Yes, and no. It really depends on what matters most to you.
Do you head to a store, lie down under showroom lights, and hope those few awkward minutes tell you enough? Or do you browse online, compare trial periods, and maybe take a quick mattress quiz to narrow it all down?
Key Takeaways
- Whether you prefer to buy a mattress online or in store, the right choice comes down to what makes you feel comfortable, supported, and ready to sleep better.
- Online shopping offers flexibility, lower prices, sleep trials, and real customer reviews. In-store lets you test mattresses on the spot, speak with staff, and take the mattress home the same day.
- Consider your time, budget, shopping style, and how confident you feel making decisions online. Both shopping methods can work well, depending on your needs.
In this blog, we’re unpacking the pros and cons of both purchase types. We’ll cover what to expect when buying a mattress online or in-store, how to weigh up comfort, convenience, and cost, and where you can try Ecosa for yourself.
Jump to a section:
- Buying a Mattress Online
- Buying a Mattress In-Store
- Buying a Mattress Online vs In Store: Factors to Consider
- Should I Buy a Mattress Online or In Store?
- Where to Try Ecosa Mattresses?
Buying a Mattress Online
Alright, so you’ve probably bought a few things online. Maybe more than a few. But when it comes to something as big and personal as a mattress, we get why you’d hesitate.
Still, online mattress shopping has come a long way. Many of the options out there fall under the mattress in a box style.
If you’re weighing it up, it helps to know what you’re actually signing up for. We’ll go through the upsides, the drawbacks, and who this option tends to work well for.
| Pros | Cons | Best For |
| Shop any time, day or night | Can’t try the mattress before buying | People with packed schedules |
| Home delivery to your door | Waiting time for delivery | Shift workers with irregular hours |
| Long sleep trials (often 100+ nights) | Returns may involve some logistics | New parents or busy households |
| Transparent, competitive pricing | Anyone who finds in-store shopping stressful | |
| Access to hundreds of customer reviews |
Pros:
✅ Buying a mattress online can save time
Shop any time that suits you without needing to rearrange your day or travel to a store.
✅ Home delivery
No lifting, no logistics. Your mattress arrives straight to your door, often vacuum-sealed and boxed.
✅ Generous sleep trials
You get to test the mattress at home, in your own space, often for over 100 nights.
✅ Transparent pricing
Online stores skip the middleman, so you’re more likely to get better value for money.
✅ Access to real customer reviews
You can read mattress reviews from other buyers to see what worked for them, what didn’t, and how the mattress performs over time.
Cons:
❌ You can’t try-before-you-buy
You have to rely on descriptions and reviews rather than testing the feel of the mattress in person.
❌ Waiting time
Even with express shipping, it will still take time to arrive.
❌ Returns can be a process
While some brands try to make returns as easy as possible, arranging a pickup or repackaging the mattress can take time.
Best for:
- People with packed schedules or irregular hours
- Shift workers who can’t shop during regular store hours
- New parents or anyone juggling young kids
- Anyone who finds in-store shopping overwhelming or time-consuming
Buying a Mattress In-Store
This is the classic way most people are used to buying a mattress. You walk into a store, try a few mattresses, chat with a salesperson, and get a feel for what’s comfortable.
For some, that hands-on experience brings peace of mind. You get to lie down, poke around, and compare mattress firmness levels on the spot.
But it’s not always smooth sailing. Trying mattresses under showroom lights with a salesperson nearby can feel rushed, and it’s easy to second-guess a decision made in just a few minutes.
| Pros | Cons | Best For |
| Try before you buy | Limited time to test the mattress properly | People who like to compare mattresses in person |
| In-person help from knowledgeable staff | Prices may be higher depending on store overheads | Shoppers who want same-day pickup or delivery |
| Immediate purchase and pickup (in some cases) | Less convenient if you need to organise transport | Anyone who prefers face-to-face guidance |
| People who feel more confident trying before buying |
Pros:
✅ You can try the mattress before you buy
You can test out different mattress types, feels, and materials in real time.
✅ In-person assistance and suggestions
Sales staff can offer guidance, answer questions, and point you toward options you might not have considered.
✅ Immediate purchase
Depending on the store and stock, you might be able to take your mattress home the same day.
Cons:
❌ Limited time to test the mattress properly
A few minutes lying down might not be enough to judge how a mattress holds up overnight.
