Written by Julia Forbes, Lead Product Tester
Editor’s note: Helix recently updated the look of their Helix Plus mattress. We will be adding new images soon. For now, you can see the new exterior on Helix’s official website.
If you’re a plus-size sleeper, you may have been let down by a lot of mattresses on the market that just don’t work to support you. That shouldn’t be a problem when it comes to the Helix Plus mattress, which was designed for larger bodies.
It’s no surprise that this bed boasts a sturdy hybrid construction that earned it 5 stars in the support department, making it a great mattress for heavy sleepers. But I tested the Helix Plus mattress to find out what else this bed brings to the table—and, spoiler alert: it holds up more than just your weight. Read on to find out what I liked and didn’t like, as well as more details on how it performed.
Helix Plus Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Helix Plus Mattress Performance Ratings
How the Helix Plus Compares
Here at Sleep Advisor, we’ve tested over 150 different mattresses. The Helix Plus outperforms other mattresses we’ve tested in the areas of overall support, cooling, and bounce.
| Test | Helix Plus | Average |
| Overall | 4 | 4.1 |
| Mattress Height | 13″ | 11″ |
| Sleep Trial | 100 Nights | 141 Nights |
| Price (Queen) | $1,498.80(before discounts) | $1,695 |
| Pressure Relief | 3.5 | 4.3 |
| Support | 5 | 4.5 |
| Motion Transfer | 2.5 | 3.9 |
| Cooling | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Bounce | 5 | 4 |
| Edge Support | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Couples | 3 | 3.9 |
Watch My Helix Plus Video Review
Who I Recommend the Helix Plus For:
- Heavier folks -Helix Plus is excellent for heavy sleepers who need extra support. The bed doesn’t have too much padding towards the top, but this shouldn’t be a problem for heavy sleepers who will sink just enough for optimal comfort.
- Side sleepers – Heavy side sleepers can often experience hip pain due to excess overnight pressure. I think the Helix Plus mattress can help mitigate this issue with its pressure-relieving foams.
- Couples – Heavy couples and co-sleepers with different sleeping habits should like the Helix Plus. Although it doesn’t have the best motion isolation, it has a high weight capacity and should be comfortable for all sleeping positions.
Who I Don’t Recommend the Helix Plus For:
- People with hip pain – I noticed a lot of pressure buildup in my hips, so if you have hip pain, I think you should go for a softer mattress.
- Lightweight sleepers – In my opinion, there’s a lot to love about the Helix Plus, but lightweight individuals are likely to find this mattress too firm.
Customer Reviews of the Helix Plus Mattress
With a 4.4 out of 5 stars on Helix’s site, customers mostly seem satisfied and praise the bed for its firmness and ability to relieve pain. However, some complaints have involved the mattress not providing sufficient cooling properties for those who sleep hot.
Testing the Helix Plus
Sleep Advisor’s Testing Methodology
When we test mattresses, our team looks at specific preference-based features that can be important for consumers, including motion isolation, cooling, bounce, and edge support. As part of the testing process, I’m also switching positions to see how a mattress feels for stomach, back, and side sleeping. This allows me to evaluate how a certain mattress would feel for a range of people.
To learn more about our testing methodology, visit our product review process page.
Firmness & Feel
Firmness Scale: 6.5/10
Mattress firmness is rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the absolute firmest feel. For the most part, heavier people need firmer mattresses because they often do a better job of supporting their bodies. You want a bed to keep your spine neutral, and a soft mattress can’t do that if you weigh over 230 pounds.
The Helix Plus should feel slightly firmer for most people, so I rate it 6.5 out of 10 on our scale. I think this firmness should feel good for most people, not just plus-size sleepers.
How Does It Feel?
When I tested the Helix Plus, I noticed it offers firm support with a bit of pressure relief. The top layers provide a nice, gentle hug. On top of that, the layers are buoyant and do a good job of supporting the body and keeping the spine neutral.
I think this is exactly what most heavier people want in a mattress because they’re less likely to bottom out. The Helix Plus has robust support that keeps the spine aligned in various sleeping positions.
If you find it’s too firm, you can opt for the GlacioTex™ pillow top for some extra cushioning.
Sleeping Positions for Different Body Types
Helix states that the Helix Plus mattress can support up to 1,000 pounds in combined weight or 500 pounds per side. This makes it a good option for heavy co-sleepers.
