More than one in 10 Australians wait up to a month between washing their bedsheets, while only 26% regularly clean their mattress, new research from Canstar has revealed.
The research, gathered from surveys across more than 4,500 respondents, reveals the sleeping habits and bedroom routines of Australian households, and comes as Canstar reveals the winners of the 2026 Most Satisfied Customer Awards for mattresses, pillows, and bed linen.
Pillow talk: medium-firm first place
Canstar’s survey of 1,763 recent pillow buyers found medium-firm is the preferred choice for nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents, far ahead of firm (17%) and soft (15%).
Memory foam is the most popular pillow material (27%), followed by cotton (21%) and polyester (15%).
While half (50%) use a pillow protector, only 19% regularly wash the actual pillow rather than just the pillowcase.
Mattresses: Comfort is king, but queen size leads the bedroom
Comfort is the single most important factor for mattress buyers, cited by 38% of the 1,101 respondents surveyed. When it comes to size, Queen mattresses reign supreme in Australian bedrooms (50%), well ahead of king (19%) and double (14%).
Just over one-fifth (22%) of respondents bought their mattress online without trying it first, and fewer than one in five (19%) recycled their old mattress.
The average spend on a new mattress is $1,062, with more than one-third (36%) saying a new mattress genuinely improved their sleep. However, mattress habits vary:
- 57% use a mattress protector
- 37% flip or rotate their mattress at least once every six months.
- 31% have a mattress topper
- 26% clean their mattress at least twice a year
Bed linen: Buying on a bargain
Over half (54%) of the 1,689 bed linen buyers surveyed bought their sheets on sale, while 17% opted for the cheapest option available. One-fifth (20%) researched and compared brands of bed linen before making their purchase.
When it comes to clean sheets:
- 51% wash their sheets at least once a week,
- 32% do so fortnightly, while
- 17% wash them monthly, or less frequently.
Which brands do Australians rate best?
Canstar’s surveys revealed which brands delivered the highest customer satisfaction across the categories of mattresses, bed linen, and pillows, with the results revealing:
Canstar 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Awards | |
|---|---|
Category | Winner |
Sleeping Duck | |
Sheridan | |
Tempur | |
Note: survey respondents for awards: mattresses: 923, bed linen: 1,561, pillows: 1,491.
A good night’s sleep is priceless
Canstar’s consumer expert, Eden Radford, says, “Given the thousands of hours we spend in bed, it makes sense that Australians are willing to invest in quality bedding.”
“A good night’s sleep is priceless, but maintaining your bedding shouldn't be an afterthought. While nearly half of Aussies are diligent about washing their sheets weekly, simple care routines like rotating mattresses or washing pillows often get overlooked.
“Routine care for your bedding protects both your sleep quality and your wallet over the long run.
“Congratulations to Sleeping Duck, Sheridan and Tempur, on receiving Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Awards for mattresses, bed linen, and pillows, respectively.
“These awards are the direct reflection of customer feedback and experience, which makes a win an impressive feat considering just how seriously we all take a good night’s sleep.
“For anyone in the market for new bedding, it's worth doing some research first. Try before you buy where possible, and consider what other customers are saying. It can help ensure your money is well spent and you get the best nights’ sleep.”
