📝 usncan Note: Best Mattresses For Heavy People 2025
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Since most standard mattresses are made for people weighing 250 pounds or less, there’s a category of beds designed especially for sleepers who weigh more. As certified sleep science coaches, we assembled seven plus-sized panelists to test and identify the best mattresses for heavy people in 2025. After testing a dozen-plus options and evaluating detailed feedback, our sleep editors named the Titan Plus Luxe as the winner. It has a medium-firm profile that’s comfier than many competitors, yet it’s extremely sturdy and supportive.
After testing, the Titan Plus Luxe is our pick for the best mattress for heavy people overall.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER
A note on our terminology: In this article, we use the term “heavy people” for clarity and to align with how mattress manufacturers define weight capacity (typically 250 pounds per side). Our recommendations are specifically for individuals who find that standard mattresses lack adequate support, as the right mattress is crucial for both comfort and longevity.
Our seven winners were chosen by our sleep editors following a methodical testing process, where panelists analyzed features like pressure relief, support, motion isolation, ease of movement, firmness and other important metrics. We also spoke with a neurosurgeon who gave us further insight into choosing the best mattress for heavy people.
Why We Named It Best Overall
The Titan Plus Luxe claimed the top spot on this list thanks to its cushioned hybrid design that caters to a variety of sleeping positions and body types. Its medium firmness level suits most sleeper types, as our testers scored it a 9 out of 10 for side sleeping and an 8.5 out of 10 for back and stomach sleeping.
Our tester trying the Titan Plus Luxe in their own home after unboxing.
Christine Colby For Forbes
How It Performed During Testing
Our testers weighing over 250 pounds unanimously praised the comfort and stability of the Titan Luxe Plus, with one saying, “This is one fine bed for a big-and-tall person. It offers an exceptional balance of pillowy [softness] and firmness. It’s challenging to match this one in terms of comfort and build quality.”
It also earned high marks for pressure relief, receiving a 9 out of 10 for overall performance in the category. One tester says, “This one feels amazing,” adding that “To my surprise, there’s support where it’s needed and give where it’s needed. I could sleep on this one every night.” Along with excelling in overall comfort, our testers found it does a good job with ease of movement, edge support and motion isolation—all important factors for two people sharing a mattress. Our long-term testing also revealed that the mattress doesn’t overheat while you sleep on it—although hot sleepers can upgrade to a cooling cover for added relief if they choose.
Why We Named It Best Value
We’re fans of the Helix brand overall, and the construction and features of the Helix Plus, in combination with its price tag, make it a solid value choice for most heavy sleepers. It’s a sturdy hybrid mattress with a firm profile, combining wrapped coils with several layers of foam. Each foam layer has a different density, strategically chosen to contour your body while giving you support and added pressure relief. Plus, the coils are reinforced around the perimeter of the mattress, which cradle your body and provide extra edge support so the side doesn’t compress if you roll away from the center. It also comes with a breathable Tencel cover that promotes airflow, but you can add on the upgraded GlacioTex cover if you tend to heat up at night. All in all, it offers a lot of premium comfort features for just under $1,500.
The Helix Plus is our editors’ choice as the best affordable mattress for heavy people.
McKenzie Dillon For Forbes
How It Performed During Testing
Our plus-size testers appreciated the firm, supportive feel of the Helix Plus. “This mattress is very firm with no cushiony top,” says one tester. “But despite how firm it is, the mattress is still very comfortable.” Another adds, “The density of the top material is a slow melt, but if you can get used to this kind of mattress you won’t want any other sort, I suspect.” Our testers also scored the mattress highly for ease of movement and motion isolation, giving it an average score of 9 out of 10 and making it a strong choice for couples.
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Why We Named It Best For Side Sleepers
The Nolah Comfort Plus delivers the plush, cushioned comfort that the brand is known for, making it an excellent choice for side sleepers. This luxurious feel comes from a quilted Euro top and soft foam layers that cushion joints for pressure relief. Underneath, a system of heavy-gauge coils ensures stability, even weight distribution and enhanced lumbar support
This bed is also constructed with cooling materials, including organic cotton and Nolah’s proprietary heat-dissipating fibers that promote airflow and allow more heat to escape—a plus for hot sleepers.
The Nolah Evolution Comfort Plus Mattress has a cushioned, pillowy feel that’s perfect for heavyweight side sleepers.
Bridget Chapman For Forbes
How It Performed During Testing
One tester, who scored it a perfect 10 for side sleeping, calls it a very comfortable plus-size option that “provides the required support while also giving you that plushy top.” Another tester adds that their spine felt well aligned in the position. “There was no sagging underneath my hips or trunk, nor were there any pressure points.” To the latter point, our panelists agreed: They scored this bed an 8.5 out of 10 for pressure relief.
One thing to note, though, the Nolah Evolution Plus didn’t score very highly for edge support (5.5 out of 10). If you like to sit or sleep near the edge of the bed, our runner-up pick, the Leesa Plus Hybrid is worth considering. Like the Evolution Plus, it features high-quality materials and a softer feel; however, it scored higher in our edge support test.
