What on Earth is a saggy mattress? If you’ve experienced this, it needs no introduction. You roll into bed… and then keep on rolling and rolling into the endless pit that has formed where you usually sleep. A saggy mattress has a noticeable dip - a practical imprint of your body if you will - which has developed under your weight over time.
I hadn’t seen much dipping when I had a whole mattress to myself, but since my partner and I have shared one, we’ve been victim to severe dipping on every mattress we’ve owned. It now feels like it’s collapsing from under us as whenever we try to pull ourselves out of the bed.
A saggy mattress has lost its support and shape and, in serious cases, can affect your sleep and lead to back pain. So, it needs to be dealt with. But, before you opt for a full-blown replacement, there are things you can do to mitigate a sagging mattress and help it last that little bit longer. Here’s 5 way to fix a sagging mattress.
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Why is my mattress sagging?
Your mattress is sagging because of the regular and consistent weight that is applied to its surface. We tend to sleep in the same position and spot each night, especially if we share a bed. Over time, the support in that region will give, so it doesn’t hold as well as it once did. When this happens, your body sinks into the mattress and is not supported properly any more. A little give from your mattress is natural, but sagging is at an uncomfortable level.
Sagging is a natural result of using your mattress, so it can’t be avoided, but some mattresses will last much longer than others. If there's minimal sagging, the surface will look almost as usual when there’s no pressure applied, but if the sagging is significant, it will appear visually dipped.
Once a mattress has dipped and become saggy, there is no way to restore it, but if the dipping is only minimal and in its early stages, there are things you can do to mitigate the effect. There’s also steps you can take to prevent your mattress from sagging in the first place:
1. Rotate it and flip it (if you can)
First, if your mattress is starting to dip in a particular spot (usually beneath the hip or shoulder), rotating and flipping it can even out the weight distribution. Of course, not all mattresses are designed to be flipped or even rotated, so this will need to be checked with the manufacturer. Some mattresses have a layered filling that can only sit one way up with your head at a designated end.
But, if you’re allowed to rotate. Here at GH, we recommend rotating memory foam mattresses (usually these can’t be flipped) every few months once worn in. Whereas a typical spring mattress should be flipped and rotated every 3-4 months once established. This should be done regardless of whether it’s dipping or not and should better spread the weight across the surface. Always follow guidance from the manufacturer so you don’t void the guarantee, and keep in mind they will need to be flipped and rotated much more often when new; we suggest once a week.
2. Invest in a topper
A good quality mattress topper can help, but we should stress that it will not solve a saggy mattress.
A topper is a layer which sits directly on top of the mattress, designed to add more comfort. If you imagine a mattress with a severe dip in it, the topper will sit into that dip. So, it won’t remove it, but it can make things more comfortable if the dip is minimal by giving your bed a more even surface and adding support (potentially helping with back pain). It’s essentially a temporary fix for the issue if you don’t think your dip warrants a full replacement just yet.
Opt for a thicker mattress topper with a supportive design that won’t feel like it’s just sinking into the dip; it’s best to avoid feathers and down for this reason. Memory foam and wool would be a better option. If you can rotate your topper, don’t forget to do this too!
3. Change your sleep habits
It’s difficult to change how we sleep, but if you understand why your mattress is dipping it can help you to change your habits.
We mentioned earlier that the dips tend to be beneath the hips and shoulders. That’s because, if you sleep on your side, your body is protruding at these points and it’s where the weight is focused. Whereas if you sleep on your back or front, the weight is better distributed across the mattress using a larger surface area. That means dips are less likely, or at least less obvious, for these types of sleepers.
With that in mind, consider how you sleep at night. If you share a bed, consider how your partner sleeps too and then see if it correlates with any dips. Knowing this, you can alter your sleeping habits to even things out.
For instance, if you’re sharing a mattress and one of you sleeps on your back, and another on your side, swapping positions can even out the weight distribution. Or if you’ve got a whole mattress to yourself, moving yourself around could be an easy solution. If sleeping on your side is causing you pain, perhaps training yourself to sleep on your back could benefit both you and your mattress. A few carefully placed pillows tucked around your sides can help with this.
4. Upgrade the bed frame
Your bed frame can impact how readily your mattress dips. The less support it provides, the more influenced your mattress is to weight and pressure. First remove the mattress and make a visual inspection of the support beneath. There should be no signs of damage and no bending or warping of the slats. Check out our list of the best bed frames if this is what needs replacing.
Your bed frame should provide a solid base for your mattress with no room for it to sag between the slats. According to Priyankaa Joshi, GH's Sleep and Wellness Editor:
"If you opt for a wooden or metal slatted base, make sure the slats are evenly spaced (ideally no more than 7cm apart) and there’s sufficient central support, like a beam, to prevent any sagging. This is especially important if you have a large mattress. It’s also worth investing in a frame made from sturdy materials like steel, oak or reinforced metal.
If you prefer a firmer base for maximum support, a divan (which comes in two halves that fit together) is a good choice. Though more expensive, divans offer a flat, solid platform for your mattress, without any risk of sagging. As a bonus, they often come with built-in drawers for storage."
Remember that some mattresses are designed to be paired with specific types of bed frame, which can even impact the guarantee. So always check this before you make any replacements.
5. Check if it’s guaranteed
If your mattress has dipped soon after purchasing, it’s worth checking if it’s still covered by a guarantee. Many brands will guarantee a mattress for up to 10 years, and the bed frame itself often has its own guarantee too.
You’d need to read the terms and conditions of the agreement to see if dips are covered and to what extent. Some brands have a minimum dip size for it to qualify, which can vary based on how old the mattress is.
But, if your mattress meets the requirements and you have proof of purchase, the brand should offer a replacement or refund you for your purchase.
It’s also worth mentioning that many brands offer sleep-trials too – usually 100-200 nights. If you’re noticing any dipping this early on in its use, you should return the mattress and let the brand know about the problem. If the mattress is showing wear so quickly, it’s not a long-lasting design.
Remember, you should not make a habit of sleeping on a saggy mattress. If the dip is prominent enough to disrupt sleep and cause back pain, you should look to replace it ASAP. Here’s our list of the best mattresses for our tried and tested winners.
Sleep awards 2025: best mattresses
Score: 94/100
Score: 92/100
Score: 91/100
