Frequently Asked Questions
How can you best shop for mattresses?
What size mattress does a couple need?
How can you tell when a mattress is "worn out?"
What should people look for in a new mattress?
How often should mattresses be replaced? How long do they last?
How much money should be spent on a mattress?
How much sleep do children need?
Should a parent pass down an old mattress to a child?
Can people make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on weekends?
Is there a problem with falling asleep on the sofa watching television, not falling asleep in bed?
I don't see the model I want on your site, where can I find it?
How do I match a bed I slept on in a hotel?
I want to replace my existing mattress with one just like it, how do I match it to yours?
How do I fit a Queen sized box spring up a narrow stair case?
What type of bed is best for heavy people?
Q. How can you best shop for mattresses?
A.You need to understand your needs before you start shopping. We recommend that you think about your lifestyle. How has it changed since you last bought a mattress and how might these changes affect your purchase? And what about your body? Has it changed and how has this affected your needs for support or your comfort preferences? Finally, think about space needs and if you have a partner, consider her / his support needs and comfort preferences. It's important to find something that will work for the two of you.
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Q. What size mattress does a couple need?
A.Couples should sleep in a queen or king-size mattress for free, easy movement. Couples who sleep on a full mattress are only allowing themselves the same room to move around as a baby has in a crib. And make sure to take your partner with you when you shop for a mattress. It's important that you find one that meets both your support needs and comfort preferences.
Buying a too-small mattress is one of the biggest mistakes new bed-buyers make. Couples who've been sleeping on a "double" since they got married may think that's just fine, until they learn that each person has only as much sleeping space as a baby's crib! Here are size guidelines for shoppers from the Better Sleep Council:
Full beds, sometimes still called "double," are 53 inches wide, which is just 15 inches wider than a twin size (single). That leaves each partner only 27 inches of personal space, or about the width of a crib. Both twin and full sizes are approximately 75 inches long, which may be too short for some adults, especially men.
Recommendations: Full size is only enough space for a single sleeper and only if under 5 feet 5 inches tall. Parents are increasingly choosing full size over twin for teenage bedrooms, and even for younger children in order to give parents a more comfortable place to rest when reading together at tuck-in time.
Queen beds are 60 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – 6 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full size mattress. These added inches can make all the difference in comfort, especially for couples, and have made the queen today's most popular mattress size. However, with 30 inches of personal space, each adult still has 9 inches less width than if they slept alone in a twin bed.
Recommendations: Queen size is a good choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples who prefer close quarters. It's also a great choice for single sleepers who are also "sprawlers."
King beds are 76 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – about 18 inches wider than a queen. This is the closest a couple can come to having as much personal space (38 inches) as each would have on a twin bed. In fact, two twin extra-long beds pushed together are about the same size, an option that can offer a flexible arrangement for a guest room.
**For consumers on the west coast, there is also the "California King," which is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long – 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than a regular king.
Recommendations: King size is the best choice for couples that want maximum personal sleeping space. It's also the best bet to accommodate that time on Sunday morning when children may pop into bed – or if the pets in your house have mattress privileges! However, size can be a problem. Even with a "split box spring" – two twin-size foundations to support it – to make a king set more manageable, it may be too big for some bedrooms or too bulky to navigate through some corridors, doors and stairwells. It's a good idea to break out the tape measure if there is any doubt.
Mattress size chart
| California King |
72" x 84" |
| King |
76" x 80" |
| Queen |
60" x 80" |
| Full ("double") |
53" x 75" |
| Twin |
38" x 75" |
(All dimensions may vary by +/- one half inch)
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Q. How can you tell when a mattress is "worn out?"
A. Your body should tell you when it's time for a new one, but are you paying attention? If you regularly wake up feeling stiff and sore or if you aren't sleeping as well as you did a year ago, it may be time to replace what you're sleeping on. At least twice a year, check for visible signs of wear and tear and ask yourself if you're sleeping better or worse than you did a year ago and if a new mattress might improve your sleep. This regular sleep check-up will help ensure your mattress is still doing its job.
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Q. What should people look for in a new mattress?
A. Four keys to keep in mind are support, comfort, space and matching sets. The mattress that's right for you will keep your spine in proper alignment, how your spine is when it's in good standing posture, supporting your body and cradling it along its curves. The right mattress will also be comfortable for your body. Keep in mind that your comfort preferences are likely to change as you age. Make sure the mattress provides enough space for easy, free movement. Couples should sleep on a queen or king-size mattress. And keep in mind that a mattress and foundation are designed to work together. Buy them as a set and get the most out of your investment in yourself.
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Q. How often should mattresses be replaced? How long do they last?
