Best Bed in a Box

Several years ago, a handful of companies started compressing mattresses, squeezing them into cardboard boxes, and shipping them straight to buyers’ homes. Buying a bed in a box takes the mattress shopping experience entirely into the virtual realm, allowing shoppers to bypass mattress negotiation with sometimes pushy salespeople.

If you’re considering purchasing a mattress from an online bed-in-a-box company, you may be faced with a challenge. What was once an industry with just a handful of competitors is now flooded with companies offering mattresses with every size, style, price point, and special feature imaginable. Between the sheer amount of options, compelling advertising campaigns, and mattress industry jargon, the choice can feel overwhelming.

We created this guide to help you, the overwhelmed shopper of bed-in-a-box mattresses. Below, you’ll find our top 10 bed-in-a-box mattresses and why we recommend them as well as a buyer’s guide to purchasing the best mattress in a box.

Disclosure: By clicking on the product links in this article, Mattress Nerd may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Read full disclosure statement.

Best Mattresses in a Box

• Nerd’s Pick – Nectar
• Best Bed in a Box for Hot Sleepers – Helix Midnight Luxe
• Best Value Bed in a Box – DreamCloud
• Best Mattress in a Box for Back Pain – The WinkBed
• Best Luxury Bed in a Box – Nolah Evolution
• Best Firm Bed in a Box – Brooklyn Bedding Plank
• Best Hybrid Bed in a Box – Bear Hybrid
• Best Bed in a Box for Heavyweight Sleepers – Titan
• Best Bed in a Box for Kids – Puffy
• Best Bed in a Box for Combination Sleepers – Leesa

Chosen by Experts and Advocates

Our team at Mattress Nerd has unboxed and tested over one hundred bed-in-a-box mattresses, so we know exactly what to look for in a great product. The ten mattresses on this list earned their spots by impressing us with their quality craftsmanship and dependability in providing a great night’s sleep for sleepers of all body types and sleep preferences. To learn more, check out our review process.

Bed in a Box Mattresses Video Review

Nerd’s Pick: Nectar

Material: The Nectar is an all-foam mattress with a medium-firm feel. It boasts four foam layers and a quilted memory foam cover that’s cool to the touch. While one of the memory foam layers works to neutralize body heat and provide comfort, the others improve the mattress’s support and durability.

Performance: The Nectar gives you that Tempur-Pedic, slow sinking feeling at a fraction of the price, making it a great option for memory foam lovers. Additionally, unlike some memory foam mattresses on the market, the Nectar has great cooling abilities. Whereas some foam traps heat and causes problems for those who sleep hot, the Nectar includes two layers specifically for cooling. What’s more is that those luxury foam layers work especially well for the average side sleepers. The foam hugs your body evenly to keep it aligned, and it relieves pressure from your sensitive hips and shoulders.

Delivery: The Nectar comes with free shipping in the contiguous U.S., along with a generous lifetime warranty and year-long sleep trial.

Pros and Cons of the Nectar

Pro: With decent responsiveness, impressive motion isolation, and good cooling abilities, we consider the Nectar to be a great option for couples.

Pro: Average-weight back sleepers should really enjoy the balance of comfort and support from the Nectar.

Con: It’s important to note that while this mattress works exceptionally well for side sleepers with a bodyweight between 130 and 230 lbs, people below or above this range may find that the Nectar only performs adequately.

Read our full Nectar mattress review to learn more! For more information, check out our roundup for the best mattresses.

Best Bed in a Box for Hot Sleepers: Helix Midnight Luxe

Material: Helix offers a wide variety of thickness and firmness options in their foam hybrid mattresses, ensuring that they have a mattress for your needs. We particularly love the Helix Midnight Luxe for its pillow top and extra cooling layers of Tencel, airflow technology, and breathable coils.

Performance: Overall, we found this bed to have a cushioning feel, but at the same time, we didn’t feel stuck. This signifies a medium-firm feel, working best for the average side sleeper and back sleeper. While testing the Helix Midnight Luxe, we found a lot to love in its cooling properties, making it a good match for hot sleepers. Additionally, this mattress scored well in responsiveness meaning that the bounciness of it should be great for combination sleepers who change positions throughout the night.

Delivery: The Helix comes with free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial, two free pillows, and a 10-year warranty.

