Logan Foley Editorial Director
Logan Foley
Editorial Director
Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. As a chronic insomniac, she aims to bring her findings to anyone struggling with getting adequate rest. Her expertise is in creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dog Pepper.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Factors Influencing Mattress Lifespan
- Is a New Mattress Worth the Cost?
Sleep is one of the most important aspects of human health. Without quality sleep, our bodies are not able to heal and rejuvenate themselves, and our brains struggle to process emotions and store memories.
One of the biggest factors in getting a good night’s sleep is the comfort of your mattress. There are few other products that can have such a significant effect on our health and happiness. Therefore, it’s important to invest in the best mattress possible, and replace it according to expert guidelines. But when should you replace your mattress?
Under normal conditions, mattresses should be replaced every 6 to 8 years.
Of course, this is a general guideline and not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are various factors that influence when you should replace your mattress.
Generally speaking, you should replace your mattress if one or more of the following apply:
- It’s 6-8+ years old
- It’s negatively affecting your sleep
- It’s noticeably saggy or damaged in certain areas
- It’s making more noise than usual (noisy springs are common in old innerspring mattresses)
- You find that you sleep better at hotels, friends’ houses, etc.
- You notice an increase in allergies and/or asthma
- You regularly wake up with muscle or joint stiffness
Essentially, you should replace your bed if it’s no longer helping you get restful sleep. There’s no clear-cut way to know for sure whether it’s time for a new bed – but generally speaking, if you’re thinking about a new bed, it’s likely worthwhile to make the investment sooner rather than later.
If You're Needing to Replace Your Bed, Take Our Mattress Quiz to Find Your Perfect Match
If you're thinking of replacing your mattress with a model that better suits your needs, you'll want to consider your sleep position, body weight, and other personal sleep preferences. Our quiz will help determine if it's time to upgrade your mattress.
Trouble sleeping?
Answer these 5 easy questions to discover your perfect mattress
Trouble sleeping?
Answer these 5 easy questions to discover your perfect mattress
What position do you sleep in?
Do you experience any pain while sleeping?
Back and/or side pain
Neck and/or shoulder pain
Little to no pain
Do you have any material preferences?
Innerspring
Foam
No preference/ Other
Do you sleep hot?
Yes
No
Do you sleep with a partner?
Yes
No
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Factors Influencing Mattress Lifespan
A variety of factors influence the longevity of a mattress. A cheap $250 bed will degrade much faster than a luxury mattress, for example. Some key factors that impact mattress replacement guidelines include:
Mattress Material – The materials used to manufacture your bed greatly influence its durability. Lower-quality innerspring and all-foam mattresses tend to have the shortest lifespans, as they are prone to sagging and body impressions respectively. Hybrid mattresses are also prone to these issues, but since they’re often sold as higher-end options and made with higher-quality materials, they tend to be more durable. Latex mattresses are the most durable, lasting upwards of 8 years
Depending on the material, there are a few good ways to predict durability. For innerspring and hybrid mattresses, look for a lower coil gauge (which means thicker coils). For mattresses with foam, look for higher foam densities (1.7+ PCF for polyfoam, 5+ PCF for memory foam). Finally, make sure you’re getting natural latex rather than synthetic latex.
Maintenance & Care – Like any other product, a mattress will last longer if you take good care of it. This means rotating your mattress every 3 months or so (unless the manufacturer recommends otherwise) and utilizing a mattress protector.
Sleeper Size & Weight – Your weight, as well as the weight of anyone sharing your bed, also influences the rate at which the mattress will degrade. Heavier sleepers will find that mattresses may sag quicker, while lightweight sleepers will have less of an impact. Similarly, a mattress accomodating a couple will likely wear out sooner than a mattress for a single person.
Children & Pets – If you share your bed with small children, or with animals, it’s likely that you will need to replace your mattress more frequently. In addition to the extra weight, both pets and children are more likely to cause stains and/or damage to the mattress.
Is a New Mattress Worth the Cost?
Buying a new mattress can be a significant expense – is it worth it?
