How Long Does a Mattress Last?

A mattress is a significant investment, especially since we spend about one-third of our life either sleeping or attempting to do so. The quality of your mattress can make a huge difference in your sleep quality and life. It can give you restful deep sleep or keep you turning and tossing all night. But how long does a mattress last?

There isn’t a set rule as to how long your mattress lifespan is but a mattress should last for an average of 7 to 10 years. However, this isn’t the case with every mattress. This article goes through the factors that define the longevity of your mattress, the signs you need a replacement, and how to prolong your mattress’s durability.

Factors that Define How Long Does a Mattress Last

We all want a mattress that lasts a lifetime but things like how often you use it, the quality of the mattress, and who is sleeping on it will define how long a mattress lasts. Below we’ve dived into each factor further:

Time Spent on the Mattress

So, how long does a mattress last, exactly? The answer depends on how often you use it. Most of us sleep on our mattresses every night, but if you travel for work or have a mattress in your guest room, it might last longer. Additionally, if you usually eat, read, or watch TV in bed as well as sleep, it’ll affect your mattress lifespan. This is why it’s important to try and limit your activities to just sleeping in bed.

Body Weight & Sleep Positions of Sleepers

The number of sleepers on the bed, their weight, and even their sleeping positions will make a difference in how long a mattress lasts. Your sleeping position will eventually create indentations in the mattress, especially if you’re a side sleeper or a back sleeper. You’ll notice excessive sagging in the hip section of the mattress. For heavy sleepers, mattresses made of low-density memory foam will sink in and sag prematurely. For heavy sleepers, experts usually recommend high-density memory foam or latex mattresses.

Quality of the Mattress

The quality of the materials used in a mattress also affects its longevity. For example, an air mattress or a water bed wouldn’t last past two years, even less if it gets torn. Low-density foam mattresses also have a lower lifespan than high-density foam mattresses because they sag quickly with the sleeper’s shape. A second-class mattress that you bought without really thinking about wouldn’t compare to a luxurious mattress that you invested in. You need to ask yourself - is this mattress sustainable?

How Long Does a Mattress Last?

While the standard lifespan of a mattress can range from 7 to 10 years, this may differ depending on the mattress type. The most popular mattress types are innerspring, memory foam, hybrid, or latex mattresses. Latex mattresses are known for their durability because of their firm build but they’re not the most comfortable mattresses, especially if you suffer from back pain.

This is followed by memory foam mattresses, which have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years because they return to their original shape when the pressure of a body is removed. With proper care, a memory foam mattress can last for a decade or more. Hybrid mattresses combine memory foam and innerspring mattresses, offering the best of both worlds. They have an average lifespan of seven to eight years. However, if you’re above 50, you may need to change your mattress from 5 to 7 years to eliminate pressure points faster and reduce stiffness when you wake up.

Lastly, an innerspring mattress has the shortest lifespan with six years. The coils will lose tension with time or they could break or poke out, which will make the mattress sag and uncomfortable.

How a Mattress Can Affect Your Sleep?

A high-quality mattress should offer comfort, support, and proper spine alignment while you sleep. It should conform to the body and reduce strain on key pressure points. On the contrary, a bad mattress can cause back and neck pain, stiffness, and make you wake up feeling tired and grumpy the next morning. It’ll be uncomfortable and will promote regular body aches - a worn out mattress can also lead to sleep deprivation.

Your mattress plays a huge role in your sleep quality and duration, which will as a result affect your productivity and energy levels during the daytime. Getting restful sleep is important to your mental and physical health.

5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Mattress

Now that we know how long a mattress lasts, let’s find out if you need a new one! A study was done comparing the sleep quality and comfort of men and women who’ve changed their mattresses and beddings. They have no previous history of disturbed sleep. The comparison tracked back and shoulder pain, sleep quality, comfort, and efficiency. The results showed a significant improvement between both cases, such as reduction of pain and stiffness as well as more comfort and quality sleep.

