You may change your sheets every week or so or even refresh your duvet by the season. But when was the last time you flipped or rotated your mattress? That’s right—the whole thing.
If it’s been a while, it may be time to flip your perspective on the usually stationary mattress. Flipping or rotating may extend the life of your bed while creating a better, more functional sleeping surface.
Whether you should flip or rotate depends on your mattress type. While those with memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses can benefit from only rotating, those with double-sided mattresses may also want to flip them.
Read on to find out if you should flip or rotate, how often you should rotate your mattress, and the benefits that come along with doing so.
Casper mattresses are long-lasting, and engineered for many nights of cool, comfortable sleep.
Both flipping and rotating can help prevent wear and tear on your mattress. Reorienting where you sleep on the mattress evens out indentations and helps extend the life of the mattress.
However, different types of mattresses have different maintenance needs. Not all are meant to be flipped and/or rotated. You can actually damage a mattress by flipping or rotating it when you’re not meant to. It’s always best to check the warranty to see which solution is right for your mattress.
Next, we’ll help you determine if you need to flip or rotate your mattress and show you how to do each in detail.
While most one-sided, modern mattresses can’t be flipped, many can be rotated or turned. Unless the manufacturer specifies against it, it’s likely safe to rotate your mattress.
Exceptions include mattresses with features like zoned support that target specific areas of your body with comfort and support. It’s always best to check with your mattress company before rotating.
Ever wonder how often you should replace your mattress? If you’ve been concerned with mattress lifespan, mattress rotation can help.
By rotating your mattress, you can avoid the following signs of mattress wear and extend the longevity of your bed:
The answer to “how often should you rotate your mattress?” depends on your mattress. Check out the guide below for general rotation and flipping frequencies. However, remember that it’s always best to check with your mattress company to be sure.
| Mattress Type | Flip or Rotate? | How Often? |
|---|---|---|
| Two-sided innerspring (new) | Flip and rotate | Every 6–12 months |
| Two-sided innerspring (old) | Flip and rotate | 2–5 times per year |
| Hybrid | Rotate | Every 3–6 months |
| Memory Foam | Rotate | Every 6–12 months |
| Latex | Rotate | Every 6–12 months |
The benefits of mattress rotation are well worth it as it’ll help keep your mattress fresh in the long run.
Here’s how to rotate your mattress:
Instead of rotating, some people like to flip their mattress over entirely, switching which side faces the ceiling. Not all mattresses are made for flipping, though. It all depends on the material and make of the mattress.
One-sided mattress
A one-sided mattress is built to have only one soft, sleepable surface. This could be a hybrid, memory foam, or latex mattress with specific layers, or a mattress with a pillow top layer on the top. If you flip a mattress that is one-sided, you could wear it out faster (and you may not sleep as well). Instead, stick to rotating your one-sided mattress.
Two-sided mattress
Two-sided mattresses are built from the core out so there’s padding on all sides. As a general rule, you can flip your mattress if it’s two-sided — these are typically made of a fiber-like cotton, wool, and polyester. Older innerspring mattresses are often also two-sided. Flipping a double sided mattress can help fluff and re-invigorate the fibers until it’s time to flip again. For mattresses like these, you typically want to flip every 6-12 months.
If you’re flipping a fiber mattress, grab a friend! Depending on the mattress size, a double sided mattress can be unexpectedly heavy.
Pillow top mattresses
If a mattress has a pillow top, is made of memory foam, or has a hybrid design, flipping isn’t recommended. Flipping a foam mattress won’t do anything to refresh your mattress because sagging and wear have more to do with the foam cells actually breaking down —they can’t bounce back as fibers do.
Likewise, if you flip a pillow top or a hybrid mattress, you’re inverting the inner construction meant to support your back. This is the case with Casper mattresses — our strategically layered ZonedSupportTM designs requires the right side to be facing up so our technology can deliver the best sleep possible.
As covered above, most modern mattresses can’t be flipped. But, if you have a double-sided innerspring mattress, there are benefits to flipping.
If your mattress is flippable, switching the side you sleep on can help hold back the wear and tear and keep your bed in prime condition.
You should flip your double-sided innerspring mattress every six months. However, if your innerspring mattress is old, flip it more often. This should be done two to five times per year.
Usually, a flippable mattress can also be rotated. It’s a good idea to knock out both at the same time.
Follow these steps to flip your mattress:
While flipping the mattress, you can take the opportunity to vacuum or spot-clean the hard-to-reach places underneath the mattress. It’s also a good idea to clean the mattress while you’re at it.
Keep in mind: it can be tough to move a mattress on your own. If needed, grab a friend to help you flip yours.
No, only a double-sided mattress can be flipped. Most modern mattresses are created with specific layers for ultimate comfort and are not designed for flipping. However, if your mattress can’t be flipped, there’s a good chance it can be rotated to help extend its lifespan.
You shouldn’t flip your memory foam mattress because when the foam cells break down, flipping the mattress won’t actually help them bounce back. Many memory foam mattresses are also created with specific layers for maximum comfort, and flipping them will ruin the design. However, you can usually rotate your memory foam mattress instead.
If a mattress has a pillow top, flipping isn’t recommended. A pillow top is a comfy layer of extra padding specifically for the top of the mattress, so flipping it won’t let you take advantage of that layer.
Keep in mind that rotating your mattress can’t fix everything. If you have trouble falling asleep on your mattress and feel achy and unrested when you wake up, it’s a sign you may need to replace your old mattress with a new one. If your bed is more than eight years old, then it’s definitely time to go.
When you do decide to replace your mattress, look to Casper for an unmatched rest. We offer mattress types for every need: The Casper Nova Hybrid, for a velvety feel with unmatched support; the Casper Wave Hybrid, to soothe achy bodies; and the classic Casper Original, for all kinds of sleepers. Discover a new level of rest with Casper today.
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