Mattresses for Heavy People

Why buy a mattress for a heavy person?

If you're over a certain weight - around 16 stone - it's important that your mattress properly supports your body in all the right places. This is because your body will dip and curve in different places to a slightly lighter person, meaning your back can easily arch out of place and cause back pain.

What type do I need?

The best type of mattress, as we talk about in our guide to mattresses for heavy people, is going to be one with firm tension. Depending on your specific weight and comfort preferences, you might also want to consider an extra-firm mattress. This orthoaedic level of support will ensure your hips and shoulders don’t dip too far into the mattress surface, which will prevent your spine from becoming too arched, leading to back pain. You need orthopaedic support to ensure your spine stays nicely aligned with your hips and shoulders, maintaining a good sleeping posture. You can also take a look at our collection of mattresses for back pain if this is something that also applies to you!

In terms of type, a pocket spring mattress will support you if you weigh a lot, as this support system is designed to react to your body shape and ensure targeted support at each area. These springs also distribute your weight between them, meaning you’re less likely to disturb your partner when you turn over, as only the springs beneath you will move.

Something like the Jay-Be Flex Ultra-Firm 1200 Pocket Mattress would be perfect, as this features reactive pocket springs and high-density e-fibre™, ensuring ‘conotur support’ as it adapts to your body shape.

Is memory foam good for heavy people?

A foam mattress can be an ideal purchase for you if you’re over a certain weight, as it provides personalised support that ensures every curve is kept comfortable. However, you might find that certain foams, especially low-density memory foam, offer too much ‘sink in’, and you’ll end up deeper in your mattress than you’d like, which makes turning and getting out of bed more difficult.

Therefore, if you love the idea of a memory foam mattress but are worried about sinking, go for something high-density, like the Silentnight Comfort Gel Memory Foam Mattress. This mattress features a specialist Miratex® Foam as well as cool gel memory foam to ensure consistent support with a firm, orthopaedic feel. The cooling element also makes this one of the best mattresses for hot sleepers, and it's particularly beneficial if you suffer from night sweats as well.

You could also consider other types of foam, such as latex or reflex foam mattresses, which often have more ‘bounce’ than memory foam. This will allow you to stay nicely on top of the mattress surface, rather than ‘dipping’ too uncomfortably into it.

What size mattress should I buy for a heavy person?

Just because you weigh a lot doesn’t necessarily mean you automatically need a larger bed. Everyone carries weight differently, so the size of your bed should relate more to your preferences, how much you like to stretch out, and how much you move during the night.

That being said, a king-size bed is best for couples, especially if at least one of you is on the larger side, as this allows for your weight to be more evenly distributed over the surface of the mattress. If you and your partner are of a larger build, you could even opt for an Emperor-size mattress to get extra room in bed.

For more help in choosing the right size when buying a mattress for a heavy person, read our guide to bed and mattress sizes.

Buying a mattress for a heavy person from MattressNextDay

At MattressNextDay, we’re dedicated to offering a huge range of mattresses that ensure there really is something for everyone. For more help choosing the right mattress for you, head to our Guides page, which is full of helpful advice to help you make the perfect decision for you and your family.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred mattress, you can enjoy it as soon as tomorrow thanks to our free next-day delivery service. You can also try your mattress before you buy in our Kent showroom, where our helpful sleep advisors can offer personalised advice and talk you through the process of buying a mattress for a heavy person. Plus, with our 100 Night Sleep Trial, you can always swap your mattress if you decide you’d like to go for something else!

As you can see, we offer a range of options to ensure everyone can enjoy the rest they deserve, and don’t forget about our flexible payment options and our old mattress recycling scheme to make your purchase as stress-free as possible.