The quick list
1. Best overall
2. Best budget
3. Best for back pain
4. Best luxury
5. Best weight capacity
6. Best cooling
7. Best organic
8. How we test
The best mattresses for heavy people are specifically engineered with a larger weight capacity in mind to ensure optimum comfort and support, and to spread weight evenly across the bed. Many of the top-rated options in our best mattress of the year support up to 250lbs of weight per person. By contrast, mattresses for heavy people are engineered to support a weight of around 500lbs per person and we've ranked and rated the very best options right here.
Why does this additional weight capacity matter? Without adequate support you may find that you sink through the supportive layers of your mattress. Not only will this be uncomfortable, it may drastically shorten the life of your mattress. In contrast, the best mattresses for heavy people will ensure that weight is distributed evenly and that you will have ample pressure relieving support for years to come.
One of the key elements our expert mattress testers look for in a mattress for heavier bodies is sturdy edge support, meaning you can sit on and sleep right up to the edges. Correct spinal alignment is also crucial for keeping back pain at bay. Specialist mattresses like these command a higher price tag, with prices starting in the region of $900 for a queen size. However, we're expecting some good discounts in May's Memorial Day mattress sales. For now, here are our recommendations for this year's best mattresses for heavy people, as chosen by our expert testers…
Best mattress for heavy people: Quick list
Only want the highlights? Here's a brief rundown of our top picks. Otherwise, keep scrolling for a more detailed analysis of each mattress, as well as answers to some of your frequently asked questions.
Price (MSRP): from $1,349
Trial period: 120 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
This version of the popular WinkBed mattress boasts pure latex, high-density foam, and individually wrapped coils to support sleepers who weigh over 250lbs. It's an excellent all-rounder but if you need slightly more support, look at the Big Fig (#4) and its 1,100lb total capacity.
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Price (MSRP): from $799
Trial period: 120 nights
Warranty: 10 years
The Titan Plus has a lower MSRP than other options on this list – and it's often on sale for 25% off. Hybrids are typically pricier, especially if they're built to accommodate larger bodies, but the Titan Plus is as sturdy as it is affordable. Just know that at 11 inches high, it's the slimmest mattress in this guide.
Price (MSRP): from $1,169
Trial period: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Our best mattress for back pain overall is the Saatva RX, but that only supports up to 300lbs per sleeper. The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid supports up to 1,000lbs in weight and is one of our top-rated picks for easing back pain during sleep. It's also more affordable than the Saatva HD (#3) at $949 for a queen.
Price (MSRP): from $1,895
Trial period: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
The Titan Plus (#2) may be the best budget choice for heavy sleepers, but if you have a bigger mattress and want a cooling latex mattress, try the Saatva HD. It's made from natura Talalay latex, 5lb memory foam and 12.5-gauge coils to create a fully supportive feel. We normally see it discounted in the monthly Saatva mattress sales too.
Price (MSRP): from $1,399
Trial period: 120 nights
Warranty: 20 years
The Big Fig hybrid mattress can support 1,100lbs, more than any other model on this list. This specialty model is designed for plus-sized sleepers, featuring high-density polyfoam and over 1,600 individually wrapped coils. It does skew firm so if you'd like a little more give, look at the Helix Plus (#5) or DreamCloud Premier Hybrid (#6).
Price (MSRP): from $1,399
Trial period: 365 nights
Warranty: 25 years
The Avocado Green Mattress creates a supportive feel for bigger bodies through the use of dense latex foam and strong innersprings. The 'Firm' build has a pressure relief that's ideal for stomach and back sleepers, however, the mattress does only have a 700lb weight limit – for a latex bed that can hold more, consider the Saatva HD (#3).
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Price (MSRP): from $811
Trial period: 120 nights
Warranty: 15 years
Whether you opt for the standard Tencel cover or upgrade to the GlacioTex cooling cover, the Helix Plus will help make night sweats a thing of the past. It's a smidge pricier than the Titan Plus (#2) but the Helix Plus is also taller (12.5 inches) and softer (medium to medium-firm).
Best mattress for heavy people overall
The WinkBed Plus is a version of the original WinkBed – which otherwise comes in Luxury Firm, Firmer, or Plush. The makeup is slightly different here; to boost support for heavier bodies, WinkBed has added a 2.5" layer of pure latex and a 2.5" layer of temperature-regulating, pressure-relieving foam. The Plus version skips right over the Euro-pillow top and goes straight in with a layer of anti-sag foam for optimal support for sleepers over 250lbs. Additionally, the coils on the Plus version are banded together and reinforced for extra durability ideal for heavy bodies.
