Buying a new mattress is a big investment, so it’s important to know to what extent your purchase is protected by your warranty. The best mattresses of the year are all sold with a warranty, but they vary in length and specific level of cover.
Regardless of how much you spend on a new mattress, it’s important to know what your rights are as a consumer when it comes to any faults or defects you might encounter. Mattress warranties tend to range from 10 years to a lifetime, but the fine print differs from brand to brand.
Below, we’ll dig into what mattress a mattress warranty is, what most mattress warranties do and don’t cover, as well as the 10 actions that can accidentally void your warranty.
What is a mattress warranty?
(Image credit: Future)
A mattress warranty is a term to describe a brand’s guarantee that it will replace, repair or refund a faulty product. This will likely be a structural defect incurred during the manufacturing process, either as a result of workmanship error or damaged materials.
Most mattress warranties are limited warranties that only cover select defects or components. Full warranties protect against all defects in a mattress.
Each brand has its own terms and conditions regarding what’s covered. The typical length of a mattress warranty is 10 years, which is within the average lifespan of a mattress.
Mattress warranties are split into three different types:
Prorated mattress warranty: You may have to foot some of the cost of replacing or repairing the mattress. This is likely to be a small percentage initially and then increase the longer you own the mattress.
Non-prorated mattress warranty: The company will cover the cost of a replacement or repair for as long as you have the mattress. At most, you may only need to pay for delivery costs.
Combination mattress warranty: In this case, the mattress warranty will be non-prorated up to a certain point, after which it’ll become prorated. This is common with lifetime mattress warranties.
What do mattress warranties cover?
(Image credit: Future)
While terms vary from brand to brand, most mattress warranties cover the following manufacturing problems:
Excessive sagging or indentations (check the brand’s website for precise measurements)
Broken coils or coils protruding through the mattress
Material defects (including splits, cracks or bunching of foams)
Seams coming undone
Faulty handles
Faulty zips
Manufacturing flaws in the mattress cover
Sizing inconsistencies
9 actions that can void mattress warranties
A mattress warranty offers protection against manufacturing faults or defects. However, there are certain actions that can accidentally void your warranty.
1. Improper support
Not having your mattress on a suitable bed frame or slat setup can result in premature wear and tear, which will void your warranty. That includes placing your mattress on the floor.
2. Removing the law tag
Some US mattress brands, such as Beautyrest, stipulate that removing the white law tag or label from your mattress voids its warranty. These tags include factory codes, which stipulate when and where the mattress was made.
In the UK, the equivalent is the sewn-in British Standard fire safety tag (BS 7177). This label also includes crucial product identification and removing it can often render your warranty void.
3. Stains or soiling
(Image credit: Future)
Evidence of stains, spills or soiling will deem your mattress a sanitary risk and the warranty will be void, even if the stain is unrelated to your claim. Attempting to return a stained mattress violates health and safety laws.
4. Exceeding advertised weight capacity
All mattresses come with a weight capacity. For example, the Saatva Classic, the best hybrid mattress we’ve tested, has a maximum weight capacity of 600lbs (300lbs per person). Exceeding this weight capacity can compromise the mattress’s internal support and lead to excessive sagging and dipping.
5. Not having proof of purchase
Whether you’ve lost your proof of purchase or you bought your mattress second hand, not having a receipt to show exactly when you bought your mattress will render your warranty ineffective.
6. Ignoring care recommendations
(Image credit: Future)
All mattresses come with care recommendations, depending on its materials and bed type and not adhering to them can void your mattress warranty.
For example, mattresses with delicate wool or cashmere blend covers should avoid harsh cleaning products that could bleach and damage their cover. Meanwhile, memory foam mattresses can become irreversibly damaged by extreme heat and excessive saturation.
7. Physical abuse or misuse
Essentially, this means using your mattress for anything other than its intended purpose and damaging it in the process. That includes jumping or standing on the mattress. It also includes folding or bending the mattress, which can damage its internal structure.
