Top Tips for Buying a Mattress

Buying a new mattress is an important investment. Your new mattress will last from eight to ten years, and you’ll (hopefully) spend between six to eight hours per night on it. That’s a big chunk of time! Plus, how well you sleep has a big impact on your health and wellbeing. Here’s how to find the best mattress for you.

1. Decide what you want — and don’t want — in a mattress.

Make a list of what you like and don’t like about your current mattress. Consider the size of the mattress, the construction (foam, innerspring, or hybrid), and the feel (soft or firm). If you aren’t sure what you want in a new mattress, you can try out new mattress construction and advanced technology in-store. For example, if you’ve never slept on an adjustable bed, but think you might like to try it, that’s a mattress characteristic you can easily compare by testing out a few mattresses in person.

2. Consider your future.

Don’t worry, this isn’t an interview and you don’t have to answer the question, Where you see yourself in five to ten years? But it is smart to think about your plans. Will you move? If you do, will you likely have more space or less? If you’ve got your sights set on New York City, maybe a king size mattress isn’t a good idea. If you plan to get married or move in with someone, you might want to consider upgrading to a larger bed.

3. Think about how you sleep.

Your sleeping position makes a difference when it comes to finding the right mattress. Your mattress needs to support your body comfortably and keep your spine aligned. Generally, side sleepers will need a mattress on the softer end of the spectrum than stomach and back sleepers.

You should also consider how “hot” you sleep. Do you prefer cooler room temperatures at night, and do you often wake up feeling overheated or sweating? Mattress technology has advanced so much in recent years that certain types of foams can help regulate your sleep temperature and encourage air flow.

4. Test a few mattresses out.

Once you’ve determined what you want in a mattress, come on over! It’s important to test a variety of mattresses. You can even bring your own pillow to get a true idea of what sleeping in a new bed will feel like. If you share a bed, you should test new mattresses with your partner. That way, you can find out how much a mattress absorbs movement and find something that feels right for both of you.

5. Get advice from the pros.

At Mattress Man, we’ve been helping people get better sleep for years. Our team doesn’t work on commission; we’re only interested in helping you choose the best mattress for you. If you’re looking to buy a new mattress, we’ll help you find the right fit.