I Track Mattress Prices for a Living and This Is the Number One Reason You Shouldn’t Wait Until Black Friday To Buy a New Bed

The Helix Midnight Luxe mattress in a bedroom, with a Tom's Guide badge overlaid saying "ACT FAST!"

(Image credit: Future)

As a career deal hunter for nearly two decades, I normally advise waiting until Black Friday to shop for a mattress. Why? Because historically it's a time of year when prices are at their lowest and discounts are at their highest, but that's unlikely to be the case this year.

Here I'll be explaining why you'll want to take advantage of the Labor Day sales if you're in the market for a new mattress (or soon will be).

Many of the top recommended options in our best mattress guide return to their cheapest prices of the year during major sales, and the Labor Day mattress sales are no exception.

Why you shouldn't wait to buy a new mattress in the Labor Day sales

It's mattress tariffs.

There's been a 10% levy on most imports into the US since April 5, but as of August 7, rates increased on imports from trade partners such as China (30%), New Zealand (15%), and Vietnam (20%).

While many mattresses sold in the US are also manufactured here, they often include imported materials like memory foam, steel coils, and organic fibers. Tariffs on foreign goods will lead to an increase in production costs — which will trickle down to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

Black Friday has historically been the most abundant time of the year for mattress deals, but as pre-tariffed inventory depletes, shoppers can expect prices to rise since producing new stock with imported materials will become more costly.

Here's my hot take: Consider the Labor Day sales your final chance to snag a mattress at the year's cheapest prices, before tariffs really start to take hold on the mattress industry.

My favorite mattress deals right now

Major holidays are prime time for mattress sales. Here are the five I recommend shopping ahead of impending price increases.

1. Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress (queen): was $2,398 now $1,751.09 with code TOMS27 at Helix
Note that Helix revamped its entire mattress lineup in April, which resulted in a minor price bump across all models. Still, prices on these updated models have remained steady, and that includes our top-ranked mattress for side sleepers. In her Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress review, lead tester Nicola "fell in love" with its pressure relief and enhanced lumbar support — and she also found it comfortable for back sleeping. Add the GlacioTex cooling upgrades if you're a particularly warm sleeper, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it. Using our exclusive code TOMS27 knocks 27% off the MSRP, which ties the largest discount we've seen this year.

2. Avocado Green Mattress (queen): was $2,099 now $1,784 at Avocado Green
Avocado makes the best organic mattress we've tested overall. In her Avocado Green Mattress review, lead tester Michelle praised its superb build quality and exceptional temperature regulation, adding that its firmness would suit back and stomach sleepers. (Pillow-top and box top upgrades are available if you like a softer feel, but they're very expensive.) Prices at Avocado Green have made a slight jump between September 2024 and now. The Avocado Labor Day mattress sale cuts 15% off its flagship mattress, dropping a queen-size to $1,784 (was $2,099). While it was on sale for $1,699 a year ago, this is likely the cheapest price we'll see on Avocado's flagship mattress the rest of the year, considering it's made with organic materials from India and Guatemala.

3. DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress (queen): $649 + free accessories at DreamCloud
DreamCloud is another brand that recently revamped its mattress lineup, but in the case of its entry-level Classic Hybrid, prices have remained steady throughout. The DreamCloud Labor Day sale ups the ante by adding an accessory bundle with sheets, pillows, and a mattress protector (up to $599 value). We're in the process of updating our DreamCloud mattress review, but the early results are promising — we appreciate its balanced support and pressure relief for all sleep positions. It remains one of the best hybrid mattresses in terms of pure value, especially at $649 for a queen with a one-year trial and a forever warranty included. However, DreamCloud uses imported materials, so watch out for an eventual price increase.

4. Siena Signature Memory Foam Mattress (queen): now $359 at Siena
This is another evergreen offer that's barely budged, but the mega-affordable Siena impressed me and my fellow testers with its excellent performance — you could easily mistake it for a more expensive bed. It doesn't deliver that squishy softness you'd expect from some of the best memory foam mattresses; instead, it has a firm level of support that pleased the stomach sleepers in our Siena Memory Foam Mattress review. Edge support and temperature regulation are above par, but if you're looking for a bed with any sort of hug, you'll be disappointed. It includes a 180-night trial, which is well above the industry average of 100 nights. Any foreign components used to make this mattress will be affected by tariffs, so get in on this price while you still can.

5. Saatva Classic Mattress (queen): was $2,139 now $1,739 at Saatva
This innerspring hybrid scored perfect marks in our Saatva Classic Mattress review, with lead tester Claire calling it "a hotel-style mattress that’s breathable, durable, isolates motion and relieves all pressure points, and delivers fantastic lumbar support and robust edge support." Choose from three firmness levels; for most people, Luxury Firm should be the sweet spot. You have a full year to trial it at home, along with a warranty for life. Free White Glove Delivery is included, as well. Our exclusive $400 discount drops a queen to $1,739 (was $2,139), which isn't the lowest price we've tracked this year, but the Saatva Labor Day mattress sale is likely as good as it'll get before further increases take effect.

Based in Philadelphia, USA, freelance writer and editor Alison Barretta has been sharing buying advice and retail news for over 15 years. Since 2020 she's been helping Tom's Guide expand its robust library of sleep content by researching the latest trends, speaking with renowned experts, and going behind the scenes at Saatva, Casper, Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic, and 3Z Brands. Alison has reviewed everything from budget memory foam mattresses and luxurious innerspring beds to immersive sound pods and $7,000 smart beds that automatically adjust to your every move. When she isn't reviewing mattresses or searching for great deals to save you money, Alison can be found practicing yoga and martial arts, experimenting with recipes, getting too invested in the Philadelphia Flyers, and snoozing with her cat / assistant mattress tester Alex.

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