How to choose a mattress for heavy people

Since a good night sleep calls for between 6 to 8 hours a day, it is important that we choose a mattress that is very comfortable. Unlike average weighing people, heavy people cannot choose just about any mattress they fancy. There are some key points to note before deciding to go for a mattress or not. And when it comes to heavy people, the importance of an appropriate mattress cannot be overemphasised.

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Without wasting time, let’s delve into some of these important factors:

Contents

How firm is the mattress?

There is no questioning the fact that heavy people will most likely sink into a mattress than average persons. Sometimes, this sinking might be up to 2 inches deep. It then means that a thicker mattress will serve heavy people better. The firmness of a mattress is usually rated 1 to 10 with 1 being very thin and 10 being very thick. As a heavy person, you should look out for mattresses that are rated 8. There are some good ones that are rated 6 and are in fact very good for heavy people. But never go lower than 6.

How thick is it?

This may sound like the first point but the 2 points are really different. Thickness here refers to the inches of the mattress and its type. You will find that mattresses range anywhere from 6 to 14 inches and above. You also find that there are mattresses that are all-foam which is expected to be thinner than hybrids or innersprings.

If you want to avoid sinking into your mattress on a particular spot such as the center, you may do well to avoid thin mattresses. Check that the mattress is up to 12 to 13 inches thick before buying one.

Does it cause body heat?

Heavy people tend to sweat more than every other person that has average weight. Take note that memory and polyfoam mattresses tend to generate more body heat than hybrids and innersprings. However, there are some memory foam and polyfoam mattresses that come with layers of extra foam that helps in cooling the body such as latex or gel foams. If you are not sure if this is coming with the memory or polyfoam that you are interested in, always play safe and settle for innersprings or hybrids.

What is the density?

Mattress density refers to the amount of weight that such mattress can support without sinking in unnecessarily. A mattress density is usually measured in PDF (pounds per cubic foot). Another way people refer to the density is to check for its durability. Mattress producing companies are working extra hard to have their foam emerge the best by adding an extra layer of memory or polyfoam when making their mattresses. Do not expect the company to state the mattress’ density but if you want this information, you may have to reach out to the customer representative and ask for this information. Otherwise, you may be choosing a mattress that is wrong for you.

Choose a mattress with a thickness or gauge of 12 which is the thickest. And you may also do well to find out if the mattress has edge support. Since the edge of the mattress is usually used for sitting, ask if the edge is reinforced before going for such.

How durable is it?

Every mattress no matter how thick it is will eventually lose its beauty. As a heavy person, before buying a mattress, always ask and check how long such mattresses last. The mattress’ ability to support the mattress edge, how thick it is and the foam’s density are some of the things that are usually used in checking for a mattress’ durability.

Is there a weight limit?

Manufacturers of mattresses often state the weight limit of persons that can make use of their product. This is to avoid damage to the mattresses. But for sure, you will definitely find a mattress that can accommodate your weight as a heavy person. Usually, King and Queen sized mattresses offer support for people that weigh up to 600 pounds.

Erin Emanuel