Buying a mattress is an essential financial investment that ensures you can enjoy peaceful, restful nights and wake up feeling refreshed the next day. But once you’ve bought it, how long will the mattress last? Keep reading to find out more!
The average lifespan of a mattress
All sleep experts agree on one thing: the average lifespan of a mattress is 10 and a half years. That’s equivalent to 29,600 hours of uninterrupted sleep spent in your bed! After 10 years, the mattress loses its softness due to repeated and successive pressure, temperature and humidity fluctuations, and natural wear and tear over time. All of this explains why a mattress’s quality deteriorates by 30% over a decade. If you don’t replace it after 10 years, it will take you longer to fall asleep on it, and you’ll lose precious minutes of sleep. Night after night, you’ll accumulate fatigue. In addition, you’ll start to feel your bed partner’s movements more clearly and end up waking up every time they move. In conclusion, adhering to the average lifespan of a mattress is essential for your comfort and sleep.
Greater durability for certain materials
Obviously, your mattress will last longer or shorter depending on the quality you choose at the time of purchase. Latex mattresses (12 to 15 years) and spring mattresses (10 years) seem to offer the best resistance to wear and tear over time.
Natural latex is an elastic and breathable material. Its key characteristics ensure that the mattress will last up to 15 years. Furthermore, choosing natural latex will make it even more durable. Natural latex is naturally dust-mite-resistant and antibacterial. As for spring mattresses, they are equally healthy and breathable, preventing the presence of dust mites. However, they are most often combined with synthetic materials that, on the contrary, promote the growth of dust mites. The lifespan of a spring mattress can be up to 10 years.
A few tips to make your mattress last longer
While the material does affect the mattress’s lifespan, you shouldn’t overlook the other components of your bed—especially the box spring. A high-quality box spring can last for many years. On the other hand, if it’s of average quality, it will wear out more quickly. So, to make your mattress last longer, choose a good bed base. Finally, to keep your bed base in the best possible condition for as long as possible, treat it with care. It will never lose its shape, but it will be susceptible to moisture, which can cut its lifespan in half. Ultimately, a mattress’s lifespan also depends on how often you wash and protect it.
How to Check the Condition of Your Mattress
Does your mattress feel like it's gotten harder? There are some easy ways to check if it's reached the end of its life. Your mattress has reached the end of its life if:
- It sags 10 cm when you lie on it
- You notice that the mattress retains its shape even after you get up
- You feel aches and pains when you wake up
- Your partner wakes you up every time they move
- Every night when you go to bed, your mattress makes strange noises
- You spent the night away from home and slept better
Here are all the signs that it's time to replace your mattress