The benefits of consistent good-quality sleep cannot be denied, everything from stronger immunity, improved heart health, better-regulated blood pressure, improved cellular repair, improved cognition, improved mood… the list goes on!
But ensuring good sleep can be tough, with many different factors involved - including the comfort of your mattress.
If you are restless at night, tossing, turning and waking up in the early hours, it may well be down to the age of your mattress, so it’s worth asking yourself how long you’ve had it and whether it’s as comfortable as it was when you first brought it home.
How do you know if your mattress needs replacing?
There are various signs to be on the alert for that will let you know it’s perhaps time to buy a new mattress, including:
- Visible sagging
- Deep body impressions left behind when you get up
- Waking up with aches and pains that cannot be attributed to anything else
- Enjoying better sleep on a different bed
- Hearing squeaks when you move
- Lumps in the padding or wires poking you when you lie down
- Appearance of mould
- Persistent odours
- Severe allergy flare-ups because of dust accumulation
- How often does the average person change their mattress?
The standard advice for changing your mattress is to do so every seven to eight years… but in reality, how often does this actually happen?
Earlier this year, the Telegraph conducted a (very rough) poll, asking readers how often they change their mattresses - with some rather interesting results!
Trevor Brown and his wife Monica, for example, admitted that they were still sleeping on their marital mattress, which they bought 54 years ago.
Similarly, Phill Reilly told the paper that he still uses the super-king mattress that he bought way back in 1990, explaining that he turns and flips it once a month, its edges are still straight, he feels supported sitting on the side of the bed and he still gets a good night’s sleep.
We rather feel that cases such as these are relatively few and far between, however. While people may not change their mattress exactly every eight years, it’s also unlikely that they’ll wait 54 before investing in a new one!
The key is to check in with how you’re feeling after sleep, rather than being dictated by a specific number. If you suspect that your mattress is getting in the way of good-quality rest, shopping around for a new one could prove transformative.
Is a ten-year-old mattress still good?
Typically speaking, a ten-year-old mattress will be somewhat past its prime, although this does largely depend on how much it’s used. Your guest bed, for example, will likely last longer than your own personal bed.
Remember, however, that even if your mattress looks good on the outside, it can still be harbouring allergens like dust mites (highly likely after a decade of use) and the support it provides you will wane as inner materials start to break down.
Is a 20-year-old mattress still good?
In the vast majority of cases, a 20-year-old mattress will be past it.
By this point, you’ll likely be dealing with degraded support and materials, as well as potential hygiene issues thanks to the accumulation of dead skin cells, body oils, sweat and dust mites.
Do different mattress types have different lifespans?
Interestingly, the type of mattress you go for will have a big impact on how long it lasts.
Open coil springs
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Lasts between three and five years, with the propensity to sag and lose tension relatively quickly
Hybrid & memory foam
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Lasts between seven and ten years, with foam layers breaking down more quickly as time goes on
Pocket sprung
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Lasts between eight and 12 years, with independent coils offering better longevity
Natural latex
- Lasts between ten and 12 years, representing an excellent investment if longevity and durability are your main priorities
How much should you expect to pay for a good mattress?
You’ll find that there are mattresses available to suit every budget, but avoid falling into the trap of thinking that a cheap one will suffice, as you’ll likely find that you have to replace it sooner rather than later. A false economy, if ever there was one!
Budget-friendly mattresses will set you back between £100 and £300, typically all-foam construction, open coil or synthetic memory foam.
While cheaper (and a great option for a guest bedroom), they do typically compress more quickly with daily use. Expect these to last between three and five years.
For a mid-range mattress, expect to pay between £300 and £700, which will get you a great-value bed of high quality, providing you with excellent edge support and deep pressure relief. These mattresses should last you up to a decade.
Anything above £700 is what we would consider a premium luxury mattress, featuring natural fibres such as silk and wool, or boasting medical-grade pressure relief and specialist cooling technology.
However, while you’re sure to appreciate the finer points of these mattresses, their longevity will still be capped and you should consider investing in a new one around the 12-year mark.
Get in touch
If you’re unsure about what kind of mattress would best suit your needs, you can always get in touch with the Midas Beds team for further guidance and advice. It’s an important purchase, after all, and you don’t want to get it wrong!
However, for added peace of mind, we offer a five-year warranty on all our eligible beds and mattresses, so you’re covered in the event of manufacturing faults, frame or base structural failure and significant defects that affect product performance.
You’re also able to take full advantage of our 30-night mattress comfort trial. If you find that it’s not the right one for you, simply get in touch and we’ll arrange a return and refund… so it’s entirely risk-free!