What to Look for When Buying a Mattress

Consider who shares your bed when buying a new mattress.

There is no set guide for deciding when it's time to buy a new mattress, but if yours is saggy, lumpy, more than seven years old, or if you wake feeling tired and achy, it may be time to go mattress shopping. No matter which type of mattress you decide on, purchase the best quality mattress your budget will allow -- after all, you spend approximately one-third of your life on it.

Labels

With most products, labels provide a lot of valuable information when comparison shopping. However, mattress terminology is used differently from manufacturer to manufacturer, and you may not even find the same mattress models from store to store because of marketing tactics, so comparison shopping can be difficult. One important reason to consult a mattress label is to learn if it's new. Not all states require recovered mattresses to be labeled as used, but checking the label is a good place to start. If a mattress has no label at all, it is probably used.

Quality Vs. Warranty

Look at the quality of the stitching, the feel of the materials and the strength of the construction to determine how well a mattress in made -- not at the warranty. A warranty may protect against defects and suggest how long the "parts" of a mattress should last, but a warranty does not guarantee how long the mattress will actually remain comfortable; quality of construction is the best indication of long-term comfort. Many stores offer "cut aways" of the mattress to help you determine the mattress quality.

Comfort and Support

There are many types of mattresses and levels of firmness to choose from, but no true science to support the idea that one type of mattress is better than another. And, because there is no industry standard to define commonly used terms like "firm," trying to compare mattresses by their description is practically useless. Consumers should take the time to lay on and shift positions on a mattress to experience it's comfort level before making a purchase.

Size

The average sleeper changes position about 50 times each night, according the the Better Sleep website. If you sleep with a partner, children or pets, your freedom of movement can be greatly limited if you're sleeping on the wrong size mattress. For a good night's sleep, a queen-size bed is the smallest size you should consider if you sleep with someone else. King beds measure 75 inches wide by 80 inches long, and California kings offer ample room at the foot of the bed with a measurement of 72 inches wide and 84 inches long.

References

• The Better Sleep Council: Mattress Shopping
• The Better Sleep Council: What Size Mattress is Best?
• Federal Trade Commission: More Than Once Upon a Mattress

Resources

• Consumer Reports: How Often Should I Buy a New Mattress?