Article medically reviewed and fact-checked by Dr. Dimitar Marinov (M.D, Ph.D, RDN) for accuracy.
If you’re trying to find out how long a mattress will last then you’ll get different numbers depending on the website that you visit – with mattress retail sites often exaggerating the figures and trying to lead you to believe that a mattress will last as long as its warranty length.
So how long do mattresses really last?
Most regular spring and cheap polyfoam mattresses can last 5-7 years on average. High-quality memory foam mattresses can last 5-8 years. Hybrid mattresses can last 6-10 years. Organic/natural latex mattresses can last 6-12 years.
The rest of this article reveals how long different types and brands of mattresses will last, as well as the 5 factors that influence how long a mattress will last, 3 ways to make your mattress last longer, and the 5 signs that you need a new mattress.
Alternatively: if your mattress has worn out and you need a new one, have a look at the best new mattresses to buy online here.
Most Mattresses Last 5-7 Years On Average
Mattresses last 5-7 years on average – which typically falls short of the industry standard 10 – 25 year warranty length because lengthy warranties are often used as marketing tools that only cover you in the case of defects and not regular wear and tear.
Instead, the true lifespan of a mattress will vary depending on the qualities of the materials used, the design, how well you look after the mattress, the weight being placed on the mattress, and other subjective factors.
To help ease the confusion, I have listed how long different types and brands of mattresses are expected to last based on their qualities below:
Mattresses Lifespan Varies By Type
Although the average lifespan of a mattress is 5-7 years, some mattresses may last longer or less than this depending on the design of the mattress and the materials used.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how long each type of mattress is expected to last:
1: Regular Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
A regular mattress that’s made from springs and/or polyfoam should last 5 to 7 years.
2: Spring Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
A spring mattress with a continuous, Bonnell, or offset coil support core should last approximately 5-7 years, whilst a spring mattress with individually wrapped pocket coils may last slightly longer due to the way in which it can disperse your body weight more evenly and reduce the effects of wear and tear.
3: Hybrid Mattresses Last 6-10 Years
Hybrid mattresses make for some of the longest-lasting mattresses and may last up to 6-10 years or more with the right care if the materials are of high quality and the mattress is well designed.
4: Foam Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
Regular foam mattresses made entirely from cheap polyfoam are typically some of the shortest lasting mattresses and may struggle to last longer than 5-7 years and still provide a comfortable and supportive sleep surface.
5: Memory Foam Mattresses Last 5-8 Years
Memory foam mattresses that feature high-density memory foam in the upper layer and polyfoam in the lower support core can last up to 5-8 years if the design is good and the materials are of high quality.
6: Latex Foam Mattresses Last 6-12 Years
Mattresses made entirely from latex foam that have a high organic or natural latex foam content are some of the most durable and long-lasting mattresses that you can buy and can last up to 6-12 years or more with the right care.
7: Pillow Top Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
Pillow top mattresses typically last between 5 and 7 years depending on the quality and design of the pillow top, the upper comfort layers, and the support core – with poor quality pillow-top mattresses typically compressing easily, becoming lumpy, and wearing out faster.
8: Box Spring Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
Mattresses with a box spring may last between 5 and 10 years or more depending on the type of mattress being placed upon the box spring (hybrid, spring, foam, etc) and the quality of the box spring frame itself.
9: Air Mattresses Last 3-5 Years (Infrequent Use)
An air mattress that’s used infrequently may last up to 3-5 years, whilst an air mattress that’s used every night or very regularly may only last a few months before it develops a leak.
10: Crib Mattresses Last 3-5 Years
A crib mattress will last approximately 3-5 years with the right care, with crib mattresses that are waterproof and/or are resistant to mold having the potential to last the longest due to their ability to resist degradation more effectively.
11: Futon Mattresses Last 5 Years
A traditional futon mattress that’s placed directly on the floor and used regularly may last up to 5 years, with modern fold-out futon mattresses that work with a frame potentially lasting longer than 5 years if the mattress and the frame are in good condition.
Learn more about futon mattresses here.
12: Horsehair Mattresses Last Up to 80-100 Years
Some of the finest quality horsehair mattresses may last up to 80-100 years due to the exceptional qualities of the materials, with prices starting at a few $1,000s and topping out at the $200,000 mark.
13: Mattresses in a Box Last 5-12 Years
Mattresses in a box can last between 5 and 12 years or more depending on the type (latex, hybrid, memory foam, etc) and the quality of the materials used.
