Should You Flip or Rotate Your Mattress?

If you're looking for ways to reduce sagging and extend your bed's overall life, rotating your mattress is an easy solution.

Springs and foam layers can compress and change shape when your body weight conforms to the same area repeatedly, but you can manage wear and tear by re-orienting your mattress position every 6-12 months.

This easy chore can improve your quality of sleep and help delay the purchase of a new bed.

How do you know whether you should rotate your mattress?

First, determine whether you have a one-sided mattress (like a pillow top) or a double-sided mattress.

Flipping a mattress

Older innerspring mattresses contain steel coils that can wear out over time and contribute to sagging. Sagging can also cause soreness in the back, neck, and shoulders.

These are often built to be flippable mattresses with similar or identical comfort layers cushioning both firm sides to combat premature wear. Very few mattresses are double-sided any longer, and that could be a clue it's time to look into a new mattress.

How do I flip my mattress?

If your mattress is double-sided, you can likely flip it yourself, but don't hesitate to recruit a partner if it's a heavy mattress:

Remove the sheets
Relocate any nearby furniture, such as lamps and nightstands
Pull the mattress towards the end of your bed, and rotate it 90-degrees. Note which end was for the head, and which was for the feet. With the mattress slid aside, use this as an opportunity to vacuum near the headboard and bed base.
Prop the mattress so it stands on its side; if you have a box spring, consider this an opportunity to pull the mattress onto the ground and lean it against a wall. Rotating your boxspring 180-degrees can also prolong its lifespan.
Slowly lower the mattress down, letting it rest on the bed frame
Rotate the flipped mattress into position, so that the end of the mattress where you rested your feet is now towards the headboard, and vice versa
Make your bed, and enjoy a better night's sleep

Many modern mattresses like the hybrid mattress cannot be flipped, because they're built to be one-sided with a specific purpose. It's always best to consult with your mattress company to confirm if you have a double-sided mattress.

Rotating a mattress

Unlike old double-sided mattresses, one-sided mattresses are built with distinct support layers. The materials used for the mattress topper are only on one side, and if flipped, won't offer the same support.

If you have a pillow top mattress, hybrid mattress, or polyfoam or memory foam mattress, you may not be able to flip it. However, you can still rotate it to prolong your mattress's life and promote even wear for the foam and any innerspring layers.

What's a hybrid mattress? It combines the benefits of innerspring and memory foam mattresses to offer the pressure-relieving comfort of memory foam with the support and familiar feel of an innerspring.

How do I rotate my mattress?

Rotating a single-sided mattress is easier than flipping a double-sided mattress. You can likely do this yourself since it only involves turning the mattress 180 degrees.

Remove the sheets
Relocate any nearby furniture - you'll need some clearance around your bed frame
Pull the mattress towards the end of your bed, and rotate it 90-degrees. If you have a boxspring, you should also rotate it at the same time. Having both pieces out of the way makes it a great opportunity to vacuum near the headboard and under the bed.
Rotate another 90-degrees and slide it back into position. The foot of the bed and head of the bed should now be switched.
Make your bed and rest well

How do you know if you should replace your mattress?

Innerspring mattresses last 7 to 10 years when properly cleaned and maintained. By making a point to flip your double-sided mattress and rotate it every 6-months to 1-year, you'll promote even wear and help you and your partner have a consistently good night's sleep with less chance of the bed sagging, causing body pains.

High-quality memory foam mattresses and hybrid mattresses, though usually single-sided, can last upwards of 8 to 10 years when properly cared for and routinely rotated. Foam layers can lose elasticity over time, but by rotating a mattress, you can promote even wear by adjusting where your body weight applies pressure over time. If your mattress layers have indentations and no longer seems to have adequate elasticity, consider buying a new mattress.

Latex mattresses are among the best mattresses and last longer than all, upwards of 10 to 20 years. You may not need to flip or rotate them as often due to their durability. Whether your latex mattress was bought in-store or delivered in a box, get recommendations from the manufacturer so you know what signs you should look for before you rotate or replace your mattress.

You can promote even wear on all mattresses by changing where you sleep, such as rotating between the left, right, and middle. On a shared mattress, when partners can switch sides of the bed, it also helps to even out how the materials wear throughout the mattress's life.
Always remember to check the warranty on a new mattress, and learn about how you can prolong the life of the type of mattress you choose for your home. If you need help comparing box springs, foundations, and platform beds, don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.