How To Fix A Sagging Mattress: 6 Proven Methods

Reading Time: 12 minutes

Did you know that nearly 35% of Americans sleep less than 7 hours per night? Even worse, more than 1 in 10 US citizens are also diagnosed with sleep apnea, a condition that significantly deteriorates the quality of your sleep.

Another thing that can make your sleep worse is a sagging mattress. A mattress starts to sag as a result of various factors. For example, the older the mattress, the more likely it is to become sagged. The sag usually develops in the middle of the mattress or where a lot of pressure is applied. If you sleep on the left side of the bed, that’s where the sagging develops over time.

Still, the question is – how to fix a saggy mattress.

Luckily, there are several you can do that. Please keep reading to learn how to fix a sagging mattress to make your mattress feel like it’s potentially brand new.

Or watch this video if you prefer to listen to a bedmaker explain how to fix a sagging mattress.

How To Fix a Sagging Mattress?

Table of Contents

• Why is my mattress sagging in the middle?
• Is a sagging mattress bad?
• Signs that your mattress is saggy.
• How do you fix a sagging mattress?
• Mattress Types and Their Susceptibility to Sagging
• How to prevent the mattress from becoming saggy?
• How do you fix a dip in the middle of a mattress?
• Best mattress topper for sagging mattress

Why Is My Mattress Sagging in the Middle?

There are several reasons why your mattress might be sagging.

1. Premature breakdown: It could be that your mattress is starting to break down before its time (possibly from direct sunlight).
2. Liquid Damage: It could be that liquid penetration (from spills, high humidity, or accidents) has compromised the integrity of the mattress.
3. Inadequate Bed Support: The problem could be more structural. The box spring, bed frame, or the surface it’s placed on may be damaged or unsupportive, creating dips or uneven areas.
4. Natural Aging: A mattress is likely sagging in the middle more often than not because it’s simply getting old. Over time, your sleeping habits cause physical changes in the materials within your mattress. And areas that receive frequent pressure tend to lose structural integrity faster than others.
5. Sleeping Habits: Your sleeping position can influence how and where sagging occurs. The position of side sleepers may lead to dips where their hips typically go. Pets can also cause small, sagging areas of the mattress.
6. Body Weight Distribution: The repetitive pressure from your body weight on the same spots—especially if you sleep in the same position every night—leads to mattress dips in the middle or where your body rests most.

If you’re looking for a mattress topper for a sagging mattress – consider our premium mattress topper.

Is a Sagging Mattress Bad?

Yes, it can be.

Sagging mattresses don’t provide the support most people need to sleep comfortably.

For most, that means less sleep and a lower quality of sleep.

This is especially detrimental because 32.6% of working adults already report sleeping six or fewer hours per night—less than the 7 to 9 hours recommended.

It’s no wonder almost half of Americans report feeling sleepy between 3 and 7 days a week.

Plus, poor sleep is connected with a range of health problems, including:

• Memory problems
• Mood instability
• Weakened immunity
• High blood pressure
• Mental fog
• Weight gain
• Risk of heart disease and diabetes
• Lower sex drive

Sleep deprivation is a severe problem.

And while a saggy mattress may not seem like that big of a problem, it can make getting a good night’s rest even harder than it already is.

Signs That Your Mattress Is Saggy

Besides the obvious visual clues, a sagging mattress usually shows other “symptoms” of deterioration and damage. Here are some of them:

1. You Feel Like Falling From Your Bed

A sagging mattress doesn’t support your weight correctly, so you’ll probably experience a weird sensation of falling from your bed or in the center of your bed while sleeping.

This sensation will eventually make you develop “protective mechanisms,” such as having a pillow on your back for support or sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

2. You Wake up Tired

A sagging mattress usually deteriorates the quality of your sleep. This happens because you become conscious of the “hole” in the middle of the bed and probably try to do anything to avoid it. This constant struggle during the whole night keeps you from having a restorative and peaceful sleep, and that’s why you wake up tired.

3. You Wake up with a Painful Back

Since a sagging mattress doesn’t support your spine correctly, you can develop mild back pains in the long run. This happens because your weight is unequally distributed, and excessive pressure is put on some of your nerves and muscles.

As a result, you wake up in the morning with a sore arm or pain in your back. You probably don’t know why this is happening, and you blame the pillow. Your sagging mattress might cause this problem, so you should fix it soon.

How Do You Fix a Sagging Mattress?

Remember that there are no quick fixes when fixing your saggy mattress, but you can do something to solve the problem in the long run. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Flip the Mattress Upside Down

This solution is excellent for double-sided memory foam mattresses.

If you have one of those pads, try to flip it upside down. This will change the position of the sagging area and hopefully fix the problem. You will apply pressure on a completely different spot once you have flipped the mattress.

