How Often Should You Flip Your Mattress?

Flipping your mattress will improve its lifespan and ensure you sleep better – but how often should we be doing it?

Most of us understand the need for regularly rotating our mattresses. But in reality, very few of us actually know how often we should be doing this. What’s more, not every mattress is double-sided.

So, do you need to flip your mattress as well as rotate it? And what’s the difference between the two? Scroll on to learn more.

Do I need to flip and rotate my mattress? And if so, how often?

Different types of mattress have different requirements in terms of whether you should flip and rotate or just rotate them. And whether your mattress is brand new or several years old will affect the frequency of the need to flip and/or rotate your mattress too.

Flipping your mattress in line with settlement periods

When you purchase a new mattress, there is always a settlement period to think about. Mattress settlement is a process during which the materials inside it compress and conform to the shape of a sleeper’s body. It’s also a normal part of adjusting to a new mattress. Just as you have to get used to your new mattress, it needs to get used to you.

During the mattress settlement period, more frequent mattress flipping and rotating is necessary. This can vary from one mattress type to another so it’s always wise to read through the mattress care guidelines issued by the manufacturer when you remove your mattress packaging.

As a general rule, we’d recommend flipping and rotating (or simply rotating if you have purchased a one-sided mattress) it on a fortnightly basis. This helps to prevents hollows from forming in the sleeping area. And we also recommend flipping and/or rotating your mattress every two weeks for the first six months following its unboxing or unpackaging.

Flipping your mattress after the settlement period

Once the settlement period is over, flipping and/or rotating your new mattress is still essential if you want to maximise its lifespan. However, the frequency with which it will need to be carried out will change. And how often can vary somewhat depending on the type of mattress you have purchased. Let’s learn a little bit more about how often you’ll need to flip or rotate your mattress post-settlement period depending on which type of mattress you have. To help you understand a little more clearly, let’s look at the different types of mattresses individually.

How often should I flip my memory foam mattress?

Generally, memory foam mattresses do not need to be flipped. This is down to the memory foam layer being located on the top of your mattress. If you flip it, not only will you miss out on the plush sleeping surface offered by the memory foam, but the underside also usually isn't suitable to sleep on either and so it definitely won’t be comfy.

That said, you should absolutely rotate your mattress once a month after the first 6 months, unless instructed otherwise by the mattress manufacturer. Rotating your mattress basically means swapping where your head and feet would usually lie on the mattress.

How often should I flip my latex mattress?

Similarly to memory foam mattresses, you usually won’t need to flip your  latex mattress. The latex foam used within the mattress core has a natural “bounce back” ability. This means that they can return to their original form in a matter of seconds.

However, rotating your latex mattress once a month following the settlement period will help to increase its lifespan and ensure that it wears more evenly. That said, you should always refer to the flipping and rotating instructions issued by your mattress manufacturer when purchasing a brand new mattress.

How often should I flip my orthopaedic mattress?

Orthopaedic mattresses have been specifically designed to help relieve pain. A general rule of thumb with Orthopaedic mattresses is you should not flip them. As this type of mattress features pressure-relieving layers on the top and not the underside, their design tends to be unsuitable for flipping.

Regardless of not being suitable for flipping, you should remember to rotate your mattress on a monthly basis after the 6-month settlement period. This helps to keep wear and tear evenly spread and will secure its longevity. Again, this does vary from one manufacturer to another. So, we urge you to refer to the manufacturer issued mattress flipping and rotating instructions when buying a new mattress.

How often should I flip my pocket sprung mattress?

Pocket sprung mattresses do usually need to be flipped. And generally, they need to be flipped every three months at a minimum. While flipping it, you should usually rotate the mattress too. This will keep the wear and tear of your mattress equally distributed. But you should always refer to the mattress manufacturer’s flipping and rotating instructions.

But, if your pocket sprung mattress has a pillow top, it cannot be flipped. A pillow top pocket sprung mattress usually contains additional mini springs with an additional layer of comfort fibre to provide even more comfort and support. Pillow top mattresses can be easily identified as they appear to have a smaller depth mattress added to the top of the main mattress. And in some cases, from the side look the pillow topper will resemble a pillow, hence the name.

Regularly flipping and rotating your mattress will also help to keep the comfort offered while you sleep consistent and minimise the risk of dips developing in your sleep surface. And we’d recommend flipping and rotating your pocket spring mattress once a month after the initial 6 months.

How often should I flip my open coil mattress?

Like pocket sprung mattresses, open coil mattresses usually need to be flipped once a month too. And it’s advisable to rotate your mattress while flipping it to keep spring wear even too. Again, refer to manufacturer-issued instructions where possible.

How often should I flip my rolled-up mattress?

If you’ve purchased a rolled-up mattress, the first thing you should do is have a good read through the instructions. They will not only inform you how long you need to leave your mattress to air out before sleeping on it, they will also tell you exactly how often you should be flipping and/or rotating it too.

For no-turn rolled up mattresses that have only one sleeping surface, it is still really important to rotate it once a fortnight for the initial six months. After that, you can switch to rotating your mattress once a month.

If your rolled up mattress is double-sided, you’ll need to flip and rotate it on a monthly basis to promote even wear, enhanced comfort and an increased lifespan.

How often should I flip my hybrid mattress?

Many hybrid mattresses cannot be flipped. This is due to them being designed to be one-sided with a specific purpose. If in doubt, reach out to your mattress retailer or manufacturer to find out whether your model is double-sided.

If your hybrid mattress is double-sided, it should also be flipped and rotated once a month. And, if it’s not, you should make sure to rotate it monthly. While they are generally a more durable option than some of our other mattresses, regular rotation still helps to prevent wear and tear with hybrid mattresses.

Again, it’s important to look at the mattress care instructions issued by the manufacturer. But these general rules are a great starting point if you’ve long-since misplaced your mattress paperwork!

So, what’s the difference between flipping a mattress and rotating it?

Well, flipping a mattress is comparable to flipping a pancake. You literally take the mattress and turn it upside down so that the underside of it becomes the top. And in turn, the original top of the mattress becomes the underside. But, not every mattress needs flipping. This is because the majority of modern mattresses are designed to be one-sided which means only one side of the mattress is suitable for sleeping on.

Rotating the mattress means moving your mattress from the head of your bed to the foot of your bed, or from top to bottom. Basically, when you rotate your mattress, your feet end up being where your head used to rest and vice versa.

How to flip a mattress

Flipping and rotating your mattress is really easy to do. And, depending on the weight of your mattress, it can usually be completed by a single person in four simple steps.

1. Start by removing your duvet, pillows and bed sheets.
2. If your mattress features handles for turning, be sure to use these to make the task easier.
3. You’ll need to move your mattress 180 degrees from the head of your bed to the foot in order to rotate it.
4. And to turn (or flip) it, lift it onto its side and then place it down with the other side facing upwards.

And it really is that easy. But remember, if your mattress is too heavy for you to lift solo, be sure to ask for help while flipping and rotating it.