Best Mattress for Heavy People: Our Top Picks (September 2024)

Generally, mattresses do have a weight capacity. That’s because if the mattress isn’t properly constructed, it won’t support your weight properly and give you years of comfortable sleep.

However, finding weight capacities online for various mattresses can be a bit of a challenge. Not all brands advertise their weight limits, and we didn’t include any of those brands here. Brands like Logan & Cove, Douglas, and Octave are all up-front about their 500 lb weight limit (or 250 lb per person).

A bariatric mattress is specifically designed for heavier sleepers with medical needs. It’s wider than a regular medical bed and it supports people weighing 600–1,000 pounds. We don’t review medical devices on MattressReviews.ca, so you’ll want to search for this type of product on medical supply websites.

Heavy people often sleep best on a mattress with a high level of firmness, support, and cooling features. It doesn’t necessarily matter whether they sleep on a foam, innerspring, or hybrid mattress as long as it offers these features.

• Firmness: We recommend a medium-firm mattress for most sleepers, and heavy people are no exception. A medium-firm feel often means minimal sinkage and better spinal alignment.
• Support: Heavier sleepers need more support to relieve pressure points. Mattresses with zoned support will help with that. For a hybrid mattress, this means arranging different types of springs in different ways to support and align high-pressure areas.
• Cooling: Memory foam tends to run hot, which can be more of an issue for heavy people. Cooling gel foam layers, breathable covers, phase-change materials, and breathable springs or open-cell designs are all good features for heavy sleepers.

Logan & Cove Choice is an excellent example of a mattress with firmness, support, and cooling features. This hybrid mattress offers 5-zoned support with up to 1,200 individually wrapped zoned pocket coils, with thicker coils around the torso and hips for extra support. Logan & Cove Choice also has advanced cooling features, including cooling gel foam and nanofibres.

We recommend a medium-firm mattress for heavy people. A softer mattress with a lot of sink makes it more difficult to move around in and get out of the bed. However, a medium-firm mattress may feel closer to medium for a heavier person. You’ll also want to look for zoned support that properly aligns your spine and supports your hips and lower back.

We recommend Logan & Cove Choice as the best mattress for heavy people who sleep hot. This hybrid mattress has advanced cooling features, including cooling gel foam and nanofibres, and provides the firmness and support that heavy sleepers need. You can get a queen-size mattress for $999.

If you’re looking for a cooling foam mattress, consider Douglas Original, which costs $799 for a queen size. It offers cooling, support, and pressure-point relief, with a medium-firm feel that supports your whole body. The upgraded Douglas Alpine and Douglas Summit add phase-change material to control your mattress temperature. Summit also includes cooling nanofibres in the top cover.

Logan & Cove Choice is highly rated by partners of varying weights. It has a firmer but comfortable feel that offers better spinal alignment and less pressure in the shoulders, lower back, and hips. Logan & Cove Choice offers 5-zoned support with up to 1,200 individually wrapped zoned pocket coils, with thicker coils around the torso and hips, while providing pressure point relief.

You may also be interested in a split king mattress, which is two separate twin XL mattresses in a single king-size bed frame. This means you can explore different features and firmness levels based on your needs. For more information, check out our guide to mattress sizes.

Mattresses fall into many different categories. Each has different characteristics that are a good fit for a variety of sleep styles. Here are just a few types of mattresses:

• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses like Logan & Cove combine innerspring layers with foam or latex for a perfect pairing of contour and support. They tend to have better edge support and lower temperatures than memory foam, but this comes with reduced motion isolation for a slightly less peaceful sleep. (Shopping for a hybrid? Check out our list of the best hybrid mattresses.)
• Cooling Gel Foam: Some sleepers find normal memory foam too hot, so cooling gel foam mattresses like Douglas can be a great alternative. This type of mattress combines memory foam with cooling gel to keep temperatures comfortable while you sleep.
• Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses support your weight with metal coils. This makes the mattress bouncy and provides good edge support, but you might find this type of mattress less comfortable if your body needs more contouring.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses like Octave “hug” your body to relieve pressure and keep your spine aligned. They usually have good motion isolation, which is good for couples. While memory foam is known for trapping heat, Octave is actually our pick for Canada’s best cooling mattress with advanced features like a cooling nanofibre cover, copper-infused memory foam treated with PolarMAX® phase-change material, and multi-zone support foam with air channels.
• Latex: Natural or synthetic latex mattresses can relieve pressure in any sleep position. They have a reputation for comfortable temperatures and can last longer than other types of mattresses. However, latex mattresses can also be more expensive and may not be ideal for some people with latex allergies.

