7 things to expect after buying a memory foam mattress

You’ve set your heart on a memory foam mattress, but what’s it going to be like once it arrives in your home? Memory foam mattresses are incredibly popular for a reason, but if you’ve never had one before you might not know what to expect when you unbox one.

Many of our top picks in this year’s best mattress guide for all sleepers are made with memory foam, with the material providing deep pressure relief and contouring to different sleeping positions.

But if you’ve come from sleeping on another type of mattress, you will need to know what to expect from a memory foam mattress, and the differences you’ll encounter compared to more traditional innerspring options.

In this guide we’ll look at what to expect — covering aspects such as unboxing, expansion time, comfort and care tips. Let’s get started…

What is a memory foam mattress?

A memory foam mattress is one that’s made entirely from memory foam and other types of foam. They don’t include any springs or coils, but use a combination of high-density foams and memory foam to provide support and comfort.

The best memory foam mattresses use plenty of memory foam to provide contouring around pressure points, but generally combine this with cooling materials to prevent overheating, as memory foam is notorious for trapping heat.

You will also see memory foam used in many of the best hybrid mattresses , but we’re concentrating on all-foam versions here.

What to expect after buying a memory foam mattress

1. Unboxing a memory foam mattress can be tricky

Buying a mattress in a box can save a lot of money, as well as making it easier for brands to transport and deliver these beds. However, even the best mattresses in a box can be a little tricky to unbox if you don’t know what you’re doing.

First things first – if the mattress brand offers delivery to your bedroom, snap it up. These mattresses can be hefty. If they’re just delivered to your door, make sure there are two of you to carry the mattress upstairs. Many boxes have handles but, if not, you may find it easier to just carry the plastic wrapped mattress upstairs.

Position the mattress on your bed frame and carefully cut open the plastic wrappings. There are usually several layers, with some brands providing a cutter although scissors will work just as well. Be warned, once you release the mattress from its vacuum packing, it will start to expand quickly.

2. You’ll need to let the mattress expand

Mattresses in a box have been compressed with specialist machinery, before being wrapped in heavy duty plastic. This means that when you release them from their plastic, they will initially start to expand fairly quickly. But it does take a certain amount of time for a mattress to expand fully before it can be slept on.

Why is this? Well, you essentially need to allow time for air to get back into each foam layer of the mattress, helping to fully expand the bed and return it to its original mattress shape.

Sleep on a mattress before it’s fully expanded and you run the risk of damaging the layers, preventing them from fully expanding. Mattress expansion times vary between different manufacturers. Nectar mattresses, for example, can be slept on after a few hours but take 72 hours to fully expand. We’d recommend leaving foam mattresses for around 4-6 hours before sleeping on them.

3. You’ll need to open a window

Foam beds in particular can be prone to off-gassing , a side effect of wrapped products such as mattresses in a box.

Off-gassing is the process in which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released from a product as it expands from compression. It isn’t inherently dangerous, but care should be taken if you have asthma or have very young children in the house.

The best way to dissipate the gas quickly is to shut the bedroom door and open all the windows up to get the smell out quickly. Many modern mattresses in a box will stop smelling after an hour or two, although some can off-gas for a couple of days.

4. You might need a new bed frame

The vast majority of bed frames should be suitable for a memory foam mattress, but you do want to avoid placing an all-foam mattress on a base with widely spaced slats. This is because the foam could spill through the slats and not be properly supported, which could then lead to premature sagging of your mattress.

However, slatted bed bases can be a great choice for memory foam mattresses as long as you choose one with slats placed between two and three inches apart. These bed bases should keep a memory foam mattress supported. Our round up of the best bed frames will give you plenty of ideas if you do need a new base.

5. Your body may need time to adjust

A new mattress is always going to feel different, and that difference can be more pronounced if you’re sleeping on an all-foam mattress for the first time. The contouring ‘hug’ that memory foam provides can take some getting used to.

This ‘sink-in’ feeling provides deep pressure relief and plenty of motion isolation but is obviously very different to the bouncier feel of a hybrid, latex or innerspring mattress. This is why manufacturers provide sleep trials , giving sleepers time to try a mattress out.

These generally vary from 100 nights to a whole year, allowing you time for your body to adjust. It’s also worth noting that some all-foam mattresses retain heat, meaning you may notice a change in your body temperature. Fortunately, many brands include features to help combat this and keep mattresses cool.

6. You’ll need to protect it from night one

Although many mattresses come with washable covers, you’d still be advised to invest in one of the best mattress protectors to protect the mattress from any spills and stains. A protector is also considerably easier to remove and wash on a regular basis.

