Revive or Replace? The Free Mattress Check
Most mattresses are thrown away because they feel wrong, not because they have failed. Some can be revived with a topper for a fraction of the cost. Some really are finished, and a topper would only hide it. And sometimes the mattress isn't the problem at all.
Answer four short sets of questions and we'll tell you which one you are. If our topper isn't the right fix, the check says so.
Free · No sign-up · Tells you when you don't need anything from us · Written by the founder
Does your mattress need a topper, or replacing?
Tell us about your mattress and who sleeps on it. You'll get one of six verdicts, the reasons behind it, and what to do next. You don't need to leave an email to see your result.
A starting point, not a diagnosis. If pain lasts more than a few weeks, see your GP or a physiotherapist.
The short answer
When should you replace a mattress, and when will a topper do?
Replace it when the support has gone: a dip of 2.5 cm or more where you sleep, springs or lumps you can feel, or stains and smells you can't clean out. Which? recommends replacing every 8 to 10 years. If the mattress is still flat and supportive but feels too firm, too thin or hard on your hips and shoulders, a comfort topper usually fixes it for far less.
- Replace at
- Deep dips, broken springs, hygiene
- Topper fixes
- Too firm, pressure points, lost comfort
- Topper won't fix
- Sagging or lost support
- Typical lifespan
- 8 to 10 years (Which?)
Revive it if
- It is flat when you lay a straight edge across it
- You wake with sore hips or shoulders
- It is supportive but too firm
Replace it if
- It dips 2.5 cm or more where you sleep
- You can feel springs, or roll into each other
- It is over 10 years old and showing wear
The six verdicts, and what each one means
Revive it
Your mattress still holds you up, but the surface is wrong for you. A comfort topper fixes the surface. We tell you which feel and depth, sized to the heavier sleeper, and why the other options don't fit. Most people land on The Organic Topper in Plush to soften a firm bed or Supportive to firm up a soft one. Prefer something cosier? The Heritage Topper adds wool quilting over natural latex.
Revive it, but not with us
A topper would help, but ours is the wrong one. If you love sinking into memory foam, latex will feel too buoyant (latex vs memory foam). If anyone in the bed has a latex allergy, NHS guidance is to avoid latex bedding. If ours is beyond your budget, we point you to cheaper fixes.
Replace it
The support has failed: deep dips, springs you can feel, or a mattress too soft to hold your hips up. A topper would sit in the same dip (can a topper fix a sagging mattress?). We explain how to choose the next one for your weights and positions, and how to keep the old one out of landfill.
Fix this first
A free fix comes first: turn or rotate it, check the base and slats, claim the guarantee on a young mattress, give a new one 30 nights to settle, or use your retailer's trial.
It may not be your mattress
If you ache the same way away from home, or only your neck hurts, the mattress is unlikely to be the cause. We point you to your pillow (try the pillow height finder) or your GP instead.
Keep it
No aches, no dips, no complaints. You don't need a topper. Rotate it every few months and carry on.
Run the check for your mattress, free, about 3 minutes.
What a topper can and can't fix
| Problem | Will a topper fix it? | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress feels too firm | Yes, usually | Plush topper, 5 cm for most, 7.5 cm for heavier side sleepers |
| Sore hips or shoulders on waking | Often | A softer comfort layer spreads pressure. If pain persists, see your GP |
| Slight body impressions | For a while | Turn or rotate first; a topper follows any dip underneath |
| Dip of 2.5 to 4 cm | Only as a stop-gap | Check the base and the guarantee; a supportive topper buys time |
| Dip over 4 cm | No | Replace the mattress |
| Too soft, lower back aches | Partly | A supportive layer helps a sound mattress; an old or very soft one needs replacing |
| Rolling into each other | No | A sign of linked or worn springs; replace with pocket springs |
| Sleeping hot on memory foam | Partly | A latex layer breathes better than memory foam; check your duvet tog too |
| Partner's movement wakes you | Not really | Two single duvets, or pocket springs next time |
More detail: signs you need a new mattress, sagging mattresses and the topper depth guide. Or run the check.