See the best mattresses in a box to buy here.
14: Water Beds Last 5-10 Years
Water beds made from PVC may last for up to 5 to 10 years or more with the correct care.
15: Double Sided Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
Double-sided mattresses typically last approximately 5-7 years depending on the materials and the design – with the double-sided feature not being an exclusive guarantee that the mattress will last any longer than a single-sided ‘no-flip’ mattress.
16: No-Flip Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
No-flip single-sided mattresses can last up to 5-7 years or more depending on the materials used and the design – with the single-sided design not being an exclusive guarantee that the mattress won’t last as long as a double-sided mattress.
Mattress Lifespan May Vary By Brand
Different mattress brands may last longer than others.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how long different brands of mattresses are expected to last:
Beautyrest Mattresses Last 6-10 Years
A Beautyrest hybrid mattress could last up to 6-10 years or more with the correct care.
Casper Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The Casper Wave Hybrid, Nova Hybrid, and Casper Original Hybrid mattresses could last up to 6-10 years or more due to their high-quality foam over coil design, whilst the Casper Original and Casper Element mattresses could last up to 5-8 years or more due to their all-foam design.
Find out if a Casper mattress is worth the money here.
DreamCloud Mattresses Last 6-10 Years
The DreamCloud and DreamCloud Premier mattresses could last up to 6-10 years due to their high-quality hybrid spring and memory foam design.
Eve Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The Eve Original Hybrid, Eve Premium Hybrid, and Eve Lighter Hybrid mattresses could last up to 6-10 years or more due to their spring and foam design, whilst the Eve Premium, Eve Original Foam, and Eve Lighter Foam mattresses could last up to 5-8 years or more due to their quality foam structure.
Ikea Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
Ikea’s spring and foam mattresses could last up to 5-7 years or more.
Layla Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The Layla Hybrid mattress could last up to 6-10 years or more whilst the Layla Memory Foam mattress may last in the region of 5-8 years or more due to their respective design qualities and the materials used.
Leesa Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The Leesa Hybrid and Leesa Legend mattresses could last in the region of 6-10 years due to their hybrid design, whilst the all-foam Leesa Original and Leesa Studio mattresses could last around 5-8 years.
Nectar Mattresses Last 5-8 Years
The Nectar Memory Foam and Nectar Lush all-foam mattresses could last up to 5-8 years or more with the right care.
Find out if a Nectar mattress is worth the money here.
Puffy Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The Puffy Original, Puffy Lux, and Puffy Royal all-foam mattresses could last up to 5-8 years or more, whilst the Puffy Lux Hybrid and Puffy Royal Hybrid mattresses could last up to 6-10 years or more due to the introduction of the coil support core that may increase the durability and further the lifespan of the mattress.
Find out why the Puffy is the best rated mattress to buy online here.
Purple Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The Purple Original mattress could last between 5 and 10 years due to its unique Hyper-Elastic Polymer™ top layer that’s designed for comfort and durability, whilst the Purple Hybrid and Purple Hybrid Premier mattresses could last up to 6-10 years due to the addition of the robust coil core.
Find out if a Purple mattress is worth buying here.
Sealy Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
Sealy’s hybrid and spring mattresses could last up to 5-10 years or more with the right care.
Stearns and Foster Mattresses Last 6-10 Years
Stearns and Foster’s hybrid mattresses could last up to 6-10 years or more due to their durable design.
Tempur-Pedic Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The TEMPUR-Cloud®, TEMPUR-Adapt®, TEMPUR-ProAdapt®, TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®, and TEMPUR-breeze° mattresses could last up to 5-8 years or more due to their all-foam design, whilst the TEMPUR-Adapt® Hybrid, TEMPUR-ProAdapt® Hybrid, and TEMPUR-PRO Breeze Hybrid could last up to 6-10 years or more due to the addition of the robust coils.
Click here to find out if a Tempur-Pedic mattress is worth the money or not.
Tuft and Needle Mattresses Last 5-10 Years
The Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress could last approximately 6-10 years, whilst the T&N Original Mattress, and the Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress could last in the region of 5-8 years or more based on their all-foam design.
Click here to learn more about Tuft and Needle’s mattresses.
5 Factors That Affect How Long a Mattress Will Last
The 5 key factors that influence how long a mattress will last are the design, material quality, body weight of the sleeper, frequency of use, and the firmness of the mattress.
Below is a more detailed explanation of each factor.
