Sleep - Live Life Big

Written by Camila Reed in Clothing & Accessories last updated June 2021 LiveLifeBig.net may earn a small commission when you use one of the links on this page to purchase. Let's face it: air mattresses are rarely comfortable and that can be doubly so when you're big, heavy or fat. Finding the best air mattress for fat or heavy people can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. At least...it can feel that way. But there are some great options on the market that are ready for camping, crashing on the floor at a relative's house, or just one to keep on hand. These will work no matter what size you are, too. While there are many options, way too many of them deflate or fail to provide the comfort and support you need- especially as a person of size. In many cases, you end up basically sleeping on the floor because the mattress can't support your weight or because it not-so-slowly deflates over time. The right air mattress will make all the difference. Choosing one that is comfortable, sturdy, and can handle heavier people will help you to stay up off the ground all night long and wake up feeling refreshed. I'll be covering all my favorite picks in detail but if you're in a hurry and just want something that works, check out The Englander on Amazon. This air mattress can hold up to 800 pounds which makes it a great option for fat couples along with heavy individuals. You can also check out the full list here: Best Overall For Fat Folks: The Englander With 800 Pound Weight Capacity Runner Up: King Koil 600 Pound Weight Capacity Air Mattress Best On A Budget: Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Best Air Coil Design On A Budget: HOUSEDAY Air Mattress Best Dual Pump Mattress For Fat Folks: SoundAsleep Cloud Nine Series Dual Pump Budget Option: Serta Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump Best With A Headboard: Intex Dura-Beam Ultra Plush with Headboard Before we dive into the reviews, let's take a closer look at what makes an air mattress good for big, heavy or fat folks. What Makes An Air Mattress Good For Fat People? Whether you want this air mattress to camp, crash on a friend's floor, or just as a backup for any guests coming over, there are several things to consider. These are also the factors that I used to pick up the best options for this list. High Weight Capacity Duh! Fat folks need an air mattress that can actually support them! Many queen and king air mattresses can hold about 600 pounds but once you get to smaller sizes things can change a lot. I've seen air mattresses with as low as 300 pounds of weight capacity- that's just plain silly! Some folks might think that 600 pounds is a lot...and maybe it is for one person but when you consider that two people are often sharing one air mattress it's easy to see how 600 pounds might not be enough. Everything on this list can handle at least 500 pounds but if you're looking to get an air mattress for a heavy couple, we have several options that have an even higher weight limit. It's also worth noting that some air mattress manufacturers don't list the weight capacity. It's certainly possible that some of those mattresses are fat-friendly but I'm not going to be the one to test that out or have my guests try either! That's why every air mattress on this list has an established weight capacity from the manufacturer that's supported by reviewers across the internet. Height, Thickness & Distance From The Ground Being big, heavy, or fat can make it difficult to get in and out of bed. This goes double if you're getting on in years and your knees aren't as spry as they were when you were 20. Double height mattresses make it easier to get up off the mattress itself and get on with your day. It also helps make sure that you don't touch the floor when you lay down. I've laid down on plenty of thinner air mattresses that can technically support my weight but I end up with my hip or shoulder touching the ground just because the mattress is too thin. We've only included air mattresses that have some extra depth to them. Not all the mattresses on this list will be considered double-height but they'll all be way thicker than average to help out heavy folks. Air Coils or Beams Only Old school air mattresses were just one big chamber. And honestly, they sucked. These days, they're a lot better but you still want to make sure that you're getting an air mattress with air coils or air beams. These types of mattresses are great for fat and heavy folks since they do a much better job of distributing the weight evenly across the air mattress. Instead of just one big pocket full of air, the air is spread out into columns or beams. This is similar to the idea behind a bed of nails where each nail works together to support a person's body. But hopefully, the air mattress will be more comfortable than a bed of nails! You'll see many air mattresses advertise the number of air coils that they have and typically the more air coils or beams the greater support the air mattress will provide. Built-In Pump I don't know about you but I want to relax before bed...not get a workout in by pumping up a king-size mattress! Every air mattress on this list will have a ready-to-go built-in pump to make life easier. You might be able to save some cash by pumping yourself but in my opinion, it