People come in all shapes and sizes, and so do mattresses. So, today we're going to hone in on one specific category and talk about the best mattress for heavy people.
For way too long we have ignored the importance of a quality mattress for heavy people but no more. Improving the quality of your sleep should be your number one priority, especially if you weigh a bit more than the average bloke.
After all, an improper mattress can lead to a worse sleep quality, a worse sleep quality can influence weight gain, and weight gain can further decrease your sleep quality. It's a vicious cycle!
And with over 60% of people in the UK being overweight or obese, quite a few people need to know how to pick out a proper mattress! So, to find the best mattress for a heavier person, you need to account for their weight as well as their sleeping position, as this will dictate the firmness level of their ideal mattress.
Don't worry, we'll explain in more detail later on. But first, let's go over some of our personal picks for the best mattresses for heavier people and then we can break down the science after that.
Our top picks
As we promised, we're first going to go over our picks for the best mattresses for heavier sleepers. And, as you'll quickly notice, every mattress is the best in one specific category. So, hopefully, you can find one that checks all of your boxes!
This is ideal for those who sleep heavy and need more support from beneath.
Best Overall
The HiGRID Premium Hybrid Mattress is our winner for the Best Mattress for Heavy People 2024 award. It has quite a dense feel to it so itβs not one that youβll instantly sink in to. The density also means there is motion isolation and good edge to edge support – making it good for those in a couple too.
What makes this mattress extra special is the patented SmartGRID layer that gives you a balance of comfort and support. The open grid structure allows body heat to pass through to stop you from overheating and it is used to mould to the bodyβs curvatures. It cradles your body shape to relieve the pressure points while being firm enough to support your back and spine.
Bodily motion wonβt be felt across the mattress.
Good edge support
No matter where you sleep on the mattress, youβll feel supported.
Soft removable cover
The sleep surface is soft to the touch and can be removed for washing.
Disadvantages
Not as suitable for side sleepers
Itβs a fairly firm mattress so you may find you donβt sink in enough.
Quite dense
A high-density product that initially feels firm.
Very heavy
Difficult to manoeuvre but does mean excellent quality.
Best Cooling: Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress
If youβre one of those that sleep hot β you might want to check this one out!
Best Cooling
The Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress is always one of our top recommendations in plenty of categories in our books. After all, it will leave just about anyone happy.
And heavier sleepers might be especially happy since this high-end hybrid comes with a whopping 5000 pocket springs. So, both the durability and the support the mattress can offer are top-tier!
And with it being a medium-firm mattress, most heavier side sleepers should be more than well-supported. Plus, you get a free mattress protector that can make the mattress feel a bit firmer if needed.
But the Simba Hybrid's cooling system takes centre stage. With a nice and luxurious wool layer, open-cell Simbatex foam and a knitted top cover, it should be virtually impossible to overheat on this mattress.
Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King, EU Double, EU Queen
Type: Hybrid
Warranty: 10-year guarantee
Depth: 28cm
Firmness: 7.5/10
Trial: 200-night
Advantages
Excellent support
With 5000 springs, your body will be properly supported.
High-quality materials
This mattress features premium materials like wool.
Very cool
The wool layer, knitted cover, and open-cell foam all provide cooling.
Disadvantages
Expensive
This mattress is not ideal for budget-oriented sleepers.
Best value: Dormeo Memory Plus Memory Foam Mattress
This mattress is designed to cradle your body and provide support every single night.
Best Value
The Dormeo Memory Plus Mattress moulds to the contours of your body to keep you supported throughout the night. Itβs made from two types of foam that work to give you the best sleep. The top memory foam is responsive to your sleeping position and adapts to suit your needs. The bottom foam is an Ecocell Foam base that uses an elastic 3D structure to keep the mattress breathable (which is important when using memory foam) whilst giving specific adaptable support. Elasticity of the foam helps to reduce any aches and pains that make you want to toss and turn.
So, if youβre heavy then you will want a mattress that works closely with your body type and weight to keep you as supported as possible. Dormeo comes with a 15-year guarantee on this mattress so youβre pressure points can be relieved for many nights and many years.
Whatβs more, it has a Sanitized protection cover to keep your sleep environment hygienic, anti-bacterial, anti-dust mite and anti-fungal.
Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
Type: Memory foam
Warranty: 15 years
Depth: 17cm
Firmness: 6/10
Trial: 60 nights
Advantages
Supportive
It's supportive of all body types and weights.
Long warranty
A longer warranty than many other mattress brands.
