Waterbeds were extremely popular in the 1970s and well into the 1980s but waned in popularity by the 1990s. They have experienced somewhat of a resurgence with newer softside waterbed models that look like regular mattress beds and are very different and lighter in design than the older style and heavier hardside waterbeds with large wooden frames.
The big questions people always want to know with waterbeds are of course:
- How much does a waterbed weigh?
- Can my house support a waterbed or will it fall through the floor?
I decided to take a look at each question and contacted several waterbed manufacturers to get the facts. Here’s what I found.
A hardside waterbed can weigh 1,350 – 2,000 lbs when filled and can typically hold 80 – 235 gallons of water. A softside waterbed typically weighs 700 – 1,700 lbs when filled and can hold 80 – 200 gallons of water.
US homes are built so that each floor can generally support a weight of 40 pounds per square foot which is enough to support a waterbed and other heavier items like a grand piano, refrigerator or a sofa with several heavy men sitting on it.
Waterbed sizes and weights
Hardside Waterbeds
This is the classic waterbed that most people think of with a wooden frame support which adds to the total weight of the bed. This style of bed requires special supports and does not match the standard mattress sizes offered by regular beds.
Hardside beds can weigh several hundred pounds even when empty due to the weight of the wooden frame, headboard and footboard if any.
Here are the standard styles, sizes, and weights for hardside waterbeds. NOTE: Weight is for a hardside waterbed filled with water but without anyone in the bed.
| Style | Size | Water | Weight |
| King | 72″ x 84″ | Maximum 235 gallons | 2,000 lbs. |
| Queen | 60″ x 84″ | 180 – 195 gallons | 1,500 lbs. |
| Super single | 48″ x 84″ | 162 – 187 gallons | 1,350 lbs. |
Softside Waterbeds
This is the modern style of waterbeds that from a distance looks like a regular mattress bed. The water chamber is held inside a foam and fabric upholstery so it’s much lighter than its hardside counterpart. You can sometimes incorporate your softside waterbed into a regular bed frame, headboard and bed sheets. Bed sheets can range from $40 -$100 per set depending on size and thread count if you choose to buy waterbed-specific ones.
A softside waterbed may weight 100 – 120 pound when empty which is similar to what you’d find in a standard mattress and box spring set. In general terms, a filled softside waterbed may weigh about 25% – 50% less than what a comparable old-style hardside waterbed weighs.
Here are the standard styles, sizes, and weights for softside waterbeds. NOTE: Weight is for a waterbed filled with water but without anyone in the bed.
| Style | Size | Water | Weight |
| California King | 72″ x 84″ | 200 gallons | 1,700 lbs |
| King | 76″ x 80″ | 175 gallons | 1,450 lbs |
| Queen | 60″ x 80″ | 125 gallons | 1,050 lbs |
| Full | 54″ x 75″ | 115 gallons | 970 lbs |
| Twin | 39″x 75″ | 80 gallons | 700 lbs |
How often do you change the water in a waterbed?
Modern waterbeds don’t require you to change the water. Instead, you’re required to add a water conditioner every 8-12 years months depending on the product. The conditioner gets added directly to the waterbed through the valve.
The purpose of the waterbed conditioner is to:
- Lubricate the inside of the waterbed mattress so that it doesn’t dry out or crack.
- Protect against mold, fungus, algae and bacteria growth inside the mattress.
- Prevent the water from going stagnant.
With modern waterbeds, the only time you have to change or remove water is to physically remove the waterbed. Given the total weight of a filled waterbed, the water needs to be drained to relocate the bed so ensure you’re happy with where the bed is located before filling it.
Since water contains oxygen, you may “lose” some water over time and might need to add water to the bed from time to time but it shouldn’t be a significant amount.
And speaking of adding water, let’s take a closer look at how much water you’re adding to your waterbed and the weight involved.
How much does 1 gallon of water weigh?
1 gallon of water weighs 8.3 pounds. If your waterbed take 235 gallons of water, you’re adding about 1,950 pounds of water. When you add the weight of the headboard, frame, etc you can see how a king-sized waterbed can exceed 2,000 pounds.
