Labor Day Mattress Sale – Best Deals for 2024

Labor Day Shopping Survival Guide

For a purchase as important as a new mattress, you should go into the experience as prepared as possible. 

The following guide should give you an idea of how to judge a sale to find a mattress that is right for you, rather than only going by the price. As a result, you should be able to upgrade your sleep quality while staying within your budget.

Value vs. Price

A wise shopper understands the difference between value and price. While a low price may strike an initial interest, you also have to consider the value you’re getting for that mattress. If the low price equates to a mediocre product, then it’s not a valuable investment. Value means you’re getting optimal performance and use from your purchase. The key for shoppers is to find a mattress that not only offers a good monetary deal but also one that will improve your rest and last a long time.

How Do You Determine a Discount’s Value?

Shoppers may often focus on what the percentage off is for a mattress without considering the product’s overall value. Many retailers can and will mark up their original price significantly so that the actual percentage (40%, 50%, etc) is high enough to get your attention.

If you look closer at the deal, you may find that the product’s quality is almost the same as another brand that is already priced much lower. Be sure to factor quality into your assessment of the discount, because things that are higher priced are not always the best and may not work for you.

You’ll also want to look at the fine print. In some cases, your discount may be available through a rebate, which will require extra money upfront and a little legwork to see that money returned to your wallet. Other deals may exclude some models within the brand’s line of mattresses or have other limitations that may affect the quality of the discount.

Have You Checked the Warranty and Return Policy?

A generous sleep trial or an exceptional warranty can add so much to a mattress’ overall value, but as with any policy, it’s important to read into the specifics to make sure you’re getting a good deal. With mattress clearance sales, they may have attached an “all sales final” policy to models that are being discontinued. This can be risky with a mattress purchase because if you get it home and find it isn’t right for you, there’s no returning it.

Not all warranties are built the same, either. A brand may have a warranty that covers several decades, but their requirements for making a successful claim may differ from another brand’s warranty that’s shorter. Make sure you ask questions either online or in-store to make sure you are comfortable with the amount of coverage that your sleep products come with.

Is There an Advantage to Shopping In-store?

Although online shopping continues to grow in popularity, big box stores are still a big part of mattress sales. Beds are a major purchase, and many people feel more at ease seeing the products in person before buying and talking with salespeople face to face.

The overhead required to sell mattresses within a store can be significant, and generally, brands that you find in stores may be more expensive than deals you would find online. This can all change during a holiday sale, when the best price may be up for grabs if you shop around and play your cards right. Some of the biggest box stores will place ads in their windows and on local newspapers and television stations before a big sale, so keep your eyes and ears open to see what they’re offering.

Have You Considered Shopping Online?

The idea of facing crowds of shoppers and salespeople pressuring you to buy their products may not appeal to you. If this is the case, consider shopping online to still receive great deals without the stress of in-person browsing. If you’re concerned about not being able to see the bed in person, you can rest easier knowing that almost all online brands offer at-home sleep trials that let you keep the bed risk-free from 30 days to a whole year.

Because online companies sell directly to consumers, they cut out extra middlemen costs. As a result, they can offer highly competitive prices on beds that may cost hundreds more in a brick-and-mortar setup, and their original prices may even be lower than a store’s sale price.

Labor Day deals also extend to online shopping, which could mean incredible savings for you and your family. As with in-store deals, be sure to read all the fine print when shopping for mattresses in the online space.

Things to Consider if You’re Mattress Shopping on Labor Day

Depending on what you are shopping for and your budget, there may be a host of questions to ask as you narrow in on a brand. Not all types of beds are created equal; each product will have some advantage over the others for different individuals and their preferences.

Memory Foam

When memory products were first introduced, they caught on because of their ability to evenly distribute weight and reduce pressure build-up on resting joints. However, many people felt uncomfortably stuck in the materials or overly hot when sleeping in them. When shopping for more modern memory brands, look for cooling features that can mitigate heat or responsive materials either in the base or surface that can help you when you’re switching positions.

