Regular mattresses are often designed to support folks weighing less than 200 to 230 pounds, anything beyond that, you would need a special mattress designed to perform according to the heavier weight.
However, finding the best mattress for heavy sleepers can be challenging, especially if you don’t know where to look and what to look for.
To help you out, I’ve gathered some of my recommendations for top mattress brands for heavy sleepers. Whether it’s a memory foam or a budget-friendly mattress you want, you can find my recommendations below.
Five Major Issues Heavy Sleepers Often Deal With
But first, let’s talk about the common issues heavier people must deal with when using a mattress and what type of features they should be on the lookout for.
Mattress Sagging
This happens when the material isn’t strong or dense enough to support the weight of the person using the bed.
Poor Support
There are certain materials used in making regular beds that don’t actively offer support for heavy or tall individuals. Without adequate support, the material would break down faster under all the weight.
Lack of Edge Support
This is another common problem. Edges in a mattress are often the least supported and they immediately sink causing an uncomfortable sleep – sometimes you’d even end up rolling off the bed!
Heat Trapping
Certain materials like old memory foam can easily trap heat. The heavier the individual, the more they sink into the bed causing heat to become trapped. This causes the user to sleep hot, affecting the quality of sleep.
Mattress Breakdown or Softening
Over time, most regular mattresses will break down under the repeated strain of usage. This is especially true if it’s not designed to accommodate heavier individuals or those above 230 to 300 pounds in the first place.
Too Firm Mattress Without Pressure Relief
Most sleepers believe if the mattress is too firm, it’s great for them. They are proud of its firmness, however they are probably lacking deep restful sleeps due to the lack of pressure relief.
Which Mattress Features Should Heavy Sleepers Look For?
One reason why most plus-size sleepers have trouble finding a good heavy-duty mattress is that they’re not sure what to look for in the first place. Here are a few features to check out when deciding which one to get if you’re over 230 pounds.
1. Responsiveness or “Bounce”
When you have a less responsive mattress, you often get the feeling of being “stuck” in the layers. This is especially true for tall or heavier individuals.
2. Mattress Type
The materials the mattress is made of contributes to whether it will work for plus-size individuals or not. It’s also a matter of personal preference. If you like the feel of the mattress hugging your body, memory foam or all-polyfoam would work. The same goes true for latex mattresses or certain airbeds. However, if you value support more, a hybrid or innerspring is the way to go.
3. Firmness Level
Mattresses designed for those above 230 pounds are often in the medium to extra-firm levels. If it’s softer, the mattress will be uncomfortable for those on the hefty side since they will tend to sink further in, sometimes making it uncomfortable to sleep.
4. Mattress Thickness
Thicker or higher-profile mattresses do provide better support for those on the heavy side. But keep in mind, some companies add padding layers to mattresses over 12 inches, so it’s always important to know the materials used to judge whether a thick mattress is the best choice.
5. Materials Used
Medium to high-density foams is better compared to low-density foams for those weighing over 230 pounds. They sag less and will provide even support. A strong coil system for an innerspring or hybrid mattress is also ideal, especially on the edges to give an overall balance to the mattress.
6. Contouring & Pressure Relief
Contouring and pressure relief are important to a restful night’s sleep. Heavier sleepers need adequate support for areas like the hips and shoulders since these tend to sink into the mattress more. Mattresses that have extreme contouring often do not provide enough support, which leads to an uncomfortable night’s rest.
The Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers
Now that you have a good idea of what to look for in a mattress for heavier sleepers, here are my recommendations:
Memory Foam: Novosbed
Novosbed is designed as a traditional memory foam mattress, so it provides a lot of contour and hugging comfort. You can find this mattress in different firmness levels but as a heavier sleeper, you want the medium to firm option (6.5 out of 10) to get a good amount of pressure relief and support while sleeping.
The Novosbed mattress is an all-foam construction and measures 11-inches in total. It’s composed of two dense layers of memory foam and a thick 7-inch dense support polyfoam as the base. What’s more, Novosbed mattresses offer the Comfort+ topper which helps either create a soft or firm feel.
Despite being made from memory foam, it doesn’t sleep completely hot and allows room for temperature regulation. There’s also good motion isolation making it ideal for couples.
