What Is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?

On average, Americans sleep for 8.5 hours on a typical weekday. It’s vitally important we sleep on a good mattress since we’re spending so much time lying on it. The best mattresses provide you with good support and keep you cool while you sleep. This will go a long way to providing you with a good night’s sleep.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, it’s helpful to know when the best time to buy a mattress is. Online retailers and brick and mortar stores both offer good deals and deep discounts depending on the time of year. Buying a mattress at the right time can help you to save money.

Best Months to Buy a Mattress

There are several months of the year when you can get a better deal for a mattress. You can usually pay a lower price for an older model mattress if you’re strategic about when you do your mattress shopping. These usually happen around holiday weekends or major holidays.

February

Three-day weekends are a popular time for mattress sales because most people have an extra day to spend shopping. Kicking the year off with these types of sales is the Presidents’ Day weekend.

At this time, shopping malls tend to be filled with consumers who have recovered from the rush of Christmas shopping. As such, mattress retailers will try to lure shoppers in with discounted prices.

May

Early spring is a good time to think about getting a new bed, not simply because you’re thinking about spring cleaning. For many mattress companies, the month of May is the last month to clear their showrooms before new models turn up in June.

Mattress stores will take advantage of Memorial Day weekend to slash prices, which spells huge savings for you. Even if there isn’t an obvious sales event, you may be able to negotiate a better deal in store at this time as sales people will be eager to move stock.

July

There are two great reasons you can get a mattress deal in July: Fourth of July and Amazon Prime Day. Mattress stores aren’t the only ones holding sales on Independence Day. Many home goods retailers and department stores offer major discounts at this time. Some will even have special perks to attract new customers.

If you don’t mind shopping for a mattress online, Amazon Prime Day is the day for you. Amazon Prime Day is usually in the second week of July and lasts for two to three days. During this time, you’ll find massive deals on major mattress brands (and everything else Amazon sells). You’ll need to be a member of Amazon Prime to enjoy the sale.

August

As a new school term begins, this is a good time to shop for children’s beds and mattresses aimed at college students.

September

There’s Black Friday, and then there’s Black Friday for the mattress industry. Labor Day may not generally be thought of as a major national holiday to enjoy large retail discounts, but it’s a big deal if you’re shopping for a new mattress. This is because September 30 tends to mark the end of the fiscal year for many mattress companies.

Retailers don’t just have to account for their profits and losses for the fiscal year, they need to take stock of inventory too. This means doing a physical count of everything they have on stock. To reduce the workload, they’ll sell their stock at big discounts.

It’s not just physical stores that will offer discounts, many online mattress stores do so as well. Look out for other incentives such as free box springs, foam pillows, or shipping.

November

Veterans Day is the precursor to the sales that end all sales (read more about Black Friday below). Retailers will offer good sale prices on this holiday as they try to get rid of excess stock in anticipation of the holiday season and Black Friday.

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year, so it’s not surprising mattress retailers will slash their prices. A new mattress may not be on your Christmas list, but the big markdowns on mattress prices should be enough of a reason to change your mind.

Then there’s Cyber Monday, the online version of Black Friday. On Cyber Monday, you’ll find big discounts on online mattresses. Some online retailers even extend their deals for a whole week.

Holiday Mattress Sales

As a general rule, national holidays are a good time to enjoy sale prices on mattresses. Anything from New Year’s Day to Columbus Day can lead mattress retailers to slash retail prices and offer deep discounts.

Surprise Sales

At the same time, you don’t just have to rely on major holidays to pay less for mattresses. Retailers often offer plenty of different sale events. The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for any advertising or announcements. Look out for things like:

• Grand opening sales
• Liquidation sales
• Moving sales
• Closing sales

Other Ways to Save and Find the Best Deal

Waiting for a sale or shopping online isn’t the only way to save on a mattress. There are some other strategies you can use to ensure you’re paying the best price for a new mattress.

Negotiate

This works better in a brick and mortar store where you can bargain with someone. Even a simple, “Is this your best price?” may get you a better deal.

