There will be a number of factors that many of us will need to consider when buying a mattress. Perhaps one of the most important of these factors is your body weight. This will not only determine the type of mattress you should go for but ultimately, this is going to be the deciding factor of how the mattress will feel for you. Generally speaking, the heavier you are, the softer a mattress is going to feel for you in comparison to a lighter person laying on the same mattress.

Whilst there are specific mattresses designed for heavier people, these are usually far more expensive than what they really should be and out of the budget of many. However, there are many options out there with an affordable price tag which still do a fantastic job with supporting the heavier folks.

This means that people of an above-average weight (typically about 230 pounds) will need to look for certain mattresses and avoid others. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the key factors that need to be considered, and at the very end we will recommend a few of our top choices for the heavier folks!

How To Choose A Mattress For Heavy People

Foam Density

While the majority of people will assume that foam density will only play a role in memory foam mattresses, this isn’t necessarily the case. This is because many beds, regardless of what the overall type is, will have at least one layer of polyfoam or other material.

Most of this will be focused on the comfort area of the bed, which means that the density can play a large role in how well you sleep. This is typically measured in pounds per cubic foot, or PCF, which will give you an accurate representation of whether it will be able to handle your weight.

This may also be related to the durability of the mattress, as to how dense the foam will play a role in how quickly it will begin to sag. There are three densities that you should be aware of, regardless of whether you choose memory foam or polyfoam. It is either Low, Medium or High density.

It’s recommended that heavier people choose high-density foam, as it means that it will be able to handle excess weight. This is especially true over time, as it should sag less than its lower density counterparts.

It should be noted, however, that this can often be the more expensive choice, although it can be well worth the investment.

Thickness

Mattress thickness can vary significantly depending on which type of mattress you buy, with this range being between six and 14 inches. It’s recommended that you choose a thicker mattress, regardless of which type you buy, although how thick this needs to be can vary depending on your weight and the material of the bed.

All-foam mattresses, for example, tend to be noticeably thinner than many of their counterparts. This means that you should be able to buy one that’s thinner than an innerspring and still see a variety of benefits.

This will mean that it’s better able to support your weight over time.

Firmness

Similar to thickness, how firm a mattress is can have a vital role in how well you sleep in the bed. This is because those of us on the heavier side may sink into those that are on the softer side. Luckily, mattresses sold today are rated on how firm they are, with this ranging from one to ten.

Most models typically fall between three and eight, although this can vary drastically. You should look to purchase a mattress that’s rated as firm as possible, as these can often provide much more support than their softer counterparts.

It’s recommended that you choose one that’s rated between six and eight, as this will give you a significant amount of support without being too hard.

Temperature Regulation

Many of us who are on the heavier side will give off a significant amount of body heat. This is something that many mattresses may absorb and leave out during the night, which is something that many people will want to avoid.

The primary reason behind this is because it often results in a more uncomfortable night’s sleep. This means that you may want to choose a mattress that’s either temperature neutral or sleeps cool.

As a rule of thumb, this means avoiding many memory foam mattresses, although this isn’t always true. This is because many of them can have a built-in cooling design that removes much of the heat that your body may generate during the night.

This is something that you’ll need to look at before you buy it. It should be noted that these can often be more expensive than their counterparts.

Edge Support

This is something that many of us may overlook as it’s far from the largest factor that you’ll want to consider. When it comes to getting in and out of bed, however, the edge support that a mattress offers can play a significant role, especially if you’re on the heavier side.

Should there be little-to-no edge support, then many of us may struggle to get out of the bed in the morning. While you should be able to find beds of all materials that offer a significant amount of this, it’s primarily seen with both hybrid and innerspring mattresses. These will provide almost no sinkage when you’re getting out of bed.

Foundation

While the foundation isn’t something that may come with the mattress, it’s still something that you’ll need to consider when you’re buying one. If you already have a bed foundation, then you may have to look for a mattress that is compatible with it.

Should you not, then you will have to look for compatibility with the bed while also ensuring that it can handle your body weight plus the weight of the bed. There are a few options that are available to you, including:

Box spring;
Platform foundation;
Metal slatted bed frame, and;
Wood bed frame.

While each of these will have designs that are built to handle certain weights, it’s mostly recommended that you go with either a Box Spring or a Platform Foundation. This is driven by the fact that they can often be much more durable while being able to handle a larger amount of weight.

Durability

How long your mattress will last is something every buyer should look at, regardless of their body weight. This is because nobody wants to replace their mattress regularly, so you’ll need to determine how long-lasting a particular model may be.

