Best Mattresses for Heavy People of 2023

For people who are heavier than average, finding a mattress that supports you without being stiff and rigid presents a challenge. Fortunately, some of today’s top-rated brands provide mattresses made with your needs in mind.

We’ve selected a list of the best mattresses for heavy people to help you find the right one for you. Our selections include several mattresses specifically designed for sleepers 230 lbs and up, with high-density foam, resilient coil springs, durable firmness options, and other features designed to provide a supportive and comfortable night’s sleep.

Compare our top picks, read our buyer’s guide for plus-size sleepers, and start getting your best rest night after night.

Best Mattress for Heavy People: Our Top Picks

• Best Hybrid Mattress — Saatva HD
• Best Extra-Firm Mattress — Titan Plus
• Best Mattress for Back Pain — Helix Plus
• Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers — DreamCloud Premier
• Best Mattress for Couples — Emma CliMax Hybrid
• Best Budget Mattress — Nectar
• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Nolah Signature 12″
• Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers — WinkBeds Plus
• Best Mattress for Back Sleepers – Bear Star Hybrid
• Best for Lifetime Warranty — Puffy Royal Hybrid

Why You Can Trust Mattress Advisor

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity in our product reviews and other content by incorporating real customer feedback, empirical testing and objective evaluations. Our results and recommendations are never influenced by the commission we may receive from brands, and products we receive are never guaranteed a positive review.

When we evaluate mattresses for plus-size people, we expand our review process to put additional focus on:

• Firmness. Mattresses that are medium-firm or higher, or have firmness options in that range
• Weight capacity. Mattresses that can support one or more people weighing 230 lbs and up
• Durability. Thicker mattresses made with sturdy materials designed to resist sagging

See our recap to find out how our featured mattresses stack up against these criteria.

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Saatva HD

Supports up to 1,000 pounds

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

The Saatva brand is beloved for making ultra-comfy luxury mattresses; this is its model specifically designed to meet the needs of heavier sleepers. From bottom to top, the mattress provides targeted support, with a durable, five-layer hybrid construction that blends high-density foam, latex, and coils.

The lower coil layer offers a support base for the upper layer of individually foam-wrapped steel coils that respond to pressure separately; all are 25% stronger than industry standard coils to ensure the mattress supports up to 1,000 pounds overall. A high-quality memory foam layer provides additional pressure relief—it earns an 8/10 for pressure relief in our Mattress Advisor testing—and just enough hug to reduce tension and stress in the lower back.

Other reasons to love it:

The mattress also excels in cooling, alignment, and responsiveness, so hot sleepers and sleepers with back pain should be quite comfortable on it. In addition, Saatva prides itself on being eco-friendly and using only non-toxic materials. That means no chemical smell and no toxic off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Plus, Saatva offers other upscale perks, like free white glove delivery—so you don’t have to wait for the mattress to unfurl and wrestle it onto your bed yourself—plus a lifetime warranty and 365-night sleep trial.

Read our full Saatva HD mattress review. You can also check out our roundup of best hybrid mattresses.

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Titan Plus

Supports up to 1,000 lbs

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

Heavier people need a firmer mattress because more weight means more pressure on a mattress, which causes it to compress more. A firmer mattress can better resist that compression and maintain optimal support; a softer mattress will cause your body to sink in too far for sufficient comfort and alignment.

The good news is, the Titan Plus from Brooklyn Bedding has firmness to spare, to the tune of an 8 out of 10 on our firmness scale. This hybrid’s combination of high-density comfort foams and heavy-duty coils creates a durable mattress that resists body impressions. Specifically designed for heavier sleepers, the Titan Plus has a total weight capacity of 1,000 pounds.

Other reasons to love it:

Restless sleepers and combination sleepers are sure to appreciate the near-perfect 9.5/10 Mattress Advisor score for responsiveness. This also suggests it’s easy to get in and out of the bed—you won’t feel like you’re sinking into it. Hot sleepers will love that the mattress earns an 8.5/10 score for cooling, and you can even add an optional cooling panel for an additional charge. Finally, the Titan Plus also outclasses most of the competition when it comes to spine alignment, where it earns a 9.5/10 score.

