Quality
A poor quality mattress will break down much quicker than a higher quality mattress. A high quality set can provide comfort and support for many years. You do get what you pay for. Don't expect the mattress you paid a couple of hundred dollars for to last more than a year or two.
Use
A mattress that's located in a guest room that gets used only a couple of times a year will last a great deal longer than the mattress that's in your master bedroom that gets used nightly. The same goes for a child's mattress where perhaps you allow your child to jump on the bed, which would cause the mattress to break down much sooner.
Weight
The more you weigh the quicker your mattress will break down and it will wear out faster than a mattress occupied by a smaller person. And if two people share a mattress it will wear out faster than if only one sleeps on it.
Care
Correctly caring for your mattress will also extend its life. For the first six months you should turn your mattress every two weeks. After that you should turn your mattress over, side to side, and end to end at least four times a year.
Life Stage
As you age what you find comfortable changes. Different body parts require support, your physical condition may change, your lifestyle change, and even injury may have occurred. So you may outgrow your existing mattress long before it wears out. Be sure to evaluate your needs at least once a year.
Before purchasing you should always do a rest test. Comfort is a personal preference. The best way to find out what's the best mattress for you is to try before you buy. Try many different mattresses until you find the one that feels right. If you sleep with a partner you should have your partner with you when you try the mattress.
If you have a budget you should set it before you begin shopping. Here's a word of advice. Spend as much as you can possibly afford to. The reason being is you truly do get what you pay for. Just a couple of hundred dollars can make a huge difference in the life expectancy of the bed.
