Mattress Ratings > Adjustable Bed Reviews
Adjustable Bed Bases / Foundations → Reviews, Ratings & Complaints Based on 108 Actual Owner Experiences
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last updated June 20, 2011
What You Need To Know
Owner Satisfaction: Adjustable beds have 84% owner satisfaction.
Pros: High owner satisfaction (84%); several health and comfort benefits; low maintenance.
Cons: Heavy; can break / stop working; somewhat misleading and lacking warranties; poor or nonexistent return policies; usually not for side and stomach sleepers.
Price: $1000-$3200
Research Note: Our research on this page refers to adjustable bed bases, which are foundations that can raise a person's lower and/or upper body.
Ratings on this page do not refer to beds that have adjustable firmness, i.e., air beds.
In addition, our research on this page rates only adjustable bed bases – not the adjustable bed as a whole, meaning not the mattress. For mattress ratings, see mattress reviews / ratings.
Table of Contents
Adjustable Bed Ratings: Overall
Adjustable Bed Ratings: By Manufacturer
Warranty Comparison
Shop For Mattress First, Base Second
Massage Feature
Adjustable Bed Base Ratings: Overall
The ratings below discuss how adjustable bed bases / foundations overall as a group are evaluated by consumers. For information on specific manufacturers / brands, including Leggett and Platt, see the section following this one.
| Owner satisfaction | good | Adjustable bed base owner satisfaction is 84% overall. The leading manufacturers have similar owner satisfaction. More expensive models tend to have somewhat higher satisfaction than lower priced models. |
| Durability / longevity | fair | The mechanical nature of the bases mean that problems can and sometimes do arise over the course of ownership. 10-20% of consumers report breakdown(s). Owner reviews suggest that adjustable bed bases that are priced under $1000 are usually poor quality and should generally be avoided. |
| Price | fair | Prices usually range from $1000-$3200. A larger size and more features mean a higher price. The limited warranties of many bases often require owners to at least partially pay for any repairs after just a few years. You may be able to deduct the cost of an adjustable bed from your taxes if it is for a medical purpose substantiated by a doctor. |
| Health benefits | good | At least 25% of owners report at least one health benefit from their adjustable bed, including relief from poor circulation, insomnia, sleep apnea, swollen legs, arthritis, breathing difficulties, snoring, fibromyalgia, leg cramps, asthma, back / shoulder and neck pain, restless leg syndrome, COPD, GERD / reflux disease. |
| Comfort and convenience | good | At least 20% of consumers report a comfort and or convenience benefit. Being able to sit up in bed allows for one to comfortably watch TV, work, read, breast feed, get up off the bed easily, etc. |
| Sleeping position variety | poor | If the head and or foot of the bed are elevated, then only back sleeping is possible. Side and stomach sleepers, however, can make the bed completely level when they sleep and then use the adjustable capability of the bed when they are not sleeping for such purposes as watching TV, leg elevation, etc. |
| Compatible with all mattresses | fair | Memory foam, latex and air mattresses are usually compatible with adjustable bed bases. Innerspring mattresses with a border wire are almost never compatible. Also, owner reviews suggest that it is best to avoid thicker mattresses (greater than 12 inches) because they may lack the flexibility needed to move with the adjustable frame. |
| No noise | fair | Adjustable beds use either AC or DC motors to raise and lower the mattress. AC motors are more powerful and audible than DC motors. About 15% of owners with AC motors complain of excessive noise. DC motors, by contrast, are usually whisper quiet, but they can become too audible if they are not working properly. |
| No regular maintenance needed | good | Little if any upkeep is required, report owners. But the product does contain moving parts which may require replacement at some point. |
| Lightweight | poor | Heavy weight is a main complaint. At least 20% of owners say that transporting an adjustable bed is difficult and possibly expensive. Once the base is fully assembled, having casters on the bottom can make movement possible, but not necessarily easy. |
