What Is Mattress Edge Support ?

Have you ever fallen out of bed in the middle of the night? Or slid right off the side as you put on your shoes? Or maybe you’ve woken up sore from compressing your body into the way-too-small surface area your mattress provides?

We feel for you. These signs may indicate that your mattress lacks good edge support! That is where Big Fig comes into play. Big Fig has all the edge support you need while keeping you feeling secure in bed and expanding your sleeping space.

Finding a mattress with excellent edge support can give you the sleep you dream of. Want to know more about edge support and why it fits your needs? Keep reading!

Understanding Mattress Edge Support

What is edge support on a mattress? In the mattress biz, it can refer to two things:

The material that encases an innerspring mattress.
The amount of support around the mattress edges

Edge support is a necessity when creating a mattress for heavy people . The key to edge support is using the best materials, from foam to steel rods or extra coils thicker than the ones in the middle of the mattress. Note that border rods bend easily, and thicker coils can be uncomfortable.

For Big Fig Mattress, we ultimately decided to go with the foam option, which is both comfortable and supportive.

Side note: All mattresses that advertise edge support technology have a coil base system inside. The coil base system is what makes this extra edge support necessary. Foam and latex mattresses don’t address it, but we’ll get to that later.

Why Edge Support Matters to Plus-Size Sleepers

While many people can benefit from edge support, the plus-size community really needs it. Larger-sized sleepers need to feel secure in bed; let's face it, they may need more surface area, too. There are four main reasons why plus-size sleepersshould shop with edge support in mind:

mattress edge support for plus size sleepers

Security While Sleeping

No one likes falling out of bed in the middle of the night. Better edge support keeps you securely in place, even if you sleep close to the edge. Do you toss and turn at night? A firm edge mattress gives you the extra support you need while sleeping, ensuring your safety if you toss and turn.

Stable Edge Seating

Lots of people sit on the edge of their beds. Think about it: it's where most people sit and stretch or even get dressed in the morning.

Edge support provides a stable, long-lasting surface for your bed. Stable edge seating is also essential for people with chronic hip or joint pain. Since the edge is a bit firmer, it helps those with difficulty getting up from lower positions. Firm edges automatically make lifting yourself out of bed easier without pain.

Increased Surface Area

Supportive edges also expand the usable sleeping area. Why? Because it allows you to sleep closer to the edge, making your mattress feel more spacious. We found that all mattress edges with support foam have increased a sleeping surface by up to 20%! Great news for people who love sleeping alone and taking up as much space as possible (guilty!), but it’s also essential for people who sleep with a partner and share a bed.

More surface area allows you to sprawl out and sleep comfortably — especially for anybody looking for the best mattress for a plus-sized couple!

Comfort & Longevity

Edge support is crucial in keeping your whole mattress comfy and cozy. It prevents sagging around the entire bed, meaning you won’t end up sleeping on only one side. Good, stable edges support the mattress structure, keeping the construction and components intact for years. A mattress with edge support is also a perfect comfort solution for heavier people and heavier couples!

Does Bad Mattress Support Lead to a Sagging Mattress?

Some types of mattresses don’t consider edge support at all! All-foam pillow tops and traditional mattresses are notorious for poor edge support and are constructed without specialized materials.

How to Fix a Sagging Mattress

Edge construction certainly makes a big difference when it comes to mattress sagging ! We would definitely go on record saying that an innerspring mattress that doesn’t sag almost certainly has excellent edge support.

Suppose you roll around in the middle of the night. In that case, you will want a firm edge mattress that can alleviate stress from your movements to avoid shifting internal materials, leading to prematurely sagging and wearing out your mattress.
Edge support is vital for keeping a mattress in great shape over time. Traditional mattresses have inferior components around the edges that soften over time as the materials break down. A standard mattress's firmness and comfort level can diminish for plus-size sleepers within a few months.
BUT (and this is a big but so listen up!) several other factors also contribute to mattress sagging! Remember, if the mattress isn’t paired with the proper support, it will likely lose shape over time. Always use a strong, high-quality foundation in your sleep system setup.

Do Certain Mattress Materials Have Better Edge Support?

Short answer, yes! Below are some of the more common mattress materials and their edge support structure breakdown:

Foam Mattress Edge Support

A few foam mattresses will include some extra foam structure on the side, but generally, these foamy sleeping pads do not have any extra edge support. There is no structure around the perimeter of the mattress because the whole point of foam is to mold to your body. Adding immovable edge support would actually decrease the sleeping area.