In almost all cases, the answer is absolutely. A new mattress can improve the quality of your sleep, which influences everything from your energy levels to mood to overall health. Some potential benefits of a new mattress include:
Improved Sleep – A 2009 peer-reviewed clinical trial found that new mattresses significantly improved sleep quality and reduced both back pain and perceived stress in the trial population. Most new mattress owners also report that their sleep quality improved after purchasing a new bed.
Reduced Aches & Pains – If you wake up with pain or stiffness in your back, shoulders, hip or neck, it’s quite possible that your mattress may be part of the problem. Older beds tend to sag in places, which reduces support and makes it less likely that your spine will be properly aligned.
Reduced Motion Transfer – Older mattresses tend to transfer more motion from one side of the bed to the other. This means that a partner changing positions in the night can disrupt your sleep. A new mattress – and particularly an all-foam or hybrid bed – will transfer less motion, helping couples get better rest together.
Reduced Allergies/Asthma – Old mattresses accumulate dust mites, mold, bacteria and other allergens at an alarming rate. A small study by the National University of Singapore found that mattresses had the highest concentration of dust mites out of any household item, and other allergens are also very common in older mattresses. If you’ve found that your allergies or asthma symptoms have worsened, your mattress may be partially to blame.
While it can be tempting to stick with your existing mattress and save some money, for most people it will be worthwhile to upgrade. Remember that you will spend roughly 1/3rd of your life in bed – and there’s no better way to invest in your own well being than to do all you can to ensure quality sleep.
Written By
Logan Foley,Editorial Director
Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. As a chronic insomniac, she aims to bring her findings to anyone struggling with getting adequate rest. Her expertise is in creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dog Pepper.
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We Are Here To Help You Sleep.
Tell us about your sleep by taking this brief quiz.
Based on your answers, we will calculate your freeSleep Foundation Score™and create a personalized sleep profile that includes sleep-improving products and education curated justfor you.
As an expert in sleep science and mattress technology, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, having extensively researched and tested various sleep products, including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding. My qualifications include being a Certified Sleep Science Coach, a position that requires a deep understanding of sleep struggles and the ability to provide informed recommendations to individuals seeking better rest.
My expertise is not solely theoretical; I have practical experience as a chronic insomniac, which adds a personal dimension to my understanding of the challenges people face in achieving quality sleep. Over the years, I have contributed significantly to the field, helping lead editorial teams and creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content related to sleep.
In the provided article about mattresses, the content covers a comprehensive range of topics related to sleep products, emphasizing the importance of quality sleep and the role of mattresses in achieving it. Let's break down the concepts used in the article:
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Mattress Lifespan:
- Factors Influencing Mattress Lifespan: The article discusses the longevity of mattresses, emphasizing that different factors, such as mattress material, maintenance, sleeper size and weight, and the presence of children or pets, influence how long a mattress lasts.
-
Is a New Mattress Worth the Cost?
- The article explores whether investing in a new mattress is worth the cost. It highlights potential benefits of a new mattress, including improved sleep, reduced aches and pains, reduced motion transfer, and a decrease in allergies and asthma symptoms.
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Factors Influencing Mattress Lifespan:
- Mattress Material: Different mattress materials (innerspring, foam, hybrid, latex) have varying lifespans, with a focus on factors like coil gauge for innerspring mattresses and foam density for foam mattresses.
- Maintenance & Care: Proper care and maintenance, such as rotating the mattress and using a mattress protector, are essential for prolonging its lifespan.
- Sleeper Size & Weight: The weight of sleepers, as well as the presence of children and pets, can impact how quickly a mattress degrades.
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Is a New Mattress Worth the Cost?
- Benefits of a New Mattress: The article argues that the expense of a new mattress is justified due to potential improvements in sleep quality, reduced aches and pains, decreased motion transfer, and a reduction in allergies and asthma symptoms.
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Additional Mattress Information:
- The article provides a variety of additional information, including tips on mattress shopping, advice on memory foam mattresses sleeping cooler, guidance on choosing a mattress, and information on mattress thickness, cost, and sagging issues.
This article serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals seeking information on mattresses, covering aspects from their lifespan to the benefits of investing in a new one.
