How often should I replace my mattress? Most mattresses are designed to last between 7-10 years. High-quality mattresses will last longer than cheaper models. You can prolong the lifespan of your mattress by taking good care – rotating it, using a mattress protector, and regularly washing your bedding.
HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN YOU NEED A NEW MATTRESS?
There comes a stage in the life of every mattress when it’s time to move on. No matter how much you love your mattress and how many years you have spent together – your mattress will reach a point where it needs to be replaced. So, how can you tell when you need a new mattress?
Some clear signs will tell you that it’s time to wave goodbye to your old mattress. First up is how long you’ve had it. Most mattresses are designed to last between 7 and 10 years.
If you’ve had your mattress for over 10 years then the chances are it’s already beyond its best. Although you may have some very fond memories it may be time to wave goodbye and upgrade to a new model.
SIGNS YOU NEED A NEW MATTRESS
So, how often should i replace my mattress? What are the tell tale signs? Aside from the age of the mattress, there are some signs you should look out for that will tell you your mattress has reached the end of its natural life cycle, see below.
MORNING SORENESS
Have you woken up feeling stiff? Your muscles and body just feel tight. You may have pain down your sides, back, neck, and shoulders? It could be a sign that your mattress is not offering the responsive support it once did.
A new mattress will provide support and relieve pressure on areas where your body weight is concentrated. For side sleepers, pressure relief is needed on the hips, shoulders, and knees.
Also, an old worn-out mattress can contribute to lower back pain because it is not providing enough support to that area. A mattress needs to strike a balance between responsive support and soft cradling comfort.
DIFFICULTY GETTING COMFORTABLE
Are you finding it difficult to get comfortable? Do you find yourself tossing and turning trying to find a comfortable position? This can be a sign that your mattress has become worn out and needs to be changed.
If you find yourself shifting and changing your position while you try to fall asleep it may be a sign that your mattress is no longer performing as it once used to. Investing in a new mattress might just be the solution you need.
OTHER MATTRESSES FEEL BETTER
Have you found that other mattresses feel better? Maybe you were on holiday and sleeping at a hotel. Or, staying over at a friend’s house and noticed a striking difference in the comfort of the new mattress.
If you find that other mattresses are more comfortable than your own, then this is a clear sign you need to change your mattress. Perhaps the clearest sign of all that your mattress is past it is when you notice other mattresses just feel much more comfortable.
VISIBLE SIGNS OF WEAR & TEAR
Are there any visible signs of wear and tear? Take a look for visible tears, stains, holes in the mattress surface. If your beloved mattress looks like it has been on the wrong end of a bar brawl it’s probably time to get a new one.
When you begin to see springs pushing through the surface of the mattress or pieces of foam missing in your memory foam bed, then it’s obviously not going to be able to perform as it used to. If the signs of wear and tear are significant, then it’s time to move on.
YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR SLEEPING POSITION
Have you recently changed your sleeping position? Were you a life-long back sleeper and now find yourself sleeping on your side? Or, vice-versa?
If you have recently changed your sleeping position it is a sign that you no longer felt comfortable in your preferred and natural sleeping position. To get more comfort you have had to adapt to try and get a restful night’s sleep.
This is a clear indication that your mattress is no longer providing the support and comfort it once was. If you want to rediscover the mattress comfort you once had – it’s time to think about changing.
SAGGING SUPPORT
New mattresses provide excellent edge support. This means they will support your body weight right across the surface area of the mattress and all along the mattress edges.
If you have noticed that the edges have begun to sag when you lie on them, this means the mattress has reached the end of its life cycle. It can no longer provide comfort and support along its edges.
Sagging happens when the spring coils at the edge of a mattress weaken. Or, in the case of a memory foam mattress, when the foam begins to lose resistance and becomes soft. When this happens the bed effectively becomes smaller as you need to avoid the sides of the bed.
As the mattress gets older it will begin to sag across the entire surface area – not just the edges. When this happens you’ll notice how a flat hallow will appear in the mattress where the weight of your body lay. This is a very clear indication your mattress is past it.
UNPLEASANT SMELL
If your mattress has lost its freshness and doesn’t smell so good – it’s not a good sign. Nobody wants to smell on an old mattress that smells bad. If you are beginning to notice an unpleasant odor then it’s a good sign the mattress is beginning to show its age.
If you can get a bad smell off your old mattress then so too can your partner. Or even a prospective partner. You don’t want to introduce a new ‘friend’ to your smelly old mattress.
Mold, sweat, and mildew are the main culprits for a bad-smelling mattress. Once it has reached this point it’s difficult to clean and restore the freshness. It’s time to upgrade.
ALLERGIES
If your old mattress is causing problems with allergies then it’s a sign that there may be dust mites or mildew in the materials. Signs of allergies triggered by old mattresses include red and watery eyes, headaches, and runny noses.
If you are prone to allergies you can check out mattresses that are made from natural latex. These mattresses help prevent the build-up of allergens and help you get a more comfortable night’s sleep.
NOISY
Have you noticed that your bed has become noisier than it used to? Innerspring coiled mattresses can become noisy as they get older. As the metal coils age, they can lose their fluid movement and begin to screech with any movement.
Aged coils that are screeching are often past their best. They may not be offering the responsive support they once did and this can lead to an uncomfortable sleep and it’s a sign that it’s time to change your mattress.
And, there are many different mattresses types. Below, we will take a look at ‘how long do a mattress last’ for each mattress type.
