How Much Should You Spend On a Mattress?
Besides helping you sleep better, purchasing a new mattress can help reduce stress, relieve pain, and even improve your ability to concentrate. However, working out how much you need to spend on your new bed can be tricky. You can settle for cheaper models as little as $150 or spend on luxurious mattresses over $5,000.
But the big question is, how can you determine which quality mattress is worth its price? Which mattress price should you settle for to enjoy the top level of comfort you crave? And how can you differentiate between 'bargain deals' and higher quality mattresses?
Well, that's what we'll find out today. Here's everything you need to know about purchasing a new mattress, including the aspects that matter the most and factors that can determine the mattress costs.
Setting up a Budget
As you already know, mattresses’ cost varies greatly depending on where you shop and your comfort needs. So, the first thing you need to do before making a purchase is set a budget. And while doing so, you must keep in mind that more expensive doesn't necessarily mean a better-quality mattress.
You don't have to break the bank to get a good night's rest. In fact, some of the expensive mattresses on the market come with extra specs that you don't even need. On the other hand, you can find budget mattresses that cost as low as $100 but end up getting less durable materials with them.
So, How Much Does a Good Quality Mattress Cost?
Generally, two things make your new mattress worth its price: the quality of its materials and the comfort you get from it. Of course, comfort is subjective, and as a result, an illusion of the primitive mind. However, it'd be fair enough to describe a comfortable bed as soft, breathable, long-lasting, and supportive.
As you might assume, high-quality materials tend to offer these feelings, whereas cheaper materials often bring about uncomfortable feelings (heat buildup, uneven support, etc.). By now, you should already have a clue of where this is going.
A good quality mattress, such as the Puffy Lux bed, is typically made from high-quality materials, and such materials are expensive. Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all price for quality mattresses.
Because of the many variances in price from a few things like material to material and mattress size to mattress size, it can be challenging to find a basic grasp of price ranges to expect. That's why it's beneficial to compare price ranges for most mattress categories.
Types of Mattresses
Although innerspring beds are still in the market, foam, hybrid, and latex models have taken over the industry for durability and comfort factors. When questioning how much you should spend on a new mattress, you should know the mattress type that will fit your comfort needs. That way, you'll be able to acquire the knowledge needed for the final purchase decision.
Foam Mattress
Foam mattresses, such as Idle Sleep beds, are rapidly becoming popular for their supportiveness and comfort. The most common foam mattresses are memory foam. You can also find polyfoam, which comes at a lower density and price. Thanks to its viscoelastic material, a memory foam mattress can easily contour to your body for support, and then bounce back to its original state.
As it conforms to your body, it works to alleviate pain and pressure points. Since the foam absorbs motion effectively, it’s ideal for those sleeping with their partners. You can comfortably get in and out of your bed, or toss and turn with little impact on your sleep partner.
Unlike the original memory foam mattresses, which we found to sleep hot, mattress companies are now adding cooling gel layers and latex to memory foam mattresses. Your foam mattress should come with a high-density base layer that assists with spinal alignment. This layer also adds durability to the overall bed.
Latex mattress
Just like memory foam, latex is a supportive foam. However, it tends to be more bouncy and doesn’t retain heat as much as foam mattresses. Being bouncier makes latex mattresses less comfortable for sleepers who want to experience the hug feel that foam gives.
If you’re looking for an all-natural alternative to foam mattresses, you may want to give latex a try. However, keep in mind that latex beds can come from synthetic material or rubber trees.
Both synthetic latex and natural latex are hypoallergenic, thus resistant to dust mites and mold. But the natural option is more durable than synthetic materials.
Hybrid Mattress
Generally, the combination of coils with latex or foam is what makes hybrid mattresses. A hybrid bed is a perfect option for sleepers who still want the feel of innerspring mattresses along with the conforming comfort of latex or foam.
These mattresses feature individually pocketed coils encased by latex or foam. The coils help you move freely in bed with minimal bounce. What’s more, they prevent you from feeling like you’re sinking into the bed as foam and latex might.
Average Queen Size Mattress Prices Comparison
Shopping for a new mattress can be as frustrating as shopping for a car. As earlier mentioned, looking at higher-end and pricier models doesn't always mean you'll be purchasing a better mattress. Let's take a look at the average mattress prices of a queen size bed for the most common mattress types;
- Futon mattress: $450
- Memory foam mattress: $900
- Innerspring mattress: $950-$1,000
- Air mattress: $1,500
- Hybrid mattress: $1,650
- Latex mattress: $2,000
What Should You Expect in Each Price Range?