It also includes extra edge support that's ideal for couples who like to spread out across the entire bed while sleeping without having to worry about rolling right off. It’s even great if you want to be able to sit on the bed to get dressed, or need something firmer to push on to stand up easily. We rate this bed highly in our best firm mattress guide although according to the brand, sleepers over 300lbs may find the bed feel to be more on the medium side, or a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
We were very impressed by the regular version in our WinkBed Mattress review, although do be aware the design is different here (and thus, so is the cost). Reviews can't be filtered by firmness level, but scrolling through we found several enthusiastic customers who claim that this mattress delivers the right balance of softness and firm support, and praising the motion isolation. Consult our WinkBed mattress sales guide to make sure you don't miss a price drop if you do decide to buy one.
Best budget mattress for heavy people
As a rule, the best mattresses for bigger bodies cost more, which makes the mid-range price tag of the Titan Plus (the plus-size model from popular bed brand Brooklyn Bedding) all the more impressive. This hybrid model includes springs and foams, yet at 11" tall the Titan Plus is the slimmest option on our list. That means it won't feel as luxurious as other taller models here, although it still has a weight capacity of 1,000lbs.
Brooklyn Bedding rates the Titan Plus as an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it for the firmest feeling mattress in our guide. That might work well for you if you weigh over 300lbs, but it you're if you're at the lighter end of the 'bigger bodies' spectrum (so closer to 250lb), you might be more comfortable on a softer mattress. If you want a contouring sleep surface, or you have a partner under 250lbs, you could upgrade to the softer Luxe version of the Titan Plus.
This mattress has an average review rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars generated from over 2,530 reviews. There's plenty of praise for the high build quality and how supportive it is. In any mattress comments section, it's common to find a mix of people who find it too firm and those who find it too soft, and that's true here. There seems to be agreement that the Titan Plus is just too firm for lightweight people (who share a bed with a bigger person), with a number of side sleepers commenting that it leads to pressure building up in this position.
Allowing for some variation based on the latest mattress sales, the Titan Plus mattress is the cheapest option in our list. For a softer and taller alternative, look at the Helix Plus (#5) below.
Best mattress for heavy people with back pain
The DreamCloud Hybrid Premier Mattress is the taller version of the popular DreamCloud mattress, using extra foam and coils to deliver a higher level of comfort and support. The enhanced design also means it distributes weight more evenly across the entire mattress, keeping your body on top instead of letting it sink in. This type of support is crucial for larger people as otherwise your back may dip in bed, leading to lower back pain over time.
The cashmere layer also works to keep you cool as it allows for maximum airflow, creating a cooler surface to sleep on throughout the night. This isn't a proper cooling mattress though, so if overheating is a big problem for you, look at our guide to the best cooling mattresses for all budgets instead.
Around the perimeter of the DreamCloud Hybrid Premier Mattress, the coils are even thicker to provide more durable edge support making it a sturdy place to sleep and even sit when working or watching television. Plus, you can sleep soundly knowing that your partner will barely feel your tosses and turns, thanks to its minimal motion transfer.
Still not sold? The seven-layer mattress is ideal for side, back, and front sleepers, so whichever position you are used to, the DreamCloud Premier Hybrid will deliver a comfortable night’s sleep. See how we got on with the cheaper model in the lineup in our DreamCloud mattress review, and don't forget to check our DreamCloud mattress sales page for discounts before you hit buy.
Best luxury mattress for heavy people
The Saatva HD is easily the best Saatva mattress for people who weigh up to 500lbs, with a maximum weight capacity of 1,000lbs for two sleepers sharing. This lofty 15.5" bed features a layer of 5-zone Talalay latex, a 5lb memory foam layer, and the brand's patented Lumbar Zone Technology for proper back support. Extra support comes in the form of tempered 12.5-gauge steel open coils, which are 25% stronger than the industry standard. Saatva has also designed the HD with reinforced foam edges to help prevent sagging and to make it easier for you to get in and out of bed.
We've yet to formally test this mattress ourselves, though you can read our Saatva Classic mattress review for an idea of how well the brand performs. However, one of our sleep writers recommended the Saatva HD to a larger family member, who says it's a marked improvement over his previous innerspring mattress, which had begun to sag after a few years. (Better yet, he was able to buy it at a discount during a Saatva mattress sale.) He also sleeps with a CPAP machine – according to him, the comfort of the Saatva HD makes that whole ordeal much more bearable.
