Mattress Warranties Compared
A twenty-five year warranty sounds better than a ten year one until you read the sagging threshold, the proration table and the slat spacing rule. Here is what each brand actually promises, taken from its own warranty document.
The short answer
- The sagging threshold matters more than the headline length. Tempur-Pedic covers sag from 0.75"; most rivals want 1.5" before they call it a defect.
- "Lifetime" usually means ten free years followed by a bill: 50% of current retail at Helix and Brooklyn Bedding, a $149 repair fee at Saatva, $50 each way at Nectar and DreamCloud.
- The base under the bed is the most common reason a claim fails. Published slat limits run from 3.5" (Purple) to 5.5" (Helix), and queen and larger normally need a centre support leg.
- Every warranty here is for the original purchaser only, and none of them cover simply disliking the mattress — that is what the sleep trial is for.
The warranty table
| Brand | Length | Free years | Sag covered | After the free years | Transferable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saatva | Lifetime ("Friends for Life") | 2 years | Not published | Years 1–2: replacement at no charge. Year 3 onward: Saatva repairs and re-covers the mattress and you pay a $149 processing fee. Optionally, the "Fairness Replacement Option" lets you keep the old mattress and buy the same model at 40% of retail in years 3–5, 60% in years 6–10 and 80% in years 11–15, plus a $99 processing fee; it can be used once. | No |
| Nectar | Forever Warranty (lifetime, limited) | 10 years | 1.5" | First 10 years: Nectar replaces the mattress with a new one at no charge. Year 10 onward: Nectar repairs or replaces at its option, and you pay transportation. | No |
| DreamCloud | Forever Warranty (lifetime, limited) | 10 years | 1.5" | First 10 years: replacement with a new DreamCloud of equal or greater value at no charge. Year 10 onward: repair or replacement, with transportation charged to you. | No |
| Purple | 10 years | 10 years | 1" | Purple repairs or replaces a defective mattress at no additional charge within the warranty period; no proration schedule is published. | No |
| Helix | Limited lifetime | 10 years | 1.5" | Years 1–10 non-prorated. Years 11–15 you pay 50% of the current retail price of the same model and size, years 16–20 you pay 60%, rising thereafter. | No |
| Tempur-Pedic | 10 years | 10 years | 0.75" | Non-prorated for the full ten years; Tempur-Pedic repairs or replaces a covered product. | No |
| Casper | 10 years (mattresses) | 10 years | 1" | Casper repairs or replaces a defective mattress within the term; no proration schedule is published for mattresses. | No |
| Avocado | 25 years | 10 years | 1.5" | Years 11–25 are prorated: Avocado replaces the mattress at a percentage of the original purchase price that rises by five points a year (for example 55% in year seven of the prorated period), plus transportation. | No |
| Brooklyn Bedding | Limited lifetime | 10 years | 1.5" | Years 1–10 non-prorated: repair or replacement at no cost. Years 11–15 you pay 50% of the then-current retail price of the same model and size, years 16–20 you pay 60%, rising to 75% in the later bands. | No |
| WinkBed | Lifetime (full replacement, limited) | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Foundation requirements, brand by brand
Read this section before you buy a bed frame, not after a sag appears. Every brand excludes an indentation caused by an improper or unsupportive base, which means the frame decides whether a real defect is payable.
| Brand | Support requirement | What voids it | Claim costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saatva | Platform bed with a solid surface or slats spaced less than 4" apart, plus a centre support on queen and larger. On a standard frame the warranty is void unless a queen or larger is on a 5- or 6-legged frame with vertical centre support; twin and full are valid on a 4-legged metal frame. Zenhaven requires a solid surface (plywood or masonite) over slats; Saatva strongly recommends the same for the HD. | Staining, burning, other abuse, damage or tampering; use on a non-compliant frame or foundation; anyone other than the original purchaser. | $149 processing fee for repair and re-cover from year 3; $99 processing fee when using the Fairness Replacement Option. |
| Nectar | The mattress must sit on a firm, solid surface or a base structurally capable of supporting the mattress and sleepers for the whole of its life. | Damage from abuse, an unsupportive base, or ownership by anyone other than the original purchaser. Proof of original purchase is required. | From year 10 you pay a $50 shipping fee each way, waived once Nectar confirms a defect. |
| DreamCloud | A firm, solid surface or a bed base structurally capable of supporting the weight of the mattress and sleepers continuously. | Improper support, abuse, and ownership by anyone other than the original purchaser. | From year 10, $50 shipping each way, waived when DreamCloud confirms a defect. |
| Purple | A bed frame with a centre support and at least 5–6 legs for queen, king and Cal king (4 legs for twin and full). On a slatted frame with no foundation, slats must be no more than 3.5" apart. A flat foundation must be firm, flat, non-spring construction, on a frame, never on the floor. | Using the mattress uncovered (UV light degrades the cushioning), a removed or missing law tag, resale or donation by the original purchaser, non-consumer use, and use outside the USA. | For a claim made more than 100 days after purchase, transportation costs for repair or replacement are the purchaser’s responsibility. |
| Helix | A foundation, frame or base that supports the combined weight of mattress and sleepers. Slats greater than 5.5" apart are treated as improper and void the warranty. | Burns, cuts, tears, liquid damage or stains where these caused the defect; slats more than 5.5" apart; ownership by anyone but the original purchaser. | Helix ships repaired or replacement products to you; the document does not publish an inspection fee. |
| Tempur-Pedic | A firm, solid, non-flexible foundation or an adjustable base. On a slatted frame used without a foundation, cross slats must be at least 3" wide and no more than 4" apart; rounded bars or non-compliant frames require a foundation. | Physical abuse or damage, burns, cuts, liquid damage, and ownership by anyone other than the original purchaser. | Keep your receipt for the full ten years; the purchaser is responsible for shipping associated with a claim. |
| Casper | The mattress must be continuously supported by a matching foundation or adjustable base on a bed frame able to carry the combined weight of mattress, base and sleepers. | An unsupportive foundation, abuse, and purchases from anyone other than Casper or an authorised retailer. | Not published for mattresses on the warranty page. |
| Avocado | A firm, supportive foundation. Avocado excludes indentations caused by a faulty, improper or unsupportive foundation, so keep the base within the spec on your model’s care page. | A faulty or unsupportive foundation, improper use, and purchases not made directly from Avocado by the original purchaser. | Transportation and shipping charges are added to the prorated charge in years 11–25. |
| Brooklyn Bedding | A base that supports the combined weight of mattress and foundation. Any foundation, box spring or frame with slats greater than 5" apart is improper and voids the warranty. | Slats more than 5" apart or other inadequate support, abuse, and ownership by anyone but the original purchaser. | The original purchaser must return the mattress to Brooklyn Bedding with proof of the original purchase date. |
| WinkBed | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Where a cell reads Not published, the brand does not state that figure in the warranty document we could verify. We do not fill those gaps with numbers from other review sites. Each brand's official document is linked below with the date it was read, and warranty terms change — confirm the current terms before you buy.