Read our full Titan Plus mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best firm mattresses.

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Helix Plus

Supports up to 1,000 lbs

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

We’ve chosen the Helix Plus as our best mattress for heavy people with back pain based on its features and testing performance. If you want a second opinion, the Helix Plus has also been endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association.

Formerly known as the Helix Nightfall, the Helix Plus is made with high-density materials, including an extra support layer of Helix Dynamic Foam designed to contour your body, and memory foam to provide bonus pressure relief. It scores an 8/10 for pressure relief in Mattress Advisor testing, along with an 8.5/10 in spine alignment, which are the two biggest indicators of its pain support bonafides. Layers of XL wrapped coils and DuraDense foam help provide added support and long-lasting durability.

Other reasons to love it:

The Plus earns an 8/10 for cooling, which should come as great news for sweaty sleepers. Due to its breathable coil layers and Tencel cover, the mattress can prevent you from overheating throughout the night. If you want additional cooling, you can add on a crisp GlacioTex cover for $199 more.

Read our full Helix Plus mattress review. Also, see our roundup of the best mattresses for back pain.

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DreamCloud Premier

Supports up to 650 lbs (estimated)

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

The DreamCloud Premier is a five-layer pillow-top hybrid designed to sleep cool, from cover to coils. Although the DreamCloud website doesn’t specify a weight capacity, specifications from parent company Resident Sleep show an estimate of around 650 pounds, which we’re happy to cosign considering the mattress’s general construction (hybrids generally support more weight than strictly foam models) and use of premium, high-quality materials. We gave this mattress a 9/10 for durability in our testing, which suggests it will maintain good support for years to come.

The mattress also scored well for edge support and pressure relief—two things heavier sleepers greatly benefit from in a mattress. Edge support means the mattress maintains its structure and support evenly to the edges of the mattress. The Premier’s 10/10 score for pressure relief suggests the mattress will cradle the contours of your body and not cause too much tension and discomfort to build up in any one area.

Other reasons to love it:

The Premier’s cover is made of light, breathable cashmere, and the innerspring and foam layers are designed to work in unison to dissipate heat. With an 8.5/10 Mattress Advisor score for cooling, the DreamCloud Premier should do a fine job of preventing night sweats and overheating. Also, the pillow-top layer is designed to conform to your body for pressure relief. DreamCloud provides a lifetime warranty and a 365-night sleep trial.

Read our full DreamCloud Premier mattress review. Also of interest: our roundup of best mattresses for hot sleepers.

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Emma CliMax Hybrid

Supports up to 1,000 lbs

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

The Emma CliMax Hybrid is not just a mattress for plus-sized couples but also a mattress for couple-related activities that don’t involve sleeping. To be more direct, the CliMax Hybrid was designed to be the ideal bed on which people over 250 lbs can enjoy both sleep and sex.

To that end, the Emma CliMax Hybrid has six layers, including a pocketed coil system to provide plenty of bounce. It earns a 9/10 score in our testing for responsiveness, which means that it’s easy to move around on, and a matching 9/10 for edge support, so you can really spread out on the bed without sliding off or worrying about sagging. The mattress also has a good firmness for heavier sleepers—we estimate it at a 7.5/10.

Other reasons to love it:

The CliMax Hybrid scored fairly well across the board in our testing, with 8 or above marks for edge support, spine alignment, responsiveness, durability, and cooling. We also liked both its fairly budget-friendly price (for a mattress of this type) and 11.5” height in most sizes (king and California king are 12”). Because the mattress is relatively compact for a design aimed at heavier sleepers, it’s easier to move it around and doesn’t require deep-pocket sheets.

Read our full Emma CliMax Hybrid mattress review. You might also be interested in our roundups of best mattresses for couples and best mattresses for sex.