❌ Higher prices
Showroom mattresses often include retail markups and overhead costs.
❌ Less convenient
You’ll need to factor in travel time, lifting, and possibly organising your own transport.
Best for:
- People who like to feel and compare products in person
- Shoppers who want same-day pickup or delivery
- Anyone who prefers face-to-face guidance over online research
- People who find comfort in trying before buying
Buying a Mattress Online vs In Store: Factors to Consider
There’s no one right way to shop for a mattress, only the way that works best for you.
Here are a few things worth thinking about before making a decision:
1. How Much Time Have You Got?
If you’re juggling work, kids, or both, mattress shopping can be tricky.
In-store shopping can take hours.
Driving to the store, finding parking, testing mattresses, and chatting with staff adds up. Most people spend 2 to 4 hours on a single trip, sometimes more if you’re visiting a few places.
Online shopping is more flexible.
You can browse when it suits you. A few minutes after work, during lunch, or while the kids are asleep. Most online shoppers spend about 1 to 2 hours total, spread out over a few days.
2. Price and Value
Online options often cost less.
Because there’s no showroom markup, online brands can offer more competitive pricing. You’ll also find regular discounts and promos, plus free delivery in most metro areas.
In-store prices can vary.
Showroom mattresses tend to come with higher base prices due to overhead costs. But in-person shopping gives you access to bundle deals, seasonal sales, and the option to save on delivery if you can take the mattress home yourself.
Both offer flexible payment options.
Whether you’re buying online or in-store, most brands and retailers let you pay in instalments using services like Afterpay or Zip. That way, you don’t have to pay the full amount upfront.
3. Comfort With Making Decisions Online
Shopping online means trusting what you read rather than what you feel. But with the right info, you can still make a solid choice. A good mattress site should offer clear, helpful tools that guide your decision.
Before you buy, look for:
✅ A clear mattress size guide, so you know if the mattress will fit your space
✅ Third-party customer reviews that show honest feedback
✅ Firmness or comfort scale matched to your sleep style
✅ Real-life photos or videos to get a better sense of look and feel
✅ Trial period details including how long you have to test it
✅ Warranty terms that explain what’s covered
✅ Easy access to support through chat, email or phone
If a store covers most of these, you’re not going in blind.
4. Delivery & Pick-up Options
Online delivery is contact-free and direct to your door.
Most online mattress brands deliver across Australia, often with free shipping in metro areas. At Ecosa, for example, we offer fast, free delivery to metro zones so you’re not left waiting or paying extra.
In-store gives you options, but it depends on stock and transport.
Some stores offer same-day pickup, which is handy if you have a large vehicle and want your mattress right away. Otherwise, you may need to pay extra for delivery or wait a few days for stock to arrive.
5. Return Policies
Online trials give you time to really test it.
Most online mattresses come with sleep trials ranging from 60 to 120 nights. At Ecosa, we offer a 100-night trial, so you’re not stuck if it doesn’t feel quite right.
Stores may have stricter policies.
In-store returns often need to be done quickly, sometimes within a week or two. Some may charge restocking fees or only offer exchanges.
Check the warranty details.
Many online brands include long-term coverage. Ecosa mattresses come with a 15-year warranty, so you’re covered long after the first few sleeps.
Recycling makes returns easier.
If you return an Ecosa mattress, we help arrange for it to be donated or recycled instead of going to landfill.
Should I Buy a Mattress Online or In Store?
There’s no single right answer. Some people even do both. They test in-store, then buy online. Or they shop online, then visit a store to double-check before making a decision.
Go online if you value flexibility, want to avoid the showroom runaround, and prefer shopping on your own terms.
Choose in-store if trying the mattress in person gives you peace of mind, or if you want help from a salesperson to talk through the options.
The best choice often comes down to how you like to make big decisions. Quick and hands-on, or slow and research-led?
Either way, both options are solid to find the right mattress.
You can shop Ecosa mattresses online or visit our store locations if you’d rather try before you buy. Either way, we’ve got you covered!
Where to Try Ecosa Mattresses?
Prefer to feel a mattress before you buy? You can try our mattresses in person at any one of our Ecosa stores.
Drop in, have a lie-down, and see how it feels in real life. Our team will be there to answer questions and help you find the right fit. No pressure, no rush.
Whether you’re looking to buy a mattress online or in store, we’ve made it easy for you to shop the way that suits you best.