Heavy person struggling with aches, pains, cold sweats, and all-day fatigue? We know exactly what you’re going through.
We sleep-tested 12 of the top models and compared hundreds of consumer reviews to bring you the consumer reports 5 best mattresses for heavy people, so you don’t go through all the pain we did (trust us, not fun!).
Believe it or not, there’s a mattress that’s perfect for any size, weight, or sleeping position, and it’s most likely much more affordable than you think it is. There are even models that regulate your temperature, helping you actually sleep cooler!
We’ve always been big.
Not “big” big, if you know what we mean. Just the type of person you want with you when you’re in a dark alley! That kind of big…
In this review, we’ll cover:
- Why finding a mattress for big people was one of the best AND HARDEST things we’ve ever done
- Our top picks for heavy side, stomach, and back sleepers
- What’s the best mattress overall for heavier people
- What to look for in a mattress when you’re 250 lbs. + so you don’t waste your money
You don’t have to live with shoulder pain, back pain, or fatigue anymore. A happy, pain-free life is within reach.
(Read First) How Buying The Right Mattress Changed Our Lives
We’ve always been big.
Not “big” big, if you know what we mean. Just the type of person you want with you when you’re in a dark alley! That kind of big…
That’s great when you’re playing football or moving the couch.
But, man, all that mass isn’t easy to slug around all day.
We just kind of learned to live with the aches. You probably know EXACTLY what we mean…
Your rotator cuff never works right…
Constantly stretching your lower back to relieve tension…
Twisting your neck like an owl 24/7 just to get rid of pain…
And let’s not even get into the hot sleep or morning fatigue. We eventually got used to being always tired and moody.
That’s when a friend recommended a mattress made for a heavy person. She said it totally changed her life.
HOW DID WE NEVER THINK OF THAT?
It never occurred to us:
WE weren’t the problem. OUR MATTRESS was the problem.
All those aches and pains weren’t because we were too big. It’s because our mattress wasn’t built to handle the extra weight. If we just got stronger coils and more cushioning to support our neck, back, and shoulders, all that pressure would be relieved.
So we did what any sane person would do: Jump in the pickup and head down to the showroom. We grabbed a heavy-duty bed, raced home, and threw that bad boy together. Our old mattress went straight to Goodwill.
Guess what?
HORRIBLE!
The thing wasn’t nearly as comfortable as advertised, and the coils weren’t strong enough to support us.
And since the bed wasn’t defective, we couldn’t even use the warranty.
So we put a lot of work into finding a good one. We learned about coils, latex foam, other forms of cushioning, edge support, durability, different sleep positions, and weight capacity.
The result?
LIFE CHANGING.
We say that with no hyperbole. The shoulder and back pain are almost completely gone. The bed even regulated our temperature so we didn’t wake up in cold sweats anymore. There’s no words to describe the feeling of waking up refreshed and pain free.
The only thing we regret is not doing this years ago.
Moral of the story: If you’re like we were, a heavy person mattress can change your life. Just make sure you get one that’s made for YOU.
Let’s get to it, and find out, for a heavy person….
What Are The Best Mattresses?
NOTE: When we say heavy, we mean roughly 230 pounds and up. This is not intended to be a judge of body structure or appearance, as every person carries weight differently. This is merely a practical standard of size – not a judgement of weight.
Mattress Comparison Table
#1) Parachute Mattress – The Best Overall Mattress for Heavy People
Overview: Ready to wake up with your happy face on? This is the optimized mix of support, comfort, convenience, and temperature control. It relieved our back pain in less than a week, and left us feeling fresh, energetic, and happy in the morning. An extra firm (5x coils), pain-relieving mattress for heavy side, stomach, and back sleep. And it’s all backed by a 100-night free trial.
- Support: 8.5
- Comfort: 8
- Motion Transfer: 6.5
- Mobility: 8
- Value: 9
- Overall: 8.5/10
Pros
- Optimal support for shoulders, hips, back, head, and feet
- 5x coils than a normal mattress
- 100% wool and cotton fabric – no synthetics
- Extra layer of mini-coils to adapt to your body
- Naturally regulates body temperature
Cons
- Motion isolation is average at best
- Could be too firm for side sleepers
Attention heavy people who wake up with stuck shoulders, sore spines, and cold sweats: We have a winner.
