Because buying a place to rest your head shouldn’t leave you with a headache.
The mattress-in-a-box, order online craze has lots of us jumping for joy.
But online shopping for your next cozy sleep isn’t without its complications, especially with so many options to choose from.
We help you narrow the search to make the best decision for your budget and needs, including perks and drawbacks for the top online mattress brands on the ‘net.
Browsing for your next mattress buy is easy, for sure. But it doesn’t come without potential drawbacks, however much they’re part of any online purchase.
Pros to buying a mattress online
Save time and money. Driving around town to hit your local mattress warehouses won’t guarantee you’ll find that bed of your dreams. You might even save on the overhead costs of a physical store by going with a digital provider.
Get a risk-free trial. You can’t lie on your mattress before you finalize your order. But nearly all online mattress companies offer a risk-free trial period — some as long as 100 days. Hate how it feels? Get your money back, no questions asked.
Free shipping and returns. To compete with traditional mattress retailers, most online brands offer free, hassle-free delivery and returns, often with free pickup.
Easy setup. If you’ve never ordered a mattress in a box, there’s no need to worry about setup. Most mattresses are easy to unpack for easy sleep.
Cons to buying a mattress online
You can’t try before you buy. Even with a risk-free trial, some of us prefer the chance to sit, lie and bounce on a mattress before bringing it home. With online shopping, that’s just not an option.
Limited firmness options. While a few online brands offer a range of firmness levels, the majority do not. If you’re picky about how soft or firm your mattress is, you might find yourself taking advantage of a return policy or two.
Returns might be a chore. Luckily, many online brands are so sure you’ll love them, they’re willing to haul away your return for free. Still, in the meantime, you’ll need to store your old one and arrange for a pickup day.
When you buy a mattress online, you’ll run into different makes and materials that include:
Foam. Today’s foam mattresses are a lot different from your traditional memory foam. Most materials now offer special cooling and comfort features to reduce heat and those extreme body indents characteristic of older foams.
Hybrid. A hybrid mattress typically comprises a combo of foam layers and coils to offer the best of both worlds.
Latex. Latex mattresses are made of a type of foam rubber created through a specific manufacturing process, including Talalay and Dunlop.
Pros and cons of each mattress type
Mattress Type
Pros
Cons
Foam
Reduces motion transfer
Contours to your body
Can retain heat and “sleep hot”
Hybrid
Provides the benefits of both foam and coils
Can be a solid choice for a wide range of sleep positions
Choosing the right mattress from among online brands doesn’t have to be complicated, as long as you’re willing to do a little legwork before making your final decision.
When shopping for a mattress online, keep these top tips in mind:
Know your must-haves. What’s the most important feature for you — is it staying within a budget? How about comfort or durability? Know what you absolutely can’t sacrifice, then mold your decision around those qualities.
Compare shipping and return policies. Trial periods vary by brand, so learn how long you have to sleep on your mattress before giving it the green light. Shipping costs also vary, especially if you live in Alaska, Hawaii or Canada.
Get in touch with support. How quickly did you get help? Were reps able to answer your questions? Were they friendly? Answers can really matter down the road if you need help, want to make a warranty claim or require a return.
Buying a new mattress can be daunting. After all, you might be sleeping on this big purchase for the next 10 years or so.
But a new wave of online mattress brands means you’ve plenty of options to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Our advice? No need to rush. Read through reviews and guides like this one, weigh costs against your budget and you’ll eventually narrow down the mattress of your dreams.
Frequently asked questions about buying a mattress online
Using innovative tracking and packaging, most online mattress retailers don’t require a signature on delivery. If you’d prefer to be home when your mattress arrives, contact the company directly to arrange a specific delivery date and time.
No. Most mattresses from top online retailers work with just about any foundation or platform you already have, so no need to buy a new one — unless you want to, of course.
Most online mattress retailers donate returned mattresses to charities and nonprofits, rather than return them to stock for reselling.
No. Many boxed mattresses do not recompress once opened, but most companies offer free pickup without the need of repackaging your return.
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finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
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