Clues that a mattress may have outlived its usefulness are often easy to see or feel. A carpenter comes home from a hard day’s work and plops on their bed to get some rest. To their surprise, a bed that was once firm and supportive now sags in the middle.

Other times, you get the hint from the unexplained fatigue and pain all over your body every morning. Most of us have had an experience with a mattress losing its structure.

Several factors affect the mattress life cycle.

Average Mattress Lifespan

When looking for an eight inch mattress there are many options available on the market, with each product’s design and material impacting its longevity. The general agreement of a mattress’s average lifespan is around 7-10 years.

That being said, a solid bed can last longer or shorter depending on several variables. Based on their design and construction alone, different types of mattresses may last as follows:

• Polyfoam, latex, and memory foam: These mattresses can give you 10 years of reliable service.
• Innerspring: These beds can’t handle the tension from your weight for too long. The springs lose their magic in 4 to 6 years.
• Waterbeds and air mattresses: This variety is notorious for bursting and cracking under higher weight. Of all types, these mattresses have the shortest lifespan.

Use Frequency

How often a mattress is laid on is one of the most important factors determining its life. A mattress used 7 to 8 hours each day wears down much faster than another used only once in a while. That’s why master beds tend to break down more quickly than those in guest rooms that rarely experience pressure.

It’s all part of your bed’s natural wear and tear, typically resulting in sagging, even if the mattress isn’t torn. After several years of good service, your bed stops providing the support and comfort you used to enjoy.

Even then, the average mattress breakdown rate due to frequent use varies from material to material. For the varieties made of foam, you may expect gradual softening under your weight’s pressure every night. It will reach a point where the material isn’t firm enough to provide everyday comfort and support levels.

Innersprings experience a similar fate, as their metal coils lose tension year by year. Once the comfort layers have lost their firmness, they’re no longer rigid enough to cushion sensitive parts of your body during sleep.

Material Density

Like use frequency, material density impacts your bed’s durability. The higher the density, the more the support and upward push provided when you lie in bed. Low-density foam’s ability to “push” your weight upward diminishes faster than denser counterparts.

That explains why high-density latex or polyfoam lasts longer than low-density materials. They also support heavier body weight at night much longer than less dense varieties.

If you prefer higher-density polyfoam for its better back, hip, and shoulder support, consider investing in the best signature 12-inch mattress in a box for excellent longevity and easy shipment. Most of these options receive higher ratings for lasting back pain relief and other nighttime comforts.

Care and Exposure

Like anything you use, care factors heavily into the lifespan of mattresses. How often you clean and rotate your mattress can influence its lifecycle. Exposure to filthy conditions and allergens can also come into play.

For starters, forbid your kids from using your bed as a trampoline. Their seemingly little jumps can exert undue pressure on your mattress, accelerating its wear and tear.

To give a single-sided mattress time to self-correct, remember to turn it from end-to-end regularly. You can switch sides to prevent uncomfortable indentations if you sleep on a flippable mattress.

As for bed hygiene, wash your sheets regularly. Clean bedding, including mattress covers, can prevent allergens and pest infestations, letting you enjoy your mattress for much longer.

Weight Dispersion

Different mattresses have varying weight thresholds. Depending on the sleeper’s weight dispersion, a mattress’s structural integrity can suffer more quickly or slowly. Additionally, side sleepers may witness a different sagging location than back sleepers.

If one area is exposed to too much pressure for a long time, it will sag faster than other sections. Eventually, the sagging mattress provides uneven support, which can impact your comfort in bed.

Changing sleep positions and rotating your mattress can help address the problem of uneven weight dispersion.

Taking Care of Your Mattress

Sleeping is one of the most essential routines humans perform. Knowing how to care for and change your mattress correctly can significantly improve sleep health. Don’t wait until your back or spine can’t take the pain anymore to act.