Side Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – I don’t think the Helix Plus is a good choice for lightweight side sleepers. I noticed a lot of pressure buildup around the hips and shoulders, so I doubt the firm feel would be comfortable.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – The Plus shouldn’t feel as firm for average-weight sleepers, but you might still feel buildup around the pressure points such as shoulders, hips, and knees.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – Heavy sleepers, especially those over 300 pounds, should feel nicely supported with enough pressure relief. I think this is the only sleeper in this category to get that amount of pressure relief and support.
Back Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – Lightweight back sleepers may want to try something softer. I think they’d feel nicely supported, but there would be no sinkage or pressure relief around the lower back. This can cause lumbar strain.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – In my opinion, average-weight back sleepers who prefer firmer mattresses should find many benefits from sleeping on the Helix Plus. There’s excellent weight distribution, and the spine feels aligned.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – The Helix Plus was designed for heavy sleepers, so it’s no wonder it performs so well with this group. I noticed a nice level of sinkage for pressure relief, and there’s also enough support to keep the body aligned, even for plus-size sleepers.
Stomach Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – I think many lightweight stomach sleepers may get away with the Helix Plus as it’s firm enough to support their body. However, some may still find it too firm as it allows virtually no pressure relief for those under 130 pounds.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – I noticed the hips are sinking a bit, which was a surprise since the mattress is made for heavy sleepers. It’s not too bad, but if you’re a dedicated stomach sleeper, it might cause some lower back pain.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – Although the Helix Plus mattress is made for those over 230 pounds, it’s not firm enough to support stomach sleepers. I think they’re better off with a firmer mattress.
Pressure Relief
3.5/5
The Helix Plus is a firmer mattress, so people often assume it offers no pressure relief. Although this may be true for some people, it’s important to remember that this mattress is made specifically for heavier people. With that said, I think there’s enough relief for heavy people sleeping on their backs. Side sleepers might feel some buildup around their shoulders. As you can see in my pressure map images, there was definitely some pressure in my shoulder and hip. However, I am an average-weight sleeper. Our plus-size tester, Spencer, didn’t show as much pressure while side sleeping, and it was mostly in his shoulder.
If you need more pressure relief, I suggest you try the Plus with a GlacioTex™ pillow top.
Is the Helix Plus Good for Pressure Relief?
Sleepers with pain should like the balance of support and pressure relief the Helix Plus provides. However, how much you’ll sink depends on how much you weigh. So, if you’re a lighter sleeper or even average-weight, you might not get as much relief from the Helix Plus.
Back Pain
Some lightweight back sleepers might feel some pain in the lower back when using the Helix Plus mattress. However, I think average-weight and heavy sleepers should be just fine, feeling nice contouring and plenty of support in the lumbar area.
Hip Pain
I think the Helix Plus should do a good job of helping with hip pain in plus-size sleepers. However, it’ll likely be too firm for side sleepers under 230 pounds, potentially worsening their hip pain. Explore mattresses for hip pain for more information.
Shoulder Pain
Although this bed is on the firmer side, it provides a soft touch on the narrow shoulder area for those weighing over 230 pounds. As with lighter and average-weight people experiencing hip pain, though, I don’t think these groups will get much shoulder pain relief from this firmer bed, especially if they sleep on their side. Find better beds for shoulder pain here.
Support
5/5
Firm mattresses generally do a good job of supporting the body so it stays in a healthy alignment. The Helix Plus is designed specifically for heavy people, so it provides considerable support in the transition layer made from firmer memory foam. The innerspring coils are there for extra support, ensuring the upper layers perform well.
The coils provide excellent spine alignment while cradling the body just enough so that the foam layers can relieve pressure. On top of that, there’s the DuraDense Foam at the base, ensuring the upper layers don’t dip under the weight.
In my opinion, it’s not the best support for stomach sleepers, especially those over 230 pounds.
Motion Isolation
2.5/5
I don’t think the Helix Plus mattress is the right one for you if motion isolation is your number one priority. I tested its motion-isolating capabilities with a seismograph, and movements big and small were all felt. The mattress surface does nearly nothing to absorb the motion, so I’m pretty sure you’ll feel most of your partner’s tossing and turning.
