Yes, you can put together your own quality visco elastic foam mattress and save thousands of dollars. I did it, you can to. The power and convenience of the Internet has put wholesalers willing to sell to consumers right at your fingertips. I have placed a link to one of these wholesalers, Foam Factory Inc., on this site . A search on the Internet will yield many more for you to choose from.
A very basic memory foam mattress consists of just two layers. The bottom conventional high IFD foam layer for support and at least 3 inches of high density memory foam for the top layer. This is the absolute minimum you need for a memory foam mattress if you are on the tightest budget.
A higher quality memory foam mattress will contain multiple conventional foam layers as well as multiple memory foam layers.
The queen size mattress I put together has four layers and cost only about $500, with free shipping for any order over $100. So it was quite a deal. A similar mattress at a retail store would have easily cost between $1,000 – $2,000!
The only work I had to do was to trim the two bottom conventional foam layers to the correct dimemsions for a queen size mattress, which is 80″x60″. Conventional foam, as well as memory foam, is easy to cut. The easiest and cleanest way is to mark the dimensions with a marker and then use a serrated bread knife. Just use a sawing action with the bread knife. The memory foam layers I purchased did not need to be trimmed.
Now, the difference between this mattress I put together and a similar one purchased at a retail store is that the mattress at the retail store may have all the layers glued together. Don’t worry about this. Once you place the layers together they do not slip, especially if you put a single-zip up cover around them all which is what I recommend.
Prices shown below were the current prices at the time I built my memory foam bed in January, 2008. This mattress has held up very well so far with no signs of sagging anywhere.
Below is my finished 11 1/2 inch thick Memory Foam Bed.
For the tightest budget, at the very minimum a memory foam bed should consist of the following.
Really amazing, I love DIY ideas. I’ve learned a lot through doing my very own diy projects through the years, plus I was able to save a huge amount of cash too
I realise that this is along shot but I will ask anyway. Where exactly did you purchase the foam? You give four sources none of which seem to have the items you say went into your mattress. I will be surprised if I get an answer.
I bought all the foam used in this mattress (conventional as well as the memory foam) at the Foam Factory. Their link is in the top right under LINKS & PAGES.
Did you have any trouble with the density of the memory foam from Foam Factory? I recently bought a 3″ 5.5lb topper and it was not the correct density, so I sent it back and having them exchange it.
Yes, my first purchase was also not the correct density. That is why I detailed on this site how to confirm the density. The replacement was the correct density and it was of very good quality. It is what I am sleeping on today. Anyone who purchases memory foam from a wholesaler should let them know up front that you intend to confirm the density. This should ensure you get the correct product the first time.
I would recommend at least a 5 PCF memory foam.
if you are also having problems with sleeping, i have found this website, with 10 ways to fall asleep
I admire what you have done here. I like the part where you say you are doing this to give back but I would assume by all the comments that this is working for you as well.
Thanks for your article.I’m continually keen on getting good advice about mattresses and bedroom elements. One thing I’d really like to recommend to everyone is make sure you undertake a lttle bit of homework and acquire the best top quality bed mattress within your budget. Don’t just go by looks alone, because after a short time it will in all probability be dilapidated, instead of broken in, and your back will thank you. All the best