Affordable
A lot more affordable than alternative mattresses.
Disadvantages
Off-gassing
Some off-gassing can be expected with a memory foam mattress.
Short trial period
Most other mattress brands offer between 100 and 200 nights.
Best Luxury: Brook + Wilde The Elite Mattress
Half of the layers in this mattress focus on supporting the body.
Best Luxury
There are eight layers in the Brook + Wilde Elite Mattress and four of them will help heavier people feel supported and comfortable. One of the layers is a foam layer that uses wave technology. It has added depth and density in the upper area to support your shoulders and encourage spinal alignment – with cushioning qualities to relieve pressure.
This is followed by a layer of 1000 pocket springs that move as you move during the night, again helping to support and reduce pressure points. The layer of 2000 pocket springs below work with the other pocket springs to give you more bounce and push back so you can get more comfort and support than you would from an all-foam mattress. Lastly, it has the support base which does what it says. It gives structure and solidity to support from the base. Itβs the final piece to the puzzle to make the mattress as supportive as possible.
It is available in a soft, medium and firm comfort so we would recommend the medium or firm, depending on what youβre looking for.
Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, European King, Superking
Type: Pocket spring
Warranty: 10-year guarantee
Depth: 28cm
Firmness: Varies
Trial: 200-nights
Advantages
Different options
There are a handful of options to choose from with this one mattress.
Supportive
It's supportive from top to bottom.
Removable cover
And it's washable too.
Disadvantages
Expensive
Fairly pricey but it is a top quality mattress.
Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers: Silentnight Eco Comfort Miracoil Ortho Mattress
The best mattress for heavy side sleepers the UK market has to offer!
Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers
Miracoil Ortho Mattress is another mattress from Silentnight on our list. In front of us, we have another wonderful, thick mattress that utilises Silentnight's Miracoil innerspring tech, to provide you with the ultimate zoned support and comfort.
Naturally, the supportive coils are covered by a breathable and very comfortable Eco Comfort layer for added support.
This one is extra firm, so itβs ideal for heavier back sleepers as they don't want their hips to sink too deep into the mattress. In addition to all of that, this one is also hypoallergenic so you donβt have to worry about dust mites and other allergens.
Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
Type: Pocket spring
Warranty: 5-year guarantee
Depth: 24cm
Firmness: 9/10
Trial: 60 nights
Advantages
Great for back
Heavier back sleepers will need an extra firm mattress like this one.
Hypoallergenic
People with allergies will get a good night's sleep with this one.
Sturdy & heavy duty
The mattress has a sturdy structure. It will last a long time.
Disadvantages
Cover is not removable
You cannot remove the cover, which makes maintenance more difficult.
Best for Side Sleepers: Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress
Quite possibly the comfiest mattress for side sleepers!
Best for Side Sleepers
The Simba Hybrid Essential is one of the best heavy mattresses money can buy. It's a hybrid mattress that's pretty much suitable for every person on the planet.
It offers more than great support regardless of what position youβre sleeping in, itβs quite comfortable and breathable, hypoallergenic and offers some great value.
After all, the cooling cover and the Simbatex foam layer will keep you cool, the memory foam will keep you comfortable, and the Aerocoil will help support your body.
And with this being a medium-firm mattress, any average or heavy sleeper should feel right at home! But if you're still not sold, don't worry, you get a 200-night trial to test this baby out.
Sleepers will allergies can sleep peacefully on this one.
Eco-friendly
Produced in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. Zero waste.
10 years warranty
You get 10-year warranty protection plan.
Disadvantages
Non-removable cover
Though hypoallergenic and high-quality, the cover is not removable.
High price tag
Very expensive, when compared to similar mattresses.
Best for Back Pain: Rest Assured Adleborough 1400 Pocket Ortho
Get rid of back pain with this ortho-pocket mattress!
Best for Back Pain
The Rest Assured Adleborough 1400 Pocket Ortho Mattress comes as the perfect pick for heavy sleepers who want to treat their back pain.
1400 individual pocket springs are the backbone of this extra firm mattress that contains no toxic chemicals in its structure at all.
The polyester fill, in combination with air vents, ensures optimal breathability so you won't get hot.
And the Damask cover keeps the top layer fresh and hostile towards bacteria or dust mite growth so it is a suitable pick for hypoallergenic overweight sleepers as well.
If you suffer from back pain, this mattress will take it away.
Disadvantages
Non-removable cover
You cannot remove the cover.
Single sided
The mattress has only a single side, which reduces the durability significantly.