TOP 10 MOST COMFORTABLE MATTRESS
Are you in the market for a new mattress? Has your old mattress outstayed its welcome in your bedroom? Is it not performing as it once did? Check out our reviews of the top ten most comfortable mattresses of 2024 – click here.
HOW LONG DO A MATTRESS LAST?
When discussing ‘how often should i replace my mattress’ we need to consider several factors. The expected life cycle of a mattress will be determined by the mattress type, the level of care you give your mattress over the years, and the quality of the mattress. See below for more information.
MATTRESS TYPE
Firstly – the mattress type. Different types of mattresses will have different life expectancies. Most mattresses fall into the categories of memory foam, poly foam, hybrid, innerspring, and latex mattresses. See our FAQ section below for how long each type of mattress will last.
MATTRESS CARE
Secondly, how the mattress is treated. Taking good care of your mattress over the years will prolong its life. Good care includes simple tips like periodically rotating the mattress, using a mattress protector, not eating in bed, and regularly cleaning the bedclothes.
MATTRESS QUALITY
Mattress quality will play a big role in how long a mattress will last. Regardless of the type of mattress you have, you can expect a high-quality mattress to last many more years compared to a cheap low-quality mattress.
HOW DO YOU GET RID OF AN OLD MATTRESS?
When you decide you need to change your mattress you have three options for getting rid of your old mattress. You can donate, recycle, or throw it away. The availability of each of these solutions will depend on the area you live in and the services available in your locality. For more check out How To Dispose of Mattresses.
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HOW LONG DOES A MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS LAST?
A high-quality memory foam mattress will last 8-10 years if taken care of properly. A lower-quality mattress will last less than this. And the cheapest models will struggle to make it to 6-7 years.
Rotating your memory foam mattress will help extend its life. As will using a mattress protector and washing your bedclothes regularly. Memory foam mattresses will show signs of sagging when they begin to fail and need to be replaced.
• BEST MEMORY FOAM MATTRESSES – click here
HOW LONG DOES A POLY FOAM MATTRESS LAST?
In general Poly Foam mattresses are constructed using cheaper foam alternatives than memory foam mattresses. This means you can expect to replace them sooner.
A top-quality poly foam mattress will last 7-10 years. Most models however will need to be replaced closer to the 7-year mark as they begin to sag and offer less support.
HOW LONG DOES A HYBRID MATTRESS LAST?
Most hybrid mattresses last 7-10 years before they need to be replaced. Hybrid mattresses are made by combining more than one mattress type – usually innerspring and memory foam or inner-spring and latex.
Once a hybrid begins to sag and loses its support it will need to be changed. High-quality hybrids will last closer to the 10-year mark and cheaper models nearer the 7-year point. Taking good care of your hybrid mattress over the years will prolong its lifespan.
Want to learn more about hybrid mattresses and how they work? For more information on hybrids checkout:
• WHAT IS A HYBRID MATTRESS – click here
• THE BEST HYBRID MATTRESSES 2024 – click here
HOW LONG DOES AN INNERSPRING MATTRESS LAST?
A traditional innerspring mattress should last in the region of 8 years before its performance levels begin to take a dip. Many factors will influence how long an innerspring mattress will last, including the quality of the mattress and how well it has been taken care of.
A high-quality innerspring mattress that has been well taken care of should last right up to 10 years. Cheaper models will be closer to 7-years, some even below. When the spring coils age they begin to sag and struggle to offer support. You will notice this when a spring mattress begins to lose its distinctive bounce.
HOW LONG DOES A LATEX MATTRESS LAST?
You can expect a high-quality latex mattress to last 10 years, or even longer. High-quality latex mattresses have a better life expectancy than other mattress types.
The latex used in their construction is highly durable and will offer responsive support for many years. There are two types of latex – natural and synthetic. While both are good, natural latex tends to offer more bounce and a longer life expectancy.
In conclusion – how often should I replace my mattress? It depends on a number of influencing factors, mattress quality, mattress care, and mattress type. But in general, most mattresses will need to be replaced every 7-10 years.
READ NEXT
- WHAT IS A MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS? – click here
- WHAT IS A LATEX MATTRESS? – click here
- HOW TO DISPOSE OF A MATTRESS IN NYC – click here
- MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS PROS & CONS – click here
- HOW TO GET RID OF BED BUGS IN MATTRESSES – click here
- BEST LATEX MATTRESSES – click here
- LATEX MATTRESS PROS & CONS – click here
AUTHOR
Mattress Expert
Sarah joined the MCG team in the summer of 2021. She is our in-house foam mattress expert. Whether it’s memory foam, latex foam, or straightforward polyfoam – she has you covered. Sarah has a particular passion for the unique body contouring effects and soft cradling support of latex and memory foam mattresses.
She has over 15 years of experience in the bedding, furniture, and textile industries. Sarah is a native of Arizona where she graduated from Northern Arizona University in the mid-noughties. When she’s not in the office she likes to tend to her apple tree orchard in Flagstaff where she lives with her husband and two daughters.
My mattress is over 10 years old and i didn’t know if it should be replaced. But, yes. Other mattresses do feel better when i sleep on them. I guess it’s time to replace my old mattress. Thanx guys.
Hey there. Do you know I replace my mattress every 5 years. I think it is a good investment. For good sleeps and lots of rest and recovery.
It depends on the quality of your mattress. If you get a good quality mattress it will last longer. If you buy a cheap mattress it will not last long. As they say you get what you pay for.
If you buy a cheap mattress it wont last you long. Especially you put it direct on the bedroom floor with no bed frame. Get a quality mattress and use a bedframe.
We change our mattress every 10 years. It usually begins to sag after 10 years.