Best Mattresses for Heavy Bodies

Getting a great night’s sleep is extremely important, especially for those with busy lives. Unfortunately, many people struggle to get the rest they need and often their mattress is one of the main culprits for this. The best mattresses are those that have great support, pressure relief, and are durable and long-lasting. The problem with a lot of mattresses is that they’re not built with your specific body in mind. Instead, they are often designed for an "average" that can leave those with bodies that are heavier or lighter than that with a less comfortable experience. Some brands, however, are filling the need gap by creating mattresses with specific weights in mind. These tend to be the best mattresses for heavy people to use.

For heavier people having a mattress that supports you is even more important as being overweight can cause a whole array of sleep problems such as sleep apnea or snoring. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious medical condition where breathing becomes irregular as you sleep, repeatedly stopping and starting leading to a night of poor sleep and increasing your risk of abnormal heart rhythms and stroke. Some recent studies also suggest that a lack of proper sleep may also lead to increased stress and further weight gain, as inadequate sleep often causes hormone imbalances that have the potential to disrupt your metabolism.

There are a lot of different options when it comes to mattresses, in terms of brands, thickness, density, and material. All of the choices and terminology can prove confusing. Since choosing the right mattress will have a big impact on the quality of your sleep, it's important to take certain qualities in particular into consideration while mattress shopping. To find the best mattress for heavy people, you should take a look at the following features.

Mattress Height and Thickness

The thickness of your mattress is very important, not just for support but also for its durability over time. Thinner mattresses tend to break down faster, particularly for heavier people, so you should really be looking at thicker mattresses to buy. For those who weigh more than 200 pounds, the best option is around 12 to 14 inches height, with 10 inches being the absolute minimum for choosing a comfortable mattress that offers the best support and will last you a long time.

Density

The density of a mattress will also affect the support it gives you, higher densities push the body upwards as you sleep and tend to be better for people with back pain than lower density options. As with the thickness, a higher density mattress will also be more durable than lower density counterparts meaning you will have a longer-lasting mattress, the average lifespan being around 9 or 10 years. It’s important to note that mattresses which are higher density also have less effective temperature control, meaning that you may sometimes feel too hot whilst sleeping in hotter climates.  The best mattress for heavy people will have a density of around 5lb or greater.

Materials

Modern mattresses come in a variety of different materials each with their own pros and cons to consider. There are five main types of material to consider:

Innerspring

This is the more traditional mattress style, with steel coils inside the mattress providing a springy and supportive base. The exterior is usually padded for comfort with upholstery, or sometimes foam for extra comfort. Although it can have a lower durability than other material types, innerspring mattresses provide great support and excellent temperature control. The number of coils and also their design in shape or thickness can have a big effect on how supportive the mattress actually is. The best mattress for heavy people would be one with a higher number of coils.

Latex foam

Latex mattresses provide good support whilst being a lot more durable than other options, so you won't have to replace it as regularly. Natural latex also has good temperature control meaning you will be less likely to get too hot whilst sleeping.

Memory foam

These mattresses are designed to contour to your body and provide pressure relief by compressing and molding to your shape. They tend to not be as good for heavier people. These mattresses can be too soft and end up permanently sagging and not providing enough firm support over time. Mattresses using memory foam are also usually hotter than other those using other material types. However, there are now some more advanced types of memory foams that have better temperature control.

Adjustable air

A great solution for couples with different sizes and sleep preferences, these mattresses contain internal air chambers which can be filled or deflated to adjust the firmness and support levels of each side.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses typically combine the best features of innerspring, latex, and memory foam. At the same time, they minimize the downsides of each material. These can provide excellent support in addition to having good durability and temperature control. They are a good choice for heavier people to use.

Foundation

Although not part of the mattress itself, a mattress foundation also plays a big role in overall support and comfort. Many companies sell foundations that have been specifically designed to be used alongside their mattress. While some people prefer to put their mattress on the floor, warranties are often void without the use of a foundation as well.  If you have difficulty getting into and out of bed it might be a good idea to consider getting a lower foundation to set your mattress at a more comfortable height for you to use.

Mattress Recommendations

Of course, these factors are not the only thing you need to consider when choosing a mattress. Many mattresses are not designed with heavier people in mind. A lot of mattresses even have weight maximums. You should adhere to these guidelines if you intend to receive the best possible support while you sleep. If you want to find the best mattress for heavy people, the following brands are some great options.

Purple

The star of the Purple mattress is its patented Purple Grid comfort layer, which supports heavy bodies and actively works to prevent overheating associated with higher body mass. Its temperature-neutral polymer gel build and over 1,800 air channels promote circulation and cooling. The Grid is also hyper flexible and melts under pressure points while supporting the rest of the body using two layers of durable high-density foam. The Purple mattress is available in all standard sizes, including Cal King and Split King. Purple mattresses can support up to 600 lbs and the brand reports that exceeding this weight will not void the warranty at all. With each purchase, customers benefit from a 100-night trial, a 10-year warranty, and free shipping and returns. You can read a full review of the Purple mattress here.

Dreamcloud

The Dreamcloud mattress is a well-designed hybrid mattress that combines support and temperature control. It is engineered with gel-infused memory foam, hypoallergenic latex, and durable spring coils. The mattress has no weight limit and is well suited to support heavier people. It has a medium firmness and is available in a range of different sizes, from twin to California King. Dreamcloud offers free shipping and a lifetime warranty on their mattresses. You can read a full review on the Dreamcloud mattress here.

Ecosa

The Ecosa mattress is primarily made from specially designed memory foam that allows breathability and cooling while still contouring to body shape. You can rearrange the inner layers to your liking, so you can choose the exact firmness level you prefer. Furthermore, it has excellent durability. Although memory foam is usually not the best mattress for heavy people, this mattress is able to support 330lbs of weight on each side. Ecosa offers free shipping to both the US and Australia and can be tested for 100 nights. It comes with a 15-year warranty. You can read a full review of the Ecosa mattress here.

Saatva HD

The Saatva HD mattress is a luxury hybrid innerspring mattress and a high contender for the best mattress for heavy people. It can support weights of up to 500 pounds per side (1000 pounds total). This mattress for heavy people combines a high-durability steel coil base that is 25% stronger than the industry standard with supportive 5-zone Talaylay latex and a plush organic cotton pillow top.  The mattress is also breathable thanks to its use of open coils and cotton. Saatva HD mattresses come in a full range of sizes. Purchase includes free delivery with installation, a 120-night trial, and a 20-year warranty. You can read a full review of the Saatva HD mattress here.

Conclusion

A perfect night's sleep is much closer than before! With this information in mind choosing your ideal mattress should be a lot easier to do. The recommendations in this article are a great place to start. For more brand reviews, check out the review page.

This article was updated on 3/21/2021.