How To Break In A Mattress

Q: How to break in a hybrid mattress?

In order to break in a hybrid mattress, it's best to use the mattress daily. The more consistently you sleep on the mattress, the more quickly it will become broken in. Additionally, it's important to rotate your mattress every 6 months and sleep on different areas of the bed regularly so that all parts of your body are supported evenly as the hybrid foam and springs conform to your unique shape. Taking regular breaks from sleeping on the mattress can also help by giving it time rest and recover, allowing for better performance over time.

Q: How long does it take to break in a memory foam mattress?

Breaking in a memory foam mattress takes about 4-8 weeks. During the break-in period, the pressure points of your body will slowly sink into the mattress to the perfect comfort level. It is important that you stick with it and use the same sleeping position night after night during this period so that your body gets used to the new mattress shape and weight. Once you’ve broken in your memory foam mattress, it will provide ideal levels of support while remaining snugly comfortable every night.

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

by Bree Taylor

Updated on February 16, 2023

On average, people spend about 26 years sleeping in their lifetime and about seven years trying to obtain a good night’s sleep. That is why making sure we love our mattresses is so critical to improving our overall lifestyle.

Table of Contents

1 How Long Does It Take To Break In A Mattress?

2 Tips On How To Break A Mattress In

3 FAQ

4 Takeaway

When it comes to comfort, you should never have to compromise on anything.

So, if you have a new mattress that does not instantly feel comfortable, rather than give up, try some of our tips on how to break in a mattress quicker. Some of the different ways can depend on the type of mattress as well.

Some of the methods are: finding a new bed frame, letting the mattress off-gas, rolling or crawling on the bed, sleeping on it every night, adjusting the room temperature, and waiting out the adjustment period.

So, lie down on your bed and read on to find out more!

How Long Does It Take To Break In A Mattress?

Most mattress sellers offer a 30-day trial period for a new mattress, which is about the same amount of time that it typically takes to break them in (sometimes up to 90 days at most).

The amount of time it takes to break in a new mattress depends on the mattress materials or what type of bed you bought:

Memory Foam/Hybrid (Longest Time)

Interior of bedroom with minimalist wooden furniture and comfortable bed placed near wall with creative lamps

If you have a new memory foam mattress or hybrid, it will take you a comparatively longer break in period because of the amount of density they contain. High-density memory foam is heavier and has more layers than low-density memory foam. Thus, a longer break-in process.

At best, consider trying your new cushion out for about two months before giving up hope on your memory foam and hybrid mattress.

Latex (Shortest Time)

Latex is a popular material used in higher-end luxury mattresses due to its comfort and durability. It has the shortest breaking-in period of any mattress type, usually taking two to 14 days for the mattress to adjust to your body shape and weight.

The exact time it takes for a latex mattress to break in depends on whether it is made from synthetic or real latex, as well as if it is 100% latex or a hybrid.

Synthetic latex tends to have a shorter breaking-in period than natural latex, while hybrid mattresses may take longer due to their combination of materials. During the break in time, you may experience some initial discomfort as your body adjusts to the new mattress.

However, this should subside after a few days and you should begin to feel more comfortable with each night’s sleep.

After the breaking-in period is complete, you can enjoy all the benefits that come with sleeping on a high quality latex mattress such as improved spinal alignment and pressure relief.

Instant Comfort: InnerSpring

However, innerspring mattresses usually have lower durability than memory-foam types. So, you may need to turn the entire bed around to switch the head-end and the foot-end. It can be every 90 days or twice a year.

a couple of beds sitting next to each other in a bedroom

However, innerspring mattresses tend to wear out faster than memory-foam types. So, you may need to turn the entire bed around to switch the head-end and the foot-end. It can be every 90 days or twice a year.

Tips On How To Break A Mattress In

It goes without saying that patience and perseverance are essentially the answers to becoming well adjusted to your new mattress. However, if you are experiencing significant discomfort sleeping every night on the new bedding, then here are several common and practical tips for the breaking in process:

Find A Compatible Bed Frame

When considering how to break in a new mattress, the bed frame is often overlooked. However, it serves as a vital part of helping you get better sleep.