Sleepers over 230 pounds will get a good amount of support around the trunk and hips. The Comfort+ firm topper would also be useful if you tend to sleep on the back or stomach. With all these components in place, it makes the Novosbed among the best mattress for heavy sleepers.
Innerspring: Winkbeds Plus
Created for back sleepers of different sizes, the Winkbeds Plus mattress offers a lot of support which helps promote good spine alignment during sleep. You can find different types of Winkbeds Plus mattresses including the Winkbeds EcoCloud, made from natural latex, and the Winkbeds MemoryLux, which is made from all foam.
The Winkbeds Plus version is created for heavier folks in mind. It’s made from latex foam and pocketed coil layers. The mattress is created with a great bounce and awesome response time thanks to the latex. This makes it easy to move around in bed because it won’t let you sink in too much.
The mattress is also designed to let you sleep cool thanks to the pocketed coil and the Tencel cover. Both allow for good airflow. Even better, this comes with great edge support courtesy of the high-density polyfoam edge layer.
Natural: Eco Terra
Eco Terra mattresses are designed to be organic, all-natural, and above all, budget-friendly. Their hybrid, an all-natural mattress is made from a combination of organic wool, organic cotton, Talalay latex, and steel coils that have been upcycled.
Those weighing over 230 pounds and prefer a hybrid construction mattress will find what they are looking for in the Eco Terra. The mattress has amazing breathability, letting temperatures remain cool. It also has a good amount of bounce and responsiveness which keeps the mattress comfortable.
The coils used are encased in fabric, which helps with motion isolation despite the amount of bounce it offers. Plus, a 16-gauge coil system is situated in the perimeter of the mattress offering fantastic edge support as well.
Both the latex and the responsive coils conform to the body ensuring support in pressure areas. This helps with spine alignment so there’s no discomfort.
This mattress comes in a Medium (5 out of 10) and a Medium Firm (6.5 out of 10) firmness level. Those weighing more than 230 pounds are better off with the medium-firm option.
The Eco Terra mattress is especially recommended for heavier sleepers who sleep on their sides as it provides fantastic support and contouring.
Budget-Friendly: Nectar Premier
If price is a big concern, the Nectar Premier mattress is a budget-friendly mattress for heavy people. This all-foam mattress is made up of several layers of thick memory foam. Usually, these wouldn’t be a good fit for plus-size sleepers, however, if you weigh between 230 to 300 pounds, the Nectar Premier mattress would give you a sweet spot between comfort and support.
Even though this is made from memory foam, the mattress doesn’t sleep hot owing to the Phase Change Material placed on top. This helps eliminate body heat which usually builds up as you sleep.
The thick layers of memory foam give sleepers amazing pressure relief, especially for those who tend to sleep on their sides.
Editor’s Pick: Titan Firm Mattress
A good competitor for the most budget-friendly mattress is the Brooklyn Bedding Titan. The company has been kicking it when it comes to producing quality mattresses that different types of sleepers can enjoy. Their Titan Firm Hybrid is specially crafted for heavier sleepers, offering a combination of gel foam, TitanCaliber coils, and TitanFlex Foam construction.
The high-density foam layers prevent sagging while the coils offer great airflow, allowing heat to go in and out without being trapped. What’s more, customers can also purchase a separate cooling panel to be placed on top of the mattress.
What makes the Titan Firm Hybrid extra special is that it’s designed to be affordable and to last for years without ever sagging or failing.
Best Luxury: Eight Pod
Perhaps the most high-tech mattress on this list, the Eight Sleep Pod mattress uses technology to ensure you get a great night’s rest. It’s made from a series of high-density polyfoam with a removable knit cover.
As for the bells and whistles, this isn’t an ordinary “smart” bed. In fact, it has three main things going for it. One, it provides a heating and cooling system. Two, it has a built-in sleep tracker to help you figure out your sleeping patterns. Three, it has a built-in smart alarm that works with other smart home items.
Edge support is great on the mattress Those weighing between 130 and 250 pounds and consider themselves to be side sleepers will enjoy this mattress too.
The Eight Sleep Pod mattress has a medium-firm feel, allowing heavier sleepers to receive padding on the shoulders and hips. Just keep in mind that because it isn’t a firm mattress, you might feel like you’re sinking in, or you might find it’s too soft for you.
