Ratings > Mattress Warranties Unbiased Research Based on Data From 4,200 Mattress Owners Mattresses can and often do have their warranties voided due to the use of an improper foundation / frame and the presence of staining, soiling or fluid penetration. An improper foundation / frame can result in premature wear and sagging of the mattress. Read your warranty's foundation / frame guidelines and follow them to the letter. Mattress companies do not give leeway on this issue; your foundation / frame either meets their warranty guidelines or it doesn't. These can fully void a mattress warranty. Even if the staining, soiling or fluid penetration is not near a defective area, such as where sagging is located, the warranty will probably not cover the sagging. Therefore, it is wise to use a mattress protector / pad from the first night onward. See mattress pad reviews for the top-rated pads. Most mattress warranties are for a length of 5, 10, or 20 years. Our research strongly suggests that in most cases you should not believe that your mattress will last the length of its warranty with regular, everyday adult use.
Sleep Like The Dead collected data from over 4,000 owners regarding how long they kept their mattress or how long they reported that it maintained most of its original comfort and support. This data was then compared to the length of the mattress warranty. The results suggest – as the table shows – that the useful life of a mattress is often a fraction of its warranty length, and the fraction becomes smaller as the warranty length increases. Keep in mind that our findings are true only in general. In other words, individual brands, individual models, and individual mattresses may perform somewhat better or worse. (Refer to the rating page of a particular mattress for information on its expected lifespan.) Also, our findings suggest that there is indeed somewhat of a correlation between warranty length and the quality / durability / longevity of a mattress. In other words, good mattresses usually have longer warranties, while not-so-good mattresses usually have shorter ones.
The main complaint people have with their mattress is sagging – especially in regard to innerspring beds in general and to a lesser extent memory foam, latex and air mattresses. Owner experience data suggests that even moderate sagging can and often does result in less comfort and support. It may also cause back pain, especially for side and stomach sleepers. (See mattresses and pain for more analysis.) As a result, mattress shoppers should pay special attention to how sagging issues are covered by the warranty. Most warranties will cover sagging only when the problem becomes severe enough, that is, when it reaches a certain depth. For example, innerspring mattress warranties will often provide coverage for sagging beginning at a depth of 1.5 inches. By contrast, some memory foam mattress warranties, including Tempur-Pedic's, will provide coverage for sagging beginning at a depth of .75 inches. In other words, innerspring bed warranties often require twice the depth of sagging that these memory foam bed warranties require before coverage kicks in.
Making a warranty claim and replacing a mattress under warranty can be expensive to the mattress owner. There can be a fee to have someone come to your home to inspect the condition of your mattress to determine if it is eligible for warranty coverage. If it is eligible, there will be a fee to take the defective mattress away and to ship a new or repaired mattress to you. Given the heavy weight of many mattresses today, this fee may be substantial. In addition, depending on the age of the mattress and the warranty terms of proration, you may have to pay a percentage of the replacement or repair costs. Many mattress owners realize too late that their warranty sounds more impressive than it actually is. For example, most airbeds including Sleep Number have a 20-year warranty. This causes many owners to wrongly believe that if any manufacturer defect pops up in the next 20 years, the problem will be covered at little or no cost to them. The whole story is that non-prorated coverage (coverage for which there is no cost to the owner to repair / replace the bed) often ends after just a few years.
If something goes wrong with the airbed after this time, coverage is prorated which means the owner will often need to pay at least 20% of repair costs. Therefore, make sure to read the fine print of a mattress warranty. Mattresses are discarded for a variety of reasons, but the main reason not surprisingly is usually related to a loss of comfort and support that occurs through normal wear. As is true for virtually all product warranties, normal wear is not covered under mattress warranties; only faulty workmanship / materials as defined by the manufacturer are covered. These defects are problems that can be objectively measured or observed, such as sagging depth (see below). Problems not objectively measurable or clearly observable, such as excessive softening or loss of support, are not commonly covered under warranty. A mattress warranty is only as good as the manufacturer's willingness to honor it. Often a mattress manufacturer's BBB rating and or the number of BBB complaints from consumers in regard to warranty-related issues can be a good indicator of how well the company stands behind its warranty.
