MAP Pricing Guide for Mattresses
How to Get the Best Deal on a MAP-Priced Mattress

The "Minimum Advertised Price" (MAP) is the lowest price a retailer can set for a given product. Purchasing a MAP-priced mattress can provide peace of mind that you are getting the best available price on that model.

What is MAP pricing?

Under typical MAP pricing agreements, a retailer agrees not to advertise a product below a certain price level that is set by the manufacturer. Most MAP pricing agreements also prohibit it the retailer from selling below an established price. Typically these two prices are the same, but in some cases, the minimum selling price may be slightly below the MAP price.

This arrangement is very similar to other industries. For example, Apple does not allow its products to be sold for less than a certain amount — that's why you'll see very uniform prices from store to store. Retailers agree to those pricing stipulations in exchange for being allowed to sell that brand or model. Premium jewelry, luggage, and sporting goods companies also commonly use this practice.

In the case of mattresses, a manufacturer might designate some or all of its beds as MAP models; if the retailer doesn't agree to adhere to the MAP pricing terms, they don't get to sell those products. If a retailer violates their agreement, the manufacturer has the right to cancel the relationship. MAP pricing is sometimes referred to as MMAP (Manufacturer’s Minimum Advertised Price) or IMAP (Internet Minimum Advertised Price).

MAP pricing has become increasingly common in the mattress industry, thanks largely to the success of Tempur-Pedic, who was one of the first mattress players to enforce MAP pricing across all of its products. Its popularity derives from simultaneously addressing consumers' fear of overpaying for their mattress, and retailers' fear of having price competition drive down their profit margins.

MAP vs. Name Game mattresses

At mattress retailers today, the majority of mattresses fall into two camps: MAP models, and what we call "Name Game" models. See our Mattress Pricing Guide for more detail on how these two pricing approaches compare, as well as other common pitfalls to avoid.

In short, Name Game models have different names in each store, meaning you can't comparison shop. MAP models, discussed here, have the same name from store to store, but also have the same pricing at every retailer, meaning there is no need to comparison shop. 

From a consumer's perspective, the advantage of Name Game mattresses is that they offer the best chance of getting a below-market bargain. The disadvantage is that they are also the best way to get ripped off and overpay for a mattress that can be found elsewhere for less under another name. On balance, Name Game models tend to have higher profit margins for retailers, meaning the latter outcome is more likely than the former. However, with some knowledge and research, consumers can sometimes beat the system. See our Name Game Mattress Guide for more details.

How to find the best deal on a MAP-priced mattress

In general, getting a fair deal on a MAP-priced mattress is pretty easy. Retailers are not allowed to sell below the MAP price, so the main thing you need to avoid is a retailer that is trying to get away with selling above the MAP price. This is somewhat rare these days, but can happen, especially during a sale period (more on this below). The best way to avoid this is simply to consult the manufacturer's website, which will always show the best available price for any MAP-priced product. As long as you are paying that price, you are paying the right price.

The second thing you can do to find the best deal on a MAP-priced mattress is purchase during a promotional sale period. MAP-priced mattresses do still go on sale — the difference is simply that the amounts and timing of their discounts are set by the manufacturer and will be the same across all retailers. Thus, on a MAP-priced mattress, the holiday sale price that you see in one retailer will be the same at any other retailer. Manufacturers can (and do) schedule these promotional events throughout the year, but the most common sale periods tend to coincide with major mattress holidays such as Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, among others.

A third way to save extra money on a MAP-priced mattress is to take advantage of GoodBed Cash Back. This is bonus that is available for purchases from select retailers, including virtually every major manufacturer's website and hundreds of local stores across the country. This cash back comes directly from us (GoodBed), not the retailer or manufacturer, so it is extra savings on top of any discounts you get from the retailer (see FAQ's for more details). It's worth adding that on GoodBed, the prices we show for MAP-priced products are the lowest allowable year-round prices. Any periodic discounts or sale prices that retailers are permitted to offer are shown on GoodBed as a promotion or coupon, and all of these deals can be combined with GoodBed Cash Back. In effect, this means that adding GoodBed Cash Back to your purchase is the best deal you can get on any MAP-priced mattress.

Lastly, although MAP-pricing agreements prohibit retailers from discounting the mattress itself, they may not prevent the retailer from discounting other items that you may be interested in purchasing. For example, if you are also in the market for some bedroom furniture, you might be able to persuade the retailer to offer you a package deal wherein the bedroom furniture gets discounted if you buy it together with the MAP-priced mattress.

Which mattress brands use MAP pricing?

Since 2015, MAP pricing has become much more popular overall, especially with products in the mid-priced range and above. Virtually all mattress brands that originated online as a direct-to-consumer (DTC) company have always used MAP pricing — eg, Casper, Purple, Nectar, Avocado, Helix, Dreamcloud, etc. Likewise, all mid-range and higher-end products from the largest national mattress brands now use MAP pricing as well — eg, Tempur-Pedic, Beautyrest, Sealy, Serta, and Stearns & Foster.

MAP pricing policies and warranty coverage

When purchasing a MAP-priced model, be careful if the invoice for the mattress carries a sale price that’s lower than the MAP price, as this can sometimes affect the warranty should an issue arise. The manufacturer may regard the lower sale price as a violation of their agreement with the retailer, or it may assume the product you purchased was a floor model — both of these situations could void the warranty on that mattress. Before buying a mattress with a price discrepancy like this, make sure to check the warranty and/or ask the retailer to confirm the exact coverage in writing.

Is MAP pricing legal?

The legality of MAP pricing has been a topic of some debate. Under current regulations, as long as manufacturers set their policies independently, and present these policies to retailers on a "take it or leave it" basis, they are generally allowed to establish and enforce MAP prices as they wish. What they must not do is cooperate with their retailers (or with other manufacturers) in setting these prices. More details about the legality of MAP pricing can be found on the Federal Trade Commission website.