There’s a lot to consider when buying a mattress. Size and firmness come down to personal preference. Price comes down to timing.
Our take: If you can wait, buy over a major holiday weekend — with Labor Day or Presidents Day topping the list. Those are the windows when a large share of the market goes on sale at once, rather than a handful of models. Black Friday and Cyber Monday run a close second, with the added advantage of year-end inventory clearing.
If you can't wait because your back can't take another night on your lumpy mattress, skip the calendar entirely and lean on a price guarantee (more on that below).
Here's how each buying window stacks up.
Meet MoneyNerd, your weekly news decoder
So much news. So little time. NerdWallet's new weekly newsletter makes sense of the headlines that affect your wallet.
Holiday weekends
When: Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.
Why: You can find deals throughout the year, but holidays offer widespread sales, says Jody Putnam, chief retail officer at Mattress Firm, which sells online and in stores.
“Most of the time there’s usually a couple beds here or a couple there that will be at sale prices, but at those major holidays, a larger portion of the products in the marketplace will be marked down,” Putnam says.
What to expect: July through September consistently see the highest sales volume. That's according to Mary Helen Rogers, vice president of marketing and communications at the International Sleep Products Association. "Retailers run strong promotions and consumers are conditioned to expect deals during these times," Rogers said in an email interview.
"Long weekends also give shoppers time to visit stores, which still matters," Rogers said.
Online mattress sales keep growing, but most people still prefer buying in a store, association data shows.
Spring mattress sales
When: March or April.
Why: By March or April, new mattress models will typically be in stores. Shoppers can save money by opting for an older model or a floor sample straight from the showroom as retailers make way for newer models.
What to expect: Purchasing a floor model could save you big, but keep in mind that floor models have probably been tested out by other shoppers.
Online deal days
When: Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Why: Watch for deals popping up throughout the year when retailers designate their own “holidays.” Amazon Prime Day typically lands in the summer, followed by Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the fall.
What to expect: Retailers are looking to clear their inventory at the end of the year to make room for new items in January, Rogers said. You might even be able to negotiate a better deal if the timing is right.
When your mattress wears out or stops working for you
When: Your current mattress is seven to 10 years old or your body is telling you it's time.
Why: If your body aches or your needs change, it might be time to purchase a new mattress. There are a few reasons why people decide to replace their mattress, and mattress deterioration is at the top (77%), followed by health and comfort (71%), according to a 2023 report by The Better Sleep Council.
"I was regularly waking up with my back just hurting," said Cody Gough, a content marketing Nerd. "Our mattress was roughly 10 years old, so we decided it was time to replace it."
As a side sleeper, Gough did his research for the best mattresses. Once he narrowed in on a brand, mentioned often on Reddit and other listicle-style reviews, he and his wife decided to buy.
"Price wasn't really a concern," said Gough. "I just wanted to stop waking up with my entire midsection screaming at me." The 120-night sleep trial gave him some peace of mind.
What to expect: Maybe you don’t have the luxury of waiting for a seasonal sale. The general consensus among industry experts is that a 10-year-old mattress is nearing the end of its life, but the exact timing can vary by material and sleeper habits.
How much should you spend on a mattress?
The answer to this question depends on your budget, as well as key factors like the size of the mattress and the type and quality of materials — think memory foam, innerspring or hybrid. You may also need to add a box spring or foundation to your total cost.
On average, people spent $1,021 on a queen-sized mattress, according to that same 2023 Better Sleep Council Report.
» MORE: Find the best credit card for large purchases
What do Redditors think?
We sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on what users look for when buying a mattress and how much they spend. We used an AI tool to help analyze the feedback. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.
Redditors’ budgets vary widely, from $200 to $3,000 and above. But generally, users say that you can find a quality mattress between $400 and $1,000.
When looking for the best value, they consider a few things:
- Durability and longevity
- Support and comfort level for their desired sleep position
- Quality of the materials
- Return policies
The most common complaints were about memory foam mattresses, mainly due to heat retention and off-gassing. Off-gassing is the harmless but unpleasant smell some mattresses emit after taking them out of their packaging for the first time.
If possible, users recommend testing the mattress before purchasing, and shopping only at stores with a good return policy. Local stores might match online prices, some users suggest.
Mattress-buying tips
Keep these money-saving tactics in mind when buying your new bed:
- Judge the price, not percentage. A 50% off tag isn't automatically better than 10% off. If the "original" price was inflated, you can still overpay. Note the final dollar price of the same model at two or three retailers before you decide anything.
- Get a price guarantee. Look for a retailer that will guarantee its price, Putnam says. Some sellers will refund you the difference if the mattress you bought goes on sale within a given period after your purchase. Mattress Firm, for example, will beat an advertised lower price for up to 365 days after purchase, which is long enough to cover at least one major sale period.
- Test it out. Before you pick one, sleep on it. Many sellers offer a trial period. If you take a mattress home and decide to return it within a certain window (sometimes 100 to 120 nights), you’ll get a refund. That’s especially helpful if you buy from an online seller and haven’t felt the mattress first.
- Don't overlook warehouse clubs. Stores like Costco and Sam’s Club carry popular name brand mattresses at a discount. They also run in-store sales that could bring the price down further. Delivery and setup are sometimes included in the price, which adds extra value (and saves your back).
- Look online. You’ve probably watched mattress unboxing videos on social media. Online retailers such as Bear Mattress, Casper and Lull offer convenience and ship their mattresses to you in a compact box. Aside from the novelty, online prices can be competitive.
- Shop store closings. If you prefer shopping for a mattress at the store and still want a great deal, check for store closings in your area. Retailers that are going out of business are typically eager to offload inventory, which translates to savings for you.
Meet MoneyNerd, your weekly news decoder
So much news. So little time. NerdWallet's new weekly newsletter makes sense of the headlines that affect your wallet.
