How to Buy a Mattress: Mattress Buying Guide

If you’re debating which type of mattress to buy, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article:

Types of Mattresses

Mattress Sizes

Mattress Dimensions Guide

Purchasing a New Mattress

Many mattresses tend to last 8-10 years. But all too often, people delay buying a new mattress until they find themselves in pain. Shopping for a mattress can feel like a difficult process, but retailers like Mancini's Sleepworld can help you find the best mattress for your sleeping style and improve your sleep quality.

How restful have your nights been? Are you tossing and turning, or waking sore or exhausted? 

Signs it’s time to consider shopping for a new mattress:

• You're sleep deprived
• You're dealing with body pain
• You're experiencing innerspring sagging
• You're sleeping on an old mattress (dust, mites, and allergen build-up play a part in having a good night’s sleep)
• You getting better sleep on vacation

Before you start learning about different mattresses, be sure to shop for:

• A mattress that accommodates your sleeping position, whether you need a firm mattress or a pillow top
• A mattress that promises pressure relief if you're in pain
• A bed size that’s large and long enough for you, or you and your partner
• A mattress with great warranties

Can you sleep on a new mattress right away?

No doubt you’re going to be excited to try your new mattress when it arrives, but we recommend that you always refer to manufacturer recommendations when setting up your new bed. 

Some mattresses may need to acclimate to your home for a few hours, others may need a few days to offgas from their delivery packaging. The recommendations for a bed-in-a-box will be different than those for an innerspring mattress, but our team will be better able to make recommendations based on the type of mattress you buy.

Types of Mattresses

When it’s time to consider buying a new mattress, take time to consider everything from your sleep style to the things that bother you about your current mattress. Do you wake up in pain or have bouts of sleep deprivation? 

Salespersons at mattress stores will ask these questions and pay attention to the issues you face most, in order to help you choose a new mattress that addresses your individual needs.

Foam Mattresses

Polyurethane foam (polyfoam) and memory foam comprise these softer mattresses and contain no coils. Foam mattresses contain no spring coils, and instead offer contouring and cushioning with varied firmness levels to determine how deeply you'll sink into the mattress. 

Side sleepers can find relief in a foam mattress, as it helps to support and comfort any body weight; however, memory foam mattresses are dense and less springy than polyfoam, which can compromise air flow and make them less desirable for those who feel hot at night. 

Gel Mattresses

Gel memory foam mattresses also contain no coils, but offer better body heat regulation for hot sleepers than traditional polyfoam. The gel components wick away heat produced by the body to offer support without the possibility of waking due to overheating.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattress construction offers the best of both innerspring and foam mattresses with a medium-firm support system, so whether you're a back sleeper, stomach sleeper, or side sleeper, this might be where you'll want to start if you want a mattress type for body pains. Innerspring structure is paired with other comfort layers to be versatile enough to comfort pressure points and alleviate low back pain, all while offering a different firmness than standard foam mattresses. 

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are firmer mattresses constructed using pocketed coils and thin top layers of foam or other padding. They commonly rest upon box springs. Though still among the most inexpensive types of mattresses, innerspring mattresses are less common now as technology and material options have evolved. Though comfort layers vary based on the product, owners are often encouraged to purchase additional mattress toppers to customize for personal comfort. 

Latex Mattress

Latex mattresses are made from rubber or synthetic material, and offer durability with a coilless mattress option that is dense. Firm latex foam ultimately offers more support than a foam mattress, making it ideal for those who benefit from a firm sleeping surface.

Mattress Sizes

The available square footage in a room, bed frame size, and preferred comfort options all dictate the mattress dimensions that a buyer needs. 

Growing children and tall adults all may benefit from other options, such as a twin XL mattress or California King mattress. Couples often opt for king or queen size mattresses as space allows. 

Twin Mattresses

Twin mattress options are approximately 39 inches wide by 75 inches long, and they’re best for single sleepers, and particularly, young children who will not exceed 6 feet tall during the life expectancy of the mattress. 

Twin XL beds provide an extra long option for tall individuals or fast-growing kids who require extra length; they extend an extra 5 inches in length, offering total dimensions of 39 inches wide by 80 inches long. 

Full Mattresses

Full–or double mattresses–measure 54 inches wide by 75 inches long. They’re ideal for single sleepers who prefer more width, but couples who don’t mind sleeping close sometimes favor them, too. 

Like with twin mattresses, the full mattress also comes as a Full XL which provides an extra 5 inches of length for tall sleepers. The Full XL mattress measures 54 inches wide by 80 inches long.

Queen Mattresses

Standard queen mattresses comfortably sleep two adults. The standard measurement is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long, making it both wider and longer than a full mattress.

King Mattresses

Offering the most width, king mattresses clock in at 76 inches by 80 inches. Determining whether or not a bedroom can accommodate a king mattress is something many buyers struggle with, but in offering 8 additional inches on each side of the bed, a king will offer better rest for those who prefer to spread out. 

Traditional king mattresses are also sometimes referred to as Eastern King mattresses.

California King Mattresses

Measuring 72 inches wide by 84 inches long, the California King mattress options suit tall sleepers but also offer another large mattress option to buyers who want more space than a queen, but can’t quite fit a wide king mattress into their bedroom. 

California split king mattresses can uniquely offer sleepers the option to raise or lower the head of the bed for added comfort. The adjustable feature is a premium, but offers much adaptability to those who need it most.

Alaskan King Mattresses

For sleepers seeking an even larger mattress, the Alaskan King mattress measures a generous 108 inches wide and long (that’s a 9 foot square). Not many mattress brands offer a bed this large, so if you're looking to buy one, let our sales representatives help you in-store, or via chat.

Mattress dimensions and size guide 

Use this guide to compare mattress sizes and comfort options:

Mattress	Number of Sleepers	Size	Cost
Twin Mattress	1	39”x75”	$
Twin XL Mattress	1	39”x80”	$
Full Mattress	1-2 (no pets)	54”x75”	$
Full XL Mattress	1-2 (no pets)	54”x80”	$$
Queen Mattress	2	60”x80”	$$
King/Eastern King Mattress	2	76”x80”	$$$
California King	2	72”x84”	$$$$
Split King Mattress	2	72”x84”	$$$$$
Alaskan King Mattress	2	108”x108”	$$$$$

Purchasing a new mattress

When you, or you and your partner are looking to buy a new mattress, be willing to take advantage of a sleep trial period so you can be confident in your final decision. 

Testing to be sure the size of the mattress is right is just as important as making sure that the foam or innerspring layers are comfortable for your resting body. Testing a mattress in the showroom isn’t always enough to know if a mattress will correct any sleeping issues, so count on the 120-night comfort guarantee at Mancini's Sleepworld.

Your budget for a new mattress may vary based on the material layers you choose and the size of your bed, but you can help your dollar go farther by shopping last year’s models in May, just before new mattresses are rolled out during the summer. If you're looking for mattress sales, this is the best time of year to find your perfect mattress. If you have questions about best price guarantees, sleep guarantees, one-year warranty options, and return policies of any mattress, our team will be happy to help you over chat, or in any one of our Northern California stores.