5 Telltale Signs It's Time to Replace Your Mattress

1. Age of Your Mattress

The most straightforward clue is age. Many people can’t recall when they bought their mattress—a red flag in itself. Generally, mattresses should be replaced after about seven years, with ten years as the absolute limit. According to the Sleep Foundation, a mattress older than six to eight years is a clear warning sign. Age matters because internal materials degrade: foam softens, springs lose tension, and support becomes unreliable, even if the surface looks fine.