Sleeping on a mattress that has run its course can leave you waking up feeling exhausted and plagued by aches and pains. Over time, poor sleep can lead to many health issues that impact your overall well-being. (1) Investing in the best mattress that creates a restful sleep environment can help improve your sleep quality so you can experience the physical and mental health benefits of consistently restful sleep. (2)
Buying a new mattress can feel overwhelming as you navigate your buying options to find the best price. Our team has spent hours extensively evaluating mattresses, including prices and sales events, so you can get the quality sleep you deserve without breaking the bank. Read on to discover our expert-backed tips that will help you know when it’s best to buy a mattress to score the biggest deals.
Meet the expert
As a quadruple board-certified physician, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, serves as the chief medical advisor for Fortune Recommends™. Specializing in sleep medicine, he is accredited as a Fellow of the American College of American Academy of Sleep Medicine (FAASM). Additionally, he is actively involved in clinical research and has more than 20 years of experience teaching globally.
Pros and cons of buying a new mattress
When is the best time to buy a mattress?
When you’re due for a mattress replacement, timing can be everything to help protect your pocketbook. We’ve outlined some of the best times of year to save on mattresses.
Presidents’ Day
Marking a three-day weekend for many in the workforce, the third Monday in February has become the height of mattress retailers’ marketing campaigns. Consumers finally feel financially recovered from the holiday season, and manufacturers take advantage of an otherwise slow time of year for buying. Many brands compete by slashing prices with sales and discounts ranging from 20% to 50% off, plus many throw in bonus bundles, like free bedding or other accessories. These hot deals can make this holiday one of the most affordable times of the year to buy the best mattresses on the market.
Late winter and early spring
If you missed Presidents’ Day sales, there’s no need to worry! Additional discounts come out shortly after that, with March and April typically being times for warehouses to turn over their showrooms for newer models. You can find hot deals on floor samples and older models that can be up to 50% off MSRP as retailers make room for the new mattresses coming in. It’s also the tail end of tax season, which means many buyers may have some extra tax return cash to help fund this larger expense.
Holiday weekends
Holiday weekend sales are popular across many large products, and mattresses are no exception. Buying a new mattress during Memorial Day and Labor Day sales can help you rest well during your busy summer days or cozy up in bed during cool fall nights. The deals offered around these anchor weekends often compare to those provided during Presidents’ Day, saving you hundreds of dollars on your mattress purchase.
The good news is that you don’t need to spend your whole holiday weekend mattress shopping since most retailers start their sales weeks ahead of the holiday. You may be better off starting your search sooner rather than later to avoid delivery delays and ensure the mattress you want is in stock.
Prime Day and Black Friday
You won’t always have the luxury of timing your mattress purchase perfectly with the best holiday weekend sales. Fortunately, you can take advantage of significant discounts a few other times of the year. If a mattress is on your holiday wish list, you can browse online and local retailers for Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales. Mattress companies often join other retailers the weekend after Thanksgiving to offer competitive deals you won’t want to miss. Additionally, Prime Day has become a staple of mid-summer shopping. If you dream of better sleep and can’t wait until Labor Day, you can find many of the best mattresses-in-a-box on sale through Amazon’s big July deal days.
How much should you spend on a mattress?
An ideal mattress should fulfill your sleeping needs while being mindful of your financial circumstances. With prices ranging from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, it can be challenging to determine a reasonable price for a high-quality mattress.
Many factors influence the cost of a mattress, including materials, size, bonus features, and add-ons. You can expect to pay an average of between $1,300 and $2,500 for a good mattress. However, there are some excellent mattresses under $1,000 that deliver a luxury feel.
Additionally, not every sleeper will need every feature in the top-end mattresses, and mattress comfort can be subjective. Consider your personal sleep needs and preferences so you can list your must-have characteristics in a mattress before starting your search.
As you kick off your mattress hunt, the price tags can feel overwhelming. However, getting at least seven hours of sleep each night is important for overall well-being, so you should consider your mattress purchase a critical investment for your health. (3) Shopping for the sales events outlined here can help you get a quality night’s sleep at an affordable price. We also recognize that you can’t always wait for a sale to take care of your sleep needs, but the good news is that you can find budget-friendly prices year-round by shopping our list of the best cheap mattresses.
Mattress buying tips
Knowing the best time of year to shop for a mattress is just one piece of the puzzle. Several other factors can influence your buying experience.
Before you get started, decide whether you prefer shopping online or in-store. Online shopping can help you explore a broad range of mattresses when it’s most convenient for you without spending time hopping from store to store. In addition, online retailers often offer free shipping, convenient delivery options, and sometimes even free removal of your current mattress. However, in-store shopping can offer the benefit of trying out mattresses to help you get a first-hand feel for comfort and support before you buy. You’ll also have the opportunity to talk to a mattress expert to answer any questions and guide you to the best mattress options.
Even if you test and lay on a mattress in-store, you may need more time to determine if the mattress will indeed be comfortable and supportive for your body type and sleep style. Many mattress retailers offer trial periods that allow you to try a mattress at home for an extended time with the option of returning it if it doesn’t work. The trial time, which can range from a couple of months to an entire year, may help you decide if you’re debating a few options.
Finally, since we’ve established that the price tag on a mattress is a crucial component when buying, getting a price guarantee can help create peace of mind that you won’t buy a mattress right before it goes on sale for cheaper. Many manufacturers and retailers will offer price match guarantees that can extend through future sales to ensure you get your mattress at the best price.
