Should I buy a mattress on Labor Day? A sleep editor investigates

Labor Day marks the end of summer and the start of shopping season. It's the time of year that mattress manufacturers cut prices to shift stock and make way for new models in the fall. When you shop the Labor Day mattress sales, you'll find some of the deepest discounts this side of Black Friday.

Already this year, I've seen $1,000 discounts on latex mattresses, as well as smaller savings that make more affordable mattresses seem like a steal. I'm expecting prices to fall even further in advance of Labor Day weekend. With deals dropping all the time, it can be hard to know whether to buy now or wait to shop the Black Friday sales.

That's where I come in. Before I specialized as H&G's sleep writer, I was a price tracker. I spend my days crawling the sites of the major mattress merchants, waiting for deals to drop. I've learned where − and when – to buy the best mattress at the best price.

Should you buy a mattress on Labor Day?

I consulted mattress manufacturers and money-saving experts to learn more about the pros and cons of shopping the Labor Day mattress sales. To streamline your shopping experience, I've picked out a few of the deepest discounts on tested mattresses in the Labor Day sales.

PRO: You can get luxury for less

It's no secret that mattresses are seriously expensive. Outside of sales season, you might expect to drop thousands of dollars to pick up a luxury mattress.

Now, when you're shopping for a premium product, you can't be surprised by a premium price tag. It takes a lot of time and effort to source the materials and manufacturers to make a luxury mattress and the price tag reflects that. Even with a deep discount, courtesy of Labor Day, you're unlikely to see a luxury mattress listed for less than $1,000.

Still, you could save hundreds of dollars on the best luxury mattress when you shop the sales. You might even get a few freebies thrown in, from thermoregulating bed sheets to waterproof mattress protectors. If you're looking to upgrade your bed on a budget, you should take advantage of the Labor Day mattress sales.

PRO: You'll find deep discounts

There's an old adage that mattresses are always on sale. Between all the federal holidays and site-specific sales, it might feel that way. I asked Vice President of Marketing for Sit 'n Sleep Drew Miller to tell me more about what makes Labor Day so special.

Drew puts it down to the sheer breadth and depth of deals. 'Since so many retailers offer Labor Day deals, there's more competition,' says Drew. When you're shopping the Labor Day sales, it pays to keep your options open and consider older models alongside the latest and greatest mattresses.

'Labor Day is a great time to buy a top-of-the-line mattress from last season,' says Drew, 'as retailers are looking to clear out older models and make room for new inventory. These options tend to get even bigger slashes in pricing,' Drew adds.

Labor Day deals aren't confined to the weekend. We're still in August, and I'm already seeing early deals dropping. Drew says that 'Many brands will start their sales early and run through the holiday week' – but once they're gone, they're gone. If you miss out on a Labor Day mattress deal, you might need to wait until Black Friday to bag a mattress at a bargain price.

CON: Budget isn't always better

With so many Labor Day mattress sales to sift through, it can be hard to tell the difference between a genuine deal and a real fake. 'Are mattress sales real?' − that's the question I'm asking as we head into sales season. Between the marketing malpractice and the ongoing lawsuits, you can never be too careful when you're shopping the mattress sales.

Don't get caught out by a dud deal. Money-saving expert David Bakke recommends 'measuring your mattress once it arrives to ensure that it's at least 8 inches thick: anything less is a fake. Your mattress should also have a manufacturer's tag with all of the relevant information, including the make, model, and perhaps a serial number.' Double-check the terms of your mattress warranty so that you understand your rights with refunds and returns. Remember, your warranty is only valid when you're the original buyer: I rarely recommend buying a second-hand mattress.

I'd encourage you to slow down and take a second to consider what you really want and need from a mattress before you start to shop. For example, there's no point picking up a discounted innerspring if you prefer the feel of memory foam: you might just end up replacing it next Labor Day.

If you're keen to upgrade your bed, but you just can't afford a new mattress, you might be better off with one of the best mattress toppers. One of these thick layers of foam could transform the look and feel of your mattress for a fraction of the price of a brand-new bed. When you shop the Labor Day bedding sales, you're bound to find top-quality toppers listed for less.

CON: The mattress you want might not be on sale

Say you've got your eye on a particular mattress, and you've been saving up for months to afford it – but it doesn't get discounted in the Labor Day sales. Rather than rushing in to buy the next best budget bed, I'd encourage you to wait for Black Friday. If the mattress you want is on Amazon, you might even be able to bag it in the October Prime Day sales. A mattress is a major investment and you want to make sure you buy the right bed at the right time for the right price.

In the meantime, there are ways to prolong the life of your mattress. You should flip or rotate your mattress every couple of months to distribute wear and tear more evenly across the surface. Make sure you wrap your mattress in the best mattress protector to guard against sweat, spills, and stains, as well as bed bugs and dust mites.

FAQs

What time of year are mattress sales?

Here's my rule of thumb: whenever there's a federal holiday, there's a mattress sale. Over the next few months, we'll see mattress deals dropping around Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Why are mattresses always on sale?

Not every mattress is always on sale, but I take your point. Between the federal holidays and the site-specific sales, it would seem that there's always a mattress sale running somewhere.

Take note, though, that not every mattress sale is real: some of the biggest names in bedding stand accused of listing the same 'sales price' all year round in a practice known as price anchoring.

Our verdict

If you know you need a new mattress, and you'd like to take stock of your options, I'd recommend shopping the Labor Day mattress sales. You'll find the widest range of deals and the deepest discounts this side of Black Friday.

Stick to the specialist sleep stores to get a water-tight warranty and ensure you're paying for a premium product, rather than a brand name. If the mattress of your dreams isn't listed for less, don't feel the need to fill the void with something inferior: just wait for the next holiday weekend to roll around.