8. Attempting to return a damaged mattress
Attempting to return a stained or damaged mattress during your sleep trial will often result in automatic disqualification of your warranty. Evidence of damage suggests that the mattress has been subjected to physical misuse or abuse.
9. Leaving a mattress boxed for too long
(Image credit: Future)
The best mattresses in a box are factory compressed, rolled and packed up for delivery. Most brands recommend unpacking your new mattress within 30 days of receipt.
Leaving the mattress compressed in the box for too long can result in permanent damage to the structure of the mattress, which can cause slow or incomplete expansion. Exceeding the brand recommended unboxing window will mean your mattress warranty will be void.
10. Removing the mattress cover
While there are some mattress covers that are removable, most warranties become void if you remove or attempt to remove the cover (yes, even if it has a zip). That’s because removal of the cover can leave the mattress vulnerable to damage.
Nicola is the Sleep Editor at Tom’s Guide. With a career in journalism spanning two decades, Nicola brings experience to the team and the knowledge of what makes a great article, whether that’s a how-to mattress cleaning feature, a deep dive into melatonin gummies, or an in-depth mattress review. As a sleep editor, few better understand how important a decent mattress is to the overall quality of our sleep, and precisely how our sleep impacts our physical and mental health. As well as tackling the vast topic of sleep, Nicola joins the raft of expert mattress specialists at Tom’s Guide, who test and compare a wide range of mattresses in order to guide readers towards the very best options on the market.
Sweaty, uncomfortable nights have met their match in the Orion Sleep System, a smart mattress cover that uses subtle water tubes to cool and heat your bed as you sleep. It kept my mattress at the perfect neutral feel throughout seasonal temperature fluctuations, ensuring I never once woke up with a clammy neck and kicked off covers. At $2,399 for a queen it’s cheaper than its rivals and no subscription is required, making it a more affordable take on overheating (although, admittedly, still expensive.)
Reasons to buy
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Active temperature control to prevent night sweats
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Dual controls keep both sides of the bed comfortable
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Easy to set up and use
+
Detailed sleep tracking available
+
Cheaper than the alternatives
Reasons to avoid
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Control Tower makes a low-level ‘hum’ that some might find distracting
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Sleep tracking is basic
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Limited sizes
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Orion Sleep System review: Review in brief
After a blisteringly hot summer I jumped at the chance to test the Orion Sleep System, a smart mattress cover that promises active temperature regulation. Recent tropical nights have made me uncomfortably aware of how important temperature is for sleep, so can the Orion’s smart cooling earn it a place among the best smart beds?
Orion Sleep System Specs
Type: Smart mattress cover and hub Fits: 10″-16″ tall mattresses Sizes: 3 (Queen to Cal king) Trial period: 30 nights Warranty: 2 years (upgrade to 5 years for $399) Shipping: Free Price: From $2,395 at Orion
First, let’s get this out of the way: this is not a mattress, it’s a mattress cover. Head to our best mattress guide if you want a full bed. Fitted with smart sensors and water tubes, the Orion slips over your current mattress. It also comes with a bulky control hub that sits by the side of the bed.
During the night the Orion subtly adjusts the temperature of your mattress. It’s not chilly and it’s not warm — it’s the perfect neutral temperature for sleep. The Orion delivers comfort you hardly notice, until you realize you’ve gone weeks without sweaty mornings and kicking the covers off. And the dual-temperature regulation means each side of the bed can enjoy a targeted feel.
At $2,395 for a queen from Orion, the Sleep System is expensive. But compared to the Eight Sleep Pod 6 ($2,899 for a queen), it’s something of a bargain. Particularly as you don’t need a subscription to use the Orion. (An Orion subscription unlocks access to the sleep tracking but, from my experience, there are better options out there.)
So it might be pricey but on some hot nights, the Orion has completely transformed the feel of my mattress. Here’s everything you need to know.
(Image credit: Future)
Orion Sleep System review: Price & trial
The Orion is a premium mattress cover, starting at $2,395
Optional $250/year subscription grants access to sleep tracking
A 30-night trial and 2-year warranty are included
The Orion is a pricey piece of sleep tech, particularly as it’s just a mattress cover — there’s no mattress included. (Head to our best mattress in a box guide for a compatible option.)