Research

This works online as well as in store. If you have your heart set on a certain mattress brand, compare what different stores are selling it for.

Add-Ons

This is another one that works better in a physical store. If the store can’t lower the price any further, check if they offer other valuable incentives. Things like free pillows or bedding, or friendlier return policies can all add value to the price of your mattress.

Important Cost Considerations

Aside from finding the right time to buy a mattress and bargaining, other factors can impact the cost of a mattress as well. These include:

• Sales tax
• Recycling tax
• Shipping fees
• Assembly fee
• Removal of your old mattress

When you’ve found the mattress you want, check the charges for all of the above factors. These should be added to the total cost of the mattress when you’re setting your budget and doing a price comparison.

Buying Online vs. In Store

When you buy a mattress, you might think you need to go into a brick-and-mortar store where you can physically touch the mattress. But that often means uncomfortably flopping around on mattresses while a salesperson looks on. What if you could “test sleep” on a mattress in the comfort and privacy of your own home? This is where online shopping comes in.

With the introduction of generous sleep trials, buying a mattress online can be more beneficial than you may think. Here are some reasons why it may be better for you to go online to shop for a new mattress.

Price

Brick-and-mortar stores have more overheads. They need to pay rent, staff wages, and electricity bills. There are even higher costs associated with operating a store in a premium location like a shopping mall. More overhead means a higher markup on the products they sell.

Online stores often offer consistently lower prices because they have less overhead. They also tend to offer free shipping, delivery, and even setup.

Sales People

Online, you can shop and research at your leisure without a sales person shadowing your every move. And if you’ve made a choice, you won’t be upsold on your decision. If you’re easily swayed, shopping online can help you stick to your budget.

Wider Selection

You can shop across multiple brands and stores at the same time when you shop online. This means you’re not limited to what you can find in your local stores. Mattress stores tend to only carry a limited number of brands. When you go online, you have access to a wider range of mattresses, and you can quickly compare prices.

Sleep Trials

While you may not be able to physically try out a mattress when buying online, many online mattress stores offer a sleep trial period. Sleep trials are an obligation-free period during which you can test the mattress in the comfort of your own home.

These usually range from 100 nights to 365 nights. If you’re unhappy with your choice for any reason, you can usually return it for a full refund. Some companies will help you organize a drop-off at a charity of your choice.

Reviews

It’s much easier to find and read reviews of mattresses when shopping online. There are often hundreds of customer reviews you can sift through. You can read them all at your own pace.

Online Codes

Some online stores will also offer referral discounts. These generally come in the form of promo codes obtained from a referring website. You can also do a quick search online for any other coupon codes, either offered by the website themselves or through a partner website.

How You Know You Need a New Mattress

We can grow so used to our mattress we don’t even realize we need to replace them. On average, we should be replacing our mattress once every seven years. This is even if there isn’t any visible sagging, lumps, stains, or other damage.

You should replace an old mattress because it can:

• Cause you to wake up stiff or sore.
• Lead to poor sleep quality, which means you feel tired the next day even after a full night’s rest.
• Cause problems with falling asleep.
• Trigger an allergic reaction, such as wheezing or coughing, due to the buildup of dust and other allergens.
• Create new sleeping problems you didn’t have before.

If you find yourself rolling into the middle of the mattress while you sleep, it’s time to buy a new mattress. Even worse, you need to replace your mattress if you find other beds more comfortable than your own.

What Type of Mattress Should You Get

Mattresses are made from different materials and technologies. The one you need will depend on your preference.

Innerspring

Innerspring construction is how mattresses are traditionally made. Innerspring mattresses get their name from the steel coils inside. These provide the structure and “spring” in the mattress.

The coil shapes, spacing between each coil, and how they’re placed can differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. This has an impact on how the mattress feels when slept on. Protecting the springs are a layer of padding and a material enveloping the mattress.

Innersprings hold their shape when slept on and are good for those with a larger frame or weight. The firm support makes it easier to get in and out of bed. Stomach and back sleepers may find innersprings more comfortable as the springs help disperse their weight evenly on the bed.

