Mattress Recommendations for the Big and Tall

Length

• The longest mattress on the market is produced by Select Comfort. Known as the Sleep Number Grand King, it measures 98 inches in length and is available by special order from Select Comfort stores. Bedding is available from the distributor. For a long mattress that’s available at numerous retail outlets, test-drive the California king. Measuring 84 inches in length, this extra-long version of the king mattress was introduced in the 1960s. Tall athletes and cowboys, towering actors, and large mansions with vast bedrooms all contributed to the need for this bed, 4 which is inches longer than the traditional king. Bedding for the Cal king is readily available on the West Coast, and can be ordered online through retailers. A traditional king or dual king mattress is 80 inches in length.

Width

• The Sleep Number Grand King again wins the size wars by coming in at 80 inches wide. Four inches wider than the king or dual king, and 6 inches wider than the California king, the grand king’s overall size is 30 percent larger than its closest rival. Note that the California king, while longer than the king, is 4 inches narrower than either the king or dual king mattress. If width is more important than length, the traditional king mattress provides more-than-adequate sleeping room for two big adults.

Construction

• An innerspring mattress is the most popular on the market, with frequent advances in technology constantly improving the core of your mattress. Newer innovations include foam, air-filled and water beds. All provide a comfort level for a person who is larger than average.

Firmness

• From super plush to firm, mattress density and how it feels under your body is a personal choice. While it’s best to feel a mattress filling up all the spaces under your body and giving total body support while lying down, many prefer a firm or extra-firm mattress, regardless of body size. If you run “hot” at night, a pillow-top mattress may prove too warm.

Obsolescence

• Regardless of your size or weight, a mattress starts to lose its support after five to seven years. Check yours for bumps and lumps. A study by the University of Oklahoma found that a newer mattress provided better sleep quality and was more comfortable than one five years or older. Newer trends in mattress construction and the advancing age of the user and changing sleep requirements also suggest changing a mattress after five years.