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How long will your mattress last, or how long should it last? When we speak with customers, some people think their mattress is old at 7 years old, and others say they have had their mattress only 15 years.
In regard to compression, the firmer the mattress, the longer it should last. Why? It’s just a matter of physics. It’s easy to make something hard that will last a long time. Think of the extremes—concrete for extremely firm, 12” featherbed for extremely soft.
All mattress materials are between those two extremes.
In regard to other qualities, you should also consider materials shifting.
Recommendation:
Latex is no doubt the most durable bedding material that is commonly used. Good latex will last 20 years. Memory foam can be a good material if it is very dense, but over the course of years even the best memory foam will soften.
Some synthetic fibers with various brand names have been developed since 2003. Most manufacturers will tell you their brand is the best, but be wary of them. To some degree below $1500 in queen size you get what you pay for. Above $2500 most prices are inflated. $20,000 mattresses exist, but not because of durability. Know what you are getting for the price.
Avoid:
Cotton fiber anyplace inside a mattress. Do not fall for the very soft pillowtops that are made with lots of fiber. They feel great in a showroom, but quickly create a body impression, and the materials can sometimes shift.
Also avoid low density foams of any kind.
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Materials Scorecard
1 = Poor. 5 = Outstanding
| Material |
Temperature |
Pressure |
Motion |
Support |
Durability |
Chemicals |
Allergens |
| Natural Latex |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Synthetic Latex |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
| Memory Foam |
1 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
| Polyurethane Foam |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Organic Wool |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
| Synthetic Wool |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| Innerspring |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Organic Cotton |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
| Conventional Cotton |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Polyester Fiber |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
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