The Best Time to Buy a Mattress (and How to Get a Deal)

Buying a mattress can often be a boring, expensive task. And the mattress industry doesn't make it easy: Prices are constantly changing, brands use confusing terminology, and permanent “sales” can make it hard to know what's a real discount.

In this episode, Wirecutter senior staff writer Elise Czajkowski explains when to look for deals and how to negotiate a better price when you're ready to buy. She shares why you should always ask for an additional discount, how to negotiate with a store or online chatbot, and why one popular online shopping trick—abandoning your cart—may not work for mattresses.

This episode covers:

• Why you should never pay full price for a mattress. Those constant website “sales” are often just the regular price in disguise; the biggest discounts tend to come around major holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, and Presidents Day.
• What you need to know before you buy. The best way to avoid buying a mattress you hate is to understand how you sleep (your sleep position) and firmness preference before you start shopping.
• How to get the best discounts. You can sometimes get better deals at stores that sell multiple brands. Go in person and ask your salesperson for 10% off, even if the mattress is already on sale.
• How to negotiate when you're buying a mattress online. Instead of assuming the listed price is final, try the site's chatbot and simply ask for a better deal.

Additional reading:

• Why You Should Never Pay Full Price for a Mattress
• 38 Best Mattresses of 2026

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

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