Ah, so it's once again time to get yourself a brand-new mattress. As exciting as mattress shopping can be, the sheer amount of options can seem endless. You're faced with huge variations in materials, styles, fillings and size options. However, the most crucial deciding factor could be the all-important price tag.
All this can leave you asking yourself, "How much should I pay for a mattress?". Mattresses can vary in cost almost as much as they differ in style. Before you're tempted to click the buy now button at your favourite retailer, firstly, take some time to consider the aspects that affect the price of a mattress. In this post, we will be delving into the mattress manufacturing process so you can better understand what affects the prices of mattresses.
So, without further ado, let's begin!
What goes into the cost of a mattress?
1. Springs
Quality mattresses contain springs made from coiled steel, varying in style and quality. The thickness of the steel and the composition of the spring will affect the mattress's cost. Let's discuss the different types of springs!
Heat tempered springs
Heat tempering is a process in which the steel is heated and then cooled to a particular temperature to improve the strength of the spring and decrease brittleness. This results in super-strong mattress springs that will give your body all the support it needs to sleep comfortably.
Pocket springs
Pocket spring mattresses contain hundreds of individually wrapped springs in fabric pockets. Working independently from each other, each spring reacts only to the pressure applied to that area for more personal support! These mattresses are perfect for sleeping in pairs, as they also reduce any excess movement to avoid nighttime disturbances.
Open coil springs
Open coil mattresses are the most traditional type. They tend to be cheaper as they can be manufactured quickly and easily on a large scale. They don't offer as much support as pocket spring mattresses and typically include around 300 springs.
2. Insulator pads
The insulator pads prevent the mattress foam from going into the springs. The pads can be made from natural or synthetic fibres. Natural fibres, made from cotton, are approximately a third of the cost of synthetic pads to produce but may hold dust mites and be subject to mould.
3. Foam
The price of memory foam mattresses can vary enormously, though there are also latex foam and reflex foam mattresses to broaden your options. The advantage of more expensive foam is its higher density, which many people find more comfortable. Many of these foams will also adapt to your body as you sleep using your body heat. Find out more in our memory foam mattress buying guide!
4. Fibres
More expensive mattresses may contain temperature-regulating fibres, which dissipate your body heat over the entire mattress throughout the night. This means that you stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It may sound great but don't forget that it will cost extra!
5. The cover
You might not think about it, but the cover of your mattress will also impact how much it costs. A double mattress is covered in about six yards of material. The material cost can range from less than £1 a yard to over £10 a yard, which affects the price. Also, some mattresses are made with higher quality materials, such as damask fabric, which can increase the costs.
6. Machinery
To assemble all the raw materials into a mattress requires specialist machinery that can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to buy. On top of this, it also costs a lot to keep those machines running to keep up with the demand of customers!
7. Labour, transport and profit
Of course, the people who make the mattresses need to be paid; otherwise, they can't earn a living! Mattresses are also quite big and bulky items, so transporting them from a warehouse into your home can be a costly affair.
The store or online retailer selling the mattress must make a profit to ensure the business stays open and staff's wages can be paid. Adding all this up can result in one expensive package, so remember this the next time you're browsing a range of mattresses. If you're looking for an excellent mattress at an affordable price, check out our range, from orthopaedic mattresses to pocket sprung. Make sure that you're buying the right mattress for your needs with our helpful mattress buying guide.
