How to Take Apart a Sleep Number Bed

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A guide to separating & packing your mattress & base

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: October 20, 2024 Fact Checked

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Disassembling the Mattress

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Disassembling the Adjustable Base

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Every Sleep Number bed is connected to an air pump and hose that adjusts your mattress to your ideal firmness. If you’re moving to a new place or you simply need to move your bed to a new room, it just takes a few simple steps to take apart your mattress and the adjustable base it rests on. Whether you have a Smart bed or a Traditional bed, we’ll show you how to dismantle your mattress and pack away its parts for your move. Keep reading to learn how!

Things You Should Know

Deflate your mattress to 100. Then, detach the air hoses on each side of the bed and place the air chamber caps on the hose connectors.
Place your mattress in a plastic bag if you have a Smart bed, or remove and pack all the foam parts if you have a Traditional bed. Then, unplug the air pump.
Use a socket wrench to remove the mattress retainers from the bed’s base. Then, unscrew the screws at the head and foot of the base to remove the rails.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Disassembling the Mattress

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1
Deflate both sides of your bed to 100. If you are moving a Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed or a mattress with an adjustable base, use your Sleep Number remote or the app on your phone to deflate the mattress to 100. This makes your mattress lighter and easier to move.^{[1]
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- Disassembling your bed is a two-person job, so ask a friend or family member to help you take it apart. Getting another person’s help makes disassembly quicker and easier.
2
Locate the air chamber caps near the air pump. Your Sleep Number bed comes with 2 white air chamber caps that are necessary for moving it, as they help prevent damage while traveling. Just find your bed’s air pump, which is located at the head or foot of your bed depending on the type of Sleep Number mattress you have. Then, lift up the top or bottom of your bed and look for a bag with 2 white air chamber caps.^{[2]
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- Consult your mattress’ user’s manual to find where your air chamber clamps are located.
- If you can’t find your bed’s air chamber caps, order a new pair on Sleep Number’s website.
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3
Detach the hoses on both sides of the bed and cover each with a cap. Lift up the right side of the bed to locate the air hose running into your mattress. Just push on the tab where the hose meets the mattress and gently pull on the tube to remove it from the bed. Then, press the white air chamber cap over the hose opening on the mattress. Repeat the steps to disconnect the hose on the left side of your mattress.^{[3]
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- For FlexFit beds, disconnect the foot warming connector too.
- For Traditional beds, unzip your mattress to expose the air hoses. Just locate the mattress zipper between the pillow cover and base at the head of the bed. If you have a Duvet-style bed with 2 zippers, unzip the bottom one.^{[4]
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Bag the bed or remove the internal parts, depending on your mattress. If you have a Smart Bed, simply slide a plastic protective sheet over your mattress and lift it off the base with your partner.^{[5]
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- For FlexFit beds: Detach the magnets around the perimeter of the mattress before bagging the bed. Just lift up the front, bottom, and sides of your mattress and place a towel between each magnet connection.^{[7]
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- For Traditional beds: Take photos of the inside of your mattress as you disassemble it so you have references of the correct placements when you reassemble your bed.
- Warning: If you have a medical implant or device, stay 6 inches (15 cm) away from beds with magnets that are being disassembled or are fully disassembled. The magnetic field can interfere with your implant or device.
Your Sleep Number bed’s air pump, or Firmness Control System, is the large white box that attaches to the air hoses and plugs into your wall. Simply detach the air hoses that are connected to the pump and unplug the pump from the wall outlet. Then, fill a packing box with packing material and nestle the pump inside to protect it from any potential vibrations as you move.^{[8]
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Fold the air chambers to remove the air inside and then set them in a packing box full of packing material. Then, fold up the foam comfort pads, border walls, and mattress covers and place them in a double-lined bag. This prevents the foam pieces and covers from getting wet or damaged during your move.^{[9]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Disassembling the Adjustable Base

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Disconnect the air hose from the clamps that line the bottom of the bed frame. Then, roll up the hose and tape it to the side of the frame.^{[10]
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On beds with a FlexFit base, the retainers are what hold your mattress in place. Just use a 7/16-inch socket wrench to loosen the hex bolts that attach the mattress cover bottom to the base. Then, place the bolts and hardware components in a bag or box so you don’t lose them during your move.^{[11]
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The decking panels are the large plates that cover the top of the Modular base. Simply use your hands to slide the right and left decking panels off the bed frame.^{[12]
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Unscrew the speed screws to remove the top and bottom rails. Look for the black speed screws at the top of the frame on both FlexFit and Modular bases. Simply use your hands to unscrew the screws. Then, press the indent on either side of the rail to lift the top of the frame from the base.^{[13]
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- Repeat the same steps at the bottom of the frame to remove the bottom rail.
- Place the screws and any other hardware in a bag so you don’t lose them during your move.
If you have a King, California King, or Split-King bed, your bed’s base is actually made out of 2 separate pieces. To separate the pieces, simply disconnect the wiring cable at the head of the bed. Then, pull the left and right sides of the base apart.^{[14]
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Unscrew the legs and pack the base pieces into boxes. Depending on your bed type, the legs on your bed frame might be attached with wing nuts or secured by a locking mechanism. Remove them and then pack the legs, rails, decking panels, and mattress retainers in packing boxes full of packing material.
- If the legs are attached with nuts, simply unscrew them with your hands to detach them from the base.^{[15]
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- If there are no wing nuts on the legs, just press the locking button to release the leg from the base.^{[16]
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Community Q&A

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Question

How long does it take to let air out of my Sleep Number bed?

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Community Answer

It should only take about five minutes, seven at most. Stepping or sitting on it while it's letting out air will speed up the process.

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Does Sleep Number provide a service to move your bed for you?

Community Answer

No. They charge $199 to disassemble it and another $199 to assemble it, and they don't move it for you.

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Will I have to disassemble the bed to move it?

Community Answer

Yes, it must be completely disassembled or it will most certainly be damaged.

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Tips

If you don’t want to disassemble your bed, Sleep Number offers a disassembly service for $249. Just call Sleep Number Support at 1-888-411-2188 to request this service.^{[17]
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Sleep Number also offers a separate assembly service which costs $249.

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Warnings

Keep electronic devices and credit cards away from mattresses with magnets as you’re disassembling them, as the magnetic field can damage these items.

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The head and foot rails of the adjustable bases are heavy and can bend when you move them. Hold the rails securely in your hands and get your partner to help you carry them.^{[18]
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If you have a medical device or implant and your bed is secured by magnets, stay at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from the bed as it’s being taken apart and when it’s disassembled.^{[19]
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