It’s also only available in limited sizes. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for each one:
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Queen MSRP: $2,395
King MSRP: $2,595
California King MSRP: $2,695
Orion positions itself as a more affordable alternative to the Eight Sleep… so reading that price list might raise a few eyebrows. But with a queen Pod 6 $2,899 at Eight Sleep, you are making a notable saving by opting for the Orion (although you do sacrifice a few features along the way — more on that later.)
The big difference isn’t in the initial cost, however. Eight Sleep requires a monthly subscription to use. Orion can be accessed subscription free. And with Eight Sleep’s Autopilot app starting at $17 a month, that can become a significant saving over time.
If you do want to add the Orion Intelligence sleep tracking service, it’s an additional $250 a year. That’s a fairly average price for a wellness tracker, although the Orion has limited functionality.
Orion does offer regular deals in the mattress sales, so look out for savings of $200+. You’ll also get a 30-night trial and a 2-year warranty (which you can extend to 5 years for $399.) This is on the low side for a piece of sleep tech but not unusually so — Eight Sleep offers something similar.
During the night Orion’s Sleep System heats and cools to keep you at a comfortable temperature. It’s a smart piece of tech with a high price tag, starting at $2,395 for a queen (smaller sizes aren’t available currently.) A 30-night trial and 2-year warranty are included, and you can add sleep tracking for an extra $250 a year.
Orion Sleep System review: Materials & Design
The Sleep System comes in two parts: a control hub and a cover
The control hub has an elegant look but a bulky footprint
The padded cover is fitted with water tubes and is soft to the touch
The Orion Sleep System consists of two parts. First, the Control Tower. This is the central hub of the Orion, attaching to the cover via a tube. The Control Tower is filled with water which circulates around the cover to change the temperature throughout the night. It’s a bulky piece of equipment but the neutral design will suit most bedrooms
The cover itself is made of a stretchy material, allowing it to fit mattresses up to 16 inches tall (that’s plenty of room for even mega-plush mattresses like the DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid.) The surface also features bamboo fabric (40%), to assist with breathability. There’s light padding in the top and, from my experience, it can make your mattress slightly firmer.
(Image credit: Orion)
Running throughout the cover are a series of water tubes and sensors — but you’d never guess, that’s how well the cover masks the tech. During the night, the sensors detect how well you’re sleeping. The Control Tower can then adjust the temperature of the water flowing through the tubes, heating and cooling the cover. And they can do it on both sides, thanks to the dual design.
Integrated sensors also deliver the (optional) sleep tracking. This includes sleep stages, HRV and breath rate. It’s detailed insight but nothing that goes above and beyond standard sleep tracking.
Orion Sleep System review: Delivery & set up
Takes about 30 minutes to set up and requires WiFi and Bluetooth
App directs you through set up smoothly
The hub and water tube take up a lot of space
The Orion Sleep System comes in two large boxes, one of which is quite heavy and the other which is very heavy. But with that said, I unboxed and set up a queen size by myself and I don’t think this is a two person job. Scan the QR code before you start and it guides you through set up.
First, you need to put the cover on your bed. It’s stretchy, which makes this part easy, and Orion has included numerous ‘this way up’ stickers. Too many, you might say, as you slap another sticker on yourself because there’s nowhere else for it to go while you wrestle with a mattress cover.
Next, thread the pipe down the back of the bed. This will work best on a slat frame; it pushes against the mattress on my divan. Attach the tube to your control hub. Again, multiple stickers act as a guide.
Image 1 of 5
Both boxes from Orion were bulky and I’d ordered the smallest size (Image credit: Future)
If there’s just one thing you take from this review, make it this: put the control tower and pipe in the right position before you start filling with water. It’ll be almost impossible to do afterwards, which is why I found myself emptying and lifting my nightstand just to get the tube in the right place.
The next step is to add water. About a gallon of the stuff. This feels like pouring water directly into your laptop but ignore the gurgles and get on with it.
