Edit ArticleHow to Buy a Mattress Two Methods:Researching Before PurchasingPurchasing Your MattressCommunity Q&A Buying a mattress is one of the most major purchases you can make for your home. You will likely spend more time on your mattress than any other piece of furniture that you own. For this reason, take a few steps to make sure that you buy the best mattress for your lifestyle. Visit mattress websites to see what’s offered. If you haven’t purchased a mattress in a while, it’s good to see what options are available before going to a store. Check prices online to see what you feel is reasonable based on what is being offered. Mattress brands are often coming out with new styles of mattresses including ones that offer adjustable firmness levels and temperatures. Decide how high-tech you want your mattress to be, as some of these may only be available at specialty stores or online. Look up what special features may be offered by each mattress brand including a trial period or money-back guarantee.
If desired, you can print this information to bring to the store with you. Decide on a level of firmness. Although this is difficult to determine without first testing mattresses, a few physical factors can help direct your decision. If you have back problems, consider a medium-firm to firm mattress choice. These are best for supporting your lower back and reducing back pain. Pillow-top mattresses are best for people who aren’t too light, as they won’t have enough weight to suppress the top and the springs to a point that it makes a difference in comfort. Larger people typically find pillow-top mattresses more comfortable for this reason. Ignore the spring count that is given as proof for a mattress’ supposed quality and firmness or softness. Studies have shown that the number of springs doesn’t actually affect how comfortable the mattress is. Measure the space you plan to put the bed. Nothing is worse than finding and purchasing your perfect mattress, just to realize you can’t fit it in your house.
Check your space availability in your bedroom, and then decide on a size of mattress to fit. Twin mattresses are the smallest size, and measure on average 39”/75”. The next largest size after a twin mattress is a full or double mattress, which measures at 54”/75”. The queen sized mattress is the most commonly purchased by couples for its size and relative price. It measures at 60”/80”. King size bed is the largest standard sized mattress available. Some mattress brands and stores offer an extra large bed called the California king, which measures at 72”/84”. Be sure the mattress size you intend to purchase not only fits inside your bedroom, but also through all doors used to enter the room. Find a store(s) to shop at.In order for you to know how well you like a mattress, you must test it out in the store. Search around looking for mattresses that meet your criteria, and then lay on each to see how you like them. Lay on each mattress for at least 2-3 minutes, and up to 15.
The floor models are out specifically for this reason, so don’t be hesitant to lay in the store for a bit. Ignore descriptors on tags such as “ultra plush,” “super soft,” or “extra firm.” These aren’t regulated terms and are used freely within each mattress brand without consistency between them. Instead, just lay on the mattress to get a feel for how soft or firm it is. Try a firm, a plush, and a pillow-top mattress to get a feel for which type you prefer. Compare these types all within the same mattress brand to get the most accurate idea of which you like best. Ask to see a cutaway of the mattress if it’s available, so you can see exactly what it is you may be sleeping on. Ask about a comfort guarantee. A comfort guarantee varies between brands, but is a certain period of time after you’ve purchased your mattress in which you can return or exchange it for free. Always do this before you purchase and verify at purchase to make sure you are getting the correct information.
Find out how long the comfort guarantee lasts for, as this can be different depending on each brand. Learn if you must pay for shipping to/from your home if the mattress doesn’t work out for you. This way you won’t be surprised by extra costs later. Take it for a trial run. Purchase the necessary mattress add-ons. Although buying just a mattress is all that seems necessary, you must also purchase a minimum of a box spring to support it as well. Always buy a new box spring with your new mattress, as old box springs wear out over time and lose the desired support and firmness. Purchase a waterproof mattress protector to cover your new mattress. This not only makes cleanup easier should something spill on it, but will keep the warranty intact. Many warranties void out if the mattress is stained or spilled on.The prices of mattresses can often be lowered with a little bartering done with a sales associate or store manager. Use the numbers you found online earlier to determine if you are getting a good deal.
Include the cost of old mattress pick-up and the delivery and setup of the new mattress in the total cost.many stores will throw in free services if they are simply asked. Show more unanswered questions Some stores will allow you to take a mattress home for a trial run. Sometimes there will be a small fee for this, or even a credit check. Ask around for a good retailer or brand. Word of mouth is often the most reliable tool you have when researching a new brand or model. Make sure the mattress is comfortable in the store before purchasing. Feel free to lay on it if the display allows. Do not allow the sales persons' pitch to alter your choice. You've invested a fair amount on your own, and the salesperson will most likely not be familiar with any brands or models outside their own store and inventory.You can't put a price on a good night's sleep... or can you? If you're shopping for a new mattress, chances are you've noticed that there's a huge price difference between your basic innerspring mattress (starting at around $70) and a high-end memory foam mattress (the top-of-the-line Tempur-Pedic GrandBed costs up to $8,599).
While the cost can certainly be steep, memory foam mattresses have high owner satisfaction ratings: 81% of memory foam owners are satisfied with their mattress, while only 64% of traditional innerspring mattress owners say the same. But just because those owners are satisfied doesn't mean you will be, because what makes for a good night's sleep is very subjective. Let's look at general memory foam and Tempur-Pedic reviews, materials, and prices, to see what these mattresses offer. Then you can decide whether memory foam's cost makes sense for your budget. While innerspring mattresses are made up of metal coils covered with layers of fabric and padding, memory foam mattresses are made of polyurethane foam. The foam reacts to pressure and heat, conforming to your body when you lie down. Memory foam makers say this provides support while keeping your spine in proper alignment. For anyone suffering from back or other joint pain, memory foam can ease pressure points and may improve sleep.
