One of the most important things to look for when you're buying a new mattress is a lengthy sleep trial. That's because it can take you three weeks or more to get used to a new sleep surface, and so most mattress brands will give you a trial period of at least 90 days. However, the precise details of what an at-home mattress trial involves will vary from brand to brand.
The beds in our guide to the best mattresses we've tested can improve your sleep, but even our favorite mattress might not be right for your sleep requirements, which is why you need a sleep trial that won't leave you high and dry. Here's what you need to know about mattress sleep trials — and what important small print you need to look for to order with confidence.
What is a mattress sleep trial?
A mattress sleep trial is an agreed period of time during which you can sleep on a new mattress at home to ensure that it's the right fit for you. If your mattress doesn't meet your sleep needs — or if you simply change your mind — you should be able to return it and get a full refund. (You may have to pay a returns or processing fee.)
You’ll find that you can get sleep trials on most mattresses — from organic mattresses and hybrids to cooling mattresses and even kids' beds.
What is the purpose of a mattress sleep trial period?
Switching to a new mattress – especially if you've been sleeping on your current one for a long time – can be a bit of a shock to the system. Whether your new mattress is firmer, softer or simply made with different materials to the one you're used to, your body is going to need time to adjust.
That's why manufacturers offer sleep trials: they're more reliable than trying out a mattress for five minutes in a showroom, and they're a lifesaver if you made an error when ordering, such as picking the wrong mattress size.
The main reason for making the most of a sleep trial, though, is ensuring that the mattress gives you the right of comfort and support. And that takes time. We're constantly reviewing mattresses at Tom's Guide and we know from experience that it can take a few weeks to decide whether a mattress is a good fit.
Not only does it take your body a few weeks to adjust to the feel of a new bed (especially if you've just switched from a saggy old mattress to a brand new one with plenty of support), it's often necessary to break in your mattress materials. With some of the best memory foam mattresses in particular, and many hybrid beds, the foams can take days or even weeks to start performing properly.
How do mattress sleep trials work?
Mattress sleep trials are largely similar, if not identical, but you'll find some sleep brands include caveats that we'll explain shortly. They may have different names, too, such as 'home trial' or 'mattress trial'.
A trial period gives you a specific number of nights to try out the mattress. This period of time is decided by the manufacturer and is non-negotiable.
The average length of a mattress trial is 100 nights, although brands such as Saatva, Nectar, DreamCloud, and Avocado offer a full year.
If you decide the mattress isn’t right for you within the trial period, you can contact the brand you bought the mattress from and request a refund.
It may not always be that simple, as a brand might offer you an alternative first. For instance, if you say the mattress is too firm, you may be offered the same model in a softer comfort level or sent a mattress topper for a quicker, easier fix.
Can you end a mattress sleep trial early?
Because your body needs time to break in a new mattress, most brands require that you sleep on it for at least 30 nights before initiating a refund. There are a few exceptions; Puffy and Big Fig allow you to end a sleep trial after just two weeks.
A minimum trial ensures you give your body time to properly adjust to a new sleep surface. It also stops customers from requesting a refund immediately after delivery.
If you're buying a mattress for the first time in years, you may experience some initial discomfort as your body adapts to a new level of support. It should clear up by the end of the minimum trial period, but if not, you can start the returns process.
What about third-party mattress sleep trials?
While a sleep trial is a standard benefit when you're buying direct from the brand, things aren't so straightforward if you buy from a third-party retailer such as Amazon, Walmart, or Mattress Firm. You might get a shorter (or occasionally longer) trial, or you may not get one at all.
Third-party retailers usually have different return policies, too, so keep that in mind if you aren't buying directly from a manufacturer.
For more on Amazon's policy, read our feature on how to return a mattress to Amazon.
How about sleep trials for final sale mattresses?
Sleep specialists such as Casper and Tempur-Pedic often run final or closeout sales, in which you’ll find great mattresses reduced by several hundred dollars or even more.
This can mean huge savings, but the big downside is that the sale is literally final, which means you lose the right to a sleep trial. And if you don't get on with your bargain bed, well, you're stuck with it.
Nevertheless, these offers can seem very tempting; we'd suggest that you do your research using professional mattress reviews and user reviews before you buy, though.
Are mattresses free during the sleep trial period?
One phrase you might see is 'risk-free mattress trial', which might seem to suggest that you'll get a mattress for free upfront. That's not the case. What it actually means is that if you change your mind during the trial period, you’ll get all of your money refunded.
If a sleep trials isn't described as risk-free, you might be charged a returns fee, also known as a processing fee, which can range from as little as $99 to nearer $200. Compared with the price of a new mattress this isn't huge sum of money, but it's good to know this information ahead of time..
All mattresses need to be paid for, either fully or via installments, before you can trial them. While you don't have to pay an extra cost to try your new mattress at home, a trial doesn't entitle you to a free mattress.
Which mattress brands have the longest trials?
The longest sleep trial among major mattress brands is a whole year, although a "365-night trial" is one of those mattress buzzwords that you really shouldn't be too bothered about, as you really don't need 12 months to decide whether a bed is for you. There are a few brands offering this in the US and UK.
Here’s a breakdown of the longest sleep trials by brand. We’ve discounted anything under 90 nights, although any trial over 60 nights should be enough help you figure out whether your new bed is a good fit.
Brand: |
Trial length: |
Risk-free: |
|---|---|---|
Saatva |
365 nights |
No |
Nectar |
365 nights |
Yes |
DreamCloud |
365 nights |
Yes |
Awara |
365 nights |
Yes |
Avocado |
365 nights* |
No |
Lull |
365 nights |
No |
Siena |
180 nights |
Yes |
Nolah |
120 nights |
No |
WinkBeds |
120 nights |
Yes |
Brooklyn Bedding |
120 nights |
No |
Layla |
120 nights |
Yes |
Puffy |
101 nights |
Yes |
GhostBed |
101 nights |
Yes |
Helix |
100 nights |
Yes |
Casper |
100 nights |
Yes |
Purple |
100 nights |
No |
Leesa |
100 nights |
Yes (with donation) |
Cocoon by Sealy |
100 nights |
Yes |
Sleep Number |
100 nights |
No |
Stearns & Foster |
90 nights |
No |
Tempur-Pedic |
90 nights |
No |
*Avocado only offers a 100-night trial for its budget Eco Organic Mattress.
Brand: |
Trial length: |
Risk-free: |
|---|---|---|
Dreamcloud UK |
365 nights |
Yes |
Nectar UK |
365 nights |
Yes |
Simba Sleep |
200 nights |
Yes |
Brook + Wilde |
200 nights |
Yes |
Eve Sleep |
200 nights |
Yes (up to the first 40 nights) |
Emma Sleep |
200 nights |
Yes |
Tempur UK |
100 nights |
No |
Mattress sleep trials: the bottom line
Sleep trials are helpful when you buy a new mattress, because they give you enough time to test your new bed and not feel like you’re having to rush towards making a big decision.
They’re even better when they’re risk-free, meaning you’ll get a full refund if you change your mind and won’t have to pay a fee to get the mattress removed and refunded.
We recommend reading the conditions of a brand's mattress trial fully before buying to make sure you understand what criteria you need to meet if you change your mind during the trial period. For example, some brands stipulate that you must sleep on the mattress for at least two weeks and that it must be protected by a waterproof fabric covering. For help there, read our best mattress protectors guide.