Pros and Cons of the Helix Midnight Luxe

Pro: If you’re unsure what your mattress needs are or haven’t shopped for a new mattress in the past, Helix offers an online sleep quiz that will match you with a suitable option for your sleep style, height, weight, and preferences. You’ll have an informed decision along with control over the final firmness and support level. 

Pro: The Helix Midnight Luxe is a durable mattress with great edge support (another indicator of durability). You should be able to utilize the full surface area of this mattress, and this bed should last you between 7-10 years.

Con: We found that there was some slight off-gassing after opening this mattress. While it did go away after airing out the mattress for a day, be aware that you may experience a non-toxic “new-can-of-paint smell.”

Read our full Helix Midnight mattress review for more info! To learn more, check out our roundup for the best cooling mattresses.

Best Value Bed in a Box: DreamCloud

Material: The DreamCloud mattress is an affordable luxury bed in a box. It has three foam layers, a system of individually wrapped coils, as well as a cashmere cover. These features give the mattress a luxurious feel for a fraction of the price.

Performance: The DreamCloud works best for side and back sleepers of all sizes. Thanks to its soft foam layers, it has pretty solid pressure relieving abilities, meaning your hips and shoulders will be nice and comforted while you’re in one of these two positions. Most stomach sleepers will find comfort on the DreamCloud too. 

Delivery: The DreamCloud comes with a generous Lifetime warranty and ships for free within the contiguous United States. You’ll have a full year to try it out risk-free.

Pros and Cons of the DreamCloud

Pro: You won’t break the bank buying this mattress; a Queen often goes for just $899.

Pro: The pressure relief makes the DreamCloud a solid choice for most back sleepers.

Con: Heavyweight (over 230 lbs) stomach sleepers won’t find a lot to love with the DreamCloud.

Read our full DreamCloud mattress review for more information. To learn more, check out our roundup for the best cheap mattresses.

Best Bed in a Box for Back Pain: WinkBed

Material: The WinkBeds mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress with individually wrapped coils and multiple support zones to provide targeted back support. The Tencel cover wicks away heat to keep sleepers cool while supporting the spines of back and stomach sleepers. The seven layers of the hybrid mattress include a “lumbar support pad” made of dense cotton to support the lower back while the top layers curve around your body and the supportive pad. The supportive layer is made of dense memory foam that keeps average and heavier sleepers from sinking into the mattress, reducing the risk of back pain.

Performance: We appreciate the WinkBed’s ability to accommodate to all sizes of sleepers and all sleep positions in most cases. This versatility is due to the four different firmness options WinkBeds provides: softer, luxury-firm, firmer, and plus. The plus option is a solid choice for heavyweight sleepers who need the extra support. Additionally, we believe the WinkBed to be one of the most durable mattresses out there. It has great edge support (an indicator of overall durability), meaning that you should be able to utilize the full surface area of the mattress.

Delivery: The WinkBed is complete with free delivery in the contiguous U.S. It also comes with a lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial.

Pros and Cons of the WinkBed

Pro: We consider the WinkBed to be one of the best mattresses for couples, especially because of its excellent edge support, great cooling ability, and responsiveness.

Pro: We especially love this mattress for back sleepers of all body types, because of the overall durability and support of the WinkBed.

Con: We did notice that the WinkBed didn’t score the best for motion isolation. This could be a drawback if you’re a lightweight sleeper who shares a bed with a partner, because you might feel them moving around at night.

Read our full WinkBeds mattress review for more information. To learn more, check out our roundup for the best mattresses for back pain.

Best Luxury Bed in a Box: Nolah Evolution

Material: The Nolah Evolution consists of seven layers—four foam, one innerspring, one euro pillow top, and a quilted cover. The result of this impressively stacked construction is a ton of durability, and plenty of support and comfort.

Performance: The Nolah Evolution has that hotel-bed feel that makes you feel like you’re sleeping luxuriously. It has plenty of responsiveness, so moving around on its surface is very easy. Plus, the hybrid design provides exceptional airflow, meaning your body heat won’t become trapped in the mattress’s layers. 

Delivery: Every purchase of the Nolah Evolution comes with free shipping within the lower 48 states, as well as a lifetime warranty.

Pros and Cons of the Nolah Evolution

Pro: The Nolah Evolution scored a four out of five or higher on all of our performance tests.

Pro: With a profile of 15” and a high durability score, you can count on the Nolah Evolution lasting for many years.

