Hi Valerie,

Thanks for your question on bed advice for heavier sleepers. It can be really tricky to find a suitable mattress if you're heavier than the norm for beds and divan bases. The good news is you're not actually over the recommended weight for most mattresses! So it shouldn't be that hard to advise and point you in the right direction of a decent bed.

What's the maximum weight limit for sleepers for beds?

The maximum weight limit for 99% of all mattresses is 18 stone - per sleeper. When you have two people in excess of this most mattress guarantees are voided and the lifespan of the mattress drops significantly.

Why is this?

It's because pocket spring tensions that are specifically made for mattresses tend to top out at around 22 stone in a 1.6 firm or 1.9 extra firm pocket spring gauge. Mattress fibres, in particular man made polyester are also not designed to take excess weight loads over a long period of time. For this reason, most retailers will revoke a guarantee on a bed if you're over 18 stone.

However, that's not to say there aren't specific mattresses out there for heavier sleepers. What the heavier sleeper needs is a thicker pocket spring wire gauge, ie a firm 1.6 or extra firm 1.9 gauge. They also need more resilient fibres like horsetail, coir or hemp in natural fibres. If a heavier sleeper is looking for a foam mattress then high-density 33kg reflex foam is essential along with other resilient materials. Have a look at our Resilience mattress for an example.

The Best Bed Bases Explained

At your weights you should have any problem choosing any off the shelf mattress or bed base as you're both well within the weight tolerance. A broken divan base is never advisable as this, in turn, will damage the mattress so it's ideal that you get it fixed or replaced ASAP.

Any bed base needs to be sturdy and of sound construction. Cheap bed bases are a false economy and should be avoided where possible. Have a read of our mattress bases article here which explains the different types of bed base and what to look out for.

What to expect for your money when buying a bed

We understand you're on a budget so would recommend that you look at our Origins range as a mattress starting point. The Origins Pocket 1500 is our best seller and is a medium feel 1.4 gauge pocket spring, which would be ideal for your bodyweights. It can also be partnered up with a platform top divan for a stable and long lasting sleep system.

Origins Pocket 1500 Mattress

1: 300GSM WOOL

2: 750GSM VERY SOFT POLYESTER

3: 500GSM POLYESTER PAD

4: ONE INCH FOAM INSULATOR LAYER

5: 1500 SPUN BOND POCKET SPRINGS

TOTAL: 1550GSM

DEPTH: 30-33CM

We've also got a handy table here on what to expect for your money in a new mattress.

How much to spend on a double mattress?	What can I expect for my money?
Under £500	Will not get you much at best a 13.5 gauge open coil/cage sprung with a thin polyester layer or a solid foam mattress.
£500	Entry level spunbond springs with some form of synthetic upholstery. Usually one sided mattresses.
£750	The beginnings of a basic pocket springs unit with 800 – 1000 count. No substantial amount of filling other than foams and synthetic materials. Two sided models.
£1000	Should get you away from most low ranges and into the mid-range pocket spring models.
£1250	Should get you a decent pocket sprung mattress with some Natural Fibre content.
£1500	Should get you many manufacturers mid-range models with Natural Fibres
£1500-£2000	Should get you a Hand Made primarily Natural Fibre Quality Mattress
£2000+	You should expect 100% Natural Fibres and Traditional Hand Made Construction Method.
£5000+	A Bespoke Hand Made Sleep System, High-end Spring Units & Featuring the Worlds Most Luxurious Natural Fibres.

We hope that helps Valerie and if you have any more mattress related questions please get back in touch on info@localhost or 0161 437 4419.

Sleep well
John & Ryan