How Long Does a Mattress Last? (Full Guide)

When buying a new mattress you expect longevity as standard. However, not all mattresses are created equal. The durability, quality, and comfort level of your new mattress are determined by the quality of materials used and whether it was designed using modern sleep research techniques.

Let’s talk about mattress life expectancy and how to choose a quality durable mattress.

When Should You Replace Your Mattress?

Sagging

When your mattress starts to feel like a rollercoaster it’s time for a change! A sagging mattress is the result of body indentations. As you enjoy your cozy sleep style every night, your sensitive pressure points, hips, and shoulders, sink into the mattress. Depending on the material of the mattress it will instantly spring back or keep the indentations of your body. You’ll typically find a sag in the shoulder and hip areas which will create potholes that you slide into. A sagging mattress could bring you insomnia and restless nights from the lack of pressure relief and spine alignment.

Need a quick or temporary fix? Learn how to fix a sagging memory foam mattress here.

Excessive Stains or Smells

Stains happen on a mattress, especially if children and pets are running around. Without a mattress protector, your sweat, saliva, and dead skin cells stay on the mattress and harbor bacteria. If these stains are left alone, they can make your mattress smell bad. If you wear a T-shirt every night and never wash it, the fabric will become smelly and weak from lack of care. Cleaning your clothes and cleaning your mattress keeps them fresh and could help to prolong the lifespan of the item.

Learn how to clean your mattress here.

Bed Bug Infestation

A bed bug infestation can happen no matter how clean your home is. These little bugs can live in mattresses, cushions, pillows, and your linen closet. They crawl out of your mattress as you sleep and bite your skin. Waking up with red marks on your body could be a sign of bed bugs. When faced with a bug infestation the best option is to fumigate your home and replace your mattress.

Lump, Bumps, Squeaks, and Creaks

Some things go bump in the night but your mattress should not be one of them! If your mattress is lumpy in places, the material within could be bunched up. If your mattress is squeaky, the springs might be close to retirement. Pressure relief is vital to a comfortable mattress and impossible to achieve on a lumpy, squeaky mattress.

Discomfort

An uncomfortable mattress brings more than just restless nights. If you’re experiencing mattress discomfort you could be at risk of developing insomnia, aches, and pains. Prolonged spinal misalignment from an uncomfortable mattress can bring lower back and neck pain. Daily activities can be impacted as you’re battling a lack of sleep along with daily aches and pains.

Prolonged spinal misalignment from an uncomfortable mattress can bring lower back and neck pain.

How Long Should a Mattress Last: Mattress Types

The average life of a mattress is around ten years when you’re talking about a well-made quality mattress. The lowest quality polyfoam (which is similar to a couch cushion) may not have the longevity to work as a full-time mattress. It may be more suitable in a guest room. However, you don’t need to spend $5,000+ on a mattress to find quality and comfort. It’s all about the build quality and materials used.

How Long Do Memory Foam Mattresses Last?

Memory foam mattresses widely range in quality, but a well-made memory foam mattress may last 7-10 years.

How Long Do Latex Mattresses Last?

There are two types of latex mattresses—synthetic and natural—and the latter lasts longer. Natural latex mattresses are usually eco-friendly and hypoallergenic, and you can expect 10+ years of use from a high-quality latex mattress.

How Long Do Innerspring Mattresses Last?

An innerspring mattress requires a little more maintenance than foam mattresses. If they’re flipped every so often, you’ll take advantage of your mattress real estate. Spring mattresses have the potential to wear out sooner than foam as the springs are under constant strain. The springs also have gaps in between and while this beneficial for air circulation, weight distribution could be uneven, leading to discomfort and a short-lived mattress lifespan.

How Long Do Hybrid Mattresses Last?

A hybrid mattress is like an advanced innerspring mattress but topped with contouring foam or latex. With care, the mattress replacement cycle of hybrids is 10+ years.

How Long Do Air Mattresses Last?

Air mattresses typically come out of storage when a guest pops over for a night or two. If you’re using an air mattress as your fulltime bed, you’ll quickly become frustrated by having to inflate it more than once per day. You may go to sleep on a fully inflated mattress but wake up on the floor. An air mattress could last up to 5 years if used on occasion for guests. It is not recommended for full time use.

How to Increase the Lifespan of a Mattress

• Use a mattress protector or mattress topper
• Clean the mattress and around the bed regularly
• Rotate the mattress regularly so you’re using every square inch
• Use a bed frame and keep under the bed clear to allow air circulation

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does it Take Memory Foam to Decompose?

It takes a paper towel 2-4 weeks to decompose, a plastic bottle 450 years, and a spring mattress 80-100 years to decompose in a landfill. Memory foam mattresses contain polyurethane and considered an ‘other’ form of plastic. Therefore, a memory foam mattress will not easily decompose in a landfill and could take 100 years or more.

Can a Mattress Last 20 Years?

It is doubtful that your mattress will last 20 years. A quality mattress typically lasts up to 10 years, possibly a little more if maintained well.

That said, natural latex mattresses are extremely durable and may last well over a decade. However, you'll likely want to replace your mattress before the 20-year mark for sanitary reasons.

Conclusion

A well built and well cared for mattress ought to provide you with up to 10 years of sleep comfort. However, this will come down to the materials used in its constriction, the build quality, and the pressure relief of the mattress.

A mattress without the ability to provide adequate pressure relief could lead to spine misalignment. Sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress over a prolonged period can lead to insomnia and awful aches and pains.

It’s important to remember that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a mattress to feel secure in your choice. There are many affordable and comfortable options out there. Keep in mind that when you buy from a reputable online retailer, in many cases you could get a trial of the mattress to can see for yourself if its the right one for you.

Disclaimer: Nolah does not provide medical advice. All resources on the Nolah blog, including this article, are informational only and do not replace professional medical counsel. Talk to your doctor about any health, mental health, or sleep-related issues.