How Often Do Hotels Change Mattresses?

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. [Read our full health disclaimer]

Updated on February 16, 2023

Do you remember the last night you spent in a hotel? Did you get a restful slumber on a heavenly bed, or were you up all hours tossing and turning?

Hotel mattresses can vary in quality significantly, from supportive and dreamy to lumpy and nightmarish. The mattress’s age plays a key role in its comfort, but that’s difficult to discern when staying in a hotel.

How often do hotels replace mattresses? Unfortunately, there is no exact number of years of how often hotels change their mattresses. It varies greatly from the wear and tear of guests. But a way to find out would be to check the bed for unevenness, squeaking, or stains. Keep reading because we’ll take a closer look at how major hotels care for their mattresses, what brands they use, and how to use this info to get a better night’s rest whether you’re on the road or at home.

The Importance of Changing Mattresses

Mattresses aren’t cheap, and lugging them around isn’t easy, so it’s understandable that people are reluctant to change them. But you need a new one when your current mattress gets too old. What goes wrong if you sleep on a mattress for too long?

Hotel room with brown linens

First, mattresses lose structural integrity over time. Innerspring, foam, hybrids, and all other types will sink inward, resulting in a lack of stability. Any change in a mattress’s support level can result in stiffness and pain in your back, neck, hips, and elsewhere.

Additionally, changing mattresses on a regular basis helps maintain good hygiene. Over time, dander builds on the surface of the mattress and within. As it accumulates, it acts as an attractive enticement for mites, bed bugs, and other unwanted invaders.

What Types of Mattresses are Found in Major Hotel Chains?

Major chains frequently tout the quality and comfort of their hotel beds, each establishment promising that they provide the best night’s sleep. Most furnish their rooms with unique, specially-designed mattresses. In many cases, hotels also sell their mattresses for home use.

Here’s what you’re sleeping on when you stay at these big-name, five-star hotels.

Hilton

The Hilton Serenity Bed is arguably the most popular hotel-based mattress. It’s an innerspring mattress that provides total-body support for any sleep position. Additionally, it has a unique quilted design that allows for robust air circulation to help keep the sleeping surface cool.

Note that you won’t find this mattress in every Hilton hotel room. They’re often reserved for suites and VIP lodgings. You’ll need to contact the specific hotel for more information about the type of mattress available in your room.

Along with finding the Serenity bed in Hilton hotels, you can also find them in other Hilton-owned properties, such as many Hampton Inn and Suites.

Doubletree

Although owned by Hilton, Doubletree has its own signature mattress, the Sweet Dreams Mattress. It’s a custom-designed mattress with a plush, supportive top. Plus, the secure interior construction helps limit movement transfer.

Modern TV set and comfy bed in stylish room decorated with lamps and curtains

Another key feature of the Sweet Dream Mattress is its excellent flame resistance. Not only is that a welcome safety feature for a hotel, but it also provides peace of mind when placing the mattress in your home.

Ritz Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton brand is synonymous with elegance and luxury, and their custom mattresses are no exception. The Ritz-Carlton Bed features plush-top construction with foam-encased, reinforced edges. It allows you to stretch out completely for a comfortable night’s sleep. Plus, layers of cooling gel-infused technology help prevent heat buildup.

Another noteworthy aspect of this mattress is the box springs. It’s trimmed with an elegant fleur-de-lis fabric, so you don’t even need to cover it with a fitted sheet.

Westin Hotel Mattress

If you spend the night in a Westin Hotel, you’ll find a Westin Heavenly Mattress in your room. Their custom-designed mattress has plush pillow-top construction. Originally introduced in 1999, these mattresses have earned the approval of millions of well-rested guests.

gray and white floor lamp near the window

Marriott Bed

They provide their guests with a signature Marriott Innerspring Bed. It features reinforced edges and full-body support. Plus, home users are protected by a ten-year warranty.

The mattress pairs well with Marriot’s exclusive line of linens, which includes a down duvet comforter, featherbed, and bird’s eye stripe bed sheets and pillowcases.

