Mattress retailers offer deep discounts around Presidents’ Day, which can make it a good time to ditch your old bed for a dreamier option. To help you find one you’ll be happy sleeping on for the long haul, here are eight tips from bedding and medical experts on what to ask about and what to avoid.
Don’t ignore what’s inside the mattress
A mattress is a closed box, and unless you figure out what’s inside it, you’re buying blind. Don’t settle for vague descriptions like “premium” foam or “high-quality” coils. Look for memory foam with a density of 3 pounds per cubic foot at the very least; coils should have a gauge (thickness) of around 13 to 15. (For more details, check out our buying guide.) Numbers alone won’t guarantee durability, but they will give you an idea.
Also, as Dominick Azevedo, executive vice president of sales and marketing for E.S. Kluft mattresses, said, “For every feature highlighted, ask: ‘What will it do for me?’” Pay attention to what the sales pitch isn’t saying. For instance, if a mattress maker touts high coil counts but says nothing about the gauge, be suspicious.
Don’t cheap out
“To a certain extent, you get what you pay for,” said Stuart Carlitz, CEO of Bedding Industries of America (BIA), a New Jersey-based mattress manufacturer.
Our recent test of 20 foam mattress models suggests that Mr. Carlitz has a point: Models priced over a thousand dollars had higher-density foams, and our testers found them to look and feel more substantial than the under-$1,000 mattresses. Given that you’ll be using your mattress for several hours each night, over roughly the next 10 years, it’s worth spending the most you can reasonably afford — as opposed to the least you can get away with. That doesn’t mean you can’t grab a deal, however: Our deals team is rounding up the best mattress deals here if you’re looking for a bargain.
Don’t rely on customer reviews
Comfort is subjective. If a reviewer complains about an uncomfortable mattress, all it means is that the mattress feels uncomfortable to them. Unfortunately, that individual review provides little insight into what it will do for you.
However, online comments can help you gauge objective information. For instance, of the 67 reviews for the Casper Essential that we closely analyzed, 24 complained that it was too thin. Such information can help you manage expectations: If you want a luxurious mattress, this model isn’t it.
Don’t go to just any store
A good salesperson provides accurate information and, if a delivery goes wrong, fixes it. So instead of running to the closest store with the largest sale sign, check Yelp for locations that are highly rated for their knowledgeable staff and helpful customer service. Ask friends for recommendations.
“It’s the store that will be selling you the mattress, and not the factory,” said Buddy Delaney, president of Best Mattress in Columbia, S.C. Mr. Carlitz added, “The more legitimate stores insist that a mattress manufacturer provide the staff ongoing sales training as technology evolves.”
Don’t search for vague terms like “best mattress for back pain”
Regardless of what some retailers advertise, there is no one great mattress line for back pain. “Back pain comes in different shapes and sizes. A mattress that’s good for one person may not be good for another,” said Dr. Jonathan Kirschner, a physiatrist at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery.
A 2003 study published in The Lancet reported that those participants who slept on “medium-firm” mattresses experienced less back pain than those who slept on “firm” mattresses. But mattress firmness levels aren’t standardized, so try a range and take your pillow along. Lie in the position you sleep in and ask your partner or a friend to make sure your spine is in a roughly straight line. If it is, and you’re comfortable, you may have found the right mattress.
Don’t expect much from the warranty
A 10-year warranty doesn’t guarantee a good-as-new mattress for a decade. “It covers only a manufacturer’s defects,” said Terri Long, whose family has owned Long’s Bedding & Interiors in New York City since 1911. Such issues might include collapsed borders or sprung springs, which normally happen within the first year of ownership. But most sagging and body indentations are considered normal wear and tear. That’s why it’s so important to find out about the density of the foam and the gauge of the springs, and to glean what you can about durability from owner reviews.
Don’t rush
Instead of dropping by a store after work, shop on a weekend when you have plenty of time and you’re fresh, said Robin Azevedo, CEO of the San Francisco Bay Area — based McRoskey Mattress Company. After all, a bed of straw can feel good if you’re exhausted.
Once you’ve narrowed your options, lie in the positions you sleep in for 15 to 20 minutes, noting whether your spine is aligned and your hips and shoulders are cushioned. You may need a month to know whether you like your mattress. If yours comes with a trial period of 30 or more days, take advantage of that. “It’s not just about how you feel when you lie down,” said Ron Rudzin, CEO of The Saatva Company. “You have to feel good when you wake up.”
Don’t buy just because it’s on sale
When a seller promises a one-day-only discount, keep your wits about you. If you’re not sure about the mattress, don’t buy it.
“Pressure tactics are a sign that the salesperson doesn’t have your best interest at heart,” said Matthew Connolly, executive vice president of Bedding Industries of America. “If they’re willing to give you a deal today, they’ll give you a deal tomorrow, assuming the mattress isn’t a floor sample.”
And if you miss the Presidents’ Day sale, don’t worry: Stores often continue deals for another week and then find some other reason to have a sale. “There’s always something going on,” Dominick Azevedo said.
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A version of this article appears at Wirecutter.com.