Con:Heavyweight sleepers may not find adequate support on the Nolah Evolution.

Read our full Nolah Evolution mattress review for more information. For more information, take a look at our roundup for the best luxury mattresses.

Best Firm Bed in a Box – Brooklyn Bedding Plank

Material: The Brooklyn Bedding Plank consists of four layers of foam—a layer of comfort foam and layer of support foam in the middle and a layer of quilted polyfoam on either side. Why is there a quilted layer on both sides? Because the Plank is flippable; one side is firm and the other is extra firm.

Performance: While an “extra-firm” mattress may not sound like the type of thing you’d like to plop down on after a long day of work, our lab tests actually indicate that the Plank performs well for many different types of sleepers—not just ones who prefer a firm surface. The firm side does a great job of supporting all sleeping positions and body types. The extra-firm side works just as well for back and stomach sleepers, but side sleepers may not find that it relieves enough pressure in their hips and shoulders.

Delivery: The Brooklyn Bedding Plank ships for free within the contiguous United States and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Pros and Cons of the Brooklyn Bedding Plank

Pro: The edge support on this bed is outstanding, meaning getting in and out of bed will be quite easy.

Pro: Stomach and back sleepers should enjoy comfort and support on either side of the flippable plank mattress.

Con: The Plank doesn’t do a great job of regulating temperature, so you may get a little bit warm at night.

Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Plank mattress review to learn more. For more information, take a look at our roundup for the best firm mattresses.

Best Hybrid Bed in a Box – Bear Hybrid

Material: As the name suggests, the Bear Hybrid has a hybrid construction. This means it has both layers of foam and coils. In the case of the Bear Hybrid, it has four layers of foam and one layer of pocketed coils.

Performance: As is the case for many hybrids, the Bear performs well when it comes to temperature regulation and durability. It also has solid edge support and does a good job of isolating motion. This mattress definitely works well for back sleepers, as its middle-of-the-road firmness does a good job of keeping their spines aligned and allowing their hips and shoulders to sink in just enough. 

Delivery: The Bear Hybrid comes with free shipping within the contiguous United States and a lifetime warranty.

Pros and Cons of the Bear Hybrid

Pro: The medium-firm feel works great for back sleepers of all sizes.

Pro: A high ease-of-movement score makes switching positions on the Bear Hybrid a breeze.

Con: This would not be our top choice for side sleepers, as it doesn’t excel at relieving pressure.

Read our full Bear Hybrid mattress review to learn more. For more information, take a look at our roundup for the best hybrid mattresses.

Best Bed in a Box for Heavyweight Sleepers: Titan Plus

Material: The Titan is a luxury hybrid bed in a box with five layers, made specially for heavy people. The cool-to-the-touch fabric cover encases layers of medium- and high-density foam, an extra-supportive innerspring coil system, and a stabilizing foam base layer.

Performance: This thoughtfully designed bed offers many advantages, including temperature neutrality, a medium-firm feel, and a supportive, durable core. With five layers, the Titan uses more material than other luxury hybrids, meaning it should work well if you’re heavyweight or tall. If you’re looking to sink into your mattress, the Titan won’t be your bed in a box; it’s best for average to heavyweight sleepers who need support, enjoy floating “on” the mattress rather than sinking into it, and want luxury at a reasonable price. 

Delivery: The Titan is available in sizes Twin through California King and comes with a longer-than-average 120-night trial, free shipping in the contiguous U.S., and a 10-year warranty.

Pros and Cons of the Titan

Pro: The Titan features a luxurious construction for a relatively low price (a queen is just $1,000 with our coupons).

Pro: This mattress is extremely durable, making it a good long-term investment. The Titan should last you around 7–10 years.

Con: The Titan’s motion isolation isn’t the best, meaning that couples who are light sleepers might feel each other moving around in the night.

Read our full Titan mattress review to learn more! For more information, take a look at our roundup for the best mattresses for heavy sleepers.

Best Bed in a Box for Kids – Puffy Original

Material: The Puffy mattress is an affordable, all-foam bed-in-a-box. It has a simple three-layer construction: a gel-infused foam comfort layer, a layer of foam that keeps you elevated on the mattress, and thick, dense support foam.

