Aarons vs Rent-A-Center for Mattresses

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Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center are traditional brick-and-mortar rent-to-own stores. Both offer mattress rentals. Here is the comparison.

Side-by-side

Why these are usually a bad deal for mattresses

Both Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center charge 100-200% markup if paid through full term. A $500 cash mattress can cost $1,500+ over 18 months. They make sense ONLY if used with strict Same-As-Cash payoff.

Better alternative for most shoppers

Acima or Snap Finance at retailers like Ashley, Mattress Firm, Bob’s. Same-As-Cash gives 90-100 days at lower markup.

Apply With Acima →

Verdict

Aaron’s and RAC have aggressive markup. Avoid unless you commit to 90-day or 120-day Same-As-Cash payoff. Acima at Ashley is usually a better deal.

Reminder: Verify rates and fees before signing.

Two Established Rent-to-Own Options for Mattresses

Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center are the two largest rent-to-own retailers in the United States. Both have physical store locations in hundreds of cities, both offer mattresses and bedroom furniture without a traditional credit check, and both use income-based approval processes. For shoppers deciding between the two, the differences come down to pricing, product selection, store locations, and the specific terms of their rental agreements.

Understanding how these two companies compare helps you make an informed decision rather than just defaulting to whichever store you happen to pass first. Both have genuine strengths and real drawbacks, and the better option depends on what you are buying, where you live, and how quickly you plan to pay off the agreement.

How Aaron’s Works

Aaron’s operates on a lease-to-own model where you pay a recurring fee — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — and own the item once the total contractual payments are made or you exercise an early purchase option. Aaron’s stores carry mattresses, bedroom sets, and other home furnishings. The application process is done in-store and considers your income and residence history rather than credit score.

Aaron’s has positioned itself as a slightly more upscale option compared to Rent-A-Center, carrying brand-name products including nationally recognized mattress brands at some locations. Their stores tend to be cleaner and more showroom-like, and they have invested in digital tools including an online application and account management features. Aaron’s also offers same-day or next-day delivery in many markets.

How Rent-A-Center Works

Rent-A-Center operates on a similar rent-to-own structure. You rent the item on a recurring payment schedule and own it at the end of the agreement or by paying it off early. RAC has more total store locations than Aaron’s in the US and tends to have stronger presence in lower-income neighborhoods and smaller towns. Their application process is also done in-store and does not require a credit check.

Rent-A-Center has historically focused on electronics and appliances as its core product categories, but mattresses and bedroom furniture are available at most locations. RAC’s product selection in the mattress category may be narrower than Aaron’s at some locations, with fewer brand-name options and more private-label or unbranded products.

RAC’s pricing structure is similar to Aaron’s — recurring payments over a term, with an early purchase option available. Both companies’ full-term costs are significantly higher than retail, making early payoff the recommended strategy for minimizing total cost.

Cost Comparison: Aaron’s vs Rent-A-Center

Both Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center charge a substantial premium over retail when paid through the full agreement term. Industry analyses have found that full-term rent-to-own costs at both stores often run 2 to 3 times the retail price of the item — higher than the 1.5 to 2 times typical of lease-to-own programs like Acima. This makes early payoff even more important at traditional rent-to-own stores than at newer lease-to-own providers.

Early purchase pricing at both stores is typically available and can reduce the total cost substantially. Ask about the early purchase price at the time of application — specifically what you would owe at 90 days and 6 months into the agreement — so you can plan your payoff strategy from the start.

Product Quality and Selection

Aaron’s tends to carry slightly better-quality mattress products than Rent-A-Center in most markets, with some locations featuring recognizable brands alongside private-label options. If product quality and brand name matter to you, Aaron’s is generally the better option between the two.

Rent-A-Center’s mattress selection varies significantly by location. It is worth calling the specific store ahead of your visit to confirm what inventory they currently have available. Both stores carry bedroom furniture bundles — frame, dresser, nightstands — that can be added to a mattress agreement. Apply the same discipline as any lease: cover the mattress first and add other pieces only if the monthly cost remains comfortable.

How Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center Compare to Newer Programs

Both stores predate newer lease-to-own programs like Acima and Progressive Leasing. The newer programs were developed partly in response to the high total costs of traditional rent-to-own. For most mattress purchases, newer programs through mattress retailers and online channels offer lower total costs than Aaron’s or RAC.

The primary advantage of traditional stores is physical presence. In smaller cities and rural areas where mattress specialty stores and furniture retailers do not have locations, an Aaron’s or RAC store may be the only walk-in financing option available. For shoppers without reliable internet access or who prefer an in-person transaction, this matters significantly.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Aaron’s when product quality matters more than price, when you want a brand-name mattress rather than a private label, or when Aaron’s happens to have a better location for you. Aaron’s digital tools and online account management also make the ongoing payment experience more convenient for users comfortable with managing accounts online.

Choose Rent-A-Center when RAC is the more conveniently located store, when you need same-day access and RAC can deliver faster, or when Aaron’s does not have a location in your area. In markets where both stores exist, compare the specific mattresses available and the early purchase pricing at each before committing.

Consider both Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center as secondary options behind newer lease-to-own programs if those are available to you. If a local mattress retailer, furniture store, or online retailer accepts Acima, Progressive Leasing, or Snap Finance, comparing their total lease cost against the traditional rent-to-own stores is worth the few minutes it takes. In most cases, the newer programs will have a lower total cost at the full term and similar or better early purchase options.

The best outcome in any of these scenarios is the same: get the mattress you need, make payments on time, pay it off early when you can, and use the experience as a bridge to better financial access in the future. Both Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center have helped millions of people furnish their homes when no other option was available, and that accessibility has genuine value even if the total cost is higher than ideal.