Serta

If a luxury hotel doesn’t have a mattress brand, then there’s a good chance they’re stocking their rooms with Serta mattresses. Serta is a significant supplier of beds to hotels around the world.

Sealy

Sealy is another brand commonly found in many high-end hotels. Their Sealy Posturepedic mattress has multiple features that make it ideal for the hospitality industry, including durability, maximum comfort, and easy cleaning. They’re made with twice-tempered coils, gel-infused foam, and a foam-encased edge. Plus, the center third of the mattress is filled with extra foam, which helps minimize body impressions from forming.

gray and black throw pillow on bed

Simmons

The Simmons Beautyrest Hospitality line is another popular line found in finest hotels around the world. It’s an excellent mattress to find in your room because it features effective protection against germs and mites. Their HeiQ V-Block uses advanced anti-microbial technology to help keep the surface clean.

Hotel Mattresses Firmness Level

Hotel mattress is often rated according to the firmness of the foam used. Most hotel mattress use a medium comfort level, which is considered to be the perfect balance of softness and support. This allows guests to find a comfortable position without being too hard or too soft.

Medium-firm mattresses are also relaxed for an array of body types, as hotel rooms have people of many shapes, sizes, and sleeping positions staying in them. If you’re looking for a firmer bed, you might want to look into getting a memory foam mattress. Memory foams are known for providing pressure relief and better spinal alignment while sleeping. They tend to feel softer than standard mattresses, but still provide enough support to keep you comfortable throughout the night.

The main difference between a soft mattress and a medium mattress is the amount of support they provide. Soft mattresses are very flexible, meaning they don’t provide much support. They are great for sleeping babies and small children, but they won’t do much for older kids and teenagers. Medium mattresses are slightly firmer than soft mattresses, providing enough support for children and teens without being too hard for adults.

Firm mattresses are the most supportive option, and they’re perfect for anyone over the age of 12. Memory foam mattresses are similar to soft mattresses, except they contain additional layers of foam that mold to your body shape. These mattresses are best suited for those looking for extra support. Hybrid mattresses combine the benefits of both soft and firm mattresses.

Why are Hotel Mattresses so Comfortable?

The answer depends on where you go. Some high-quality hotels offer luxurious amenities like heated mattress pads and down pillows. Others focus on providing cleanliness and quietness. Still others cater to travelers looking for a certain type of bedding.

Hotel room with wide windows

The mattress itself is usually filled with layers of different materials, including gel, latex, polyurethane, and memory foam. These materials work together to keep you warm during cold weather, cool during hot weather, and support your body while you sleep.

A pillowtop mattress offers a softer surface than traditional box spring mattresses. This type of mattress uses a layer of material that covers the entire bottom half of the mattress. A pillowtop mattress provides better airflow than a box spring, allowing it to breathe well and keeping you cooler at night.

Down is one of the best insulators around, making it perfect for colder climates. Down pillows are filled with feathers that trap air pockets, creating a fluffy cushion that keeps you warmer. Down pillows are also hypoallergenic, meaning they won’t cause allergic reactions like synthetic fillings do.

Silk sheets are luxurious and breathable, providing excellent insulation against heat loss. Silk is also durable, easy to clean, and resistant to wrinkles.

How Often Are Hotel Mattresses Replaced?

Unfortunately, it’s not an easy question to answer. Hotel chains don’t publish the number of times they change their mattresses. If you want to know the age of the mattress in your hotel room, you’ll likely have to do some investigating.

Before booking your stay, call up the hotel and ask about the condition and age of the mattresses used there. If the mattresses are brand new, the staff will tell you, likely with enthusiasm. After all, new mattresses are a big selling point. If the hotel management doesn’t know the age of their mattresses, that could be a sign their beds need replacing.

