How To Disassemble A Sleep Number Bed (Quickly & Easily!)

Heather Robbins
by Heather Robbins

Sleep Number beds typically consist of an air mattress and manual controller, such as an air pump, allowing users to adjust the mattress’s air pressure. Disassembling a Sleep Number bed can be challenging as it is more complicated than a standard bed. However, it can be done using the right tools and the correct method.

To disassemble a Sleep Number bed, you first must dismantle the mattress by deflating it and removing the foam borders, chambers, and edge locks. After you’ve got this out of the way, you will need to detach the mattress retainers and the base’s gridlocks.

If you have the correct tools and follow the steps below, you will be able to disassemble your Sleep Number bed easily. We’ve also included instructions on how to assemble the bed as well in case you’re moving it to a new location.

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Phase 1: Disassembling The Mattress

For this step, you’ll need help from at least one friend or family member and preferably more. With their assistance, the dismantling process, especially for beds with an adjustable base, will be easier and safer.

  • Unzip the mattress. Starting with the mattress in a horizontal position, untie it. Next, lie on top of it, and locate the zip between the base and the pillow. Duvet-style beds usually have two zippers. If that’s the case, unzip both, especially the base zipper under the edge of the mattress.
  • Detach both of the hoses. Next, detach the hoses within the mattress by locating the tab where the hose attaches. Lift the hose away from the mattress cover. Of course, if the Sleep Number bed has two hose connections, you’ll need to detach both hoses.
  • Remove the components of the mattress. Remove the bed’s internal parts: the foam border, air chambers, and the edge locks. Once all these have been detached, you’ll reach the mattress base.

Phase 2: Packing Up The Mattress

  • Turn off the power. Unplug the bed’s control system housed in a large white unit—the hose area attached to it.
  • Wrap the unit and pack it up. Place this unit, including the remote control, snugly into the packaging and then wrap it with additional packaging material. This will protect the system from damage.
  • Pack up the air chambers. Place the air chambers inside the box and take care to ensure they’re well wrapped so there’s no danger that the air chambers will get damaged or punctured.
  • Separate the comfort pads of the foam and mattress cover. Insert them into the double bag to protect them from staining during transportation.

Phase 3: Dismantling The Base

  • Detach the retainers. Start by detaching the mattress retainers, which secures the mattress in place.
  • Loosen the bolts. Use a 7/16-inch sized socket to loosen the bolts that hold the mattress’s cover underneath the adjustable base. Make sure you’ll be able to find the hardware and the bolts later when you are ready to reassemble the bed. Slide all the panels off the bed frame from the left and right sides of the bed. No specific tools are needed to do this.
  • Remove the side rails and legs. Finally, remove the side rails and legs by unfastening the nuts. Pull the pins in the side rails and the support beams. Once again, remember to store the pins in a hardware bag, ready when you need them. You’ll then need to place all the beams securely inside the packaging box to prevent accidental damage during transportation.

Assembling Your Sleep Number Bed

Just as it’s essential you know how to disassemble and pack up your sleep number, it’s also necessary for you to understand how to set it up. That way, if you’re moving it to a new location, you can sleep in it comfortably with no issues.

If you don’t have a suitable bed frame, which can support your Sleep Number mattress’s weight, a convenient option is to purchase one of Sleep Number’s modular or Flex Fit bases. These can work as a stand-alone or fit inside an existing bed frame.

Step 1: Ensure Proper Bed Support

Your Sleep Number Bed requires proper support. If you plan to use a bunkie board, ensure it is placed correctly.

If you have a base from the company, it’s easy to assemble, with the rails snapping together. You may require a screwdriver to screw the legs on. If you have a ‘smart’ base, you’ll need to have a lead long enough to allow you to connect it to the wall socket.

Step 2: Set Your Mattress Casings

Under your mattress casing, you’ll find one or two openings, depending on whether you have a single or dual system. To set the air system up correctly, place them at the head of the mattress.

You’ll also find two zippers at the top of the bed, which access the bed’s chambers. Open the bottom zipper and detach the cover to set up the air system correctly. This will also enable you to access the bed easily, for comfort, or to add layers.

Step 3: If Applicable: Place Corner Lock System In Place

Specific models, such as the double bed, use a system of corner locks instead of notches on the side walls. You’ll find these locks underneath the mattress cover, in each corner.

If these aren’t attached, your mattress wall will be unstable.

Step 4: Place Foam Side Walls

Once you’ve opened the top, you can assemble the structure and supports for your bed. First, place the foam sidewalls along each side (unless you have a corner locking system). Ensure the notches at the ends of each wall face inwards.

Step 5: Place End Walls

Once the long foam walls are in place, they’ll hold the structure of the mattress cover better. Insert the foam walls for the head and foot of the bed. With these in place, you will be able to access the case’s interior and begin layering the bed.

Step 6: Place Foam Base Pad

Now, place the foam base pad inside the bottom of the cover. Make sure the foam doesn’t fold against itself as you spread it flat. If there’s a rough side and a smooth side, make sure the textured side faces upwards.

Step 7: Install Air Chambers

Next, the air chambers can be installed. Lay them over the base pad with the hose connectors facing the head of the bed, where the openings in the mattress casing are. Once they are lying flat, zip them together to prevent a gap between them if you are using a dual system.

Step 8: Set Up Firmness Control System

The Firmness Control System can now be set up and attached to the air chambers. Connect the hoses by inserting them until they click- this means that there’s a seal. You may have to feed, or pull, part of the hose through the openings. Repeat on both sides of the bed (or center for single systems).

Step 9: Activate Dual Air Technology

Locate the air system wherever it’s most convenient: under your bed, near the head, or to the side, and plug it in. Ensure the remote has batteries. Download the app to your smartphone and follow the setup instructions.

Start the system and fill both sides to 100. Begin with the system fully inflated, and you can set the rest of your bed layers up, setting your personal comfort levels later.

Step 10: Extend Border Wrap Over Walls

The border wrap over the foam border wall is there to comply with federal and state fire codes. It’s pulled over the edges and covers it in a tight but unsecured fit.

Step 11: Attach The Mattress Over

Next, fix the bottom of the mattress cover over the foam borders air system. This helps hold them in place and provides better stability for the top layers. Unzip the top duvet-like cover and place it to one side.

Step 12: Place In Foam Comfort Layers

Place the foam layers inside the duvet casing. Make sure they’re placed flat. If the foam layer has a textured surface, place the smooth side facing down. If your bed has a dual-layer design, either layer can be placed on top, but ensure the textured side is placed face up.

Step 13: Extend Border Wrap Over Foam

The foam border wrap should now completely cover the foam comfort layers. This is essential to comply with federal and state fire codes and ensure your bed remains under warranty.

Step 14: Replace Mattress Cover Top

Replace the top of the duvet cover, which acts as the primary comfort surface, before the bed is fully commissioned. Ensure the zipper is at the head of the bed and fully enclosed into the zipper box.

Step 15: Adjust, And enjoy!

Adjust your bed to your preferred Sleep Number Comfort Number. The built-in sensors will track your sleep movements, respiration, and heart rate. Give yourself time to adjust to your new bed, as I may take time to discover your perfect Sleep Number.

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Wrapping It Up

While disassembling a Sleep Number mattress is easy, the hard part is knowing how to pack it up so that you can put it back together easily. By ensuring all the parts are packed away properly, you can then set the bed back together easier. The process doesn’t need to be complicated. By following the instructions in this article, you’ll have the bed packed away in no time.

Heather Robbins
Heather Robbins

Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.

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