Performance: Puffy works best for lightweight sleepers (under 130 lbs), people with back and joint pain, and combination sleepers. Because the Puffy best supports the weight of lighter people, it’s perfect for kids. The pressure-relieving layers should keep your child’s body aligned and ease ache they may get from running around. If your little one tosses and turns, they shouldn’t worry about feeling stuck in Puffy’s layers.

Delivery: Puffy gives you 101 nights to try out your mattress followed by a Lifetime warranty—you’re covered for a while.

Pros and Cons of the Puffy

Pro: Puffy is pretty affordable (about $699 for a Twin).

Pro: Puffy’s pressure relief foam is a great fit for any active kid with joint pains.

Con: The Puffy isn’t the coolest mattress around; it’s not great for children who sleep hot.

Read our full Puffy mattress review to learn more! For more information, take a look at our roundup for the best kids mattresses.

Best Bed in a Box for Combination Sleepers: Leesa

Material: Lightweight memory foam lovers searching for a quality bed-in-a-box should look no further than the Leesa. What’s so great about this mattress is that its construction makes it ideal for lightweight sleepers (and even average-weight sleepers) in all sleeping positions. With responsive foam, cushy memory foam, and strong foundation foam, you should get just the right balance of comfort and support.

Performance: During our tests, the Leesa scored pretty well for motion isolation, responsiveness, and edge support. This is a good sign that the mattress is a nice option for couples. The Leesa’s motion isolation abilities should be great for light sleepers who wake easily when their partner tosses and turns at night. Additionally, the decent responsiveness is an indication that the mattress is good for sex. And its decent edge support means that you should be able to use much of the mattress’s surface area. Better yet, the Leesa does a great job at keeping hot sleepers cool, especially for an all-foam mattress. Its cover and responsive foam layer are each designed to be more breathable than average.

Delivery: We’ve also got to take some time to mention that the Leesa set up is easy, and it not only comes with a 10-year warranty, but also a 100-night trial.

Pros and Cons of the Leesa

Pro: Combination sleepers should like the responsiveness of the Leesa, since it should be easier to switch sleeping positions at night without feeling stuck.

Pro: The Leesa is CertiPUR-US certified, which means that the materials are non-toxic and safe to sleep on.

Con: If you’re a memory foam lover, you may not appreciate that the Leesa feels like more of a cross between memory foam and latex. This gives it a bit of a different, more buoyant feel than traditional memory foam.

Read our full Leesa mattress review to learn more! For more information, take a look at our roundup for the best mattresses for combination sleepers.

Best Memory Foam Bed in a Box: Casper Original

Material: The Casper is a memory foam mattress that offers close conforming, a medium-firm feel, and pressure relief. It features triple-layer memory foam and polyfoam comfort system that sits atop a high-density foam support core. 

Performance: The thick foam comfort layers in the Casper make it ideal for sleepers who struggle with back, neck, or shoulder pain when they sleep. Its medium firmness makes it suitable for sleepers who are average weight, and it isolates motion well for couples. Most sleepers will experience excellent comfort and close conforming from the three top layers, and the mattress is lightweight, making it easy to move and rotate throughout the year.

Delivery: The Casper comes with a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping in the U.S. and Canada, and a 10-year non-prorated warranty. It’s available in sizes Twin through California King.

Pros and Cons of the Casper

Pro: This mattress should last you between 7-10 years. It has a durable foam base and stronger memory foam in the middle of the mattress for additional support.

Pro: The Casper is one of our favorite budget mattresses because it’s a high-quality memory foam bed normally priced around $1,000 for a queen.

Con: Heavyweight sleepers may find they need a more supportive mattress, such as a hybrid or innerspring.

Read our full Casper mattress review to learn more! For more information, take a look at our roundup for the best memory foam mattresses.

What Is a Bed in a Box? 

A “mattress in a box”, also called “bed in a box”, is a mattress that has been vacuum-sealed, rolled up and put into a box that ships directly to your home. These mattresses range from memory foam to more traditional feeling hybrid mattresses, and perform just as well as mattresses sold at large retailers.

You typically won’t find a strict innerspring mattress in a box, but you can find some innersprings with added comfort layers, making them a hybrid. Bed in a box mattresses allow customers to save money, cutting out overhead costs and additional fees.

While shopping for mattresses online is becoming more and more popular, there is still the question that looms in the minds of many consumers; “Does rolling up my mattress cause damage?” The short answer is no. The process allows the integrity of the bed to be maintained during its travel.

