When investing in a mattress, we want to know how many years it’s going to last us. With every kind of mattress type, their expected longevity varies. However, the general average across an array of organisations and businesses is that the average mattress lifetime is 7-8 years. Some fall below this whereas others go strides further than this average. Continue reading to see what spring systems have the best and worst longevity…
Open coil mattresses arguably have the worst longevity, as they are constructed with individual springs with a continuous wire connecting them all together, or with one piece of wire comprising the entire spring unit. The reason comes down to the spring unit and the fact that all the springs are connected, meaning that all springs will deteriorate and lose rigidness at the same time.
Open coil spring unit
The price usually reflects the quality of the spring system, cheaper ones lasting around 5 years at most (£180 or less for a double size). Comparatively, more expensive open coil mattresses last between 6-6.5 years (£180+ for a double size).
Pocket sprung mattresses are known for being particularly durable thanks to their individually moving springs. As they can move independently from one another, each spring receives a different level of pressure, especially if you regularly turn and flip your mattress. This ensures that springs can have a break from being strained when you sleep on the surface.
Individual pocket springs in their encasements
Overall, this makes pocket sprung mattresses across the board consistently durable. You can expect your pocket sprung mattress to last anywhere from 8-10 years if looked after. They make for incredibly comfortable sleeping solutions when you purchase the right firmness too.
The longevity of a memory foam mattress really comes down to its density and quality. Memory foam consists of millions of tiny holes that release air when pressure is applied, so the thicker and denser the mattress, the longer it will last.
Different layers of foam
With this being said, our research has shown that cheaper memory foam mattresses last anywhere from 7-8 years, whereas some of the more expensive, dense options can last up to 12 years. For this kind of sleeping solution, what you spend on it really does make the difference for increased longevity.
Latex tree
This natural sleeping solution has got a very good rep of being durable, long-lasting and very comfortable. Typically, latex mattresses last the longest by comparison to other mattresses but this shows in their average price point. Such a sleeping solution is no cheaper than £700 for a completely natural latex mattress, however, you can get hybrid latex-pocket sprung mattresses around the £500 price point. So taking this together, you would expect to get 10-12 years of usage out of a latex mattress.
Lastly, this one entirely depends on the combination of the spring system and materials used to comprise the mattress. If an open coil spring and memory foam is combined, it’s going to have shorter longevity than one compared to a pocket spring system with latex. Using the information we have deciphered above, you can roughly tell what would make a more durable combination overall.
To put a number on it, we’d say the average lifespan for a cheaper hybrid mattress is anywhere between 6-7 years, whilst a higher quality hybrid may last anywhere up to 10 years when properly cared for.