Related: The best mattress of 2024, according to sleep experts
How to find the best mattress for you
Considering you spend about one-third of your life in bed, you must find the mattress that’s going to create the most restful sleep environment. (4) A good mattress should provide comfort and support, help reduce aches and pains, keep your body temperature regulated, and hold up against time and repeated use. (5)
Materials
As you start your mattress search, you’ll notice manufacturers engineer mattresses using various materials, including innerspring coil systems, different types of foams, and hybrid models that combine both. Your first step will be determining which material will suit your needs.
Innerspring mattresses are the most traditional mattresses and are known for their bounce and firmness. The coil system supports your back to reduce pain while allowing adequate airflow to help you stay cool through the night. These mattresses can be best for back and stomach sleepers. However, they may create pressure points that make them uncomfortable for some sleep positions and are less durable than foam mattresses.
Foam mattresses vary between memory foam mattresses, gel-infused, and latex. Regardless of the type, all foam mattresses excel at contouring to your body’s shape and relieving pressure points, making them excellent options for side sleepers and those with joint pain. (6) Gel-infused foam is popular for its added cooling technology to help prevent overheating at night, while latex offers optimal pressure relief, eco-friendly materials, and high durability. (7)
Many sleepers enjoy combining the best of both worlds with hybrid mattresses. These mattresses start with layers of comfort foam that provide body contouring and pressure relief. Beneath those layers lie innerspring coils that offer support to prevent sinking and maintain proper spinal alignment while allowing airflow to help dissipate excess body heat.
Comfort and support
As you narrow down the mattress material, you’ll also want to consider firmness levels. Your body type and typical sleep position can help determine how soft or firm your mattress should be for optimal comfort and support.
If you sleep on your side often, you’ll likely find medium-soft to medium mattresses provide the most pressure relief on key joints, like your shoulders and hips. Meanwhile, back and stomach sleepers may find maximum back support and spinal alignment when sleeping on medium-firm to firm mattresses. Studies show that medium-firm mattresses are most effective at reducing pain for sleepers who suffer from back pain. (8) Check out our best mattresses for side sleepers, best mattresses for back sleepers, or best mattresses for back pain to see which options are best for you.
Body type is another critical factor when choosing mattress firmness. While firmer mattresses may feel more comfortable for heavy-weight sleepers due to additional back support and reduced sinking, lightweight sleepers may find they feel too firm and prefer a softer level.
Cooling
Because excessive body heat at night is linked to poor sleep quality, cooling technologies can be critical to your evaluation if you often sleep hot. (9) You can find mattresses that boast cooling fibers in the mattress covers, which help eliminate moisture, while foam and innerspring layers at the core create breathability and allow for airflow that helps reduce heat trapped within the mattress. Finding a cooling mattress with the right features to regulate your body temperature can help improve sleep quality. (10)
FAQs
What is the best month to buy a new mattress?
February has historically been the month with the most significant mattress deals surrounding Presidents’ Day. However, thanks to Memorial Day and Labor Day sales events, you’ll find equally impressive deals through May and September.
What time of year is the cheapest to buy a bed?
Holidays can be a great time to celebrate with a new mattress. You’ll find the biggest price slashes if you can time your mattress buy around key dates, like Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. Late winter and early spring can also offer significant discounts as mattress dealers look to clear out old inventory and make room for the newest models.
How do I get the best price on a new mattress?
To find the best price on a new mattress, give yourself time to shop around the best deals. If you feel too rushed going into your purchase, you may pay more or end up with a mattress that isn’t ideal for you. Do your research beforehand to compare prices, features, and customer reviews. Then, you’ll be ready to make an informed decision during holiday sales events to get your dream mattress at the lowest price.
What is the best price for a new mattress?
New mattress prices vary based on many factors, including brand, mattress type, size, added features, and shipping and returns. Additionally, where you buy it from and when you shop will significantly impact the price. You can expect to pay $1,300 to $2,500 for a high-quality mattress. However, sale events can reduce prices by up to 50%.
Our experts
Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM
Quadruple-board certified in pulmonary, sleep, internal, and critical care medicine. An active clinical researcher, Dr. Raj is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, and the Associate Program Director of Internal Medicine Residency at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars Sinai.
Dr. Heidi Moawad
Dr. Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. She serves on the editorial board of Neurology Clinical Practice and is a reviewer for Neurology. She is on the board of Medical Examiners.
Krista Manning
Krista Manning is an accomplished medical copy editor and fact-checker who stands out in the pharmaceutical, health, and wellness domains. With a meticulous eye for detail and a command of medical language, Krista ensures the accuracy and clarity of content. Beyond her professional expertise, Krista is an advocate for mental health awareness. Recognizing the crucial intersection of psychological and physical well-being, she actively contributes to projects that promote mental health awareness within the healthcare narrative. Krista’s commitment extends beyond the pages she edits, emphasizing the holistic nature of health communication.
Corey Jungwirth, NBC-HWC
Fortune Recommends Staff Writer
About Author
Corey Jungwirth is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach with over 11 years of experience working in health and wellness. Additionally, she has earned certifications as a Behavioral Health Coach and Lifestyle Medicine Coach. For over five years, Corey has enjoyed combining her wellness knowledge with her passion for writing. When she’s not writing about it, Corey enjoys engaging in her own health by running, taking Peloton classes, and playing soccer and volleyball. She also enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and being outdoors as often as possible. Corey lives in a cozy home in the woods in Wisconsin with her two kids, husband, and dog, Kona.