When is the best time to buy a mattress (and an adjustable bed)?
Hi, we’re John and Mimi. Every year around this time people ask us whether they should buy a mattress now or wait for Black Friday. The honest answer is that the calendar matters less than most ads make it sound. Here’s how sale seasons usually work, when waiting makes sense and when it doesn’t, how to tell a real deal from a dressed-up one, and how far ahead to order if you need the bed ready for holiday guests.
The short answer
- The best time is when you need a new bed and you’ve found the right one. A discount on a mattress that doesn’t fit how you sleep isn’t a deal.
- Holiday weekends are when many stores run promotions: Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Black Friday through Cyber Monday. That’s a common pattern, not a guarantee for any one store or product.
- Don’t keep sleeping on a worn-out mattress for months to catch a sale. If it’s sagging or you’re sleeping badly on it, the wait costs you more than it saves.
- Compare the price you’ll actually pay, including shipping, the pieces you need, the warranty and the return terms, not the size of the “percent off” sticker.
- Need it before guests arrive? Order with room to spare. Our orders typically process within 1 business day, most arrive within about 3 business days after they ship, and a new mattress can take up to 72 hours to fully expand.
The mattress sale calendar, in plain English
Mattress shopping has a well-known rhythm: many retailers time their promotions around long weekends and the big shopping days at the end of the year. Here’s what that usually looks like, with what to keep in mind for each one.
| When | What usually happens | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| January | New Year promotions and end-of-holiday clearance at some stores | A good time if your old bed made it through the holidays but won’t make it much further |
| February (Presidents Day weekend) | One of the first long-weekend sale events of the year | Handy if you’re planning a spring move or a new guest room |
| Late May (Memorial Day weekend) | A big long-weekend event for mattresses and furniture | Often lines up with spring moves and kids coming home for summer |
| Early July (Fourth of July) | Summer holiday promotions | Handy for a guest room before summer visitors |
| Early September (Labor Day weekend) | The last big long-weekend event of summer | Lines up with dorm move-ins and the start of the school year |
| Late November (Black Friday to Cyber Monday) | The biggest shopping stretch of the year for most stores, online and in person | Carriers are at their busiest from here through December, so delivery can take longer |
| December | Holiday and end-of-year promotions at some stores | Order early if the bed has to be ready for guests or a gift |
This is the general pattern across the mattress business, not a schedule of our sales. Stores, brands and products differ, and no calendar can tell you what a particular store will do in a particular year.
What about “new model season”?
Mattress makers update their lines from time to time, and when a model is replaced, stores sometimes mark down the outgoing one. If you find a discontinued model you like, check that it comes with the full warranty, that it’s new and factory-sealed (not a floor model), and that it’s still offered in your size. Don’t count on a specific model being cleared out at a specific time, though; there’s no fixed calendar for it.
Should you buy now or wait for a sale?
Here’s how we’d think about it if you were asking us at the kitchen table:
| If this sounds like you | Our honest take |
|---|---|
| Your mattress has a visible dip, you roll toward the middle, or you sleep better anywhere else | Don’t wait. A few more months on a worn-out bed isn’t worth a possible discount. Our how long does a mattress last guide lists the signs. |
| It’s getting old but still comfortable | You have time. Use it to pick the right size and feel, write down the model code and today’s price, and buy when the price and the timing both work for you. |
| You’re moving, setting up a guest room or a kid is changing beds | Work back from the date you need it (see the timeline below) and order early enough that shipping isn’t the thing you’re worried about. |
| You’re not sure which mattress you want yet | Decide that first. Rushing a choice to beat the end of a holiday weekend is how people end up with the wrong firmness. Start with how to choose a mattress. |
| You want an adjustable base and your current mattress is fairly new | Check whether your mattress can bend first; you may only need the base. See best mattress for an adjustable base. |
How to tell a real deal from a dressed-up one
A big “percent off” can be real, or it can be measured against a price almost nobody pays. These checks work at any store, including ours:
- Compare by model code, not by name. The same mattress can carry different names at different stores. Every one of our product pages lists the manufacturer’s model code (for example
12BNCOPPER-Q), so you can search it and compare. - Know what the “was” price means. On our site, “Regular” is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), shown for comparison. It isn’t a price we used to charge. More on that on our why our prices are lower page.
- Add up the total. Shipping, a foundation or base if you need one, and a protector all count. Shipping is included in our prices, with no separate charge at checkout.
- Compare the same size. A deal on a queen tells you nothing about the king price. Check the size you’re actually buying.