Bed-in-a-box memory brands do not always have the most supportive edges, so you’ll also want to consider this when shopping if it is important to you. Stronger edges can give you more room on your sleep surface or allow you to sit comfortably when getting dressed. Some memory mattresses will reinforce the edges to address this, so be sure to ask about it when you’re shopping.

Explore our top picks for the best memory foam mattresses.

Innerspring

Most people have slept on an innerspring mattress at some point in their lives and are familiar with what the traditional feel is like. More up-to-date choices have come a long way towards changing that up, though, and there are a few features to look out for if you plan to upgrade your innerspring experience.

When coils compress individually they conform more closely to your shape, and they can reduce the amount of motion that vibrates through the bed and potentially wakes your partner. These pockets can also cut down on the amount of noise or squeaking you hear when you roll over or change positions. Some newer brands have coil-on-coil systems that let you experience the best of both traditional and modern with premium support and comfort.

Additionally, hybrids or innerspring mattresses with more foam can offer more pressure relief than coil systems alone, so if you’re worried about pressure and sore joints, you may want to look at brands that go above and beyond to wrap their bed in contouring foam.

Discover our picks for the best innerspring mattresses.

Latex

Latex beds capture a lot of what’s great about memory foam but have a natural ability to mitigate heat and are more responsive for easier repositioning. If these are features you prefer, consider looking at latex mattress options. Latex can be more expensive, though, depending on how all-natural or organic the foam is inside the bed. However, synthetic choices or natural and synthetic blends can help save you money.

When shopping, you may see words like Dunlop or Talalay, and this refers to the process used to manufacture the foam. Talalay is generally seen as high-end and buoyant, while Dunlop is a bit more organic and dense. Pay close attention to reviews (there are many latex bed reviews on our site) for exact details on how the latex is processed and how the bed feels so you’re sure to find the right fit.

Shop the best latex mattresses, tested by Sleep Advisor.

Hybrid

Hybrid beds are also a popular choice, especially among people who want the best of many different kinds of materials. A blend of two or more materials can diversify a bed’s experience and tick all the boxes when it comes to mattress fit. Hybrids offer the most variation in design for consumers. Some feature coils with memory and poly foams, others have a blend of latex and coils, and some include both memory and latex in the comfort foam layers. The thickness and amount of layers also vary among brands and models.

Bed-in-the-box hybrids sometimes have to make sacrifices in edge support to compress the mattress for shipping, so be sure to look into that if sitting on the side of the bed or maximizing your space is a priority. Some brands have reinforced the edges to lessen this effect, so ask about that as well when you’re investigating your purchase.

Check out our top picks for the best hybrid mattresses.

For a Heavier Person

Heavier individuals need to be mindful of support when shopping for a mattress and understand that a lower-quality bed may have to be replaced sooner, which won’t end up saving them money in the end. In some cases, putting more weight on a bed over time may void your warranty, and if this is a concern, it may be worthwhile to ask.

Some brands are designing mattresses specifically for heavier people over 250 pounds and though they may be more expensive, it’s a considerably smart investment. In general, firmer mattresses or hybrids are ideal for those with heavier weight concerns because they will often have the kind of enhanced support systems that are required. Beds with zoned support are also helpful for heavier sleepers. 

Explore our top picks for the best mattresses for heavy people.

Sleep Position and Firmness

Mattresses come in different firmness levels on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the softest feel and 10 the hardest. The position in which you sleep plays a significant role in helping you find the right mattress firmness.

Side Sleepers

For those who sleep on their side, pressure relief should be a priority with your mattress selection. Mattresses with memory foam in them are often a favorite for those seeking optimal pressure relief because the material does an excellent job of contouring the sleeper’s curves to melt away pressure buildup, especially in the hips and shoulders. 

As far as firmness goes, side sleepers usually respond best to softer beds. That being said, the mattress should still provide enough support to keep the spinal alignment in check. For most side sleepers, a bed with a medium firmness should work well, though lightweight individuals will likely enjoy plusher models.

