Do You Have To Break A New Mattress In?

New mattresses have a break-in period of three to four weeks, during which they soften in response to body weight and heat.

Mattresses get softer with use because the materials are pliable, so pressure and heat deform them, altering their structural integrity. The good news is manufacturers account for this, providing accurate firmness ratings.

You may notice that your mattress is firmer than you'd like, but rest assured, it will soften over several weeks. Sleeping on your mattress will relax the foams, making them lovely and squishy, just how you like it.

How long should I wait before sleeping on a new mattress?

If your mattress comes vacuum-packed in a box, cut it free and wait three to four hours before sleeping on it, so the layers have expanded fully. This will ensure the mattress is ready to bear your weight.

If your mattress comes in a plastic wrapper, you can unwrap it and use it immediately because it is ready to go from the factory.

You might see people recommending not sleeping on a mattress for 24 hours or even 48 hours after putting it on the bed. Unless the manufacturer implicitly recommends this, it is not necessary – three to four hours will be fine.

How to break in a new mattress

To break in your new mattress, all you need to do is sleep on it! Thirty nights is usually enough to relax the materials and remove the extra firmness.

Don't stand or jump on your mattress to speed things up – the small surface area of your feet, combined with your body weight, could damage the layers. Keep it on your bed and use it as normal – there is no need to do anything different.

Sleeping on your mattress every night is the best way to break it in. You should also rotate your mattress every thirty days for the first three months to even out wear, which will help extend your mattress's life.

Do You Have To Break A New Mattress In, rotating the mattress.

Why does my mattress feel different than in-store?

Because mattresses have a break-in period, testing mattresses in-store can provide a false impression of comfort because demo mattresses are hardly ever broken in.

You can expect a mattress to be around 5-10% softer when broken in, so it might feel too firm at first or too soft after a month of use. However, 5-10% is not a significant amount in the grand scheme of things, and you will get used to it.

When will the new mattress smell go away?

The break-in period of a mattress also sees manufacturing smells dissipate. After two to three months, most mattresses have no chemical smell.

New mattresses smell of chemicals because during manufacturing, foams and some fibres require chemical fire retardants. Some plastics also emit gaseous chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Although smelly, the chemicals in mattresses are highly regulated and are not a risk to human health in the quantities used.

What if I don't like my new mattress?

If your mattress is too soft or firm after breaking it in, you can add a mattress topper that is softer or firmer than the mattress's surface.

Most people have a love-and-hate relationship with their new mattress for the first few weeks before getting used to it. It's important to remember that a new mattress is a big change, and your senses will pick up on every little detail.

In time, you will love your mattress!

However, if you still don't like your mattress and it doesn't have a trial period to send it back, you can give it to charity (providing it has a fire label) or sell it. Selling it is the best bet to recoup some of the money you spent on it.

If you enjoyed this article, read our guide covering how to choose the right mattress, covering firmness and various mattress types.