How Often You Should Flip or Rotate Your Mattress? Pros Weigh In

Don't lose sleep over it

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

If you’re getting the recommended eight hours of sleep every night, that means you are spending about a third of your life in bed. That’s a lot of pressure—quite literally—for your mattress. Your mattress needs rest, too, which is why manufacturers recommend either flipping or rotating it periodically.

“Flipping/rotating a mattress allows the mattress to wear evenly,” Robert Schuster of Verlo Mattress tells The Spruce. “When a mattress is worn evenly, it extends the life of the mattress.”

According to the Sleep Foundation, a mattress can last between seven and 10 years, on average. If you want yours to get you through as many sweet dreams as possible, here’s what you need to know about maintaining it.

Meet the Expert

Robert Schuster is the vice president of purchasing at Verlo Mattress in Milwaukee, WI.

Should You Flip or Rotate Your Mattress?

Flipping and rotating are two different practices that can help extend the life of your mattress.

• Rotate: Turn the mattress 180 degrees so that the foot becomes the top and vice-versa.

• Flip: Turn the mattress over like a large pancake so that the bottom becomes the top and vice-versa.

Mattresses to Rotate

These days, nearly all mattress types can benefit from a periodic rotation, in particular:

• Memory foam

• Latex

• Innerspring

• Hybrid

Mattresses to Flip

Only mattresses with a two-sided design should be flipped. Byron Golub, the vice president of product and merchandising at Saatva, notes that flippable mattresses often feature two distinct designs on each side that alter the comfort level—the side you prefer is the side you should keep it on.

“You should, however, rotate your mattress regularly to distribute the wear,” he explains.

Mattresses to Leave Alone

There’s a third category of mattresses that shouldn’t budge. Those designed with a “zoned comfort system” should stay put, according to the Sleep Foundation. A Sleep Number or other types of smart mattress would be a good example of one that you neither flip nor rotate.

How Often to Flip or Rotate Your Mattress

There’s “no precise rule” about how often to flip or rotate a mattress, as it depends on the particular model and design, says Golub. In general, though, he recommends rotating your mattress after six months, then yearly thereafter.

Interior designer and lifestyle blogger Chantelle Hartman Malarkey finds that flipping or rotating a mattress every six months will avoid those uneven spots that could lead to sleepless nights. Again, it depends on your mattress manufacturer. Schuster says Verlo customers are encouraged to flip or rotate their mattresses with every change in season.

Check your mattress manufacturer’s guidelines to see what the recommended rotation schedule is, then make sure you get on it. “If you don’t rotate your mattress, you risk the bed sagging where you lay, which will eventually begin to cause discomfort, back pain, and even poor-quality sleep,” Golub says.

Signs You Should Flip or Rotate Your Mattress

Malarkey says flipping or rotating your mattress accordingly prevents the “natural sag” in your mattress.

“This happens when you are sleeping in the same spot over and over again and applying pressure to that spot with your body,” she says. “Uneven spots on your mattress may lead to bad sleep since it may become uneven and uncomfortable.”

While Malarkey’s preferred mattress rotation schedule is once every six months, she says that if you start to feel a sag in your mattress sooner, it’s time to flip.

Tips for Flipping or Rotating a Heavy Mattress

Flipping and/or rotating a mattress is a task suited for two people, especially if you have a king. Here’s how to rotate it:

1. Take off all bedding and sheets so it’s easy to grip the mattress.

2. Pull your mattress down and away from the head of the bed. If you have a four-poster bed, lift the bottom of the mattress up as you pull it, resting the bottom on the footboard.

3. Rotate the mattress clockwise or counterclockwise in whichever direction is easier.

4. Reposition the mattress so that the former foot of the mattress is now the head.

Here’s how to flip it (help from a partner is strongly recommended):

1. Take off all bedding and sheets so it’s easy to grip the mattress.

2. Pull your mattress to one side (whichever side is more convenient) so that the other side of the mattress rests in the middle of the platform or box spring.

3. Lift the side of the mattress until it is resting on its side in the middle of the platform or box spring.

4. Gently push the mattress over to your partner to “catch” as it tips over. The bottom of the mattress now becomes the top.

5. Reposition the mattress into place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the golden rule for how often you should rotate or flip a mattress?

It all depends on the manufacturer and design of the mattress. However, it’s not a bad idea to rotate or flip your mattress once every six months.

Is it better to rotate or flip a mattress?

Double-sided mattresses are the only ones designed to be flipped; most others should be rotated. The exception to this rule is a smart mattress like a Sleep Number, which is designed to stay in the same position night after night.

Why are some mattresses no longer supposed to be flipped?

Most modern mattresses feature better support on one side, so it’s best to rotate rather than flip them.

Read Next: 15 Different Types of Mattresses and How to Choose One

Read the original article on The Spruce.