How Much Should a Mattress Cost?

Mattresses are generally the third-largest investment you make, after your house and your car. You’ll spend roughly 29,200 hours with your mattress, so it’s definitely one purchase that is worth the splurge.

Like cars or houses, mattresses can range from very, very cheap to quite expensive. Unlike houses or cars, your mattress affects your sleep and overall health more than anything else you own. If you wake up on a bad mattress, the resulting back pain, diminished energy, and cognitive impairment you feel affects the quality of your day and everything you do.

How much does a poor night’s sleep cost?

As US News & World Report points out, the costs associated with poor sleep are staggering:

• The cost of a car accident: 30-40 percent of heavy truck accidents are caused by fatigue.
• The cost of medical expenses: poor sleepers are 15% more likely to have a stroke, 48% more likely to have a heart attack, and 75% more likely to be obese.
• The cost of bad financial decisions: you’re more likely to make risky gambles when you’re tired.
• The cost of insomnia: employees with insomnia cost their bosses $3,225 more than their refreshed cohorts.
• The cost of convenience: the fatigued are more likely to pay for help with housekeeping and cooking.
• The cost of caffeine: expect to pay $1,900 a year for that cup of joe to keep you sane each day.

Given this reality, choosing the right mattress is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

What factors go into mattress pricing?

The importance of deciding on the right mattress doesn’t mean you need to take out a second mortgage on your house to afford the quality sleep you crave. Naturally, you want to know you’re getting a great product for a fair price.

Consider the following factors that go into the price:

• Type of Mattress: Mattresses are made out of a wide variety of materials from latex to memory foam to inner spring, hybrid models, futons, and even air! Each material has its own benefits and drawbacks that vary from person to person.  Each type of mattress has a broad price range. So it’s important to compare not only the prices of mattresses generally, but consider which type of mattress material you find the most suitable to your comfort.
• Material Quality : It makes sense to pay more money for the $33,000 E.S. Kluft & Co. Palais Royale, for example – which takes 10 craftsman three days to make out of 2,000 coils and “more than 10 pounds of cashmere, mohair, silk, and New Zealand wool that has been washed, dried and crimped,” according to the Wall Street Journal. They add, “Natural latex foam and certified organic cotton are among the materials used to reduce motion transfer and provide cooling.” They even include a layer of horsehair for added resiliency. Like a luxury vehicle, you do tend to pay more for quality.
• Density: The density of the foam used in a mattress is the amount of Latex, Memory Foam, and Steel used to construct the product. The density of material will determine the cost, durability, and conformability – which, in turn, affects the amount of pressure relief, blood flow, tissue recovery, and support provided by the mattress. Generally, the higher the price, the more “stuff” in the mattress.
• Eco-Friendliness: It costs less to produce a mattress made of synthetic materials than it does to make a mattress from 100% organic materials. US News & World Report cites a report issued by the Specialty Sleep Association which found consumers expect to pay 10 percent more for a mattress with an environmentally-friendly claim.

What are the general price ranges for mattresses?

Nearly every mattress brand carries a range of different offerings so you can find something that aligns with your budget. Generally speaking, the average cost for a queen-sized mattress ranges from $500 to $10,000.

According to Michael Magnuson, CEO of independent review site GoodBed.com, “Most likely, you won’t find good materials that can withstand daily uses for under $1,000.” As he explains to Good Housekeeping Magazine, “For something that you’re going to sleep on every day for 10 years, you want materials that are durable and high quality.”

Most queen mattresses that retail for less than $1,000 will not last very long before having issues with dipping or matting together.

Where can consumers find a good deal on a mattress?

Mattress World Northwest offers great selection, fair pricing and excellent value, whatever your budget may be. When you come to us you can feel confident knowing that every mattress you test will be of the utmost quality, designed to last 10 years or more. Save on shipping costs by shopping local at our Portland, Oregon store, rather than gambling with a product you’ve found online but haven’t actually felt in person.

“If you buy something online and have issues, you’re going to have a real problem resolving it because the cost of shipping a mattress back is prohibitive,” warns Ron Czarnecki, retired mattress salesman and author of the book Shop for Sleep and Survive the Bite. He says not only is it easier to return or exchange a mattress with a brick-and-mortar store, but it’s also the only way to see if a mattress fits your need since not all product reviews are truthful or in line with your preferences.

Compared to big box stores offering mattresses, you’ll find more individual attentiveness with Mattress World Northwest. We give you the time you need to feel the difference between beds without someone hovering over you. We’re not into high pressure sales tactics or financing schemes. We don’t rely on tag descriptions or mere brand recognition to sell. We don’t trick customers into paying more just so we can offer inflated guarantees.

The Mattress World Northwest sleep specialist is knowledgeable about how different surfaces, materials, and constructions affect sleep quality for various types of sleepers – whether you like back, side or stomach sleeping. We can also advise you on doctor-recommended sleeping solutions for conditions ranging from sleep apnea and insomnia to arthritis and lower back pain. You’re not just a number to us. Your happiness and health are truly important to our staff.

The bottom line

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, know what you’re willing to spend and test mattresses in your general price range. Aim for the most comfortable bed at the most comfortable price. For many, the sweet spot for a mattress falls within the $1,500 range, with extras leading to greater comfort moving up with the price.

Beyond $2,000, “you’ll start to redefine what comfort is,” says Omaha World-Herald writer Casey Logan. Remote-adjusted inclines, massage features, built-in speakers – there is no limit to what modern beds can do.

Here at Mattress World Northwest, you can take added peace of mind knowing that you 90 days to test out the bed. If you are not 100% satisfied, stop back in to take advantage of our comfort guarantee, which entitles you to a hassle-free exchange.