| Warranties | poor | Many owners feel misled. Most warranties are 20-year or even lifetime, but meaningful coverage may end after a few years. For example, areas most likely to break, such as electrical components, are sometimes excluded from coverage after 3-5 years. |
| Return policies | poor | Owner data shows that returning an adjustable bed, especially for money back, is often not practical. Local retailers may allow you to return a base for an exchange only, and fees will likely apply. Internet retailers may accept returns for money-back, but you will have to pay return (and sometimes original) shipping plus a possible return fee. This could add up to $400+. Finally, a retailer like Costco may accept returns with no fees, but you will likely need to transport the very heavy base yourself to a Costco store to return it. |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings | good | Leading adjustable bed manufacturers (see next section) all have an "A" rating with the BBB. A good rating often means that the business sells a quality product, uses ethical business practices and will back their warranty. |
Adjustable Bed Base Ratings: By Manufacturer
Most adjustable bed bases on the market are made by only a few companies. Below is a comparison of leading / more popular adjustable bed bases by manufacturer.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of owners satisfied / sample size | Price (queen, no mattress) | Comments | ||||||
| Leggett and Platt | 83% / 68 | $1300-$2800 | Since 1973. Largest maker of adjustable beds. Supplies Sleep Number, Craftmatic, Comfortaire, Simmons, Orthomatic, others. | |||||
| Reverie | 92% / 28 | $1700+ | Makes adjustable bed base for Tempurpedic Ergo. | |||||
| Electropedic | 87% / 9 | $1700+ | In business Since 1964, BBB accredited since 1989 | |||||
| Flex-A-Bed | 100% / 3 | $1700- $3000 |
Custom built. Since 1969. Warranty transferable. | |||||
Adjustable Bed Base Warranty Specifications & Comparison
Warranties of the various manufacturers can vary. The two leaders, Leggett / Platt and Reverie, tend to offer somewhat less generous coverage than the others.
| Length | Full coverage | Parts no charge | Cost to owner | Warranty Exclusions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leggett and Platt | Lifetime ltd for all models. | 1st year for all models | more expensive models: Years 2-5. cheaper models: Year 2 only | More expensive models: years 6+ non-prorated. Cheaper models: years 3+ non-prorated. | electronics, electrical components, drive motors and massage motors are excluded from coverage After 5 years for more expensive models, and 2 years for cheaper Models. |
| Reverie | 20 year ltd for Deluxe and Comfort models. 5 year ltd for Essential model. | 1st year for all models | For Deluxe, years 2-3. For Comfort, year 2. For Essential, none. | Deluxe: Years 4-20 prorated. Comfort: Years 3-20 prorated. Essential: Years 2-5 prorated for frame. | all electronics, electrical components, drive motors and massage motors are excluded from Coverage After 3 years for Deluxe, 2 years for Comfort, and 1 year for Essential. |
| Electropedic | 20 years | One year overall, two years for motor | Years 2-5 | Years 6-20 prorated | None |
| Flex-A-Bed | Top model has lifetime limited. Base model has 5-year limited. | 2 years for top model, one year for base model | Years 3-5 for top model. no parts coverage for base model after year 1. | For top model, years 5+ part sent to factory for $100 fee plus shipping. For base model, Years 2-5. | None |
Shop For Mattress First, Adjustable Base Second
Our research shows that adjustable bed owners are often more satisfied with their adjustable base than they are with their mattress. The main reason for this is that people often shop for an adjustable base first and then, almost as an afterthought, choose a mattress. Further, people usually buy a mattress from the retailer that they buy the base from, even if the retailer has a limited and poor selection of mattresses.
Choosing the mattress first, owner data suggests, and then shopping for an adjustable base will likely result in the best outcome. This is mainly because adjustable bases tend to have similar owner satisfaction and are suitable for a wide variety of people, while mattresses have varying owner satisfaction and the choice is more personal.
Massage Feature
One of the more highly touted options on many adjustable beds is a massage feature. Owners are somewhat split in regard to the value and benefit of this feature. Try the massage before purchase if possible to see if it has benefit for you personally.
| Massage Feature |
| Beneficial | 61% of owners |
| Not Beneficial | 39% of owners |