Can You Sleep on a Mattress While It’s Expanding?

Ever wondered if you can jump onto a new mattress right away, or if you need to wait for it to puff up all the way? Here’s the simple answer: 

You can sleep on a mattress while it’s still expanding, but it’s better to let it fully puff up before using it for its intended purposes. This way, you avoid body aches and misaligning your spine while you rest. It also guarantees a comfortable night’s sleep.

But don’t take our word for it. In this post, we’ll chat about how exactly mattresses puff up and give you some helpful tips to make it happen faster. 

Let’s figure out those head-scratching concerns so you can snuggle up in cozy comfort ASAP!

Should You Not Sleep on a Mattress While It’s Expanding?

Thinking about snoozing on a mattress that’s still puffing up? It’s not exactly the best idea. 

Let’s break it down: It’s not recommended because the mattress might feel too firm as it hasn’t really taken its true comfy shape yet. 

There’s a reason mattress companies say, “Wait a day for it to puff up”—it’s all about giving you the best sleep. 

So, if you do snooze on your new mattress while it’s puffing up, you won’t wreck or damage it, but your sleep might not be as dreamy.

Why You Should Let Your Mattress Expand Before Sleeping on It

You’re probably wondering why waiting is important, right? Especially if you’re like most of us and patience isn’t your strong suit.

Here’s the thing: it’s not just about comfort—it’s about your health too. When a mattress is all squished up for shipping, it needs time to breathe and plump up properly. 

Why, though? Let’s take a look:

1. Getting the Right Firmness and Shape

Your mattress needs time to fluff up to get just the right mix of softness and support. When you sleep on it before it’s fully expanded, it might not feel as cozy and might not keep your back in line.

2. Looking After Your Body

Sleeping on a mattress that’s still squishing into shape might make your body ache. See: your mattress should hug your shape, but if it’s still puffing, it might not do that right away. That could mean a few uncomfortable spots or even some pains in the morning after.

3. The Smell Factor

When mattresses are all new and squished, they might have a weird, factory mattress smell—and rarely does anyone like that scent. 

Waiting lets the mattress breathe and gets rid of the smell of organic compounds used in manufacturing. Otherwise, you might end up with irritated eyes and nose – sometimes even a headache!

How Long Does It Take for a Mattress to Expand Anyway?

Curious about the expansion time for your new mattress? Here’s the rundown:

The period of time it takes for a mattress to fluff up completely depends on the materials, thickness, and even the weather when you unbox it. 

But generally, most mattresses reach about 90% of their original shape within a few hours. Then they take another 24 to 72 hours to get to their ultimate cozy state.

Let’s take a peek under the covers and see the expansion time of each mattress type:

Memory Foam Mattress

Ever seen those squishy memory foam mattresses? They take their time through the expansion process to reach their full comfy potential. 

So, how long does it take a memory foam mattress to expand? A good 24 to 72 hours should get it all plump and ready for the perfect quality sleep. 

Especially if your bed is on the larger side, give it those hours to unfold properly. If it’s only been a couple of hours since unpacking, don’t fret about the corners taking a little longer—they’ll catch up!

Shop our wide collection of memory foam mattresses here.

Latex Mattress

Now, latex mattresses, the more expensive mattress types, are a bit speedier than memory foam buddies. They often need to hit that 24-hour mark to fully fluff up, but sometimes they might need up to 72 hours to reach their cozy peak. 

Remember, this time can swing depending on the weather and how your mattress was packed.

Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattresses, the cool mix of innersprings and other stuff, tend to expand faster than regular latex mattresses. Most of them might reach full expansion within a few hours. But like other mattresses, it’s good to wait up to 72 hours to make sure they’re at their best.

Browse our range of hybrid mattresses today!

Spring Mattress

Spring mattresses, often comprising coil springs, foam, and fabric, typically take about 4 to 10 hours to reach full expansion after being compressed for shipping. 

Some companies recommend waiting for 24 to 72 hours for complete expansion, considering various factors such as the mattress design, size, and materials used.

Air Mattress

Air mattresses generally take approximately 48 to 72 hours to fully expand after unboxing. While it’s fine to sleep on them right away, for the mattress to reach its ultimate size and optimal comfort, allowing this expansion time is advisable for the best sleeping experience.

6 Tips to Decompress Your Mattress Faster

Eager to dive into dreamland on your new mattress? Let’s speed up the decompression process! Here are tips to get you snoozing sooner:

1. Check Bed Frame Compatibility 

Your bed frame matters! Ensure your mattress and foundation match up. Memory foam and hybrids might need a platform-style base, while spring mattresses love box springs. 

Plus, a saggy or worn-out foundation can mess with the whole expansion process, so check that first.

Don’t know which foundation is right for you? Browse through our foundations & frames selection or head on down here and test them out yourself!

2. Order the Mattress Early

Once you get a new mattress, you know now that you should hold off diving in right away. 

So why not order the mattress a few days early and let it take as much time as it needs to expand? This way you get that blissful night sleep without any complications!

And with ‘No Bull’, this couldn’t be easier. Schedule your delivery with one of our stores and our excellent customer service team will take care of you.

3. Stick to the New Snooze Spot

For the first 30 to 60 days, resist the temptation to hop back to your old mattress. Consistently sleeping on the new one helps it break in faster and lets your body adjust properly. Body heat and weight helps as well.

4. Warm Up for Comfort

If your mattress is memory foam, warmth helps! Set the room temperature to around 72 degrees to soften the material. It makes the mattress more adaptable to your body shape too.

5. Consider Mattress Toppers

Want a quicker fix? A mattress topper can alter the feel of your mattress, making it softer or firmer. It’s like a mini makeover for your bed without breaking the bank.

6. Roll or Walk Around It

You can help speed up the expansion process by rolling back and forth on your mattress like a rolling pin. 

Or get some steps in—walk or crawl around on it for a few minutes each day. This helps loosen up the materials, making the mattress comfier quicker.

Wrap It Up!

In a nutshell, letting your mattress expand properly is key for ultimate comfort. While it may be okay to sleep on it before it puffs up and reaches its optimal comfort levels, it’s best you wait for it to breathe. 

After all: patience, and the 6 other tips we gave you here, are the secret ingredients for a cozy night’s rest. 

Now, for your dreamy sleep, explore our products or locate a store near you. Find your sleep haven today and make bedtime the highlight of your day!