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Mattress FAQ | What Is the Comfort Life of a Mattress & Why Does It Matter?

Mattress FAQ | What Is the Comfort Life of a Mattress & Why Does It Matter?

If you’ve read enough of our articles, seen enough of our videos, or generally hung around here long enough, you may have heard us use the term “comfort life”. Especially when we’re talking about mattresses and how long they should last. But exactly what do we mean when we discuss the “comfort life” of a mattress?

In today’s short article we’re diving into comfort life. Below, we’ll define what comfort life is, why it’s the best way to discuss mattress wear and longevity, and why it should matter to mattress shoppers like you!

What Is Comfort Life?

When we talk about a mattress’ comfort life, we’re talking precisely about the amount of quality use you can expect to get out of it. Put simply, comfort life is the comfort you should expect from a mattress over its lifetime. Or to put it mathematically, Comfort Life = Comfort / Time.

A product’s comfort life primarily depends upon how materials and components like various memory foams and innerspring coils wear over time. For that reason, this term is most often used to discuss products like mattresses, bases or foundations. However, since upholstered furniture like sofas are constructed with similar materials, you may occasionally hear comfort life discussed in regards to upholstery too.

Here’s the bottom line. A mattress’ comfort life determines how long it maintains that brand-new feel that you fell in love with at the showroom.

Why Is Comfort Life Our Standard for Measuring Mattress Life Cycles? And Why Should Comfort Life Matter to Mattress Shoppers?

So, why the special term? Wouldn’t it be easier to just say “durability”? Well, not exactly. Comfort life isn’t simply about how long a mattress will last, but about how long it will provide that like-new performance that helps you get the deep and restful sleep you deserve.

As you’ve likely heard, different experts within the mattress industry recommend replacing your mattress anywhere between every 8 to 10 years, although this can vary greatly depending on mattress construction, brand, and frequency of use. However, just because most mattresses will last this long, does not mean that every mattress has the same comfort life.

 

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For instance, two mattresses of vastly different quality may have a similar 10 year manufacturers’ warranty, but one will allow for much deeper body impressions, hammocking, or dips in the mattress’ surface before they consider it defective. This evidence suggests that what is considered acceptable wear and tear can vary greatly between mattress manufacturers. As a result, the comfort life of a budget or entry level mattress will likely be inferior to that of a higher-end or luxury mattress, even if it claims to last the same amount of time.

A great example of this is the difference between Tempur-Pedic’s TEMPUR material and many other memory foams and gel memory foams on the market. High-end mattresses like Tempur-Pedic that utilize higher quality foams in their construction tend to have a longer comfort life because they will retain that showroom feel years into their life cycle. By contrast, more affordable options may still feel great early on, but tend to show their age much earlier.

Have More Mattress Questions? Need Tips for Better Sleep? Let Us Be Your Guide!

Now that you understand comfort life and how it can be useful when comparing different mattresses on the market, you’re one step closer to making an informed decision on your next mattress purchase. Whether you shop with Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet or elsewhere, we hope to be a helpful resource to you on your next mattress shopping journey.

If you have additional mattress questions or are in need of sound sleep advice, take advantage of our convenient, online chat feature and speak with one of our sleep experts today! Finally, don’t miss our ever-growing collection of resources on mattress information and getting better sleep. The articles below are just a preview of the many mattress and sleep solutions we have here online:

 
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