Most brands do recommend not leaving your bed in the box too long after receiving because the longer it remains rolled up, the more difficult it will be to puff back up. When your mattress arrives, simply pull the rolled up mattress out of the box, and watch it expand.

Types of Bed in a Box Mattresses

We’ve put together a short description of what each of the four main mattress types offer; their benefits and their drawbacks. For a more comprehensive breakdown, though, check out our types of mattresses guide.

Foam – A foam mattress is one of the most common types that you will find as a bed in a box. They are easy to compress and have become a popular option for athletes, side sleepers, and those who like contouring feel when they sleep.

Foam is also great for couples, as long as it is not too soft. It usually minimizes motion transfer, but if you sink too much it can be hard to move around on. Memory foam can also trap heat in its dense layers, which can be uncomfortable for some. That said, many companies utilize cooling gel foam which helps to dissipate heat. Check out our list of the best foam mattresses for more info.

Hybrid – Hybrid mattresses are popular due to their combination of coils and comfort layers of different materials, typically foam. Hybrids are good for every type of sleeper. If you are a heavier stomach sleeper, you still may experience some sinking in your hips. However, if you are an average-weight side, stomach or back sleeper, finding a hybrid that is good for you should not be too difficult. Take a look at our best hybrid mattresses for our favorite options. 

Innerspring – Traditional innerspring mattresses are the least common to be rolled in a box. These are what usually come to mind when you think of an “old-school” mattress. Constructed with coils, these mattresses are more bouncy than hybrid and foam mattresses, making them great for heavy sleepers and those who need a lot of support. They also tend to have great edge support. There are many good innerspring mattresses that we love at Mattress Nerd.

Related: What is Edge Support in a Mattress?

Latex – Latex mattresses are made of all-natural materials, meaning they have no off-gassing and are the safest option for sleepers with allergies or eco-friendly shopping habits. They vary in their firmness from very soft to very firm and are more supportive than foam mattresses.

Latex mattresses are typically more expensive than other mattress types, but sleepers agree they are worth the splurge. These mattresses perform especially well for back and stomach sleepers, as well as those who do not want their body heat to be trapped since they combine comfort, support, and airflow. Latex mattresses are extremely durable and will last you much longer than just about any other mattress. Head over to our list of the best latex mattresses for more information.

Considerations for Different Sleeping Positions

Your preferred sleeping position is one of the most important considerations when choosing a new mattress. Sleepers of each position require different firmness levels, support, and pressure relief options in order to sleep comfortably. Here is a brief breakdown of each position and the mattresses that will work well for them.

Back Sleeping – Back sleepers require a good combination of pressure relief and spinal support. Most medium-firm mattresses should be able to provide the cushion back sleepers need without causing them to sink too deeply into the surface. Latex and hybrid mattresses are some of the best options because of their ability to fit several body types and comfort needs. Check out our list of best mattresses for back sleepers. 

Side Sleeping – Side sleepers need additional cushion around their shoulders and hips in order to prevent pressure buildup. Memory foam mattresses are a great choice because they cradle these areas by conforming to the body while still supporting the spine. Other mattress types that have a softer firmness level can also provide the much-needed pain relief. Our roundup of best mattresses for side sleepers has some great options. 

Stomach Sleeping – Stomach sleepers require a firm mattress that will keep their spine aligned and will prevent them from sinking into the surface. Innerspring mattresses are often the firmest options out there, meaning they can usually provide the support that stomach sleepers need. If you want something that offers a little more cushion, consider a memory foam mattress topper or a hybrid or latex mattress. Take a look at our best mattresses for stomach sleepers page. 

Combination Sleeping – Combination sleepers could be happy with almost any mattress since they shift between sleeping positions at night. The most important factor to consider here is your primary position and the responsiveness of the mattress. Latex mattresses are durable and known for their bounce, meaning they allow you to switch positions easily. Hybrid and innerspring mattresses can also be responsive due to their coils. Our best mattresses for combination sleepers list has some great choices for you.  

Buying a Mattress Online

Purchasing a mattress without rolling around on it first may seem like a strange prospect, but the process of bed-in-a-box shopping has been designed to cater to the needs and wants of typical in-store shoppers. In fact, the benefits of purchasing a mattress online instead of in a store are numerous.

Benefits of a Bed in a Box

When deciding whether to buy online or in-store, it can be helpful to consider the benefits of purchasing a bed in a box.

