Is Prime Day a Good Time to Buy a Mattress?

Amazon's October Prime Day can be a great time to buy a mattress, especially if you're shopping Amazon bestsellers like Zinus, Novilla or Linenspa. But not every mattress will be at its lowest price of the year, and some brands will reserve their biggest discounts for major holiday sales like Black Friday.

As a senior analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, I've tested and written about more than 250 mattresses over the past few years. Here's what I'd actually recommend buying during Prime Day and what I'd wait to purchase later.

Depends on the mattress. Amazon's bestselling brands often offer worthwhile discounts during Prime Day, but other mattress brands typically run their biggest promotions during major holiday weekends instead. If you're shopping an Amazon-exclusive mattress, Prime Day is one of the best times to buy.

Otherwise, it can be hit or miss: I’ve seen some brands that run competitive sales as good as their discounts on Memorial Day but also others that keep everything at full price.

Here’s what I recommend: Before browsing, scope out the exact mattress you want first (we have an extensive best mattress list to help. I recommend choosing three to five). Only start looking at deals once you have your preferred mattress in mind, and if isn’t on sale for October Prime Day, I’d wait until Black Friday.

We’ve said this before: it’s not possible to get a bad deal on a good product, but it’s easy to get a good deal on a bad product. Here are some quick tips that I swear by to choose the right mattress for you:

Understand the different types of mattresses.

Innerspring beds are traditional mattresses made of mostly coils. Think firm, bouncy and breathable. We like:

• Saatva's Classic Mattress: It has been our best overall mattress for years. It’s a traditional innerspring with excellent support and has received top praise from hundreds of our panelists.
• Sealy’s Posturepedic Spring: It uses innovative coils for tailored support.

Motion-isolating memory foam mattresses will cradle your body but tend to trap heat. We like:

• Tempur-Pedic's foam options: This includes the Tempur-Cloud, which offers drool-worthy pressure relief and precise support.
• Casper's Original Mattress (over its newer replacement, The One): It’s sold directly on Amazon. It stands out for its zoned support, meaning there’s extra support for your lower back, which is rare for all-foam beds.

Hybrid mattresses use both coils and foam for a balance of comfort and support. We like:

• Bear’s Elite Hybrid: It is the best hybrid mattress we've ever tested and offers ergonomic zoned support and comfort.
• Helix’s Dusk Luxe: This is another favorite, especially among couples who can't agree on firmness level.

Latex beds have a springy feel that makes you feel like you're sleeping "on top" of them. Most are organic, though the motion isolation isn’t great. We like:

• The Avocado Green Mattress: It is the golden standard for organic latex hybrids. It comes in several firmness levels, all complete with zoned coils and certified-organic latex and wool.

Find your desired firmness level.

Think about your sleep position, build, and personal preferences:

• Soft to medium mattresses are best for side sleepers. Similarly, people with smaller bodies will likely need a softer surface for proper alignment.
• Firm mattresses are best for stomach sleepers, and people with bigger frames will likely benefit from firmer bed with more support. For example, mattresses for people over 250 pounds are uniquely constructed with extra support, including reinforced coils.
• Medium firmness mattresses are best for back or combination sleepers.

Take any personal needs into account.

• If you're a hot sleeper, shop a cooling mattress like the Purple Mattress or Casper Snow.
• If you have have chronic hip or back pain, shop the Nolah Original 10" mattress, known for pain relief. It has been a blessing for testers with scoliosis.
• If you prefer an organic mattress, opt for the pick from our most trusted organic brand, Avocado's Green Mattress.

Think about how you'd like it delivered.

Most mattresses sold online are compressed in a box, hence the "mattress in a box" moniker, and are shipped directly to you for self setup, while some will coordinate threshold or white glove delivery. Each delivery method has its pros and cons, so you'll want to decide what's best for you.

Take advantage of trial periods and return policies.

These days, most, if not all, brands and retailers offer trial periods so you can Goldilocks your way through options. Some are more generous than others, and some might require pickup fees.

Make sure to do your research, so you aren't caught off guard if it's ultimately not the right bed for you. Mattresses sold on Amazon can vary: Some will adhere to Amazon’s 90-day return policy, while others may have shorter or extended trials.

Also, don't stress too much about warranties: Most brands will only cover manufacturing defects, rather than wear or tear over time.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've been testing home products for over 125 years. We've closely followed the online mattress industry's rapid expansion since 2014. Each year, our pros research and review hundreds of mattresses and analyze countless data points. Rounding out our Lab evaluations, we also survey readers and organize consumer tests, so we can track real-life feedback.

Senior Textiles Analyst Grace Wu is one of GH's leading mattress experts and has evaluated all types of mattresses. Wu regularly coordinates consumer testing and writes about beds for every type of sleeper. She holds a Master of Engineering in materials science & engineering and a Bachelor of Science in fiber science from Cornell University.