How to Pick a Good Mattress

Establish a budget for your mattress. Mattresses can range from very inexpensive to extremely costly, depending on the type, brand and material. Determine how much you're willing to spend. This will narrow your search, and cut the hours spent trying to find the perfect mattress.

Decide what size mattress you need and what size will fit into your bedroom. There are six common sizes of mattresses, ranging from twin size to California king.

Determine the specifics for your mattress. If you like sleeping on hard surfaces, look for a spring-coiled mattress which has the coils placed closely to one another. If you like sleeping on softer surfaces, consider purchasing a pillow-top mattress or even a waterbed. If you and your significant other have different desired levels of comfort, look into purchasing a Sleep Number mattress. It is also important to decide if a specific brand or material is important to you.

Test the mattress. Once you know exactly what you're looking for in a mattress, try them out. Visit local mattress stores, and spend some time sitting and lying on the mattress. You may find that certain mattresses are not as firm or as soft as you want. You may also find that you need a larger mattress than you thought.

Once you know which mattress you want, shop around for price and warranty. Different stores offer different prices. Shop around and get the best deal you can find on your perfect mattress.