Mattress warranties may be the most misunderstood part of mattress shopping and are of little help in judging mattress quality. Although most national brand manufacturers offer mattress warranties ranging from 3 years on their promotional products to 10 years on their premium products, some mattresses come with warranties ranging from 20 years to a lifetime. This, however, does not mean that the mattress will actually last that long, because mattress warranties only cover defects in materials and workmanship, not the gradual loss of comfort or support.
In addition, please be aware that some mattress warranties are also prorated, which means that as your mattress ages, you receive proportionately less credit towards a new mattress. A non-prorated mattress warranty, on the other hand, will cover 100% of the labor and material cost to repair or replace a defective mattress or box spring. You should also be aware that valid mattress warranty claims are a very small percentage of sales. Structural damage such as loose, broken or protruding coils and wire are rare under normal usage. Over time, mattresses will wear out or your comfort preference may change, but these are not considered defects. So, when shopping for a mattress, you should focus on finding one with the best support and most comfortable padding at a price that you can afford, not on the length of the manufacturer's warranty.