Broadly speaking, side and stomach sleepers will enjoy this bed the most since it’s pretty firm and you won’t sink too much under your own weight, which makes it great for heavy bodies. And if you run hot, you’ll enjoy the cooling properties of this mattress thanks to its steel coils that allow for optimal airflow. Saatva promises no sagging edges, which will make getting up and out of bed nice and easy.
There are only around 130 reviews on the Saatva website right now, but this bed scores an impressive 4.9 our of 5 stars. There's praise for the amount of firmness, luxurious feel, motion isolation, and customer service. For added peace of mind, you'll get a full year to trial it at home, and if you decide to keep it your purchase will be backed by a lifetime warranty.
Best mattress for very heavy people
The Big Fig Mattress markets itself as being 'the mattress for a bigger figure', meaning it has been designed specifically for larger bodies. It has great lumbar support to stop you from sinking into the mattress and to reduce aches and pains. Thanks to a maximum weight capacity of 1,100lbs (the highest in this guide), it should last longer for the larger person than a standard mattress would. It also comes with a 20-year warranty. You can also choose to buy an 18-slat base to support the mattress further and help it last longer.
The Big Fig is a hybrid mattress made from high density poly foam and over 1,600 individually wrapped coils to offer a sag-free sleep surface. It's the best choice for heavyweight back sleepers needing firm support to keep them on top of the mattress, and stomach sleepers will also find it comfortably supportive too. We would not recommend it for side sleepers though as it's simply too firm.
Overheating during sleep is a problem regardless of body weight, and the Big Fig attempts to tackle this with the use of Thermogel-treated fabric that actively works to lower body temperature. The use of coils also promotes airflow, making it a cooler option than a memory foam mattress.
The Big Fig has earned a 4.7 out of 5 star review rating generated from over 5,000 users, with people weighing over 250lbs praising its cooling support. However lighter sleepers, especially those weighing well under 250lbs who share a bed with a larger person, will not enjoy sleeping on this mattress. In that instance, we'd recommend the Titan Plus Luxe instead.
Best organic mattress for heavy people
The Avocado Green Mattress is one of the best organic mattresses on the market and while it might not be a specialist bed for heavy people, the stable build allows it to support a total weight of 700lb. This is partly thanks to those organic materials. By trading softer foams for dense latex, the Avocado Green can hold more.
The Avocado Green Mattress is available in three firmness levels – Firm, Medium, or Plush. The standard choice, Firm, has a 7/10 firmness rating and a deceptively simple build that prioritizes natural materials. Beneath the organic cotton ticking cover sits a layer of organic wool, for cushioning, then two inches of supportive Dunlop latex. After this comes a layer of individually wrapped coils, zoned to provide stronger support where your body needs it most. Finally, another layer of latex adds stability.
In our Avocado Green Mattress review we tested the Firm and found it to be supportive and pressure relieving for back and front sleepers. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the Medium or Plush options. These are more expensive, but they add a pillow-top (Medium) or box-top (Plush) to the strong base for additional side-sleeper cushioning that doesn't sacrifice pressure relief.
Using a combination of open springs and natural materials, the Avocado Green Mattress is breathable and cooling for hot sleepers. The edge support is also impressive – you don't have to cling to the middle of the bed to enjoy the strength of the latex. While the Avocado doesn't have the biggest weight capacity in this guide, it's a great choice for those who want an eco-friendly bed for bigger bodies.
Best mattress for heavy people who overheat
Those on a tighter budget should check out the Helix Plus mattress. A queen size will typically set you back $1,199, which puts it on the cusp between mid and upper-mid price brackets. While it's not quite as cheap as the Titan (#2), it's far more affordable than most options in this part of the market.
The Helix Plus boasts medium-firm foam that contours the body for optimal support throughout the night. To be precise, the mattress has four pounds of foam, which is great not only for those with larger bodies, but also designed to provide comfort for all sleep positions – side, back, and front.
The mattress’s individually wrapped springs limit motion transfer, making it an ideal option for couples with different sleep habits and wake patterns. The edge support is next-level thanks to its reinforced sides that’ll keep bodies sturdy while asleep and upright. That means no slipping and sliding when putting on your socks or getting up in the morning.
The Helix Plus can hold up to 1,000lbs weight capacity in total, which is average among mattresses designed specifically for heavy people. Sleepers can opt to purchase a GlacioTex Cooling Cover designed to pull heat away from the body while you sleep for a more comfortable temperature (although do note that this will make your bed slippery). The standard Tencel cover that comes with this mattress is soft and breathable, which will suit those who don't chronically overheat.
