The Best MLK Day Mattress Sales of 2024
- Best Mattress Overall: Amerisleep AS3
- Best Cooling Mattress for Hot Sleepers: Zoma Hybrid
- Best Affordable Mattress: Vaya Hybrid
Named for Martin Luther King Jr. and his efforts to promote equality, MLK Day has become a day where shoppers can stock up on some needed essentials, including some of the best mattresses on the market. Mattress sales often start during the long weekend leading up to the day, with top brands offering deep discounts and gifts such as free pillows with a mattress purchase.
With so many mattress deals and ways to save, we wanted to simplify your shopping journey by highlighting some of our top mattress recommendations.
When it comes to mattress brands, many focus on designing one to be the perfect mattress. However, there’s simply no such thing as a mattress that’s right for everyone. Amerisleep, understanding this, has engineered a handful of mattresses that can serve as the best mattress for someone. With their diverse selection, they are one of the best equipped to meet the sleep needs of everyone.
Of all their mattresses, the Amerisleep AS3 is easily the most popular. There are softer and firmer mattresses in the Amerisleep line-up, but the AS3’s medium feel cradles most sleeper’s sensitive areas while also supporting their spines. For MLK Day, shoppers get $450 off the AS3.
Covering the Amerisleep AS3 is Refresh fabric, a specialty material that goes beyond just staying cool at night. Refresh takes the body heat it absorbs and, instead of simply releasing it, transforms it into infrared energy. This energy is then quick to penetrate the body, boosting local bloodflow for better recovery.
The first layer of the AS3 is Bio-Pur® foam, made with a mix of traditional ingredients and plant-derived oils. This recipe creates a memory foam that’s more breathable and responsive than the average foam, bouncing back into shape within seconds.
The foam layer of the AS3 is Affinity foam with HIVE® technology. A series of hexagonal cutouts establish five different support zones across the Affinity foam, with the cutouts flexing more under the shoulders and hips for greater cushion. Under the head, back, and feet areas, the mattress is less conforming and more supportive.
The last layer of the AS3 is Bio-Core®, a material that Amerisleep designed to support the body and maximize the mattress’s lifespan. With Bio-Core® foam, you don’t have to worry about the bed sagging and losing support too soon.
Amerisleep mattresses ship free and come with the guarantee of a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.
While the top brands are committed to ensuring shoppers get a good night’s rest, few are as driven to boost daily performance and minimize sleep disruptions as Zoma is. They focus on designing high-performance mattresses tailored for athletes, but anyone can benefit from sleeping on a Zoma mattress.
The Zoma Hybrid is our recommendation from their mattress line-up, as its coil support works with the gel-infused memory foam to provide what hot sleepers need to rest undisturbed. During their Martin Luther King Day sale, it’s $150 off.
The comfort layer of the Zoma Hybrid is gel memory foam, a material swift to cushion the body and relieve pressure points. The infused gels pull heat away and help it escape the mattress fast, so you won’t wake up sweaty from a too-hot mattress. This is further boosted by the ventilated fabric cover, appropriately named AirCloth.
The transition layer of the Zoma Hybrid is Reactiv™ foam, named for its reactivity. When you lie down, Reactiv™ buoys your body for easy movement and continued support.
The final two layers of the Zoma Hybrid are a set of pocketed coils on top of a foam base. The coils are individually wrapped for motion isolation. In other words, moving around or getting out of bed won’t jolt your partner out of sleep.
Every Zoma mattress includes free shipping, a 100-night trial, and a 10-year warranty.
Many budget shoppers hunt through sales like MLK’s for mattress deals that won’t break the bank. Vaya is one brand committed to providing affordable deals year-round, and during their Martin Luther King mattress sale, they are offering $300 off their mattresses.
When it comes to their offerings, our favorite is the Vaya Hybrid. Their hybrid model relies on a luxurious pillow top, with comfort foam for deeper compression and pocketed coil support.
The first layer of the Vaya Hybrid is 2 inches of cotton, establishing a pillowy cushion that wicks away heat and sweat. Next is 2 inches of Vaya Comfort Foam, a material that hugs the body in various positions for pressure and pain relief.
The pocketed coils inside the Vaya Hybrid are wrapped to deter motion transfer. The base foam is thicker than usual in hybrids, providing strengthened support for greater value.
The original Vaya Mattress is simpler in design than the Vaya Hybrid, relying only on two foam layers for its comfort. The top is 3 inches of Vaya Comfort Foam, while the base is 9-inch-thick support foam.
