Can Mattress Springs Stab You? Risks, Signs & What to Do

How mattress springs can stab you (and how often it happens)

A spring “stabbing” injury typically occurs when a coil wire snaps (metal fatigue), a pocket coil shifts, or edge support collapses and the cover fabric thins until a sharp end breaks through. Movement (rolling, sitting on the edge, kids jumping) can concentrate force on a single point and accelerate a puncture.

While public injury statistics for adult mattresses are not commonly reported as a single category, regulators explicitly recognize exposed coils as a laceration hazard in sleep products for children. In a federal crib-mattress rulemaking record, 38% (124 out of 323) of nonfatal crib-mattress incidents involved a coil or spring protruding through the mattress, including cases treated in emergency departments for lacerations and stitches.

Real-world adult incidents also occur. For example, a reported legal dispute described a coil spring piercing an adult sleeper in a truck sleeper-berth mattress.

Warning signs that a spring is close to breaking through

Springs rarely “come out of nowhere.” Most mattresses show predictable symptoms first—especially around the hips, shoulders, and edges.

• A distinct sharp poke in one spot (often worse when you roll onto it)
• A new lump or “hard knot” that does not flatten after changing positions
• Sagging or a sudden dip next to a firm ridge (a coil cluster shifting)
• Fraying, thinning, or tearing fabric on the sidewall or underside
• Metallic creaks, clicking, or a “snap” sound after pressure is applied
• Edge collapse where you routinely sit (a common precursor to exposed metal)

A 5-minute inspection to confirm whether a spring is a real puncture risk

Use a flashlight and do not press your bare hand directly onto suspect areas. If you must feel for a point, use a thick towel or wear a work glove.

1. Strip the bed to the fitted sheet and run your hand (through a folded towel) over the surface to find the exact “poke point.”
2. Inspect the sidewall seam near the poke point for thinning, tearing, or stitching failure.
3. Lift the mattress and check the underside; broken coils often first protrude downward.
4. Inspect the foundation/box spring: a damaged box spring can present the same puncture hazard as the mattress.
5. Check the bed frame or slats; missing support can cause localized stress that breaks coils.

If you can see metal or feel a sharp tip through a towel, treat it as unsafe to sleep on until it is repaired or replaced.

What to do immediately if you find an exposed spring

Safety-first steps

• Stop using the bed until the hazard is addressed (especially for children).
• Mark the location with tape on the mattress edge so you do not lose it while troubleshooting.
• If the spring is protruding, do not try to “push it back” with your fingers; use a tool (e.g., pliers) and protective gloves.

Temporary containment (short-term only)

A temporary patch can reduce immediate puncture risk while you arrange a replacement, but it does not restore structural integrity.

1. Use pliers to bend the sharp tip away from the sleeping surface (do not cut it unless you can fully control sharp edges).
2. Add a barrier directly over the point (a thick felt pad or dense fabric patch), then secure it with strong tape so it cannot shift.
3. Add a firm topper or a protective encasement to reduce direct contact—only after the point is contained.

When replacement is the correct decision

Replace the mattress (or box spring) if any of the following are true:

• More than one coil is broken, or you feel multiple sharp spots.
• The edge is collapsing, indicating broader structural failure.
• The cover is torn, seams are splitting, or the underside fabric is shredded.
• The bed is used by a child, older adult, or anyone at higher risk of infection or skin tears.

If a mattress spring punctures or cuts you: first aid and when to get care

Treat any spring-related injury as a wound from metal with contamination risk. If bleeding is heavy, the wound is deep/gaping, a foreign object is embedded, or you are unsure, seek urgent medical evaluation. Guidance on when cuts need professional care commonly includes depth, gaping, heavy bleeding, and foreign material concerns.

Tetanus protection (important for metal-related punctures)

For people who completed the primary tetanus series, CDC guidance commonly recommends a booster if the wound is dirty or major and the last tetanus shot was 5+ years ago, or if the wound is clean and minor and the last shot was 10+ years ago.

Preventing exposed springs: practical habits that reduce risk

The goal is to reduce concentrated stress on coils and protect the cover fabric, because fabric failure is often what turns a broken spring into a puncture hazard.

• Use the correct foundation: inadequate support increases localized sagging and coil stress.
• Rotate the mattress (if allowed by the manufacturer) to distribute wear across the surface.
• Avoid repeated edge sitting in the same spot; edge collapse is a common pathway to protruding metal.
• Use a zippered encasement or thick protector to reduce fabric abrasion and contain minor internal damage.
• Keep kids from jumping on the bed; repetitive high-impact loads accelerate coil breakage.

When age and wear make spring injuries more likely

Age alone does not guarantee failure, but coil systems and cover materials degrade over time. As a practical benchmark, many sleep-industry references estimate that most mattresses last about 7–10 years, depending on materials and use.

If your mattress is in that range (or older) and you notice sagging, lumps, edge collapse, or any sharp sensation, treat it as a safety issue—not just a comfort issue.

Bottom line: the safest response to “can mattress springs stab you?”

Yes, they can—and any sharp point or visible metal should be treated as an immediate safety defect. Contain the hazard only as a short-term measure, then replace or professionally repair the mattress/foundation. If you are cut or punctured, clean and dress the wound, and use evidence-based triggers for care (deep/gaping wounds, heavy bleeding, embedded debris, or punctures), including checking tetanus booster timing per CDC guidance.