When is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress in 2026?

Written by Steven Asch, Contributing Writer

Steven Asch

Contributing Writer

Steven has spent the last few years researching the ins and outs of mattresses. As an active athlete for many years, he understands the importance of a quality night’s sleep in maintaining a healthier life.

View Profile

Updated on April 17, 2026

Updated on April 17, 2026

Fact-Checked by Sosha Lewis, Certified Sleep Science Coach

Sosha Lewis

Certified Sleep Science Coach

After Sosha began writing sleep-related content, she knew she wanted to learn more about this important (yet often elusive!) aspect of human health and well-being. She became a Certified Sleep Science Coach to better understand what goes into getting a good night’s rest—including one’s choice of mattress. Sosha now calls upon this training when she tests and writes about beds and sleep accessories, and when she’s consulted for recommendations by publications such as Livingetc.

View Profile

We receive free products to review and participate in affiliate programs, where we are compensated for items purchased through links from our site. See our disclosure page for more information.

If your mattress has started to sag or you’re no longer experiencing the support you need, it may be time to invest in a new one. Despite your mattress being a huge part of your everyday life and restorative sleep being essential to a healthier life, many people endlessly put off buying a new mattress because of budget constraints. However, mattresses are often drastically discounted throughout the year, making even the most luxurious models that seemed excessive and out of reach suddenly accessible and within budget.

According to licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Shelby Harris,  “Having a ‘bad’ mattress can cause discomfort or pain while you sleep, making it more difficult to fall asleep, and increasing the chances of nighttime awakenings. In turn, poor sleep quality has a direct negative impact on your overall health and well-being. The benefits of having high-quality and restorative sleep are significant.”

A quality mattress is a long-term investment in one’s overall health, and at Mattress Clarity, we seek to help shoppers find not only the best mattress for their sleeping needs, but also the best mattress for their buck. In this article, I’ll cover the best times of the year to get a new mattress, with the hopes of helping you save big and score the best deal. Read on to learn more about how to find some of the best mattress deals!

Best Time to Buy a Mattress

Below, I have listed some of the biggest mattress sales of the year. The discounts I listed can vary by year and are estimates (some may be larger).

What is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?

Below, I’ll break down some of the cheapest times of the year and best major holidays to snag a new mattress.

Cheapest Times of Year to Buy a Mattress

The spring season, especially late spring, is one of the best times of year to buy a new mattress. This is because many mattress retailers restock and rotate inventory around this time, and it’s well after Presidents’ Day weekend (one of the best mattress sales events of the year). This turnover period can trigger deep discounts on mattresses as companies prepare for new models, arrivals, and summer promotional events.

Similarly, the late fall or early winter (after Thanksgiving and through December) is also a great time. Black Friday or Cyber Monday generally offers the biggest discounts of the year, with companies following these days with additional discounts to expedite and clear out inventory as they prepare for the next year.

Best Holiday Sales 

Here’s a general list of the top holiday sales events where you can likely expect the best deals on mattresses, especially online mattresses. 

• Black Friday / Cyber Monday
• Memorial Day
• Presidents’ Day 
• Labor Day 
• Veterans Day
• Columbus Day 
• Fourth of July

Is It Better to Buy Online or In-Store?

Like anything in life, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Buying a mattress in-store or at a showroom allows you to actually try out the bed(s) you’re thinking of buying to see how they feel. The downsides of mattress buying in-store include a limited selection of mattresses and a reduced likelihood of a sleep trial.

Buying mattresses online gives you a lot more options. There are thousands of mattresses online, and because of the intense competition, online retailers usually offer some of the best prices. Furthermore, since you can’t test them out beforehand, mattresses bought online generally have generous sleep trials – some up to 365 days – which means you can return the mattress free of charge if you don’t like it.

Pros of Buying a Mattress Online

• Online mattresses typically offer generous trial periods, allowing you to try a mattress risk-free over time to see if it’s right for you.
• Because online retailers cut out the brick-and-mortar middlemen, you will often find online mattresses considerably cheaper than in-person mattress stores.
• Buying a mattress online lets you access a variety of reviews and comments from experts and verified buyers to help guide your purchase, rather than relying on an in-store salesman’s biased opinion.