How we test mattresses for heavy people
The Tom’s Guide mattress testing process is entirely editorially independent, which means we decide which mattresses to include in this guide. To ensure our test data is accurate, we sleep on each mattress in a box for three weeks, which is roughly how long it takes for your body to get used to sleeping on a new mattress. During this time, we rate it across key areas including comfort, pressure relief, temperature regulation, motion isolation and support.
After analyzing our test data and conducting extensive user review research, we rate each mattress out of 5. We then compare that data and user review research with how other mattresses we've reviewed performed in the very same tests. That comparison allows us to clearly see the best mattress for different types of sleeper, which helps inform our overall rankings.
As mattress firmness is subjective, we reply upon a wider panel of mattress testers made up of people with different sleep needs and body types to ensure that our data is well-rounded and that each mattress is tested in accordance with a specific performance criteria. Together, these processes enable us to produce accurate, data-backed mattress reviews, to help you easily decide whether the mattress you’re interested in really is the best choice for you. For more information on our mattress testing process, see our mattress methodology.
The best mattress for heavy people: FAQs
What's the best type of mattress for heavy people?
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The best mattress type for heavy people is a hybrid that features durable innerspring coils and soft memory foam. The coils will help provide the firmness and support that help to alleviate back and joint pain while the memory foam aids in pressure relief that feels great after a long day. The mattress should contour to the individual's body to provide support in every region while refraining from sagging over time.
A strictly memory foam mattress may be too soft for heavier people who might want more support and stability for the mattress – sometimes the 'sinking in' feeling isn’t always the best kind depending on the person. A mattress that can be slept on, rather than in, is typically more ideal for heavy bodies, and a hybrid provides just the right balance between the two for a restful night's sleep. It’s all about finding the happy medium between comfort and support when looking for the best mattress for heavy people.
Do heavy people need a soft or firm mattress?
A majority of heavy people prefer a firm mattress that they can sleep on when it’s time to hit the sack. This provides ample support for the body without any unwanted sagging that may cause pain over time.
For front and back sleepers, we typically recommend a firm mattress to promote optimal alignment and a softer mattress for side sleepers who may require a bit more wiggle room. However, in general, heavy bodies will benefit most from a firm mattress that can not only support their weight, but also remain durable and intact over time without losing its stability and strength.
Do mattresses have weight limits?
Typically, yes. A standard queen mattress can accommodate up to 250lbs per person, or 500lbs total. A single-sleeper twin can usually support up to 300lbs.
However, those are average numbers. This spec can vary across brands so you'll want to check the product page or scour the FAQs. For specialist models that are geared toward larger bodies, weight capacity is usually front-and-center. Other brands are more vague when it comes to a weight limit for their mattresses. If you must have a concrete number, reach out to the manufacturer.
Another indicator of durability for heavier weights is the type of materials used – look for things like high-density foam (over 5lbs), latex (Talalay or Dunlop), and/or high gauge steel coils.
How to choose the best mattress for heavy people
Timing the purchase of a mattress to coincide with a major mattress sale is an excellent way to get more bang for your buck. But that doesn’t mean just opting for the mattress offering the biggest discount — the best mattress for heavy people will cater for all of their sleep needs.
When making any mattress purchase, consider the performance of your existing mattress. What works and what irks about your current sleep set-up? If you share a bed, sturdy edge support and excellent motion isolation will mean sleeping through any toss and turns from your partner. You’ll also want a mattress that prevents overheating. Finally, think about the combined weight of you and your partner and ensure your mattress of choice will support it. If you need a little extra weight allowance, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Big Fig mattress is designed specifically for people weighing up to 1,100lbs.
How we choose mattresses for this guide
Our team of expert sleep testers called upon their years of experience to curate this list of the best mattresses for heavy people. Their focus was mainly on materials and construction plus other key criteria like firmness, weight capacity, and edge support.
We've personally tested the base models of these mattresses – the WinkBed, DreamCloud, and Saatva to name a few – so to further solidify our choices we also relied on feedback from verified customers who were in the market for more supportive beds to accommodate them.
Beyond that, we ensured that every one of our top picks comes with an at-home trial period of at least 100 nights, as well as a warranty that'll sufficiently cover the lifespan of the mattress.
Price (MSRP): from $1,169
Trial period: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
This isn't a specialty mattress for heavy sleepers per se, but customer reviews suggest that the DreamCloud Premier is plenty supportive for larger bodies. If you share a bed with a restless partner, you'll hardly feel their movements on this bed. This luxury hybrid is always on sale and is a sound alternative to the much more costly Saatva HD (#3).