What to consider when buying the best mattress for heavy people
Now that we've gone over our top 12 picks, we'd like to discuss exactly what you should look out for when buying a mattress for a heavier person. After all, mattresses can be quite expensive, so you'd want to find the perfect one!
So, here are some general guidelines that we stick to when finding the perfect pick. However, we will point out that these things vary from person to person, and trying out the mattress yourself is the only surefire way to know if it suits you and your body.
The type of mattress
Naturally, the first thing you should pay attention to when selecting a mattress is the type. In general, there are four main types of mattresses β a hybrid, memory foam, innerspring and latex.
And while things can vary from model to model, certain mattress types excel in certain categories. Memory foam mattresses, for instance, are known for their pressure relief, solid support and contouring of the body. Innerspring mattresses, the ones with coils, are the best option for those looking for some extra firmness and bounciness.
Latex mattresses are great for pain relief, as well as for natural cooling of the body, so heavy sleepers could enjoy them a lot. Finally, hybrid mattresses combine the best of both worlds bringing forth the ideal balance between firmness, support and comfort. At least, the good ones do.
Support & comfort
How supportive and comfortable the mattress will be is not defined by a single feature. You can't rate comfort and support without taking everything else into consideration. Also, both of these are fairly subjective, meaning, what's supportive for a light person might be too soft for a heavy person and the same thing applies to comfort.
When looking for these features, you'll have to consider everything else that we'll talk about in just a second. The best tip we could give you when looking for the best mattress for overweight people is to focus on firmness, your sleeping position and the type of mattress. Those three should give you a general idea of how supportive and comfortable the mattress will be for you.
How thick your mattress is & the number of layers
Most great mattresses for heavy people will be layered. Now, some will come in 2 and the others will come in 10 layers. Finding the right balance wonβt be simple, but itβs doable. Layering is mostly done with support and comfort in mind. In most cases, you can expect an outer layer of about 7 to 10 cm to be the βcomfortβ layer and the rest of the layers underneath to be the βsupportβ layers.
As far as thickness goes, ideally, a mattress should be 18-20 cm thick. Now, there are no rules saying that the mattress canβt be thinner or thicker than that, but we wouldnβt recommend going south of 15 cm, as youβd probably sacrifice comfort at that point. As far as going upwards goes β we find 30 cm to be the upper limit. Everything above that would be just a gimmick.
Edge support
One of the often-overlooked features of a mattress for heavy people is the edge support. Essentially, edge support refers to the amount of resistance provided around the edges of the mattress. You can think of it as the frame of a mattress.
The purpose of edge support is to, well, offer additional support. This is especially important if youβre a restless sleeper and you toss and turn during the night. For heavy sleepers, edge support is very important, as it will offer a lot more resistance near the edges of the mattress which is especially important if youβre sleeping with a partner and near the edge of the bed.
Sleeping position
Your sleeping position will greatly affect what kind of mattress youβll need. As you already know, not everyone sleeps in the same position. Some sleep on their stomach, some on their backs, some sleep sideways and some sleep however they feel at a particular moment.
This plays a major role when selecting a mattress for heavy people because relative to how you sleep, your mattress should keep your body properly aligned and supported. For instance, stomach sleepers benefit from firm mattresses and people sleeping on their sides enjoy softer mattresses. Itβs all about alignment and optimal support in proper places like hips or shoulders.
Which firmness level is ideal for heavier people?
Firmness is something you should also consider when buying a new mattress. Now, if you're a heavy person, you will ideally want to look for a mattress that's medium-firm or higher. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest, you want to look for mattresses in the range of 6 to 8. As you've maybe noticed, all the mattresses we've selected fall into that range.
Aside from body weight, your sleeping position will also affect how firm your mattress should be, as we've previously mentioned, but keep that in mind as well, because, if you're a stomach sleeper and you're packing some extra weight, a medium-firm mattress might not be enough for you.
So, take a look at the table below to figure out the exact firmness rating that will work for you.
Cooling
Many people sleep hot, which is a problem, considering that your body temperature needs to drop a little bit in order for you to sleep soundly. When you're a bit overweight, you tend to get hotter a bit more often. That's why it's important to find a mattress that's going to support your weight and now allow you to sink in it and get hot immediately.
As far as cooling goes, you'll want to pay attention to the type of mattress and the materials used. Latex mattresses are in general the best mattresses to keep you cool, but the other types, as well, can be more than pleasant, if the cover material is good and breathable.
