“Mattresses will last five to 10 years, with higher-quality ones tending to hold up better,” says Joshua Roland, MD, a board-certified sleep medicine physician. “The chance of satisfaction with your choice can be improved with some research on the product beforehand, as well as a bit of self-reflection on what type of sleep conditions you prefer.” We’ve spent the last two years testing a wide range of mattress-in-a-box options, evaluating each for comfort, quality, durability, and value. In consultation with experts like Dr. Roland, we looked for mattresses with multiple layers of support, CertiPUR-US-certified foam, and other features that will help you get a good night’s sleep. Our favorite is the Casper Original Mattress, which our testers loved for its medium firmness and zoned support. But we also have other recommendations for a variety of sleepers and circumstances. Here are the best mattresses in a box. The Casper Original Mattress is made of three layers, beginning with a top layer of breathable polyurethane foam that has thousands of perforations designed to keep sleepers cool and the mattress well-ventilated. This substantially mitigates one of the most common complaints people have with all-foam mattresses: They get hot. The second layer is made of memory foam that’s divided into three ergonomic “zones,” which provide different support to different parts of the body. These zones allow your shoulders to sink further into the mattress and provide additional form-fitting around the hips for optimal spinal alignment. “We didn’t notice any apparent differences in various areas of the mattress, but we woke up without stiff joints in either our hips or shoulders, so we’d say it works,” said our tester. Finally, The Casper Original has a base of polyurethane foam. All of the foam used in the Casper mattress is certified by CertiPUR-US, a nonprofit that ensures certified foam is free of mercury, lead, formaldehyde, and phthalates, and emits a minimal amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that contribute to unhealthy indoor air quality. While our tester loved her Casper Original Mattress—awarding it a nearly perfect score—she did note that it had a slight odor out of the box, which quickly faded. Also, like many other mattress-in-a-box options, the Casper takes time to fully expand after unboxing, which means you’ll have to wait 72 hours before using the mattress. Price at time of publish (Queen): $1,295 To accommodate different sleeping positions, The Mint has an adaptive, medium-firm feel that offers the perfect balance of cushioning and support. It’s also designed with multiple sleepers in mind, featuring edge support that will keep the mattress from deforming when one person sits on the edge or gets up. “I didn’t disrupt my husband nearly as often, nor did his restless nights wake me, said our tester. “That alone made the Mint worth every last penny.” Like many options on this list, there’s a slight, temporary odor out of the box, but the Mint is CertiPUR-US certified to ensure it doesn’t release potentially harmful chemicals. For added convenience, it also comes with a machine-washable cover. Price at time of publish (Queen): $1,295 This hybrid mattress features pocketed coils under support foam and memory foam, which lends the mattress more bounce than all-foam offerings. The memory foam is infused with copper and gel for a cooling effect, while a Tencel cover ensures moisture-wicking breathability. There’s also edge support on all four sides. You can expect a slight odor out of the box, but it dissipates quickly. Helix offers soft, medium, and firm mattresses and a range in pricing from its more affordable core options to its pricier “Luxe” models, so it’s easy to customize according to your comfort level, budget, and sleep habits. Their site includes a quiz, so it’s easy to determine which model might be best for you. The Helix Midnight Luxe comes with a 100-day trial period and enforces at least a 30-day trial to give it a real try before returning. Price at time of publish (Queen): $1,849 Considering it’s made of a combination of hyper-elastic polymer and foam, it’s surprisingly breathable, allowing maximum airflow while you snooze. Our tester also appreciated that it doesn’t make any noise, and the soft feel minimized motion transfer and made her feel supported. “The first time we laid on this mattress we were immediately impressed with how it conformed to our body,” she said. “We sunk into it without feeling trapped, as we have with other memory foam models.” Just note: Since this mattress doesn’t have handles, moving it can be challenging, so keep this in mind when unboxing. Price at time of publish (Queen): $1,399 We appreciate that there are nine sizes and three firmness levels to choose from. Unlike many others, you can expect this mattress to fully expand within a few hours of unboxing it. We wish it had edge support, but otherwise, no complaints. Price at time of publish (Queen): $229 What’s more, the cover is a blend of breathable organic cotton and temperature-regulating merino wool. This high-end mattress also has edge support around the entire perimeter, so you won’t sink down if you sit on it. Aside from the very fancy price tag, the only other potential drawback is that it doesn’t come in a twin size. Price at time of publish (Queen): $2,400 The memory foam in the Layla is infused with copper, which helps keep this all-foam option cool by drawing heat away from your body with the naturally conducive metal. There’s also a layer of Max Airflow support foam underneath to ensure breathability—extra points for the lifetime warranty. The mattress arrives rolled up in a box about the size of a mini-fridge and takes about 24-48 hours to decompress and air out. This 10-inch memory foam mattress is flippable and double-sided, offering you the option of a medium-firm side or a medium-soft side. Layla offers a 120-night in-home trial period with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Price at time of publish (Queen): $1,099 On top, there’s a layer of quilted plushness, plus Feran Ice, a patented moisture-wicking fabric that feels cool to the touch. We also love that this mattress has edge support to prevent you from sinking. It’s pretty cumbersome (the queen is 110 pounds), so just make sure you unbox it in the room where you plan to use it. Price at time of publish (Queen): $1,732 The top layer is also infused with cooling gel to help regulate your body temperature and keep night sweats at bay. And all foams are CertiPUR-US certified. This 12-inch mattress will take about 24 hours to expand, but this is about average for a bed-in-a-box. We think Nectar’s king-sized mattress is one of the most comfortable and affordable on the market. They offer a 365-day trial (which is about 265 days more than average!) and are one of the few memory foam mattress companies that offer a durable option for heavier customers (250+ pounds) that prefer memory foam over hybrid or coil. The mattress is 12 inches thick and consists of four layers. The base is foam, the second layer is a breathable premium support foam and the third layer is a gel memory foam. The top layer is an additional layer of gel memory foam that’s quilted into the cover. This is a highly supportive, firm mattress with a distinct, dense memory foam feel. Price at time of publish (Queen): $799 Although this mattress may take up to 24 hours to expand, the price is very reasonable, and it’s backed by a lifetime warranty. Price at time of publish (Queen): $1,399 What’s more, the Puffy Royal is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association due to its targeted full-body support, which reduces back pain and relieves joint strain. We wish the price was a little more accessible, but the durable design is backed by a lifetime warranty.