When you’re choosing a mattress, it’s important to consider more than just how comfortable it is. There are a whole range of factors to keep in mind, which we list below. (And when you’re ready to buy, make sure you buy a mattress online vs. in store.)

• Budget: Set a budget for your new mattress and stick to it. You might even be able to make this budget go further by finding limited-time deals and promotions online.
• Construction: Figure out what type of mattress you want, whether it’s foam, hybrid, or innerspring. There are pros and cons for each construction style, and knowing what you want will help narrow down your options.
• Firmness: Choose a mattress with the right firmness level for your sleep style—that is, whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach. For example, side sleepers often want a softer mattress, while back sleepers may prefer something firmer. (Did you know that a medium-firm feel is ideal for most sleep styles? Get our guide to the best medium-firm mattresses.)
• Motion Isolation: Pay close attention to motion isolation if you share your bed with a partner, kids, or pets. The higher the isolation score, the less you’ll notice movement from the other side of the bed.
• Edge Support: Are you in the habit of sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed? Look for a mattress with good edge support so you feel supported in any position.
• Bounce: If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you might prefer a mattress with extra bounce. (Your inner child will enjoy it, too!)
• Contouring: Contouring materials like memory foam help support your body in all the right places. That said, too much “hug” can cause overheating and make it hard to move, so find the level of contouring that’s best for your body.
• Temperature: Speaking of overheating—if you’re a warm sleeper, look for a mattress that promotes airflow and reduces heat. Octave Vista is a great choice with its cooling nanofibre cover, copper-infused memory foam treated with phase-change material for temperature balance, and multi-zone support foam with air channels.
• Responsiveness: A responsive mattress allows you to change positions without feeling stuck. Often found in hybrid designs, a responsive mattress can help you enjoy certain activities in bed even more.
• Noise: Nobody likes a squeaky or crinkly mattress. Get a quiet night’s sleep with a mattress made from noise-quieting materials like foam or latex.
• Company Policies: Get details about the manufacturer’s sleep trial, return policy, and product warranty so you know what you’re getting into.

As a heavy sleeper, you’ll also want to consider:

• Body Type & Weight: Make sure the mattress you’re considering is appropriate for your body type and weight. Your mattress should be properly constructed to give you years of comfortable sleep.
• Zoned Support: This is especially important for heavier sleepers, who may sink into a mattress more than a lighter-weight sleeper. Thicker coils around the hips and lower back, as well as zoned support for areas like the shoulders and perimeter of the bed, will help support you better.

It depends on the type of mattress you’re considering and the types of features you’re looking for. Prices for mattresses like Logan & Cove Choice (starting at $799) and Douglas Original (starting at $599) vary by mattress size only. They’re no more expensive to purchase for a heavier person. Each mattress has a combined weight limit of 500 lb, or 250 lb per person.

That said, you can choose an upgraded mattress with additional features for a higher cost. For example, you can get another layer of steel support coils and more cushioning in Logan & Cove Frontier starting at $999, or more cooling technology in Douglas Alpine starting at $799.

The exact price will vary depending on what brand you buy and where you buy it. Purchasing a Tempur-Pedic or Beautyrest from a brick-and-mortar furniture store will cost more than buying an accessibly priced brand like Logan & Cove or Douglas online. (Weighing the pros and cons of online shopping? Find out why it’s better to buy a mattress online vs in-store.)

Is your mattress sagging or not offering the support you used to have? Are you waking up with back pain or stiffness? You may want to look at whether your existing mattress is still meeting your needs.

Some mattresses should be replaced every 7–10 years, depending on their construction, materials and care. Others can last more than 10 years. It’s worth noting that the top-rated mattress for heavy people, Logan & Cove Choice, has a 15-year warranty, and the Douglas Original mattress has a 20-year warranty. This suggests these mattresses may have a longer-than-average lifespan.

Heavier sleepers need stronger structural support. We recommend a solid foundation or platform, and a sturdy frame. You’ll want to check the weight limit of your mattress foundation.

Box spring foundations are not recommended for heavy sleepers. If you want to use slats on a bed frame, check the weight limit and ensure there’s only minimal spacing between the slats for air flow.