Much of this can be determined by speaking to the sales representative in-store. The majority of high-quality mattresses should last at least ten years, although this can vary significantly depending on the type of bed it is and what material it’s made from.

Related to this is the warranty that comes with the product. Naturally, this will protect you from any damage that may come about in the coming years. Most good quality mattresses will come with either a 10 or 15 year warranty and you may even be able to purchase an extended warranty for your mattress.

Types Of Mattress

There are three main types of mattresses available, each of these having benefits and drawbacks. This is true regardless of a person’s weight, although some of them can become especially pronounced the heavier you are.

This could mean that you may have to put a certain amount of thought into which one you may want to choose. While each of the types may have models that are designed for heavier people, there are a few that are naturally better adapted to people who have a little bit of extra weight.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses have become increasingly more popular over the past few years, primarily thanks to how comfortable they are. This may not be true for those of us who are on the heavy side, as they can lack much of the firmness that we might need.

Since memory foam is usually designed to be a softer type of foam, for heavier folks this would mean sinking into the mattress a little more than the average person. Therefore, when looking for a memory foam mattress, it is important to ask about the density and thickness of the memory foam layer in the mattress. Although memory foam will not be our first recommendation for heavier folks, if the memory foam is not too thick and is also a denser layer of foam, this could work for heavier folks who mostly sleep on their sides.

For back or stomach sleepers, we would not recommend a memory foam mattress, even if it is on the firmer side. This is because memory foam mattresses will not be firm enough even if labelled as ‘firm’ for back and stomach sleepers.

Natural Latex

Natural Latex is hands down the best type of foam when it comes to pressure relief and we have helped out many heavier clients with a firm natural latex mattress in the past. Alongside pressure relief, natural latex material can offer a few other advantages, with the most notable of these being durability.

It can also be much more resistant to dust, mould, and other allergens. Many of us may suffer from asthma, among other allergies and conditions, which can make this a recommended choice for many people.

Again, when choosing a natural latex mattress we recommend that you stick to the firmer mattresses. This is best achieved when the natural latex is accompanied with stiffer pocket coils, or extra dense high density foam core layers.

Pocket Coil

Pocket Coil mattresses are perhaps the most well-known, as they’ve been around for much longer than many others. Most mattresses that you find in a mattress store or online are going to be pocket coil mattresses. However, pocket coil mattresses will be topped off with either high density foam, gel memory foam or natural latex. When looking into pocket coil mattresses, it is important to find the right combination and firmness level in order to best support your body.

We recommend pocket coil mattresses that are topped off with either extra dense high density foam or natural latex. These combinations are going to ensure that the mattress is on the firmer side, provides excellent pressure relief and also durability.

Which Is The Best Mattress For A Heavy Person?

While some of the above materials will be better suited to heavier people, this doesn’t mean that you should rule out certain types. In contrast, there are a few of each that you should be able to use.

Similar to many other things, this can come down to the product itself. There are a few mattresses that stand out for heavier people, with the majority ticking each of the boxes that you may have.

If you’re struggling to find a bed that will suit you, then you should consider one of the below.

Titan By Brooklyn Bedding

The Titan by Brooklyn Bedding offers a significant amount of support and firmness and can outperform the majority of other hybrids on the market. Being given an eight on the firmness rating scale makes it one of the better choices for people who sleep on their backs or stomachs.

This firmness extends to the edge support, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any kind of sinkage or sagging. The high-density foam is two inches thick, which means that the bed is well reinforced, regardless of which part of it you’re sitting or sleeping on.

The mattress is also made with both coils and a cotton-polyester cover that offers a significant amount of breathability. This makes it relatively temperature neutral, so you shouldn’t have to worry about being hot while you’re trying to sleep.

Dreamstar Chiro Firm

The Dreamstar Chiro Firm mattress is one of the most popular options in this list. Reason being is that in terms of comfort and durability it matches, if not surpasses the rest but at a much lower price point! The Chiro Firm is a 13″ foam encased pocket coil mattress with high density foam. It also equips a zone pocket coil system which squeezes in a higher concentration of pocket coils through the centre of the mattress for additional reinforcement. It also equips lumbar support pads again through the centre of the mattress to prevent sinking/sagging in the long term.

The Dreamstar Chiro Firm mattress has a firmness rating of 8/10. This is definitely on the firmer side but still suitable for back, side or stomach sleepers.

