How to Choose a Mattress

Dr. Silverman suggests saving up for a new mattress throughout the lifespan of your current one. If you need to replace your mattress ASAP but don’t have much change to spare, look for sales and coupon codes to reduce costs. Buying around key holidays, like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday, can help you save a ton.

“Many companies provide great financing options,” Dr. Silverman adds. These programs allow you to pay off the bigger purchase over time, often with way less interest than putting it on your credit card. (Just read the fine print before selecting that option.)

Trial period

You need time to know if your mattress is good for sleep, so thankfully, many brands offer free trial periods that allow you to sleep on the new bed at home and return it if it doesn’t work out. “You want at least a month’s trial period,” Dr. Silverman says, although some offer as much as one year.

During the trial period, Dr. Harris recommends sleeping in different positions to see if it’s as comfortable and supportive as you need. It may not be the right fit if you feel hot, achy, or uncomfortable on the bed or are just not sleeping well overall. In that case, you’ll want to return it.

On that note: Make sure you fully understand the conditions of a brand’s trial period before purchasing. “Make sure it’s very easy for you to return the mattress,” Dr. Kashlan says. (For example, do you have to pay a fee to return the mattress? Do you have to dispose of the mattress yourself, or will the brand come pick it up?) The simpler the process, the lower the likelihood that you’ll hang onto a bed that isn’t right for you.

How we test mattresses

SELF takes mattress testing very seriously because we know just how important this purchase is for your well-being. Check out our full testing methodology for a deeper look at everything we consider before recommending a mattress. In the meantime, here’s a quick breakdown of all of the key factors:

Since firmness is so subjective, we have a variety of testers lie on each mattress in different sleep positions and rate how it feels on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most solid). Then, we average the scores for an overall rating.

Our testers cut open every mattress (really!) to better understand how each layer contributes to support, cooling, pressure relief, and more.

Motion transfer

Testers perform three diagnostics to judge how much movement you can expect from a squirmy bedmate or pet:

Jumping on one side of the bed with a glass of water resting on the other (if it spills, it gets a lower score)
Dropping a kettlebell to measure the disruption to the surface
Tossing and turning next to another tester

Responsiveness

Testers lie on a bed and move into different sleeping positions. They consider the mattress responsive if it’s easy to move around on.

Pressure relief

We place a pressure-mapping cover on the bed and have testers lie on it. The device generates a visualization that shows where in the body there’s pressure buildup (and how much).

We use thermal imaging cameras to help judge how well a mattress deals with body temperature, including how quickly it heats up and how long it stays warm once a person leaves the bed.

Edge support

Our testers lie close to the mattress’s edge to see whether they sink or roll off.

Delivery and setup

Testers unbox mattresses to experience how easy (or horrible) the shipping and building process is.

Other factors beyond scoring

Where applicable, we also consider a product’s price and value (you won’t see us recommending a $10K mattress any time soon!), a company’s sustainability and business practices, and whether materials are allergen- or eco-friendly.

FAQs

ICYMI, there’s a lot to think about when buying a mattress. Here are common questions about mattresses, answered by our amazing experts.

What should I look for when purchasing a mattress?

When shopping for a mattress, consider its size, materials, firmness, and your sleeping tendencies. But the experts say there are a few other smart things to look out for besides those basic features: warranty, add-ons, and reviews.

See also The 9 Best Spring Boots

Given your investment in the mattress, it’s worthwhile to look into what kind of protection it includes (versus what you have to purchase on top of the list price).

Some mattresses include features you can add or customize for an extra fee, such as cooling covers or pillowtops. Consider if this is worth it for your needs. For example, Dr. Silverman says the extra padding of a pillow top cover might add extra comfort for people with chronic pain.

Knowing what customers think about the mattress can help you decide if it’ll be right for you, says Dr. Kashlan—whether that’s talking to friends, scrolling through Reddit, or stalking Amazon reviews. (Lucky you, SELF’s mattress recs include original insights from product testers.)

When is the best time to purchase a mattress?

If you have cash to burn, any day of the year is a great one for buying your new mattress. For the rest of us, Dr. Harris says the best times to buy a mattress are usually during big sale weekends like Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Black Friday, “when discounts tend to be higher.”

How do I know what mattress is right for me?

You know a mattress is right “if it feels comfortable, supports your spine, and improves your sleep,” says Dr. Harris. Another clear sign of a dream mattress: “If you wake up feeling rested and ready for the day without any pain, it’s likely a good fit for you,” she says.

How much should I spend on a mattress?

How much to spend on a mattress depends greatly on your budget and financial situation. But if you can, Dr. Okubadejo says it’s worth investing “to have a mattress that will be durable and last a long time.” His recommended budget is in the $1,000-$1200 range.

Related:

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