1: Design – Hybrid and Latex Mattresses Last Longer
Hybrid spring-latex and all-latex-foam mattresses are typically the most durable mattress designs (approximately 6-12 years), whilst all-polyfoam and regular spring mattresses have the shortest expected lifespan (around 5-7 years), and good quality memory foam mattresses lasting around 5-8 years on average.
2: Material Quality – High-Density Foams Last Longer
Whilst the design of the mattress can be a guideline for the expected lifespan of the mattress, this is only true if the materials used to actually make the mattress are of good quality.
The table below grids the qualities that you should look for when selecting a mattress for maximum longevity:
| Mattress Type | Ideal Qualities |
| Hybrid | Individual pocket coils + high-density memory foam or organic/natural latex foam top layer |
| Spring | Individual pocket coils + high-density foam top layer |
| Memory foam | Minimum foam density of 4-5 PCF |
| Latex foam | High organic or natural latex content (with little or no synthetic SBR latex) |
| Polyfoam | Minimum foam density of 1.5 – 1.7 PCF |
3: Body Weight – More Weight Wears Out a Mattress Faster
The more weight that a mattress is exposed to, the greater the risk that the mattress materials will wear out and thus reduce the lifespan of the mattress.
If you weigh more than 230 lbs then as a general rule, you should go for a hybrid mattress that’s at least 10-12 inches thick with at least a minimum firmness rating of medium (consider medium-firm or firm if you’re a front or back sleeper to help maintain good posture) to guard against excessive material compression and potentially maximize the lifespan of your mattress.
4: Frequency of Use – Less Use Increases Longevity
If you use a mattress every night, then you should expect its lifespan to shorten relative to a mattress of equal quality that’s used less frequently – such as a mattress that you only use occasionally in your guest room.
5: Firmness – A Firmer Mattress May Last Longer
It’s possible that a firmer mattress may last longer than a softer mattress of equal material quality because the increased surface tension may help to guard against excessive material sinkage which may otherwise lead to faster material degradation and a mattress that doesn’t last as long.
However, you should NOT buy a firm mattress just because you think it might last longer – firmness selection is more important relative to how comfortable you’re going to feel in the mattress in the context of your body weight and dominant sleeping position.
Selecting the right mattress firmness isn’t an exact science, but if you’re a front, back, or side sleeper in the 130 – 230 lbs range (around 80% of sleepers) then a medium level of firmness should be comfortable for you.
You may wish to consider a medium-soft, soft, or extra-soft mattress if you’re a lighter weighted side sleeper under the 130 – 150 lbs range for more pressure relief and comfort.
Conversely, if you’re a heavier weighted front or back sleeper over 200 lbs then you may prefer a medium-firm, firm, or extra-firm mattress to help maintain ideal posture.
3 Ways to Make a Mattress Last Longer
To make your mattress last longer, you should rotate it every 3 months, use a compatible frame, and apply a mattress topper.
More details below:
1: Rotate Your Mattress to Distribute the Weight
Rotating your mattress 180 degrees every 3 months can help to extend the life of the mattress because it distributes your body weight more evenly across the surface of the mattress to help lessen the risk of indenting and sagging that could make the mattress uncomfortable and shorten its lifespan.
If you sleep as a couple with different body weights, regular mattress rotation is especially important because it helps to even out the pressure that your mattress is being exposed to over time.
However, unless you have a double-sided mattress, you should NOT flip your mattress because turning over a mattress with a single-side design means that you’ll be sleeping on the uncomfortable support core which can lead to mattress damage and will almost certainly void the warranty.
2: Use the Correct Frame for Even Support
You should always buy a compatible frame to go with your mattress to ensure that the mattress is well supported and therefore less likely to degrade due to uneven pressure being placed on the materials that may cause degradation and a reduction in the life expectancy of the mattress.
Using the correct frame can also cure a noisy mattress, increase comfort, and prevent aches and pains.
3: Apply a Mattress Topper to Cushion Your Weight
Putting a mattress topper with the correct firmness relative to your sleeping style over the top of the mattress can help the mattress to last longer because, in addition to protecting the mattress from spills and stains, it can cushion your body weight more effectively to combat material degradation.
You can also use a mattress topper to temporarily fix a broken mattress with springs poking through the top if you’re not currently able to buy a replacement mattress.
5 Signs That You Need a New Mattress
The 5 signs that you need a new mattress is that the mattress is more than 5-7 years old, the mattress is sagging, you’re waking up in pain, your allergies are worse, and other beds feel more comfortable.