Why We Named It Best For Couples
The WinkBed Plus is an ideal compromise for couples with different sleep preferences. It excels at balancing a soft feel for side sleepers with firmer support for back and stomach sleepers. It’s designed with a zoned support system of individually wrapped coils, which provides extra reinforcement for your lower back and softer cushioning for your hips and joints.
The WinkBed Plus is an ideal option for couples who want accommodating comfort and good motion isolation.
Bridget Chapman For Forbes
How It Performed During Testing
The WinkBed Plus stood out as a top pick among our plus-size testers for its impressive balance of firmness and cushioning, earning a 9 out of 10 for pressure relief. One tester noted it’s “comfortable in all positions.” Another plus for couples, it scored an 8.5 out of 10 for motion isolation and earned praise for its “excellent edge support.” Our long-term tester confirmed its stability, saying, “it’s extremely stable and allows for the user to move around with ease without disturbing their partner.” Finally, the mattress earned high marks for its construction, with one reviewer concluding, “It feels like a well-crafted mattress that stands up with time. I would seriously consider this mattress next time I mattress shop.”
Why We Named It Best Firm
Big Fig only makes mattresses specifically designed for “bigger figures” who seek an ultra-supportive (and often firm) profile. Standing 13 inches tall, this mattress combines three layers of high-density foam to keep your spine lifted and heavy-duty, individually wrapped coils that are made to support your weight, no matter your sleeping position. For more support, Big Fig also offers a mattress foundation that’s built for a maximum of 2,000 pounds.
The Big Fig Mattress has a firm and supportive profile that suits back and stomach sleepers.
Bridget Chapman For Forbes
Our Experience With This Mattress
The Big Fig Classic is rated around a 7 to 8.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale by the brand, and all seven of our plus-size testers echoed that it has a firm feel. “I can feel the design is for heavier folks and it offers the support we are looking for,” says a tester. Another adds, “This mattress is awesome. It’s perfectly firm and luxurious.” We also appreciated the Big Fig’s sturdy edge support during testing, which scored a near-perfect 9.5 out of 10. As one panelist says, “This thing is a brick on the edge. It’s sturdy and dense through and through, and it’s very easy to rise from [when getting out of bed].”
Why We Named It Best For Back Pain
For those struggling with back pain, our sleep editors consistently recommend the Saatva HD. Its medium-firm profile is strategically constructed to balance spinal support with pressure relief, featuring a 5-zone natural latex layer that reinforces the lower back while cradling joints like the hips and shoulders. This targeted design improves alignment and relieves pressure where you need it most.
Unlike other mattresses that come rolled in a box, all Saatva mattresses are delivered right to your bedroom with free white glove delivery—that way, your back pain isn’t exasperated by moving a heavy bed.
The Saatva HD Mattress is an ultra-supportive choice that doesn’t compromise on comfort.
Bridget Chapman For Forbes
How It Performed During Testing
The Saatva HD’s balanced feel impressed us during testing, with panelists scoring it an 8 out of 10 for pressure relief. “It feels nice and firm, but somehow soft at the same time,” says a tester. “I feel very comfortable lying on this mattress. It holds firm under my weight and I can move around with ease.” Another notes that their hip and spine feel aligned and supported while lying on this bed. “Your [hips] feel pretty well placed in this one and your spine straightens out fast … There’s good give in the top material, but it’s also fairly dense.”
Why We Named It Best Organic
Another editor favorite, the Avocado Luxury Organic stays true to its name with a high-end design that utilizes premium materials that are not only comfortable but also eco-friendly, which is why we named it our favorite luxury choice. It stacks 17 layers of organic materials like latex, alpaca, wool and mohair combined with coils, which have seven ergonomic zones, so sleepers of all types feel supported in areas like the neck and back, which is especially important for those over 250 pounds. Avocado also makes some of the only mattresses that carry both Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifications, which ensure the materials are truly organic and are made in socially and environmentally responsible ways.
The Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress is just as environmentally friendly as it is comfortable.
Bridget Chapman For Forbes
How It Performed During Testing
Our testers particularly enjoyed the plush, luxurious feel of the Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress. “This feels like a princess and the pea, super-soft luxury bed,” says one tester. “All of my pressure points sank in and were cradled in comfort.” There are three models to choose from (medium, plush, ultra plush); strict side sleepers may like the plush model, but we recommend the medium profile to most heavyweight sleepers since it offers more support.
How We Chose The Best Mattresses For Heavy People
Our sleep team tested over 200 mattresses, including dozens of beds for heavyweight sleepers. To compile this guide, we identified contenders with sturdy constructions and a weight limit of at least 300 pounds per side. We then leaned on our thorough testing and expert insights to narrow our list.
Real-World Testing
Our senior sleep and mattress editor, Bridget Chapman, led a team of seven testers, all weighing over 250 pounds. Our panelists represented differing ages, genders, sleeping positions and preferences. Throughout our testing process, we took note of the following criteria.
- Overall performance: We rated beds in key performance categories like motion isolation, edge support and pressure relief and gave each one a final overall score between 1 and 10, with 10 being the best. Mattresses with a score lower than 8 were not considered for our list.
