Whether we’re looking at articles online about self-care, scrolling through social media New Year’s Resolutions from friends and family, or considering why we’re stressed and cranky, the topic of “getting a good night’s sleep” seems to come up frequently.
Surely, this isn’t a conversation in only my household. The conversation about a new mattress has been going on for a year, and we’ve tried three at this point. Buying a mattress can be a big decision, and honestly, it’s really important.
Quality sleep affects our mood, work quality, and our health. If you’re struggling to get good sleep, but are overwhelmed (like I was) with where to even start when it comes to buying a mattress, this is the article for you!
Even if you think you have the perfect mattress, wouldn’t you love to save money on your next mattress purchase? A quality mattress can run anywhere from $900 to $4,000 or more. Knowing the best time to buy a mattress can save you hundreds of dollars!
Read on to learn the best time to buy a mattress, as well as what to consider before your purchase, and how to find the right one for you!
Why Should I Buy a New Mattress?
Some of you may think, “but my mattress is old and it’s fine”! It may be that you’ve got it just right and don’t think you need a new one, however, there are some important points to think about that may indicate it’s time to buy a new mattress.
You should buy a new mattress if
- Your Mattress is 8-10 years old (or older): For 8 hours every night, you toss and turn in the same spot with sweat, body oils, and skin cells sinking deeper into the mattress as the years wear on.
Even with mattress protectors, the support will wear out, and your body continues to change every decade or so, anyway. The mattress may have fit your body well five years ago, but it may not be the case anymore.
- Aches and Pains are becoming more common: Believe it or not, the body aches and pains that you’re experiencing as you age may not all be from your joints and muscles breaking down – it could very well be from your mattress.
If you’re noticing discomfort in your neck, back, or hips, it may be time for a new mattress. Even if you’re noticing pain in your shoulders or knees, it could be from pressure points and a lack of support.
- A stain or bed bugs have gotten in deep: To be clear, there are newer remedies for treating bed bugs than there were years ago, and an exterminator may be able to help if you suspect you have bed bugs.
But, if your mattress is creeping in age, it may be a good decision to dispose of it properly and get a new one. The same goes if your three-year-old had an accident that soaked in overnight. Assess the damage, then decide if you need to buy.
What Kind of Mattress Should I Buy?
Technology in the past ten years has provided ample options when it comes to buying a mattress, but the list of options and considerations can be overwhelming. How do you decide which mattress is right for you?
Consider these tips for finding what kind of mattress you should buy:
- Can you try it out first? If it’s important to you to be able to try out your mattress before you buy, this may limit the options you have available. Many “bed in a box” types of retailers may not be available in stores.
- Know your Body Type! Understanding the shape of your body and where your weight distributes may help you know what kind of mattress to buy. Do you carry more weight in your hips? Or, do you carry more weight in your chest and upper body? Look for support in those areas.
- How do you sleep? Believe it or not, whether you are a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper makes a difference in the type of support you may need. Make sure to understand whether or not you’ll have the support you need, depending on how you sleep.
- What’s your temperature preference? Are you a hot sleeper who wakes up drenched in sweat? Or, are you in a cold climate and need a bit of good insulation to keep you snug? Various materials hold heat differently, so it’s important to consider this when shopping for a mattress.
- Do you sleep solo or with a partner? If it’s just you, finding a mattress may be significantly simpler than considering the needs of your partner. Also, you may need to think about how the mattress moves when your partner rolls over in the night.
Which Mattress Type Is the Best?
When you’re looking at what kind of mattress to buy, one of the leading factors comes down to the materials the mattress is made of or the mattress type. There are three basic types, but nowadays, the list is expanding with more options each year.
Here are the three basic types of mattresses:
| Mattress Type | Firmness | Considerations |
| Innerspring | Medium to Firm | Uses coils, has been around longer and has a wide range of firmness to choose from |
| Foam | Soft to Medium | Many different types of foam, can run hot, and you can feel less movement through the night |
| Hybrid | Medium | Good for temperature regulation and contains benefits of both types |
Make sure to do some research when you choose your mattress and identify your “must-have” qualities before buying. As for picking which mattress type is the best, it depends on your needs and what you’re looking for.
