How Often Should You Change Your Mattress? Lifespan and Care Tips

Most people should change their mattress roughly every seven to ten years, and sooner if it sags, feels lumpy, or you wake up stiff or sleep better away from home. That range is a guide, not a deadline. A well-made latex or pocket-sprung mattress that’s been protected and rotated can last longer, while a cheap foam mattress in a busy household may be worn out in five. This guide covers typical lifespans by type, the signs it’s time for a new one, how to make a mattress last, and what tenants and landlords need to know.

How long does a mattress last?

The National Bed Federation, the UK trade body for bed manufacturers, has long advised people to consider a new mattress every seven years or so, and its consumer site Bed Advice UK suggests checking your bed every few months for signs of wear. Which? puts the typical replacement point at 8 to 10 years. Both agree that comfort and support matter more than the date. The table below gives rough ranges by type; quality, body weight, how many people sleep on it and how well it’s looked after make a big difference.

Mattress type	Rough lifespan	What wears out first
Open coil (budget sprung)	5–7 years	Springs lose tension and start to creak; dips form
Pocket sprung	7–10 years	Comfort layers compress where you sleep
Memory foam	7–10 years	Foam softens and stops springing back
Hybrid (springs and foam)	7–10 years	Top foam layers wear before the springs
Latex	10 years or more	Very durable; may firm up or crumble at the edges with age

Children’s mattresses may need replacing sooner as children grow, and a mattress on a spare bed that’s rarely used can last well beyond these ranges.

Signs you need a new mattress

• Visible dips or sagging where you sleep, often at the hip and shoulder.
• Lumps, ridges or hard spots where the filling has shifted.
• Springs you can feel, or hear when you move.
• You roll towards the middle or towards your partner.
• You wake up stiff or sore, and it eases as the day goes on.
• You sleep better elsewhere, such as in a hotel or at a friend’s.
• Allergies or asthma feel worse at night or first thing in the morning, which can be caused by dust mites building up in an old mattress.
• Stains, smells or damage that cleaning won’t remove.

If back or joint pain is persistent, speak to your GP or a physiotherapist, as a mattress is only one possible cause.

Should you replace a 10-year-old mattress?

Usually, yes, if it’s been used every night. By ten years most foam and sprung mattresses have lost a good part of their support, even if they look fine, and Which? treats a mattress over ten years old, or one showing damage such as crumbling foam, protruding springs or loose stitching, as due for replacement. The exceptions are a latex mattress that still feels even and supportive, or one on a guest bed that has seen little use. Lie on it for ten minutes in your normal sleeping position: if you can feel a dip or the springs, it’s time.

Repair, topper or replace?

A mattress topper can add comfort to a mattress that’s still supportive but feels too firm. It won’t fix a mattress that sags, because the topper just sinks into the dip. Small tears in the cover can sometimes be repaired, and a sagging problem is sometimes caused by a weak or broken bed base rather than the mattress itself, so check the slats or divan before you buy. If the mattress is still under guarantee, contact the retailer or manufacturer, as many cover sagging beyond a certain depth.

How to make your mattress last longer

1. Use a mattress protector. A washable, breathable, waterproof protector stops sweat, spills and skin cells soaking in. Wash it every month or two.
2. Rotate it. Turn it head-to-toe every three months, or monthly for the first few months. Only flip it over if the manufacturer says it’s double-sided; many modern mattresses are “no-turn”.
3. Give it proper support. Use a base or slatted frame suited to the mattress, with slats close enough together that the mattress doesn’t sag between them.
4. Air it. Pull back the duvet for a while each morning before making the bed, so moisture can escape.
5. Vacuum it every few months with the upholstery tool, including the seams and sides.
6. Deal with spills straight away. Blot, don’t rub, then dab with a little mild detergent solution and let it dry completely before making the bed.
7. Don’t let children jump on it, and avoid sitting on the same edge every day.
8. Keep the bedroom well ventilated to reduce condensation and mould.

How to clean a mattress

1. Strip the bed and wash all bedding, including the protector, on a hot wash if the labels allow.
2. Vacuum the whole mattress slowly with the upholstery attachment.
3. Spot clean stains with a cloth barely dampened in mild detergent solution. Never soak a mattress.
4. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the surface, leave it for a few hours with the window open, then vacuum it off thoroughly.
5. Let it dry fully before putting bedding back on.

For deep stains and smells, a professional mattress clean uses equipment that lifts dirt out without over-wetting the filling. You can add mattress cleaning to any of our cleans for £25 per mattress, and our guide to how often to deep clean a house suggests how to fit it into your routine.

How often should a landlord replace a mattress?

There’s no fixed legal lifespan for a mattress in a furnished let. The practical test is the same as at home: replace it when it sags, is stained or damaged, or no longer meets fire safety rules. Many landlords replace mattresses between tenancies once they reach seven years or so, because a tired mattress is one of the first things a new tenant notices, and a new one with a protector is cheaper than a complaint or a void. Keep the receipt and fire label details with your inventory.

Mattresses in rented homes

For tenants

If your rental is furnished, the mattress is usually on the inventory and should be returned in the same condition as at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Normal wear, such as slight softening, is expected. Stains, spills and pet damage aren’t wear and tear and can lead to a deduction. Use a protector from day one, photograph the mattress at check-in and have it cleaned before you leave if it’s marked. Our guide to what damage tenants are responsible for explains where the line usually sits.

For landlords

Mattresses supplied in furnished lettings must meet UK furniture fire safety rules under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, which remain in force while the government works on replacement rules. Business Companion’s guide explains that these rules cover landlords and letting agents who supply furniture in rented accommodation. Between tenants, it’s worth having mattresses cleaned as part of a pre-tenancy clean, and replacing any that are stained or sagging, as a worn mattress is one of the first things prospective tenants notice.

How to get rid of an old mattress

• Retailer take-back: many retailers will collect your old mattress when they deliver a new one, often for a fee.
• Council bulky waste collection: most councils collect mattresses for a charge. The National Bed Federation’s Mattress Disposal UK site shows what your local council offers.
• Household waste recycling centre: many accept mattresses, but check first.
• Donation: some charities accept mattresses in good condition with fire safety labels, but many don’t, so ask before you take it.

Never leave a mattress in the street or give it to an unlicensed collector. If it’s fly-tipped, you could still be held responsible.

Frequently asked questions

Want the mattresses done along with the rest of the property? Add mattress cleaning at £25 each to a deep clean or end of tenancy clean. See all our fixed prices, find your local team on our areas page or in Greater London, and book online.