Buying a mattress online is a better choice for most Canadians.
Gone are the days when buying a mattress meant awkwardly lying on a bed under fluorescent lights while a salesperson hovered nearby. Today, you can research, compare, and buy a top-rated mattress online and sleep on it before making a final decision.
But many people still wonder: Should I buy a mattress online? Or is it better to shop in-store? The answer isn’t always straightforward but understanding the pros and cons of each option can make your decision much easier.
In this article, we compare the key differences between buying a mattress online vs in-store. From pricing and convenience to trial periods, delivery, and returns, we’ll walk through the pros and cons of each option.
More and more Canadians are discovering why buying a mattress online is a smarter, lower-stress option.
Many in-store retailers, including large chains, use high–low pricing. That means the “regular” price you see is rarely the price you actually pay. These stores often run near-constant promotions to create a sense of urgency, hoping you’ll buy today because you don’t expect a similar deal to be available soon after.
In contrast, many online mattress brands like Douglas offer transparent, year-round pricing; you can take your time without worrying about missing a sale.
Online mattresses are also sold directly to you, cutting out middlemen and reducing costs, which means you’re not paying for retail markups, commissions, or expensive showroom leases. That’s why you might find that buying the same quality mattress online costs significantly less than it would in-store. Many brands like Douglas also offer free shipping, longer warranties, and bonus perks like free sleep accessories, adding even more value to your purchase. This is something that’s not guaranteed in-store unless there’s a limited-time promotion.
Many retailers carry private-label mattresses that are exclusive to their stores. For example, Sleep Country sells models you won’t find anywhere else, which means you can’t compare prices directly, even if similar specs exist elsewhere. This makes it harder to know whether you’re really getting a good deal, and it makes it easier for mattress stores to maintain higher prices.
Because physical stores are limited by space, your options are restricted to what’s on the floor of the mattress stores close enough to drive to. If you end up deciding to exchange the mattress, you don’t have many more options than what’s in the store’s current inventory, either.
Online shopping opens up access to a wide range of brands across the continent, including Canadian-made mattresses like Douglas, Logan & Cove, and Juno. Whether you’re after memory foam, hybrid, latex, or something eco-friendly, you can easily compare specs, reviews, and prices side by side, all from your phone or laptop. And unlike in-store visits, you won’t feel rushed or overwhelmed by too many models lined up in a row.
READ MORE: Canadian Mattress Brands
When you shop in-store, you’re lying on a floor model dozens (or hundreds) of people have tested before you. That mattress you’re trying may have been on display for months and may not feel the same as a brand-new version.
It can also feel awkward to lie down in a public place for long enough to get a sense of whether the mattress is comfortable beyond the initial feel. It’s also strange to test out a mattress while fully dressed up in your outdoor gear, like your shoes or a winter coat.
Online mattresses are made to order and shipped directly to you in sealed packaging. That means no dusty floor models, just a fresh, untouched product. You can test them out in your very own home, away from the eyes of others and in your everyday sleepwear. It’s a small but important peace of mind, especially in today’s health-conscious world.
As for durability, online mattresses often use similar materials (and often better specs) than many big-name in-store brands. And thanks to transparent product descriptions and third-party testing (like ours), you can judge quality without guesswork.
One of the biggest complaints about in-store shopping is the pressure from sales staff. Most major mattress chains pay their sales staff by commission. As such, salespeople may focus more on what helps their bottom line than what’s right for you. This can lead to a high-pressure experience, especially if you’re unsure what you need.
Online shopping lets you browse, compare, and research at your own pace. Some brands, like Douglas, even have retail locations where you can try the mattress in person without the pressure. No upsells, no commissions. Just information you can trust.
Convenience is a major reason people choose to buy mattresses online. Most online brands offer free, contactless delivery, and the mattress arrives compressed in a compact box for easy handling and ships straight to your door
You won’t need a truck to help you move it, just someone to help bring it into the room of your choice.
In-store shopping can mean coordinating delivery with a local warehouse. You might pay extra fees for certain locations or delivery windows.
