Newlywed couples often venture out to purchase mattresses that are comforting and supportive. As a prudent buyer, you need to consider various factors while shopping for the perfect mattress. There will be occasions when after seeing the hefty price tag of the mattress, you will end up asking, "why are mattresses so expensive?"
You must be wondering how much does a mattress cost. Well, there is nothing like an ideal price of a mattress. The price depends upon the type and size of the mattress and the level of support and comfort it offers.
Read to know the reasons responsible for the high price of mattresses and some useful tips to save money while buying them.
10 Reasons Why Are Mattresses So Expensive
In addition to the type and quality of the mattresses, buyers need to consider other specific factors while answering the question, "how much does a good mattress cost." The most important of these factors include the following.
1. Impact On Health
A good mattress plays an important role in enhancing the health and well-being of an individual. In addition to improving sleep quality, a good mattress also helps reduce support and ensure greater relaxation for the users. A high-quality mattress offers greater comfort and support to the users while they sleep and even while they perform other activities. These may include playing with children and pets, spending time with their partners, or simply lying down to read or relax. The greater the health benefits of a mattress, the more expensive it is likely to be.
2. An Increase In Demand
While there are several different types of mattresses available in the market today, their demands vary from time to time and between regions. Therefore, a sudden upsurge in demand for a specific kind of mattress in a particular region may cause its price to spike. The surge in demand may be due to various reasons, including the growing popularity of a specific type of mattress or even a supply deficit from the manufacturers.
3. Cost Of Materials
The cost of materials used to make the different mattresses also impacts their price. The mattresses made from expensive materials naturally come with a higher price tag. In addition, the mattresses are often made from a combination of different types of materials to enhance their durability and comfort. This contributes to enhancing the price of the mattress even further. Sadly, a higher price tag may not always assure the quality and durability of a mattress.
4. Delivery And Shipping
Most buyers never consider how much does it costs to ship a mattress, irrespective of whether they purchase it from an online store or a retail shop. The cost of transporting and delivering the mattresses is often included in the overall price of the mattress. The transportation and delivery charges further depend on the distance between the manufacturing unit and the store, the packaging and shipping needs, fuel costs, etc. Any variation in these parameters often increases the mattress price.
5. Commission On Sale
Most manufacturers offer a decent commission to the retailers on every mattress sale. This commission is included in the overall manufacturing cost of the mattress and hence impacts the price directly. The commission percentage may also depend on the base price of the mattress. Thus, a mattress having a higher base price may become more expensive due to the higher percentage of commission promised.
6. Use Of Technology
Modern-day mattresses are designed using a wide range of technological innovations for enhanced comfort. Some of the technologies used include sleep sensors, heating technology, and pressure-relieving technology. Mattresses with these technologies help improve the users' sleep quality, making them more relaxing and healthier—the type of technology used impacts the price of the mattress quite significantly.
7. Brand Value
Most customers today consider the brand value of the manufacturers before investing in a mattress. This makes mattress manufacturers invest considerable time and effort in establishing a unique brand identity for their products. The funds required for such activities are calculated as a part of the mattress price, contributing to enhancing the cost. That is why the mattresses from most renowned brands are often more expensive than their less popular competitors.
8. Marketing And Advertising
Given the countless options that buyers have to choose from, mattress manufacturers need to find the most innovative ways to make their products stand apart. The manufacturers develop and implement various marketing and advertising strategies to help promote the mattresses. The money invested in these efforts is almost always included in calculating the average cost of the mattress. This contributes significantly to increasing the per-unit cost of the beds.
9. Profit Margin
Most mattress manufacturers decide the price of their products after factoring in their profit margins. Since investing in a comfortable mattress is a necessity for most buyers, the profit margins of most manufacturers are pretty high. With most buyers willing to pay a high price to get the best mattress, it is not surprising that mattress companies include their profits in its cost.
10. Store Overheads
Most buyers are unaware of the fact that the cost of the mattress they purchase from a physical store includes the overheads for maintaining the same. The fancier a bedding store, the higher are its overhead and maintenance costs. Since the store is operating to earn a profit, it is unlikely to pay for these overheads from its profit margins. So, these costs are simply added to the mattress price, making it slightly more expensive.
How Much Does A Mattress Cost
Buyers today can choose from a wide choice of mattress options having diverse price ranges. Although a good mattress costs anywhere between $800 and $2000, mattresses outside this price range are also available in the market. The variation in the cost depends on the type, size, layering, and even the technology used for making the mattress. Brief details about the most popular mattress types and the factors affecting their price are given below.
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattresses mold to the counter of the user's body for greater support and are flexible enough to bounce back into shape when the weight is lifted. The type of foam used is a significant contributor to the cost of memory foam mattresses as it impacts the bed's durability. Similarly, the density of the foam and the level of airflow it offers also affect the price of these mattresses. These factors impact the lifespans and cooling aspect of the mattress, which are essential price determinants.
Price Range- $800-$2500
Hybrid Mattress
Hybrid mattresses feature multiple layers made from a combination of latex, foam, coil, and cooling gel. These mattresses offer a perfect balance of support and comfort, and their price is impacted significantly by the number of layers and the size and quality of coils. Hybrid mattresses having more layers made from the best quality materials cost more than mattresses with fewer layers. Similarly, the cost of mattresses featuring micro coils made from flexible and high-gauge wires is more than a mattress having larger coils.
Price Range- $500-$1500
Gel Mattress
Gel mattresses are made by infusing gel into foam to provide better support and cooling. The mattresses have at least two layers, and the quality of the materials used in each layer is a significant determinant of the mattress cost. The quality and density of the foam layer impact the mattress's level of support, resulting in price variation. In addition, the quality and type of gel impact the temperature regulation and comfort level, affecting the mattress price.
Price Range- $800-$3000
Latex Mattress
Latex mattresses are made from a type of foam that is more supportive and a bit bouncier than memory foam. The mattresses can be made using natural latex, which is more expensive to create, or synthetic latex, which is relatively cheaper. The thickness of the latex and the airflow level are other two important factors to consider. These factors impact the mattress's level of support and comfort, which affects the price.
Price Range- $1000-$3500
Tips to Save Money On A New Mattress
Given the high cost of mattresses, buyers often seek the best ways to save money while buying new ones without compromising on quality. Some valuable tips to help ensure the same include the following.
Mattress Sale
Most stores offer mattress sale during specific periods of the year. Buyers should take advantage of these sales to avail of serious discounts on average mattress price, even at the cost of extending their purchase plan by several weeks. In addition, many stores even offer additional discounts to buyers willing to bargain a little.
0% APR Finance Deals
It is quite common for buyers to seek financial aid to buy the mattress of their choice. Such buyers should opt for 0% APR finance deals to help them save a considerable amount that they would have paid as interest charges. Many leading stores offer such discounts to attract customers and increase their sales.
Online Shopping
Most online stores have minimal overhead costs and deal directly with the manufacturers eliminating intermediaries. They can thus share the financial benefits with the customers, which results in considerable price differences. Online stores also accept third-party discount coupons, which reduce the costs further.
Do Proper Research
Doing proper research on mattress prices can also help buyers save money. Companies and stores often offer special promotional discounts while introducing new models and varieties of mattresses. Thorough research informs the buyers about the same and helps them save money.
Conclusion
Knowing how much a mattress costs is the first step in the buying process. Learning about the various aspects impacting price and the best ways to save money on purchasing is vital for understanding all available options. In addition, they help the buyers understand why mattresses are so expensive and make the right buying decision.
