IKEA's mattress return policy is a one-time exchange within 90 days under "Love It or Exchange It" - not the 365-day window that applies to other furniture. Here's exactly how it works in the U.S., what's excluded, and how the 10-year warranty fits in.
If you bought a new mattress at IKEA and it isn't working out, you have options - but the rules are narrower than IKEA's well-known 365-day return window for unopened goods. Mattresses sit under a separate program called Love It or Exchange It, which gives you one exchange within 90 days. Below is the current U.S. policy, the exclusions that trip people up, and how it compares to bed-in-a-box brands.
IKEA U.S. lets you exchange a new mattress one time within 90 days of purchase if it's not the right fit. The mattress must be clean, unmarked, and undamaged, and you need your receipt or order confirmation. If the new mattress costs less than the original, the difference goes onto an IKEA Refund Card. If it costs more, you pay the difference. This is an exchange, not a refund - IKEA does not take a used mattress back for cash.
Several products that look mattress-adjacent are excluded from the 90-day exchange:
Toppers and protectors fall under IKEA's standard return policy: 365 days unopened, 180 days opened with proof of purchase. Bed frames and slats also follow the standard policy.
IKEA inspects the mattress at the store or at pickup. They will refuse the exchange if the mattress is:
Practical tip: use a washable mattress protector from day one. A $20 protector is what stands between you and a denied exchange.
Most exchanges happen on the spot. If the new mattress is cheaper, the difference is loaded onto an IKEA Refund Card, which works like store credit. If you arranged a courier pickup, expect 5-10 business days for inspection and credit issuance. Defective mattresses returned under the warranty (separate from this policy) are processed differently - see below.
Don't confuse the 90-day exchange with IKEA's 10-year limited mattress warranty. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and premature sagging beyond 1 inch - not comfort. If your mattress develops a defect in year three, you don't get a refund: IKEA repairs or replaces the mattress at their option, with depreciation factored in after the first year. Keep your receipt; the warranty is non-transferable.
Online mattress companies built their reputation on long, no-questions trial periods, and the gap is real:
If a true 100-night cash-back trial matters to you more than seeing the mattress in a showroom, an online brand will be the better fit. If you want to try before you buy and you're confident enough to commit to one swap, IKEA's policy is fine - just don't assume it works like Casper or Nectar.
Bought it 100 days ago and hate it. You're outside the 90-day window. The exchange option is gone unless you can prove a manufacturing defect under the warranty.
Already exchanged once and the second mattress isn't right. The 90-day clock doesn't reset. You used your one swap; the second mattress is yours to keep.
Lost the receipt. IKEA can usually retrieve the order from your IKEA Family account or the original card. Without any record, exchanges are not processed.
Mattress arrived damaged. That's a delivery claim, not an exchange - call customer service within 48 hours for a free replacement. The 90-day clock doesn't apply.
No. The Love It or Exchange It program is an exchange only - you can swap the mattress for a different IKEA mattress within 90 days, with the credit applied as an IKEA Refund Card if the new one costs less. There is no cash refund on a used mattress.
Once per purchase. After you exchange the mattress for a different model, that second mattress is final and cannot be exchanged again under the policy.
No. IKEA's general 365-day return on unopened items and 180 days on opened items does not apply to mattresses. Mattresses follow the separate 90-day Love It or Exchange It program.
That's a warranty claim, not an exchange. IKEA's 10-year limited warranty covers sagging greater than 1 inch and manufacturing defects, with depreciation applied after year one. Contact IKEA customer service with your receipt and photos.
No. IKEA does not require the box, but the mattress must be clean, undamaged, and free of stains. Wrap or roll it for transport so it stays presentable.
Toppers are excluded from the 90-day mattress policy, but they fall under IKEA's standard return policy - 365 days unopened, 180 days opened with proof of purchase.
IKEA's mattress return policy is more limited than its general furniture return - but it's still one of the better in-store programs around. Treat it as a single-shot exchange, protect the mattress from day one, and keep your receipt. If you want a true risk-free 100-night trial with a full cash refund, look at the major bed-in-a-box brands instead.
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Banner Mattress EditorialThe Banner Mattress editorial team publishes independent mattress reviews, buying guides, and sleep-health advice. Since 2018 we've tested 1,000+ mattresses and 3,000+ pillows, sheets, and bedding accessories in our review lab - every recommendation is hands-on, never sourced from vendor talking points. Affiliate links may earn us a commission, but never change what we recommend.
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