The Mattress by Parachute is more than just a great night’s sleep – it’s a full day pain-free. This is the first product on the mattress market specifically to support the spine no matter which way you sleep.
It’s firm enough to support heavier sleepers (7-8 out of 10), but comfortable enough to lull you to sleep at night. In fact, a few of our team members said this was the best night’s sleep they’ve had in years.
We were surprised that it was so comfortable considering how firm it is.
The best part overall was the pressure relief.
The pressure relief for the side, back, and stomach positions was great. Nobody complained their back or hips were out of alignment while resting.
It’s definitely a bit on the firm side, which won’t give you that marshmallow-like sink. If that’s what you want, skip down to #3.
It’s not the most luxurious model either, but it’s definitely the best mix of price, comfort, and support.
Here’s how it works:
Parachute created an innovative 3-zone ergonomic design:
- Soft for comfort at the top, allowing the shoulders to sink softly
- Firm in the middle to support the back and hips
- Soft at the bottom for your knees and feet
Then they backed it with 2 layers of 100% New Zealand wool to naturally regulate your temperature, so you never wake up in a cold sweat. If this stuff can regulate the temperature of New Zealand goats 2,000 feet up in the mountains, we think it can handle you.
Finally, it’s topped with a cotton finish to add an extra layer of comfort. The result is a firm but comfortable night’s sleep where your spine stays in perfect alignment.
What you’ll love:
- Take your life back from pain and fatigue: The extra support relieves pain in a matter of days instead of months. We felt refreshed and pain-free very quickly.
- Try it risk-free: Test this mattress for 100 nights. If you don’t love it, Parachute will take it back. No questions asked.
- Harness the power of Mother Nature: Unlike the usual hybrid mattress, this one contains only natural wool and cotton – NO SYNTHETICS. Listen, if this stuff keeps New Zealand goats warm in the mountain winters, we think it can handle you just fine.
What you might not like:
- Motion isolation: The Parachute isn’t as good as other models at isolating movement. That means if your heavier partner moves, it might affect you if you’re a light sleeper. It’s not that bad though.
- Firmness: We loved the firmness, but some reviews complained 8 was too firm. In rare cases, this can exacerbate shoulder pain. However, none of us experienced that. There’s enough added comfort with the cotton and soft coils that you shouldn’t have a problem.
#2) Purple Hybrid Premier – The Ultimate Luxury Hybrid Mattress
Overview: The world’s most responsive, cool, and comfortable sleeping experience for back, stomach, combo, and hot sleepers. Purple’s 30 separate patents on unique technologies ensure one-of-a-kind support, comfort, responsiveness, and cooling. The Purple Premier Hybrid mattress comes with the same features as the original, plus upgraded support, comfort, and durability (Available in 3 or 4-inch memory padding). If you want flexibility, mobility, comfort, and support all in one, this is it.
- Support: 8
- Comfort: 8.5
- Motion Transfer: 7.5
- Mobility: 9
- Value: 7.5 (Very expensive)
- Overall: 8.5/10
Pros
- Excellent support and comfort
- Excellent flexibility and mobility
- Ultra durable (10 years)
- Perfect for stomach and back sleepers (4-inch upgrade fits side sleepers)
- Extra-cool sleeping experience
Cons
- Price
- 3-inch memory foam not ideal for side sleepers
- Not ideal for customers who need extra support for pain
The Purple Hybrid Premier is the world’s leading luxury mattress, and overall the most comfortable, breathable, and mobile mattress we’ve ever tested.
The Parachute has more support and the Nectar is softer, but the Purple Premier Hybrid mattress shone in our tests where they fell short. The patented elastic grid (“the purple thing”) is super supportive and comfortable without sinking in, so you feel a weightless “floating” experience (But you won’t be awake to notice).
That makes it ideal for hot sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach dreamers.
The first thing that hit us was mobility.
With memory foam, you sink deep into the mattress, which makes it hot and hard to switch positions. The Purple Hybrid feels like you’re “on top” of the mattress, so it’s easy to switch from side to side, back to stomach, or any other position you want. None of us ever felt “stuck”.