A. Mattresses wear out on different timetables. This is due to numerous factors such as how the mattress was used (guest room, master bedroom, doubled as a trampoline for the kids), whether it was cared for properly and/or the quality of the mattress itself. Other important considerations are how personal comfort levels or a person's lifestyle and body may have changed over the years. We encourage you to think about these things and ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you sleeping better or worse than you did a year ago?
- Are you waking up feeling stiff and sore?
- Does your mattress have visible signs of wear and tear?
- Would a new mattress improve your sleep?
If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, then it's time to consider purchasing a new mattress. And because people tend to overlook their mattresses and don't think about them, we recommend that you "check" your mattress using these four questions on a regular basis, at least twice a year, to make sure mattress wear and tear isn't sneaking up on you and disrupting your sleep.
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Q. How much money should be spent on a mattress?
A. Your rest, the amount and quality of your sleep, is a critical factor in your overall well-being. It can affect how you feel physically and mentally as well as your productivity. Accordingly, we urge you to invest in your rest, and spend enough on a mattress to ensure that your individual comfort and support needs are being met. Be sure not to shortchange yourself out of a good, quality night's sleep and buy the best mattress you can afford. The average person spends one-third of his or her life in bed. This equals 220,000 hours over the course of a lifetime! And the mattress is the most used piece of furniture in the home.
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Q. How much sleep do children need?
A.Kids need at least nine hours of sleep each night to be star students. To help make sure your kids get the sleep they need, make sure your child's bedroom is conducive to a good night's sleep, your child's room should be cool, quiet and dark and he or she should be sleeping on a comfortable, supportive mattress.
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Q. Should a parent pass down an old mattress to a child?
A. If a mattress is no longer comfortable for you, it's not good enough for someone else, especially your child. As kids grow, they need supportive and comfortable bedding as well. Be sure your children have enough space to move around comfortably as they grow. In addition, your child's first "big girl" or "big boy" bed may not provide enough space or comfort for your adolescent.
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Q. Can people make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on weekends?
A. No. If you sleep more on the weekends than during the week, and many of us do, this indicates that you have a "sleep debt." A sleep debt accumulates when you don't get enough sleep. The only way to reduce the debt is to sleep as much as your body needs every night. Make sure you're getting the right quality of sleep as well. Sleep in a cool, dark, quiet room on a comfortable, supportive mattress to get your best night's sleep.
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Q. Is there a problem with falling asleep on the sofa watching television, not falling asleep in bed?
A. If you regularly fall asleep on your sofa, you may not be getting as much sleep as you need at night in your bed. Or maybe your sofa is more comfortable than your bed! In either case, you should make sure to practice good sleep habits, from sleeping on a comfortable, supportive mattress to not drinking alcohol too close to bedtime. And try to get more sleep, it may change how you feel during the day.
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Q.I don't see the model I want on your site, where can I find it?
A.Just call 800-220-1200 or email. We carry every name brand mattress set. (Sometimes there are just too many to list on our site.) Greater than 93% of our call-in customers will be matched up to the same mattress they are looking for. And yes, the same mattress will have a different name at a different retailer. Just call, or e-mail, we will find it for you.
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Q.How do I match a bed I slept on in a hotel?
A.Hotel mattresses are a much lower grade than what is sold in retail stores. So the good news is almost any new brand name mattress will most likely accommodate your body even better than the model in the hotel. Sleeping well in a hotel bed is often a signal that your present bedding may be worn out. Hotels will use name brand mattresses, but they will most always use contract quality mattresses. These mattress sets are built with lower standards than consumer mattresses. So don't chase that hotel mattress down just yet.
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Q.I want to replace my existing mattress with one just like it, how do I match it to yours?
A. Mattress lines usually change every 12-18 months. So if your mattress is more than 12-18 months old you probably will not be able to find it. However there will most likely be a replacement that will be similar, use our mattress selector to find the same feel you like, then price it and click, and your mattress will be on its way.
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Q.How do I fit a Queen sized box spring up a narrow stair case?
A. Call us to specify a split boxspring on your queen size order, which is an option on queen size mattress sets. This means the box spring comes in 2 halves, each of which is easier to move through tight spaces. (King size and Cal-King size sets will come as split box springs automatically, so no action is necessary on king size sets.)
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Q.What type of bed is best for heavy people?
A. Remember as our weight increases so does our body mass. Heavy people will sleep the same as light people on every mattress. Through the years we have always recommended Stearns & Foster with our heavy customers, this way there is nothing to chance. Stearns & Foster uses their best innerspring on every mattress.
Latex Mattresses are also a good choice for larger types as well and in many instances proves to be more durable than an innerspring mattress
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