How long do memory foam mattresses last?

The longevity of a memory foam mattress is dependent on the quality of the product and the care taken to maintain the mattress over its lifespan. While a traditional bed will last seven years, a memory foam mattress can have a life of up to 10 or more. A higher-quality mattress will outlast a lower quality alternative, as these typically contain additives that degrade the quality of the foam.

How much are memory foam mattresses?

The cost of memory foam mattresses will depend on the quality of the product and the density of the foam. The price can range from $250 for a cheaper foam mattress to close to $4000 for a higher-quality alternative. This price range puts them at the mid-to-higher range of mattresses available.

Are memory foam mattresses comfortable?

For years memory foam mattresses have been one of those products that purchasers either love or hate because of the unique feel of mattress foam. The properties of memory foam can be very comfortable, using heat and pressure to distribute body weight for an ideal shape. This contour can provide pressure relief in specific pressure-prone points on the body, such as hips, neck, and shoulders.

Are memory foam mattresses hot?

Memory foam mattresses function by taking body heat to lower the viscosity of the foam. This quality allows the mattress to relax and become more flexible, giving the foam a softer feel after you have rested on it for a while. The downside is that foam mattresses can trap heat, especially traditional memory foam mattresses. While there have been advancements to fix this issue, they are generally warmer than other mattresses. As a result, they can cause problems if you're a hot sleeper.

Do memory foam mattresses need a box spring?

Typically, a new memory foam mattress will not need a box spring but always check with the manufacturer's recommendations that come with your specific product. Select manufacturers may require box springs to support the mattress. Specific bed frames, such as platform beds with large spaced slats (+4 inch spacing) and collapsible metal frames, may require a box spring.

How thick are memory foam mattresses?

The thickness of a memory foam mattress matters to the buyer, with purchasable options ranging between 6-and-14 inches. The average thickness of purchased foam mattresses ranges between 10-and-12 inches. Before you buy, make sure your memory foam mattress has at least three layers (comfort, transition, and core), each with at least 2-to-3 inches of foam. Beds with less than 8 inches of thickness may not allow the layers to work appropriately for the weight of an average adult. A mattress of 10-inch thickness is, on average, enough for a standard adult up to 250lbs, with 12-to-14 inch mattresses being preferable for people beyond this range to guarantee comfort and support. The thickness of a memory foam mattress doesn't only relate to the overall height of the foam mattress. The individual thickness of layers in thicker mattresses provides varying degrees of comfort or support that are usually lacking in the thinner alternatives.

Do you need to turn or flip memory foam mattresses? How do you care for memory foam mattresses?

Unless instructed by the manufacturer's recommendations, most modern foam mattresses are one-sided, making flipping unnecessary. When you flip a foam mattress, you bring the support foam up to the top and the comfort foam to the bottom, resulting in a less comfortable and less supportive night's rest. As for turning, the majority of mattresses allow rotation and may benefit from it. Rotating can distribute the wear and tear of use over the foam mattress, reducing stress and potentially extending the life of your product. On average, a memory foam mattress will need a rotation once or twice a year, but check your manufacturer's recommendations for your specific product. When it comes to caring for your memory foam mattress, there here a few things to consider: Rotate (not flip) the foam mattress regularly, following manufacturers' guidelines. This step may not apply to all memory foam mattresses. Avoid moisture by selecting a waterproof mattress cover. This addition not only protects your investment against spills and their associated stains, but it helps keep your mattress fresher, longer. Make sure the bed base is appropriate for your foam mattress. Consider a base with 4-to-6 inch (10-to-15 cm) slats with spacing no more than 2 inches (5 cm). Keep your mattress away from powerful heat sources. These can interfere with the memory foam's performance and may damage the structure. Change your sheets and bedding regularly because body oils, dirt, and sweat can seep through the sheets into the mattress. Washing bed sheets once a week can reduce this and may need to be more frequent in the event your pets sleep with you. Other bedding that doesn't come in direct contact with the mattress doesn't have to be washed as frequently, including duvet covers (1-2 times per month), comforters and blankets (once every 2-3 months), and pillow inserts (once every 4-6 months) Vacuum the mattresses' surface and sides with an upholstery attachment while the sheets are washing.

