How to Buy a Mattress Online

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.

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:

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:

• Delivery: Some retailers and manufacturers offer full-service delivery on mattresses, which includes moving the mattress into the buyer’s house and assembling it. Other mattress providers will limit this service to front-door delivery.
• Return Charges and Policies: The return and refund fees for online mattress sellers are usually lower than those of brick-and-mortar stores. Many direct-to-consumer companies will arrange to remove the mattress as is from your home and transport it at no extra cost. Some retailers, however, will require you to box up the mattress before it can be picked up and shipped.
• Additional Charges: In most cases, purchasing a mattress online will not incur any delivery fees or state sales tax ? but it’s important to read the fine print just in case.
• Trial Period: Since testing out a mattress in-person may not be an option when you buy a mattress online, many retailers and direct-to-consumer companies offer generous trial periods ? two to three months, in some cases. During this period, you will be able to return the mattress if you are not satisfied and receive a full refund without extra charges.
• Warranty: A mattress warranty may last anywhere from two to 25 years. There are many warranty-related factors to consider, such as shipping costs and prorated/non-prorated coverage. Please visit our mattress warranty guide for more information.

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.

• Be wary of mattress review sites. Some mattress review sites can be quite helpful. They feature authentic customer reviews and product rankings generated through feedback and market research. However, some of these sites are owned by mattress retailers and other companies with a vested interest in product sales. The rankings on these sites are often biased, and designed to highlight more expensive brands in order to drive up profits for stakeholders. For example: a website known as ‘Best Mattress Brand’ is owned by the One Mall Group, which is affiliated with the manufacturers of Amerisleep and Astrabeds mattresses. Always take these rankings with a grain of salt or, better yet, avoid them completely and refer to unbiased sources instead like our mattress product database.

• Always check the specs: Most mattresses sold online are better than store-bought models in terms of composition, durability, and overall quality. However, you should check and double-check the product specifications of any mattress sold online to ensure that all of the important components are included. For more information on specs for different products, please visit our mattress search engine.

• Think twice before buying a mattress on classified ad sites. Many people sell mattresses on personalized ad sites like Craigslist or Overstock.com. These mattresses are often much cheaper than models sold through retailers or direct-to-consumer companies. In most cases, however, you (the buyer) will be responsible for shipping and/or transporting the mattress to your home. The warranty will also be voided as soon as the mattress changes hands. Additionally, mattress quality may be an issue and returning or obtaining a refund may be difficult, if not impossible. If you see a classified ad for a mattress you would like to buy, try to arrange a visit to the seller’s house in order to perform an in-person inspection.

• A word about compression: For easier shipping, most direct-to-consumer mattresses will be compressed and/or vacuum-sealed. High-quality foams and coils are designed to return to their original shape after the mattress is removed from its packaging. However, keeping a mattress compressed or sealed for longer than two to three months can permanently damage the foam’s shape retention. Check the website to make sure your mattress won’t be compressed until a day or two before it ships and contact a site administrator if this information is not readily available.

Benefits of purchasing a mattress online include the following:

• Purchasing mattresses online is more convenient and less time-consuming than in-person shopping.
• Mattresses available online are usually sold at a lower price than models in brick-and-mortar stores.
• Most online retailers and direct-to-consumer companies provide full product specs on each mattress; this information can be more difficult to find in a store.
• Many in-store mattress salespeople will pressure you into buying more expensive models or unnecessary extras, but this does not occur online.
• Online mattress sellers usually include free delivery, and you will not need to be at home when the delivery is made. In contrast, mattress stores are less likely to offer free delivery and will typically require you to be present to supervise the assembly.
• Online mattress sellers normally offer lower return fees than their brick-and-mortar counterparts.
• Even though you must visit a store to test out different models in-person, the satisfaction rates for online and brick-and-mortar mattress shoppers are nearly identical.

In addition to the pros, here are a few cons of buying a mattress online, rather than in a brick-and-mortar store.

• You will not be able to test out the mattress unless you visit a store.
• Unlike mattress stores that offer full-service delivery, most online retailers and direct-to-consumer companies only provide front-door service. This means you will be responsible for moving the mattress inside and assembling it.
• With few exceptions, online mattress sellers will not remove your old mattress for free. Some companies, such as Saatva and Wright, will provide this service for an additional fee.
• Some mattress websites feature ‘customer service chat windows’ that connect you with sales personnel. However, most sellers do not offer personal customer assistance. This means you must conduct your own product research.

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.

• Our mattress buying guide offers a comprehensive database of information on different mattress brands and types. Use our product comparison tool to see how different models stack up in terms of price, composition, special features and other important considerations.
• Once you’re finished reviewing mattresses on Tuck.com, we’ll direct you to the website and product page of the model you select. This allows you to purchase the mattress directly from the company.
• Please reach out to us if you need any help searching or paying for a mattress on Tuck.com. Simply fill out our online contact form, and we’ll be happy to assist you via email, telephone or online chat to ensure you get the help you need.

Curious to learn more? Discover the best mattress to suit your needs by checking out our mattress guide pages below.

• Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers
• Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
• Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers
• Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers
• Best Mattresses for Couples
• Best Mattresses for Hot Sleepers
• Best Mattresses for Back Pain
• Best Mattresses for Hip Pain