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Replace Every 8: How Often Should You Change Your Mattress?

Last updated: September 2025

Replace every 8

At Dreams, we know just how important a great night's sleep is. After all, we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, plus the extra time in our bed relaxing, binge-watching our favourite show, and cuddling a loved one. That's why our experts recommend replacing your mattress every 8 years to ensure it doesn't become what keeps you up at night.

Why is it important to change your mattress regularly?

Mattress stack

Optimal comfort

According to research by The Furniture Industry Research Association, new mattresses are far more comfortable than those purchased just 6 years ago.

Proper support

Over time, everyday wear and tear can affect the support your mattress provides, leading to poor spinal alignment and causing those niggling aches and pains. Replacing your mattress every 8 years helps keep it performing at its best. In fact, a study from the Journal of Applied Ergonomics found that people with back pain experienced a 63% improvement after switching to a new mattress.

Better sleep

Scientists have found that people enjoy better quality sleep on a new mattress than on an old one. This means you'll spend more time in the crucial deep and REM sleep stages, where your body and brain undergo essential repair and restoration.

Increased hygiene

After 8 years, your mattress will have soaked up large amounts of sweat and dead skin – even with regular cleaning – which can cause allergies. Therefore, replacing it ensures your sleep environment is clean and hygienic.

How long does a mattress last?

How to tell when it's time to replace your mattress

  1. Check the label: All our mattresses come with a delivered-on date, helping you track how old your mattress is and when it needs replacing.
  2. You wake up with aches and pains: Discomfort or soreness in the morning, especially around the joints or back, could be a sign that your mattress is no longer providing sufficient support and needs updating.
  3. Your sleep is getting worse: If you wake up feeling groggy, tossing and turning more than usual, or struggling to get comfortable at night, your mattress might be to blame. Over time, mattresses lose their ability to provide the right level of support, leading to restless nights and poor-quality sleep.
  4. Your mattress is noisy: If it has started squeaking when you get in and out of bed or at the slightest movement, it's a sign that the springs have weakened or are rubbing against each other, indicating they can no longer support your weight properly.
  5. Look out for lumps and sagging: Over time, the mattress's materials can soften and move, causing irregularities in the surface.
  6. You're rolling into the middle of the bed: When your mattress loses its structure, it can become uneven, causing dips. This can cause uneven weight distribution, causing you to shift towards the middle of the bed.
  7. Your partner's movements are keeping you up: If your partner's tossing and turning has started waking you up when it didn't previously do so, it could signal that your mattress is no longer distributing your weight properly.
  8. Your allergies get worse at night: If you notice that you sneeze, itch, or cough more when you get in bed, it could be a sign that your mattress needs replacing. Old mattresses hold onto dust mites and allergens, so updating them regularly for good hygiene is essential. Discover our range of naturally hypoallergenic mattresses for your fresh start.
  9. You've noticed an odour: We naturally sweat and shed dead skin at night. Over 8 years, this can add up, leaving behind an unpleasant smell – a clear warning that it's time to change your mattress.
  10. You prefer sleeping elsewhere: If you find yourself getting a better night's sleep when you stay at a friend's, in a hotel or even in your guest room, it's a sign that your mattress is the issue and it's time for a change.

How to prolong the lifespan of your mattress

  • Using a mattress protector to prevent wear and tear and increase hygiene.
  • Rotating or flipping your mattress regularly.
  • Keep it clean by vacuuming and spot-cleaning stains as soon as they occur. For more tips, read our mattress care guide.
  • Avoid jumping or excessive weight by following the weight guidelines and not placing heavy objects on your bed.
  • Occasionally, remove the bedding for a couple of hours when you change your sheets to allow airflow to your mattress.

Choosing a new mattress

Mattresses recommended by us

Ideas & Guides

Our Inspiration & Advice hub is jam-packed with helpful buying guides, inspirational interior ideas, and articles from our Sleep Matters Club website. We hope you enjoy reading it all.