In-Depth Product Guide

Memory Foam Mattress

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When it comes to mattresses, resilient memory foam has taken the world by storm since its introduction in the early 90s. These mattresses, made of the familiar and versatile polymer polyurethane, are specifically viscoelastic and slowly mold to the body due to pressure and heat. This low-resistance foam ranges in form depending on what compounds and additives are in the polyurethane. These chemicals change the viscosity and elasticity of the memory foam. In this instance, "viscosity" is how long the foam takes to change its shape under pressure, and "elasticity" is its ability to stretch while still returning to its original condition.

A standard foam mattress will have three layers of foam, each serving a different purpose.

Comfort Layers are at the top of the mattresses, designed to promote cushioning and contour. This factor will change depending on mattress firmness. The intent of this section of foam is often to be breathable and transfer heat away from the surface.
Transition Layers are placed between the comfort and core layers and are traditionally firmer than the comfort layer. The foam of this layer is better able to wick away heat from the comfort layer.
Core Layer foam is the foam at the mattress base and is the firmest mattress layer. This layer provides support to the mattress as well as stability through the two additional foam layers.

When exploring which memory foam mattress is appropriate for you, it pays to know a little more about the foam that goes into the mattress layers. Of the beds on the market, there are three primary memory foam types:

Traditional memory foam molds to your body and has the standard three foam layers (comfort, transition, and core). As the memory foam uses your body heat to form the bed to a comfortable fit, traditional memory foam tends to retain the heat, making them uncomfortably warm.
Open-cell mattresses contain memory foam filled with internal pockets that allow for increased ventilation and airflow. These "open-cells" allow for better dispersal of heat at the cost of firmness and support. Many modern foam mattresses have addressed this issue, leading to foam mattresses with both structure and cooling.
Gel foam mattresses are another option to consider. The success of these mattresses comes from filling the foam layers with gel microbeads. This gel will generally contain a "phase-changing" material that will absorb heat from the body and release it, making this one of the coolest mattresses.

Beyond what foams makeup, foam mattresses have a few other features to consider:

The Firmness of a foam mattress will vary, ranging from very soft (1) to very firm (10) on the firmness scale. Suppose you're looking for a more detailed report of firmness. In that case, the Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) measures firmness across each mattress layer, providing individual foam layer scores and a total mattress score.
The Density of a foam mattress concerns how much foam is present in each layer. The metric for this is pounds per cubic foot (PCF). A higher density foam will often hold its shape, elasticity, and support longer than low-density alternatives. The downside is with a higher density is that they typically sleep hotter. If you're a hot sleeper but still want a dense bed, consider a foam mattress with a PCF of 3.0-5.0.
The Thickness of the mattress is the measurement of the mattress side, with thicker mattresses being typically a softer, more supportive option than thinner foam mattresses. Thickness doesn't just relate to the mattress as a whole but also the individual layers (comfort, transition, and core). Traditionally, a foam mattress should contain four inches of separation foam between the mattress base (core layer) and the sleeping surface (comfort and transition layers). This thickness is to ensure good support.

With the knowledge of the various foam mattress types and other features to look for, the final step is to find a mattress with a Certipur-US certification. With this seal of approval, you ensure that your foam lacks select chemicals found to be harmful to both the foam mattress and your health.

While, in recent years, there has been a push to develop more eco-friendly memory foam, the majority of mattresses today are polyurethane. The process of creating these mattresses is energy heavy, producing a decent carbon footprint. In addition, the recycling process of these mattresses is still imperfect, with numerous foam mattresses still finding their way to the landfill. Suppose you're still looking to purchase a memory foam mattress. In that case, a higher quality mattress is likely more sustainable than a lower quality alternative. The reasoning for this is because lower-quality memory foam mattresses often include additives that will degrade the material, shortening the lifespan. These products can potentially cause skin irritation in addition to the standard off-gassing. Off-gassing is common in all memory foam mattresses, releasing VOCs and odors typically gone within 24 hours. These can last longer with cheaper foam mattresses, which have extended off-gassing periods. If you want to ensure your memory foam mattress is safe, look for a Certipur-US certification, which denotes that a foam mattress is free of harmful chemicals.

Memory foam was initially designed in the 1960s for NASA as spaceship seats and seatbelts.