Here are all the signs that it’s time for a new mattress:

• Your mattress has stains or mould: When you notice discolouration or your mattress emits a strange odor, it is time to change it. If you’re sharing the bed with a child or a pet, then bed-wetting is inevitable. A soiled mattress can be cleaned but some stains will stay no matter how hard you try to clean them. If your mattress has mould, it can flare up your allergies as well.
• Your mattress is saggy: Another prominent sign is that your mattress is saggy, which means it has obvious indentations and lumps. This can be a dip in the shape of your body - the mattress didn’t go back to its original shape. This is common in innerspring mattresses, when the coils break and start poking out. If this is the case, your mattress is no longer properly supporting your body or enhancing your spine alignment. Using a mattress topper will temporarily offer comfort but it won’t fix your problem.
• Wake up with back pain or other body aches: A mattress with lumps or bumps can cause back or shoulder pain. If you wake up feeling sore or stiff, you probably need to replace your mattress. This means that your mattress is no longer eliminating pressure points like your lower back, hips, or neck. However, you may also experience body aches if you’re pregnant, gained weight, or you’ve changed your sleeping position.
• Your mattress is infested with bed bugs: Unfortunately, with a bed bug infestation, there is no quick fix. You’ll need to throw away your mattress and disinfect your home to prevent the spread to other areas in your house. To catch this issue early on, regularly check your linens, closets, couches, and bed, for bedbugs. Since they’re hard to catch, you’ll also know you have bed bugs if you wake up with bright red marks on your body.
• Your mattress is triggering your allergies or asthma: Do your allergies flare up when you get into bed? This is a sign that you need to wash your sheets or replace your mattress. Whether it’s dust mites, pollen, dead skin cells, or other allergens, the older the mattress, the worse it gets. A study by Ohio University stated that a typical mattress may have 100,000 to 10 million mites inside - they’re inevitable. If you regularly clean your mattress and wash your bed sheets and pillowcases, you’ll keep your allergies at bay most of the time.

How to Prolong Your Mattress Lifespan

Instead of asking yourself, how long does a mattress last? you can take active steps to preserve your mattress and increase its lifespan.

• Use a hypoallergenic, waterproof mattress protector to keep your mattress clean and protected against dust mites, bed bugs, and other allergens. This will also prevent food or liquid spills from soiling the mattress and creating stains or smells.
• Prevent your mattress from sagging or developing lumps by placing it on a solid mattress foundation or a bed frame with a strong foundation that can support the mattress.
• Flipping your mattress from head-to-toe or from one side to another will keep it from sagging, especially if you sleep on one side of the bed. It is recommended to flip your mattress every two to three months. However, a Puffy mattress doesn’t need to be flipped - it’ll maintain its shape no matter how many nights you sleep on it!

FAQs

How do I know if my mattress is causing my back pain?

You’ll be able to tell if your mattress is hurting your back if you wake up in the morning with back pain or soreness. You’ll also have difficulty sleeping and will be tossing and turning all night. This means it’s time for a mattress replacement.

How long is a mattress good for?

If you’re wondering how long does a mattress last, it depends on multiple factors like how often you sleep on it, the number of sleepers, their weight and sleeping positions, and the quality of the mattress. A mattress can be comfortable for up to 10 years if taken care of properly.

How long does a mattress last?

The average lifespan of a mattress is from 7 to 10 years. However, this is affected by things like usage, the number of sleepers, and the type of mattress. Some mattresses have a higher lifespan than others, like a memory foam mattress or a hybrid mattress.

Conclusion

In the end, knowing how long a mattress lasts shouldn’t make a difference with how you care for it. It can last for 5 years, 7 years, or even a decade. But it’s important to always be comfortable on your mattress as it plays an important role in your sleep quality.

Puffy offers an extended 101-night trial period so you’d be able to test your mattress in the comfort of your own home and ensure it’s right for you.

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