Important Tips to Consider Before Buying a Mattress
While it’s great to catch a deal on a mattress sale, there are other things to consider before you buy a mattress! There are variables other than price that come into play that may influence whether or not the mattress will work for you.
Here are three questions to ask yourself before you purchase a new mattress:
- Did you measure your bed frame? Don’t make an assumption about whether a mattress will fit just because you think it will. Measure your bed frame and check the measurement of the mattress to ensure it fits!
- Do you need box springs? Some mattresses don’t need box springs, or the price of the box springs are included. Make sure you know whether or not your mattress can be used with a platform bed or if you’ll need to make an additional purchase of box springs.
- What will you do with your old mattress? You need to consider if the company will haul away your old mattress, or if you want to keep it in storage while you try out your new mattress. Have a plan for how you want to handle your old mattress.
Once you have this figured out, it’s time to consider when to buy your mattress.
The Best Time to Buy a Mattress
Once you’ve figured out what kind of mattress is the best fit for you, it’s time to make your purchase! But, there are better times than others to buy your mattress! Why spend more money than you have to when you could save hundreds of dollars?
Read on to learn the best time to buy a mattress!
Holiday Weekends
Holiday weekends are one of the best times to find mattress sales. Whether you see the ads on your local tv stations, sign flippers outside of stores, or solicitations in your inbox, companies like to make it well known that you can save a lot of money on holiday weekends.
Some of the biggest holiday weekends for mattress sales are:
- Martin Luther King Jr Holiday Sales in January
- President’s Day Sales in February
- Memorial Day Sales in May
- 4th of July Sales in July
- Labor Day Sales in September
Take advantage of these times by choosing your mattress type ahead of time, so you know exactly what you’re looking for. Then, when the sales pop up, you can pounce on that great price!
March through May
Mattress companies like to roll out new inventory in June. That means they need to “make room” in warehouses and store floors so that inventory has a place to go. For you, this is a good thing.
Start looking for mattresses between March and May to see what kind of deals you can find, and don’t be afraid to visit mattress stores in person and negotiate a deal! Remember, sales associates often work on commission, and making the sale is important to them.
You may also be able to negotiate more when the Memorial Day weekend sales hit stores, as well.
End of November
Around the time of Thanksgiving, a lot of mattress manufacturers offer sales for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Lately, these sales have started earlier in the week to bait shoppers before Thanksgiving. Take a look beginning early that week to see which mattress companies are offering sales.
Amazon Prime Day
Each July, Amazon offers Prime Day, with businesses offering huge discounts, some of which are time-sensitive. It pays to keep tabs on the mattresses you’re interested in to see if they’re offering a sale for Amazon Prime Day.
While you often can’t see all of the deals ahead of time, looking early and often may mean you can snag a limited offer before they sell out. Keep notes on the best prices you’ve found up until that point, and if you see a better deal, grab it fast!
You Can’t Wait
If you’re having neck and back issues from your current mattress or have moved and can’t take your old mattress with you, waiting for a sale may not be feasible.
It’s better to buy a mattress right away if you have a dire need than to wait months until a more ideal time comes along. Remember, it’s your health!
The Best Places to Find a Good Deal on a Mattress
There are numerous places to find steady deals on mattresses. You can save even more money when they offer a sale or it’s a holiday weekend!
Consider shopping at one of these places for a new mattress:
Discount Warehouse
Warehouse Clubs like Costco, BJ’s, and Sam’s Club have mattresses for sale on their websites and in-store. Some of them may also offer coupons and sales throughout the year on top of their already lower prices.
Another benefit is that they may offer an in-house brand that’s significantly cheaper than competitors, but still great quality. They also have large selections of name-brand mattresses, as well.
