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Futon Mattresses FAQ's

How to Choose the Best Futon Mattresses for you!


Deciding which futon mattress to buy can be overwhelming.  Every Dealer says that their mattress is the best, and you won't know if they're telling the truth until you buy it.  Here is some information that we hope will help you make a decision about which futon mattress will best fit your needs.  If you read the following information, it will make it easier for you to decide.  You may also call us to speak with one of our Futon Mattress Experts at 1-480-529-7292.  We know everything about our, and our competitors Futon Mattresses.  Not just from reading information that the manufacturer has written, but from sitting, and sleeping on these mattresses, and from selling them since 1982.

First of all, here are the standard sizes of Futon Mattresses.  These sizes may vary depending on the manufacturer, and the method of measurement.  We can also make any custom size you may need.

Common Futon Mattress Sizes


Twin 39" X 75"  Twin XL 39" X 80"

Full 54" X 75"  Full XL 54" X 80"

Queen 60" X 80"

Standard Chair & Ottoman
28" X 54", 28" x 21"

Twin Chair & Ottoman
39" X 54", 39" X 21"

Full Loveseat & Ottoman
54" X 54", 54" X 21"

Queen Loveseat & Ottoman
60" X 60", 60" X 20"

 
California King 72" X 84"

 
Eastern King 76" or 78" X 80"


Basic Futon Mattress Info

90% of all futon mattresses or frames sold are full size.  In a sofa position, the back of the queen frame and mattress stick up about 6" higher than a full, and can look strange, unless you are a very tall person, then you'll love it.  They are also a little more difficult to operate than full size futons.  Also, the thicker and higher quality futon mattress that you buy, the more challenging it will be to operate the frame.  A futon frame will work easier with a cheap, inexpensive mattress.
 
Most Futon Mattresses are made with 8, 9, 10, or even more inches of cotton, foam, springs, or other ingredients, and they are tufted without any compression to maximize the manufacturers and dealers profit.  People think that since they are buying a thicker 10" Futon Mattress they are getting a better quality one, and that is not necessarily the case.  Those types of mattresses can be nice and soft, or firm when you buy them, but after very little use they flatten down quickly and get firmer, or softer in the spots where you sit or lay on them the most, and get uneven.
 
Higher quality futons are typically made with higher qualities of Foam, Polyester, Springs, Cotton and other ingredients, and they are then compressed tightly and tufted under compression.  These types of mattresses don't change drastically in thickness or comfort, and don't develop dips or sags.
 
The quality and cost of the futon you will purchase most likely will depend on what you are going to use your futon for, and your budget.  Although more and more people are using futons for their living rooms and dens, the main use is still spare rooms.  You want your guests to be comfortable, but most people probably wouldn't want to buy the most expensive futon for that type of use.  We've found the for the most part, people prefer a firm futon with a little give in it for sleeping, and a softer, plusher one for everyday sitting as a sofa.
 
Due to Federal Bedding Laws and Sanitation, there are no returns on Futon Mattresses.  Futon mattress sales are final, there is no trial period and there are no returns or exchanges unless other arrangements have been made in writing by one of our representatives.  There is a 1 to 10 year warranty on most Futon Mattresses, and the exact warranty can be found on each futon mattress description.  Making Futons is not like performing Brain Surgery.  If you know the thicknesses and qualities of the Cotton, Foam, Polyester, Wool, Steel Springs, or other ingredients used inside the futon, the level of compression, as well as the Casing used, the tufting that holds it all together, and the method of manufacturing, you could compare the quality, comfort, and value of any futon mattress.
 
If you want, call us and talk to one of our very knowledgeable & honest sales people, at 1-480-529-7292, tell them your requirements, and preferences, and they'll point you in the right direction, so that you can make a good decision.

Our Favorites


Our most popular futon mattress by far, is the Otis Haley 110.  It fits the bill for being not too firm, and not too soft.  Unlike almost any other manufacturers method, it is stuffed full of 14" of different combinations of highly resilient and costly, long lasting high density foam and high quality polyester fiber.  It is then compressed down to 8" and tufted through, to keep the materials from shifting or separating.  This process creates and "Inside-Out" force against the outside of the mattress.  This is what keeps these mattresses from developing dips, sags, and body impressions throughout the life of the futon mattress, and provides a proper and comfortable support, whether sitting or sleeping.  Because of the way they are made, most Otis mattresses have a 10 year warranty which covers uneven compression, and body impressions.  It's "Not too hard, and Not too Soft", and is so comfortable that it will allow you to settle in for a good movie, book, or a great nights sleep.
 