just isn't worth it. Maybe if we were talking about a little air mattress that's only 3 inches off the ground. But we're not. As big and fat people we need a bigger mattress and I'm not excited about manually pumping an 18 inch think giant air mattress! Every single air mattress on this list includes a pump that will get your air mattress from flat to fully inflated within a few minutes. This isn't a spot where I'd consider compromising either. Consider A Dual Pump Setup There are several air mattresses that feature a second built-in pump which will constantly monitor air pressure throughout the night and effectively top off the pressure. And it's not just a marketing gimmick, it really does work. This technology is designed to fix the problem that all fat or heavy folks have dealt with: you got to sleep on a nice plump and fully-inflated air mattress only to wake up on a nearly deflated mess. And that's if you're lucky. Most of the time I'd wake up in the middle of the night as the air mattress slowly deflated under the weight of me and my husband. So is a second automatic pump an absolute requirement? No, but it can make a big difference and we've got two options on this list that include a second pump. Durable & Functional Exterior If you're just putting out the air mattress for your guests then a durable exterior may not be as big of a deal. But if you're looking to go camping or something similar then you want to make sure you've got a tough exterior that will resist any punctures. There's no better way to ruin a camping trip than making a fat guy sleep on the ground! But you also want to make sure that the exterior material is comfortable and works well with the rest of your bedding. I'm a big fan of microfiber exteriors not only because it's a durable material but also because it helps sheets actually stay on the air mattress! What Size Air Mattress Is Best For Fat Folks? In most cases, I'd strongly encourage anyone who's big or heavy to pick up at least a queen-sized mattress. Not only will that give you more room to spread out and sleep on but if you need an air mattress with more than 300 pounds of support then you'll have to pick up a queen. If you aren't over 300 pounds, you're probably at least in the 200's and I'd rather have a mattress that's more than prepared for my weight than one that's cutting it close. What If I Need A Twin Mattress? Still, there are some cases when only a twin mattress will do. That could be because you're out camping or you just have a small space to work with. In those cases, you can still pick out a fat-friendly air mattress off this list you'll just want to grab one that offers a twin size. The Englander, which is our best overall, offers a twin-size air mattress with all the features of the queen and it supports 300 pounds. You can check it out here. Our best on a budget option from Intex also offers a budget-friendly twin size that can handle 300 pounds as well. You can see that one here. Not every air mattress will have a twin option and if you're looking for a twin-sized with dual pumps or a headboard then you're out of luck. But if you just need a heavy-duty mattress that can support a heavy person, then either of those options will work great. Best Air Mattress For Fat People Okay, now that you know what to look for and what I considered when researching these products, let's get into our favorites! Best Overall For Fat Folks: The Englander With 800 Pound Weight Capacity The Englander Heavy Duty Air Mattress 800-pound weight capacity for people of all sizes Unique microfiber exterior for extra durability and comfort 20-inch height makes it easy for fat folks to get out of bed Check Today's Price on Amazon There's a whole lot to love about The Englander and it really checks all the boxes when it comes to finding a heavy-duty mattress that's fat-friendly. For starters, there's the 800 pound limit on the California King size and even the queen-size has a respectable 600-pound weight limit for solo sleepers. It's also the only air mattress that features a full microfiber wrap. At first, that might just sound like marketing mumbo-jumbo but microfiber is actually the real deal. Not only does it have a nice texture compared to traditional PVC but the tightly woven microfiber material makes it more resistant to punctures. That's a big deal not only for camping but if you've got a home with kids or pets then a little extra puncture resistance can go a long way. The microfiber wrap also holds on to sheets a lot better than a smooth PVC exterior. If I didn't know any better, I'd guess that I'm entering a kickboxing tournament every time I go to sleep which means my sheets go through quite the struggle to stay on! The microfiber helps and while it's a small plus it definitely makes a difference for me. The pump is excellent and the California King goes from sad and deflated to fully inflated in less than 3 minutes. That might not seem like a big deal, but in most cases, air mattresses are usually put in the middle of the floor somewhere and it can be inconvenient to have them fully inflated all the time. That's not a problem with The Englander and you can easily deflate the air mattress between uses. The Englander also uses air beams which not only provide the support that fat folks need but it's also very comfortable. While I've