So, check the foundation of the bed before making any phone calls. If you have a spring mattress, box springs are more compatible. Alternatively, memory foam and hybrid mattresses are best on top of a raised surface or platform base.

If you already have a compatible base for your new mattress, try checking for damage in the foundation. Look for signs of sagging or tears underneath. Even with a few defects in the bed frame, this may go a long way in preventing you from sleeping well.

We recommend getting a new bottom frame as it can help you break in your mattress sooner.

Avoid Sleeping on Your New Mattress for Two Days

A new mattress usually needs some time to expand. So, as tempting as it may be, try to avoid flopping down on your new bed right away and give it 24 to 72 hours to “breathe.”

Interior of cozy bedroom decorated with white curtains and creative lamps

Online mattresses need especially more time to expand because they are usually compressed tight in a box when shipped to your door. Generally, it may take five hours to 12 hours for the online mattress to loosen up fully.

When you lie down on your new mattress right after unfolding it, your weight may influence the mattress’s ability to expand. Therefore, this can slow down the break-in process.

Plus, if you do have any spare bedding, try sleeping there for the first night or two and avoid sleeping on your new mattress.

Roll or Crawl Around

When lying on your new mattress, your body weight will apply pressure to it and, thus, naturally, help break it in. However, to slightly speed up the break-in process, you can roll around, walk, jump, or crawl around on the surface.

Man in White Button Up Shirt Wearing Black Framed Eyeglasses

When doing these, make sure to move around onto every sleeping surface, especially helpful for a memory foam bed and latex mattress. With springs or hybrids, crawl on these types of mattresses because your hands and knees’ pressure will help distribute your weight evenly.

Also, doing so for several minutes each day can help to inflate the mattress quickly. Heck, let other people in on the fun!

Sleep on It Regularly

Although it may feel uneasy to sleep on your new bedding, you must sleep on it every night to truly break it in.

Ditch the couch, floor, or old mattress and embrace the challenge of discomfort for at least those first one or two months. Many people can quickly think of sleeping somewhere else where they’re more comfortable, but this doesn’t speed up the break-in mattress.

You have invested in a potentially great bed, and with it comes the cost of having to wait and let your body adjust to it. So, the key here is consistency; sleeping on it every night is the most effective solution. You have to see it through.

Warm the Bedroom

If you are trying to break in memory foam or a hybrid mattress, one of the quickest ways to do so is to turn up your heater.

Finger adjusting the room heater attached on wood wall

Because the memory foam material is sensitive to heat, warm air can help to soften it more. Your body heat can also influence the soft mattress.

Otherwise, in a cool room, the mattress tends to be firmer. So, try changing the room temperature to about 70 degrees to help you break into your bed quicker.

Wait Out the Trial Period

Patience is indeed a virtue. If you experienced significant discomfort with your new mattress and bought it from a company requiring a 30-day trial period, it is still recommended for you to wait out the first 30 nights of little sleep.

Mattress companies recognize the importance of getting used to a new mattress. This is why most brands offer a month of trial and do not accept a return or exchange until after the trial period. Some may even provide in-home sleep trials.

If you do not have the patience, try consulting with the manufacturer to arrange better options. Or find other mattress sellers that do not provide trial periods.

FAQ

Is the break-in necessary?

Just like buying a new pair of shoes, breaking it in is essential. If you really want to make your new investment worthwhile and be entirely comfortable with it, then it is necessary to break in your new mattress. Doing so requires you to use it or sleep on it every night, expecting immense patience and tolerance. It will be a matter of time before you feel the benefits outweighing the costs.

What if the mattress never breaks in?

If you still find your mattress uncomfortable after a month or two, we recommend contacting the mattress manufacturer to arrange an exchange or refund. Depending on your terms of agreement with the seller, most companies should supply you with a new replacement or accept your return. Also, with a return policy, ensure your mattress is as new as when you first got it, or that will invalidate your agreement. Additionally, you know when you are dealing with a good company because they are willing to help find the right mattress for you rather than risk losing you as a customer.