Another popular one is the Otis Stratosphere.  While it only measures 6" thick, it has more ingredients than most mattresses that claim to be 10" Or 12" Futons, since it's made with almost 12" of ingredients.  The Stratosphere is also very easy to bend, and stays in place easier then many other futon mattresses.
 
If you want the most firm futon mattress, the Otis Haley 150 is it.  When someone calls us and tells us that they sleep best on the floor, on a thin mat of some kind we recommend this mattress, and have never had anyone complain about it not being firm enough.  And, if it is too firm, you can always put a topper of some kind on it to soften it up.

Here's something to consider.  If you buy a futon mattress that is too firm, you can always put a topper of some kind on the mattress to soften it up.  If you buy a futon mattress that is too soft, you can't do anything to make it more firm. 

There are many other futon mattresses that we can recommend, depending on your needs, and the level of comfort that you are looking for.  And again, we know this is not an easy decision, so please call us at 1-480-529-7292 to speak to one of our Futon Mattress experts.  We know our futon mattresses Inside-Out, not just from a sheet of buzz words, but from sitting on them, sleeping on them, and selling them since 1982.

Due to the extreme compression of the Otis mattresses, if you are using it with a sofa style futon frame, you will need to purchase either a set of Super Grip Strips, or 2 Super Grip Rolls.  These are adhesive strips which you attach to the seat and back of your futon frame.  These grippers will create a friction between the seat and the back when in the sofa position, and will keep the futon mattress in place.  Without them the mattress will want to open up, or lay flat.  This won't happen with a conventional futon mattress which tends to be more flexible, and lays in place better.  With the Otis mattresses they are needed, especially while the mattress is breaking in. 

There are several high quality Futon manufacturers out there.  Otis is our top pick for either Cotton & Foam blends, or All Foam Futons, Gold Bond, and Gold Star also make excellent conventional cotton, or cotton and foam futon mattresses.

 

How to Break in or Level out a Futon Mattress made with Cotton

A cotton or cotton blend futon mattress is like a baseball glove.  It needs to be broken in.  You do this by flipping and rotating the futon mattress every night for the first 2 weeks or so, and then once a week for another month or so.  After than you'll need to rotate the mattress every month so that you are using the entire surface of the futon mattress.  If you sleep in one spot and never rotate the futon mattress it will develop dips or sags which can be corrected by the following steps.

Occasionally futon mattresses made with cotton, or cotton, foam and other ingredients can develop lumps or bumps or become uneven.  It is not unusual for them to not be level even when they are brand new, due to the nature of cotton batting and the way they may have been vacuum packed or shipped.  The cotton in your futon mattress is made of layers of felted, or pressed together pieces of shredded and separated cotton.  Here are several steps you can take to level out the futon mattress.

Place the futon mattress on the floor or on a flat surface.  Step around on the futon mattress with a clean pair of socks trying to hit the high spots as much as possible.  Do this for about 30 minutes each night.  This is also very good exercise which will help you sleep better.

Next, roll up the futon mattress starting from the thicker side in the direction of the thinner side and then sit on the rolled up mattress yourself, or with a friend and kind of bounce on it for a while.

Then, flip the futon mattress to the direction where you'll be sleeping on the thicker side and before going to sleep roll your body back and forth several times before going to sleep.

Repeat this procedure for several days or for a week or two until the problem is corrected.

If needed, you can also beat the high spots of the futon mattress with a 2 X 4 to level it out.

To freshen and rejuvenate your futon mattress, drape it over a couple of chairs on a warm dry summer day to air it out.
 
If you want a more conventional Futon Mattress that is mostly Cotton, with some Foam, we'd recommend the Otis Z.  It can be used with a Bifold, A-Frame, or Tri-Fold Futon Mattress.  It's made like other Otis's, with compression, and you will not have the problems mentioned above.

If you have any questions, please call or text us at 1-480-529-7292

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