- Read the return terms before you buy. Some stores offer sleep trials; others don’t. Our mattresses ship vacuum-compressed and can’t be resealed, so there are no returns or sleep trial once an order ships (see our Purchase Policy & Warranty). That’s exactly why we’d rather you take your time and ask us questions first.
- Check the warranty. A sale price shouldn’t mean less coverage. Our mattresses and adjustable bases carry a 10-year limited warranty; our mattress warranty explained guide covers what that means.
The best time to buy an adjustable bed
The same calendar applies to adjustable bases, with a few things that are different:
- Buying the mattress and base together saves a second decision. Our Bronze, Silver and Gold packages bundle a 12" copper-infused memory foam mattress, an adjustable base and a pillow. At today’s prices, Silver and Gold each cost less than their pieces bought separately; our packages explained guide shows the math.
- Plan the setup, not just the delivery. A base arrives folded in a box and sets up without tools, but it goes easier with a second person to help. See how to set up an adjustable base.
- Sharing the bed? Decide on one base or a split king before the sale weekend, not during it. Our how to choose an adjustable base checklist walks through it.
- Watching the budget? Our best adjustable bed on a budget guide sorts every base we sell by today’s price.
Buying before holiday guests: work back from the date
This is where people get caught out in November and December. Here’s how our orders usually go, from our Shipping Policy:
| Step | Typical time | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Order processing | Typically within 1 business day | Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. You get tracking by email when it ships. |
| FedEx delivery | Most orders arrive within about 3 business days after they ship | Alaska, Hawaii and remote or rural areas may take longer. If a product page shows a different estimate, that one applies. |
| Weekends | FedEx generally doesn’t deliver items over 50 lbs on Saturdays | Those arrive the next business day. |
| Unboxing and expansion | Up to 72 hours to fully expand | You can sleep on it right away. We suggest airing it out for at least 24 hours before putting sheets on. |
| Inspect the delivery | Within 48 hours | If anything is damaged or missing, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and photos. |
Delivery times are estimates, not guarantees, and carriers are busiest from Thanksgiving through the end of December. So for holiday guests, we’d plan on the bed arriving at least a week before they do, and earlier if you’re in Alaska, Hawaii or a rural area. That leaves time for the mattress to expand and air out, for the base to be set up, and for us to sort out anything that went wrong in shipping. (In 2026, Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26.)
Setting up a guest room? Our best mattress for a guest room guide covers sofa beds, daybeds and trundles too, and how long a mattress in a box takes to expand covers the first few days.
How our pricing works (any time of year)
- Prices are shown live. The tables below read today’s prices straight from our catalog, the same prices you see at checkout, and they update automatically.
- Shipping is included. All orders ship by FedEx, free anywhere in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii.
- You can change your mind until it ships. Orders can be changed or cancelled until they ship. Once shipped, they can’t be cancelled.
- Want to hear about a real sale? Use the “Real deals, not spam” sign-up at the bottom of any page and we’ll e-mail you when we run a real sale or bring something back in stock. Occasional e-mails only.
- Or just ask. Text John your size and what you’re looking at, and he’ll tell you honestly whether it makes sense to buy now.
Our mattresses at today’s prices
A spread from our lowest-priced mattresses up to hybrids, so you can see where today’s prices land in the sizes most people buy.
| Pick | Best for | Model code | Twin XL | Queen | King |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8" Daisy Firm | Firm, budget bed for kids and guest rooms | 8BNV-TL |
$259 | $349 | $399 |
| 10" Rose Medium | Everyday gel memory foam with a washable cover | 10BNV-TL |
$329 | $399 | $469 |
| 10" Gel Comfort Reactive | Medium firm gel memory foam for back and side sleepers | 10ESSCA-TL |
$269 | $399 | $519 |
| 12" Copper Gel | Our best-known copper model | 12BNCOPPER-TL |
$369 | $519 | $629 |
| 10" EcoCore Hybrid Premium | Pocket coils under soy-based foam | 10HSOY-TL |
$499 | $699 | $799 |
| 12" Ananda Pearl & Gel | Medium firm memory foam with gel | 12PEARL-TL |
$599 | $689 | — |
| 12" iSwitch Flippable | Two sides, two feels | 12ISWITCH-TL |
$659 | $769 | $899 |
| 14" ActiveAlign Zoned Hybrid | Zoned pocket-coil hybrid, plush medium soft | 14REACTIVE-TL |
$749 | $889 | $995 |
Prices are today’s prices, read live from our catalog, with free FedEx shipping included. A dash means that model isn’t made in that size.