Shop from home—Purchasing a mattress online is just as convenient as it sounds. It can be done anywhere and at any time. While there are more than 200 mattress-in-a-box manufacturers out there today, we recommend browsing the top players in the game (there are roughly 25). Most of these companies offer a handful of models that can be easily compared based on your sleep position, budget, material preferences, and more using our mattress comparison tool.

Quick shipping—A mattress sold in a box or bag will typically arrive within one week after your order has been placed.

Extensive sleep trial period—To lessen the blow of the fact that shoppers can’t try the mattress prior to purchase, the majority of bed-in-a-box companies offer generous mattress trials with free returns. 

Cost savings—You’ll find everything from affordable, basic mattresses to luxury, multi-thousand dollar beds that come in a box. The variety is nice, but the cost savings are even nicer. The majority of these companies pass the cost savings they receive from eliminating a middle man onto their customers without forgoing the use of high-quality materials that contribute to a good night’s sleep. There are great mattresses available for every budget, many of which are included in our best mattresses under $500 and best mattresses under $1,000 roundups. Check out our article on the average cost of a mattress.

No pushy salespeople – Instead of being swarmed by sometimes dishonest mattress salespeople as you step into a traditional showroom, you can calmly scroll through your computer and buy on your own terms.

If you still need some convincing, check out our article that more definitively answers the question, “should you buy a mattress online or in store?” Or, head over to our list of the best online mattresses.

Drawbacks of a Bed in a Box

You can’t try it before you buy it – Because you have to order your bed-in-a-box mattress online, you cannot try it out as you would be able to if purchased from a showroom. That said, most bed-in-a-box companies offer generous sleep trials that tend to be around 100 nights long. During this trial period you can sit on, sleep on, and roll around on your new mattress in order to determine if it’s the right fit for you. If it isn’t, you can return it for a full refund. 

Few traditional innerspring options – If you prefer the sturdy feel of a traditional innerspring mattress, you may be disappointed to learn how few options are available in the bed-in-a-box landscape. The closest comp would be hybrid mattresses, which combine a layer of springs with comfort layers of foam or latex. However, hybrids tend to be more expensive than innerspring mattresses. If cost is a concern, head over to our best affordable mattress page.

Unboxing and set-up – Unless you’re shopping with a company that offers white glove delivery, you will be responsible for moving your new bed in a box to your bedroom, unboxing it, and setting it up. This can be a bit of a hassle for some, especially if you’re doing it alone. Plus, you may need to dispose of your old mattress yourself. Take a look at our article on recycling a mattress for tips on that.

How Can You Be Sure a Company Is Reputable?

All in all, it’s best to use a site that you’re familiar with and that you know is trustworthy. But let’s face it, the Internet can be a difficult place to make purchases, especially when you don’t know whether or not the site you’re buying from is authentic. For something as pricey and as important as a mattress, you probably won’t want to take any chances. So, here are some tips and tricks to help ensure that you’re purchasing from a trustworthy site:

• Is it “too good to be true”? If a quality mattress is going for a ridiculously low price and you have a strange feeling about it, you may have run into a scam.
• Search for a privacy policy. A statement like this describes how the company acquires and utilizes customer information. It can generally be found at the bottom of the company’s website page. If a privacy policy is nowhere to be seen on a site you intend to purchase from, it can be an indication that it’s not a reputable business.
• Check out reviews on other sites. Looking at reviews on the home site you’re buying from could be altered to the company’s advantage, so try and research reviews of the company on several alternative sites, such as Google Reviews.
• Use sites with HTTPS. Hypertext Transfer Protocol is what HTTP means, but the S stands for secure. Make sure that S is there! Sites with only HTTP at the beginning of the URL may not be trusted.
• Use Google Safe Browsing. Plug in the URL from a suspicious site, and Google Safe Browsing can help you figure out whether or not it’s a safe one to visit.

How to Know You’re Getting the Best Bed in a Box

Originally pioneered by Casper, the first well known bed-in-a-box company, the boxed mattress market has evolved into a heavily populated industry in the last decade. Hundreds of online mattress retailers now compress and roll their mattresses into tall cardboard boxes or bags in order to ship them quickly to customers in the United States and beyond. In order to help you narrow down the best mattress in a box for your bedroom, here’s a list of what to look for.