Mattresses have an average lifespan between eight and ten years. However, the type of mattress can also influence how long it lasts. Here’s a breakdown:

  • Innerspring– Mattresses with coil supports are generally durable, lasting about ten years or even a bit longer. If you get a double-sided mattress, you can flip it regularly to reduce wear and tear.
  • Memory Foam– While longevity will vary based on the foam’s type and density, most of these mattresses last at least a decade, and some remain in good shape for even a few years more.
  • Latex– These hypoallergenic mattresses can last a long time, with some brands offering warranties that extend for 20 years or more. However, many sleep experts recommend you still replace these mattresses at the 10-year mark.
  • Pillow-Top– Many hotels place a pillow-top over the mattress. A pillow-top can provide a comfy cushion, but it doesn’t necessarily protect the mattress. Also, pillow-tops typically don’t last long. They’ll normally start to form impressions after only a few years.

You can sometimes make a reasonable guess as to the age of the mattress in a hotel by looking at how long it’s been in business. If they’ve only been open for a few years, the beds in the rooms are likely still considered new.

Signs a Mattress Should be Replaced

While you can’t always determine the age of the mattress in your hotel room, there are a few ways to quickly know if it’s old enough to need replacing. Take a look at your bed before you get settled in your room. If the mattress seems like it’s in bad shape, consider requesting a new room or switching to a different hotel.

Here are the key signs of wear in a mattress, in your hotel or anywhere else, probably needs replacing:

Uneven Feel

Even the best-made mattresses will shift internally over time. However, if the interior construction degrades too much, the mattress loses the ability to provide suitable support.

Modern Style Bedroom

How does the mattress feel when you’re lying on it? Does it provide the same level of support for your entire body, or does it sag in sections? Does the mattress feel lumpy anywhere, or is the surface even?

Additionally, note if you can feel any springs. When an innerspring mattress is in good condition, you won’t feel individual springs pressing against your body.

Squeaking

When you move around on the bed, what do you hear? Squeaking sounds occur when the innerspring coils are worn. By the time coils squeak, they’re no longer capable of providing the correct level of support.

Motion Transfer

Mattresses in great shape excel at preventing the transfer of motion across the surface. With the best mattresses, your partner could jump up and down on their side of the bed, and you wouldn’t feel a thing.

However, as mattresses age, they can lose their ability to effectively block movement. Remain still on the mattress while your partner gets into and out of bed. If you feel like you’re getting rocked up and down, the mattress probably needs replacing.

Rips and Tears

Watch for any openings on the mattress surface. Even a tiny tear or rip allows contents to shift, which can affect the interior stability. Also, small openings allow mites and other microscopic creatures to enter deep inside the mattress, where it could become a breeding ground.

Stains

white textile

Does the mattress have any stains? While stains aren’t necessarily a deal breaker if they’re on your mattress at home, they can pose a health hazard if found on a mattress in a hotel. Look for any signs of discoloration, which can indicate the presence of various bodily fluids from previous guests.

When you first arrive at your hotel room, you want to strip off the sheets and look at the mattress thoroughly. If it’s free from tears and stains, you can then lay down, where you’ll listen for any noises and feel for any unevenness.

You can do the above checks quickly in a hotel room. However, some additional techniques are available for your home mattress:

Worsening Asthma or Allergy Against Dust

The presence of dust mites within a mattress increases over time. If you find that your asthma or allergy symptoms are growing in severity, especially in the morning, dust mites could be the culprit. While a sealed cover around the mattress can help lessen symptoms, buying a new mattress is often the most effective solution.

Muscle Stiffness

If your mattress starts to lose support, you’ll likely wake up with aches and pains. Stiffness and soreness occur when your muscles and joints are forced into awkward positions for long periods, which happens if your mattress is old.

Note that muscle stiffness is only a sign of an aging mattress if it occurs on a mattress you’ve used for a while. When sleeping on a new mattress, you might also experience some initial soreness, but that’s normal during the break-in process. Your body needs at least 30 days (with an innerspring) or 60 days (for foam) to adjust to the feel of a new mattress.

How to Keep a Mattress in Good Shape

A mattress doesn’t automatically turn bad after a certain date. With proper care, it can last a long time without any significant loss of support. You can not only implement these techniques with your home mattress but you can also look for evidence the hotel uses them.

