As a sleep and mattress editor, I spend a lot of time helping people choose the best mattress for a super comfortable night's sleep. There are many things to consider when buying a new mattress, and it's important to consider them all before you start shopping online or in stores.

These factors include your sleeping position, your weight, whether you sleep alone or share a bed, and any health issues that may affect your sleep. By synthesizing all of these factors, a suitable mattress can be quickly found.

However, there is one mistake people make time and again when choosing a mattress. If you are planning to shop the Presidents Day mattress sale this year, there are some things you should definitely avoid. We fully understand that in the midst of the global cost-of-living crisis, there are times when you really need to make a big purchase like a bed, but there are plenty of great-value hybrid and memory foam mattresses available these days, so you can shop wisely on a budget.

If you buy a mattress based on price alone, you may get lucky and be comfortable for a while. However, in my experience as a mattress tester, you may end up choosing one that is not ideally suited to your body and sleep needs.

So while you may save money, you risk:

These pitfalls are not only related to cheap mattresses. We have seen people buy a popular mattress in a box purely based on the selling price, even though that bed is not ideal for them. Bargains on popular items are irresistible.

The saving grace here is that most mattresses sold online come with a mattress trial (also called a sleep trial). This allows you to sleep on the mattress for a certain period of time, on average 100 nights, and return it if you feel it is not right for you.

If you try to return it outside of the trial period, it will not work. However, 100 nights is plenty. I would recommend sleeping at least 30 nights in a row on a new mattress.

Now that we know what to avoid, what should we do when choosing a mattress? Here are my top tips based on my experience researching and trying out different beds, including traditional and box beds...

Sleeping posture plays a big part in choosing the right type of mattress. Generally speaking, stomach and back sleepers do better on medium firm to firm hybrid mattresses and firmer memory foam mattresses. The spine does not sink into the mattress, causing a loss of spinal alignment (which is painful), but rather the mattress keeps the sleeper on top of the mattress.

Side sleepers usually do better with medium-firm or larger mattresses, usually made of foam. Note: When bed-sharing with children, it is safer to sleep on a flat, breathable mattress regardless of sleeping position.

Sharing a bed is actually a big commitment. This is because if you make the wrong choice of mattress or if your partner sleeps restlessly, your own sleep can be severely affected. For couples, the most important mattress feature is motion isolation. This ensures that any movement that one of you makes on your side of the mattress is not transmitted to the other.

Overheating is one of the most common factors that interfere with sleep. If you are too hot to sleep and don't have the budget to buy a top-notch cooling mattress (they are expensive), look for cooling materials and features in the inexpensive mattresses you are considering.

These include breathable cotton or Tencel mattress covers, gel-filled foam, and wool liners. Hybrid mattresses are recommended to improve air circulation around the coils and springs, and inexpensive mattresses are recommended to improve air circulation around the coils and springs.

Other problems such as back pain during sleep, back pain, joint pain, snoring (when combined with an adjustable bed base), and allergies (natural mattresses) can also be alleviated by the right mattress.

Weight is not something most people think about when purchasing a mattress, but it is important when choosing the comfort and firmness of a mattress. Different brands vary on what constitutes average, light, and heavy weight, but here are some rough guidelines:

Adults weighing 150 pounds or less - choose a softer mattress that hugs your body if you sleep on your side, and a firmer bed if your stomach or back is a concern or you prefer a medium firm.

Adults weighing 160-240 lbs - The most choices, but it is recommended to start with a medium firm (which fits most people) and change to a softer or firmer bed as needed during the trial period.

For adults weighing over 250 pounds, consider a firm mattress, even a hybrid one, so that the body can be best supported on the mattress.

As I explained above, my rule of thumb when buying a mattress online or in a store is to always use a sleep trial; some brands, such as Saatva, Nectar, and Emma Sleep, offer a one-year trial.

With a mattress trial, if you change your mind about your chosen mattress, you can exchange it for a different type (e.g., from foam to hybrid) or a different firmness, or ask for a refund. Be sure to use the best mattress protector during the trial period, as a soiled or damaged mattress cannot be returned. Protectors help keep your bed healthy over the long term.