Who Is It Best For?
People of all shapes and sizes
If you want a slightly softer mattress
Who Won’t Love It?
Strict back and/or stomach sleepers that want a firm bed
Lightweight individuals (it’s just more mattress than you need)

Helix Plus Mattress Overview

Helix Sleep is known throughout the online mattress industry for its semi-custom mattress lineup. Rather than offering just two or three models like most of their competitors, Helix sells over 10 different mattresses, each of which are designed to accommodate a specific type of sleeper. The Plus mattress, which is the focus of this review, is the company’s answer for larger body types seeking a comfortable yet supportive bed.

Helix Plus Mattress Construction & Design

The Helix Plus mattress is comprised of 5 different layers that total 13” thick. For reference, the standard Helix mattresses are 12” thick and the Luxe models are 14”. Despite being 1” thinner than the Luxe models, the Plus model has a few things going for it that make it especially attractive for heavy set individuals. Here is a look at the different layers within the bed starting from the bottom.

helix nightfall review mattress for heavy people
Inside look at the layers of the Helix Plus mattress
  • DuraDense Foam – the base layer for the mattress.
  • XL Wrapped Coils – this is one of the special features of the Helix Plus. Rather than using the standard coils found in the other Helix beds, the Plus model utilizes larger coils to help support heavier weight.
  • Memory Foam – serves as a transition layer in the mattress but has a higher Indention Force Deflection (IFD) to support larger body types.
  • Helix Dynamic Foam – think of this foam as a denser alternative to latex foam.
  • Ultra-Dense Memory Foam – the name says it all. It’s a high-density four-pound foam to provide maximum support for people with high BMIs.

Like all of the other Helix mattresses, the foams used in the Plus model are both CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified, which essentially means the bed is safe to sleep on. You should also know the bed is made in the USA.

The Plus Mattress Cover

Encasing the five layers is a non-removable cover with square charcoal siding and a soft-touch surface. The cover comes with Helix’s Tencel technology, which is supposed to increase airflow and keep you cool as you sleep. We’ll touch on temperature regulation later in the review, but for now, it’s important to note that since the cover is not removable, you’ll have to rely on spot cleaning if it happens to get dirty. It’s really not a big deal. In fact, that’s how you clean most mattresses these days, even ones with removable covers. We recommend spot cleaning dirty areas with a mild detergent and water.

Helix Sleep Plus Firmness And Feel

Although the top layer of the Helix Plus is made of a material called “Memory Plus Foam”, we don’t think the bed has a prototypical memory foam feel. That’s not a bad thing. We just think it has more of a neutral-foam feel overall, meaning the foam doesn’t quite conform to the shape of your body like you would expect from memory foam.

Again, this comes down to personal preference. Some folks love the contouring sensation of memory foam beds, while others prefer more of a neutral-foam feel like that of Helix Plus. There’s no right or wrong answer. All I can tell you is that our team found the mattress to be comfortable.

As far as firmness goes, there’s some additional context you need to understand first. The truth is the Helix Plus will feel different to various size individuals. In fact, that’s the case with all mattresses. Generally speaking, lightweight individuals typically think most beds feel firm, while heavyweight individuals typically think most beds feel soft.

With that in mind, the heavier folks on our team think the Helix Plus lands around medium on the firmness scale (or 5 out of 10), which makes total sense. At the end of the day, Helix wanted to create a bed that work for heavy people in all sleeping positions. The bed is not too firm or too soft.

However, if you’re a smaller or average size person considering this bed, please be aware the Plus mattress will likely feel a little firmer to you – probably somewhere in the medium-firm range depending on exact your height and weight.

Is Helix Plus A Good Mattress For Couples?

The Helix Plus mattress is an excellent mattress for couples. Not only does the mattress have a supportive, durable design, but it also performs well as far as motion isolation and edge support.

Keep in mind, however, that if one of the individuals in the relationship is more petite, the bed will feel firmer to them as we mentioned above. This could potentially be an issue if one partner is heavy and the other is a lightweight side sleeper that requires a softer mattress.

Motion Isolation

Although the Helix Plus does use XL coils, which gives the bed some bounce, we found that the mattress dampens motion fairly well. What this means is that if you share your mattress with a restless sleeper, you won’t feel too much of his or her movement. As a result, you should be able to get a restful night of sleep without being disrupted every other hour when your partner switches positions or gets up to use the restroom.

Edge Support

The Helix Plus mattress provides excellent edge support. The bed contains a reinforced perimeter to ensure sleepers remain supported even near the edges. As such, both partners can spread out and have their own space without feeling like they need to stay close to the center. This comes into play a lot with couples who share a smaller size bed like a full or queen.

Helix Plus Mattress Sleeper Type Analysis

We normally approach each review through the eyes of an average size sleeper; however, since the Helix Plus is specifically designed for heavy people, we’ll be taking a slightly different viewpoint. If you are indeed an average size person considering this mattress, we’ve included a section exclusively for you later in the review.

  • Side Sleepers
    Good For

    The Helix Plus mattress is an excellent choice for heavy side sleepers. The bed is supportive yet the top layers still provide a good amount of pressure relief. In other words, the top layers are soft and gentle around your main pressure points (hips and shoulders), which is something side sleepers almost always need.

  • Back & Stomach Sleepers
    Good For

    The Helix Plus will also work for heavy back and stomach sleepers. In most cases, these types of sleepers prefer firm beds. Therefore, since the Helix Plus lands more in the medium range, it may not be ideal for some people out there, depending on your individual preferences.

