<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 12.1
MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MDC Company
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------
Eight
Six Months Months Fiscal Year
Year Ended December Ended Ended Ended Ten Months Ended
July 1, February 28, February 28, December 31, January 1,
30, 1995 28, 1996 1997 1998 1999 1998 2000
-------- -------- ------ ------------ ----------- ----------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earnings:
Income (loss) before
provision for income
taxes...................... $3,611 $4,422 $1,665 $12,540 $22,052 $19,504 $ 4,286
Plus: fixed charges.......... 4,376 4,785 2,333 3,799 6,085 4,435 13,466
------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- -------
7,987 9,207 668 16,339 28,137 24,439 17,752
------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- -------
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense (income),
net including amortization
of debt discounts
and debt issuance expense. $ (624) $ (548) $ (328) $ (76) $ (128) $ (126) $ 7,836
One-third of rent
and expense(1)............ 5,000 5,333 2,661 3,875 6,213 5,061 5,630
------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- -------
$4,376 $4,785 $2,333 $3,799 $6,085 4,935 13,466
------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- -------
Earnings to fixed charges
ratio...................... 1.83 1.92 0.29 4.30 4.62 4.95 1.32
======= ======= ====== ======= ======= ======= =======
<CAPTION>
Three Months Three Months
Ended March 31, 1999 Ended April 1, 2000
-------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Earnings:
Income before provision
for income taxes........... 4,311 (1,070)
Plus: fixed charges.......... 1,603 6,567
------------ ------------
5,914 5,497
------------ ------------
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense (income),
net including amortization
of debt discounts
and debt issuance expense. (3) 4,845
One-third of rent
and expense(1)............ 1,606 1,722
------------ ------------
1,603 6,567
------------ ------------
Earnings to fixed charges
ratio...................... 3.69 0.84
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</TABLE>
COMPUTATION OF PRO FORMA RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED
CHARGES AFTER ADJUSTMENT FOR ISSUANCE OF SENIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pro forma
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Ten Months Ended
January 1,
2000
-----------
<S> <C>
Earnings:
Loss before provision
for income taxes......... (4,493)
Plus: fixed charges........ 22,073
------
17,580
======
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense (income),
net including amortization
of debt discounts and debt
issuance expense.......... 16,443
One-third of rent expense. (1 5,630
------
22,073
------
Earnings to fixed charges
ratio.................... 0.80
======
</TABLE>
(1) Represents the portion of operating rental expense which our management
believes is representative of the interest component of rental expense.
These amounts exclude common and maintenance costs related to our lease
agreements.
