Finding your perfect sleep starts here. What size mattress are you looking for? You have not viewed any products recently. How to Buy a MattressMattress Sizes ChartMattress Names/Terms GlossaryNeed a New Mattress? Do You Need a New Mattress? Some signs your mattress has lost it's support - You wake up with stiffness, numbness, or aches You get a better night's sleep anywhere but in bed (like a hotel, the couch, at a family members) Your mattress shows visible signs of wear (it's dipping, has lumps, the interior is exposed, etc.) Your mattress is more than 7 years old* *How long a mattress lasts If you decide to purchase a new mattress, don't throw the old mattress in the garbage! The best way to get rid of the old bed Email Sign Up: Receive Special Offers & Sleep Tips How to Buy A MattressHere's what you need to know Is it time for you to buy a new mattress? It can be tough to know whether the time has come to shell out cash for a new mattress, and it can be even harder to pick out the right one.
Here's how to tell — and what to know as you head to the store. How to know if you need a new mattress If you’re not sure whether or not you even need a new mattress, there are a few ways to tell. You need a new mattress when: You feel the coils as you rest.You have aches and pains when you wake up.You sleep better in other beds.You see impressions in your mattress where you sleep.You have owned your mattress for more than 10 years. If any of these points are familiar to you, it’s time to start shopping. RELATED: 4 folding and hanging hacks to organize your closet (and your life) A mattress has a big impact on your life as it influences your sleep every night, so shopping may seem overwhelming. Here are some tips to make sure your shopping trip is a successful one: If you are a couple, shop together.Bring your pillows with you.If may feel awkward, but rest on a mattress for no less than 10 minutes in your typical sleep position.Don't rely on the store's label to tell you which models give you the best support.
A mattress is a mattress, right? You’ll find various terms tied to different models as you shop. Innerspring mattresses are the most common type of mattress. They give support from metal coils. A salesperson might try to tell you that a mattress' quality is based on the number of coils inside, but that's not the case. What you do need to pay attention to is the gauge of the wire that the coils are made from. This affects the firmness. Just remember: Heavier gauge means a stiffer mattress. Lighter gauge means a springier mattress. Foam mattresses are filled with a combination of synthetics and natural fibers. Most people think of memory foam or viscoelastic foam when they consider a foam mattress, and that's exactly right. These mattresses tend to mold to the shape of your body as you sleep, and these mattresses also tend to cost more. RELATED: How often you should wash your duvet — and the right way to do it Several manufacturers suggest flipping your mattress every three months to extend its life, but today's market also includes the no-flip mattress.
These models have extra padding on one side so it never has to be flipped. But one warning for you: No-flip mattresses tend to cost more, so consider whether or not the chore of flipping every three months is worth the extra cost.Experts say the most important part of picking a new mattress is that it feels comfortable to you (and your sleep). You’ve had an active day, eaten right, taken a bath, donned your favorite PJs, and banished your phone and other screens from your bedroom -- just like experts say to do for optimal sleep. But you’re still tossing and turning. Turns out, your mattress may be to blame. "The sleep surface is critical to sleep quality, and unfortunately is too often overlooked," Terry Cralle, a certified clinical sleep educator and author of Sleeping Your Way To The Top, told The Huffington Post. Too many people reach for sleeping pills or an over-the-counter sleep aid without even considering what they are sleeping on, she said. One study published in Applied Ergonomics found that new bedding systems improved measures of pain, stiffness, sleep comfort and quality across the board in a group of 62 men and women compared with their old beds, which on average were more than nine years old.
Want to know more? Here's a five-point guide to picking out a new mattress: It's time to buy new "when you sleep better away from home (in a hotel room or elsewhere), or if you prefer to sleep on your recliner or sofa," Cralle said. Additional signs your mattress needs replacing include waking up with aches or pains, not feeling as refreshed in the morning or waking up in the night because you're too hot or restless, she said. Worn or sagging spots in the middle of your mattress or at the edges are physical signs your mattress has seen better days, according to recommendations from the National Sleep Foundation -- and you should be able to sleep undisturbed on your side of the bed if your partner rolls over or gets up in the middle of the night. Though there is no hard and fast rule on how long to keep a mattress, most have a lifespan of about eight years, according to the NSF. Cralle suggested evaluating how well your mattress is meeting your sleep needs after about seven years, or if you've had an injury or illness, a significant weight change or a new bed partner: "You may have forgotten how good a new comfortable mattress can feel."
In addition to everybody having their own body type and sleep needs, our bodies and those needs change over time. A mattress that was comfortable when we were 35 will not be as comfortable at 45, Cralle said. Factors like pain, weight loss, weight gain, and chronic disease can all affect our sleep preferences. "The mattress that is comfortable for a 98-pound woman with arthritis may not be comfortable for a 250-pound man who sleeps hot," she pointed out. But the good news is that new bedding technologies and materials means mattresses have come a long way, and there really is a mattress out there for everyone, Cralle said. "Just remember: The mattress that your neighbor raves about may not be the mattress you rave about." Experts say expensive mattresses are not always superior, and some mattresses are better suited for your sleep position than others. Overall, your mattress should feel comfortable to you, bed expert Dan Schecter, senior vice president of sales and marketing at the cushioning product company Carpenter Co., told The Huffington Post.
“The most important factor is comfort.” So it’s important to spend enough time looking and shopping for the mattress that’s right for you, he said. Know your budget, what size mattress you need and any health concerns or personal needs that might be affected by your mattress -- like arthritis, back pain, sleep apnea or allergies. Try taking the Better Sleep Council's mattress shopping quiz for a breakdown of everything you should know before you hit the mattress showroom. The quiz doesn't recommend a specific brand or type of mattress, but it does prompt you to answer a series of questions to make the mattress-shopping experience more productive. "Consumers have been reluctant to make mattress shopping a priority," said Cralle, who is also a spokesperson for the non-profit group. The information from the quiz can really help empower the consumer in selecting a mattress that best fits their needs, she said. Lay on it for at least 15 minutes in the store, or longer if you can, and be sure to lay in the position you sleep in, Cralle advised.