This mattress also comes with a 15 year warranty which is typically above average when comparing other mattresses known for durability. In addition, this mattress is also known for its breathability properties which is excellent for temperature regulation at the sleep surface.

Dreamstar Prestige Firm

The Dreamstar Prestige Firm mattress is certainly our go to and most popular option for heavier folks who love to sleep on their sides. This mattress is constructed using foam encased, individually wrapped pocket coils and topped off with layers of extra dense high density foam. Again, this mattress also equips the zonal pocket coil system which packs additional pocket coils through the center of the mattress for additional reinforcement. It also equips lumbar support pads again through the centre of the mattress to prevent sinking/sagging in the long term.

The Dreamstar Prestige Firm mattress will work perfectly for back sleepers too but if you are someone who likes to be both on your back and sides, this is the perfect mattress.

This is another mattress which comes with a 15 year manufacturers warranty, making it one of the most durable mattresses we stock at Sleep Masters Canada.

Ultimate Comfort Gel Firm

The Ultimate Comfort Gel Firm is another mattress made by Dreamstar Bedding which provides the upmost in comfort and durability for the heavier folks. What separates this mattress from the others is that actually the Ultimate Comfort Gel Firm is not a hybrid mattress. This mattress consists of High Density Foam and Cool Gel Memory Foam. Cool Gel Memory Foam is one of the most durable materials you can place inside a mattress.

This mattress has a firmness rating of 8/10 which is excellent for any type of sleeper. Whether you are a back, side or stomach sleeper, you should not encounter any issues with support especially in your pressure points. This is another mattress which comes with a 15 year warranty which again is a longer warranty period than most of its competitors.

Since this mattress has no coils, it is also much lighter than any of its competitors. Heavier folks, you do not need to think twice before purchasing this mattress.

Winkbed Plus

While many mattresses may be great for people who sleep on their backs or stomachs, there are few that can help those of us who sleep on our sides. This is where the WinkBed Plus comes in, as it offers a notable blend of structural and body-conforming support, which helps to ensure proper spinal alignment during sleep.

The WinkBed Plus is also one of the few mattresses that you’ll find that is specifically designed for larger sleepers. This has meant that there are a variety of features added for people on the heavy side.

These include a compressed-cotton lumbar pad, pocketed coil support, and gel polyfoam and latex comfort layers, among others. When combined, this makes the WinkBed Plus quite a wise choice for many of us.

Avocado Green Mattress

Latex options can be some of the better choices for people who sleep on their stomachs, although there’s a wealth of choice here. The Avocado Green Mattress stands out from these for a few reasons, primarily because it also features a small amount of wool in its design.

This wool helps to make it more temperature neutral, which is further enhanced by a secondary comfort layer and pocketed coil support. The Avocado Green Mattress also provides a large amount of support thanks to all of these features.

This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to worry about support, as this is one of the more supportive latex-based hybrids currently available. This is further enhanced by the two firmness options that are on offer, a 5.5 and a 6.5.

You also shouldn’t have to worry about either sagging or indentations, and the mattress should also last you a significant amount of time. There is also a large amount of noise control and motion isolation, which can be beneficial for you and your partner.

Saatva

If you sleep on your back, then you’ll need a mattress that provides an even amount of support. This is one of the core benefits of this Saatva bed as it gives a sag-free surface. There are a few other factors that also make this a wise choice, with many of these focusing on its size and firmness.

You should be able to choose between a Medium Soft, Medium Firm, and Firm option when you buy one. This means that you’ll be able to find one that’s comfortable for you while still being able to withstand a significant amount of weight.

There’s also a large amount of air circulation, so you shouldn’t have to worry about being too warm during the night.

While each of the above beds can be a wise choice for heavier people, you should still take each of the factors that we mentioned above into account. When you’re making the choice, you should have a checklist that asks several questions. These include:

The thickness of the bed;
What the warranty will cover and how long for;
Its firmness rating;
What kind of edge support it offers;
What the lifespan of the mattress is, and;
How warm or cold it will be when you sleep in it.

Should a specific mattress address each of these positively, then it could be the right choice for you. Much of this can be based on personal preferences, although they should still factor into your decision.

In Conclusion

You may find that several mattresses address your preferences in a way that you like. If all of these are equal, then this is where your budget can come into play. Many people may believe that the cost of a bed will be one of the defining aspects of whether or not you should buy it.

While this may be the case, it shouldn’t be one of the first things you look at. Instead, it should only play a role when you’re comparing two or more mattresses that are to your liking and will address your needs. Contact Sleep Masters today!