Considering that most people spend about one-third of their lives in bed, it's hardly surprising that a mattress can have a big impact on your overall health. There are several types of mattresses, each with a particular set of advantages and disadvantages. Traditional innerspring models remain the most popular type, but newer alternatives -- including memory foam, latex foam, air mattresses with adjustable firmness "zones" (as exemplified by the Sleep Number brand) and organic mattresses made of various materials -- have gained favor with owners. One of the big issues with buying a new mattress is that it generally requires a fairly significant cash outlay -- in most cases about $500 for a twin; $1000 or more for a queen or king. Some cost two or three times as much, depending upon features. And that often does not include the box spring or other foundation. However, with as much time as you spend in bed, and the average length of time you'll own the mattress, it pays to buy the best one you can afford.
Figuring out exactly how much a mattress costs can also be difficult. Most mattress companies have a specific line (or several) of a mattress (Posturepedic by Sealy and Beautyrest by Simmons are good examples of this), and then, within that line, have dozens of different models that are not detailed on the manufacturer's website. So, while several retailers may carry the same line, there is little consistency from retailer to retailer. In addition, the same model may be sold under different names at different retailers. Because of that, for the purposes of this report, we don't rate specific mattresses; rather, we rate mattress lines that get the best reviews across the board. As for price, we have quoted the manufacturer's suggested retail price, which are usually much higher than the actual prices you'll find in stores. We discuss price in more detail -- as well as how to get the best deal -- on our buying guide page. Also, if a mattress is just one of several bedroom purchases you're planning, check out our related reports on bed sheets, pillows and mattress toppers.
Innerspring mattresses have been the most popular type for decades, and countless styles, features and options are available. Models vary greatly in cost, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Price differences may depend on the number and size of the coils, the amount and type of padding, and details such as fabric and stitching. Compared with other types, innerspring mattresses tend to retain less body heat and come in a wider range of firmness levels. They do tend to transfer more motion, which can be a concern if you share your bed with a partner, but can be a plus during sex. They're also less durable and more prone to sagging than other types of mattresses. Most experts say innerspring mattresses should be replaced after 10 years at most. Memory foam mattresses are made from visco-elastic foam, a type of foam that molds itself to the body. While the best-known manufacturer is Tempur-Pedic, quite a few companies offer less expensive versions. Many owners love sleeping on memory foam because of how well it conforms to the curves and lines of the body.
Memory foam is also a good choice if you have a restless partner as it minimizes movement transfer. Going from innerspring to memory foam can take some getting used to, but most who give it time say making the switch was well worth it. Some people find that memory foam traps heat -- a complaint that makers have addressed with the development of gel-infused memory foam, which is designed to create a cooler sleeping surface. Latex foam mattresses, which are made from natural or synthetic rubber, are springier than memory foam mattresses and don't retain as much body heat. They are also resistant to mold and dust mites. In addition, mattresses made of natural latex are eco-friendly, since natural latex is a renewable resource. Many latex mattresses go for several thousand dollars for a queen set, although some lower-end brands that incorporate synthetic latex and a less expensive processing method can run as low as $3000 (for twin). Some mattresses may help to ease back pain. Experts say that adjustable, permanent-use air mattresses may be the best choice for back pain sufferers.
Don't confuse them with inflatable, temporary air mattresses, though, which we cover in a separate report; those aren't considered suitable for long-term use. Permanent air mattresses, such as those sold under the Sleep Number Bed label, have air chambers that can be adjusted to provide customized support, and are topped with padding. Some even allow each side of the mattress to be adjusted independently. Permanent air mattresses can be expensive, running at least $1,000 for a queen set. They tend to be quite durable though, because, while they rely on mechanical parts that can fail, those parts are replaceable. Although it would seem as if the experiences of mattress owners would be the most crucial aspect of finding the best mattress; in fact, owners reviews are fairly hard to come by for specific mattresses. This may be because, as noted earlier, there is little consistency between mattress models. -- which has compiled more data about mattress satisfaction than any other site.