The final thing to do is note your preferences on the app and name your Orion. You can also turn the light off (a must from me) and lower the noise levels, but this also slows down the thermal response. (The Orion is loud but I found the droning buzz white noise-esque.) And don’t forget to set you sleep and wake times, as this is when it automatically switches on and off.
Score: 4 out of 5
Orion Sleep System review: Smart features
Dual climate control keeps you and a co-sleeper the right temperature
Smart sleep tracking is available under subscription
Relatively simple features, for a still very complex piece of tech.
Unlike some smart beds and mattresses, the Orion Sleep System doesn’t throw everything and the kitchen sink at the design. Its primary focus is temperature tracking and that’s what you’ll get.
The Orion has a temperature range of 50°F to 113°F (easily encompassing the optimal sleep temperature range of 65 to 70°F.) During the night, the cover responds to your changing sleep stages and needs to ensure you remain at a neutral feel as you snooze.
(Image credit: Orion)
Alongside this, Orion offers dual temperature tracking. Each side of the cover adjusts separately, so you and your co-sleeper can pick the temperature you need. Think of it as the Scandi sleep method taken to an extreme.
If you upgrade to Orion Intelligence, you also get detailed sleep tracking. This includes sleep stages, breathing rate, heart rate, HRV and movement.
Orion doesn’t offer the smart alarm of the Eight Sleep (although the natural warming in the morning should help wake you up.) It also doesn’t have snore detect (but you can identify unusual breathing patterns.)
Orion Sleep System review: Performance
Active temperature controls maintain a neutral feel for hot sleepers
Each side of the bed has its own feel (if desired)
Sleep tracking offers good insight but lacks some accuracy
Temperature regulation
A quick explainer on why temperature regulation is important to sleep. Temperature sends messages to your circadian rhythm; your core temperature drops in the evening and rises in the morning, following the sleep-wake cycle.
But on hot nights your body won’t receive that sleep-friendly temperature drop to help you drift off. And when you naturally warm in the morning, your already elevated temperature leaves you prone to unwanted wake ups.
The best cooling mattresses hope to navigate this by dissipating heat through materials like open springs, copper infusions, and gel foams. But tech such as the Orion take a hands on approach. So let’s look at how well it works.
After the hottest summer I’ve ever experienced, I’ve grown used to climbing into a bed that’s already uncomfortably stuffy. I thought diving into the Orion would be like lying on a snow drift. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
It’s like the room temperature room (for anyone who’s attended air conditioning repair school.) (Image credit: Future)
The Orion Sleep System feels… room temperature. It’s the only way I can describe it. It’s a temperature you simply don’t notice. And it stays that way all night long, no heat fluctuations or sudden cold drops.
I don’t consider myself a particularly hot sleeper but there’s always a few nights before my period when I wake up uncomfortably clammy. This hasn’t happened once during my testing phase, despite using the bed for over two cycles. If you experience night sweats or hot flashes, the Orion should help take the edge off.
I’ve done a few things to try and raise my temperature before bed, including drying my hair, a series of jumping jacks and wearing a bulky weighted eye mask. I’ve even climbed into bed and recalled my most embarrassing moments to induce a full body flush. The Orion has responded to them all, cooling the bed quickly so I don’t overheat.
You can adjust the temperature to suit your needs, or allow Orion to make the changes for you (Image credit: Orion)
The more you use the Orion, the more it learns your temperature needs (although you can kickstart the process with the Orion Patch for $100). I found the first few nights chillier than expected but the Orion soon took notes and made adjustments. It’s continued to learn throughout the testing period.
My testing has taken place on two mattresses: the Plank Firm Luxe and the Leesa Original Memory Foam. Neither bed is known for its cooling prowess but thanks to the Orion, I never noticed any heat trapping. If I had a chance to test it on the warmest mattress I’ve tried, the Zinus Green Tea mattress, I’m confident the Orion would still perform.