mostly talked about the king-size version, the queen size still makes a great option and even the twin can work for some fat folks with a 300-pound weight capacity. Finally, there's the height. One look at The Englander and you can immediately tell that this mattress is pretty far off the ground. All three sizes (queen, king, and twin) are 20 inches off the floor which not only prevents heavy people from sinking down to the floor but also makes it much easier to get out of bed. You can read some of the thousands of five-star reviews and check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here. What I Love About It: It's heavy duty and super comfortable. It's one of the few air mattresses on the market that can handle 800 pounds which is perfect for fat folks. What I Wish It Had: I'd love to see a second internal pump on this mattress. As it stands, it does a great job staying full all night but I'd love to take things to the next level! Runner Up: King Koil Air Mattress 21,264 Reviews King Koil Air Mattress 600-pound weight capacity for people of all sizes Endorsed by the International Chiropractors Association 20-inch height makes it easy for fat folks to get out of bed Check Today's Price on Amazon You really can't go wrong with the King Koil air mattress and not only does it have a 20-inch height with a durable exterior but it also has more than 15,000 five-star reviews from happy people on Amazon. While The Englander uses an air beam design that runs horizontally across the bed, our runner-up uses air coil technology which acts like dozens of small columns throughout the bed. Both constructions are excellent and can support fat folks but some people may already have a preference. The King Koil also has a powerful internal pump that will get this mattress fully inflated in under 2 minutes. I'm also a fan of the built-in pillow which I've never actually seen in an air mattress. It felt a bit gimmicky at first but it actually works out pretty nicely and can be convenient since it's one less thing you need to bring if you're camping or just on the road. It's definitely more comfortable than you'd expect from an air mattress and King Koil is proud to note that they're one of the only (or even the only) air mattresses endorsed by the International Chiropractors Association. That doesn't guarantee you'll find it comfortable but it's certainly a good start! So why didn't the King Koil make the best overall spot? First, the largest size offered is a queen size. My husband and I are fat and while we could fit on a queen, a king-size bed is going to be much more comfortable. Second, 600 pounds will work for some fat folks but it may not be enough for many couples which is why I couldn't give the King Koil our best overall spot. That being said, if the weight capacity and size match what you're looking for, the King Koil is a great choice for most people. You can read some of those five-star reviews and check out today's price on Amazon by clicking here. What I Love About It: The built-in pillow is actually nicer than expected and a cool feature that makes this air mattress even more convenient. What I Wish It Had: I'd love to see a king-size option from King Koil that could compete with our best overall and up the overall weight capacity. As it stands, the 600 pounds may not be enough for some fat couples. Best On A Budget: Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe (600 Pound Weight Capacity) Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Air Mattress 600-pound weight capacity at a budget-friendly price More than 45,000 five star reviews on Amazon 18-inches thick Check Today's Price on Amazon The Intex Dura-Beam has a little bit of everything at a budget-friendly price. It doesn't have a heavy-duty weight capacity of The Englander but at 600 pounds for the queen, it will be enough for a single fat person and some couples. It's also 18-inches off the ground which is enough to keep the bed comfortable and not make it impossible to get actually hop off it. It still has an electric pump but the fill time is a little slower at around 4 minutes (sometimes closer to 5). In just about every category, it's going to score just a little lower than our top picks. But that doesn't mean it's a bad mattress- far from it. It's also what helps keep this fat-friendly air mattress easy on the budget. It's thick but not as thick as the top picks. It fills fast, but not quite as far as the top picks. It's heavy-duty but not quite as...you get the idea. Still, with more than 45,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, you really can't go wrong with this budget option and if you don't need more than 600 pounds of weight capacity it makes a great choice. You can read some of those reviews and check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here. What I Love About It: This air mattress does everything well without breaking the bank. What I Wish It Had: I'd love to see higher weight capacity on a budget option. Best Air Coil Design On A Budget: HOUSEDAY Air Mattress HOUSEDAY Air Matress 650-pound weight capacity at a budget-friendly price Firm, at least by air mattress standards 18-inches thick Check Today's Price on Amazon I wanted to make sure to include a budget-friendly option that utilized air coil designs (which are the up and down columns) and