Mattresses: Before You Buy

Feeling achy and tired after what was supposed to have been a full night’s sleep? There’s a chance your mattress is the culprit. According to the Better Sleep Council, a mattress that’s more than seven years old isn’t giving you the proper support your body needs. If you haven’t shopped for a mattress in a while, you might be surprised at the range of comfort options and prices. So, what do you need to know before you buy?

• Know the different types of mattresses available. Innerspring mattresses have open or fabric-wrapped coils or metal springs layered between padding. Hypoallergenic memory-foam mattresses are constructed of high-density polyurethane foam. Air mattresses use adjustable air chambers as their primary support. Water mattresses come in several varieties, but all are designed to conform to the body to reduce pressure points. Lastly, adjustable mattresses allow you to raise and lower your head and legs at the touch of a button.

• Mattress sales and special promotions happen as frequently as reality TV stars capture headlines. Before you buy a new mattress, visit bedding retailers’ Web sites and social media feeds for Web-only coupons, and be sure to check the ads in your local newspaper’s weekend edition. (Rev up your negotiation skills, too—the price on the tag is merely a starting point.)

• Test the mattress you want to buy. According to Consumer Reports, a mattress shopper should spend at least 15 minutes lying on a mattress before she buys it. Awkward to curl up in a public space, you say? Perhaps, but by doing so you’re showing the sales associate you’ve done some research and won’t be rushed through an important purchase (which should cost about $1,000 for a quality, queen-size innerspring mattress, according to Consumer Reports). Let yourself sink in, so to speak, on several mattresses—be sure to test a firm, a plush and a pillow-top model. (And wear comfortable clothes.)

• Twin (39 by 75 inches), full (54 by 75 inches), queen (60 by 80 inches), king (76 by 80 inches) and California king (72 by 84 inches) and standard mattress sizes. Would a larger mattress be more comfortable for you and your partner? If you’re thinking about upgrading from a full to a queen, or a queen to a king, be realistic about how the upgrade will impact the look and flow of your bedroom.

• Unlike furniture and custom upholstery, which can take upwards of eight weeks to be delivered, mattresses are usually delivered within days of your purchase. Before you leave the store, be sure you know all the options, charges and return policies. Is delivery free? Will the crew take your old mattress? Does the retailer have a recycling program for old mattresses? Most importantly, what’s the return policy if your new dream mattress is not a dream fit?