker support core is helpful. The support core can be foam, latex, or innersprings.

The overall thickness of the mattress influences how supportive it is. Generally, the more weight it will support, the thicker the mattress you’ll want to consider.

Shape and Firmness

Mattress firmness is measured on a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being marshmallow soft and 10 being hard as a rock. Most people prefer a medium-firm mattress which is about 6.5. But the lighter a person is, the softer the mattress they need because weight is required to make their body sink into the mattress. The heavier someone is, the firmer they like their mattress because a heavy person will sink into a firmer mattress more than a lighter person.

Another factor that affects the firmness level an individual prefers is the position or positions they sleep in. Stomach and back sleepers prefer firmer mattresses while side sleepers need a softer mattress to avoid pressure points on their shoulders and hips.

The preferred firmness level is highly subjective.

All these factors need to be considered when you select the firmness level of your mattress.

Firmness is not the same as support. A mattress can be firm on the top but not have enough support to keep a heavy person from bottoming out.  The heavier the body, the more the person will sink into the mattress. The softer the mattress, the more the person will sink into the mattress regardless of their weight. If a heavy person sleeps on too soft of a mattress, they can end up sinking in so far it becomes difficult to move because their body creates a crevasse.

Generally, the heavier you are, the firmer you want your mattress to be. For heavier bodies, the comfort zone is usually between 6.5 to 8.5 on the firmness scale.

Side sleepers will prefer the lower end of the scale and stomach and back sleepers will be more comfortable on the higher end. It should be noted that sleeping on your stomach is the unhealthiest option. If you are predominantly a stomach sleeper, you may want to try to gradually shift to a side or back sleeping position. If you suffer from sleep apnea or heartburn, sleeping on your side can provide some relief.

Most health professionals suggest using a firm mattress since the firm mattress provides better support for your spine. A manufacturer that offers a sleep trial provides the best bet for you to know, for sure, that the mattress will be comfortable for you.

Density

People who weigh more than 220 lbs. must opt for a mattress that features high-density layers or innersprings.  When we talk about foam mattresses, 1.8 PCF (per cubic foot) is the minimum density requirement for the support core.

Nevertheless, bear in mind that the density specification doesn’t always come with every model of a mattress. A top-quality mattress with high-density is considered to be very durable for heavyweight sleepers.

Edge-to-edge support

Edge-to-edge support is another important aspect of your mattress. If you tend to toss and turn, a mattress without good edge support can disrupt your slumber if you roll over too close to the edge because it can decompress, and you’ll be jolted awake by a falling sensation. If it startles you, it can make your body release adrenaline that can make it difficult to get back to sleep. Firm edge support makes more of the mattress usable which can be especially important if you sleep with a partner.

A strong edge support will help prevent sagging in the long run, and your mattress won’t collapse if you tend to sleep on the edge of it. Mattresses with coil over coil, innersprings or hybrid construction with pocketed coils will provide you with the best edge support. Foams tend to provide inadequate edge support.

If you have mobility impairments, not having edge support can make transferring from the bed to a chair very difficult because you can slide off the edge when it decompresses.

Temperature neutrality

Heavier people tend to sleep hotter. Their larger mass results in more accumulated heat. Your search for a mattress for heavy people should come with the ability to regulate the temperature of the sleeper by dissipating heat from the body elsewhere.

Temperature neutrality becomes even more important when you share your bed. Sleeping with a partner increases the amount of heat generated. If your mattress doesn’t regulate the temperature, then you or your partner will wake up from a deep sleep all sticky and sweaty.

You must bear in mind that most foam mattresses sleep hot in comparison to hybrid or innerspring mattresses. Nevertheless, some memory foam models come with advanced cooling gel-infused formulas and/or open cell structured layers that improve the temperature of the mattress.

Longevity

Many mattresses degrade faster when they support more weight. In general, mattresses used by people with heavier bodies will not last as long as mattresses used by people who weigh less. If you don’t want to have to replace your mattress frequently, look for quality materials. Customers with heavy bodies have reported that some foam mattresses begin sagging within months. These are usually mattress customers who purchased their mattress from a mattress store and don’t have a sleep trial.

Innerspring, hybrid mattresses, and latex tend to be the most durable type. Of course, there will be variability in the durability of each mattress based on the materials used. An innerspring with an inadequate number of coils or coils that are too weak will not last well. A coil count of 800 or more in a Queen mattress is a good starting point in a mattress for heavy people.

