Mattress Warranties Explained: What’s Actually Covered?
What a mattress warranty covers, what voids it, how prorated coverage works, and the sag thresholds and foundation requirements brands publish.
A mattress warranty is a manufacturing-defect contract, not a satisfaction guarantee and not a promise about lifespan. The length in the headline matters far less than three details buried further down: the sag threshold, the foundation requirement, and where prorated coverage starts.
| Term | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Non-prorated period | The maker covers repair or replacement in full | This is the part of the warranty with real value |
| Prorated period | You pay a share that grows with age | A 25-year warranty can be mostly prorated |
| Sag threshold | Minimum unweighted impression depth to qualify | A quarter inch of difference decides claims |
| Foundation requirement | Required base type, slat gap, center support | The most common reason claims are denied |
| Void conditions | Stains, cover removal, commercial use, wrong base | One stain can end coverage entirely |
| Transferability | Whether coverage survives resale or gifting | Usually not transferable |
What a warranty covers
Manufacturing defects: excessive body impressions beyond a stated depth, coils that break or protrude, seam or zipper failure, and cover defects not caused by use. It never covers a bed that simply does not suit you — that is the return window’s job, and it is a separate policy with its own timeline and fees.
The three numbers to read before you buy
First, the non-prorated years, because that is the coverage you actually own. Second, the sag threshold, because it defines a defect — how to measure it matters as much as the number. Third, the foundation requirement, since a frame that violates it can void everything on day one; slat spacing rules covers the measurements. Everything else in a warranty is commentary.
How prorated coverage really works
After the non-prorated period, you typically pay a percentage of the original price or a repair charge that increases each year, plus transport in many cases. A long warranty with a short non-prorated period can cost you more at year twelve than a shorter, fully non-prorated one. Read the two periods as separate products.
What voids coverage
Stains and soiling are the leading cause of denial, followed by an unsupported base, removing a zip cover, and use in a commercial setting. A protector solves the first, and reading the base requirement solves the second. Note that warranty exclusions and actual service life are different questions — a bed can be well past its useful life with the warranty still technically intact.
Filing a claim that succeeds
Keep the original receipt and law tag; both are usually required. Measure the impression unweighted with a straight edge, photograph the measurement and the whole bed, photograph your foundation and slats, and submit the brand’s form rather than emailing a complaint. If the retailer handled the sale, start there — at Yawnder we file on customers’ behalf for beds bought from us. Our full brand-by-brand data lives in Mattress Warranties Compared.
Published warranty terms by brand
Read from each brand’s own warranty document and stored with its source. Blank cells mean the brand does not publish that figure — not that the term is absent.
| Brand | Total years | Non-prorated | Sag threshold | Foundation requirement | Transferable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado (warranty) | 25 | 10 | 1.5″ | Avocado recommends its heavy-duty foundation for higher weight capacities to prevent sagging. | No |
| Bear (warranty) | — | 10 | 1.5″ | Indentation traced to an improper or unsupportive foundation or adjustable base is excluded. | No |
| Brooklyn Bedding (warranty) | — | 10 | 1.5″ | Indentation traced to an improper or unsupportive foundation or adjustable base is excluded. | No |
| Casper (warranty) | 10 | 10 | 1″ | Indentation resulting from an improper or unsupportive foundation or adjustable base is excluded. | No |
| GhostBed (warranty) | 25 | 10 | 1.5″ | Indentation associated with a sag in the foundation, box spring or platform is excluded. | No |
| Leesa (warranty) | — | 10 | 1.5″ | Indentation traced to an improper or unsupportive foundation or adjustable base is excluded. | No |
| Nectar (warranty) | — | 10 | 1.5″ | Indentation traced to an improper or unsupportive foundation or bed base is excluded. | No |
| Purple (warranty) | 10 | 10 | 1″ | The warranty applies only when proper mattress support is used. | No |
| Saatva (warranty) | — | — | 1.5″ | Your warranty will remain valid if the mattress has been used on a platform bed with either a solid surface or slats spaced less than 4" apart and a center support for queen and larger sizes. | No |
| Tempur-Pedic (warranty) | 10 | 10 | 0.75″ | Indentation caused by an improper or unsupportive foundation or adjustable base is excluded. | No |
Full quoted language, claim fees and prorated details are in Mattress Warranties Compared.
Related guides
Back to the Mattress Care & Ownership guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 25-year warranty mean the mattress lasts 25 years?
No. It is a defect contract, often heavily prorated in later years. Useful life is driven by materials and use.
What voids a mattress warranty fastest?
Stains, an unsupported or non-compliant frame, and removing a zip cover.
Do I need the law tag to file a claim?
Usually yes. Most brands require the law tag and proof of purchase, so never cut the tag off.
Is a mattress warranty transferable?
Rarely. Most cover the original purchaser only, which matters for secondhand beds.
Is a comfort complaint a warranty claim?
No. Comfort is handled by the return or exchange policy within its own time window.
Sources
Certification descriptions reflect each program’s published requirements at the time of writing; programs update their criteria, so verify a current certificate before purchase. Yawnder does not issue or administer any certification.