How do I know if my mattress is too-firm or too-soft?

If you experience significant aches or pains in your shoulders when waking up, the mattress may have a high firmness level. Also, your hips and arms may be affected. If you have more back pain, it is most likely too soft, but other factors like the wrong sleeping position may play a role. Either way, you shouldn’t be using the mattress if it causes you so much distress.

What other activities can help me break in a new mattress?

If you tend to watch television on your couch or read and work in other places, consider moving all these activities to your new bed. Beyond lying on the mattress every night to break it in, sitting on it as much as possible also contributes to the process of getting your body well acquainted with the bed. Additionally, if you usually spend all day outside, try stacking heavy books across the mattress to add the proper pressure to break it in!

Is it normal to be sore after sleeping on a new mattress?

Yes, it is normal to experience soreness when sleeping on a new mattress. This is because your body has to adjust to the new mattress’s shape, densities, and textures. It may take several nights for your body to get used to the new mattress, during which time you can expect some soreness until your body adjusts properly. Additionally, proper support from the mattress will help ease muscle tension over time so that eventually you will no longer wake up feeling sore.

Why does my mattress not feel like it did in the store?

Over time, your mattress may not feel like it did in the store, because the material can become compacted or flattened out due to use. This is especially true if you’re using a traditional inner-spring mattress that has been compressed from being in a box and at the store. Additionally, how your bodyweight presses down and hugs the mattress affects this feeling too. Generally, mattresses need to be replaced about every eight to ten years for optimal support and comfort for sleepers.

How to break in a hybrid mattress?

In order to break in a hybrid mattress, it’s best to use the mattress daily. The more consistently you sleep on the mattress, the more quickly it will become broken in. Additionally, it’s important to rotate your mattress every 6 months and sleep on different areas of the bed regularly so that all parts of your body are supported evenly as the hybrid foam and springs conform to your unique shape. Taking regular breaks from sleeping on the mattress can also help by giving it time rest and recover, allowing for better performance over time.

How long does it take to break in a memory foam mattress?

Breaking in a memory foam mattress takes about 4-8 weeks. During the break-in period, the pressure points of your body will slowly sink into the mattress to the perfect comfort level. It is important that you stick with it and use the same sleeping position night after night during this period so that your body gets used to the new mattress shape and weight. Once you’ve broken in your memory foam mattress, it will provide ideal levels of support while remaining snugly comfortable every night.

Takeaway

As with all new experiences, it takes time to build a high comfort level. For a new mattress, it is common to feel uneasy during the first few weeks, but it is not impossible to break it in or get used to it. We hope our practical tips can help your body adjust quickly to your new mattress.

However, if you end up picking a new replacement or have yet to buy a new mattress and want to make sure you will instantly be comfortable with it, then consider reading the Amazon customer reviews more carefully.

In this way, you can find specific personal experiences by other buyers that apply to you, plus their suggested solutions.

Not to mention, address the mattress retailer on whether they carry additional accessories to help make your new mattress softer or firmer, such as “comfort kits.”

In the end, good sleep comes to those who wait.

Article Sources

Jacobson, B. H., Boolani, A., & Smith, D. B. (2009). Changes in back pain, sleep quality, and perceived stress after introduction of new bedding systems. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 8(1):1-8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1556370708001296
Noyed, D. (2023, January 31). What is Memory Foam? https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mattress-information/what-is-memory-foam
Call, E., & Baker, L. (2008). How does bed frame design influence tissue interface pressure? A comparison of four different technologies designed for long-term or home care. Journal of Tissue Viability, 17(1):22-29. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268000907000054
Liu, Q., Gu, Y., Xu, W.,et al., (2022). Compressive Properties of Polyurethane Fiber Mattress Filling Material. Applied Sciences, 12(12):6139. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/12/6139
Oz, K., Merav, B., Sara, S., & Yael, D. (2019). Volatile organic compound emissions from polyurethane mattresses under variable environmental conditions. Environmental science & technology, 53(15):9171-9180. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.9b01557

Bree Taylor

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.