A quality mattress is essential to a good night's sleep, but it's also a big investment, so you'll want both the best mattress and the best price. Luckily, there's no better time than Labor Day weekend to cash in. And who better to point you in the right direction than someone who tests mattresses for a living?
As a product analyst within the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, I spend much of my 9-5 researching all the latest and greatest mattresses out there. I've evaluated 150 mattresses in the past year alone, and surveyed more than 10,000 people from our consumer tester panel on the mattresses they've owned. So, it's fair to say that I know a thing or two about the most popular mattresses online and in stores.
Is Labor Day a good time to buy a mattress?
It depends. Many mattresses are always “on sale,” so it’s hard to know when you’re getting a better deal over holiday weekends. Generally, though, a holiday weekend (like Labor Day or Memorial Day weekend) is when you'll consistently see competitive offers across different brands.
Lately, I'm seeing more free add-ons, like pillows, sheets and mattress protectors. Don't overlook these, especially if you're in the process of moving or in the market for a bedding refresh. But if you're set on one mattress over another, don't get too blinded by the bundled savings if you don't already love the mattress itself — you don't want to end up with a mattress you won't like!
When will this year’s Labor Day mattress sales start?
Many early Labor Day sales have already started but not all are remarkable or noteworthy. If you're hoping to swap ASAP and can't afford to wait (especially if you want to get ahead of all the shipping delays after the holiday weekend), you'll still be getting a fair discount.
But if you have a little more flexibility, I'd recommend keeping an eye on your personal favorites until a week (or two) before Labor Day (so, around August 23-ish). That's when most brands tend to get competitive with discounts.
So what are the best Labor Day sales on mattresses?
I’ve compared this year’s Labor Day Mattress Sales against other sales that are offered year-round and here are the best ones from my expert point of view:
- The Saatva Classic Mattress: This is our recommendation if you prefer a traditional innerspring mattress with a bouncy feel rather than the sink-in, cushioning feel of memory foam. These mattresses have regularly been increasing in price and the current list price is $2,095 for a Queen, but we typically see it on sale for just around $1,700. Saatva is currently offering Good Housekeeping readers 20% off all mattress purchases over $1,000, so this brings a queen size cost down to $1,676.
- The Helix Dusk Luxe Mattress: This is a hybrid mattress that combines memory foal and coils and it has a true medium feel, making it a great option for couples and people who change their sleeping position throughout the night. Its list price is $2,374 for a queen, but it's usually on sale for around $1,780. Right now, you can get 20% off mattresses during the brand's Early Access Sale, and GH readers can take 27% of using code GH27, which takes the price down to about $1,733 – lower than usual. Plus the brand will throw in pillows, sheets and a mattress protector with the purchase for select models.
- If you’re on a budget, we recommend the Allswell Luxe Hybrid mattress that’s sold exclusively from Walmart. It’s consistently just $387 for a queen – we almost never see this go on sale, but it’s truly an unbeatable value, even when other brands are offering steep discounts.
My expert tips for scoring Labor Day mattress sales
While it's great to score a deal and save on a mattress, you'll want to ensure you're happy with the one you end up with. After all, we spend a third of our lives in bed, and the right mattress is vital for proper rest. Before Labor Day Weekend sales kick off, I recommend having a list of three to five options to look out for. This way, you won't be overwhelmed by the sheer number of models and discounts.
Still, it's no walk in the park to figure out how to choose a mattress. Here are some quick tips that I swear by:
✔️ Decide what type of mattress you want beforehand. There are a ton of varieties, but here are the main ones:
- Innerspring beds are known for their firm, bouncy feel and breathable nature. Our best overall mattress for years has been the Saatva Classic Mattress, an innerspring with impeccable edge support that received top praise from hundreds of our panelists. Prefer a firmer bed? Opt for the Stearns & Foster Estate. Or want a pillow-top mattress? The Beautyrest Harmony Lux is one of my personal favorites.
- Motion-isolating memory foam mattresses cradle your body for tailored pressure relief but tends to trap heat. I'd recommend Casper's Original Mattress (which has since been replaced by the Casper One) for its zoned support, which is rare for all-foam beds, Tuft and Needle's Original Foam Mattress, a favorite for those who prefer a firmer foam bed, or any of Tempur-Pedic's foam options for drool-worthy pressure relief.
- Hybrid mattresses combine springs with substantial foam for a balance of comfort and support. The Bear Elite Hybrid is the best we've ever tested, offering ergonomic zoned support and comfort, and the Helix Dusk Luxe is another favorite, especially among couples who can't agree on firmness level.
- Latex beds have a springy texture that makes you feel like you're sleeping "on top" of them and can be organic with notable motion transfer. Our top-tested picks include the Avocado Green Mattress and Saatva Latex Hybrid.
- Adjustable smart mattresses allow you to control the firmness level or temperature of each side of the bed but are notably pricey compared to the rest. Check out Sleep Number's p6 Smart Bed or Tempur-Pedic's Active Breeze Smart Bed for more details.
✔️ Figure out your desired firmness level before you buy. Consider your sleep position, build and personal preferences. Mattresses designed for side sleepers often range from soft to medium; Mattresses for stomach sleepers lean on the firmer side and those for back or combination sleepers fall in the middle. Similarly, those with smaller frames will need a softer surface while those with bigger frames will benefit from firmer bed with more support. Mattresses for those over 250 pounds are uniquely constructed with extra support, including reinforced coils.
✔️ Take any bodily concerns into account when choosing a mattress. Are you a hot sleeper? Go with a cooling mattress like the Purple Mattress or Casper Snow. Do you have chronic hip or back pain? Nolah's mattresses, especially the Original 10", have been a blessing for testers with scoliosis. Do you prefer an organic mattress? Avocado's Green Mattress is tough to beat. Any other things you need to consider, such as motion isolation for couples with different schedules or quality edge support to make it easier to get in and out of bed?
✔️ Double check the delivery method. Many mattresses sold online are compressed in a box, hence the "mattress in a box" moniker, and shipped to you for self set-up, while some will coordinate threshold or white glove delivery. Each delivery method has its pros and cons, so you'll want to decide what's best for you.
✔️ Check out trial periods and return policies. These days, many, if not all, mattress brands and retailers have trial periods so you can Cinderella your way through options. Some are more generous than others, but some come with strings attached, like return fees. Be sure to do your research on your top contenders so you aren't caught off guard if it's ultimately not the right bed for you. Don't dwell too much on warranties: Most brands will only cover manufacturer's defects, rather than wear or tear over time.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has been testing bedding and home products for over a century. Each year, our pros research and review hundreds of mattresses and analyze countless data points. Rounding out our Lab evaluations, we also survey readers and organize consumer tests, so we can track real-life feedback.
Product Analyst Grace Wu is one of GH's leading mattress experts, evaluating all types of mattresses so she can make the best recommendation for every type of sleeper. At the GH Institute, she leverages her Master of Engineering in materials science & engineering and a Bachelor of Science in fiber science from Cornell University.
Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