Online Directly from Manufacturer
Brick and mortar (i.e. in-house) stores often have additional costs associated with their locations that are not an issue when manufacturers sell directly to consumers. The store requires rent, employees, and transfer costs, all of which are passed on to you.
Buying direct from the manufacturer on their site allows you to bypass some of that cost. Also, they may offer a first-time buyer discount or a coupon if you sign up with your email.
Amazon
Not only does Amazon have their in-house brand “Amazon Basics” making mattresses, but they also have drawn the attention of many manufacturers who know those looking for a deal shop at Amazon, first. You can find thousands of options in just one place!
With so much competition in one place, you may find prices marked down. Check out the major brands, as well as smaller brands to see if you can find the best mattress deal on Amazon.
Going Out of Business and Closeouts
This may pertain more to shops in your area, but furniture or mattress stores going out of business offer huge markdowns to clear their inventory. Keep your eyes peeled for stores nearby, as well as if they have an online presence, and see if you can negotiate further.
While those may be the best places to find a deal on a mattress, don’t forget there are other costs included in buying a mattress! Read on to make sure your budget includes additional costs!
Costs to Consider When Buying a Mattress
When it comes to purchasing a new mattress, there are often other costs associated outside of the sticker price on the mattress. Make sure you include the following options in your budget to keep from overspending on a mattress.
- Is delivery included? Check whether or not the company will deliver the new mattress to your address and if that price is included.
- Do they offer white-glove service? Some companies will hire workers to haul your new mattress inside and set it up properly. This may be valuable if it’s too heavy for you to lift. Consider how much extra this may be and if it’s still within your budget.
- Do they offer refunds? If your company doesn’t offer a refund, you may be out for the whole cost of the mattress if you find it doesn’t work for you. Make sure you understand the circumstances they will provide refunds, if so.
- What are the taxes and fees? Don’t forget about taxes and expect a few fees, ranging from delivery to hauling away your old mattress. This may add up to a hundred bucks or more, so be prepared!
- What is the warranty and return policy? Knowing the warranty and return policy before purchasing. If you’re trying out your mattress but may send it back, understand when they expire so you can get all or some of your money back.
These costs may add up significantly, so it’s important to plan accordingly and make sure you’re not in over your head when buying a new mattress! If a new mattress doesn’t seem to fit in your budget, you may have the option of purchasing a used mattress.
Should You Buy a Used Mattress?
For some people, a new mattress is just more than they can budget. Or, maybe they don’t want to spend so much money on a spare bedroom mattress that may only get used once every two years. If so, there’s the option of buying a used mattress, but should you?
The answer is: it depends! Places like Habitat for Humanity Restores sell used mattresses, but only after sanitizing them, and they won’t accept stained or dirty mattresses.
You can also buy a used mattress from someone you know who had it just past the return date, but it didn’t work out for them. Make sure you always inspect the mattress and never buy mattresses that have been stored outdoors or that you don’t feel good about purchasing.
FAQs on The Best Time to Buy a Mattress
When is the best time to buy a Purple mattress?
The best time to buy a Purple mattress is similar to other brands – around the holiday weekends and in May.
When is the best time to buy a mattress?
When buying a new mattress, consider holiday weekends, Black Friday Sales, and just before new inventory hits stores around May. Memorial Day weekend is also a great time to shop for a new mattress.
Do mattresses go on sale often?
Mattresses do go on sale often, however, the sales can be short and range from a few days to a week.
Which is the best mattress to buy?
The best mattress depends on what you’re looking for. Some mattresses work better than others for side sleepers vs. back sleepers, or for hot sleepers vs. cold sleepers.
What should I consider when buying a mattress?
When buying a mattress, consider the materials the mattress is made of, how you sleep, and other costs such as shipping that are associated with the delivery.
Conclusion
The best time to buy a mattress may indeed be the month of May when you consider inventory that needs to be cleared as well as the Memorial Holiday weekend, however, there are many other great sales throughout the year.
Make sure to consider what you want, first, then find one that needs that criteria within your price range. Don’t forget to check online, and make sure you have a plan for your old mattress!