What to Look For When Buying a Mattress in a Box
Price Point
If there’s one purchase worth splurging on, it’s your mattress. “You spend one-third of your life in bed, and a good night’s sleep is the foundation for health and well-being,” says Mary Helen Rogers, VP of Marketing and Communications at Better Sleep Council. When browsing, you’ll find various brands that have jumped onto the boxed mattress train—and with options, come plenty of different price points. Typically, all-foam mattresses are more affordable but may lack features like edge support, which keeps the mattress from deforming when you sit on the edge or get in and out. Hybrid mattresses often come in at a higher price point but may be worth it for anyone who finds foam mattresses too hot or too saggy.
Material
When buying a bed-in-a-box, you’ll want to pay attention to the material. Most are made at least partially from foam, whether it’s memory foam, high-density support foam, or breathable perforated foam. This allows it to be compressed for shipping, then expand when you open it. Some foams are infused with copper or gel to provide a cooling, temperature-regulating effect. “Foam mattresses tend to be soft but may retain heat,” says Dr. Roland. “Spring-based [models] tend to be more firm and bouncy and may retain their shape a bit more, and hybrid options can be a balance of the two.”
Hybrid vs. Non-Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses combine innersprings with foam. This combines the additional support offered by traditional spring mattresses with the body-conforming cushioning of foam. A typical hybrid mattress has internal coils topped with several layers of foam—typically some combination of memory, latex, or cooling gel-infused foam. Non-hybrid mattresses come in a variety of all-foam designs. Many use polyurethane foam as a firm base material, then top it with malleable, body-shaping memory foam, natural latex foam, or memory foam infused with gel for its additional cooling properties.
Firmness
Your comfort level and potential backaches often play a factor in what level of firmness you require. While plenty of boxed mattresses offer a variety of levels, these levels can differ between companies. What is firm to one brand may not be for another. Also, some brands can only offer certain options, so it’s worth it to see what is available before purchasing.
Sleeping Habits
Are you a light sleeper? Chronic aches and pains? Need more support to sleep through the night? Your sleeping habits and preferences should certainly be taken into account when selecting the type and style of boxed mattress to invest in. “Think about the last time or place you slept great,” says Rogers, adding that the mattress type might offer clues. “Use your self-inventory to search for features that are important to you (cooling, firm, size, price, materials, etc.).”
Standout Features
Trial Period
One of the positives of purchasing a boxed mattress is the convenience; you don’t have to go to a store and wait on a delivery truck to bring it to your home. However, this means you won’t be able to test the mattress in person to see how it feels. Check to see if the mattress has a free trial (most typically do) that will allow you to get the full experience of the mattress. “If you are buying a mattress sight-unseen, you want to be very clear on their return policy, and this includes noting any fees,” says Rogers. It’s also worth checking to see if there’s a mattress store carrying your preferred mattress-in-a-box brand. Large cities, in particular, often have showrooms where it’s possible to try out an online mattress retailer’s offering before committing to a purchase.
Warranty
High-quality mattresses in a box are usually backed by warranties of at least 10 years. Some are 15 to 25 years, and others offer a lifetime guarantee. Just keep in mind a lifetime guarantee doesn’t necessarily mean your lifetime but rather the typical lifespan of the mattress. In any case, be sure to read the fine print before buying one.
Certifications
Keep an eye out for certifications as well. CertiPUR-US is the leading organization that certifies foam. The label ensures a mattress is free of formaldehyde, ozone depleters, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which could impact your indoor air quality. A fabric mattress cover might also carry an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification. This tells you the material is made without upwards of 100 materials known to have risks to human health.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a product reviewer and commerce writer specializing in home goods, wellness, and lifestyle. She interviewed two experts for this story, including Joshua Roland, MD, FAASM, a board-certified sleep medicine physician, expert, and consultant, and Mary Helen Rogers, VP of marketing and communications at Better Sleep Council. After researching today’s top-rated options, including several tested by The Spruce, she chose comfortable, supportive, durable models with certifications signaling quality and sustainability. “Foam options may also last slightly longer than spring or hybrid options,” Dr. Roland noted. Periodically flipping and rotating your mattress might help it last longer. However, this may not work with models featuring zoned support. “It is important to note that a mattress-in-a-box can require up to 48 hours to fully expand,” Dr. Roland told The Spruce. If you must sleep on your mattress the first night, you’re unlikely to damage it, though it probably won’t be as comfortable until it reaches its full size. Theresa has first-hand experience with many of the brands included on this list. She sleeps on a Tuft & Needle mattress with Layla pillows, and has a Lucid mattress in her kid’s room. You can read more of her stories on Travel + Leisure, MyDomaine, Byrdie, and People.
What is Spruce Approved?
Here at The Spruce we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend, and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. We also pride ourselves on transparency and will always let you know if we received a product for free.
