Durability

If you want a bed that’ll stand the test of time, it’s important to know what contributes to mattress durability. The average mattress lasts between 7 and 10 years, but some mattresses have a lifespan that’s years shorter — or longer — than that. Understanding the factors that impact durability can help you gauge how long a specific mattress may last.

While we test a variety of mattress features in our Test Lab, durability is something we have to approximate, because we test mattresses over weeks and months, not years and decades. We look at specific features to predict each mattress’ likely lifespan. 

Below, you can learn more about what mattress durability entails, and how we calculate a durability score based on mattress construction.

What Is Durability?

Durability broadly describes how long a mattress provides a supportive and comfortable surface to sleepers. However, various elements of a mattress may age at different rates over time.

A mattress’ durability includes how long it retains its original shape and structure, maintains its original firmness level, provides adequate support, remains safe to use, and offers the same amount of “hug” or “bounce” it originally did. Durability can also refer to how long a mattress is used before it develops rips, loose threads, indentations, or other wear and tear.

Unless you only want a mattress to last a few years, durability matters. Once a mattress begins wearing out, it might not be able to support proper spinal alignment, and uneven or poor support can cause pain or discomfort and impair sleep quality. While more durable mattresses tend to cost more, they can save you money over time, as they don’t need to be replaced as often.

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What Factors Influence Mattress Durability?

How long a specific mattress lasts largely depends on the type and quality of materials found in both its comfort layers and support core, as well as its overall construction.

Materials and Quality

Often, a mattress’ ability to last primarily comes down to what materials are used in its comfort layers, which tend to wear out first, as they’re usually made with the most comfortable — but least durable — materials. 

Latex comfort layers are the most durable, and within that material type, Dunlop tends to outlast Talalay. Polyfoam tends to be more durable than memory foam, though, in all types of foam, high-density materials last longer than low-density. 

Support core materials also impact durability. Pocketed coils tend to last the longest, though their durability varies, depending on the gauge of the steel and the way the coil layer is constructed. Thanks to its firmness and density, Dunlop latex is the next most durable support core material. While polyfoam is the least durable support core material, it lasts longer if it’s high-density.

When shopping for a mattress, it’s important to consider the interplay of all of the bed’s layers. While there are general guidelines for how long latex, foam, and hybrid models last, their durability ultimately depends on the durability of each layer within.

Mattress Construction

In addition to materials, mattress construction also plays a role in durability. A strong support base can help ensure a mattress retains its original shape rather than sagging. Both a support base and solid edge support can keep the layers of a mattress aligned and reduce the risk of sagging edges over time.

Comfort and transition layers tend to wear out earlier than support layers, primarily because they’re usually softer and less dense. For this reason, the thickness of the comfort and transition layers can influence mattress durability. Sagging and indentations that have developed in a mattress with a thin comfort system may be more noticeable, as the sleeper will be more likely to sink down and hit the support core.

Typical Lifespan by Mattress Type

Although it’s best to consider every layer in a mattress, as well as its construction, when identifying durability, there are also general guidelines regarding how the average mattress of each type is likely to last.

• Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses tend to only retain their shape for between 5.5 and 6.5 years, not because of material quality, but because of construction. When coils are interconnected and cannot be compressed individually, sagging may develop over time.
• Hybrid: Hybrids better demonstrate the durability of steel coils, lasting 6.5 to 7.5 years on average. Assuming a hybrid has durable, low-gauge coils, the mattress’ comfort layers may ultimately determine how long the bed lasts.
• Latex: Latex mattresses tend to last the longest, with a 7.5- to 8.5-year lifespan, on average. The firmness and density of latex, especially Dunlop, contributes to the longevity of this type of bed. However, some latex mattresses also contain polyfoam, which could shorten their lifespan.
• Foam: All-foam mattresses are generally supportive and comfortable for 6 to 7 years. At that time, they may develop permanent body indentations that make sleeping less comfortable, especially in models that contain memory foam comfort layers.
• Airbed: Airbeds tend to last 8 to 10 years when taken well care of. Since these mattresses have digital technology integrated into them to allow for control of elements like firmness and temperature, the tech must continue working for the bed to maintain durability. For this reason, opting for an airbed that comes with a long-term warranty can increase the longevity of the bed.

Care and Use

The manner in which a mattress is used and taken care of also impacts its durability.

• Body Weight and Usage Patterns: Sleepers of heavier body weights may wear out a bed more quickly than lighter sleepers, especially if it contains soft foam layers. Sleeping on a bed nightly will also wear it out faster than sleeping on it occasionally. Sleep position may influence the pattern of wear, such as where indentations eventually form.
• Foundation/Bed Base: When a mattress isn’t kept on an adequate foundation, it may be more likely to sag or develop internal damage. Also, many mattress warranties are void if a mattress has been lying on the floor, stored upright, or kept anywhere other than on a firm, flat foundation or bed base, due to the way these positions negatively impact the bed structure.
• Care and Maintenance: Taking good care of a mattress can help it reach its maximum lifespan. Manufacturers recommend flipping or rotating certain mattress models every few months to avoid sagging or indentations. Using a mattress protector, vacuuming and spot-cleaning a mattress as necessary, and keeping it dry and in a well-ventilated room can also help.

How Do We Calculate Our Durability Score?

Because we can’t test out each mattress for several years or a decade, we calculate our durability score using a variety of factors we can assess in the short-term. We consider the type of mattress, as well as the materials it contains, and how durable they are on average. We also consider characteristics of different material types. For example, high-density foam is more durable than low-density, and tall, thick coils are more durable that short, thin coils.

Similarly, we notice the structure of a mattress, including whether or not it has a supportive or reinforced base. Similarly, we factor in edge support and the construction of the mattress’ cover. A mattress is less durable when its layers may shift within the cover or its edges are likely to begin sagging.

Finally, we also collect data on the real-world use of different mattresses from product reviews, related news, and observational studies. We notice how long customers say their mattresses lasted, as well as how many report having submitted a warranty claim. Together with the mattress materials and construction, this information paints a picture of how long a particular mattress may last for the average sleeper.