READ MORE: Best Online Mattress
One of the biggest advantages of online mattress shopping is the home trial. Most online brands offer 100 to 365 nights to try your mattress at home. If it’s not right, you can return it for a full refund, and the mattress company will arrange for it to be picked up and recycled or donated. No need to haul it back to the store.
In-store policies tend to be more restrictive. For example, Sleep Country offers an exchange-only return policy. That means you can’t get a refund, but only a one-time exchange for another mattress in their lineup. A fee typically applies, and you may be limited to products available in-store at that time.
Brands like Douglas, Logan & Cove, Octave offer 365 -night sleep trials, giving you a whole year to try your mattress in the comfort of your home across all four seasons. If, anytime during the sleep trial, you decide the mattress doesn’t work for you, you can contact them for to arrange a return pickup. You will also get a full refund as well. That kind of flexibility is hard to beat and it’s a big reason why more people are rethinking the online mattress vs in store debate.
Mattress stores will have their own return and exchange policies which tends to limited and restrictive, though few tend to be as generous as their online counterparts.
Yes. In most cases, buying a mattress online is the smarter choice.
Online mattress brands have removed many of the pain points that used to come with mattress shopping.
Though there may be exceptions between companies, online mattress shopping in Canada is often more transparent; generally more affordable for the same group of features; and far more convenient than travelling to a showroom. You can compare brands, avoid sales pressure, and get better return policies, all while shopping from home.
Of course, in-store shopping still appeals to some people, especially those who want to test a mattress in person or need it the same day. But thanks to generous sleep trials, most online shoppers quickly find that testing a mattress at home for 100+ nights is far more helpful than lying on one for 5 minutes in a showroom.
Mattress-Reviews.com is Canada’s trusted source for mattress information. Our reviews are based on third-party engineering tests, real customer feedback, and detailed comparisons, making it easier to find your perfect mattress.
At Mattress-Reviews.com, we’ve tested over 100 mattresses to take the guesswork out of your decision. Our goal is to help you sleep better by guiding you to the right mattress for your needs.
Top Pick 2025
9.9/10
A top pick for Canadian sleepers, the Douglas Original uses cooling gel foam and support foam to offer balanced comfort. It comes with a free bedding bundle, a 365-night sleep trial, and a 20-year warranty.
The best place to buy a mattress is online, where pricing is clear, trials are longer, and reviews are easier to find. Review sites like Mattress-Reviews.com make comparison shopping easier than ever.
You can’t go wrong with buying your next mattress online, especially from a brand like Douglas (which checks all these boxes).
READ MORE: Discover the best Canadian mattress brands
A lot of the time, yes. Online mattress brands often have lower prices, clearer discounts, and added value (like free bedding) without the markup associated with showrooms and commissions. They can afford to offer lower prices because they tend to not have to pay the extra costs that stores do for retail leases, sales commissions, and mattress storage costs.
Not necessarily. With generous sleep trials (often 100 nights or more), online brands give you the chance to test the mattress in your own home, risk-free.
Start by identifying your sleep style and firmness preference. Then compare brands on features, performance scores, and customer support. Use review sites like Mattress-Reviews.com to narrow your options.
When it comes to buying a mattress, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when choosing the right one for you:
Most online mattress companies offer free returns within the trial period. You’ll usually need to contact customer support, and they’ll arrange for pickup or donation. Then you’ll receive a full refund. Check out the company’s return policy for more details, which can often be found through the footer at the bottom of their website.
Whatever the instructions are, they should be clearly stated on the company’s website.
We’re here to help you find the right mattress for your needs. Start by exploring our top mattress guides and resources:
We test mattresses with independent engineers, scoring them on over 40 important factors like price, warranty, comfort features, motion isolation, and more. Every mattress is reviewed based on real data, making it easier to compare and choose.
Top Pick 2025
Top-Rated Canadian Foam Mattress
BLACK FRIDAY SALE ON NOW! Buy any Douglas mattress today and get a FREE Comfort Sleep Bundle, 50% OFF All Sheets, and 20% OFF All Bed Frames and Bedding. See website for details >
Sponsored Ad
Table of Contents
Save
Save