Related: Best Bed for Side Sleepers

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers can work well with multiple types of mattresses, including all-foam and innerspring constructions. For these individuals, the right mattress should deliver sufficient support but still provide some cushioning to areas like the shoulders and legs. 

If you opt for a bed with an innerspring unit, make sure it has good foam comfort layers to balance out the coils. Conversely, if you select an all-foam design, look for a strong and sturdy base. With regards to firmness, most back sleepers will prefer medium-firm beds, as these strike the best balance between strong support and soft pressure relief.

Stomach Sleepers

For stomach sleepers, support is a top concern, as this will help prevent their mid-section from sinking too deep into the mattress. Many stomach sleepers will find that they can sleep on multiple types of mattresses, as long as they have a good support system. However, some stomach sleepers may prefer the enhanced support that comes from the coils in innerspring and hybrid beds. 

Firmness is also vital to this group. Stomach sleepers usually opt for mattresses on the firmer end since they don’t need as much pressure relief as back or side sleepers. These individuals should look at medium-firm to firm mattresses for their ideal comfort feel. 

Combination Sleepers

Combination sleepers rotate among different sleep positions, which means they need a mattress that will allow them to easily reposition. Beds that have lots of bounce are great for this group because they are quick-responding. 

The best types of beds for combination sleepers have buoyant materials such as coils and latex. If you’re a combination sleeper who loves memory foam, though, try to balance out the slower response of memory foam with a hybrid that also has an innerspring unit. The ideal firmness for these sleepers is a medium or medium-firm bed since a middle-ground feel will work for the most positions.

Bed-in-a-box Brands

If you live on a seven-story walk-up in a big city, the idea of carrying a brand new mattress up all those stairs can be stressful, and delivery services can be expensive. Bed-in-a-box brands were invented to simplify delivery as well as keep prices lower for those with tighter budgets. Some reasons these companies are able to sell for less is that their sales model is all online, which reduces the overhead, and shipping and storing smaller boxes is easier than shipping full-sized mattresses.

Because these beds are rolled up and placed into boxes, there are limits to the kinds of materials that they can choose because of the compression process. Edge support may not be as strong among these brands as they are in beds that ship full-size. Also, you’ll need to consider the “factory smell,” which is sometimes called off-gassing, that can be associated with these brands, and keep in mind they may require several hours of airing out before they’re comfortable to use.

For more info, check out list of the best mattresses in a box.

On a Budget

Even if your budget is tight, you do not have to settle for subpar quality or continue sleeping on an outdated mattress. Not only do some brands offer a more streamlined version of their designs for a reduced price, but some companies are also focused on providing quality for the dollar as their business model. Take a look at brands that sell online to keep overhead minimized and reduce the cost of shipping by designing a bed-in-a-box.

Among budget-friendly brands, competition is fierce to provide the best deals, especially around the holidays. Online spaces may offer the lowest prices but sales in stores around Labor Day can get highly competitive, too. Models that are discontinuing may carry some risk in that you can’t always return them if you’re dissatisfied, but you may be able to score a significant deal during a mattress clearance event.

Check out our list of the best cheap mattresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Labor Day the best time to buy a mattress?

Labor Day is a great time to buy a mattress because many companies offer significant savings on top-tier products. While Labor Day isn’t the only holiday when mattress companies offer deals, the start of a new school year could be a great opportunity to invest in a mattress, particularly for students who are heading off to college or need a better bed to accommodate their growing frame.

Do companies offer deals on mattress accessories too?

Yes, many companies offer deals on mattress accessories during Labor Day and other holidays. If you already know that you’re planning to buy a new mattress, then why not save money on the other items you may need as well, such as bed sheets, duvets, pillows, or bed frames?

When do Labor Day mattress sales begin?

Most Labor Day mattress sales begin around late August. However, some companies are offering their deals even earlier now, so we encourage you to keep an eye out for Labor Day deals throughout August, especially if you need your new bed as soon as possible.