    With that said, the Helix Plus still provides ample support so there’s nothing to be concerned about there. Really, it just comes down to your firmness preference. If you’re the type of back sleeper who prefers a balanced firmness profile, the Helix Plus is a great option; however, if you tend to lean more towards firm beds, there may be better options out there for you like Big Fig or Titan.

  • Combo Sleepers
    Good For

    As far as heavy sleepers who rotate between their back, stomach and side, we think the Helix Plus is a solid choice. Not only does the bed have a balanced feel to it that makes it accommodating for all sleeping positions, but the bed is also fairly responsive (i.e. no stuck-in-the-mud type sensation). As a result, our team found it quite easy to move around on the mattress and switch between positions for combo sleepers.

Body Type Analysis

Heavy Individuals

This section doesn’t need much explanation. The Helix Plus is an excellent choice for heavy individuals, plain and simple. In fact, it’s who the bed is specifically designed for.

Petite And Average Individuals

If you’re of small or average stature (less than 225 pounds), we’d recommend looking into the standard Helix or Helix Luxe models instead. Again, the Plus model is more so designed with heavy people in mind.

However, if you do fall into the smaller size category and you are dead set on the Helix Plus for some reason, the bed will certainly work. It just might be overkill. Keep in mind, the Helix Plus will likely feel a little firmer to you. As such, we wouldn’t recommend it for small or average size people who primarily spend time on their side.

Hot Sleepers

Like the other Helix beds we’ve tested and reviewed, we think the Helix Plus mattress sleeps temperature neutral. This means we don’t think the bed actively cools you down, but we also don’t think you’ll necessarily warm up throughout the night either.

For more info about how we test temperature regulation, click here!

Helix Plus Price

The Helix Plus is more expensive than the average bed-in-a-box, but that’s expected given its design and target audience. When compared to other beds in the heavy person niche like the Saatva HD, for example, the Helix Plus is actually quite affordable. Below is a table that shows MSRP by size.

Size MSRP
Twin $849
Twin XL $949
Full $1,149
Queen $1,649
King / Cal King $2,049

In all honesty though, the prices above don’t mean much. That’s because Helix regularly offers sales and discounts on the Plus model. In most cases, you can expect to receive at least $100 off your purchase, which would bring the queen size down below the $1,550 mark. Be sure to check the green discount box on your screen for current pricing and promotions.

Helix Plus Mattress Review Verdict

Overall, we think very highly of the Helix Plus mattress. It has a durable, supportive design, it’s comfortable and it properly accommodates heavy people in all sleeping positions. To be frank, it’s difficult to find many negatives with this mattress. If we really wanted to nitpick the bed, we could say it’s the not most ideal option for heavy back and stomach sleepers who prefer extra firm mattresses, but that’s about it. All in all, it’s one of the best mattresses for heavy people on the market.

Helix Sleep Company Policies

Like most online mattress companies these days, Helix offers very friendly customer policies.

  • Free Shipping
  • 100 Night Sleep Trial
  • 15 Year Warranty

Helix Plus Size And Dimensions

The Helix Plus comes in the standard mattress sizes. As we mentioned earlier, the bed is 13” thick, but just in case you forgot, we’ve included a chart below that outlines the dimensions of each available size.

SizeDimensions
Twin38”x75”x13″
Twin XL38”x80”x13″
Full54”x75”x13”
Queen60”x80”x13”
King76”x80”x13”
Cal King72”x84”x13”

Other Helix Beds

In case you’re curious, here’s how the Plus model stacks up against the other Helix mattresses.

helix mattress review comparison chart
  • Helix Mattress (standard) – There are six different standard Helix mattresses to choose from – Sunset, Moonlight, Midnight, Dusk, Twilight and Dawn. Each of these models vary slightly in terms of construction, firmness and feel. The Sunset and Moonlight models are the softest, the Twlight and Dawn models are the firmest of the bunch and the Midnight and Dusk land somewhere in the middle. In our opinion, the standard Helix mattresses are best for consumers seeking an affordable hybrid mattress to match their exact sleeping preferences.
  • Helix Luxe – Like the standard models, there are six different Helix Luxe mattresses to choose from. These six models follow the same names as those listed above. You can think of the Luxe models as an upgraded version of the standard beds. They include a premium quilted pillow top, ultra-breathable Tencel cover and zoned lumbar support coils.

Other Helix Reviews And Products:

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Why Trust Us

Get the kind of sleep you’ve only dreamed of with some help from our team of mattress experts. We personally test more than 150 of the best sleep solutions from over 60 leading brands on site, so you can be sure you’re getting unbiased reviews, fair comparisons and personalized recommendations.


The Review Team

  • Matt Ross

    Back Sleeper

  • kenzie

    McKenzie Dillon

    Combo Sleeper

  • JD

    JD Christison

    Combo Sleeper

  • dillon lopez slumber yard

    Dillon Lopez

    Combo Sleeper

Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Helix Plus mattress best for?

The Helix Plus mattress is specifically designed for large body types. It will certainly work for small and medium size individuals, but overall, the bed is best suited for people who weigh over ~225 pounds.

What does the Helix Plus mattress feel like?

The Helix Plus mattress is specifically designed for large body types. It will certainly work for small and medium size individuals, but overall, the bed is best suited for people who weigh over ~225 pounds.

Is the Helix Plus mattress good for all sleeping positions?

Yes, the Helix Plus mattress is comfortable in all sleeping positions. The bed strikes a healthy balance between comfort and support.