What does a Mattress Warranty Cover?

A mattress warranty can be tricky to understand. It’s not quite a sleep trial; it’s not quite a return period, but a contract between you and the company to make sure your mattress does what it’s supposed to do. Every company’s warranty is slightly different, so the first thing you need to do when you buy a mattress is to make sure you understand the warranty. In fact, look at the warranties before you even purchase a mattress. A better warranty might influence your shopping. 

If you’ve wondered, “What does a mattress warranty cover?” we’ll go over all of that here. Not only that, but we’ll go through what’s not covered and what will void your warranty entirely. Pay close attention because all warranties are different, and you want to make sure you understand how they work.

What is a Mattress Warranty?

Mattress warranties are a guarantee for customers. This bed warranty promises the consumer that the mattress will be replaced, fixed, or refunded if it’s defective. Mattress warranties can vary in length but are usually for a period of a few years. Higher-quality mattresses may have longer warranties because they’re expected to last longer. 

Mattress warranties are there for a consumer if something goes wrong with a mattress’s construction or workmanship—not for damage caused by normal usage. When your mattress is under warranty, it means that if it becomes defective, the company will be on the hook for it as long as you meet the requirements. The mattress warranty claim generally requires you to provide proof of when it was purchased, evidence of the defect, and in some cases, you may have to return the mattress to the company, as well. The FTC can provide a further breakdown on warranties as well, including specifics like a bed-in-a-box warranty. 

Types of Mattress Warranties

• Implied warranty: These warranties generally vary by state, so it’s essential to check with your own state’s consumer protection office to see what is covered for you. These warranties are typically in place, even if the company you purchase from didn’t have a warranty in place.
• Written warranty: Just like it sounds, this is a warranty in writing and is the standard practice.
• Spoken warranty: These are a little wishy-washy, but sometimes a salesperson may tell you of a warranty. If you’re in a situation where a salesperson verbally tells you of a warranty, ask them to put it in writing or direct you to where it can be found in writing. 

What does a mattress warranty cover?

• Defects: Mattress warranties largely cover manufacturing defects that the consumer does not directly cause. These defects include broken coils or springs, damaged seams,  or foam bunching. Foam bunching, in particular, might come up under a memory foam mattress warranty.
• Sagging: This will vary from company to company, but many warranties will cover sagging to a certain extent. By design, mattresses should last for several years without much sagging, so if your mattress starts to sag sooner and hits a certain measurement, it could be considered defective.

What doesn’t a mattress warranty cover?

• Normal wear and tear: It’s expected that a mattress will start to show normal wear and tear over the years, and this is not covered under warranty. This is something like stains, unevenness caused by sleeping or minimal sagging. 
• Changing your mind: If you change your mind on your mattress after the sleep trial, you can’t use your warranty to return it. Warranties are designed for defective mattresses only.

What can void a mattress warranty?

• Resale: The warranty only applies to the person who purchased the mattress from the company or mattress store. Once the mattress has been resold, the warranty is void. The warranty requires proof of purchase from the brand or store in your name, and if you don’t have that, you can’t cash in on the warranty.
• Removing the tag: The tag on the mattress is there for a reason. If you remove that, you cannot use the warranty. This tag is your proof of purchase, and without it, the company cannot verify the product and is under no obligation to help you.
• A non-supportive base: If you don’t properly use your mattress on the right base, thus causing damage, your warranty will not apply. This is why it’s important to have a bed frame and box spring so that your mattress will be supported.