Adjustable Beds Survey 2023: Are Adjustable Beds Beneficial?

• Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number were the two most popular adjustable base brands.
• Although there were slight differences in reported benefits among older adults with various health conditions, many agreed that adjustable beds helped them sleep better.
• Luxury features like mobile apps and under-bed lighting were not a top priority for respondents. Instead, they said they benefited most from customizable features.

Do adjustable beds encourage healthy sleep as much as brands claim? Our Reviews Team wanted to better understand how adjustable beds benefit—or don’t benefit—people looking for better sleep. We asked 1,000 adjustable bed users about their experiences, and the results are in.

Our Reviews Team surveyed 1,000 people across the age spectrum, but we focused on gathering information from older adults and caregivers. Our targeted approach helped us better understand whether adjustable beds play a role in successfully aging in place, and if so, to what extent.

Exactly 50% of our respondents were more than 54 years old, and more than 28% of respondents researched and purchased an adjustable base for someone they care for, representing our caregiver population. All of our respondents were involved in the research and purchasing process.

Exactly 50% of respondents were over age 54, and 23.8% were caregivers.

One thousand people answered our questions about their experience buying and owning their adjustable beds. Here’s what they had to say.

At the time of our survey, Tempur-Pedic was the most popular adjustable base brand across all demographics. More than 51.8% of respondents considered buying Tempur-Pedic and 21.8% bought it, the highest conversion rate of all brands in our survey. This isn’t surprising, considering 46.8% bought a Tempur-Pedic adjustable base from popular mattress stores like Mattress Firm, which carries multiple Tempur-Pedic adjustable base models. In fact, Mattress Firm rates Tempur-Pedic as their “Top Pick” online.

More than 85% of all respondents who bought a Tempur-Pedic adjustable base from a mattress store reported positive experiences interacting with customer support during their purchase, and among those who bought their base online (brand or mattress store), 80% reported positive customer support during the purchase process.

Lumbar support was the most important feature among respondents who bought a Tempur-Pedic base. More than 82% reported that they hadn’t made a warranty claim for their adjustable base, and 94% agreed their purchase helped them sleep better.

Tempur-Pedic was the most popular adjustable base brand, followed by Sleep Number, Serta, Purple, and Sealy.

Although a Tempur-Pedic adjustable base was a popular purchase among all respondents, Sleep Number and Serta were close behind. But older adults were less likely to consider or purchase mattress-in-a-box brands like Purple compared to younger adults who purchased an adjustable base for themselves.

According to survey results, adjustable lumbar support was the most important feature when purchasing an adjustable base. This was true for all survey participants, including caregivers and older adult respondents. Those who prioritized adjustable lumbar support chose brands like Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number adjustable beds.

The second most important feature was adjustable leg height, followed by preset position buttons (like anti-snore ⓘA position that elevates the head by 30-60 degrees to overcome the throat relaxation effect and keep the airways open., zero-gravity position ⓘThe zero-gravity preset was developed by NASA to mimic a state of weightlessness, which is achieved by creating a 120-degree angle between the torso and knees., and flat) and programmable custom preset buttons. When older and younger adults purchased an adjustable bed, they sought a customizable set-up and features that offered easy positioning.

Caregivers also shopped for preset positions and programmable buttons, but they were less likely to prioritize adjustable leg height.

Very few respondents prioritized luxury features like an accompanying mobile app or under-bed lighting. These features were consistently ranked the lowest. And although many brands advertise massage as a major perk in their models, this feature didn’t debut as a top priority for adjustable bed buyers.

Similarly, many brands strongly advertise zero-gravity position presets, but it was the least popular among users, including older adults and caregivers. Only 148 out of 1,000 people slept better in the zero-gravity position. Of those who benefitted, 54.7% snore, and 42.6% have chronic pain.

Adjustable lumbar support and adjustable leg height were the most important features shoppers seek when buying an adjustable base, while mobile app controls and under-bed lighting were the least.

Respondents of all ages, including caregivers, deemed price and discounts among the most important considerations before purchasing an adjustable base.

Price and features are the most important considerations when purchasing an adjustable base, while white glove delivery, trial period length, and old bed removal are the least important.

Price usually took the cake, but it moved down the list depending on a person’s health condition. According to our survey, older adults with recently diagnosed health conditions, mobility issues, and snoring prioritized features over price. Those with chronic health conditions (like chronic pain), acid reflux, and insomnia also prioritized price over features. Amanda Weeks, an occupational therapist specializing in older adults at B. Well Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wasn’t surprised that people with chronic conditions value price over features. “Many individuals experiencing chronic pain have experimented with many different solutions for their condition, only to find themselves disappointed by the lack of relief,” said Weeks. “As a result, they tend to be more hesitant when investing additional emotional or financial resources into something that may or may not have a significant impact.”

Our Reviews Team was surprised to see white glove delivery (in-home setup) and old mattress removal among the least important considerations when purchasing an adjustable base. Caregivers and adults of all ages agreed, but we’re unsure why, given the physical burden of replacing bed furniture.

We also noticed a size preference. Many (39.2%) respondents purchased a queen-size adjustable base. More than 34% bought a king-size base, but only 7.4% had a split king, making it the least popular style.