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Nectar

Supports up to 650 lbs

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

Nectar excels at providing affordable mattresses that match up well with many kinds of sleepers, including people who weigh more than average. The original Nectar mattress has a weight capacity of 650 pounds, which is higher than that of your typical budget-friendly memory foam bed.

With a 9/10 for edge support, the mattress also does a good job of maintaining its structure and support all the way across the bed. This level of edge support goes a long way in preventing that sagging feeling when you sit at the edge of the bed—and speaks to the overall durability of the mattress for people of all sizes.

Other reasons to love it:

The Nectar brand is known for its value—regular price for a queen size is about $999, not counting the frequent sales and promotions that could shave more dollars off the price tag.

Performance-wise, the Nectar’s pressure-relieving qualities and medium firmness should match up well with most side sleepers. It scores a very respectable 8.5/10 for pressure relief in our testing lab. If you have chronic neck pain or back pain, however, consider a mattress that offers better spine alignment.

Read our full Nectar mattress review. You can also see our roundup of best budget mattresses.

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Nolah Signature 12″

Supports up to 700 lbs

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

Heavier side sleepers should find a lot to like about the Nolah Signature 12” mattress, starting with its outstanding pressure relief. In Mattress Advisor testing, this mattress went above and beyond with a 9.25/10 score. Pressure relief is a key performance category for side sleepers, whose sleeping position tends to put extra pressure on the shoulders and hips.

Thanks to its design, the Nolah Signature 12” is one of the rare all-foam beds we would recommend for heavier people. The main reason is the 7-inch high-density core foundation layer. The Nolah Signature 12” can support up to 700 pounds, or 350 pounds per side for two people sharing a queen size or above.

Other reasons to love it:

Memory foam mattresses tend to trap heat, but the Signature 12” breaks the mold with its use of Nolah Airfoam, which is designed to sleep temperature-neutral and keep air flowing. After putting these claims to the test, we gave the mattress an 8/10 for cooling—higher than the majority of all-foam beds. We also see fit to praise Nolah’s lifetime limited warranty, which serves as a vote of confidence in the mattress’s durability.

Read our full Nolah Signature 12″ mattress review. To see similar beds, check out our roundup of best mattresses for side sleepers.

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WinkBeds Plus

Supports up to 900 lbs

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

A luxury hybrid, the WinkBeds Plus incorporates a triple-zone pocketed coil support system and high-density latex foam, with a weight capacity of 900 pounds. The design also includes contouring micro-coils and pocketed coils to provide additional durability and support.

When you choose the Plus firmness option, the feel should be a 7/10 or 8/10 on the firmness scale. Additional support layers provide a supportive surface for larger stomach sleepers. The foam layers move with the sleeper, so you won’t feel stuck as you move around. The coil construction should prevent the hips from sinking too deeply into the mattress.

Other reasons to love it:

The WinkBeds Plus earns a solid 8.5/10 Mattress Advisor score for spine alignment, one of the critical performance categories for stomach sleepers. This indicates the bed should keep you balanced and aligned from neck to tailbone. We also found that the bed provides excellent cooling, so hot sleepers should get a comfortable night of rest without waking up a sticky mess. Our only caveat about this mattress is that it has sub-par motion transfer. If your partner is tossing and turning on the bed, chances are you’ll be aware of it.

Read our full WinkBeds Plus mattress review. You can also check out our roundup of best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

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Bear Star Hybrid

Supports up to 700 lbs (estimated)

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

When it comes to heavy sleepers and back sleepers alike, a sufficiently firm and durable mattress is crucial. The Bear Star Hybrid has both a medium-firm firmness level (6/10) and a 9.5/10 durability score.

The overall support provided by this memory foam/innerspring hybrid helps prevent sleepers from sinking too far into the material, keeping the hips up and properly aligned with the rest of the spine. In fact, the Star Hybrid has an exceptional 9.5/10 score for spine alignment. Although Bear doesn’t list a weight capacity for its mattresses, a well-made hybrid of this caliber should support up to 700 pounds comfortably.

