A good mattress isn’t cheap. Most of us assume that the money we spend means we will benefit from a comfortable, good night’s sleep for years to come. But unfortunately, there are times when things go wrong with your bed through no fault of your own.
A mattress warranty will spell out what happens if your mattress is defective or doesn’t deliver what the company promised. Knowing the types of mattress warranties and understanding how they work can help you make a better decision of what kind of bed provides the best (and most reliable) value over time.
What Is A Mattress Warranty?
A mattress warranty guarantees that your bed will perform as promised over time. According to Serta, “Because we strongly believe in the quality, design and craftsmanship of our products, Serta products are warrantied.“
Federal law requires manufacturers to provide written notice of their warranties, easily accessible for review before a consumer buys a mattress. Bed companies will typically publish their detailed mattress warranties on the company website, mattress stores, retail partners and literature about the mattress, including tags.
Types Of Mattress Warranties
There are different mattress warranties to be aware of. Here’s a breakdown of each type:
Full warranty
Covers replacement or repair of qualifying defects for a period of time, such as ten years, twenty years or a lifetime. Although it’s called a full warranty, you may not receive the complete repair or replacement coverage for the whole term. Conditions may change after a certain amount of time.
Limited warranty
The manufacturer has set some limits to the warranty. When you see that the warranty is limited, be sure to read the fine print to find the exceptions. It may be that the warranty only covers certain parts of the mattress against defects, such as the springs, but not the fabric cover, for example.
Prorated
A prorated warranty will require you to pay towards a warranty repair or replacement. A good example would be a 10-year warranty in which the mattress fails in some way after six years. The manufacturer will prorate your warranty and ask you to pay 60% of the cost to fix or replace the defective part.
Non-prorated
A non-prorated warranty means you’ll have some out-of-pocket expenses because of a warranty repair or replacement. The costs aren’t related to how much time is left on the warranty as it would be in a prorated warranty. Instead, you may be expected to pay for labor or shipping costs for the approved service.
Graded
A graded warranty is a hybrid of prorated and non-prorated coverage. Graded warranties are more common when there’s a longer guarantee of 20 years or more. You may receive non-prorated coverage for the first ten years and be expected to pay for specific costs. After ten years, prorated coverage kicks in, and you’ll need to assume over half the costs, which would increase each year.
What Is Covered Under A Mattress Warranty?
Not everything is covered under a mattress warranty. Warranties can differ from one bed manufacturer to another, but most mattress warranties share some commonalities on what types of physical defects are included.
Sagging
The most common form of physical defect that mattress owners notice is a sagging mattress. Each manufacturer has its guidelines on how they determine whether your mattress is defectively sagging. It’s typically a test that measures how far off a snap line a mattress sags in certain spots. A sag of one inch or more may be deemed as a qualifying defect if a box spring or platform properly and continuously supported the mattress.
Seams
The stitching on a mattress experiences a lot of wear and tear. If a seam fails, the components inside could also fail. In other cases, stitches may be missing, which could cause a large tear or split. Mattress warranties typically provide coverage for seams.
Coils
Coils can come loose over time or break. When they do, they can cause further damage to the surrounding foam and even rip the mattress cover.
Foam
You may notice bunchy spots of foam on your bed. If you do, it may be a defect. It’s best to contact the manufacturer and report the issue. A mattress warranty typically covers sagging and bunching.
What Is Not Covered Under A Mattress Warranty?
Not everything is covered by a mattress warranty. If your child spilled juice and stained the bed, a mattress company would not cover the stain. Besides staining, wear and tear is not covered, such as:
- Stains
- Tears
- Comfort issues, such as an overly firm bed
- Sagging caused by weight or lack of a quality box spring for support
How Long Do Mattress Warranties Last?
Mattress warranties can last between five years and a lifetime. Each manufacturer has its own guarantees. The longest warranties right now are:
Factors That Can Void A Mattress Warranty
As mentioned in whether a sagging mattress would be covered as a warranty issue, a bed that did not have proper continuous support could end up voiding the warranty. This means that any defects found may be chalked up to improper use by the manufacturer, causing them not to honor the warranty. Other factors include:
- Removing the legal tag
- Not being the original owner
How To File A Claim For A Mattress Warranty
If you need to file a mattress warranty claim, follow these steps to request proper warranty support:
- Photograph the issue to show the company
- Contact the company
- Complete any paperwork the company asks you to fill out
- Consent to an inspector to come and look at your mattress. You may need to pay for the inspector, but if the damage is proven to be covered under warranty, the inspector fee may be far less.
Brand-Specific Warranties
When shopping around for a mattress, know which companies stand behind their beds by reviewing their warranties. Here are what some of the top companies guarantee:
| Brand | Warranty Length | Type of Warranty |
| Avocado | 25 years | Non-prorated for the first 10 years. Prorated at 5% each year after. Prorated for years 21 to 25 at 95%. |
| Casper | 10 years | Non-prorated, a mattress warranty would be voided if the bed’s support slats are more than 4″ apart. |
| Nectar | Lifetime | Graded warranty. After 10 years, you must pay $50 each way for mattress shipping, which could be reimbursed if the mattress is found defective. |
| Puffy | Lifetime | The lifetime warranty can be upgraded to Quick Sleep after 10 years, which allows you to receive a replacement for half the price. |
| Tuft & Needle | 10 years | Mattress must only be used within the USA. |
FAQs
How long is a mattress warranty?
A mattress warranty is a type of coverage offered by the manufacturer that pays for repairs or replacement if the bed is defective.
Do stains void mattress warranty?
Stains do not void the mattress warranty and aren’t covered.
What mattress has a lifetime warranty?
There are a few mattresses with a lifetime warranty currently available:
- Layla
- Nectar
- Puffy
- WinkBeds
How is a warranty different from a sleep trial?
A sleep trial is the designated period of time you have to test the mattress and decide if you like it enough to buy or keep it. A warranty kicks in after you purchase the mattress and covers all or part of the repair or replacement costs for any mattress parts the manufacturer considers defective.
How do I know if my mattress is SAG warranty?
The most common type of physical defect in a mattress is sagging. Chances are, your mattress has a sag warranty, details of which could be found in the warranty terms.