Mattress Ratings >> Mattress Type Comparison > Mattress Longevity / Lifespan

Mattress Longevity → Based on Data From Over 15,000 Actual Owners

Page last updated: October 10, 2010

"Longevity" refers to how long of a useful life a mattress is likely to have. In our research, longevity often means the same thing as durability, but not always.

The chart below shows how mattress types compare on this issue based on owner experiences. Keep in mind that this represents what is often, but not always, the case. A particular brand, model or individual mattress may go against these findings.

Longevity

Worse

Better

Air

Airbeds are more mechanical in nature than other types of beds. As a result, more can conceivably go wrong with them, such as leaks and air pump breakdowns. However, any part of an airbed can be easily fixed by getting a new part. This is a longevity advantage, in fact, over non-mechanical types of beds. Non-mechanical types (namely memory foam, latex and innerspring) usually cannot be easily fixed when they develop a problem and, consequently, need to be largely if not totally replaced.

Water

Waterbeds tend to have good-to-excellent longevity. Like air beds, if something goes wrong with a waterbed, the part can often be fix or replaced without having to buy an entirely new bed system.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses generally have respectable longevity. Higher density (more expensive) brands and models tend to have better longevity than lower density varieties.

Latex

Latex mattresses manufacturers often claim that their beds last many years. While this may be often true, a significant number of latex beds owners in our research say that their latex bed prematurely sagged / developed body impressions.

Futons

Futons have about average longevity. The more expensive brands / models tend to last longer than the less expensive ones.

Innerspring

These beds generally have less longevity than other types of mattresses because of their tendency to prematurely sag and develop body impressions.