Other reasons to love it:

Bear makes their mattresses with athletes in mind, and the Star Hybrid’s features include a Celliant fiber cover designed to promote recovery and keep blood flowing by reflecting infrared back at your body. But you don’t have to be an athlete to make use of these features: Bear’s recovery technology and open-cell cooling foam are features most sleepers can appreciate.

Read our full Bear Star Hybrid mattress review. Also of interest: our roundup of best mattresses for back sleepers.

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Puffy Royal Hybrid

Supports up to 700 lbs

What makes this mattress great for heavy people:

The Royal Hybrid model can support up to 700 pounds (or 350 pounds to a side), putting it well within the range for most heavyweight sleepers. Most side sleepers will appreciate the Puffy Royal Hybrid’s pressure-relieving qualities—in our testing it earns a more than respectable 8.75/10 for pressure relief, which is important for sleepers of all sizes. However, back sleepers and stomach sleepers might need a firmer mattress that provides better spine alignment (the Titan Plus, for example).

Other reasons to love it:

If a company standing firmly behind its products means a lot to you, think about the vote of confidence received by the Puffy Royal Hybrid. Puffy offers a lifetime warranty on its mattresses, along with a 101-night sleep trial and highly acclaimed customer service.

Read our full Puffy Royal Hybrid mattress review.

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Buyer’s Guide to Mattresses for Heavy People

Larger sleepers need a mattress that provides plenty of support and durability to help them get a restful and restorative sleep every night. Since any mattress can claim to be supportive and durable, how do you read between the lines to see which products can actually make a difference?

That’s where Mattress Advisor comes in. Use this guide to navigate your way through the jargon and the sales pitches and find the right mattress for you.

• What’s the Best Type of Mattress for Heavier People?
• Why Firmness Matters for Larger Sleepers
• What Other Mattress Features Should Heavy Sleepers Consider?
• Pillows, Mattress Toppers, and Bed Support for Heavier Sleepers

What’s the Best Type of Mattress for Heavier People?

The best type of mattress for a heavier person—generally defined as 230 lbs or more—is often an innerspring mattress or a layered hybrid that combines innersprings with latex or foam. These designs and materials tend to offer the most support and durability. Here’s how different mattress types rate for compatibility with heavier people:

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses have the most pushback of all the mattress surfaces so they are able to hold up under deep compression night after night. We recommend innerspring mattresses with high-density, individually wrapped coils or springs for maximum support and durability. Since all-coil mattresses aren’t as common as they used to be, a hybrid bed that combines innersprings with high-density foam or latex is a viable alternative.

Hybrid Mattresses

The beauty of the best hybrid mattresses is the marriage of great support with superior pressure relief. The support typically comes from the combination of an innerspring core topped with memory foam or latex layers for comfort. Hybrid mattresses are ideal for heavy people who need that extra support but don’t want to give up the contouring cushion of a memory foam or latex comfort layer.

What About Memory Foam and Latex?

Any analysis of memory foam mattresses and latex mattresses for heavy people should include a few conditions. Each type of foam mattress could be a good match, but be on the lookout for characteristics such as:

• Firmness. The mattress should have a firmness rating of medium-firm or higher.
• Density (or ILD rating). The memory foam or latex should be high-density, to prevent your body from sinking in too deeply.
• Design. Hybrids pair layers of foam with layers of denser polyfoam and/or coils, adding overall support.
• Type of latex. Latex processed using the Dunlop method typically results in firmer and denser foam.

When in doubt, check the mattress’s weight capacity to see how much weight it’s designed to support. Memory foam and latex offer several benefits, including pressure relief and responsiveness. Just make sure these materials meet the conditions listed above if you need a mattress with the firmness and stability to accommodate a larger person.

Why Firmness Matters for Larger Sleepers

Often confused with support, mattress firmness refers to how soft or firm the mattress feels. The firmness of your mattress affects the sensation of “hug” or contouring as you sink into the surface, as well as the overall comfort.

