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5 Sturdy Couches For Fat People

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Raise your hand if you’re plus size and have ever feared sitting on a piece of furniture…

Shopping for a couch that will be sturdy and support your fat body is a true test of endurance. I’ve been researching brands and weight limits for couches and loveseats for the last 2 years, and it ain’t easy!

What’s surprised me the most about finding sturdy sofas for plus size people, is how little information brands want to give out about their weight limits and how they serve the plus size community. You can’t imagine how many emails have gone unanswered or how many “your brand isn’t a good fit for our product” responses I’ve received.

If you’ve tried to look up “sturdy couches for fat people” before, you know that there are lots of sites claiming they know what’s best, but often the couches they’re pushing haven’t been tested or are just mass produced disappointments.

In my 20’s I was a bonafide furniture sales-person so, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about construction and durability of furniture. At the end of the article I’ll tell you a little bit about what to look for when shopping for a sofa for you or your plus size family member!

Lovesac

Sofas for Plus Size Bodies

Kardiel

This bean-bag turned sofa manufacturer has a cult following with fat people. Every time I ask my community what sofas they recommend for plus size people I hear numerous glowing reviews of the Lovesacs many sofa configurations. All of Lovesac’s “Sactionals” include a guarantee for life on hard pieces, and you can add pieces to your sofa anytime – they will remain compatible with new products for life. Plus, a 60 day in-home trial and free shipping on all orders! Word to the wise, these sofas do require a beginners knowledge of putting furniture together. On delivery day call a couple friends to make the job easier! Prices start around $2500.

Large curved green velvet couch

If you are looking for unique, modern furniture pieces, Kardiel is the place for you. They are handcrafted with modernism in mind. Many of the pieces are in stock and can be quickly shipped to you, and because this is a family brand they take the time to make sure that their reproductions of mid century modern pieces are accurate to the time period. Prices are reasonable for this fat friendly brand, starting at around $900.

Flexsteel

image shows a sturdy 3 seat couch made of grey fabric with two graphic pillows sitting in the corner

Flexsteel sofas can be found at furniture dealers across the country. They’re known for their durable construction and steel springs. Sturdy couches could be their middle name (but it’s not because brands don’t have middle names, silly!). Flexsteel carries petite apartment sized couches that are budget friendly, and also carry more expensive pieces like their reclining sectionals. Prices start around $1000.

Campaign

burnt orange 3 seat sofa with dark wood legs

Campaign doesn’t offer the couch variety that many other companies do, but sometimes doing one thing really really well makes for a great product! Their frames (not just the springs) are made completely of steel. They offer one model, and as of publishing this post they are sold out in almost every color. This sofa gets rave reviews on reddit, and is super affordable at $1,495.

Couch Potatoes

Sofas for Plus Size Bodies

My partner and I have owned a Couch Potatoes chair for nearly 3 years that my partner uses everyday as their office chair (that’s 8+ hours of sitting y’all!), and it has held up beautifully to their 450 pound body. After putting one of their chairs to the test we decided to go all the way with this brand and will be receiving our Couch Potatoes sectional very soon! Even better? Couch Potatoes is made to order in Austin Texas, and they are rolling out nation-wide shipping. This brand was one of the few that was not shy to talk to me about plus size customers and how they want to honor their commitment to making solid pieces of furniture that last for ALL bodies. Their pieces start around $700. *please note, that while the company does not have weight limits on their sofas, they have advised me that their sleeper sofa style does not have the supportive springs in place and would not be a great fit for plus size consumers.

What should you look for when shopping for sturdy couches?

The interior of a sturdy hand made couch is shown with exposed wood and springs
The interior of a Couch Potatoes chair made with hardwood.
  • Ask about the weight limit. In general, companies like Ashley Furniture and other mass produced (*cough* crappy *cough*) brands will have weight limits on their sofas that allow the company to not honor warranties if the owner is over the set amount. Many of the brands seen on this list don’t have stated weight limits because their sofas should be able to hold up to use from all bodies.
  • Many of us grew up with the pleather craze of the 90’s and have grown averse to leather. But when you’re spending a pretty penny on a sofa there is nothing that will stand the test of time quite like it. Consider looking for top grain leathers and trying a few couches that don’t use any fake leather in their pieces and see if you change your mind – your sofa could last years longer! Tightly woven fabrics are your next best bet!
  • Ask how the piece is constructed. In general, hardwood and plywood are strongest while MDF and particle board don’t hold up. Additionally, the more use of things like dovetail joints in the construction, the better.
  • Give it a good shake!!!! If your sofa is going to stand up to plus size bods the arms should not wiggle or move at all when you pull back and forth on them.
  • Ask how long a companies “lifetime” warranty is and what it covers. Many companies offer additional coverage for accidents – if you’re spending more than 2k on a sofa it’s never a bad idea to get the additional coverage!
  • Ask what the springs in the sofa are made of and how far apart they are. In general, the more springs the better. Companies like Couch Potatoes even add additional springs at the arms of their sofas for additional support.

Are you feeling ready to find your next plus size sofa? Have you had a great experience with a brand that wasn’t mentioned here? Let me know in the comments!

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Jolene

Thursday 17th of August 2023

Bought a Flexsteel-steel Portion of frame is amazing. Wooden back broke soon after delivery. Repair & replacement was a hassle. Sofa was replaced. Replacement lasted a bit longer than the previous one. Maybe a year? Had exact same breakage. Was such a hassle that we just replaced it with a different sofa. I will note that because of our small living room the model was not very deep. Did not hold up to husband plopping onto it or anybody napping on it. Cushions & steel were great. Back of sofa is what cracked. They do not stand by lifetime warranty.

kayla

Tuesday 4th of July 2023

My 21 year old son (who will be living w/us until he graduates college in another 18 months) is 6'9" and about 375 lbs. Our sofa has been a fairly crappy futon loveseat; uncomfortable but at least w/a solid wooden mission-style frame. We also have a small house so trying to find a sofa/loveseat between 65-72 inches AND that will support 750+ pounds so more than one of us can sit on it, is a challenge. I've been looking at multiple furniture websites and it's maddening when they list a weight limit on some sofas but not on others. What does that even mean? i like the look of Couch Potatoes and love that they are made in Austin. Would never have heard of them if I'd not found your article. Thank you!

TJ

Sunday 26th of March 2023

Which sectional did you purchase from Couch Potatoes? And how has it worked out for you?

fatgirlflow

Tuesday 9th of May 2023

hi there! You can read all about our sectional here: https://fatgirlflow.com/the-best-sofa-for-fat-bodies/ and it is still holding strong and we LOVE it!

Marie

Sunday 19th of February 2023

How does anyone feel about these tiny little feet on couches. I’m almost 400 ILBS and my sister is at 500. I want to have comfortable seething for her when she’s over and I don’t want her mortified for sitting and breaking these little skinny legs on these couches and I don’t want to break it myself. I’m just noticing more and more they are sticking these on sofa’s.

Justin

Sunday 8th of January 2023

Hey jw what you think about the albany park kova couches? Im looking for a new coich and those look comfy af

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