How to Compare the Quality of Different Mattresses

Before you buy a mattress you need to know a few things. Does the mattress keep your spine aligned when you lie down? How do you compare the quality of different mattresses? How much support do you want or need? How do you tell the difference?
Buying a mattress isn't hard. There are only a few features that make mattresses different from one another, and they're easy to sort out.
Take a few minutes to learn about buying a mattress so you can look forward to many nights of restful sleep for many years to come.

Instructions

1. Look at a cross-section model of the mattress you are considering. It shows the components that the mattress is made of and is indicative of the quality of the mattress. Reputable mattress retailers are eager to show these models to you.

2. Compare springs and coils.
   Hourglass springs compress easily when the mattress is new but become more compressed and less "springy," making the mattress firmer over time. These types of mattresses are the least durable in the long run.
   Continuous-coil springs use a single length of wire to form and connect all of the springs in the mattress. These are more durable than hourglass-type springs.
   Pocket springs are different from hourglass and continuous-coil springs. Each pocket spring is in its own "pocket" of fabric, and the springs are not connected to each other. The springs therefore move independently of one another, and couples are less affected by their partner's movements.
   The gauge of the wire used to make the spring indicates the degree of support the mattress provides. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire, and the greater the support.

3. Compare the top padding. The quality of this padding can indicate the quality of the entire mattress. Made of polyurethane foam, polyester or cotton batting, this padding is the part you lay on and is an essential component in providing comfort.

4. Compare the middle padding. The first layer is foam padding and is found directly below the top quilted layer. In a cross section model of your mattress, this foam will feel slightly moist to the touch on softer mattresses and will not spring back as quickly on firmer mattresses. Under this layer of foam should be a layer of thick, dense cotton batting.

5. Compare the insulation padding. These layers of padding are what keeps you from feeling the springs and also keeps the springs from poking through the top of the mattress. There should be a layer of metal screen or plastic webbing directly above the coils with an additional layer of matted fabric over the protective screen.

6. Compare the outside of the mattress. The "ticking" is the fabric used for the outer layer of the mattress, and it is quilted to the top layers of padding. The ticking fabric should be heavy and without any obvious flaws. Check to make sure the stitches of the quilting are even and unbroken.

7. Compare foundations. A box spring is the foundation most often used with an innerspring mattress. Most mattress manufacturers will only honor their warranty if you purchase a matching box spring and mattress because they are made to be used together.

8. Try out the mattress. Lay down on the mattress for at least 15 minutes. It takes that long to determine if anything about the mattress doesn't work for you. If you sleep with a partner, shop for your mattress together.

Tips & Warnings

• Many stores offer in-home sleep tests or a 30-day return policy on mattresses. Take advantage of them.

• If you buy your mattress online, even with a 30-day return policy, you may be charged full shipping for both directions if you decide to return it.