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How to choose the right mattress for your Airbnb

What I learned from mattresses I bought at Costco, Amazon and Walmart, the one my guests compliment, and when to replace it.

By Michael Frei, Airbnb host for 5 years and founder of SheetDay. Updated .

Quick answer

Go medium-firm. When a mattress is too soft, guests with back problems complain, and some say it feels like an air mattress. A hybrid with pocketed coils and cooling gel memory foam works for most guests. I use the Sweetnight Twilighty 12-inch hybrid from Walmart. Protect it with a zippered encasement, and check it regularly. A rental mattress may only last about 5 years.

Every other layer of the bed sits on the mattress. If it’s wrong, a great topper and good sheets can’t fully fix it, and guests notice on the first night.

What I learned the hard way

My experience

I’ve tried several mattresses from Costco and cheaper ones from Amazon. One of them was too soft. Several guests told me they wished it was firmer because of back problems, and some said it felt like an air mattress. The one I have now is right in the middle, and several guests have told me how comfortable it is.

Firmness: aim for medium-firm

At home, you pick a mattress for yourself. In a rental, you’re picking for strangers: side sleepers, back sleepers, light and heavy guests, and guests with back problems.

  • Medium-firm is the safe middle. It supports the back and still feels comfortable to most people.
  • Too soft is the bigger risk, because guests sink in and it can feel like an air mattress.
  • You can add softness with a mattress topper, but nothing makes a soft mattress firmer.

Hybrid or all foam?

For a rental, I’d choose a hybrid.

  • A hybrid has pocketed coils under layers of foam. The coils give it bounce and airflow, so it sleeps cooler and is easier to get in and out of. Pocketed coils also help limit motion between guests.
  • All-foam mattresses usually cost less and absorb motion well, but they tend to sleep warmer and have less bounce.

What else to look for

  • Gel-infused foam and a breathable knit cover help guests who run warm.
  • A 12-inch mattress feels substantial, but the topper adds depth, so you’ll need deep-pocket sheets and an encasement that fits both.
  • Look for CertiPUR-US certified foam and a fabric certification like OEKO-TEX.
  • A long warranty and a return window protect you if it sags early.

The mattress I use

I use the Sweetnight Twilighty 12-inch Cooling Gel Memory Foam Medium Firm Hybrid Mattress, king size, from Walmart.

  • It’s a medium-firm hybrid, with individually pocketed coils under layers of gel memory foam and comfort foam.
  • The gel-infused foam and breathable knit cover keep it cool to sleep on.
  • The individually pocketed coils help limit motion between guests.
  • The foam is CertiPUR-US certified and fiberglass-free, and the cover is OEKO-TEX certified.
  • It comes with a 10-year warranty, and a king measures 76 x 80 x 12 inches.

Walmart prices on this mattress change often, so check the current price before you buy.

An alternative I haven’t tried

The Allswell Hybrid, Walmart’s own brand, is worth a look. I haven’t slept on it, but RTINGS named it the best cheap medium-firm mattress, and it scored well for cooling and sturdy edges. The same review says it may not give most side sleepers enough pressure relief, though heavier side sleepers who like a firmer bed may like it. Walmart also sells a taller Allswell Luxe 12-inch version.

Protect it from day one

Put a waterproof, breathable, zippered encasement on the mattress before the first guest sleeps on it. It keeps out spills, sweat and bed bugs, and it’s much cheaper than a new mattress. Here’s which one to buy.

When to replace an Airbnb mattress

A mattress at home lasts about 6 to 8 years. A rental mattress gets more nights and more different sleepers, so it may only last about 5 years, or less if the bed is booked almost every night.

Check it regularly, for example when you’re there for a turnover. Replace it when you notice any of these:

  • It starts to bow or sag where guests sleep.
  • You can feel or hear the coils.
  • Guests mention the bed in reviews or messages.

Tip: Once you have the right mattress, say so in your listing. A line like “hybrid mattress with cooling gel memory foam and a plush topper” tells guests what to expect and helps you stand out from listings that just say “king bed.”

Common questions

What firmness is best for an Airbnb mattress?
Medium-firm. It supports guests with back problems and still feels comfortable to most people. A topper can add softness, but nothing makes a soft mattress firmer.
Is a hybrid or memory foam mattress better for an Airbnb?
I prefer a hybrid. The coils give it bounce and airflow, so it sleeps cooler and is easier to get in and out of. All-foam mattresses cost less but tend to sleep warmer.
How often should I replace an Airbnb mattress?
A rental mattress may only last about 5 years, or less with very high occupancy. Check it regularly, and replace it once it starts to bow or sag where guests sleep.
Is a bed-in-a-box mattress good enough for an Airbnb?
It can be. Mine came from Walmart. Look for medium-firm, certified foam, a long warranty, and good reviews from people with back problems.
Can a topper fix a bad mattress?
A topper can make a firm mattress feel softer. It can't fix a mattress that's too soft or sagging.

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