The development of a Tempur mattress began in the 1970s. At that time, NASA researchers wanted to find a way by which to reduce the gravitational pull on each astronaut, as the rocket bearing that astronaut took-off from its base at the launch center in Florida.

Rising gravitational forces, such as those present during lift-off, could add appreciably to the pressures on the body of each astronaut.. Researchers discovered that a body resting on a crude sort of Tempur mattress would not experience such pressures. Until the 1990s, the crude mattresses used by NASA bore no resemblance to the more appealing mattresses in the retail stores.

Then in the 1990s, some hospitals used Tempur mattresses to reduce the chances for the development of bed sores on certain bed-ridden patients. As hospitals displayed a stronger interest in Tempur mattresses, the mattress manufacturers improved the mattress construction, and added other peculiarities to each mattress.

Smaller shops looked for incentives, incentives that could bring more mattress buyers to the shop. Some of the shops offered to provide consumers with free pillows, should they choose to purchase a Tempur mattress. Other shops promised free shipping to the same group of mattress buyers.