According to the older demographic who bought an adjustable base, 69.4% agreed that their adjustable base helps them get into and out of bed more easily, and 87.6% agreed that it helps them sleep better.

The survey also showed that 47% of these respondents purchased an adjustable bed to address a recent or chronic health condition, but most (38%) reported a chronic condition. We decided to look closer at buyer behavior and satisfaction relative to common health conditions related to sleep, including chronic pain, snoring, acid reflux, and insomnia. We also looked closely at those with mobility concerns, including recent injuries and postoperative recovery.

Below are the top takeaways relevant to each condition among older adults who purchased an adjustable bed for themselves.

Chronic pain and snoring were the two most common health concerns among older adults who own adjustable beds, while heart disease was the least.

Chronic pain

• 88.5% agreed they sleep better with an adjustable base.
• 70.1% agreed they get out of bed easier.
• 25.3% purchased a Sleep Number adjustable bed, while 22.4% purchased a Tempur-Pedic.
• 41.4% chose a memory foam mattress for their adjustable base.
• Price was the most important consideration before purchasing.

Snoring

• Of all the respondents who snore, 45% reported it’s a recent or chronic health issue.
• 90% agreed they sleep better with an adjustable base.
• 23.1% purchased a Sleep Number adjustable bed, while 22% purchased a Tempur-Pedic.
• 43.8% chose a memory foam mattress for their adjustable base.
• Features were the most important consideration before purchasing.

Acid reflux

• 90% agreed they sleep better with an adjustable bed.
• 25.8% purchased a Tempur-Pedic adjustable bed, while 25% purchased a Sleep Number.
• 47.5% chose a memory foam mattress for their adjustable base.
• Price and features were tied as the most important considerations before purchasing.

Insomnia

• 89.7% agreed that they sleep better with an adjustable bed.
• 26.8% purchased a Tempur-Pedic adjustable bed, while 18.6% purchased a Sleep Number.
• 40.21% chose a memory foam mattress for their adjustable base.
• Price was the most important consideration before purchasing.

Mobility concerns

• 85.7% agreed they sleep better with an adjustable bed.
• 79.1% agreed they get out of bed easier.
• The same percentage (16.5%) purchased a Tempur-Pedic or Sleep Number adjustable base. The next most popular brand was Serta (13.2%).
• 45% chose a memory foam mattress for their adjustable base.
• Features were the most important consideration before purchasing.

Although most people with these health conditions valued adjustable lumbar support as the most important feature, those with mobility concerns prioritized adjustable leg height more. “Height adjustability improves the ease of standing up or sitting down from a low surface,” explained Weeks.

Mobile app controls and under-bed lighting were consistently rated the least important features, although our Reviews Team acknowledges that these features can help older adults age in place easier and lower the risk of falls when combined with other preventive steps and caregiver support. Learn more in our Best Adjustable Bases for Seniors review.

Why isn’t everyone benefitting from an adjustable bed?

Many respondents reported improved sleep and mobility with an adjustable bed, but not all. For example, 11.5% of older adults with chronic back pain don’t sleep better with an adjustable base, and 29.9% do not get out of bed easier.

“Medical issues are complex and multifaceted, and bed positioning is only a small part of what may contribute to symptoms,” said Weeks.

Our survey showed that 54.4% of all respondents preferred researching adjustable bases online. Many also performed in-store research (53.8%) and spoke to a sales representative at some point in the research and purchase process (36.5%).

Older adults who purchased an adjustable base for themselves prioritized in-store research (58.3%) the most, followed by internet research (43.6%) and talking to a sales representative (39.52%). Most (69%) completed their purchase in-store.

Caregivers preferred researching online (57.24%). Exactly 47% performed in-store research, and 30.4% consulted a sales representative before purchasing. Most (62.5%) caregivers were also likely to complete their purchases in-store.

Everyone prioritized price as the top consideration, and between 42.4%–57.3% of buyers received an automatic discount at checkout while buying online and in person.

Our survey of 1,000 respondents showed that adjustable bases were helpful to all ages and multiple sleep and mobility-related health conditions. Most agreed they sleep better and get out of bed easier with an adjustable bed base.

Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number were the most popular adjustable base brands, with most survey respondents saying they prioritized price and features over all other considerations. Most shoppers looked for customizable features like adjustable lumbar support and leg height over luxury features like massage, mobile app controls, and under-bed lighting. And finally, the zero-gravity position wasn’t as popular with shoppers as brands claimed.

To learn more about the top adjustable beds on the market, visit our Best Adjustable Beds roundup.

Our Reviews Team recommends products and services we believe provide value in the lives of our readers. We’ve spent more than 550 hours carrying out in-depth research on adjustable beds to give you the most accurate reviews. To make our selections, we:

• Surveyed 1,000 adjustable bed users for first-person insights
• Interviewed two industry experts
• Researched 30 different models across the category
• Read real reviews from verified customers on trusted third-party sites, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot

Visit our NCOA Adviser Page to read the adjustable bed reviews that resulted from our research. And for more information on how we research adjustable beds, read our adjustable beds review methodology.

Have questions? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.