- Support: Testers lay on each mattress for at least 25 minutes and rotated between all sleeping positions including side, back and stomach. They analyzed the support offered by each mattress and whether or not they felt their spine sag into the bed.
- Durability: Each mattress was sent home with a long-term tester, who slept on it for at least 30 nights and reported back with real-world findings regarding its support, durability and overall feel. We continue to update this list based on those insights.
Expert Insights
We spoke to Dr. William Kemp, neurosurgeon at the Virginia Spine Institute, for insights on the most important factors for heavier sleepers to consider when selecting the right mattress, and we keep those suggestions in mind while putting together this list.
What To Consider When Buying Mattresses For Heavy People
When searching for a new mattress, you want to take certain features, like weight limit, mattress type and durability, into consideration. Dr. William Kemp, neurosurgeon at the Virginia Spine Institute, says that choosing a mattress that aligns with your weight and sleep preferences is key for spinal alignment and pressure relief. It’s also a good idea to check the retailer’s sleep trial and warranty policies to make sure you’re covered if the mattress isn’t what you expected.
Weight Limit
Single sleeper mattresses typically support one person up to 250 pounds. For two-sleeper sizes, such as queens and kings, this limit is per side for a total of 500 pounds. Mattresses designed for heavier people are constructed with more intentional weight limits. For instance, the total weight limits of the mattresses on this list range from 700 pounds (the Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress) to 1,100 pounds (the Big Fig Mattress). As a final note, weight limits are relative to mattress size; the bigger the mattress, the more weight it can typically support.
Mattress Type
Ultimately, this depends on your comfort level, but some mattress types are better suited for heavyweight sleepers than others.
- Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds with a supportive coil base and cushy upper foam layers, but they may feel slightly springier than their all-foam counterparts. This type is a great choice for heavyweight sleepers because it hits that sweet spot of sturdiness and pressure relief.
- Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses are made almost entirely of coils with a thin comfort layer on top. They are excellent at providing support, but may be lacking in pressure relief for those who want a body-contouring mattress.
- Latex: Latex is the most durable mattress material, making it a great choice for heavyweight sleepers. Just make sure the latex is naturally derived, as synthetic latex can sleep hot and doesn’t offer the same level of support as Dunlop or Talalay latex.
- Memory foam: Foam mattresses offer a body-molding “sink-in” feel and are superior at minimizing motion transfer. However, they aren’t the best choice for heavyweight sleepers as they are more prone to sagging and buckling under heavier weight.
Support And Durability
When there is more weight pressing into a mattress, you need a sturdier construction to prevent sagging and promote mattress longevity. When searching for a mattress, look for high-density foams, thick coils and superior edge support—all of which work together to create a reinforced support system.
Mattress Thickness
Take a look at the overall thickness of a mattress and its comfort layers before buying. A thicker mattress will almost always offer more comfort and support than a thinner one. As a general rule of thumb, heavyweight sleepers should look for a mattress that is at least 11 inches thick.
Firmness
Generally speaking, a medium-firm or firm mattress is the best choice for sleepers who weigh more than 250 pounds. Firmer mattresses offer ample support, encouraging proper spinal alignment and resisting sagging over time. “If you have a heavier body weight, I would recommend finding a firm mattress that provides good support for your legs, spine and hips while still being comfortable and individualized to your body,” says Kemp. That said, the best mattress for an individual (or couple) always comes down to their specific needs and preferences.
Sleeping Position
Your preferred sleeping position plays a role in which mattress suits you best. Heavyweight side sleepers generally benefit from a medium to medium-firm mattress that relieves pressure around the hips and shoulders. Heavyweight stomach sleepers, on the other hand, tend to find the most comfort on a firm to extra-firm bed that prevents sinking around the midsection. For heavyweight back sleepers, a medium-firm to firm mattress that keeps the spine aligned is a safe choice.
Cooling Features
Heavy sleepers press more weight into the mattress, making them more likely to sleep hot. In general, hybrid and innerspring mattresses are the most breathable mattress types, thanks to their coil bases which leave ample room for airflow. While memory foam mattresses can sleep cool (thanks to the use of perforated or gel-infused foams), they still won’t sleep as cool as a hybrid or innerspring bed. If you prefer a memory foam feel but also sleep hot, we recommend choosing a hybrid mattress, which pairs layers of memory foam with a coil support system.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted team has a large library of mattress guides that cover beds designed for different comfort preferences and sleep needs. Each of our guides is rooted in hands-on testing and in-depth research. We also stay up to date on the latest developments with the top mattress brands as they release new models and discontinue old ones.
- McKenzie Dillon, co-author of this piece, is a mattress and sleep editor and certified sleep science coach. She has six years of experience testing mattresses and has tested many of the picks on this list.
- Co-author and executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers is also a certified sleep science coach with a background in mattress testing. Like Dillon, she’s slept on dozens of today’s top mattresses.
- This story is overseen by senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman, a fellow sleep science coach and professional product tester. She’s tested over 200 mattresses and led the testing efforts for this list.
- We regularly update this roundup to reevaluate our recommendations. This article was last refreshed in August 2025 by updates writer Alexandra Garrett, who also has experience testing mattresses.