As a result, its shape will eventually even out, and you’ll enjoy a less saggy mattress. It’s hard to predict when your mattress will return to its standard shape, but give it a few days or weeks and see how it goes. If the mattress becomes saggy again, flip it back up and repeat the process.

2. Rotate the Bed

Sometimes, the mattress cannot be removed from the bed, so you cannot flip it upside down.

However, you can still try to fix it. Rotate your bed so that you sleep in the opposite area of the mattress. This will cause a counter-pressure, eventually evening your sagging mattress. Again, please give it a few days or weeks for your mattress to return to its original shape.

3. Use a Mattress Topper

Toppers are usually placed on top of the mattress to protect them over the years and make your sleep much more comfortable. They can be made from different materials and have custom sizes and thicknesses. Some mattresses (pillow top mattresses) have these built-in, so to say, but they can still wear over time.

Find a thick topper that matches the size of your bed and place it on top of your mattress. This will eventually even out the indents, sags, or bumps in your mattress and improve the quality of your sleep.

Best of all, a mattress topper can be used regularly to prevent additional sagging. If the topper deteriorates, you can replace it with a brand-new one. Toppers are much more affordable than a new bed, so that you can save much money in the long run.

What is the best mattress topper for a sagging mattress? Consider our premium mattress topper. When used correctly, it can save the day in this case.

If you have a custom-size or shape mattress, request a quote for a custom-size mattress topper.

4. Put a Pillow Under the Mattress

Some homeowners found this solution successful when it comes to sagging mattresses.

A small pillow between the mattress and the bed frame or box spring changes the pressure levels, making your mattress return to its original shape. Although this won’t happen overnight, it’s a good and straightforward way to attempt to fix a saggy mattress.

If just one soft and small pillow is not enough, use a combination of extra pillows and blankets. The more support you can add to your mattress, the better.

5. Use a Piece of Plywood

Sometimes, you must add extra support to your mattress to prevent it from sagging.

A piece of plywood can be successfully used to do that. Place this piece between the mattress and the bed frame. The mattress will rest on the plywood and hopefully return to its original position in a few days or weeks.

Remember that your mattress might feel a little harder at first, but hopefully, you’ll get used to it. You can also combine a topper and plywood to “sandwich” your mattress and make it return to its standard shape.

6. Inspect the Box Spring or Bed Frame

Sometimes, the bed frame might be damaged and cause the mattress to become sagged.

Make sure that you detach the mattress entirely and inspect the frame. Are the wooden pieces damaged? Is something bent or deteriorated that causes the mattress to sink when you sleep on it? If yes, you must fix the bed frame before fixing the mattress.

If the answer is no, then the mattress itself is the culprit, and you need to follow the tips above to make it return to its original shape.

Mattress Types and Their Susceptibility to Sagging

Not all mattresses age the same way. Some materials hold up better over time, while others are more prone to developing dips and indentations. Understanding how different mattress types perform can help you make a better choice when trying to fix or replace a sagging mattress.

Latex Mattresses: Naturally Resilient

A latex mattress is among the most durable options available. Thanks to its natural elasticity and ability to bounce back, it resists body impressions and premature sagging better than many other materials.

If your old mattress is made of latex and starting to show signs of wear, the issue may stem more from lack of mattress support than material failure.

Hybrid Mattresses: Coil Meets Comfort

Hybrid mattresses combine innerspring coils with foam or latex comfort layers. While they offer a balance of support and pressure relief, they’re still vulnerable to sagging mattress support issues, especially when the coils weaken over time.

These mattresses can benefit greatly from a memory foam mattress topper that adds softness and helps mask body weight pressure points.

Innerspring Mattresses: Classic, But Prone to Sagging

Traditional innerspring mattresses tend to sag in the center the quickest — especially if they are low quality — because their coil structures compress and wear unevenly with regular use.

This often leads to a concave mattress that can throw off your alignment and disrupt your sleep. If your mattress dips in middle, a topper might provide a temporary fix, but long-term comfort usually requires replacing your bed or investing in a more durable type of mattress.

Foam-Based Mattresses: A Mixed Bag

Memory foam mattresses are known for their conforming feel, but cheaper or lower-density versions may struggle to maintain structure. If you notice that your foam mattress sags, a firm mattress topper can improve support temporarily. However, excessive body impressions are a sign that the life of your mattress may be nearing its end.

Consider a Custom Mattress or Custom Size Mattress Topper

If your mattress is for your RV, boat, or related, consider a custom mattress or custom size mattress topper to resolve your sagging mattress issues.

How to Prevent the Mattress from Becoming Saggy

Learning how to fix a sagging mattress is a good idea, but it could be even better to prevent this problem right from the start, right?

You can do something to prevent your mattress from sagging too soon. Here are a few tips:

1. Inspect Your Mattress Often

At least once every month, make sure that you take a closer look at your mattress and scan for sags or bumps.