How to keep your warranty alive
Photograph the base on day one. Take a picture of the slat spacing with a tape measure across it, and of the centre support leg on a queen or larger. A dated photo of a compliant frame is the single most useful piece of evidence you can own, because the foundation exclusion is how most claims are refused.
Fit a waterproof protector immediately. Staining voids coverage at Saatva and blocks defect claims elsewhere. Purple goes further and voids the warranty if the mattress is used uncovered at all.
Leave the law tag attached. Purple will not process a claim without it. The "do not remove" instruction is aimed at retailers, but cutting it off still costs you the claim.
Keep the receipt for the full term. Tempur-Pedic asks you to retain it for ten years; Helix and Brooklyn Bedding both require proof of purchase. Save a PDF somewhere that will outlive the email account.
Rotate on schedule and buy from an authorised seller. Casper limits coverage to purchases from Casper or an authorised retailer, and Avocado's mattress warranty applies to direct purchases only. A marketplace bargain can come with no manufacturer cover at all.
Warranty guides by brand
Warranty or trial — which one do you need?
If the mattress is fine but wrong for you, that is the sleep trial, and it has a deadline measured in weeks. If the mattress has physically failed, that is the warranty. Our mattress return policies comparison covers the trial side — trial length, break-in periods, return fees and exclusions.
Frequently asked questions
How much sagging does a mattress warranty actually cover?
It varies more than buyers expect. Tempur-Pedic covers a visible indentation greater than 0.75 inches, Purple and Casper set the bar at 1 inch, and Nectar, DreamCloud, Helix, Brooklyn Bedding and Avocado all require more than 1.5 inches. Every brand measures with no weight on the mattress.
Can the wrong bed frame void a mattress warranty?
Yes, and it is the most common reason a genuine sag claim is refused. Purple requires slats no more than 3.5 inches apart, Tempur-Pedic requires slats at least 3 inches wide and no more than 4 inches apart, Saatva requires a solid surface or slats under 4 inches, Brooklyn Bedding voids coverage above 5 inches and Helix above 5.5 inches. Queen and larger sizes generally need a centre support with a leg to the floor.
What does a lifetime mattress warranty really mean?
Almost never free replacement for life. Helix and Brooklyn Bedding give ten non-prorated years, then charge 50 percent of current retail in years 11 to 15 and 60 percent in years 16 to 20. Saatva replaces free for two years, then repairs and re-covers for a $149 processing fee. Nectar and DreamCloud replace free for ten years, then charge $50 shipping each way, refunded when a defect is confirmed.
Are mattress warranties transferable?
No, at every brand in this comparison that publishes a rule. Coverage applies only to the original purchaser, and Purple's warranty terminates outright if the original purchaser resells or donates the mattress.
Does a stain void a mattress warranty?
It can void the claim. Saatva's warranty does not apply to a mattress that has been stained or burned, and Helix and Tempur-Pedic exclude defects caused by liquid damage. A waterproof protector fitted on the first night is the cheapest way to keep the warranty alive.
Is a mattress warranty the same as the sleep trial?
No, and they cover opposite problems. The trial covers not liking the mattress and lasts weeks or months. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and lasts years. No warranty anywhere covers comfort preference.
Sources
Each warranty below was read on the brand's own document on the date shown.
- Saatva "Friends for Life" warranty — verified 2026-09-11
- Nectar Forever Warranty policy — verified 2026-09-11
- DreamCloud Forever Warranty policy — verified 2026-09-11
- Purple mattress limited warranty — verified 2026-09-11
- Helix limited lifetime warranty — verified 2026-09-11
- Tempur-Pedic 10-year limited warranty — verified 2026-09-11
- Casper limited warranty — verified 2026-09-11
- Avocado 25-year mattress warranty — verified 2026-09-11
- Brooklyn Bedding limited lifetime warranty — verified 2026-09-11
- WinkBeds warranty page — verified 2026-09-11