Use a Mattress Protector

A mattress protector is typically a thin, waterproof sheet that wraps around the entire mattress. It protects against spills, stains, and microscopic creatures. If you find a mattress protector on the bed in your hotel room, that’s a good sign, as it acts as a guard against germs.

Keep Your Mattress Properly Supported

Messy Bed

Only use the type of box spring or foundation for your mattress that’s recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise, you risk putting too much pressure on the mattress, which can disrupt the surface’s evenness.

Rotate Your Mattress

Rotating your mattress is when you spin it, so the area where your legs were is now the area where you rest your head and vice versa. You want to do this every three to six months. It helps keep the wear on the mattress even, so you can avoid lumpiness and slopes.

Flip Your Mattress

Flipping your mattress is different than rotating it. When you flip the mattress, you move the underside to the top. It’s another way to promote even wear.

However, you can only flip a two-sided mattress. They’re increasingly rare, found mainly on innerspring. You shouldn’t flip most memory foam or hybrid mattresses.

Hotel Mattresses vs. Home Mattresses

It’s important to note the differences between the mattress you use at home and what you’ll sleep on in a hotel. While all mattresses shift shape, at least subtly, the difference is far less noticeable on the mattress you sleep on night after night. A worn mattress can feel much more uncomfortable when it’s not your regular bed.

Also, with a home mattress, you can buy one that suits your specific needs. For example, if you’re a side sleeper, you’ll want a medium-firm innerspring. If you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll want a mattress with cooling gel and internal airflow.

white bed linen near white window curtain

A hotel mattress is typically made to feel as comfortable as possible to the widest range of sleepers. They’re often fairly soft. Fortunately, if you prefer a firmer mattress but sleep on a soft bed for a night or two, you probably won’t feel too uncomfortable unless it’s in bad shape overall.

How to Get a Hotel Bed Feel At Home

Hotel beds are terrific to sleep on, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can only experience the same incredible comfort in a hotel room. You can replicate the same level of comfort in your bedroom. Here are some ways to make sure you’re getting the most out of your mattress:

Choose A Quality Mattress

If you’re looking for a great mattress, you might think about buying a memory foam mattress. They’re known for being incredibly supportive and comfortable, but there are some downsides too. For example, they don’t breathe very well, they tend to retain moisture, and they aren’t particularly easy to clean.

A traditional spring mattress is a lot cheaper, but it doesn’t offer the same level of support. In fact, many people find that they sink into the mattress over time. A hybrid mattress combines the best features of both types.

The best thing about a hybrid mattress is that it offers the comfort of a memory foam mattress without the downsides. You won’t wake up feeling stiff and sore like you do with a memory foam mattress. Instead, you’ll feel supported and relaxed.

Hybrid mattresses also allow air to circulate around the body, which helps prevent overheating. This makes them ideal for hot summer nights.

Add a ton of pillows!

If you’ve ever slept in a hotel room, chances are good you know what it feels like to wake up with a full complement of hotel pillows. But how many do you really need? While there isn’t a set number of pillows you’ll want to sleep with, we recommend having enough to comfortably support your head while lying flat. A standard twin-sized mattress will usually accommodate three pillows, though some people prefer to use four or even five.

white and black table lamp on brown wooden table

For those who love the look of multiple pillows arranged around the bed, you can easily achieve that effect without adding extra pillows. Simply place several pillows against the wall behind your bed and tuck a few under the edge of the mattress. This creates a cozy nest for your head and neck.

Quality Sheets

Hotels are always looking for ways to save money, and one way they do this is by buying cheap bedding. But there are some things that matter when it comes to choosing a quality set of sheets. One of those things is thread count. Thread count refers to how many threads are woven into each square inch of fabric. A lower number indicates fewer threads per square inch, meaning softer fabrics. Higher numbers indicate denser fabrics. There are different types of thread counts, including 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 and even 2000.

