Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals: when is the best time to buy a mattress?

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Should you buy a new mattress in the extended Black Friday sales or risk waiting until Cyber Monday? We have answers

This image shows two of our sleep team testing mattress in the Sleep Lab, debating when's the best time to shop. On the left, Nicola Appleton sits on a Helix Midnight Luxe mattress. On the right, Ruth Jones sits on a Saatva Classic mattress, a laptop open in her lab as she checks for sales. In the top right corner is a Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals graphic
(Image credit: Future)
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We always tell people that if you want to save on a mattress, shop the Black Friday mattress deals. That's traditionally when the prices are at their lowest, the discounts at their biggest and you're most likely to score a free gift.

However, with many of our favorite mattresses sold online only, the Cyber Monday mattress deals are an equally enticing prospect. And as the Black Friday discounts often roll over to Cyber Monday, you might be tempted to play the waiting game and see if it pays off with a cheaper bed.

We're familiar with the ins and outs of the Black Friday mattress sales period and in this guide we'll explain why you should shop now... and when you need to wait. The good news is that either sale is an excellent time to buy one of this year’s best mattresses for all sleepers at a much cheaper price.

If you want even more mattress deal content, be sure to check out our Cyber Monday mattress deals blog, for the most up-to-date news and deals.

Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals: Prices

In general, mattress MSRPs tend to rise post-Cyber Monday, fall during spring, rise again in the summer, then dip prior to Black Friday (you'll notice the hikes coincide with a lull in the sales periods.)

So from an MSRP perspective, there’s very little difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That 'before price' remains steady, so it's the discount that really catches our high.

However, over the past year we've noticed mattress MSRPs steadily creeping upwards, motivated by mattress tariffs and the increasing costs of goods. These price hikes are often comparatively small but for shoppers watching their wallets, they're worth making a note of.

That means for many brands, right now will be the lowest MSRP moving forward.

Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals: Discounts

The majority of the best mattress sales land before Black Friday and roll into Cyber Monday; brands simply change their marketing language while the savings stay the same.

Last year, we noted several brands announced their sales several weeks prior to Black Friday, with the deals carrying through to Cyber Monday. Helix, Saatva and Brooklyn Bedding all offered these long-running sales. We're expecting similar this year, as most brands started their deals by mid-November.

Two members of the Tom's Guide sleep team sit on the Saatva Classic mattress on a bed frame in our testing studio, discussing the comfort and support of the Saatva Classic, our number one mattress for most sleep styles

(Image credit: Future)

However, some of the best mattress in a box brands will adjust the discount between the two sales days. That might mean the biggest saving arrives on Black Friday or that an extra discount appears to lure customers in with a last chance sale on Cyber Monday. Brands such as Casper and Purple often run these changeable sales — Casper has previously waited until Black Friday itself to boost the savings on its most expensive mattresses.

But as Black Friday and Cyber Monday slowly morph into month-long sales, most mattress brands will maintain the same deal across the events.

Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals: free gifts

Free gifts are often the cherry on top of the Black Friday sales, allowing mattress brands to boost their offer without dropping prices further.

We've noticed this tactic from some of the best hybrid mattress and best memory foam mattress brands. Bear's Black Friday sale, for example, has gotten juicier with a free gift for shoppers, on top of 40% off using code TOMS40. And while Tempur-Pedic's Black Friday sale is slow off the mark, we expect to see free gifts on the Black Friday weekend, based on previous offers.

Woman holding a stack of pillows in bed with a bedside table and night stand next to it

(Image credit: Future)

Nolah is also taking a bonus approach, although in this case it's a delivery perk rather than a bedding extra — free white glove delivery on orders over $1,450.

These offers that will generally mark the difference between the Black Friday and Cyber Monday mattress sales. We predict some brands will announce free gifts in flash sales confined to the Black Friday weekend, while there's a small chance Cyber Monday will bring perks that weren't available the week prior.

Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals: Shipping

The closer to Christmas you leave buying a mattress, the bigger the risk of running into shipping delays. That might mean you won’t get your new bed in time for Christmas break. This is especially true if you’re buying a custom or handmade mattress, such as a Saatva or Tempur-Pedic.

While most bed-in-a-box brands tend to ship within three to five working days, luxury mattresses take a little longer. While there’s only a few days between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, 48 hours could make all the difference to whether you receive your new bed before or after Christmas.

The image shows Tom's Guide's testers unpacking the Siena Memory Foam Mattress

(Image credit: Future)

And if you have your eye on one of the mattresses used in hotels, we recommend ordering ASAP. These beds often have extended delivery times.

Black Friday orders will naturally be further ahead in the queue than Cyber Monday, so keep that in mind if you’re buying a handmade mattress.

Standard or ‘off-the-peg’ boxed beds should move a little faster, as long as they aren’t stock-limited deals. If they are, then we’d advise buying on Black Friday otherwise the mattress may sell out before Cyber Monday. This is particularly likely on third-party retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.

The best time to buy a mattress is right now

Bar a few mattress brands that offer a little extra discount or free gifts on Cyber Monday, you’ll find that the best deals arrive before Black Friday and carry on straight through. That means the whole of November can be a good time to buy a mattress.

This year we've noticed the deals arriving earlier than ever, with most brands launching their sales by mid-November. For the most part, those offers have held steady and we predict they'll stick around until Cyber Monday at least.

If you've spotted an enticing deal on a mattress that suits your sleep needs, body type and budget, we recommend you shop now

So if you've spotted an enticing deal on a mattress that suits your sleep needs, body type and budget, we recommend you shop now. It's unlikely you'll see a further price drop and buying now can get you ahead of any shipping delays. Plus, with brands such as Bear and Nolah announcing free gifts, we suspect the best of the perks have arrived.

However, if you aren't in a rush to shop, and you don't mind slower delivery, there's a small chance we'll see some further deals on Black Friday itself and an even smaller chance of further discounts on Cyber Monday.

Remember to only buy a bed that comes on a mattress trial of at least 30 nights, and look through the mattress warranty and the returns policy before you buy. If you decide further down the line that your new bed isn’t right for you, take a look at our guide on how to return a mattress bought in the Black Friday sales.

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Claire Davies
Claire Davies
Managing Editor of Sleep, Certified Sleep Science Coach

Claire is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and the Managing Editor of Sleep at Tom's Guide. She curates our mattress guides and oversees our rigorous mattress testing procedures. Claire has over 16 years' product review experience and is connected to a wealth of globally renowned sleep experts including mattress designers and buyers, neuroscientists, and doctors of sleep medicine. As the Managing Editor of our Sleep and Mattress Team, Claire is responsible for all mattress and sleep content published on Tom’s Guide and is our expert on Saatva, DreamCloud, and Nectar mattresses. Claire is also certified to advise people on how to choose a mattress that suits their needs and budget, as well as helping them to create a nighttime routine and bedroom environment that helps them sleep better.

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