Heavier sleepers will also tend to sleep "in" a foam mattress instead of sleeping "on" it. Foam mattresses, particularly ones that utilize memory foam, will also tend to create cavities or depressions into which the sleeper will sink. Unfortunately, this leads to discomfort and difficulty turning or rolling into a different position.

Latex Mattress Edge Support

The key characteristic of a latex mattress is its material makeup. The latex material has no coils or springs but is still more supportive than a foam mattress. The lack of a supportive spring system means latex mattresses generally only have edge support if specially crafted. It also means that a latex model still has the same problem of sleeping “in” a foam mattress.

Hybrid Mattress Edge Support

Hybrid mattresses use a combination of foam, latex, and coils to create the layers of a mattress while creating a comfortable, supportive sleeping surface. These mattresses should have some edge support to protect the coils, increase the sleep surface, and provide long-lasting structure to the mattress.

Hybrids have a little give while providing optimal support and comfort. The pocket coils help reduce motion transfer, and tufting prevents internal materials from shifting. When it comes to a mattress for heavier people, excellent edge support is the cherry on top of the hybrid cake.

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How Big Fig Mattresses Address Mattress Edge Support

The Big Fig Mattress is a hybrid mattress designed with the firmest foam around the edges to keep you feeling secure in bed, even close to the edge. Many people immediately notice the difference when they sit on it.

We are also one of the few hybrid mattresses on the market that hand tuft our mattresses. Hand tufting means we individually insert durable string fasteners completely through the mattress in 16 (for Queen size) locations spread evenly across the mattress surface.

The tufts secure the mattress layers in place and virtually eliminate the shifting of materials that can lead to reduced comfort, lumpiness, and/or sagging. Due to the high cost of hand tufting, it is found on very few mattresses and is unheard of in the Big Fig’s price range.

With a Big Fig, the hybrid construction, individually wrapped coil springs, high-density foams, edge, and hand tufting all work together to prevent mattress sag and promote a long, happy life for your mattress. So don’t worry– with us, you can rest assured that you have the best mattress with edge support.

Hey, you don’t have to just take our word for it! An independent lab tested our mattress by simulating 20 years of use with an oversized 350 lb. rolling weight. The Big Fig Mattress outperformed published industry test results with virtually no measurable surface impression (less than 0.2”). Check out the complete results!

3rd party tested to maintain strong edge support

Rave reviews

We also love hearing from Fig Fans who love their noticeable edge support! Check out some of our favorite mattress reviews:

★★★★★

Love My Fig

The Big Fig mattress allows me to sleep better and more comfortably. No tossing and turning any more. The reinforced edges are also a fabulous feature!

Lynda T.

★★★★★

I’ll never buy another mattress

I was skeptical, but we took the plunge and I’m so glad I did. After about two weeks I noticed my back wasn’t hurting anymore in the morning. I am sleeping more soundly with less tossing and turning. I can sit on the edge of the bed and it doesn’t fold under my weight. We love this mattress!

Kelly H.

★★★★★

Should have bought this years ago...

The Big Fig mattress is supportive, comfortable and well made. This quality can be especially felt in the edge zones of the mattress. Since switching to the Big Fig I have not been waking up as frequently, moving in my sleep as much and have been waking up refreshed each morning. This mattress has been a game changer in the way my back and hip feel each morning!

Christopher K.

★★★★★

Love it!

I am so glad I bought this!! My severe hip pain slowly went away and is gone now. I also have severe scoliosis and the firmness has helped in the mornings. It has great edge support that does not sag when getting out of bed. Thank you for making a great mattress!!

Jeffrey F.

★★★★★

Finally a superior mattress!

Edge support is superb. Little to no transfer of movement. You can't go wrong with Big Fig. The generous trial period and long warranty make this a no brainer. Sleep well!

JoAnne R.

★★★★★

Great Mattress and Service

This mattress has improved our sleep quality significantly! We had a mattress that had squished badly and provided no support. Our first night was like sleeping on a supportive cloud, and it has only gotten more comfortable! We even feel comfortable sitting on the edge and not feeling like we are falling off.

Timothy W.

Do you need edge support?

Edge support is a new concept for many sleepers. For the plus size community, it is especially important to pay attention to the materials around the perimeter of their mattress. Poor edge support can cause sagging, materials shifting and can even make it easier to fall right out of bed. That’s why tested edge support is critical for a great night’s sleep.

Make edge support issues a thing of the past and enjoy your good night’s sleep. With firmer, well-constructed edges, you can sleep bigger at night and live bigger during the day!

The Big Fig mattress is specially designed for long-lasting edge support. Learn more about the high-quality materials that create a mattress so good it hasa 20-year warranty!

What Is Mattress Edge Support & Why Does It Matter?

Understanding Mattress Edge Support