Why reviving is often the better choice
A mattress that still supports you has years left in it. Replacing it costs several hundred pounds or more, and sends a working mattress into a waste stream that still struggles to cope. The National Bed Federation estimates around 6.4 million mattresses are thrown away in the UK each year. Recycling is improving, but the NBF puts the real recycling rate, after sorting, at about a third.
A topper adds the comfort layer your mattress is missing for a fraction of the cost and weight. A 5 cm double latex topper is about 10 kg of material; a double pocket-sprung mattress can weigh 60 kg or more. See our latex mattress toppers, or work out the long-run cost with the 20-year mattress value calculator.
When replacing is the better option
When the support has gone, no topper will bring it back. Buying one anyway delays the inevitable and adds to the cost. The check tells you plainly when this is you. Age alone isn't the test: read how often you should really replace a mattress.
How to replace a mattress well
- Match firmness to how you sleep and what you weigh: side sleepers usually need medium, heavier sleepers firmer support with a real comfort layer on top.
- Lie on it for ten minutes in your sleep position, both of you.
- Read the trial terms: refund or exchange only, and who pays for collection.
- Keep the old one out of landfill: how to dispose of a mattress in the UK.
- Give the new one 30 nights before judging it.
Run the check for your mattress, free, about 3 minutes.
Guides that go with the check
Every verdict in the check is explained in more depth here.
How often should you replace your mattress?
Which? says 8 to 10 years. Why age alone is the wrong test.
Signs you need a new mattress
Sorted honestly: the signs that mean replace, and the ones a topper fixes.
Can a topper fix a sagging mattress?
How to measure the dip, and what to check before you spend a penny.
How to dispose of a mattress in the UK
Every option and what it costs, from council collection to recycling.
The 10-point mattress audit
The full inspection, point by point, if you want to check everything.
The Organic Topper
Made with GOLS-certified organic latex. Plush or Supportive, 1 to 3 inches, every UK size.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my mattress needs replacing?
Strip the bed and lay a broom handle across where you sleep. A gap of 2.5 cm or more, springs or lumps you can feel, rolling towards your partner, or stains and smells you can't clean out all point to replacing. So does waking stiffer than you went to bed when you sleep well elsewhere. Full list: signs you need a new mattress. Or run the check for a verdict.
Can a mattress topper fix a sagging mattress?
Not a real sag. A topper changes how the surface feels; it cannot add support underneath, so on a deep dip it settles into the same hollow. A slight dip under 2.5 cm is different: turn the mattress, then a supportive topper bridges it. Check the base and the guarantee first. More in can a topper fix a sagging mattress?
How long should a mattress last?
Which? recommends replacing a mattress every 8 to 10 years. Many last longer if they are turned or rotated, kept on a solid base and protected. See how often should you replace your mattress?
Does a topper help with hip pain from a firm mattress?
It often helps side sleepers, because a softer layer lets the hip and shoulder settle in and spreads pressure. A small lab study found natural latex lowered peak pressure compared with polyurethane foam (what the research says). It is not a treatment: if pain lasts more than a few weeks, see your GP or a physiotherapist.
What should I do with my old mattress?
If it is clean and has its fire label, a charity may take it. Otherwise use a retailer take-back, your council or a licensed recycler, never a fly-tip. Costs and options: how to dispose of a mattress in the UK.
Why would you tell me not to buy your topper?
Because a topper on the wrong mattress, or for the wrong sleeper, comes back. We would rather you bought nothing, or the right thing from someone else, than ours for the wrong reason.
Do you store my answers?
We keep anonymous answers, with weights rounded to the nearest 10 kg and no names, links or IP addresses, to understand why people replace mattresses. Your email is only stored if you ask us to send your result. See our privacy policy.
Revive it, replace it, or leave it alone?
Three minutes, no sign-up, and an honest answer, even when it isn't us.
Free · No sign-up · Written by the founder · 30-night trial on our toppers
Keep reading
The guides, tools and products behind the answers on this page.