How To Keep A Mattress From Sliding? Tips That Actually Work

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night because your mattress has slid off its foundation? Sleeping on a mattress that consistently slips is uncomfortable, frustrating, and interruptive to the quality and duration of your sleep. Worse still, your mattress topper or fitted sheet may be partaking in the slipping and sliding as well resulting in the sleep-ruining necessity of remaking your bed before attempting to fall back into slumber. 

To prevent this common frustration, grip-improving fixes such as non-slip pads, carpet tape, and velcro help to secure your bed keeping you asleep. In this guide, we give useful information on common causes of a slippery mattress and how to keep a mattress from slipping.

What Causes Mattresses To Slip?

There are several reasons why mattresses slip on bed frames, bases, and foundations, causing sleepers discomfort at night. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common causes of a mattress slip-and-slide problem:

Improper Support

Is your bed frame slightly uneven, or are your bed slats too wide for your mattress? These issues can make for an uneven sleeping surface, which may be the culprit behind your sliding mattress and squeaking bed.

Lack Of Friction

If your mattress lacks grip against your bed base, it may not have enough traction to keep it securely in place. Some mattress types are more likely to lack friction due to the materials they’re made of, such as latex or memory foam mattresses.

The Mattress Is The Wrong Size For The Bed Frame Or Foundation

It’s important to get the right mattress size for your bed frame or foundation. For example, if you’re using a queen-size bed frame or foundation, pair it with a queen-size mattress. A smaller mattress like a single or double mattress will have extra space to slide around when you move in your sleep.

Not sure if your mattress is the right size for your bed frame, foundation, or base? Read our guide on how to measure a mattress to get your mattress’ dimensions and pair it with the right foundation size.

Mattress Age

As you sleep, your body releases oils, sweat, and other secretions that build up in your mattress over time, creating a slippery surface that’s prone to sliding. Your mattress may also shrink slightly and lose its fluffiness or firmness due to constant wear and tear over the years. 

If your mattress has shrunk slightly due to age and regular use, this results in higher chances of slipping while you sleep.

How To Stop A Mattress From Sliding

Now that you know the common reasons why your bed keeps sliding, here’s a simple guide on how to put an end to constant slipping and sliding at night:

Non-Slip Pad

One of the simplest ways to prevent your mattress from skidding on your bed frame or foundation is by using a non-slip mattress pad. Money-saving alternatives to a mattress protector and mattress cover, these provide extra grip and boost your mattress cushion level.

Place non-slip padding between your mattress and your frame or foundation – this should give your mattress enough grip to keep it secure. Needing a quick fix?  Use ayoga mat or thin exercise mat for a twin-size mattress and frame. 

Vacuuming Under The Mattress

An excess of dust in your room creates a slippery surface between your bed frame or foundation and mattress. If dust has gathered around your mattress, bedding products, or bed foundation, it may be the culprit behind your slip-and-slide woes. Use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to vacuum under your mattress and give it a better grip on your bed platform.

Rubber Mats

If you’re struggling with slipping, try placing a rubber mattress pad between your mattress and your frame or box spring. Rubber mats are typically used to line shelves and keep rugs in place. Because these mats are thin, they shouldn’t affect the feel or firmness of your mattress.

Take your mattress measurements to cut the rubber mat to the correct size. If your rubber pads are too small for a king or California king bed, you can put smaller pads beside each other for the right fit. If your padding is too big, it’s easy to trim larger sizes down with scissors.

Carpet Tape

Double-sided carpet tape isn’t as secure as velcro, but it’s a solid temporary fix for keeping your mattress from sliding on your slatted or platform bed base. Apply it to the head and the foot of your bed, just like you would with velcro strips. Note that over time, dirt and debris will gather and make this less effective at preventing skidding.

Railing

Most bed frames will have edges slightly higher than the slats on both sides of your mattress, but some frames don’t have this design barrier. Some beds also don’t have a footboard or headboard to keep it centered on the bed base. In these cases, adding side rails, a headboard, or a footboard can put an end to your mattress sliding. 

Mattress Extenders And Gap Fillers

Mattress extenders, otherwise known as gap fillers or bed joiners, are foam wedges that can fill gaps between your mattress and your bed frame. This creates a snug  fit so your bed doesn’t slide around, all without having to replace your mattress or bed frame.

Mattress Retainer Bar

A mattress retainer bar is a U-shaped metal rod located at the end of a bed. They are most commonly found on adjustable bed frames. Because of their unique shape, retainer bars slide under your mattress and keep it from skidding forward from the frame.

You can attach this to your bed frame for added security, but if you have a design aesthetic to keep in mind, if a footboard may allow you more say in the look and feel.

Try These Simple Fixes To Stop Mattress Sliding

A mattress that keeps sliding can be uncomfortable to sleep on. If your mattress keeps slipping and interrupting your sleep, this article provides you with tried-and-true options for mitigating the issue. . In many cases, these options will put an end to your mattress sliding problem and help you sleep soundly again.

If you’ve tried these methods but still have sliding issues, it may be a sign that you have an old mattress in need of replacement. Consider getting a new mattress to permanently stop sliding and enjoy a good night’s sleep. Read our guide on how to test a mattress in-store to know what to look for and how to pick the best model for your sleeping needs.

Upgrade Your Sleep With Purple

Older mattresses tend to shrink causing an ill-fitting mattress-to-frame format that may cause sliding at night. If you find yourself in this case, it may be time for a new mattress. All Purple mattresses are made with a  proprietary GelFlex technology, that provide support and flexibility – two benefits that may promote comfortable sleep. They’re also designed with hundreds of air channels, so you can enjoy cool, restful nights – even in humid weather.

Keeping A Mattress From Sliding FAQs

How do I keep a mattress from sliding on my metal bed frame?

You can keep your mattress from sliding on your metal bed frame by putting non-slip pads or rubber pads between your mattress and frame.

What can I put under my bed so it doesn’t slide?

You can put rubber matting or non-slip furniture pads under your bed’s mattress so it doesn’t slide on your base, foundation, or frame. These padding items may give your mattress enough grip to stay secure on your bed.

How do I keep my mattress from sliding on my bed skirt?

You can keep your mattress from sliding on your bed skirt by trying any of the following options:

• Using safety pins to pin the bed skirt to your box spring
• Placing a rubber mat or non-slip pad between the bed skirt and bed frame
• Replacing your old bed skirt with others made from coarser natural materials like cotton
• Adding velcro straps to secure your mattress to your bed frame

How do you fix a gap between mattresses?

You can fix a gap between mattresses by adding gap fillers or mattress extenders. This provides extra width and length if your mattress is too small and sliding around a larger  frame. 

Note that while this is less expensive than getting a new mattress, it’s only a temporary solution. The best fix for a mattress gap issue is to pair your mattress with a bed frame in the correct size.