Vaya’s mattresses come with free shipping, a 100-night trial period, and a 10-year warranty.
Types of Mattresses to Know
When it comes to the types of mattresses on the market, there are four that most sleepers will consider—memory foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrid mattresses.
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattresses have become more popular as bed-in-a-box mattresses have become more widespread. The material yields to heat and pressure, so it near-instantly responds when a sleeper lies down on its surface. This responsiveness makes memory foam one of the best ways to relieve sensitive areas, such as achy joints.
Memory foam is also used in many of the best affordable mattresses. However, since memory foam is used in mattresses at all price points, it’s important to do your homework when it comes to getting a fair deal and a good night’s sleep.
Latex
Latex mattresses are the eco-friendly alternative to memory foam mattresses. Unlike memory foam, which must be partly synthetic, latex is made with natural rubber tree sap. However, you couldn’t just swap out memory foam with latex foam in a mattress and have the bed feel the same. Latex foam yields less to sleepers, so some find that it feels ‘firmer’ than memory foam would.
While latex mattresses are excellent for sleepers who want a natural mattress or are sensitive to synthetic materials, they’re not without their downsides. An all-latex mattress is the most expensive type of mattress due to its production costs. For some, this is worth it because the mattress has
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses have a classic design, with fabric and cushioning materials sandwiching thick steel coils. How these coils are arranged can vary, but the result is a bouncy mattress that keeps sleepers on top of the bed. Though other types of mattresses have pushed them out of the spotlight, innerspring mattresses can still be found during MLK sales.
Due to their simple design, innerspring mattresses are highly affordable. However, many sleepers find their comfort lackluster next to a foam or hybrid mattress, thanks to their thin comfort layers.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses take the idea of a spring core from classic innerspring beds and combine it with the newer idea of thick foam comfort layers. The result is more responsive than a memory foam mattress but more pressure-relieving than a traditional innerspring bed.
Hybrid mattresses are the pinnacle of comfort for many sleepers. However, they do have the drawback of generally losing adequate support faster than a foam bed of equal quality, simply due to how their pocketed coils eventually wear out. A hybrid mattress also isn’t the most inexpensive type of bed, though many consider its comfort worth the cost.
Understanding Mattress Firmness Levels
When it comes to choosing the most comfortable mattress for you, the primary factor to consider is mattress firmness. Nothing will keep you up at night quite like a too-firm or too-soft mattress, after all.
Some misunderstand the idea of different mattress firmness levels and think a softer or firmer mattress is better than the other. However, each mattress firmness level can suit a particular sleeping style. How comfortable a mattress’s firmness feels will depend on your favorite sleep position and body type.
Soft
Soft mattresses can feel squishy to the touch, with sleepers quick to sink into the surface as they stretch out. The benefit of a plush mattress is how quickly it can hug the body for pressure relief, with well-made softer mattresses having support cores that deter unwanted sinkage and any stuck feelings.
When it comes to sleeping positions, mattresses for side sleepers are the only ones that should be truly soft. And some side sleepers may not enjoy a purely plush mattress and may wish to try a medium-soft or even a medium mattress.
Lightweight sleepers who are under 130 pounds are also better served by softer mattresses than heavier sleepers. Mattresses for petite sleepers have to be quick to conform to their bodies with responsive cushion. This is because their bodies don’t press down hard enough to unlock the full pressure-relieving benefits of the average mattress.
Medium
Medium-feel mattresses are the most versatile firmness option, acting as balanced, in-the-middle-of-the-road mattresses. These mattresses are well-matched for sleepers who aren’t 100 percent certain what they want or want to keep a mattress for guests in a spare room.
As we mentioned above, medium beds are about as firm as side sleepers should go when choosing a mattress. They feel supportive under the body, yet can gently hug the shoulders and hips for pressure relief.
Mattresses for back sleepers can also offer medium feels, particularly if they come equipped with targeted lumbar support. However, some back sleepers will prefer the support of a medium-firm mattress.
Medium-feel beds are also excellent mattresses for combination sleepers, who require a mattress that can accommodate changes in sleep positions. Some combo sleepers may also prefer a medium-firm mattress, though, depending on which positions they prefer.
Similarly, mattresses for couples often possess medium feels to best accommodate two different sleeping styles. Medium mattresses are an excellent choice for partners who want to avoid splurging on a split king size mattress.
Firm
Firm mattresses aren’t for everyone, but for some, the hard feel of a mattress helps them feel supported and sleep well at night. When it comes to mattresses for stomach sleeping, firmer feels are a necessity. Without firm support, the torso can bow too far into the bed as sleepers rest. This is why stomach sleepers are most at risk for waking up with chronic back pain.