More details below:
1: Age – Mattresses Older Than 5-7 Years Need Replacing
Most mattresses will need replacing every 5-7 years if they are being used every night.
You may be able to continue sleeping in your mattress for longer than this but you should watch out for the other tell-tale signs listed below that your mattress really does need replacing.
2: Sagging – Worn Out Mattresses Lose Their Shape
If your mattress exhibits a sag of 1-1.5 inches or more across the surface of the mattress then this is a sign that you need to replace your mattress because it could be causing bad posture.
More concentrated indents can also lead to pressure points and discomfort.
The video below shows you how to identify a sagging mattress easily:
3: Pain – Worn Out Mattresses Can Cause Discomfort
If you’re waking up with back pain or stiffness in your body that eases off as the day progresses and then returns the next morning, then this is a strong indicator that your mattress has worn out and is no longer suitable for your body type and sleeping position.
In a study where 59 subjects with minor musculoskeletal sleep-related pain who were sleeping on a mattress with an average age of 9.5 years switched to a brand new, moderately priced, medium-firm mattress, back discomfort was significantly reduced (with gradual improvement over 4 weeks) and sleep quality also increased [1].
4: Allergies – Worn Out Mattresses Harbor Allergens
If you are experiencing sneezing, red eyes, and/or a stuffy nose when lying down on your mattress then this could be a sign that allergens like dust mites have built up inside the mattress.
You may be able to resolve this by washing the cover, replacing the sheets, or using a hypoallergenic mattress protector.
But if this doesn’t fix the issue, then it may be the case that the support core is packed with allergens and a new mattress is required.
5: Other Beds Feel More Comfortable
If you notice that you sleep more comfortably in a different bed – such as a hotel mattress for example – then this could be a sign that your mattress has worn out and needs replacing.
Related Questions
Below are the concise answers to some of the questions related to how long a mattress will last.
Do Mattresses Last As Long As the Warranty?
Most mattresses will NOT last as long as the warranty because the average lifespan for a mattress is 5-7 years whilst the average length of a mattress warranty is 10 years.
Will a Firm Mattress Last Longer?
A firm mattress may last longer than a softer mattress because the increased surface tension may help to combat material compression and increase durability which may increase the lifespan of the mattress – especially when used by heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs.
Can a Mattress Last 20 Years?
It’s unlikely that the average mattress will last 20 years and still be comfortable – most mattresses will last 5-7 years on average, whilst some high-quality hybrid and latex foam mattresses may last up to 10 years or slightly longer.
Conclusion: Most Mattresses Last 5-7 Years
Despite the often exaggerated claims made by mattress companies, most mattresses will need replacing after 5-7 years – with some higher quality models potentially lasting for up to 10 years or a touch longer.
Make sure that you don’t judge the potential lifespan of a mattress based on the length of its warranty because warranties only cover certain defects and replacements/repairs will not be issued for regular wear and tear.
If your mattress is more than 5-7 years old, is sagging, is causing you pain, and/or is making your allergies worse then the best course of action is to buy a new mattress.
Click the button below to see the best new mattresses to buy online now.
Sources and References
[1] NCBI – Changes In Back Pain, Sleep Quality, And Perceived Stress After Introduction Of New Bedding Systems. Accessed 2/12/20.
Image Attribution and Licencing
Main image: ‘Yellow and Gray Modern Bedroom’ by ArchIdeaPhoto (Getting Images Pro) – used with permission under the terms of Canva’s One Design Use License Agreement.
Dan is the founder and head content creator at Bedroom Style Reviews.
He has been working as a professional online product reviewer since 2015 and was inspired to start this website when he ended up sleeping on a memory foam mattress that was too soft and gave him backache.
Through in-depth research and analysis, Dan’s goal with this website is to help others avoid such pitfalls by creating the best online resource for helping you find your ideal mattress, bedding, and bedroom furniture.
Dan is a qualified NVQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor with 6 years’ experience helping clients improve their health through diet, exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.
He also holds several college and university-level qualifications in health sciences, psychology, mathematics, art, and digital media creation – which helps him to publish well researched and informative product reviews as well as articles on sleep, health, wellbeing, and home decor.
Dan also has direct personal experience with insomnia, anxiety, misophonia (hypersensitivity to sounds), and pain from both acute and long-standing sporting injuries – he enjoys writing insightful articles around these subjects to help fellow sufferers of such conditions.
Learn more about Dan here.