Cons of Buying a Mattress Online

• Despite reviews and trials, you still don’t get to try out the mattress before bringing it into your home.
• Some mom-and-pop shops may be open to negotiating on bundle deals or discounts in person. There’s not really any price negotiation online, even if it starts out cheaper.
• If you need a mattress that day or are in a hurry, you’ll almost always have to wait a few days for your online mattress to arrive after buying it.

Pros of Buying a Mattress In-Store

• Buying in-store lets you try a mattress in person and potentially get it the same day.
• Haggling for a lower price may be more feasible when buying a mattress in-store.
• Buying in-store may help support local businesses.

Cons of Buying a Mattress In-Store

• Despite being able to ‘try out’ a mattress, it’s unlikely you will know if a mattress is right for you from a quick test. Most mattress retailers suggest a month of use (or longer) before knowing if a mattress is truly going to work for you.
• In-store mattresses typically include shorter trial periods than online mattresses, if they offer a trial period at all.
• Having a pushy salesman may leave you feeling pressured to buy the wrong mattress or make the buying process less pleasant overall.

What to Consider When Buying a Mattress

It’s important to understand what type of mattress best suits your needs before buying one. For example, back sleepers tend to prefer firmer mattresses than side sleepers. Below, I’ll break down the different types of mattresses out there and who they likely work best for. You can also take our mattress quiz or consult our mattress firmness levels guide, which should both help you even further in finding the right mattress for your unique needs. 

Type of Mattress

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses offer a cradle-like support, adapting to your body with responsive plush comfort while allowing you to sink in. They are typically less firm than non-foam mattresses.

Who is it best for

Side sleepers will most likely prefer memory foam mattresses more than back or stomach sleepers. This is because most memory foam mattresses are softer than other mattress types, and side sleepers tend to find more relief on softer mattresses.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses use both foam and coils to deliver a nice balance of support and comfort. Hybrid mattresses are quite versatile due to their construction, making them more accessible to a wide range of sleeper types.

Who is it best for

Hybrids are great for combination sleepers due to their versatile design. Furthermore, their innerspring layer offers airflow throughout the bed’s core, making them ideal for hot sleepers.

Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses tend to be firmer and bouncier than other mattress types. They are also typically made with more eco-friendly materials.

Who is it best for

Heavier sleepers and couples will both appreciate the responsive support and bounce of latex mattresses. You won’t have the ‘quicksand’ comfort sinkage associated with memory foam, but many latex beds are still quite comfortable while delivering excellent support.

Sleep Position

Your sleeping position matters a lot when considering a new bed. 

• Side sleepers will want a softer mattress that cradles them on their side and evenly distributes their body weight to prevent pressure buildup and strain on the knees and shoulders.
• Back sleepers will likely want a medium-firm mattress that offers comfort while supporting spinal alignment and helping prevent back pain.
• Stomach sleepers will want a firmer mattress to keep their spine aligned and prevent their hips from sinking, which can cause pressure buildup.
• Combination sleepers, or people who sleep in multiple positions, will likely want a medium-firm or hybrid mattress. This is because hybrid mattresses offer more versatility, while medium-firm mattresses are typically the most accessible, making them ideal for someone who sleeps in different positions.

Body Type

Your body type is also something to consider when seeking a new mattress. 

• Lighter sleepers (under 130 pounds) will likely want a softer mattress to experience some healthy sinkage into the bed’s comfort layers.
• Average-weight (130 to 230 pounds) sleepers will often prefer medium-firm mattresses.
• Heavier sleepers (230 pounds and over) will, in most cases, prefer a firmer mattress to prevent them from sinking into the bed too much and potentially disrupting their spine’s alignment while they sleep.

Policies

When buying a new mattress, it’s important to understand the fine print, as it’s a long-term investment. Mattress brands will offer “risk-free” trials and “lifetime” warranties, but not all are the same. Some may have hidden clauses and be riskier than others, while some may offer totally risk-free, super-generous trials and warranties. My point is, to avoid buyer’s remorse, it’s always important to know 100% what you’re getting into.

Consider checking out our in-depth buying guide to mattress warranties and other policies to better understand the fine print.

FAQs