The Best Type of Mattress for Heavy Sleepers Based on Sleeping Position
Here are 3 mattresses I recommend depending on your sleeping position:
Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution 15”
Price: Starts at $1,799 for Twin
Credit: Nolah Mattress
Measuring 15” in height, this is one of the thickest mattresses available today. The Nolah Evolution 15″ Mattress gives users five layers of proprietary high-density foam and coils, offering a comfortable and well-supported sleep for heavy sleepers.
It also comes in three firmness options – Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm. The mattress is perfect for a heavy side sleeper thanks to its apparent thickness and overall support.
When using the Nolah Evolution, I recommend going for the luxury firm option because it’s equivalent to a medium-firm. Meanwhile, if you tend to be a stomach or back sleeper, go for the firm model to receive the proper support.
The mattress comes with a strong coil system divided into different zones to better accommodate movement and sleeping positions. This allows for a good amount of bounce as well as airflow in the mattress.
Nolah Evolution 15” mattress includes a 120-night trial, and they offer free ground delivery for customers in the United States. It even comes with a lifetime warranty against structural defects or indentations. For more info, read my full review of the Nolah Evolution.
Back Sleepers: Winkbeds Plus
The Winkbeds Plus is composed of polyfoam, responsive latex, and low as well as high gauge coils. It’s ideal for heavy back sleepers thanks to the even distribution of support it provides when sleeping.
The foam layers give comfort and contouring around the key parts of the body, while still allowing for breathability. Meanwhile, the coil system offers a strong amount of responsiveness too. The low gauge coils are placed towards the middle while thinner, high gauge coils line the perimeter of the mattress. This higher-gauge coil serves as fantastic edge support, ensuring there’s no sagging.
While I recommend this for back sleepers, anybody who is over 230 pounds will like this mattress.
Winkbeds Plus has a very competitive price point and the company ships their mattresses for free anywhere in the contiguous United States.
Stomach Sleepers: Saatva HD
The Saatva HD mattress is made for heavy and tall sleepers. While the Nolah Evolution 15” is tall, the Saatva HD is even taller, winning by .05 inches against the Nolah.
It has a strong and sturdy, 8.75-inch foundation with the rest of the layers made from memory foam, Talalay latex, and steel coils. All these materials are strong and durable, ensuring you get a mattress that can withstand daily usage.
Even better, the mattress was made with special zoning so even though this is fantastic for stomach sleepers, it can provide amazing support for back and side sleepers as well.
The mattress is also considered to be the most luxurious in terms of looks and feel. It looks like it belongs in a high-end hotel and is great for those who like their mattresses to look great as well as feel amazing.
Saatva HD is a great mattress for heavy stomach sleepers. The company offers free shipping to the United States and comes with a 20-year warranty to ensure you won’t have to worry about a thing!
Combination Sleepers: Helix Plus
If you are a combination sleeper, I would recommend you go for the Helix Plus Mattress. This beautiful hybrid mattress is designed for tall people and heavy sleepers as it’s composed of both foams as well as innerspring layers.
The top layers are crafted from memory foam which helps with balance and contour, giving just the right amount of hug to the body. For the deeper layers, you’ll find a combination of high-density foam and coil layers. The coils are quiet so even if you move, there won’t be much sound.
Overall, the Helix Plus offers great support for heavy sleepers in any sleeping position. However, it’s worth noting heavy side sleepers might find the mattress to be too firm for their liking.
Helix offers free shipping within the United States, and they also have a 10-year warranty for their mattresses.
The Final Verdict
Finding the best mattress for heavy sleepers is challenging, but only if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Once you figure out which one you like best, the mattresses above are a great place to start.
————–
FAQs
What’s a good mattress for a 300-pound person?
My best recommendation is the Winkbeds Plus. While the other mattresses here would work great for heavier people, the Winkbeds Plus has that extra support and quality construction designed for those over 300 pounds.
Is a memory foam mattress good for a heavy person?
Yes, memory foam provides a good amount of contouring and pressure relief, hugging and cushioning all the right parts that normally cause problems when sleeping. However, some people don’t like how it contours to the body, so if it’s not for you, there are other wonderful materials like latex and innerspring that will do the trick.
Is a heavier mattress better?
Although it’s sometimes true the heavier the mattress, the better quality the materials used – it’s not always the case. The type of materials used is still most important compared to the weight of the mattress, so it’s best to research and find out the structure and materials before you purchase.
————–