When should you replace a mattress? Seven signs it's time
The National Bed Federation suggests replacing a mattress after about seven years, which is roughly 20,000 hours of use, and Which? suggests eight to ten. Both agree the calendar is only a prompt, and what really tells you it's time is how you sleep and what the mattress looks like.
Below are seven signs worth checking, and two things that look like signs but aren't. We sell beds, so we've based the signs on guidance from the National Bed Federation and Which? rather than our own, and if your mattress passes, keep it.
1. You wake up stiff or achy, and it eases once you're up
Aches in your back, hips or shoulders that are worst when you wake and ease as the morning goes on usually point at the mattress. When a mattress loses its support, your hips sink and your spine curves through the night, and your body spends the first part of the day recovering.
Simon Williams of the National Bed Federation has said an uncomfortable bed could rob you of up to an hour's sleep a night. If the pain doesn't ease during the day, see your GP, because the mattress may not be the cause.
2. You sleep better somewhere else
If you sleep better in a hotel, a spare room or a friend's house than in your own bed, your mattress is the most likely reason. It's on the National Bed Federation's list of signs, and it's the easiest one to test.
Notice how you feel after a couple of nights away, then after your first night back. It's easy to put a good night away down to the break, so it's worth paying attention to.
3. You roll towards the middle, or towards your partner
Rolling into the middle of the bed, or towards your partner, usually means the support in the centre of the mattress has worn. It's the first sign on the National Bed Federation's list.
The middle of a mattress takes the most weight, especially when two people share it, so it's usually the first part to give.
4. You can see a dip or feel a spring
A hollow that's still there after you get up, visible lumps, or a spring you can feel through the cover are all signs a mattress is worn out. To check, strip the bed and look at it in daylight, then run a hand across the surface where you sleep.
A shallow, even impression on a mattress with natural fillings is different, and is normal. There's more on that below.
5. You feel every move your partner makes
If you're woken by your partner turning over when you didn't used to be, the mattress's support layers are probably wearing. A mattress in good condition absorbs most of that movement.
If it's been like that since the day you bought it, the problem is more likely the type of mattress, or a bed that's too small for two, than its age.
6. It creaks, squeaks or twangs
Noises at night can mean the springs in a mattress are going, and they're on the National Bed Federation's list of signs. Check the base or frame first, though, because a cracked slat or a loose bolt makes the same noise and is much cheaper to fix.
7. It's stained, smells, or your allergies are worse in bed
A mattress that's stained or smells, or that leaves you sneezing at night even after airing and vacuuming, is due for replacing. Which? says that by seven years a mattress could have absorbed the equivalent of a bathful of body moisture, and the National Bed Federation notes that mattresses can be a major source of dust mites.
Stripping the bed and airing the mattress for a few hours once a month, a light vacuum and a mattress protector all help a mattress stay fresh for longer.
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Two things that look like signs but aren't
Shallow body impressions on a mattress with natural fillings, and a new mattress feeling unfamiliar for the first few weeks, are both normal. Neither means the mattress is failing or that you chose the wrong one.
Body impressions
Body impressions are shallow, even hollows where you lie, and on a mattress with generous natural fillings they're a sign the mattress is working properly. The National Bed Federation says settlement on its own isn't an indication that a mattress is failing.
The difference from wear is that an impression is shallow and follows where you sleep, while a worn dip is deeper, often on one side or in the middle, and doesn't recover when you get up.
A new mattress feeling different
A new mattress often feels quite different from the old one for the first few weeks, and that's normal. Your body needs time to get used to a new level of support, and the fillings settle over the first few weeks or months, more so in mattresses with more luxurious fillings.
Give it a few weeks before deciding it's wrong.
Does age on its own mean it's time?
No, age on its own isn't a reason to replace a mattress, and seven years is best treated as the point to start checking rather than a deadline. A mattress that's well made, turned regularly and protected will last longer than one that isn't.
How long it lasts also depends on what it sits on. The National Bed Federation says an old or worn base can shorten the life of a new mattress and may affect its guarantee, so check the base whenever you check the mattress.
What can you do if the mattress is only partly worn?
If a mattress is only slightly too firm, a topper can add comfort, but it can't fix a dip, a broken spring or lost support, because it sits on top of the problem. Before spending anything, check the base, since a sagging base can make a sound mattress feel worn.
If your mattress is turnable and you haven't been turning it, start. Once a mattress is past its first three months, our advice is to turn it once a month. Non-turn mattresses shouldn't be flipped, so follow the care instructions that came with yours.
What should you do if it's time for a new mattress?
Lie on the replacement before you buy it, for at least ten minutes, in the position you normally sleep in, and with your partner if you share the bed. It's the most reliable way to compare mattresses, because firmness ratings aren't standardised between brands. There's more on why that matters and how to test a mattress properly.
Roomes has over 70 beds and mattresses from six brands to try in its Upminster showroom, about four miles from Romford and six from Brentwood, and the team will help you work out which one you actually need. Here's what you'll find in the bed department. When your new mattress is delivered, Roomes can take the old one away on the same visit if you mention it when you order.
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The short version
The seven signs a mattress needs replacing are stiff mornings that ease, sleeping better elsewhere, rolling into the middle, a dip or a spring you can feel, being disturbed by your partner's movements, creaking, and stains or smells that airing doesn't shift. If more than one applies, it's probably time.
Shallow body impressions and an unfamiliar first few weeks aren't signs of a problem, and seven years is when to start checking, not a date to buy by.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you replace a mattress? The National Bed Federation suggests about every seven years, which is roughly 20,000 hours of use, and Which? suggests eight to ten. Both agree it depends more on condition than age. If you wake up stiff, sleep better elsewhere, or can see a dip that doesn't recover, it's time regardless of the date.
What are the signs you need a new mattress? The most common signs are waking up stiff or achy, sleeping better away from home, rolling towards the middle of the bed, a visible dip or springs you can feel, being disturbed by your partner's movements, creaking, and stains, smells or allergies that airing doesn't fix. If more than one applies, it's probably time for a new mattress.
How long does a mattress last? A mattress typically lasts seven to ten years, depending on how well it's made, how it's cared for and what base it sits on. Turning it if it's turnable, using a protector and airing it monthly all help it last longer. A worn or unsuitable base shortens its life.
Is a dip in my mattress normal? A shallow, even impression where you sleep is normal on a mattress with generous natural fillings, and the National Bed Federation says it's a sign the fillings are doing their job. A hollow that's deeper on one side or in the middle, or that doesn't recover when you get up, is wear.
Can a mattress topper fix an old mattress? A topper can soften a mattress that's too firm or add comfort to one that's still supportive underneath. It can't fix a dip, a broken spring or a mattress that's lost its support, because it sits on top of the problem. If your mattress has dipped or you can feel the springs, a topper is the wrong fix.
Should I replace the base at the same time as the mattress? Check the base whenever you replace a mattress. The National Bed Federation says an old or unsuitable base can shorten the life of a new mattress and may affect its guarantee. If the base is sagging, creaking or as old as the mattress, it's usually worth replacing both together.
What happens to my old mattress if I buy a new one from Roomes? Roomes will collect and dispose of your old mattress when it delivers the new one, so mention it when you order. Roomes has over 70 beds and mattresses to try in its Upminster showroom, about four miles from Romford.
- 12th September 2026