Free - $200
Here, you’ll either end up with a used mattress or a very low-quality one. Although used beds are viable options, especially for sleepers on a tight mattress budget, there are a few things you need to consider before making a purchase.
For starters, a used bed may already feature existing sag and be nearing the end of its useful lifespan. Plus, you’ll never really be sure where it has been. And finally, purchasing a used mattress means you won’t get a warranty. That said, you’ll be better off with a mattress topper instead, which can help you improve the quality of your old mattress.
$200 - $600
This price range features good quality full and even queen-size mattresses. You’re likely to get either innerspring or memory foam beds. But remember, the larger the mattress size, the lower the quality. In other words, a king-size mattress within this price range is likely to be of low quality. Not to mention, mattresses in this range will likely have a shorter lifespan of about five years.
$600 - $900
Now you’re starting to get into top-quality mattresses. Expect to find either thick memory foam beds or high-quality synthetic materials like latex.
And since most new-name and even famous brands are in this range, you have countless reliable options to choose from than other price ranges below this. A new mattress at this level can last up to ten years.
$900 - $2,500+
If you’ve been looking for premium mattresses, this is the price range to stick on. This level features excellent lifetime warranties, world-class materials, and countless options from latex to hybrids and classic memory foam beds. Some of the popular brands in this range include GhostBed and Nolah Sleep mattresses.
Most mattresses in this range are medically backed, thus ideal for sleepers with sleep-related health issues. They often come with a 10+ year warranty, with most companies offering a lifetime warranty.
Factors Affecting How Much You Should Spend on a New Mattress
Is it time to replace your old mattress? Depending on the type of mattress you have and how much you've used it, you might be due for an upgrade, especially if the mattress is ten years old or more. But before you go shopping, you need to familiarise yourself with different aspects that determine how much you could spend on your mattress.
These factors will help you figure out what’s worth your money:
Material and Construction
Perhaps the materials used and the craftsmanship for designing the bed are the biggest cost factors for new mattresses. Hybrid beds (feature both innerspring coils and foam) are usually more expensive than all-foam options. Beds made from specialty materials like latex are also pricier than standard foam mattresses.
Remember, even all-foam beds can vary in price, based on the kind of foam used. For instance, poly foam is relatively inexpensive, whereas memory foam and copper-infused memory foam add to the overall cost.
Mattress Size
This one’s pretty logical: the bigger your mattress is, the more materials used in making it. Therefore, the pricier it will be. Smaller mattresses, such as Twins, typically cost around half as much as larger (King size) beds. Also, less popular mattress sizes, like Twin XL and California King, are slightly pricier than similarly sized beds in more standard sizes.
Online vs. In-store Purchase
Although shopping for a new mattress in a brick-and-mortar store may seem logical (since you can test the mattress out), you’re likely to spend more money going this route. Purchasing a mattress online is always cheaper.
Unlike mattress stores, online brands don’t have to deal with brick and motor expenses, allowing them to offer affordable prices. So if you want to save money, you can consider shopping for a mattress online.
Extra Costs You Should Be Aware Of
While the initial purchase price for your mattress is the biggest expense, paying for it once doesn’t end there. There are some additional charges that you should budget for before you finalise your purchase:
Warranty and Return Terms
Most new beds feature warranties and most mattress companies also provide return policies. Read the fine print as the details of these policies directly affect the initial cost, with longer warranties adding some expenses to your initial purchase price. Also, note that some manufacturers arrange for pick-ups when making returns, while others may need you to send the bed yourself.
Delivery and Setup cost
Depending on where you purchase your bed, you may have to pay for the cost of shipping, delivery, and even setup. If these charges aren’t included in the initial purchase price, expect to pay about $50-$100 on shipping and more if your brand offers white glove delivery. Most online brands offer free shipping, so ensure you shop around before settling for a specific company.
Old Mattress Removal
Again, some manufacturers arrange pick-ups for your old bed. Companies may include the additional charges in the white-glove in-home delivery service, or you might have to pay extra cash to get rid of your outdated mattress.
Foundations and Accessories
Beyond the initial purchase price, you must consider the cost of any additional accessories you’ll need. For instance, you may need to get a new bed frame for your mattress, a box spring, or even small things like bed sheets can add up.
The cost of these items tends to scale with the bed size you purchase. Therefore, expect King Accessories to cost more than Twin. Likewise, accessories for odd sizes, such as California King, are significantly more expensive than standard sizes.
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, mattresses these days come in an impressive variety of prices. You can find both crazy expensive and ridiculously cheap models. However, the mattress type and features you need will determine the amount you should spend. Think about your needs, consider how long you want to stay with the same mattress, and shop around for the perfect mattress for your budget.