not just the beam design (which are the side to side rows). Most people, fat or not, won't notice much of a difference between the two but others will swear by the air coil design. In many cases, air coils are a little more expensive but this HOUSEDAY air mattress will still give you everything you need, and an air coil design, without breaking the bank. It also has a very respectable weight capacity of 650 pounds and is 18 inches off the ground. It's also got a fat-friendly model that's showing off the air mattress! They've got a man of size relaxing and reading on the mattress and even doing a little yoga! Love it! That's certainly not the only reason to pick up this mattress but it's a good start as I got tired of seeing nothing but bean poles lounging on every air mattress. You can check out more photos of the mattress in action along with the latest price on Amazon by clicking here. What I Love About It: Air coil mattresses are often higher cost than other options so I'm happy to find a good option that doesn't break the bank. What I Wish It Had: Again, I wish there was a budget option for folks that need more than 650 pounds of weight support. Best Dual Pump Mattress For Fat Folks: SoundAsleep Cloud Nine Series Sound Asleep Clound Nine 500-pound weight capacity Dual pumps help keep the mattress at a constant firmness 19 inches in height Check Today's Price on Amazon What if you went to sleep in a firm traditional mattress...and woke up in a soft bed that was slowly wrapping around you. Well, it happens all the time with air mattresses, especially if you're fat or heavy. Dual pump mattresses are designed to fix that problem by constantly, quietly, and slowly adding air to the mattress throughout the night. That means you've got one pump that initially fills up the mattress for fast fill and a second to top it off. If you're a sensitive sleeper, this can really be a game-changer as it can solve some of the biggest problems with an air mattress. However, it can be a little tricky to find a dual pump mattress that works for fat folks but the SoundAsleep Cloud Nine is going to be your best bet. The 500 weight capacity should cover most solo sleepers but couples may push the weight limit. However, the dual pump can help keep the mattress full even if you're on the edge. The downside is that a dual pump is a premium add-on and as a result will usually mean you have to a pay premium price. It's also worth noting that this mattress is listed as queen size but is not quite the right dimensions for that. It's actually short two inches in length and width so it's going to be smaller than your standard queen. You can learn more about this mattress, including reading reviews and the latest price on Amazon by clicking here. What I Love About It: Dual pump, baby! Dual pumps can be a real game-changer when it comes to comfort! What I Wish It Had: Even though it's listed as a queen-size mattress the dimension aren't quite there. I'd love to see this a little larger. Dual Pump Budget Option: Serta Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump Serta Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump 500-pound weight capacity Dual pumps with budget-friendly pricing 18 inches in height Check Today's Price on Amazon If you're set on dual pump technology but want to avoid a premium price then this Serta Air Mattress could be a good option. It uses NeverFlat Pump technology to keep the air mattress inflated through the night and can support 500 pounds. Again, 500 pounds is a good amount but may not cut it for some fat couples so make sure you have an idea of where you'll fall. Unfortunately, it's hard to find a high-weight capacity air mattress that also includes dual pump technology, and 500 pounds seems to be the max...at least for now. Like all our other picks, it's thicker with 18 inches in height and uses an air coil design. However, it doesn't have quite the same amount of love across the world of internet reviews that some of the other options have had. That doesn't mean that this mattress won't work for fat folks, but it's worth doing a little additional research if you're trying to snag a budget option. You can start by reading more reviews on Amazon and checking out today's price. What I Love About It: It's your best bet for the dual pump feature without having to pay premium prices. What I Wish It Had: It is the budget pick for a reason but I'd love to see a dual pump option with some higher quality manufacturing behind it. Best With A Headboard: Intex Dura-Beam Ultra Plush with Headboard On Sale ($55.00 OFF) Intex Dura-Beam Ultra Plush with Headboard 600-pound weight capacity It's an air mattress with a headboard! 