The satisfaction ratings

Overall satisfaction ratings are based on average customers. Some of those customers are heavy and some are a featherweight. We take careful note when people review a mattress and indicate their weight because that helps us see how real people experience the mattress.

Mattress materials

Various mattress materials are available including memory foams, innersprings, latex, and hybrid.

Sleepers who prefer excellent support and conformance should go for memory foam mattresses. If you prefer that hug-like feel, then memory foam will prove to be your favorite here too. However, you will have to compromise on breathability and temperature neutrality if you consider memory foam for your bedroom.

Innersprings, on the other hand, are excellent at breathability and temperature regulation, but they are prone to sagging and are not very durable. These mattresses are the least durable of all other types for people of any weight, not just when a mattress for heavy people is needed.

Latex and hybrids tend to solve both the issues, but they don’t come cheap. Each one of them has their unique positives and negatives. However, due to durability latex mattresses are recommended. According to a study conducted by Pan-Yin Lim, Ph.D. latex reduces peak body pressure and relaxes the body as compared to other options.

Among all the types Hybrids are best suited for heavyweight people as they tend to provide contouring, breathability, temperature neutrality and edge support all in one mattress.

Sharing the mattress with your partner

You must always consider the combined weight of all the people who will be using the mattress before buying it. It will give you an understanding of how much-concentrated weight will be put on each region of the mattress.

It is also very important to consider whether the partners need the same type of mattress or if one needs a softer or firmer mattress than the other. Check out the best mattresses for couples to see some good options for addressing different needs of couples who sleep together.

Back Support

It is a common misconception that high firmness means high back support. In clinical tests, individuals who slept on a medium-firm mattress experienced less pain.

Round Up of the Best Mattress for Heavy People (Verified to Buy)

• 1. Signature Design by Ashley Chime 12 Inch Memory Foam Mattress,...
• 2. ZINUS 14 Inch Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam HybridMattress,...
• 3. S SECRETLAND Queen Mattress, 14 inch Individually Wrapped Coils Innerspring...
• 4. Molblly Queen Mattresses, 10 Inch Premium Cooling-Gel Memory Foam Mattress...
• 5. Sweetnight Full Mattress, 12 inch Memory Foam Mattress with Three...
• 6. ZINUS 12 Inch Ultra Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress /...
• 7. Sweetnight King Mattress in a Box - 12 Inch Plush...
• 8. 14 Inch California King Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress with Pillow,...
• 9. ZINUS 10 Inch Support Plus Pocket Spring Hybrid Mattress, Extra...
• 10. Simmons - Hybrid Gel Memory Foam Mattress - 12 Inch,...

Top 10 Mattress for Heavy People Brands on Amazon

Here is the list of top-rated brands that were evaluated by CherryPicks.

• Signature Design by Ashley
• Zinus
• S SECRETLAND
• Molblly
• Sweetnight
• MLILY
• Simmons
• Inofia
• Nectar
• LUCID

Buying a mattress for heavy people is not rocket science. Heavy bodies are harder on a mattress and they can experience more pressure on the body than smaller bodies experience. Finding a durable mattress that minimizes pain takes time, but it is an achievable goal. Firmness, durability, and sleeping position play a significant role in the decision, and you need to consider all these factors when finalizing your buying decision.

Mattresses feel softer (less firm) to people in heavier bodies because their weight makes them compress the mattress more than someone in a lighter body. For this reason, mattresses that are higher on the firmness scale are usually better.

However, if you are a side or combo sleeper, a mattress that is too firm may create pressure points for your hips and shoulders. A sleep trial that doesn’t cost you anything if the mattress doesn’t work well for you is an important consideration. One of the worst-case scenarios is being stuck with a mattress that you can’t sleep on or one that makes you wake up in pain.

Related Mattress for Heavy People Guides

For more personalized Mattress for Heavy People guides, Check those pages,

It might seem like going to a mattress store and trying the mattress in the store would be your best bet, but the research shows that trying a mattress in the store does not result in better buying decisions. Sleeping on the mattress is the best way to know if a mattress is right for you.

Top 10 Mattress for Heavy People Sellers: CPR Seller Rank List

CPR sellers rank is based on CherryPicks-AI bestselling ranking system that helps us analyze each seller's sales trends. The List of top seller ranks is our in-house data, essential for our product ranking to help you make the right shopping choice.