Heavy people should aim for mattresses in the medium-firm to firm range on the firmness scale. That translates to a firmness rating of 6 to 8 on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the firmest. Anything softer and you will sink too far into the mattress to maintain proper spinal alignment.

Since firmness ratings are calibrated for average-weight people, they’ll typically feel softer to bigger people. Plus-sized sleepers can expect to sink 1 to 2 inches more than lighter people depending on their weight and the mattress type. So, a mattress rated an 8 on the firmness scale may feel more like a 7 for a sleeper over 230 pounds.

In other words: When in doubt, go firmer.

Related: Best Firm Mattresses and Best Medium-Firm Mattresses

What Other Mattress Features Should Heavy Sleepers Consider?

Keep an eye out for each of these factors when you’re shopping for a mattress that matches your body type:

Weight Capacity

Check the weight capacity recommended by the manufacturer for any mattress you consider. Many bed-in-a-box manufacturers design their beds to support single sleepers weighing 300 pounds, but some go as high as 550 pounds per sleeper.

For couples sharing a mattress, simply divide the total weight capacity by two. For example, a mattress with a capacity of 1,000 pounds should be able to accommodate up to 500 pounds on each side.

You can usually find the weight capacity for a specific mattress in the product description or FAQ section on the company’s website. To help save you time, we’ve included the weight capacity for each mattress featured on this page.

Sleeping Position

• Side sleepers: Heavy side sleepers need a mattress with great pressure relief, to ease the pressure on their hips and shoulders, and solid spine alignment. A hybrid with high-density latex or high-density memory foam in the top layer supported by an innerspring core would be a strong choice.
• Back sleepers: Back sleepers 230 pounds and up need a bed soft enough to contour to the shape of the spine but firm enough to keep it supported. Since back sleeping is the healthiest position, your mattress doesn’t have to work as hard to address pressure and alignment.
• Stomach sleepers: Heavy stomach sleepers should look for a firm mattress (about 7/10 on the firmness scale) with a top layer that allows the hips and shoulders to sink in slightly. An innerspring hybrid with a pillow top layer would be your top option.
• Combination sleepers: Plus-size combination sleepers need a highly responsive mattress that makes it easier to shift positions during sleep. Consider a latex-innerspring hybrid that uses high-density latex.

Related: What is the Best Sleeping Position?

Mattress Thickness

Heavy people should consider mattresses that are at least 11 inches deep. Some 10-inch foam mattresses could work for heavy people, but only if:

• The foam is high-density
• It’s firmer than average (7/10 on the firmness scale)
• There’s a comfort layer to provide deep compression support, meaning it relieves pressure points while keeping you from sinking in too deep

In general, heavy people should look for a thicker mattress. That’s because larger sleepers need more support to keep their spines in a neutral position no matter what sleep position they choose.

Edge Support

Don’t overlook edge support, which helps prevent your mattress from sagging when you put pressure on edge of the bed. Because of their size, heavier sleepers need more edge support. It helps you spread out and use more of the mattress surface without feeling a sinking sensation as you move away from the center. Edge support also makes the bed easier to get into and out of.

The best hybrid mattresses for heavy people often have an extra row of springs around the edges to provide additional support. Keep in mind that sturdiness across the entire surface can improve the overall durability of the mattress and its ability to resist sagging.

Cooling

Sleeping hot is not unique to heavy people, but it is more of an issue for larger people. Larger bodies generate more heat that can be trapped in bedding and mattresses.

Mattress materials and design play a big part in temperature regulation. Lower-quality foam mattresses tend to retain body heat more than latex or innerspring mattresses. If you prefer a foam mattress, be sure to look for one that uses gel-infused foam or similar cooling features. Hybrid mattresses that include one or more innerspring layers are generally good for cooling, since the innerspring layer leads to improved airflow and breathability.

