Many of us don’t get enough sleep. One in three adults are sleep-deprived, according to a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention study. Some hard-working people are too busy to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep. Others go to bed at a decent time, only to toss and turn for most of the night. If you fall into the latter category, your mattress could be part of the problem.See the average budget for someone in your neighborhood.So if you’re thinking about investing in a new one, you might want to wait. Here’s a breakdown of the best time to buy a mattress and how much you can expect to spend.How much does the average mattress cost? Prices vary depending on factors like the size and type of mattress you’re buying. , an independent site that provides mattress reviews and advice for consumers. But the cost of spring mattresses can range from $100 to $2,000. After all, a king-sized bed costs much more than a twin-sized bed.Memory foam mattresses cost $1,370, on average, with prices ranging from $100 to $4,000 or higher.
Air mattresses are one of the most expensive kinds of mattresses. The average air mattress costs $2,180, with prices ranging from around $500 to $4,000 or higher.Shoppers who are on a budget can find cheap mattresses at stores such as Ikea and Tuft & Needle. that sell low-priced brands. Another option is to try to buy a mattress when it’s most likely to be on sale. , consumers can expect new mattress models to arrive between the months of May and September. Therefore, May is one of the best times to buy a mattress. As the new mattresses roll in, it’s possible to snag a great deal on one of the older models that retailers are trying to get rid of. Buying the older inventory when the new products show up is a strategy that could also work if you’re trying to get a discount on another household item or a new car.In addition to May, Consumer Reports notes that February is a good time to look for a mattress. Some of the best sales of the year pop up near Presidents’ Day. If you miss those clearance events, you can find markdowns on mattresses around other holidays, such as Labor Day and the Fourth of July.If you’re opposed to spending thousands of dollars on a mattress, there are other ways to save money besides shopping during a certain time of year.
One strategy is simple: Visit the store and talk your way into getting a discount. Speaking with sales representatives in-person will likely be more effective than trying to haggle over the phone.While it may take time, comparison shopping is also a good idea. Checking out online ratings for certain brands can be helpful if you don’t know where to start. Plus, that’ll help you get a sense of what prices look like for specific types of mattresses. When thinking about how much you can afford to spend, you’ll also need to factor in what different stores charge for delivering mattresses.When you’re ready to commit to buying a mattress, don’t be tricked into paying more than you need to. By doing your research, you’ll be well-versed on what matters (like choosing a mattress with the right kind of support based on your sleeping style) and what doesn’t (like the kind of material that covers the mattress).Keep in mind that the most expensive mattresses aren’t necessarily the best products.
In fact, you might as well begin by testing out the cheaper mattresses first. Of course, you don’t want to purchase an inexpensive mattress if its quality is subpar.Often, the best time to buy a mattress is either near a major holiday or in February or May. If you can hold off on buying a mattress until then, you may be able to find a good bargain. Doing your homework and negotiating may also help lower the cost of the mattress you want to purchase.Tips For Buying A New Mattress 05/28/2015 3:29 pm EDT 06/23/2015 1:59 pm EDT In the market for a new mattress? In a sea of quilted beige cushion tops, it can be difficult to find the perfect mattress for your needs. Sure, we all know the basics: if you have a bad back, firmer is better, but if you want something that's cozy, foam is perfect for you. But even with the basics covered, a new poll by online mattress retailer Casper suggests Canadians just can't stand shopping for new mattresses, with more than 30 per cent saying they'd rather be nursing a hangover.
We can only assume they based the study on "The Hangover."Testing out mattresses doesn't seem like it would cause nightmares, but in a press release, Casper claimed only 22 per cent of Canadians actually found buying a mattress in store helpful. On the flip side, more than 40 per cent admit that having an extended period to try out the mattress at home would make buying a mattress much more enjoyable.Regardless of how you're doing it, buying a new mattress doesn't have to be complicated. In the slideshow below, we provide seven tips to help you find the perfect mattress. And if you're still struggling to find the right fit, we've also included our five favourite mattresses that will make you want to spend the whole day in bed.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!