Like any other major purchase, a new mattress requires you to make some serious considerations-and how you choose to buy your mattress is one of the most important elements.
In today’s marketplace, mattresses are available online through a wide selection of retailers. Additionally, a growing number of direct-to-consumer mattress companies like Tuft & Needle, Casper, and Nest Bedding offer innovative online shopping experiences designed to be user-friendly and hassle-free.
Mattresses sold online are generally cheaper and of higher quality, but buying a mattress on the web may also carry certain drawbacks compared to visiting a brick-and-mortar store.
This guide to online mattress shopping will discuss the pros and cons of buying a mattress over the Internet. It also includes some expert tips for purchasing a mattress that is affordable, comfortable and supportive for you. You may also visit our comprehensive Mattress Product Database for more information.
From material, firmness, and even how you prefer to sleep, there are a variety of mattress considerations that can make it difficult to choose without feeling them first. Take a look at the following tips if you’re in the market for a new mattress while shopping in the digital world. Let’s start with some key first steps for finding and comparing mattresses on different websites.
Material
The below table outlines the construction, pros and cons of each mattress material. Make sure to check out our guides on mattress support cores and mattress comfort layers to go even deeper into mattress construction.
PRODUCT TYPE | PROS | CONS | CONSTRUCTION | |
---|---|---|---|---|
COMFORT LAYER | Support Core | |||
Innerspring |
Pros
Most popular |
Cons
Wears out over time |
CONSTRUCTION – Comfort
Normally two or less inches of memory or polyfoam |
CONSTRUCTION – Support
Four types including: offset, pocketed, continuous and bonnell |
Memory foam (Visco Elastic Foam) |
Pros
Conforms to the body |
Cons
Can produce ordors |
CONSTRUCTION – Comfort
Minimum of two inches of Visco elastic foam or polyfoam |
CONSTRUCTION – Support
HD polyfoam |
Hybrid |
Pros
Excellent conforming and support |
Cons
Can emit gasses |
CONSTRUCTION – Comfort
Minimum of 3 inches Visco elastic foam, polyfoam or other materials such as buckling column get, micro-coils, etc. |
CONSTRUCTION – Support
Pocketed coil |
Latex |
Pros
Natural options available |
Cons
Costlier |
CONSTRUCTION – Comfort
Latex |
CONSTRUCTION – Support
HD foam and or coils, Latex |
Airbed |
Pros
Adjustable level of firmness |
Cons
Expensive |
CONSTRUCTION – Comfort
Polyfoam (select models), Visco elastic foam (select models) |
CONSTRUCTION – Support
Air Chambers |
Firmness
At the end of the day, you just want to crawl into a bed that feels just right. Whether you prefer a firm or a soft model, your body weight and sleeping position can help you determine the support you need from your new mattress. Take a look below:
Sleeping Position/Weight Class | Side | Back | Stomach |
---|---|---|---|
Lightweight (less than 130 pounds) | Soft-Medium Soft | Medium Soft-Medium Firm | Medium Soft-Medium Firm |
Medium Weight (130-230 pounds) | Medium Soft-Medium Firm | Medium Firm-Firm | Medium Soft-Medium Firm |
Heavyweight (230+ pounds) | Medium Firm-Firm | Firm-Very Firm | Medium Firm-Firm |
Though this table serves as a general guide, firmness preferences are ultimately subjective. We recommend you try laying on mattresses of different firmness levels before purchasing.
Budget
Lack of restful sleep can cost more in your daily life than it ever could on a mattress purchase. While budget is always a concern and a determining factor when shopping for the best bed to lay your head, it certainly should never be the ultimate factor in your decision.
The most popular and usually the most affordable mattress type is an innerspring. If you live with chronic sleep or pain issues you may even consider a memory foam option.
The cost of a new mattress will depend on many factors including size, brand, and composition. Most good-quality memory foam and innerspring models will vary anywhere from $800-$1200. Customized support and comfort models (known as hybrids) will exceed this base. With that said, most mattress prices are often discounted for Labor Day, The Fourth of July, President’s Day and other holiday sales events.
Consider the durability, comfort, temperature control, and even the warranty of your new mattress purchase. When you’re buying a good night’s rest you should focus on getting the most for your money.
Once you’ve decided on the best material, firmness level, and your price range, you’ll want to look into some additional factors, such as trial periods and warranties, that can sneak up on you if you aren’t prepared:
Next, let’s review some red flags to be on the lookout for when buying a mattress online — and what to do if you come across one.
Benefits of purchasing a mattress online include the following:
In addition to the pros, here are a few cons of buying a mattress online, rather than in a brick-and-mortar store.
When it comes to purchasing a mattress online, a little bit of research goes a long way. We’ll leave you with a few final tips for using our site to find the best mattress online.
Curious to learn more? Discover the best mattress to suit your needs by checking out our mattress guide pages below.