Elliptical | Comfortable Sleeper Sofa

Choosing the Right Futon Mattress

So you’re looking to buy your next futon mattress. Here’s some useful information before you begin to shop. There is a big selection out there and I hope to help you narrow in on which mattress is going to fit your needs.

First, there is the classic, an all cotton futon mattress. They are attractive because of price, portability and availability. In general you will see 4 inch thick and 8 inch thick all cotton mattresses. A 4 inch will cost you about $125 and an 8 inch is about $250. (all the prices I quote are for full-size mattresses.)

Cotton with a layer or layers of foam is a popular mattress choice. An 8 inch cotton mattress with a single 2 inch piece of density foam in the center will cost about $200. Futons with two or more layers of foam are more expensive, but they sleep better and/or they hold up to more use as a couch or sleeper sofa. This type of mattress is going to run anywhere from $225 to $275, depending on the thickness of the mattress and the thickness and quality of the foam.

There is an upper limit on futon prices. If you go for the ultra-nice mattress, the kind with memory foam and hypoallergenic batting, you are looking at spending close to $800.

As you are shopping for a futon mattress, think about what its primary purpose is going to be. Sure you could spend $100 and get a mattress. But is it the right mattress? Will it need to be replaced in a year? Before you spend a single dime, do some research to see what might be your next futon mattress.

You can buy futons online these days and while the convenience of shopping from home is attractive, there is nothing like feeling the futon’s comfort for yourself. Even if you find a better deal online, you will know that it is the right one if you’ve had a chance to give it a test drive. So take a Saturday afternoon to check out your local futon store. Sit on all the different kinds of mattresses to see which one you like the best.

If you live in a small apartment or dorm, your futon probably has to do double duty as couch and bed. You should not scrimp on price for the mattress! A decent mattress that will stand up to the rigors of use as a couch is going to run at least $250 and more like $325. It is worth the money. Why? Because if you go cheap on the mattress, your butt and your friends’ butts are going to notice really quickly. A cotton mattress, even an 8 inch one, will compact over time and then it’s like you are sitting on the frame. The padding will be gone. And at that point what do you do? You have to go buy another futon mattress. So save your self the extra time and the hassle and spend the $250 for a better futon.

If you are planning on using the mattress mostly for sleeping, you still want to think about comfort and longevity. Serta and Simmons have both entered the futon mattress arena and their offerings are high quality. A futon with inner springs will cost about $350. You can find ones for less, but the cotton thickness around the springs is not as much and, again, over time, you will begin to feel the springs. You don’t have to have springs inside your futon sleeping mattress, but if you want a combination of old world and new, this might be a good choice.

As you can see, there is a futon out there for your needs. If you’re a college student furnishing your first place or you are an empty-nester moving into a smaller place, a futon is a great addition to your home. Enjoy shopping for the one that fits your comfort and budget. I guarantee that you will find the perfect futon.