Tempur-Pedic is generally recognized as the first company to make memory foam mattresses, and while there are lots of other choices for memory foam, its offerings are still considered the best on the market. But they're priced accordingly. Tempur-Pedic beds start at $1,199 for a twin-size Tempur-Cloud Prima and go up to $8,599 for a king-size GrandBed. On average, a queen-size Tempur-Pedic mattress will set you back $3,400, which is no small investment. But if you think memory foam is a good choice, you don't have to spend that much. Big mattress brands like Serta and Sealy offer their own memory foam mattresses that average around $1,850 for a queen. On the discount side, both Costco and IKEA offer lines of low-cost memory foam mattresses. Costco's mattresses are priced in line with Sealy and Serta, while IKEA has the bargain option, starting as low as $399 for a queen. But how do these stack up to a $3,400 Tempur-Pedic? Looking at the price ranges for these mattresses, you might be tempted to head to IKEA and pick up a low-cost mattress.
However, not all memory foam is made alike. Its density can be a key factor in the quality of the mattress; with higher-density memory foam, the mattress typically has a longer life span. The density of the foam may be measured by weight (how much a cubic foot of memory foam weighs). Low density is typically 3 pounds and under; medium, from 4 to 5 pounds; and high, higher than 5 pounds. Indentation load deflection (ILD or IFD) is another measurement you may come across, and refers to firmness. The higher the number, the firmer the foam. The trouble with comparing mattresses by their density is that different manufacturers will denote this differently or not at all. For example, Tempur-Pedic does not list any density ratings for its mattresses, though they typically run from 14 to 15 ILD, with densities estimated at 3 to 7 pounds. Alternately, IKEA specifically lists foam density on its website, even specifying the density of different layers of foam (typically from 1.7 to 3.1 pounds).
Furthermore, not all of them are made entirely of foam. Many mattresses, especially those at lower price points, only have a small layer of foam on top of a more traditional innerspring mattress. These may be advertised as foam mattresses, but a thin layer of foam, as little as an inch, won't give you the same benefits as an all-foam mattress. When shopping, pay attention to just how much foam a mattress contains. In addition to offering a comfortable night's sleep for those suffering from back or other joint pain, memory foam mattresses have other pluses. Traditional innerspring mattresses can be noisy, and any movement may be felt across the entire bed. If your bedmate is a restless sleeper, both of these things can be a problem. Memory foam is quiet and isolates motion, which can help you rest no matter what. But memory foam mattresses aren't perfect, either. Because they respond to body heat, they may warm up overnight; for some, they may be uncomfortably warm to sleep on.
Many manufacturers offer layers of gel on their foam mattresses to cool them, while Tempur-Pedic has its own cooling technology called SmartClimate and Tempur-Breeze. If heat is a concern, look for these features when shopping. Another complaint is that memory foam can be hard to move around on. Because you sink into the foam, shifting can be difficult. While that's an inconvenience for adults, it can be a serious problem for infants and small children. Manufacturers warn against leaving young children unattended on memory foam mattresses, since they may find it difficult to turn over, which can leave them in danger of suffocating. Electric blankets are another no-no where memory foam is concerned. Some say they are a fire hazard; others say that they can affect the temperature of the foam. Regardless, foam mattress manufacturers discourage using electric blankets. Because comfort is very much a matter of personal opinion, mattresses are a good product to check out in a showroom.
While this won't provide a perfect representation of what the mattress will be like once you take it home, it will give you an idea of how it feels. If you're testing memory foam mattresses, remember that they seem firmer when you initially lie down, so spend some time to see what they really feel like. Beyond that, look for mattresses with trial periods and good warranties. Tempur-Pedic offers one of the best you're likely to find, letting you try the mattress out at home for 90 days (if bought directly from the company), alongside a 10-year warranty. While you're still responsible for shipping costs if you decide Tempur-Pedic isn't for you, that's a lot better than being stuck with a $3,000 mattress that you don't like sleeping on. The 81% owner satisfaction rating we mentioned earlier covers owners of all brands of memory foam mattresses, not just the high-end Tempur-Pedic. While Tempur-Pedic does make quality memory foam mattresses with solid, high-density foam, even people who have more modestly priced memory foam mattresses are happy with them — and you might be, too.
If you think memory foam is the right mattress choice for you, find a local mattress store where you can try out a Tempur-Pedic mattress in person, as well as competing memory foam models from Sealy and Serta. Not everyone likes Tempur-Pedic's dense foam, so you may find you prefer softer foams or thinner layers of foam on lower-cost mattresses. And if the budget's tight but you really want that memory foam mattress, try IKEA, which offers mattresses made entirely of foam — rather than just thin layers of it — at more affordable prices. But bear in mind that a good mattress will last for 10 years. Even if you buy a $3,400 Tempur-Pedic, that comes out to less than a dollar a day over the life of the mattress. And if a Tempur-Pedic mattress feels comfortable to you, that's not a bad price for a decade of good sleep. Readers, what do you think about Tempur-Pedic and memory foam mattresses? If you have a Tempur-Pedic, do you find that it's worth the higher cost? Let us know in the comments below!