Follow the instructions of your chosen waterbed and pay attention to the guide when filling the waterbed to ensure you don’t overfill or underfill it. Your weight has an impact on how full with water your waterbed should be. The more the weight in the bed (the weight of the occupants) the less water you may need to put in the waterbed. Your waterbed manufacturer instructions will help you figure this out.
Can my house floor support a waterbed?
Assuming your house was built to code, you will not have a problem with a waterbed on the second floor or other floor of your home. While a waterbed can hold upwards of 2,000 pounds, the weight is dispersed over a wide area. Newer waterbed models are around 25% lighter than the old fashioned wood frame beds as well.
US building code standards require a uniform live load of 40 pounds per square foot for most residential
floor design.
When calculating weight, people immediately hear 2,000 pounds and think that there is a chance that the waterbed could fall through the floor due to the excessive weight. The important aspect to consider isn’t just the weight but the weight per square foot. A waterbed’s weight may be spread out over as much as 42 square feet.
This is typically less than a full refrigerator which may weigh 180 – 360 lbs, has a much smaller footprint and whose weight is more concentrated in a smaller area. It’s also less than a 300 pound man standing on the floor inside a home, to put things in perspective.
Will my insurance company cover a flood if my waterbed leaks?
Check with your home insurer to be safe. Your homeowner’s policy may not cover a leak or flood from a waterbed if is was not caused by a covered peril like fire, vandalism, etc.
Also, if you live in a condo or apartment building your management may prohibit the installation of a waterbed so check ahead of time to ensure it is actually allowed.
With these two considerations alone, you can see why waterbeds aren’t necessarily as straight forward a choice as you may have thought. Considering how popular waterbeds used to be, there must be other reasons they are no longer as popular as they once were.
Why did waterbeds fall in popularity?
The popularity of waterbeds waned because they were a novelty, were high in maintenance and were very heavy and thus difficult to move.
Questions like How much does a waterbed weigh, How much water do I need to put in my waterbed, What if my waterbed leaks, etc made it too much of a hassle for many people to consider, especially after the novelty wore out.
Back in the mid to late 1980s, waterbeds held as much as 20% of the new bed market. When waterbed-specific manufacturers first arrived on the market, traditional mattress and box spring manufacturers took notice and some began marketing their own waterbeds to get a piece of this growing pie.
But by the 1990s the popularity of waterbeds had waned and many manufacturers closed up shop and retailers stopped selling them. After this time, waterbeds suddenly became a niche market. Since then, waterbeds have continued to be manufactured and you can certainly buy them but they are often harder to find and aren’t necessarily high profile.
Waterbeds were marketed as counterculture
Waterbeds initially became popular in the 1970s during a period of hippies, free love and things of that nature. Marketed alongside lava lamps and incense, waterbeds were promoted as an example of counterculture and didn’t really become part of mainstream until the 1980s when they really took off.
Early waterbed manufacturers had names like Water Works, Wet Dream, Joyapeutic Aqua Beds, and Aquarius Products. Some higher end hotels began installing waterbeds in more expensive rooms and Playboy’s Hugh Hefner famously owned one.
So part of their appeal was the time period, the way they were marketed and the newness of this style of bed. By 1984, waterbeds were reputed to be a $2 billion business.
But once traditional bed manufacturers picked up their game and added new options like pillow top mattresses, Sleep Number beds, electric bed options and things of that nature, the novelty factor of waterbeds compared with the hassle of installing and maintaining them died out quickly.
Waterbed buying considerations
You can buy waterbeds online and from certain local bed stores often as a special order. Some waterbed-specific online businesses still exist but you tend to find them sold as part of a wider selection of items rather than as a product-specific store that you can walk into and test.
- Understand whether you’d be better off with a hardside or softside waterbed and the pros and cons of each.
- Waterbeds require a heater to warm the water inside the bladder which adds to your energy costs.
- Understand what other features you might need like lumbar support, reinforced corners, flotation and tethering, and protective coverings.
- Check with your home insurer to understand if a waterbed leak or flood is covered by your existing policy.
- If you live in an apartment or condo, check with your management office to see if waterbeds are even allowed.