Temperature Regulation / Cooling
4.5/5
Right off the bat, it’s important to say that this bed isn’t cool to the touch with the original cover it comes with. I tested its cooling capabilities with a temperature gun before and after lying on the bed for five minutes. The temperature started at 68.9 degrees Fahrenheit. After five minutes, the temperature bumped up to 80.5 degrees. After the five-minute test, the Helix Plus returned to its initial temperature within two minutes.
I like that it cools off quickly, and although it’s not cool to the touch, it does a solid job of regulating temperature.
Bounce
5/5
The Helix Plus mattress has a responsive construction, with quite some bounce near the surface. The foam layers are quite responsive, so the feel is overall pretty bouncy, which is expected from a hybrid. This is excellent news for people with mobility issues as it can help them with moving around the mattress. The bounce is also good for sexually active couples who need a bit of pushback support.
Edge Support
3.5/5
The Helix Plus has reinforced foam around the perimeter, so I was pretty surprised that it did nothing to keep me up when sitting in this area. The reinforcement does a good job of keeping you secure when lying near the edge, but sitting here will make you feel like you’re about to slide off. It leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to edge support.
Performance for Couples
3/5
I think heavier sleeping partners should find that the Helix Plus is a solid choice for them. The mattress offers good bounce and excellent weight capacity, so even heavy co-sleepers can share the bed. However, it doesn’t have the best edge support or even motion isolation, both of which are important for couples.
Helix Plus Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Preference-Based Features
Free Delivery & Quick to Expand
The brand offers free delivery within the U.S. They also ship to Canada but for a fee. On top of that, I was impressed by how quickly it comes to shape, needing only about 45 minutes to fully expand.
Longer Warranty
All Standard Helix mattresses come with a 10-year limited warranty. However, Helix went above and beyond with this model, offering a warranty of 15 years for the Helix Plus. Additionally, Helix’s Luxe line of mattresses comes with a 15-year warranty.
Made in the USA
If you’re after an American-made mattress, I suggest trying Helix, as the company makes all its mattresses in the United States.
Construction: What’s Inside the Helix Plus?
The Helix Plus stands a total of 11.25 inches tall and is designed to deliver dynamic support and pressure relief for people over 230 pounds. The construction has multiple foam layers combined with individually wrapped coils and a reinforced perimeter. Although the edge support didn’t impress me when sitting on the edge of the bed, it’s not half-bad when lying in this area.
- The Tencel™ cover is ultra-breathable and created specifically to increase airflow and keep sleepers cool. If you’re an extra-hot sleeper, you can upgrade to a GlacioTex™ cooling cover for a cool-to-the-touch feel because the original Tencel™ isn’t cool to the touch.
- For the comfort layer, the company combined Dynamic Foam with Ultra-Dense Memory Foam. The innovative combination offers contouring and pressure relief, but it really depends on your weight because lighter-weight people might still feel some buildup.
- Moving to the transition layer, this hybrid has firm memory foam for a cushy transition to the coils. The transition layer eases you into the firm support offered by the coils while providing a sufficient ergonomic element and a higher IFD (Indentation Force Deflection) to accommodate heavier frames.
- The innerspring layer features individually wrapped, tall coils for support and cradling. The coils sit on top of a durable base for an elevated design that bolsters support under heavier pressure. Additionally, the edges are reinforced in this layer.
- The base layer is made from DuraDense Foam, providing durability and structure to the layers above.
Unboxing & Off-Gassing
Helix offers free delivery, and your bed will arrive on your doorstep in a box. I found the box really heavy, so it’s best to have someone help you with moving it around. Once you move it to the bedroom, pull the mattress out and place it on a foundation of your choice. Cut through the plastic and allow the mattress to expand. The entire process is fairly simple and takes only a few minutes.
On top of that, the Helix Plus needs only about 45 minutes to expand, so you don’t have to wait too long before enjoying your new mattress.
Certifications
- GREENGUARD Gold
This mattress has a GREENGUARD Gold certification to ensure it meets strict health and safety standards for low chemical emissions. - CertiPUR-US®
The CertiPUR-US® certification promises a product is created without harmful additives like ozone depleters, mercury, lead, formaldehyde, or phthalates, and with a safe level of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emissions for indoor air quality.
