New mattresses currently on the market can range in price from as little as $150 to $5,000 or more. Some top-tier luxury mattress models, such as smart beds and airbeds, can even exceed the 15,000 mark. Much like your budget for other home accessories, your mattress budget entirely depends on your unique sleep needs and financial situation.
However, it can be quite challenging to get a basic grasp of the price range to expect or to know exactly how much you should spend on a mattress due to the variance in price from material to material and size to size. In this definitive guide, we'll help you determine the right mattress budget by discussing the average costs by mattress type, factors influencing mattress prices, what to expect in different price categories, and unforeseen costs associated with purchasing a new mattress.
According to current industry trends, you should look to spend between $400 - $2000 for an average quality mattress. Any less and you may have to replace your mattress within a shorter timeframe, any more and you're looking at a luxury-grade mattress with extra features to justify the higher price point.
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Mattress Price Options
Mattress prices can be divided into 4 general ranges: cheap, budget-priced, average-priced, and luxury. Depending on how much money you're willing to spend on a new mattress, you can expect to afford different mattress types, from foam to latex to hybrid.
Cheap Mattresses
It's worth noting that many mattresses in this category have few comfort layers and less quality materials and tend to be less durable. Unlike average-priced mattresses, which can last up to 10 years, these models might last 5 years or even less. What's more, you're highly likely to experience the effects of a bad mattress when you sleep on these mattresses over time.
So, when looking for an affordable mattress, it's crucial to research the materials in the mattress and know what roles they play. For example, innerspring mattresses are likely to be cheaper alternatives than pocketed coils, but they're less responsive and are not good at relieving pressure. Traditional memory foam mattresses are also cheaper than copper-infused foam models, but they tend to trap excess heat.
Budget Priced Mattresses
Budget-priced mattresses can vary in price from about $1,000 to $1,500. Although you might find cheaper alternatives, they probably won't last long. You might end up spending more cash replacing or repairing them. Fortunately, keeping these mattresses clean and maintaining them can play a vital role in extending the life of your mattress. You can also use pads and protectors to make the most of your investment.
Budget mattresses usually comprise either all-foam or innerspring layers. While they're more affordable, you can still find high-quality models, especially if you pay attention to detail and browse selectively. Here, you may first want to search for the best cheap mattresses online to get an idea of mattress brands that sell less expensive, high-quality mattresses.
Average Priced Mattresses
Most average-priced mattresses cost between $1,500 and $2,000 for a queen-size model. Here, you'll notice mattresses with high-quality materials and additional features.
For instance, if you often sleep hot, you can find an average-priced mattress with gel or copper infusions to keep you cool and dry at night. Eco-friendly and natural materials will also start appearing more in beds in this price range. You'll also find mattresses with longer warranties and sleep trial periods, which helps boost shoppers' confidence when making a purchase.
Luxury Mattresses
Mattresses over $2,500 in a queen size are often considered luxury and high-end.
Generally, mattresses in this price range aim to take your sleep experience a notch higher with quality materials that alleviate back pain and offer ultimate plushness and body support. They boast many comfort layers, making them viable picks for heavier sleepers weighing 250 pounds or more.
Most smart beds on the market also fall into this category. They come with high-tech features where sleepers can control the mattress settings with an app on their smartphones. These features allow for a personalized sleep experience for co-sleepers and combination sleepers.
Note: Just because a mattress has a high price tag doesn't mean it's suitable for your unique needs. Some luxury beds aren't worth the money. That's why it's always wise to research factors like materials and construction, trial period, and warranty information before making such a big purchase.
Factors Influencing Mattress Price
Below are some of the most significant factors contributing to the overall price of new mattresses.
Material and Construction
Some mattress materials are much more expensive than others. For instance, a traditional innerspring mattress with a coil system costs less than a hybrid model with a foam comfort system and a coil support system. What's more, mattresses made of natural materials are often less expensive than those featuring synthetic materials.
Check out our table below for a summary of the high-end, low-end, and average costs of various mattress types in queen-size models.
Innerspring Mattress
Innerspring beds are among the least expensive mattresses on the market, thanks to the simplicity of their construction process. However, it's worth noting that cheap innerspring mattresses are also among the least durable beds. Most of them may only last between 2 and 5 years.
Innerspring mattress pricing varies greatly depending on whether the coils are pocketed or interconnected. An innerspring mattress with individually wrapped coils is more expensive than a traditional model that contains continuous coils.
