The History Of Mattresses

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Mattresses are a key component of bedding. Because most humans spend over a third of their lives sleeping, finding a quality mattress is important for a high quality of life. Normally comprised of foam and fibers, with metal springs on a wooden frame, mattresses help ensure a restful sleep.

Serta, Sealy, and Simmons are the three largest, most popular mattress brands in the USA.

Standard USA mattress sizes are Twin/Single (39 X 75), Double/Full (54 X 75), Queen (60 X 80), King (78 X 80). Other USA mattress sizes include Olympic Queen (66 X 80), California Queen (60 X 84), and California King (72 X 80).

Mattresses typically require replacement after seven to fifteen years of use, or sooner, if the coils or frame have experienced noticeable wear and tear.

Serta - 9 inch Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress, Queen Size, Medium-Firm, Supportive, CertiPur-US Certified, 100-Night Trial - Sheepless Night
Serta Mattress
Sealy - Hybrid Bed in a Box - 12 Inch, Medium Feel, Queen Size, CopperChill Technology, CertiPur-US Certified
Sealy Mattress
Simmons - Hybrid Gel Memory Foam Mattress - 12 Inch, Full Size, Plush Feel, Individually Wrapped Coils, Moisture Wicking Cover, CertiPur-US Certified, 100-Night Trial
Simmons Mattress

A Brief History of the Mattress

In the Neolithic period (8,000-6,000 B.C.), people migrated from sleeping on the ground to simple man-made beds and mattresses. These first resting structures were constructed of leaves and grass, held together with animal skin. Around 3,500 B.C., Persians invented the first waterbeds, made of goatskins filled with water. The more affluent inhabitants of the Roman Empire, circa 200 B.C., slept on mattresses filled with feathers. Steel coils, which now support the vast majority of mattresses, were not patented for this purpose until 1865.

Mattresses have enjoyed many advances in the past few decades, including the advent of air mattresses, foam mattresses, and memory foam mattresses. Increasingly, mattresses are being constructed from modern materials such as latex foam and polyurethane foam. In addition, those consumers seeking affordability and convenience have chosen futons and futon mattresses to ensure their good nights sleep. And there has long been a core of waterbed enthusiasts who remain committed to waterbed mattresses.


Emma Original Mattress