Noteworthy Updates:
- Helix once offered white glove delivery but this was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helix Coupons, Trials, Warranties, and Shipping
- Shipping – Shipping is free within the United States, but there’s a fee for shipping to Canada.
- White Glove Delivery – Helix offers old mattress removal for California residents, but their white glove delivery service remains suspended.
- Trial – The company gives you 100 nights to test how the Helix Plus fits your needs. If you don’t like it, you can return it before the trial is up, and they’ll refund your money.
- Warranty – There is a warranty on this brand for 15 years.
- Return Policy – Returns are free and easy, but you’re required to keep the mattress for 30 days before returning it. Once those 30 days are up and before the 100-night trial has ended, you can return it for a full refund.
Helix Plus Sizes & Prices
| Size | Dimensions (inches) | Price (w/o discount) |
| Twin | 38” x 75” x 11.25” | $811.30 |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” x 11.25” | $936.30 |
| Full | 54” x 75” x 11.25” | $1,061.30 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” x 11.25” | $1,498.80 |
| King | 76” x 80” x 11.25” | $1,811.30 |
| Cal King | 72” x 84” x 11.25” | $1,811.30 |
Helix Plus Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Helix Plus FAQs
Is the Helix Plus mattress good?
In my opinion, the Helix Plus is a good mattress that combines high-density foam and sturdy innerspring coils. This durable and comfortable mattress should be an excellent match for heavier people.
Does the Helix Plus mattress keep you cool?
I wouldn’t call this a cooling mattress, but it’s also not one to make you overheat. Although it has memory foam, the Helix Plus also has a Tencel™ cover and coils to foster breathability. Additionally, you can also get a GlacioTex™ cover that’s cool to the touch if you need more cooling.
Is the Helix Plus Mattress good for bigger people?
The Helix Plus is made specifically for heavy people, so I think it’s a good option to support sleepers over 230 pounds. The mattress is durable, firm, and supportive, offering pressure relief with spine alignment, especially when sleeping on your side and back.
Helix Plus vs. Other Brands
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| Helix Plus Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Titan Plus Luxe | WinkBed Plus Mattress | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Firm: 7/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | |
| Warranty | 15-year warranty | 10-year warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping minus HI and AK | Free shipping |
| Trial Period | 100 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Best For | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers |
Who I Recommend the Titan Plus Luxe For
- Sexually active couples
- Consumers who value durability
- Heavier sleepers
Interested? Read our full Titan Plus Luxe Mattress Review.
Who I Recommend the WinkBed Plus For
- People over 300 pounds
- Those looking for pressure relief
- Sleepers who want more customization
Read our Winkbed Plus Mattress Review if you think the Winkbed is right for you.
Helix Plus vs. Other Helix Models
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| Helix Plus Mattress | Helix Midnight Mattress | Helix Dawn Mattress | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Firm: 7/10 | Medium-firm: 6/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | — |
| Warranty | 15-year warranty | 10-year warranty | 10-year warranty |
| Shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping |
| Trial Period | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights |
| Best For | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Couples | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Couples |
Who I Recommend the Helix Midnight For
- Light to average-weight back and side sleepers
- Co-sleepers
- People with orthopedic issues
Learn more in our Helix Midnight Mattress Review.
Who I Recommend the Helix Dawn For
- Stomach sleepers
- Those who prefer a firmer mattress
- Sleepers who want more bounce
Learn more in our Helix Dawn Mattress Review.
My Verdict
The Helix Plus mattress feels durable and sturdy, offering everything you need for support and pressure relief. I gave it an overall score of 4 out of 5.
Testing it was an enjoyable experience as it combines premium materials reflected in its high-quality construction. The Tencel™ cover makes a difference in comfort and freshness, easing you into the comfort layers.
Because it’s designed for heavier people, I wouldn’t recommend it to lighter-weight sleepers, especially those who enjoy sleeping on their side. Some average-weight sleepers may enjoy its firmness if they typically love sleeping on firmer mattresses and strictly lie on their stomach or back.
In my opinion, the Helix Plus is worth the attention if you’re after a sturdy, well-made bed that’ll last for years.
Helix Plus Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Julia Forbes
Lead Product Tester
About Author
Julia is the Lead Reviewer at Sleep Advisor, specializing in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.
Stomach Sleeper