What Should I Know About Mattress Warranties?
- Details
- Written by Q&A Team
- Category: Mattress Shopping
- Published: April 15 2014
A mattress is a fairly large purchase for most people. As a result most people want to make sure that their money is being well spent. People look to the manufacturer warranty for this peace of mind - knowing that they can receive reimbursement from the manufacturer in the event problems arise. However, if you do not have the right type of warranty, you can be unpleasantly surprised if you have to make a claim. Let's take a minute to learn about mattress warranties.
Where can I Find the Mattress Warranty?
The basic terms of the mattress warranty are printed on the mattress tag. DON'T CUT OFF THE MATTRESS TAG - IT CAN VOID THE MATTRESS WARRANTY. When you buy the mattress, the salesperson will give you a warranty card with more details regarding the warranty.
What does the Mattress Warranty Cover?
Mattress warranties typically cover structural failures of the mattress, and some manufacturers may even cover the shipping costs associated with picking up the old mattress and delivery of the replacement mattress. While excessive sagging in the mattress is covered, normal sagging through typical usage is not. The exact depth of mattress sagging varies by manufacturer, so you need to ask/read about the details before buying. Damage to the mattress fabric (i.e. stains, tearing) is not covered, unless the tear was a result of a structural flaw.
Prorated Mattress Warranty
With a prorated mattress warranty, the manufacturer will replace your mattress in the event of certain problems. However, the mattress manufacturer will expect you to contribute to the cost of the replacement mattress, based on how long you have had the mattress. The longer you have owned the mattress, the more money you will have to contribute to the replacement. Let's say you purchased a $1,000 mattress, which had a 10 year pro-rated warranty. Here is a breakdown of the amount you would have to pay to receive your replacement mattress.
| Problem Occurs |
Manufacturer Pays | Customer Pays |
| Year 1 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 2 | $900 | $100 |
| Year 3 | $800 | $200 |
| Year 4 | $700 | $300 |
| Year 5 | $600 | $400 |
| Year 6 | $500 | $500 |
| Year 7 | $400 | $600 |
| Year 8 | $300 | $700 |
| Year 9 | $200 | $800 |
| Year 10 | $100 | $900 |
Non-Prorated Mattress Warranty
With a non-prorated mattress warranty, the manufacturer will pay for the entire replacement cost of the mattress, no matter what year the covered problem occurred. Let's say you purchased a $1,000 mattress, but it had a non-prorated 10 year warranty. Here is a breakdown of the amount you would have to pay to receive your replacement mattress.
| Problem Occurs |
Manufacturer Pays | Customer Pays |
| Year 1 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 2 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 4 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 5 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 6 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 7 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 8 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 9 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 10 | $1,000 | $0 |
Combination of Non-Prorated and Prorated Mattress Warranty
With a combination non-prorated/prorated mattress warranty, the manufacturer will pay for the entire replacement cost of the mattress during the initial non-prorated period, then will pay a percentage of the replacement cost during the prorated period. Let's say you purchased a $1,000 mattress, but it had a 10 year warranty, with the first 5 years being non-prorated, and the second 5 years being prorated. Here is a breakdown of the amount you would have to pay to receive your replacement mattress.
| Problem Occurs |
Manufacturer Pays | Customer Pays |
| Year 1 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 2 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 4 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 5 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Year 6 | $500 | $500 |
| Year 7 | $400 | $600 |
| Year 8 | $300 | $700 |
| Year 9 | $200 | $800 |
| Year 10 | $100 | $900 |
What is the Best Type of Mattress Warranty?
Since a non-prorated warranty covers the entire replacement cost, it is the best type of warranty you can get. If you are buying an expensive mattress, you should expect to be getting a non-prorated mattress warranty, or an extended warranty with an initial non-prorated portion. If you are being a very low-cost mattress, you probably won't receive too long of a warranty, or it will be prorated.
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