Buying a mattress is a high-stakes decision: choose well and you'll be sleeping like a log for the next eight years or so. Choose poorly and you could spend the better part of a decade tossing and turning.
Since it's an investment in your future slumber, it might seem like it's worth paying more for your ticket to the land of nod. But bigger dollars don't necessarily equate to better dozing.
Some mattresses cost thousands of dollars, but the good news is you don't have to pay this much to get a mattress that will help you sleep soundly as long as you follow these tips and tricks.
Here's how to get a dream price on the perfect mattress.
1. Never pay full price
Mattress prices are often more overstuffed than a feather bed – but the number on the price tag isn't always a reflection of what a mattress is actually worth.
Sales season used to only roll around twice a year, at the end of the financial year and Boxing Day. But these days, sales aren't so much seasonal as almost continual.
If you can hold out on buying a new mattress for a short time, you'll most likely be able to snap up a bargain when the price inevitably comes down.
"Bricks and mortar retailers, online stores and manufacturers regularly put mattresses on sale," says CHOICE mattress expert Peter Zaluzny.
"They come around frequently, so don't pay the recommended retail price unless you need a new mattress straight away. A little patience will net you big savings."
2. Get haggling
As the saying goes, if you don't ask, you don't get. So when you're buying a mattress, you have nothing to lose but plenty to gain by asking for a better price.
When you're buying a mattress, you have nothing to lose but plenty to gain by asking for a better price
"Mattress prices almost always have a lot of wiggle room," says Peter.
"Always ask salespeople for a deal, even if the mattress is already discounted. You might be able to shave a bit more off the sale price and the worst that can happen is they say no."
Bonus tip: Bundle up
Do you need a new electric blanket, doona, mattress protector or pillow? In the market for multiple mattresses? Want a bedside table, tallboy and bedframe too?
If you're buying more, it's not unreasonable to expect to save more.
The more you're buying at once, the better you'll be able to negotiate a larger discount – so don't be shy about asking the salesperson to throw in some extras or reduce the price.
3. Check CHOICE reviews for the best mattress for the best price
Many people still think that spending more means they'll get a better product, but our testing shows that high prices don't always correlate with high scores.
In fact, of the 20 mattresses that our experts recommend, 12 of them cost less than $1000. And the most expensive mattress in our review (it costs a cool $8399) is one of the lowest scorers.
Of the 20 mattresses that our experts recommend, 12 of them cost less than $1000
Spending the money on a CHOICE membership will save you from buying an expensive mattress that isn't any better than a more affordable one – and it'll also save you from wasting your money on a dud.
Join CHOICE to see which mattresses our experts say are the stuff dreams are made of. Plus, get instant access to reviews across 200+ categories.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