Spine Alignment (and Snoring)

A mattress that keeps your spine in a healthy, neutral alignment can help sleepers of any size avoid waking up with pain in their back, neck, or hips. An additional factor that makes spine alignment important for heavier people is everyone’s least favorite overnight guest, snoring.

Heavier people, particularly those carrying extra weight in the neck area, are more likely to snore. The good news is that proper alignment of your neck helps keep your airways unobstructed. Likewise, a mattress that provides good spine alignment could help mitigate the effects of sleep apnea, another disorder that disproportionately affects people who are overweight.

Related: How to Stop Snoring Permanently

Couples of Different Sizes

Heavier people typically need a firmer, sturdier mattress than average-size people, so how can couples of different sizes share the same bed comfortably? Mattress options for sleepers with a partner who is substantially heavier or lighter include:

• The split firmness solution: Some products such as the Spindle 10″ Organic Latex Mattress offer split firmness options, firmer on one side and softer on the other. Keep in mind that this option might be limited to king-size mattresses.
• The dual firmness solution: Some adjustable airbed mattresses such as the Saatva Solaire or certain Sleep Number Bed models have dual firmness options. You can adjust the dual air chambers to get a firmer feel on one side for the heavier person and a softer feel on the other side for the lighter person.
• The mix and match solution: A king-size foundation can hold two twin XL mattresses (sometimes sold together as one split king size). You can put a different twin XL on each side of a king-size frame—one for the heavier person and one for the lighter person—so that each sleeper has the mattress they need.

A size disparity between you and your sleep partner doesn’t necessarily mean that one of you has to sacrifice comfort. Talk it over and decide which one of these options (split firmness, dual firmness, or two twin XL mattresses) works best for you.

Pillows, Mattress Toppers, and Bed Support

Since heavier sleepers put more weight on their mattress and tend to generate more body heat, they need extra support and cooling to get their best night’s sleep. Accessories like pillows, mattress toppers, and bed frames/platforms can give your mattress a boost in support and cooling.

Cooling Pillows

A cool pillow goes a long way in guaranteeing a good night’s rest. The best cooling pillows typically have covers made out of breathable fibers such as cotton or bamboo and use gel-infused foam as fill material.

Mattress Toppers

Similarly, firm mattress toppers with cooling gel can provide extra support while also helping you avoid getting overheated. Naturally breathable latex is also an effective material for a mattress topper, with the added advantage of being generally firmer than foam.

Foundations and Frames

A well-designed foundation can be supportive and a source of cooling at the same time. One example is a metal or wooden platform bed with a slatted design, in which the space between the slats provides an outlet for heat to escape. A similar principle applies to box springs, which allow for airflow because of the empty space within and around the coils.

Tips on Choosing a Foundation

Before you buy a new foundation or frame, keep a couple of tips in mind:

• Check to see if the product lists a maximum weight recommendation. You’ll need to make sure that number is higher than the weight of your mattress plus your weight (and the weight of your sleep partner).
• Check your mattress warranty to see which types of foundations the manufacturer recommends. The recommendations can not only help you get the best sleep experience but possibly prevent you from voiding your warranty too.

Related: Mattress Foundation Guide

A Closer Look at Our Selections

In choosing our best mattresses for heavy people, we looked at each product’s firmness, weight capacity, and Mattress Advisor score for durability. Here’s a look at how our picks stack up:

MATTRESS	AVERAGE (OUT OF 10) FOR FIRMNESS, WEIGHT CAPACITY, AND DURABILITY
Saatva HD	9.0
Titan Plus	9.2
Helix Plus	8.8
DreamCloud Premier	8.5
Emma CliMax Hybrid	8.7
Nectar	8.2
Nolah Signature 12”	8.3
WinkBeds Plus	9.0
Bear Star Hybrid	8.5
Puffy Royal Hybrid	7.8

Note: The testing categories we focus on in this chart don’t reflect overall performance. Depending on your needs and preferences, you might put more or less value on certain qualities.