In addition, it’s important to set up a regular schedule to rotate your mattress . Exactly how often you should do this varies from brand to brand but, as a rough guideline, you should rotate your mattress at least every three months. We’d also recommend cleaning your mattress regularly to remove any build-up of dust, dirt and any mites.

7. You may need to fill in a warranty form

Mattress warranties vary from brand to brand, but most will cover manufacturing problems such as sagging, seams coming undone, uneven surfaces, flaws in the cover, failure to inflate properly or sizing inconsistencies.

While most warranties are now activated automatically when you purchase a mattress, you may occasionally find that both boxed and traditional mattresses require you to fill out a warranty form and return it to the brand during your sleep trial period. So, it’s really important to check the warranty terms and conditions on the website / in the shop before you buy any mattress.

What to do if you don’t like your new memory foam mattress

The unique feel of memory foam isn’t for everyone, so what happens if you don’t like your new memory foam mattress? Mattress in a box brands tend to offer a few options if you do decide that the mattress isn’t for you:

• Give the mattress a fair trial: Most brands won’t accept returns or exchanges until you’ve slept on a mattress for at least 30 days. And this is because it takes time to get used to a new mattress and to ‘break’ it in. So, before you return your mattress, make sure you’ve given it a fair trial.
• Ask for a free comfort layer: Some brands will offer a free comfort layer if your mattress is too firm or too soft, helping to alter the feel of the mattress and giving you more time to break it in.
• Exchange the mattress: If the brand you’ve purchased from has other mattresses on offer, you could consider exchanging the mattress for another one that’s firmer or softer (according to your requirements). However, this could mean that you won’t be able to return the replacement at all, so do check the policies.
• Return the mattress: If your mattress is within its trial period, you will be able to return it for a full refund, providing it’s in good condition and not damaged

How to return a memory foam mattress in a box

Different manufacturers will have different guidelines here and our feature on how to return a mattress in a box will give you more details. But, as a general rule of thumb, your first step will be to contact customer service and let them know that you don’t like the mattress. You will need to have slept on it for at least 30 days before you can request a return.

Your mattress brand may be able to offer you a comfort layer to try before returning a mattress, or there may be the option to exchange for another style of mattress on the website.

But if you do decide you want to return the mattress for a refund, you’ll need to make sure that it’s not damaged and doesn’t have any stains or marks on it that could void the warranty. This is why a mattress protector is so important. You also need to make sure that the safety tag is intact.

You obviously aren’t expected to try and fit an expanded mattress back into its box but do make sure you have any paperwork that came with the bed available and that it’s stripped and ready to be collected.

3 memory foam mattresses in a box with free returns

1. Nectar Classic and Nectar Memory Foam: Was from $1,063 /$349 , now from $833 /£349
Nectar’s all-foam mattress, known as the Nectar Classic Memory Foam in the US and simply as the Nectar Memory Foam in the UK is one of the best mattresses for side sleepers as well as a good all-rounder. Surprisingly for an all-foam mattress, temperature regulation is good and both side and back sleepers should find it comfortable. A queen size is now $649 (was $1,563) and a double is £499 (was £1,116), and you'll get free shipping and returns, a 365-night trial, and a forever warranty. View Deal

2. Tempur-Pedic Tempur Cloud and Tempur One: Was from $1,699/£ 1,189.30 , now from $1,449/ £1,349
In the US, Tempur-Pedic’s Tempur Cloud is the brand’s entry-level all-foam mattress, with Tempur’s proprietary Tempur foam. The medium firm mattress has plenty of pressure relief and sinkage, and should appeal to side and some back sleepers. In the UK the Tempur One is the equivalent mattress, although it’s made with just one solid layer of Tempur Adapt foam. It’s available in soft, medium and firm options so you can tweak it to your sleeping requirements. A queen size is now $1,399.30 (was $1,999) and a double is £1,349 was (£1,449), and you'll get free shipping, a 90-night trial, and a 10-year warranty. View Deal

3. Siena Memory Foam: Was from $529 , now from $199
If you’re on a budget in the US, the Siena Memory Foam mattress is an excellent choice. It’s surprisingly firm for an all-foam mattress and is supportive enough for both back and stomach sleepers. We think it’s one of the best cheap mattresses you can buy. Temperature regulation and motion isolation are also excellent, but it does lack some pressure relief. A queen size is now $399 (was $769), and you'll get free shipping and returns, a 180-night trial, and a 10-year warranty. View Deal