Purple engineered its grid to be temperature neutral, plus the inner springs add extra flow making it the first fully temperature neutral mattress. We can’t tell how good it feels to hit the pillow knowing you won’t wrestle with your blanket all night or wake up sweating.
Here’s what you’ll love:
- Extra flexible: The 3” gel is the ideal mix of support and comfort. But if it’s not thick enough to sleep on your side, you can upgrade to 4”. That’ll give you enough cushion to avoid injury.
- Sleep extra cool: Our hot sleepers agreed this was their favorite by far. A fully temperature neutral grid and breathable airflow make it exceptionally airy. All other mattresses use technology to fight the heat. With the Purple Premier Hybrid mattress, there is no heat.
- Excellent mobility: Purple mattresses are ideal for combo sleepers, rollover sleepers, and anyone who wants to feel like they’re floating while sleeping. The elastic grid fits the contours of your body without sinking in.
What you might not like:
- Firmness: The Hybrid Premier might not be firm enough if you need extra support. We gave it a 6.5ish out of 10. The elastic adjusts to the contours of your body, but if you need extra-firm support for your spine, Parachute is better.
- Price: Purple is the most expensive brand we reviewed. Their mattresses are as good as they get and come with a 10 year warranty, but it’s a heavy investment.
#3) Nectar Mattress – An Affordable Memory Foam Alternative
Overview: An award-winning memory foam mattress that punches way above its weight. You get most of the benefits of an elite mattress except at a fraction of the price. Voted “best mattress” by the Sleep Foundation, USA Today, and Mattress Advisor PLUS winner of the prestigious Tuck Award for value. This medium-firm, high-density memory foam bed is our best choice for side sleepers.
- Firmness: 6.5
- Comfort: 8
- Motion Transfer: 9
- Mobility: 7
- Value: 9
- Overall: 8/10
Pros
- Unbeatable price
- Perfect for side sleepers
- “Goldilocks Zone” comfort – not too strong, not too soft
- Excellent motion control
- Adaptive memory foam fits your body type
- Mattress comes with a 365-night trial
Cons
- Not enough support for stomach sleepers
- Deep sink causes extra heat
The Nectar is an award-winning memory foam mattress in a box that totally blew away our expectations and ade it straight onto our consumer reports best mattress list
As soon as you sprawl out on the mattress, you’ll feel yourself sinking deep into its responsive high density gel, the pain-relieving gel contouring to your every nook and cranny as you fall in deeper. We felt it especially in the lumbar region and shoulders as soon as we hit the surface.
OK, marshmallow visuals aside, this is an award-winning bed that costs up to 50% LESS than high-end models. With a 6.5 on the firmness scale, a transition layer, and an extra wide base to transfer comfort, the Nectar offers deep relaxation from top to bottom (much more on that next).
If you’re the person that’s looking for deep sinkage and intense pressure relief on a budget, it’s the best mattress for you.
However, if you’re a strict back sleeper or strict stomach sleeper, it might not offer enough support, especially if you’re very big. After a while laying on our backs a few team members noticed their hips sinking out of line with their shoulders.
Even if you sleep on your stomach, it comes with a 365-day free trial. If you don’t like it after a year, just return it.
Nectar advertises 5 layers of life-changing comfort. Overall, our team mostly agreed with only a few people experiencing alignment issues.
A peek inside the Nectar
- Tencel quilt cover: This breathable top layer adds extra comfort and reduces memory foam sweating.
- Memory foam: A comfortable layer of memory foam keeps the mattress aligned with your body.
- Transition layer: The Nectar is more comfortable than most memory foam mattresses due to the extra transition layer that extends comfort.
- Base: Reinforces the bed to keep it firm enough to support the lumbar area.
Now for a few downsides
Overall, the Nectar sacrifices a bit of support for the sake of softness. It’s about 1.5 out 10 lower than the Parachute. We loved the soft feel, but we did notice the lumbar, shoulder, and hip support to be less than the Parachute.