And the adjustable bases:
| Pick | Best for | Model code | Twin XL | Queen | Split king |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBKDH | Head-only lift, the simplest base we sell | SBKDH-TL |
$399 | $439 | $959 |
| e3 | Head and foot lift, zero gravity, zero clearance | SBKD3-TXL |
$449 | $499 | $1,169 |
| e4 Premium | Adds massage and USB ports | SBKDP2-TL |
$599 | $649 | $1,389 |
| Glide | Wall-glide keeps you near the nightstand | SBKDG2-TL |
$939 | $1,039 | $1,559 |
| e7 Lumbar | Lumbar support and pillow tilt | SBKDL2-TL |
$949 | $1,099 | $1,739 |
Prices are today’s prices, read live from our catalog, with free FedEx shipping included. A dash means that model isn’t made in that size.
Want to see every mattress grouped by price? Our best affordable mattress guide sorts them under $500, $700 and $1,000 for a queen.
BRONZE - Package Sleep System - MM-BRONZE
Mattress, adjustable base and pillow in one order, so the whole bed arrives together and you make one decision instead of three.
- Wireless adjustable base with head and foot lift and a zero-gravity position
- 12" copper-infused memory foam mattress, medium firm
- Copper-infused memory foam pillow included
- Twin XL, full, queen, king and split king
- Free shipping on the whole bundle
From $1,089 (Twin XL) · Queen $1,259 · See sizes & details
e3 Adjustable Bed Base with Wireless Remote, Memory Positions & Zero Clearance
If your mattress can already bend, a base on its own may be all you need.
- Head and foot lift, one-touch Zero Gravity and Flat
- Zero clearance; legs included (3", 6", 9" or 12")
- Weight limit 750 lbs including mattress and users
- Back-up battery strip
- 10-year limited warranty
From $449 (Twin XL) · Queen $499 · See sizes & details
Shop this guide
Ready when you are. These are the complete-bed options most people compare when the timing is right.
- BRONZE - Package Sleep System - MM-BRONZE, from $1,089. Mattress, wireless base and pillow, the lowest-priced package.
- SILVER - Package Sleep System - MM-SILVER, from $1,279. Adds the e4 Premium base with massage and USB charging.
- GOLD - Package Sleep System - MM-GOLD, from $1,459. Adds the e7 Lumbar base with lumbar support and pillow tilt.
- Premium Bamboo Viscose Mattress Protector - Waterproof & Hypoallergenic, from $60. Waterproof protector for the new mattress, fits up to 16".
Questions we hear a lot
When is the best time of year to buy a mattress?
Many stores run promotions around holiday weekends (Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day) and from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. That is a common pattern, not a guarantee for any one store or product. The best time for you is when you need a new bed and have found one that fits how you sleep; a discount on the wrong mattress is not a deal.
Is it worth waiting for Black Friday to buy a mattress?
Only if your current mattress is still comfortable and you have time. If it is sagging, you roll toward the middle or you sleep better anywhere else, do not keep sleeping on it for months to catch a possible sale. If you can wait, use the time to choose the right size and feel and note the model code and today’s price so you can compare.
When is the best time to buy an adjustable bed?
The same holiday-weekend pattern applies. Decide first whether you need a base only (if your mattress can bend) or a mattress and base together; our Bronze, Silver and Gold packages bundle a 12-inch memory foam mattress, an adjustable base and a pillow. Leave time for setup: the base arrives folded in a box and sets up without tools.
How far ahead should I order a mattress before holiday guests arrive?
Our orders typically process within 1 business day, and most arrive within about 3 business days after they ship (longer to Alaska, Hawaii and rural areas). A new mattress can take up to 72 hours to fully expand, and we suggest airing it out for at least 24 hours before putting sheets on. Delivery times are estimates and carriers are busiest from Thanksgiving through December, so plan on the bed arriving at least a week before your guests.
Does MimiJohn have Black Friday sales?
We do not promise any particular sale, discount or date. Our prices are shown live on every product page, shipping is included, and each page lists the manufacturer’s suggested retail price as “Regular” for comparison. If you want to hear about a real sale, use the sign-up at the bottom of any page, or text John to ask whether now is a good time to buy.
Questions? Just ask us
Trying to decide whether to buy now or wait, or need a bed by a certain date? Text or call John at 818-924-3744, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific, or email john@mimijohn.com. You can also tell us how you sleep on our Help me choose form.
Written by John & Mimi Venti, MimiJohn. The sale calendar describes general patterns in mattress retail, not our own sale schedule; we don’t promise any particular sale, discount or date. Shipping and order details are from our Shipping Policy and Purchase Policy; delivery times are estimates, not guarantees. Prices are read live from our catalog and update automatically.