How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?

So, how often should you get a new mattress? There is no single answer to this question. Some say that the mattresses must be replaced every 8 years because the mattress "doubles in weight" in that time. The others say, referring to the British Sleep Council, that a mattress must be replaced every 7 years because it can't provide enough support and comfort after this date. In reality, it's neither 7 nor 8 years — as we've said, there is simply no "one answer fits all" kind of thing here.

Right now, we'll discuss this topic in more detail, but that's not all you'll find here. We'll also explain how long should you have a mattress, talk about the average lifespan of a mattress, and explain how to make your mattress last longer.

Heard that "replace your mattress every 7 years" thing? Well, it's probably one of the most widespread mattress stereotypes, and it's not totally true.

It all began with the British association of bed manufacturers (Sleep Council) — they claimed that you need to replace your bed every 7 years based on a survey. This statement is not unreasonable, given that many mattresses, especially the cheap ones, do really wear out after 6-8 years. But at the same time, most expensive mattresses can be used for at least 10 years — getting rid of, say, a luxurious Tempurpedic mattress after 7 years is a little too much. Let's go deeper to understand why 7 years is not a limit set in stone.

Long story short, the survey this statement is based on was NOT actually about mattresses — it was about beds! According to the study (based on 28 subjects!), people buy a new bed because their old bed doesn't feel comfortable anymore. The study also shows that people feel more comfortable when they sleep on their new beds than when they slept on their old beds. Oh, what a science! There is simply no evidence that you need to buy a new mattress every 7 years even in the study the mentioned statement was originally based on — so the myth is finally debunked. But the questions remain — if seven is not a magic number, then what is? How often to replace a mattress after all?

There is no magic number and you should buy a new mattress when it’s time to replace your old one. Here, we’ll talk about 5 signs that show you finally need to buy a new mattress.

1. Your mattress feels uncomfortable. It's about lots of things, actually — if you wake up with a stiff neck or with a stiff back, the mattress needs to be replaced. If you often wake up at night, the mattress needs to be replaced. If the mattress feels much softer (or harder) than before and you feel uncomfortable because of it, it needs to be replaced as well. It's very simple — if it's not comfortable, it must be replaced, that's all.
2. There isn't enough support. If your mattress doesn't provide enough support and spine alignment, you need to buy a new one. The thing is, good support is extremely important, and if your old mattress is not supportive anymore, this can lead to poor sleep and even to health problems.
3. The mattress is very saggy. The point here is: sagging is totally ok, all the mattresses sag and sink over time (especially memory foam mattresses). However, if there is too much sagging, it's not recommended to continue using it because it can lead to hip pain and to a sore back.
4. You suffer from nighttime allergies. This can be because of dust mites — they can trigger allergies and even worsen an asthma attack. If there are dust mites in your mattress, you can try to remove them, but that's definitely a sign.
5. The mattress is worn out. Noisy springs, creaking, lumps — all these mean that your mattress is worn out and therefore it needs to be replaced.

So, what mattress type to choose if you want your mattress to last longer? In short, the latex mattresses are the best when it comes to an average lifespan and the innerspring mattresses are the worst ones. Let's explain in more detail.

First, innerspring mattresses — they sag very quickly because of their very structure (the coils tend to weaken with time). An average lifespan of an innerspring mattress depends on the number of coils (the more the better) and it's typically 6-8 years.

Hybrid mattresses typically have a short average lifespan, too. All hybrid mattresses consist of a core spring layer and as you already know, these coils tend to weaken. Cheap hybrid mattresses have an average lifespan of 5-6 years, expensive ones usually last longer (6-8 years).

Memory foam mattresses are much better than the mattresses with coils in terms of longevity — most of them can last up to 9-10 years even if we are not talking about the expensive ones.

Latex mattresses are the best when it comes to an average lifespan. If a 100% organic latex mattress is cleaned and maintained properly, it can last up to 15 years which is just great. However, this only applies to the latex mattresses that contain a firm support layer.

First of all, always use a mattress protector. The protectors help to keep the mattress clean, keep it in good condition, and prevent the dust mites from getting into the mattress — all these things are extremely important if you want your mattress to last longer. What's more, the mattress protector also protects the warranty because any stain on a mattress will lead to a rejected warranty claim (you can find out more about the details here).

Then, make sure the bed base provides enough support to the mattress — if you have a good box spring/foundation, the mattress will not sag too fast and will last more.

Clean and rotate the mattress regularly. The mattress must be cleaned at least once per 6 months (we're talking about deep cleaning). As for rotation, it depends on the mattress — typically, it's specified in the instructions, but most mattresses should be rotated at least every 3 months.