And the top quilt layer helps to limit the sauna-like feel of most gel memory foam beds, but it doesn’t fully eliminate it. It’s not as cooling as the New Zealand wool from Parachute. We didn’t wake up in a cold sweat, but we felt the warmth for sure.
BONUS – Great for Couples
It scored 9 out of 10 on our test for motion transfer. The adaptive memory foam was so strong we didn’t spill our drink even after dropping a dumbbell on one side. If one partner is heavy and the other is much lighter, the Nectar ensures you both sleep on your own terms.
Our testing confirmed the consumer reports top 3 mattresses for heavy people. But if none of those fit your needs, the last 2 were the next tier down and fit different niche customers.
#4) Eluxury Mattress – The Best “Cheap” Mattress for Heavy People
Overview: Eluxury is the leading name in cheap but high-quality beds. This 10-inch gel memory foam mattress is extremely affordable and even available on a low monthly plan. The 3-pound density memory foam is enough for heavier people (but we prefer denser foam), while adjusting to your body and relieving pressure points. If you’re really on a budget and sleep alone, it’s right up your alley.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Enough foam for support
- Firm but comfortable
Cons
- Not as comfortable as the top models
- Not as much support
- Not as durable
The most affordable mattress for heavy people on the market. The extra-thick mattress can keep up even if you’re 250+ pounds and sleep on your side.
It scored well on all our tests, and it’s available for a small monthly payment. Not nearly as heavy an investment as the Purple or Parachute.
#5) GhostBed – Best Latex Mattress for Heavy People
Overview: An ultra strong latex mattress perfect for everyone from sumo wrestlers to pro football players. 1.5” of aerated latex foam plus a 7” base gives this workhorse Atlas-like powers (600 pound capacity!). It achieves all that capacity while still maintaining a 6.5 firmness.
Pros
- Extra-heavy capacity
- 1.5-inch latex for added comfort and support
- Gel memory foam to adjust to your body
Cons
- Not as comfortable as Nectar, Parachute, or Purple brands
- Not enough support for us
Last but not least, the GhostBed has an extra-capacity latex mattress.
The 600-pound capacity and minimal motion transfer make it ideal for extra heavy people or heavy people with lighter partners.
The layer of latex and removable plush cover keep it comfortable and airy, all without sacrificing support (6.5 on the firmness scale). If the Nectar isn’t appealing to you, this is your next best bet.
Like most other mattresses in the 6-7 range, we felt some slight discomfort from time to time in our hips and shoulders. Most customer reviews online agreed that the mattress was comfortable and supportive, but a few mentioned the same thing. For more support, get a firmer mattress.
Latex mattresses have a lot more bounce, making them more mobile and flexible than gel memory foam. It also sleeps slightly cooler than the nectar, albeit at a higher price.
How to Choose the Best Mattress for a Heavy Person
When you’re a heavy person like us, it’s hard to find something that provides comfort and stability without breaking in half.
Most bed in a box mattresses aren’t made with us in mind. And since bigger beds usually mean a bigger price tag, you’ve got to do more research before making your decision. If not, you could spend $1,000s and still be very disappointed.
Mattress Construction: Innerspring or Hybrid Are a Must
As a heavy person, the best mattresses are an innerspring mattress (springs inside) or a hybrid (Foam + springs). This will give you a more stable, firm base to support your weight and pressure points. An all foam mattress won’t get it done.
If possible, make sure that you get a mattress with “pocketed coils” (wrapped in textile), since this will reduce motion and provide firmer support. Most high-end mattresses use pocketed coils.
Durability: Foam Considerations
Newsflash: It’s not easy to hold up 230 plus pounds all night every night. Even if your mattress is a workhorse, it won’t last forever.
For a heavy consumer, you need a mattress with strong foam (preferably latex) and durable coils. Coil durability is measured using a “gauge” system. The lower the number the more durable the coil, less than 14 is best.
Comfort Layer
The comfort layer is the upper part of the mattress responsible for distributing weight and cradling your body.
You’ll want this to be thicker and stronger. That’s especially true for side sleepers. Heavy people put a lot of pressure on their shoulder, so a thicker layer will absorb that pressure, saving your shoulder from harm. Typically, 3-4 inches will do, but it depends by person on the surrounding layers.
