What Is the Best Mattress For Heavy People?

Overview

There is nothing worse than sinking—really sinking—down into a mattress that is too soft. You feel enveloped, slightly trapped, and you cannot easily move around and into a comfortable position. If you are a heavier-weight sleeper then you will need a bed that is on the more firm end of the spectrum so this does not happen to you. With a firm mattress, you will feel supported, and your mattress will last up to its full life span. For clarification, a heavier-weight sleeper is considered anyone over 230 pounds, average weight is 130-230, and lightweight sleepers are less than 130 pounds, but this is just in terms of mattresses and not a medical categorization. 

If you do fall into the heavier-sleeper category, as mentioned above, a firm mattress is of utmost importance, no matter if you are a back, stomach, or side sleeper. Most adults tend to carry the majority of their weight in their mid section, and when this area is unsupported by too soft a mattress, their spines can curve in a way that will lead to pain the following day. Hips tend to sink down into a mattress that is too soft, causing the lower back to curve in an unnatural way, leading to potentially painful back problems. Hip pain can be a common complaint from too soft of a bed, especially for a side sleeper, but for back and stomach sleepers, the pain tends to be isolated to the upper back and neck. Shoulder and neck pain can also lead to headaches for some. 

What Type of Mattress is Best for a Heavier Person?

There are so many different mattress types available in today’s world, and a heavier sleeper really can find almost any type of mattress at the firmness level they need for supported spinal alignment. Not to mention there are a plethora of materials used in mattress production that can help keep you cool while sleeping, help relieve pressure points, and overall contribute to healthy, comfortable sleep. 

If you are looking for an innerspring mattress, you’ll have no trouble finding one that is firm enough to provide adequate support and durable enough to last a while under your weight. As previously mentioned, a heavier sleeper (230 pounds or more) needs a firm bed to keep their spine in alignment, and innerspring beds tend to be on the firmer side. Most will have a layer or two of memory foam or latex that can help hug your body and support it’s contours.

There are also hybrid mattresses which are the best of both worlds (and similar to today’s innersprings: part foam or latex, part springs). Hybrid mattresses have a support layer of pocketed coils, but are topped with layers of conforming, comfortable foam to help relieve pressure points. Foam provides wonderful motion isolation and helps ease joint pain and pressure points. This is just the right amount of foam for a heavier sleeper; as a general rule of thumb, heavier sleepers should be careful with all foam mattresses as typically with memory foam mattresses, a person tends to “sink in,” which is not ideal for a heavier sleeper desiring to keep their spine in alignment. The joint pain and back pain will be an unfortunate constant if you are a heavier sleeper and sleeping on a soft, sagging mattress.

Fortunately, if you are a heavier person who loves the feel of memory foam, there are options available on the firmer end of the spectrum. You’ll just have to look for a memory foam mattress that comes in a firm option. 

Lastly, if you are in the market for a latex mattress, you should think along the same lines as memory foam—a latex bed that is too soft will not adequately support your weight, which could lead to pain. Latex beds are more durable than memory foam, with a little more bounce and support to them, so this makes them great for heavier sleepers, but, again, you’ll want to opt for one that is on the firmer side.

In conclusion, when purchasing a bed as a heavier sleeper, the most important factor is firmness level. An average weight sleeper (again, that is someone from 130-230 pounds) could get enough support from a mattress that is a 5-6 firmness level, and a lighter weight person (less than 130 pounds) could get sufficient support from something even softer, possibly even as a stomach sleeper. But a heavier sleeper over 230 pounds will likely need something more in the 6 and up range, and a heavier stomach sleeper may need an even more firm bed to get the spinal support needed. 

A more firm mattress creates the support for a heavier sleeper that will help support the spine and keep it in proper alignment. The best position for a spine is completely in line and straight. For a heavier sleeper who is either a back or stomach sleeper, your hips could start dipping down into a softer mattress. That puts pressure on the lower back, the sacral spine, due to the unnatural curvature. Or if you are a heavier side sleeper, you could be experiencing painful pressure points on your hips and/or shoulders. The hips sinking down on a softer mattress could cause hip pain, and that pain could possibly radiate to other joints, such as the knees, due to your body unknowingly overcompensating while you are sleeping. There is also possible shoulder pain from side sleeping on a mattress that is too soft where you are sinking in and not supported enough. That chronic shoulder pain could easily escalate into daily neck pain, which could lead to headaches. 

That is why making sure your bed is firm enough for you if you are a heavier sleeper is so important, and, if you find yourself in chronic pain, getting the right mattress could literally be life changing. And mattress buying is easier than ever with online ordering, white glove delivery services, and trial periods. So do not wait! Getting the right mattress for you, with the all-important correct firmness level is completely worth it to ensure that you are sleeping with proper spinal alignment. This means you will be getting a comfortable night’s sleep, and living your days without pain.