Do mattresses have weight limits?
In general, most mattresses are designed in a way so they can properly support people weighing up to 115 kg. But even if you happen to weigh more than that, fear not. After all, there are many mattresses specifically designed to handle sleepers who way 250kg or even more.
In most cases, hybrid and innerspring mattresses (also called open coil mattresses) perform the best under pressure because of the supportive innerspring coil base, but some memory foam mattresses can, as well, be quite supportive. However, if you're over 115 kg of body weight, we'd suggest sticking to hybrid and innerspring mattresses, just to be safe.
But why do mattresses have a weight limit to begin with? Well, more often than not, this concernes the mattress warranty. The more pressure that's put on the mattress, the more quickly it will lose its shape. Foam will sink and springs will lose their bounce. So, some manufacturers specify in their warranty that a person has to be lighter than 2 stone to be eligible for a return if something goes wrong.
This isn't universal and some mattresses have no weight limit at all. But this has more to do with the warranty than the mattress itself. In other words, we'd suggest not stressing over the weight limit if you're over 115kg. However, we do recommend carefully reading the warranty conditions so that you're not in for a nasty surprise in the future.
Tips for buying and using the best mattress for heavy people
In addition to key features, we wanted to share a couple of additional tips when it comes to buying and using mattresses for heavy people. First up, understand the weight limit. For instance, if a single-sized mattress has a 115kg weight limit, that same mattress, only king-sized, can withstand twice as much weight.
Secondly, if you're extra heavy, you might feel uncomfortable on a mattress that's firm enough to support your body weight. In that case, you can use a mattress topper for additional comfort without sacrificing the much-needed support.
Finally, make sure you find a mattress with a long-term warranty and a money-back trial period. This is because finding the perfect mattress is a bit more difficult for heavier sleepers since most mattress manufacturers cater to the average Joe. So, you might not find the perfect one on your first try.
The advantages of owning the best mattress for heavy people
The advantages of owning a quality mattress are numerous. Itβs hardly ever just about comfort, especially when it comes to heavy sleepers, so, letβs check out some additional advantages.
Itβs not a secret that heavy people are more prone to snoring if they sleep on a bad mattress. When youβre heavy, you sink into the mattress and that can put a strain on your body and restrict your airflow which could cause you to snore. With a quality mattress, on the other hand, youβre properly aligned, which makes breathing a lot easier and thus helps with snoring. Although, if the snoring comes from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the solution isn't as simple.
Secondly, the best mattress for a heavy person can actually help them lose weight (be it in a roundabout way). When you're well-rested, your metabolism functions better, which ultimately leads to you burning more calories, ergo, losing weight.
Finally, a night of quality sleep is known to act as a great motivator. When youβre well-rested, you become more productive and willing to tackle whichever problem and task you might have for the day.
Helps alleviate snoring
It can help lose weight
It increases motivation and productivity.
Conclusion
And that's all you need to know to find the best mattress for heavy people! So, if you are on the larger side, just make sure to get the correct firmness level for your weight and sleeping position to get the high-quality sleep you deserve.
And let's just be clear, the point of this article isn't to shame anyone. We bring up weight because it fundamentally affects how the mattress will perform and support your body. Otherwise, as long as you're happy and healthy, your weight shouldn't play any significant role in your life.
FAQs about your new mattresses for heavy people
Sometimes, you can know all there is to know about a certain product, but you still have some additional questions. On that note, weβve decided to cover some of the most frequently asked questions about the best mattress for heavy person to make the shopping process even easier. Hereβs what weβve found out about.
What type of mattress is the best for heavy people?
A firm, innerspring or hybrid mattress, is the best type of mattress for a heavy person.
Do mattresses have weight limits?
Yes. In general, all mattresses have an upper weight limit.
Does any specific type of mattress have a weight limit?
Yes, there are specially made mattresses that can support a lot more weight than you might usually expect.
How do I stop my memory foam mattress from sinking?
You can decrease the level of the sinking of a memory foam mattress by adding a memory foam mattress topper on top. You can also get a double-sided mattress and flip it over every 3-6 months.
What thickness of the mattress is best for heavy people?
Generally speaking, you should aim for a mattress that's about 25 cm thick if youβre a heavier person.
Are platform beds good for heavy people?
Yes, due to the steel slats that eliminate the need for a box-spring.
What firmness is the best for heavy people?
Medium-firmness mattresses are the best choices for heavyweight persons. Still, every person is different and stomach sleepers will likely need a firm or extra firm mattress.
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