How Do I Know When to Buy A New Mattress?

There are several things that can make it time to consider a new mattress.  While some are obvious like the condition of the mattress, others you may not have taken the time to think about recently.

If you like the details please read on for the nitty-gritty, but here’s a quick summary of signs we’ve found that it’s time to replace your mattress:

1. It’s 8-10 years old or more.
2. You are waking up with aches or pains not caused by a known health condition.
3. Your mattress sags, slouches, or “hammocks” to the middle even though it has a good foundation/box spring and center frame support legs.
4. You toss and turn because you can’t get comfortable.
5. You’ve had a change in your life like a new sleep partner, new health condition, or gaining or losing weight.

We’ve spoken with a lot of sleepers over the years and learned quite a bit about when it’s time to change to a new mattress. Here are a few signals it is likely time:

If Your Mattress is Old 

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately mattresses wear out. If it’s been a few years (a.k.a. you slept on it in college), your old mattress may have run its course, and it may be time to upgrade. Time, however, is not the only deciding factor as to when to buy a new mattress. 

Most mattresses have an average lifespan of about 10 years. If yours is approaching a decade or more, then it’s likely time to upgrade! Plus... just because a mattress should last around 10 years, that doesn’t mean it will continue to fit your body for that entire time-frame. Finally, the advancements in sleep technology made in just the last handful of years have improved mattress performance dramatically! 

Waking up with aches and pains? 

The fault may be in your mattress. If you’re sleeping on an old mattress, or the wrong type of mattress, you could be experiencing: (1) applied pressure in all the wrong places, or (2) not enough support in the places you need it most, like your spine, hips, and neck. Since everyone has a unique body type, these needs vary from person to person.  If you don’t have a known health issue causing your waking-up aches and pains, a good first bet is it’s time for a new mattress.

Does Your Mattress Slouch? 

If your mattress is excessively slouching or sagging, then it’s not giving you the proper support you need for your body. This is a major sign that your mattress is giving out, or that it lacks the strength it needs to support you. Another sign is if you feel like you’re going to roll off the side of your bed or feel it is “hammocking” into the middle. A good mattress should be able to support you so you sleep comfortably at the position you lay down on... and safe enough to not fear being kicked out of bed in the middle of the night!  A quick note on “hammocking”: Be sure to first check and make sure your box spring / foundation is flat and strong.  Also, if you have a queen or king size mattress, make sure that the frame under the box spring / foundation has support legs in the middle of the bed, not just at the outside edges.  If those things are all intact and the mattress is still “hammocking” to the middle, it’s likely the innersprings are failing.

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Tossing and turning all night? 

You’re not comfortable if you’re flopping around on your mattress.  And if you’re not comfortable, you’re not sleeping. Common causes of restless tossing and turning are (1) If your mattress is not fitted for you, or (2) if the mattress is breaking down where the foams lose their conforming capabilities and therefore the innersprings can hit your pressure points. It’s no wonder you can’t get comfortable! Other factors that can cause you to not fall asleep or to wake up frequently include having an active or loud sleep partner if you’re a light sleeper who is sensitive to motion or noise disturbance or if you’re waking up feeling hot throughout the night.