It’s better to identify a slight indentation and attempt to fix it instead of facing a more complex problem with your mattress. Use a ruler or something similar to check how flat your mattress is. If you discover deep angles, you must fix them before they worsen.

2. Apply Pressure Evenly

In other words, you could try to sleep in different places on the bed occasionally. This prevents the mattress from becoming too accustomed to pressure in just one spot that it cannot recover once it is removed.

Once every two or three months, you can switch places with your partner and sleep in different positions. Also, ensure that your bed frame has proper support in the center since that’s where most sags start.

3. Go for a Metallic Frame

This can sometimes help you enjoy your mattress for more years as it provides better support.

Wooden bed frames tend to deteriorate quicker with time. This means the wood elements become more fragile and might crack under years of pressure from your body. As a result, the mattress sinks into the hole created by broken wood pieces, and a hole will develop very quickly.

If you go for a metallic frame for your bed, you can prevent dealing with a sagging mattress. Metal is much more durable than wood and can last for a lifetime, no matter how heavy you are. Metallic frames provide additional support to the mattress and extend its lifespan.

Remember that a bed mattress should be changed once every ten years, depending on its quality and materials.

How Do You Fix a Dip in the Middle of a Mattress?

While the six tips for fixing a sagging mattress listed above can help, the best and most realistic option is a new mattress topper (if you don’t want to replace your current mattress).

A new mattress topper is inexpensive to add the structure and support you need to your current bed without investing in an all-new mattress.

Mattress toppers can also help keep your mattress clean and cool—perfect for those who have difficulty staying at just the right temperature throughout the night.

Best Mattress Topper for Sagging Mattress

The key to getting the most benefit from using a mattress topper to fix a sagging mattress is cushioning and support.

As a result, you’ll want to look for thick, high-quality mattress toppers to help counteract any deformity in your mattress. If you’re also wondering, “What size bed should I get?”, choosing the right mattress size can make a significant difference in comfort and support – especially when paired with the right topper.

You’ll also want to look for toppers with multiple layers of material inside. For instance, a combination of premium wool and gel-infused poly foam gives your bed plushness without skimping on structural support.

That means you want to use only premium mattress toppers.

The Beloit Mattress Company Premium Mattress Topper

Key Takeaways

• A sagging mattress can lead to discomfort and poor sleep quality due to inadequate support and uneven weight distribution.
• A mattress topper can be an effective solution to improve comfort and prolong the lifespan of a sagging mattress, although it’s not a permanent fix.
• The process involves cleaning the mattress, ensuring its dryness, and then spreading the topper evenly.
• Various types of toppers are available, including memory foam, latex, wool, and feather. Memory foam is a popular choice due to its pressure-relieving properties.
• Selecting the right topper involves considering factors such as the type of material, thickness, firmness, and personal comfort preferences.
• A topper can help redistribute weight and alleviate pressure points but won’t correct deep sagging.
• Regular rotation and flipping of the mattress can help prevent or reduce sagging.
• A sagging mattress should ideally be replaced if it’s causing discomfort or poor sleep, as it might indicate the end of its useful life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fixing a Sagging Mattress

Can a sagging mattress be repaired?

It depends. A sagging mattress can potentially be repaired or at least improved temporarily, depending on the cause and severity. A quick temporary fix involves using a mattress topper for sagging mattress, especially if the sagging is due to surface-level compression. For more structural problems, reinforcing the base with supportive materials like plywood or other a mattress support can help. However, if your mattress has deep body impressions or a compromised core, a topper alone might not be sufficient. Be sure to check your mattress warranty, as many manufacturers cover premature sagging under specific conditions.

Is a sagging mattress bad for your back?

Absolutely. A saggy mattress fails to keep your spine aligned, especially if you’re not using the right mattress for your sleeping position. Over time, this can lead to discomfort or even chronic back pain. Lack of pressure relief in a concave mattress can put excess strain on muscles and joints.

How long should a mattress last before sagging?

How long mattresses last depends largely on their materials and usage. On average:

• Innerspring mattresses may start to sag after 5–7 years
• High density Memory foam mattresses can last 7–10 years if well-maintained
• Latex mattresses often last 10–15 years with minimal sagging
• Hybrid mattresses fall somewhere in between, depending on coil quality

If you’re noticing sagging before these timeframes, it may be due to body weight, poor mattress support, or manufacturer defects. Always rotate your mattress regularly and inspect your base to extend its usable life.

Get Your Mattress Topper Today!

Did you enjoy our tips on how to fix a sagging mattress? Bottom line, as we’ve seen, a mattress topper is one of the best ways to fix your sagging mattress, adding extra support while you sleep. This is especially helpful for a split queen mattress, where consistent support across both sides is key. Such accessories also make your sleep more comfortable and prevent sweat from staining your mattress over the years.

Get your mattress protector today and enjoy a better quality sleep each night!

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