Score: 5 out of 5
Dual control
If you’re a hot sleeper but your partner can never get enough blankets, Orion promises a solution. And no, it’s not compromise.
The mattress cover is dual-sided, meaning each half of the bed responses to a specific user. You can set your side to stay cool all night, while you’re partner can opt for something warmer (or vice versa.)
I sleep alone and for most of the testing period I just let Orion respond to my total-mattress sprawl. But to check the dual temperature changes, I added an imaginary ‘guest’ to my app. They took the right side of the bed, while I confined myself to the left.
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(Image credit: Future)
Sneaking a hand halfway across the mattress during the night, I could feel ‘guest’ was having a different thermal experience to me. My half of the bed was neutral, with my body heat offset by the Orion. My ‘guest’, on the other hand, was chilly.
While my experiment doesn’t guarantee that you and your partner will both enjoy the perfect temperature, it did prove that the Orion can successfully distinguish which side of the bed is yours. (Something even humans can struggle with.)
Sleep tracking
Orion’s sleep tracking is behind a subscription but if you’re willing to pay, you get access to some detailed information.
As well as an overall sleep score, Orion tracks sleep time and stages, body movements, breathing disruptions, HRV, heart rate, and breath rate. That’s the kind of metrics I expect from my Withings Sleep Mat.
I used the Orion alongside my Oura Ring 5, which is the best sleep tracker we’ve tested. The two weren’t always in agreement. While they both collected similar data, the Orion was less adept at noting my wake ups and disruptions. On several nights the Orion failed to capture brief wake ups that I know happened and that my Oura Ring recorded.
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(Image credit: Orion / Oura)
From looking at the data, both Orion and Oura largely agree with the overall patterns of my sleep. But they don’t quite see eye to eye on my sleep cycles. Orion tends to view my sleeper as deeper and less disrupted, while Oura picks up on my brief wake ups.
If it’s a general insight into your sleep you’re looking for, there are benefits to the Orion’s tracking data. It delivers a good overview alongside interesting metrics that can help you learn about your rest. It’s also a clear and easy to use app, which is a plus if you’re sleep tracking curious, not an enthusiast.
But if you really want to drill down into the details, Orion misses the finer points. It also can’t track during the day, meaning for all-round health data, wearables still lead the way.
Sleep tracking: 3.5 out of 5
Orion Sleep System review: Should you buy it?
(Image credit: Future)
With the Orion whirring away, it’s as if my mattress exists in its own bubble. No matter what happens to the weather outside, the surface of my bed retains a comfortable, neutral feel. Sweaty nights are banished and I can sleep without disruption.
If overheating regularly ruins your sleep, the Orion is a smart solution. I’ve been impressed by its effective and responsive cooling, which has overcome even my earnest attempts to overheat at bed time. The dual-temperature design also makes it a winner for bed sharers with contrasting needs.
It’s an investment for sure. But at times this summer I would have pledged my life savings to sleep cooler — the Orion might have called my bluff. At $2,395 for a queen and with some hot summers ahead of us (cold winters, too), this might be a price you’re willing to pay for good sleep.
The sleep tracking is also good, although it’s better at the overall picture than the finer details. And I’m not sure it’s worth the $250 extra to subscribe. The Withings Smart Mat is $50 less and has better tracking.
And the Orion does have some flaws, including a bulky control hub and a persistent buzzing noise. It also adds firmness to your mattress, so side sleepers might feel some pressure at the shoulder and hips.
But those problems fade into the background as I slip into a bed that’s just the right temperature for me. And if sweaty nights are sabotaging your sleep, you might feel the same way.
Orion Sleep System review: Alternatives
Like the Orion, the Eight Sleep Pod is a temperature controlling mattress cover. It’s more expensive (a queen is $2,899 and that’s without the mandatory subscription) but it also does more, including a smart alarm feature and snore detect. We haven’t tested the latest iteration but check out our Eight Sleep Pod 4 review to learn more about the cooling.
