The Ultimate Guide to Buying the Perfect Mattress in 2023

As you already know, a great mattress is an investment. And for good reason—it's meant to last for several years. When you buy a new mattress, you're also investing in yourself and your well-being. After all, if you're getting the recommended eight hours of sleep every night, you're spending about a third of your life in bed. So, how do you know when it's time to treat yourself to a much-deserved mattress—and how do you invest in a mattress brand you'll love sleeping on for years to come? We rounded up everything you need to know before buying a new one to make it a total cinch.

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• When Is It Time to Buy a New Mattress?
• Which Mattress is Right For You?
• Buying a Mattress Online
• The Best Mattress Brands To Shop

When Is it Time to Buy a New Mattress?

If you're making any big lifestyle changes in the near future—for instance, if you're moving in with a partner and want to upgrade to a bigger mattress, or you're shopping for a grown-up bed for your child—it's obviously time to make the purchase. But if you're just generally not feeling your current set-up or wanting to upgrade, first consider how long you've had your mattress and how it's holding up. Which brings us to...

How Long Should a Mattress Last?

If it's been over a decade since you got a new mattress, it might be time to switch. Experts agree that mattresses should last around 10 years—sometimes even more, especially if it's a high-quality product and you take great care of it over the years. But in general, you want your mattress to last for at least seven to eight years, preferably ten. (Here are some mattress care tips to help yours last as long as possible.)

That said, regardless of how long you've had your mattress, you should evaluate what shape it's in—how it looks and how it makes you feel—as the primary indicator of whether or not to get a new one.

Signs Your Mattress Is Worn Out

Linda Klein, president at Charles P. Rogers, tells House Beautiful there are a couple of major signs to look out for.

• You're not being supported the way you used to be. "You'll see that your hips are sinking, and your shoulders and head aren't being held up properly," Klein says. "You're no longer getting the alignment you need." Klein notes that this does happen more quickly with all-foam or all-latex mattresses, which is why she recommends that most people choose a hybrid mattress.
• The top layer has broken down, and the mattress has lost its responsiveness. No matter what kind of mattress you have, if the materials on the top layer of the mattress have broken down, leaving it feeling thinner and less comfortable, it's time for a replacement. You might even see lumps or a body impression where you typically sleep. With foam and latex mattresses, you'll know it's time if they no longer respond or bounce back when you put pressure on them, too.

Which Mattress Is Right for You?

Before you buy a new mattress, consider the following. Each factor impacts the kind of mattress you'll buy, in both construction and material. Once you figure out what you want and need, factor in your budget to help you narrow down your options, then choose what feels right!

Your Sleep Position

Your sleep position is the number one thing to consider when you're buying a mattress because different sleepers need different kinds of support to sleep well and stay properly aligned.

• If you're a side sleeper: Side sleepers have what Klein calls "negative spaces" (essentially, gaps between their side and the bed due to the curves in their body) that need to be filled in by their mattress in order to maintain proper alignment. For this reason, side-sleepers will generally prefer and do better on a mattress that's less firm, something with a softer surface, and a little more give.
• If you're a back sleeper: Since back sleepers don't have those negative spaces to fill as side sleepers do, they generally prefer a firmer mattress with a flatter, harder surface—that's why some back sleepers might not even sleep with a pillow, for instance.
• If you're a stomach sleeper: If you sleep on your stomach, you'll want a mattress that's softer and less firm, much like a side-sleeper. Responsiveness in the mattress's surface is key for stomach sleepers so that your body doesn't put too much pressure on your lower lumbar and keeps the correct space between your vertebrae, Klein says.

From there, it's all about comfort. If you're a side sleeper who prefers a little added firmness, go for it. If you're a back sleeper who doesn't like your mattress to be quite so hard, get one with a softer top.

Your Body's Individual Needs

There are a number of bodily considerations to factor in when you're thinking about getting a new mattress. Do you tend to sleep hot and your current mattress doesn't do much to help prevent night sweats? Do you have an injury or chronic pain condition that affects your sleep? Think about how you snooze—beyond the position you sleep in—and make sure you're taking all your preferences into account. It might mean you'll want to stick to a specific material, construction, or firmness level to make sure your mattress really supports your unique body.

Your Partner and Their Needs

If you live with a partner or are moving in with a partner, it's essential that you wind up with a mattress that makes you both happy. If the two of you have similar sleeping styles and needs—maybe both of you sleep on your sides, but one of you sleeps hot—then you'll have an easier time finding a mattress and you can figure out what will suit you both. (In that example, a mattress with a softer top that's made with a breathable material will likely be your best bet!) If you have vastly different sleep styles and needs, you may want to look into a bed that's adjustable on both sides so that you can both sleep comfortably through the night and feel satisfied with your mattress purchase.

Buying a Mattress Online

Buying a mattress online might seem scary, but more and more brands are selling online—and more and more customers are turning to online shopping to find the right mattress for them. The best thing you can do? Read reviews—and use them wisely—and do your research.

• Look for unbiased reviews. Jeff Chapin, co-founder, and chief product officer at Casper, says to look to unbiased sources like Consumer Reports for reviews. "You should look at how the reviewed mattresses rate relative to who you are, like body size, how hot you sleep, etc.," he explains. "You should also look for objectively-compared information, like what tests were used to say one mattress has better ergonomics, durability, or thermal properties." As Chapin points out, the best review sites will share their methods, so focus on reviews that discuss the product, what it's made of, and how it makes customers feel over reviews that talk about things like cost or delivery.
  
• Know what you're buying. Reviews aren't the only thing to consider. "It's also important to know that you’re purchasing a great product overall," says Ali Bowen, senior brand manager at Stearns & Foster. "When it comes to mattresses, how they are made and the materials used should be a key part of your decision. The materials that make up a mattress on both the outside and on the inside do impact its comfort and durability in the long term, but what makes a mattress comfortable should be considered alongside other key factors."
• Consider customer service. Of, course, customer service is key when you're buying anything—online or not. Klein suggests shopping at brands that have experts on-hand to answer your questions and who can help you find a mattress that really suits your needs. If you feel good about the brand, have gone through the reviews, and understand what the mattress is made from and how that will impact your sleep, you should be able to find a mattress you love—even if you've never tested it out in person.
  
• Give it time. In the event that your mattress purchase doesn't work out for you, most brands offer a long trial time and a generous return policy. Just don't decide your mattress is a bad fit after a night or two before you make any returns, especially since returning a mattress (which can't be resold) isn't the most sustainable option. Allen Platek, Tempur-Pedic's vice president of new product development, advises taking full advantage of the time you have before the return policy is up because it takes time to adjust to a new one. "Mattresses are like a new pair of shoes," he says. "You have to break them in."

If you're ready to start shopping, check out some of our favorite top mattress brands below. And remember, finding the perfect mattress for you is just that: finding the right one for you. As clinical sleep psychologist Dr. Shelby Harris, PsyD tells House Beautiful, buying a mattress "really is so personal—there is no one-size-fits-all mattress." And finding the "sweet spot," she notes, is sometimes about finding the perfect combination of mattress and pillow. "It really is trial and error, and there's no one best mattress for everyone."