Shopping for a mattress can be an exhausting task. Online mattress shopping often provides shoppers with more flexibility to explore different options without being inconvenienced by store crowds or salespeople.
Additionally, most online mattresses provide generous sleep trial periods so buyers can establish whether a specific mattress meets their needs. Finally, top mattress brands like Tuft & Needle and Avocado offer showrooms in certain cities where customers can physically try the mattresses before making their selection.
Online
Many top retailers specialize in selling mattresses exclusively online, which means you can test beds for comfort without paying delivery or return fees, and also compare prices across brands.
Purple and Nectar mattress-in-a-box companies provide generous trial periods that let you experience their mattresses for as long as necessary before buying one – they even ship your mattress directly to your home and remove your old one! In our 2022 survey, Consumer Reports members who purchased from these companies gave them high marks for customer service and delivery services.
Mattress Firm is another great online option, though not as comprehensively listed here. They carry a large selection and have highly rated salespeople to assist you in finding your ideal mattress.
Macy’s department store chain offers an impressive selection of mattresses. Their online portal enables shoppers to browse options by size, brand and type – including gel memory foam and innerspring mattresses from Beautyrest, Sealy and Serta brands – with any written quote from competitors being matched up to 100 days later.
Mattress King offers an expansive selection of mattresses in locations nationwide and provides free shipping on most purchases. In addition to selling its own line and those from other brands (Casper and Tuft & Needle are two we highly recommend), the retailer also provides various financing solutions with zero or deferred payments as options.
Avocado Mattress Shop, another top-rated retailer, sells nine mattresses (including a crib mattress) under their own brand as well as from other manufacturers. Their eco-friendly mattresses are certified by GreenGuard to have low chemical emissions; furthermore, Avocado has received certification as a B-Corp to demonstrate it has met social and environmental performance standards.
If you’re in search of a hybrid mattress, the Avocado Green Mattress from this retailer might be your perfect match. Boasting organic cotton and latex construction with an outer wool layer for comfort and support, customers can test this mattress either in-store or online (where free ground shipping and a 101-night home trial apply).
Specialty Stores
Some traditional stores still provide customers with the traditional showroom experience by providing them with an assortment of mattress models to test. This may include specialty mattress showrooms, department stores and furniture stores; most typically featuring one brand with their own showrooms – although in more populated areas multiple brands may have multiple showrooms as well.
These stores often boast knowledgeable salespeople who can guide shoppers in selecting a mattress. Furthermore, these stores often give customers an idea of how different mattresses will feel in their own homes before purchasing one. Unfortunately, however, this method lacks the flexibility of online shopping as you cannot easily compare different options at the same time and are vulnerable to distractions like loud television ads and flashy pop-up ads.
Another type of store becoming increasingly common is boutique gallery style retailers. These types of shops typically showcase smaller collections of handcrafted and generally higher quality mattresses made by hand. Their primary objective is connecting with their customers rather than profits as a primary motivation; thus they may provide discounts or offer generous trial periods.
Large department and big box store chains carry only a select variety of mattresses in their showrooms, often featuring the biggest names like Simmons, Sealy and Serta. Although these stores may provide convenient one-stop shopping solutions with various financing and credit options available to them, sometimes their staff become preoccupied with selling you their product instead of being attentive to meeting your individual needs.
Some department stores, like Macy’s and Kohl’s, feature dedicated areas for mattresses that are well organized with an excellent selection of premium options. These stores can be great places to find mattresses as they typically employ experienced teams of professionals that can help guide your choices and answer any questions that arise during shopping for one. In addition, you may even find exceptional sales or promotions which could save a considerable amount of money!
General Furniture Stores
As faster and cheaper shipping has made possible, many online mattress retailers have opened showrooms in physical stores so shoppers can experience lying on a model before making their selection. These locations may offer various benefits, such as being free from commission-based salespeople’s pitches as well as seeing what a mattress looks like in person; in our survey CR members ranked these types of stores highly for their wide selection and clean showrooms.
General furniture and home furnishing stores also stock mattresses, although their selection may be more limited than specialty stores. If they’re convenient to you and offer delivery service, these stores could be good options to consider; just make sure the salesperson you work with knows their products without financial motivations to push specific models onto you.
Furniture and home furnishing stores typically carry more options than mattress-focused showrooms, making them an excellent choice for shoppers who require multiple pieces for their bedroom furniture needs. Furthermore, furniture stores may be able to offer better pricing during sales events than mattress showrooms.
Home furnishings and department stores that partner with mattress brands to sell their products offer convenient one-stop shopping experiences, featuring knowledgeable sales staff who offer a selection of mattress types and sizes to choose from.
Our survey revealed that Consumer Report members gave these retailers high marks for their large selection, knowledgeable staff, clean showrooms and efficient and courteous delivery services.
Some online-only mattress retailers have opened physical showrooms in order to reach more customers. Amerisleep provides customers with a 100-night sleep trial in its retail stores, giving customers the chance to try the mattress in their home environment before returning it and having it donated directly back into local charities if it does not satisfy. Similar policies exist across other online-only mattress retailers.
Department Stores
Your local department store might offer an impressive selection of mattresses. When shopping in this way, a salesperson can discuss each mattress option available to find the one that is the best match for you. Furthermore, sales periods like Presidents’ Day or Black Friday might present you with some opportunities; but be mindful that you won’t be able to test out any mattress prior to making a decision and might not find as many different types in its showroom.
Many mattress brands provide both physical stores and online outlets, including Sleep Number, The Original Mattress Factory and Tempur-Pedic. When shopping in-store you may avoid commission-based salespeople while also giving yourself the chance to try mattresses that may not be offered directly through company sites.
However, purchasing in-store may mean paying a higher price compared to when purchasing it online due to online retailers often offering their customers discounts by cutting out middlemen.
Another advantage of shopping in-store is being able to take your time browsing a showroom. Mattresses are highly personal items, and lying on them directly will give you invaluable insight into whether they may be suitable.
Shopping at a specialty store gives you an opportunity to see and test mattresses you might not find on your own, such as memory foam or latex models. These types of luxurious mattresses often provide cooling properties, comfortable bounce, and pressure relief features for those suffering from back or neck pain.
Finding a mattress bargain at a general furniture store may also be possible; these establishments often carry an array of household products, making them great one-stop shops. Unfortunately, their selection of mattresses will likely be smaller than at a specialty mattress shop or department store.
The Sleep Loft - Online mattress showroom 