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Latex Mattress
Part of what makes latex beds more expensive mattresses than all-foam models is the work involved during latex sourcing and processing.
Generally, the type of process used to convert latex into foam will determine how much you'll spend on your mattress. Unlike Dunlop latex, Talalay latex is light and less dense, making it a cheaper alternative for budget shoppers needing latex mattresses. Whether you opt for a natural latex or synthetic latex mattress will also determine how much you spend on your latex mattress.
Foam Mattress
The type of foam used to construct an all-foam bed will determine its price, as some foam layers tend to degrade faster than others. You should expect to pay more for mattresses that incorporate specialty foams, such as gel-infused memory foam mattress layers, into the comfort system. The use of high-density memory foam layers will also increase the product's price.
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Hybrid Mattress
Since hybrid mattresses combine foam layers and a pocketed coil system, they tend to have a higher price tag than other mattress types. Hybrid mattresses have been specially designed to offer the perfect balance of pressure relief, comfort, and support. This means manufacturers had to spend a lot of time and money combining the best qualities of an innerspring and an all-foam mattress, which makes the final product more expensive.
Mattress Type | High End | Low End | Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Hybrid | More then $2,500 | Less then $1,800 | $2,000 |
Latex | More then $2,500 | Less then $1,800 | $1,600 |
Airbed | More then $2,500 | Less then $1,800 | $2,000 |
Foam | More then $2,500 | Less then $1,800 | $1,800 |
Innerspring | More then $2,500 | Less then $1,800 | $2,000 |
Airbeds
Unlike simple air mattresses, most airbeds are expensive as they boast highly technical designs with remotes and controls to deflate and inflate your mattress on command. An airbed's price will also rise if its comfort system features high-quality foam layers, such as memory foam or latex.
Mattress Size
The price of a new bed will scale directly with its size. Small mattresses, such as Twin and Full models, usually cost about half as much as King and Queen size mattresses. Less popular mattress sizes, such as Twin XL, also come with a hefty price tag compared to similar-sized beds in more traditional sizes.
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Online vs. In-Person
While most shoppers prefer buying a mattress in brick-and-mortar stores where they can test it out, going this route is often more expensive than purchasing a mattress online.
Most local mattress stores sell their beds at markups of up to 900%. This means shoppers are paying about $3,000 for a bed that costs $300 to make. Online retailers boast lower overhead costs, meaning they can sell their mattresses at much smaller margins.
Additional Costs for a New Mattress
While the initial buying price of a new mattress is the biggest expense, it's not the only one. Below are some additional expenses you'll want to take into consideration.
Foundations and Accessories
The first thing you'll want to budget for beyond the initial mattress price is the cost of foundations and any accessories you'll need. As with mattresses, the cost of these items tends to scale with the size you buy. This means a queen-size mattress accessory will cost significantly more than a twin-size model. Similarly, odd mattress sizes, such as California King, are a bit challenging to find accessories for, so you should expect many options for these sizes to be expensive.
Shipping Costs
Most online mattress brands currently ship their products for free to residents in the contiguous United States. However, shoppers located somewhere offshore, like Hawaii or Alaska, may have to pay for a percentage of or the entire shipping cost.
White Glove Delivery Services
There's usually only one problem that comes with purchasing a new bed: getting rid of your old mattress. Fortunately, some mattress brands offer free White Glove delivery, including in-home setup and used mattress removal. Others will charge about $100 for the services.
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Warranty and Returns
Some mattress warranties and return policies come with hidden charges. For instance, some companies need shoppers to pay shipping fees during a warranty claim. Others even charge restocking fees per product return.
Whether the warranty is non-prorated or prorated will also affect its associated costs. Prorated means that mattress owners will have to pay extra charges for replacing or repairing their mattresses. On the other hand, non-prorated means that shoppers won't be required to pay additional costs for replacing their defective beds other than shipping fees. That said, make sure you go through the terms and conditions of each policy before making a purchase decision.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you know what to expect in different mattress price categories, you can comfortably decide what works well with your budget, sleeping style, and unique preferences. Keep in mind that a top-quality mattress can have a significant impact on your overall well-being.
So, it's totally worthwhile to save up and spend more on a reliable mattress that will be comfortable and serve you for many years to come. Rather than cutting corners, consider shopping during holiday sales, and you might get lucky and land the mattress of your dreams without breaking the bank.