18 inches in height Check Today's Price on Amazon Yep, you're seeing that right! This air mattress has a headboard attached to it...and it's awesome! Okay, some folks won't care but I can't stand when pillows fall off the bed in the middle of the night. In a normal bed, this usually isn't a problem because it's either got a headboard or it's up against the wall. But with an air mattress, you're often floating out there in no man's land on the middle of the floor where pillows are free to fall! This heavy-duty air mattress from Intex solves that problem with a headboard that inflates along with the rest of the mattress. It's also great for fat folks with a weight capacity of 600 pounds and a nice height from the floor of 18 inches. You also get the same air beam design that you saw in our best overall pick. You know, the one with more than 45,000 five-star reviews? But this air mattress isn't a slouch when it comes to reviews and it has more than 2,500 five-star ratings on Amazon. It shouldn't be a surprise that there are fewer reviews overall when you consider that an air mattress with a headboard is a bit of a specialty option. Overall, this air mattress solves a very real but specific problem without a compromise on quality. You can check out the latest price on Amazon and read some of those reviews by clicking here. What I Love About It: No question here, my favorite part is the headboard! What I Wish It Had: I'd love to see an Intex air mattress with a dual pump system, especially one with a headboard! Frequently Asked Questions Okay, maybe you know exactly what air mattress you want to pick up but you've still got questions. Don't worry! I won't leave you hanging! Let's cover some of the most common questions fat folks have about the perfect air mattress. Should I Fill My Air Mattress More If I'm Fat Or Heavy? It might be tempting to try and overcompensate a bit by filling your air mattress to the absolute max, especially if you're fat. You figure that you can balance out some of the air loss but just giving it a little top off... But don't do this! Overfilling an air mattress puts additional pressure on the seams which increases the chance of rupture. The folks at Hunker actually recommend that you only fill your air mattress to 90% on the first go around so you don't push things to the limit right away. Additionally, quality air mattresses like the ones on this list just don't leak air that fast. Stick with the standard fill amount and trust the mattress to do its job. And if you're really worried, then you can consider one of the dual pump options. Can I Use An Air Mattress For Everyday Use? Yes! You can absolutely use an air mattress as your everyday, regular bed. While any of them can work, I'd highly recommend the SoundAsleep series since it has a dual pump. The second pump will keep your mattress topped off with air so it stays steady over weeks, months, or even years. Wait...How Do I Fill An Air Mattress? These days, you can fill your queen-sized air mattress in under 5 minutes without breaking a sweat. While it certainly wasn't always that way, the days of manual filling are almost gone and every air mattress on this list comes ready to go with an electric pump. How Often Should I Fill The Air Mattress? Any air mattress will leak and deflate at least a little over time. It's not really feasible to create an air mattress that's 100% airtight and it's completely normal to see a little air loss over time. In most cases, you'll need to top off the air mattress every few days but occasionally more. I do notice an increase in air loss when I sleep on our mattress versus sleeping with my husband on the same mattress. That means fatter and heavier folks may need to top off their mattress a little frequently. Just give it a quick test before you go to sleep for the night and adjust as needed. Do I Need A Different Air Mattress For Camping? In most cases, you won't need any kind of special air mattress for camping. All the air mattresses on this list are not only heavy-duty enough to handle big folks but they also puncture-resistant enough to put up with the wear and tear of camping. Most air mattress materials, whether that's PVC, microfiber, or something in between, can handle the dirt and grime from camping, too. That means the last thing you need to consider is size and many tents won't be able to fit a full queen size or king size air mattress. This can get tricky because as I've already mentioned, most twin-sized air mattresses can only hold around 300 pounds. So the question isn't "do you need a special air mattress for camping" as much as "do you need a special tent for your air mattress!" Is An Air Mattress Going To Hurt My Back If I'm Fat? It depends. If it does, it likely has nothing to do with being fat as an air mattress can bother skinny and fat folks alike. Try your best to match the firmness of softness of your regular mattress to minimize discomfort. For example, if you know that a soft mattress already works best for you, then consider inflating the air mattress only 85% of the way to increase the softness a bit. On the other side of things, if a firm bed is best for you then add a little extra air or consider a dual pump air mattress to keep things topped off all night. In some cases, an air mattress can actually improve back pain, and I can personally attest to that! Closing Thoughts Choosing anything when you’re bigger can be a challenge...but that's all a part of living life big! But getting a good night's rest is critical. It shouldn't matter if you're camping out in the great outdoors or just crashing on a friend's floor. When you know what you're looking for, the process of picking out the perfect mattress can actually be pretty straightforward and there are plenty of options to support folks of all sizes. With weight capacities as high as 800 pounds, there's no reason that a fat person can't enjoy an air mattress! What do you think? Did you find the air mattress you were looking for?