Mattresses for heavy people over 230 pounds should also offer firmer feels. A plus-sized body places more stress on a mattress than what manufacturers usually expect. A firm feel offsets that, withstanding wear and tear better than a more cushioned mattress would.
That isn’t to say that every heavier sleeper will need a true firm mattress, though. They simply need to look at the mattresses with firmer feels in the recommended range for the sleep position.
Other Mattress Sales
New Year’s sales and Martin Luther King Day sales are among the first mattress sales of the year. But they’re not the only ones to keep an eye out for, and if you miss the MLK sale, you can later take advantage of the following:
- Best Presidents Day Mattress Sales
- Best Sleep Awareness Week Mattress Sales
- Best Memorial Day Mattress Sales
- Best 4th of July Mattress Sales
- Best Labor Day Mattress Sales
- Best Columbus Day Mattress Sales
- Best Black Friday Mattress Sales
- Best Cyber Monday Mattress Sales
However, when it comes to the best time to buy a mattress, the answer is always “when you know you need a new one.” Putting off a new mattress order usually just means suffering through sleeping on an old, uncomfortable mattress in the process, losing valuable hours of sleep every night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do more expensive mattresses last longer?
Price isn’t a perfect way to gauge a mattress’s durability, as mattress sellers can overinflate the regular price and make it seem like select mattresses are higher-quality than it actually is. Still, it’s difficult to deny there’s truth to the idea of getting what you pay for when it comes to cheaper mattresses, while higher-cost mattresses typically reflect better materials and a more durable construction.
Instead of simply trusting that a higher price means a better mattress, do a little homework before you buy. A higher price tag should have its value backed by certified materials and satisfied customers. This is especially true for luxury mattresses, which should have features and materials that promote comfortable rest.
Is it cheaper to buy mattresses in-store or online?
Most traditional brick-and-mortar retailers simply can’t match the affordability of online mattresses. Web stores have fewer overhead costs than physical stores, so online sellers tend to offer better mattress deals.
Plus, many mattress showrooms act as middleman sellers and will inflate the price of the mattress to increase their profits. Often when you shop for a mattress online, you buy it directly from the manufacturer, so there’s no added markup. Just make sure you take advantage of sleep trials and make sure the mattress is right for you.
How much should I budget for a new mattress?
How much you should expect to pay for a new mattress depends on what size, materials, and thickness you’re considering. For example, you could find a queen size memory foam or innerspring mattress for around $1,000. However, to find a hybrid or latex mattress in a similar size, you would likely have to spend closer to $1,500 or even $2,000.
Obviously, larger mattresses cost more than smaller mattresses, so a bigger mattress size and thicker mattress means you’ll need a higher budget. Density of foam material, or how much material there is in a given square foot of foam, can also increase the mattress’s regular price.
When it comes to materials, natural ones tend to cost more than synthetic materials. Latex foam is far more expensive than memory foam, for example. Even using a cotton fabric cover instead of polyester can significantly increase a mattress’s price.
Which type of mattress is best?
There’s no type of mattress that can be called “the best type,” as every mattress type comes with its own pros and cons. Shoppers will have to decide for themselves which set of pros most outweighs the cons, depending on what their priorities are.
If you’re looking for a bed that maximizes durability, it’s difficult to outdo organic latex mattresses. Latex foam can withstand wear and tear for more than a decade or two if the mattress is well-cared for by its owner. However, an organic mattress comes with a high price tag, so many shoppers, it’s a significant investment.
However, if you’re looking for easy affordability, then memory foam or innerspring mattresses are your best option. Memory foam mattresses are generally better reviewed than innerspring mattresses, providing greater comfort and higher value for your dollar. And if a bouncy feel is what you want, you could choose a hybrid or innerspring mattress.
What time of the year are mattresses cheapest?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday get plenty of press for being the best time of year to buy anything you need and enjoy mattress purchases with free accessories. However, there are other times of the year when you can find the best mattresses at comparatively low prices.
January and February are good times of the year to find a new bed at a lower cost, as many sellers are looking to unload older mattresses and clear space for newer models.
Conclusion
Getting better sleep is an important way to start off any new year, and having one of the best mattresses is a safe way to make that easier to accomplish. And shopping on Martin Luther King Day is one of the earliest opportunities to take advantage of deals and savings on some of the best mattresses.
No worries if you miss out, though. There are plenty of other sales to look forward to shortly.