What is mattress settlement?

Mattress settlement is the small, permanent compression that happens as a mattress “breaks in.”
When you sleep on it night after night, the materials relax and compress a bit under your body weight, especially where you sleep the most.

Think of it like breaking in a new pair of shoes: at first they’re stiff, then they soften and mold slightly to you.

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Is mattress settlement normal? Yes.

Some settlement is completely normal and expected.

Most manufacturers even allow for this in their warranties.

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Typical “normal” settlement is:

• Up to ~1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) depending on the mattress type and brand.

​This usually happens:

• Within the first 30–90 days

• Then it stabilises and shouldn’t keep getting worse quickly.

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Is dipping in a mattress normal?

This depends on how much and how it feels.

 

Normal dipping:

• Shallow, even body impressions

• Mattress still feels supportive

• Your spine stays aligned

• You don’t wake up sore

​Not normal (problematic):

• Deep valleys or sagging

• You feel “stuck” or rolled toward the middle

• Back, hip, or shoulder pain

• The dip keeps getting deeper over time​​​

Latex (especially natural latex)

• Best at resisting sagging

• Very elastic and resilient

• Compresses under weight but springs back

• Minimal permanent dipping

​Wool & cotton

• Compress over time (this is normal)

• More “settlement” than sagging

• Often used in high-end mattresses that are designed to be rotated/flipped

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Natural-fill mattresses may show visible impressions but still feel supportive.

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Man-made materials (polyfoam, springs, hybrids)

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Polyurethane foam (standard foam)

• Quality varies a LOT

• Lower-density foam compresses faster

• Cheap foam = faster, deeper sagging​

Innerspring / hybrid mattresses

• Springs can last well

• The comfort layers on top usually fail first

• Sagging often comes from foam above the springs, not the springs themselves

​Memory foam (viscoelastic foam)

This one gets misunderstood the most.

• Memory foam softens with heat and pressure

• It will show body impressions when you get up

• Good-quality memory foam slowly recovers

• Lower-quality memory foam can develop permanent dips

​Key difference:

• Temporary imprint = normal

• Permanent crater = not normal

​Memory foam also:

• Feels softer over time

• Can exaggerate the feeling of dipping even if support underneath is okay

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Why people confuse “settlement” with “sagging”

Because:

• Foam softens before it fails

• Your body adapts slowly

• Dips form gradually in the same sleep spot

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By the time discomfort shows up, the mattress may already be past its best days.

How to reduce dipping​

• Rotate the mattress every 3–6 months

• Use a proper, supportive base

• Don’t exceed weight limits (important for foam)

• Avoid sitting on the edge constantly

• Choose higher-density foams or latex if longevity matters

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Bottom line

•  Some mattress settlement is normal

• Light body impressions are expected

• Deep sagging that causes pain is not normal

• Natural latex resists dipping best

• Memory foam depends heavily on quality