Because innersprings are made from steel coils, they will lose their tension after 5-10 years.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses provide good support for your body, especially your back and neck, and they offer pressure relief. They’re made from a dense foam that molds to your body and supports you when you sleep, relieving pressure points.

Memory foam will also distribute your body weight evenly. The foam bounces back to its original shape after use.

One of the advantages of memory foam mattresses is motion isolation. This is good if your share a bed or if you toss and turn when you sleep. The foam absorbs the movement, creating less sleep disruption.

Memory foam mattresses are good for those who sleep on their backs or their sides. Stomach sleepers will find them beneficial as well, but stomach sleeping is not a recommended sleeping position as it puts a lot of pressure on your back and neck.

Memory foam mattresses tend to last longer than innerspring.

Latex

The benefits and features of latex mattresses are similar to that of memory foam mattresses.

The main difference between latex and memory foam mattress is the material they’re made from. While memory foam is made from a chemical product (polyurethane), latex comes from the sap of a rubber tree. Latex can also provide a little more bounce than memory foam.

Hybrid

These mattresses combine foam and innerspring technology. This means you’ll find steel coils inside a hybrid mattress, usually topped with memory foam or latex.

Hybrid mattresses retain the bounciness of innersprings but will also mold to your body’s shape when you sleep. Like memory foam and latex, hybrid mattresses are good for all sleeping positions.

Most hybrid mattresses last longer than innerspring but not as long as memory foam or latex.

What Type of Mattress Do You Need

Mattresses come in different firmness levels. Deciding on the right one will not only depend on your personal preference but also on your sleeping style.

Side Sleepers

74% of Americans sleep on their side. If you’re one of them, you need a medium or medium-soft mattress. Side sleeping can put a lot of pressure on your hips. Medium or medium-soft mattresses will allow your body to sink in comfortably.

It will also support the entire length of your spine in your preferred sleeping position. When side sleeping, you should try bending your top knee and square your hips by propping your knee up with a few pillows.

Back Sleepers

Sleeping on your back can throw your neck and spine out of alignment if you’re not careful. To achieve a neutral spine position, you need a firm or medium-firm mattress.

Stomach Sleepers

This position provides the lowest amount of support for your spine and can force it into an unnatural alignment. You should avoid this sleeping position as much as possible. It also causes a lot of stress on your back and neck.

If you have to sleep on your stomach, use a firm or very firm mattress to help support your spine. To help your lower back keep its natural alignment, place a relatively flat pillow under your abdomen or pelvis.

Common Questions

Buying a mattress is a major investment. Timing it just right can help you save big on your next purchase. Here are answers to three common questions people ask when trying to decide on the best time to buy a mattress.

How much can I expect to save during sale events?

This will depend on several different factors. The type of sale and the time of the year will all have an impact on how large of discounts retailers are willing to give. Expect anywhere from 10% to 60%.

How much should I expect to pay for a mattress?

You can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $4,000 for a queen mattress. The price will depend on the brand, quality, and type of mattress you buy. Innersprings, in general, are the cheapest to buy, while latex mattress are the most expensive.

Can I buy a used mattress instead?

Buying a secondhand mattress is probably not a good idea, no matter how good the deal. Unless you are absolutely certain of the mattress’s history, you never know what you’re going to get.

There’s the potential for bed bugs. Traces of those tiny bloodsucking insects don’t often show up until you’ve slept on a mattress overnight. And by then, it’s too late. Also, mattresses don’t last forever. As such, you can never be certain of the remaining lifespan in the used mattress you’re buying.

So, What Is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?

If you’re looking for the best deal when buying a mattress, there are several things to keep in mind. As a general rule, if you don’t mind shopping online, doing so can cost you less than if you go to a physical store.

At the same time, there are certain months in the year where retailers will slash mattress prices. Holiday weekends or major holidays are a good time to go mattress shopping.

There are also other strategies you can use to save on a new mattress. The key is to do your research and time your purchase for the right time of the year. This will give you the confidence to know you’re getting a good deal on the mattress you want.