The best sheets are usually made from Egyptian cotton, which has a thread count of about 300. However, most hotels use Pima cotton, which has a lower thread count of around 250. If you want to buy a really nice set of sheets, look for ones with a thread count of at least 500. You might find that the price goes up slightly, but you’ll definitely feel the difference.

You also want to make sure that your bedding fits properly. Standard fitted sheets are designed to be tucked inside the mattress, allowing for a smooth surface that won’t snag on anything.

A well-made bed is important because it helps you have a relaxing experience and be ready to fall asleep. You want to be able to slip under the covers without having to worry about tangling up the sheets. A quality bed also keeps you warm during cold winter nights.

And finally, you want to choose a bed that matches your style. Do you prefer contemporary designs or traditional ones? Are you looking for something that looks expensive or affordable? 

White Sheets

The reason why hotels choose white sheets is simple: they make the room feel fresher and cooler. White sheets reflect light, making the room feel brighter and cleaner. This is especially important during summer months, when rooms tend to become stuffy and hot.

vacant white bed near the window

Hoteliers know that guests want to sleep comfortably and wake up feeling refreshed. So they try to ensure that the bedding is comfortable and cool enough to keep people awake throughout the night. Cotton sheets just won’t cut it. You could put down a thick duvet cover, but that might be too warm for most people. A hotelier knows that a good solution is to add a layer of white linen above the duvet.

This way, the room stays cool without being too cold. Plus, the colour contrast helps draw attention away from the bed itself. If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel where there’s a big red button under the pillow, chances are that the hotel went for white sheets. Red is a very strong colour that draws attention towards the bed. It’s hard to ignore something that stands out against the background.

So next time you’re looking for a place to stay, take a peek at the sheets. You never know – you might end up falling in love with white linen.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

How often do hotels change their mattresses?

Ideally, at least every ten years, if not sooner. Fortunately, while you can’t control how long hotels keep their mattresses, you can use various simple techniques to help identify which hotels have comfortable, supportive, and new mattresses.

Always ask about mattress age before booking a stay. Then, inspect the mattress for stains and signs of damage. Also, note if the mattress makes any noises or allows for excessive motion transfer.

With a bit of planning, you can find the hotel mattress of your dreams. Plus, in most cases, you can even buy the same mattress for your home, so you can get a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed — without worrying about check-out times!

Article Sources

  1. Kells, S. A. (2006). Bed bugs: a systemic pest within society. American Entomologist, 52(2):107-108. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263133747_Bed_Bugs_A_Systemic_Pest_Within_Society
  2. Van Den Bemt, L., De Vries, M. P., Van Knapen, L., et al., (2006, January 20). Influence of mattress characteristics on house dust mite allergen concentration. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 36(2):233-237. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02427.x
  3. Tonetti, L., Martoni, M., & Natale, V. (2011). Effects of different mattresses on sleep quality in healthy subjects: an actigraphic study. Biological Rhythm Research, 42(2):89-97. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09291010903557187
  4. Chanda, T., Ahirwar, M., & Behera, B. K. (2020). Appraisal of bed linen performance with respect to sleep quality. Textile & Leather Review, 3(1):19-29. https://hrcak.srce.hr/236188
  5. Chen, H. S., Severt, K., Shin, Y. H., et al., (2018). “How’d you sleep?” measuring business travelers’ sleep quality and satisfaction in hotels. Journal of hospitality and tourism Insights, 1(3):188-202. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHTI-11-2017-0015/full/html
  6. Jacobson, B. H., Wallace, T. J., Smith, D. B., & Kolb, T. (2008). Grouped comparisons of sleep quality for new and personal bedding systems. Applied Ergonomics, 39(2):247-254. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000368700700035X
Bree Taylor - Lead Editor

Lead Editor

Bree is an interior designer with a passion for helping people improve their sleep quality.

She specializes in creating comfortable and functional bedroom spaces that promote a good night’s rest.

When she’s not testing mattresses or helping people get the best rest possible, Bree loves to travel and explore new cultures.

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