Mattress buying checklist

Updated 10 January 2026 · 4 min read

Price is only part of the total cost of a mattress. Run these checks before you order, whichever retailer you buy from.

Before you order

Confirm the size in centimetres, not just the size name. Check the depth against your bed frame and your fitted sheets.

Check the delivery charge, whether it goes to a room of choice, and whether the retailer will take the old mattress away and at what cost.

Note the trial length, who pays return costs, and any condition requirements such as using a mattress protector.

A shorter trial with free returns can be better than a long trial you would have to pay to use.

Read what the warranty covers. Most cover manufacturing faults and a defined amount of sagging, not a change of mind about comfort.

Warranties are often conditional on using a suitable base and, for some models, rotating the mattress regularly.

The same mattress can appear at different prices at different retailers, sometimes with different bundles attached.

Compare the delivered total for the same size and the same model rather than the headline figure.

Answer seven short questions and we will score every mattress we track against your answers.