Why Are Mattresses So Expensive?

If you have ever been in the market for a new mattress and took a stroll into your local department store or did a quick search online for a new mattress then you may have noticed one thing right off the bat: they are expensive. 

And even though your uncle, cousin, former college roommate, or whoever you may know is trying to give away a used mattress that is in “mostly good condition,” you may be better off buying new anyway. 

Before deciding to shell out the amount of money needed for a new mattress, it is understandable that you would want to know why it is so expensive to buy one. On average, a reputable company’s new mattresses will start anywhere around $300-$500. For some luxury mattresses, however, the price can even reach thousands of dollars.

But what is it that makes these mattresses so expensive?

The answer to this question can vary greatly depending on several different factors. Aside from the retail markup that every product undergoes after manufacturing, many things can drastically influence the price of a new mattress. Down below we are going to break down a few of these factors and offer a brief explanation as to why it is worth paying the price. 

Size

The size of your mattress is going to be one of the biggest factors when determining the overall price. The explanation for this is simple: the bigger the mattress, the more materials needed to make it. 

As you can see, there is a big difference between all of the mattresses, especially when you compare the twin-sized bed to the king. When you consider all the different materials that are required to make these beds, nearly doubling in size can become quite expensive.

Material Type

The type of material that the bed is made out of also plays a big role in determining the price. Some of the most popular are:

• Foam

All-foam mattresses tend to be more durable because they can better maintain their shape. The higher the density of the foam, the more durable the mattress will be. However, high-density foam is more expensive and will likely run up the total cost of your mattress a little. 

• Innerspring

The price of an innerspring mattress will depend on how it is made. Typically speaking, they run at a lower cost than all-foam mattresses but are also known to wear down quicker. If an innerspring mattress has a high number of coils in it, the cost may be slightly higher due to the increased durability. 

• Hybrid

A hybrid mattress is interesting because it combines the top two ideas into one. A hybrid bed will typically be made up of coils and springs while also containing either latex or foam. 

Many hybrid mattresses will also feature taller springs or dual-coil construction in order to obtain maximum comfortability. Due to this, however, the cost of manufacturing the product goes up. 

Features

Many mattresses in today’s world, especially luxury mattresses, can come equipped with specific features that make the user more comfortable and able to get quality sleep. Many beds now have the option of including a temperature control setting to ensure the perfect sleeping environment for you. 

Many beds also possess the capability of leaning up and laying back down at the push of a button. This is most popular within hospital beds.

While some of these features undoubtedly make for a better sleeping experience, many people will decline them due to the price increase that they cause. 

Why Buy New?

It can be tempting to snag a mattress for cheap from a friend or garage sale that you are passing by, but the truth is you are always better off buying brand new. There are several reasons for this.

First and foremost, it is nearly impossible to predict what kind of shape the used mattress will be in. While there is a chance that it could feel almost brand new, there is typically a reason that someone is looking to sell it for cheap. Oftentimes, used mattresses will be ditched after the springs or other materials have begun to wear down, reducing the comfortability and support of the mattress. 

Another reason you are better off buying a new mattress is that it allows you to customize your material so that you are guaranteed to be comfortable in your selection. Once you have the desired mattress type that you prefer to sleep on, it becomes nearly impossible to find a feasible option that has been used before.

If those first two reasons did not persuade you to buy new rather than buy a used mattress, then perhaps this will. When you buy a new mattress, you are ensuring that you are not bringing any unwanted visitors into your home.

Lice, bed bugs, cockroaches, and many other unwanted creatures are known to hide out in used or old mattresses. For this reason, you should NEVER stop and pick up a free mattress that someone has just left outside. 

Conclusion

As you can see, mattresses are expensive due to the amount of materials needed to make them both comfortable and durable. Buying a mattress is an important investment because you will spend a lot of hours sleeping on it. If you used a mattress for exactly 5 years and slept exactly 8 hours on it every night, you will have spent 14,600 hours sleeping on that mattress.

If you break that down a little further, it means you will spend a total of 608 days on your mattress over a 5-year span. When you consider a product having that big of an impact on your lifestyle and overall health, it seems worth spending the extra buck and buying a reliable and durable mattress that best fits your sleeping style. 

If you are looking to buy a new mattress, take a look at our mattress section to find more information on how to choose the right one for you and your needs. We also have a review section if you are looking for more information or insight into a specific brand.