Bear
Elite Hybrid Mattress
If the Orion is a high tech solution to night sweats, the Bear Elite Hybrid is the traditional alternative. Our favorite cooling mattress, in our Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review we were impressed with how the breathable coils, integrated Celliant fabric and copper infusions kept the bed cool all night long. A queen is $1,598 in the standard sale (was $2,284) but look out for 40% off.
Molecule
Molecule CopperWELL Mattress Topper
The Molecule CopperWell Mattress Topper is a good choice if you want to add cooling comfort to your existing bed without investing in a smart solution. One of the best mattress toppers we’ve tested, the copper-infused design helps kick out excess heat so you can sleep cool. A queen is $249.99 at Molecule and sales are rare, but discounts can pop up around the holidays.
Senior Sleep Staff Writer
Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.
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Fall has finally arrived, which means it’s time for the Tom’s Guide sleep team to transform our bedrooms into a cozy sanctuaries for hibernation season. And we’ve found plenty of top-rated deals to give your sleep set-up a quick and impactful fall refresh, without breaking the bank.
From comfy bedding you can layer on chilly nights to one of the best sunrise alarm clocks for dark mornings, every bedroom essential you see here has been hand-picked by our panel of sleep experts. That includes our very own Certified Sleep Coach (CSSC), Claire Davies, and seasoned sleep product testers like myself.
My top cozy season pick? The newly-released Pine & Pillow Candle, $26.99 at Naturepedic, which is non-toxic and has a calming pine and vanilla aroma. Read on to find out what else myself and my fellow sleep enthusiasts are using to sleep better in the darker months ahead.
Claire Davies, Managing Editor of Sleep
Claire says: “For me, Fall and winter are all about ‘light and layers’. A common bedding mistake is to swamp your bed with flannel sheets, a heavy comforter and thick blankets. That’s a recipe for overheating. Layering it with breathable, temperature regulating fabrics – cotton, Tencel, bamboo and wool – keeps you cozy, not sweaty.
“Getting the right type of light after sleeping is also important to winter sleep health, as it helps regulate your circadian rhythm. With natural daylight sometimes not appearing until later in the morning, I recommend using blue light therapy glasses or a light therapy box within 30 minutes of waking. A good sunrise alarm clock, while not light therapy, can help you wake up more easily on pitch-black mornings. Here are my top suggestions for ‘light and layers’…”
Nicola Appleton, Sleep Editor
“I use the Dreamegg sunrise alarm clock to wake up feeling refreshed and alert on dark fall mornings, while I unwind in the evenings by listening to sleep mediations with the Ozlo Sleepbuds 2,” says Nicola.
“I was also lucky enough to nab a free 2-pack of Helix Dream Pillows with my Helix Midnight Luxe mattress, and I loved how comfortable and supportive for side sleeping they are. If you want to experience these medium loft, microfiber pillows for yourself, now is a great time to buy, as the Helix Dream Pillow set currently has 25% off.”
Ruth Jones, Senior Sleep Staff Writer
Ruth says, “My favorite products include a weighted blanket from Oodie (I’ve been curling up under mine for evening movie marathons) and a weighted eye mask from Bearaby, as soon as I put it on I feel cozy.
“I enjoy hot cocoa before bed but they often come packed with sugar and caffeine. This caffeine-free Moonbrew is both sugar-free and mixed with sleep-inducing magnesium, making it the perfect choice for chilly evenings.”
Frances Daniels, Senior Sleep Staff Writer
“I’ve spent the past three years covering and reviewing some of the most-hyped sleep gadgets, and a cozy sleep accessory I loved testing is the Birch Organic Mattress Topper — one of the best mattress toppers on the market. It uses temperature-regulating wool that will keep you warm and toasty in the colder months but cool in the summertime,” says Frances.
“As well as enjoying the cozy ambience created by the Naturepedic Pine & Pillow Candle, I’m also a huge tea fanatic and love sipping on the latest herbal blends to unwind before bed. While pumpkin spice lattes have become synonymous with fall, they contain way too much sugar and caffeine to be enjoyed in the evening. That’s why I’m swapping them for sweet, caffeine-free Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea, now $9.99 at Teapigs.”