Shipping Policies 

Most mattresses in a box ship to customers in the U.S. for free. Some brands do charge to ship to Hawaii and Alaska for a flat fee. If you are looking for expedited shipping or overnight that will cost you extra.

Some brands offer white glove delivery, sometimes at an extra cost (around $100). White glove delivery means the mattress will not be left at your door, but will be carried into your home, unboxed and unwrapped. They will also take your old mattress and dispose of it if you want. Most mattresses are delivered within two weeks of the time you order.

Returns

The ability to try out a mattress and return it is one of the many benefits of buying a mattress online. These are often referred to as “sleep trials” by bed-in-a-box brands; they are usually very easy to find on the brand’s website, and the industry standard is a 100-night trial. Some companies will ask that you hold on to the mattress for at least 30 days, since breaking in a mattress takes some time.

Most returns are free, and don’t worry, you aren’t expected to shove the mattress back into the box. Typically, someone will come to your home and remove the mattress and handle the return for you within your trial period.

Occasionally, the brand will ask you to simply donate the mattress and issue you a refund upon proof of donation. After your sleep trial ends, returns will likely not result in a full refund or even a partial one at that. Unless the mattress is defective, you are probably stuck with your bed until you are ready to buy a new one.

Warranty

In short, warranties protect against defects in a mattress. Most mattresses sold online have generous warranties ranging from 10 years to lifetime. This means that within the warranty period if a mattress stops performing or becomes defective, the company will replace it. The most common coverage includes sinking/sagging, lasting impressions, materials becoming broken or damaged, or flaws that existed when you purchased the mattress.

There is an equally long, if not longer, list of things not covered by your warranty. These lists are usually easy to find on the brand’s website. Some warranties are prorated, meaning you are fully covered for a certain amount of time, and as the years increase, the amount of things covered, or the cost which they are willing to replace decreases. Other warranties simply end after X amount of years.

One last thing you should know about a mattress warranty is that they are only applicable to the original owner. This means if you buy a mattress from a non-reputable place, you have voided any warranty that once was attached to that product. If you have more questions, be sure to check out our article on mattress warranties.

Related: How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?

More Considerations When Buying a Mattress in a Box

• Positive reviews—Since you can’t try before you buy, positive reviews on industry publications, like Mattress Nerd,  can serve as a guard rail when making your decision. We’ve collected all of our mattress reviews in one place for your convenience. 
• Firmness level – Depending on your concerns or personal preferences, the firmness level is one of the most important things to consider when buying a mattress. We talk about mattress firmness on a scale of 1-10, 1 being very soft and cushioning, with 10 being extremely firm. If you suffer from back pain, a firmer mattress will be better for you. For more information on how we grade firmness, check out our mattress firmness guide.
• Clear details—Since you’ll be buying directly from the brand (unless you buy on Amazon.com) and won’t have the chance to test the bed before buying it, the company should have clear descriptions about the product and purchasing process online. Keep an eye out for details regarding construction, material certifications, and policies.
• Size variety—Ideally, a bed-in-a-box company should be able to offer the same range of sizes that a brick-and-mortar retailer does.
• Temperature Regulation—If like many other people out there you tend to sleep hot then you should absolutely shop for a mattress with temperature regulation in mind. Hybrid mattresses do a good job here, as the layer of coils allows for breathability and airflow. You can also look for such cooling technology as gel memory foam and copper infused foam. To learn more, check out our article on the best cooling mattresses.

How To Buy a Bed in a Box

• Start Your Research – We know! It can feel overwhelming starting to shop online for a mattress in a box. The best place to start is to consider what is important to you. Some of the top things to consider are: Your sleeping position. Do you sleep with a partner? Do you sleep hot? How firm do you like your mattress? Do you have pain concerns? You will often find that bed-in-a-box companies outline what kind of person each of their mattresses is good for. 
• Look at Roundups – We have done a lot of the research for you! If you have a specific sleeping position, we have detailed the top mattresses that you will sleep well on. Same for temperature and firmness level. We also have a great mattress comparison tool, in which you can put two mattresses side by side to see how they will perform for you if you can not decide.
• Customer Support – Once you have decided on a brand, we always recommend contacting the brand directly to see how responsive their customer support team is. A mattress is a large investment, and you want to make sure that your mattress is backed by a team that will be helpful, should you have any problems down the road.
• Keep Your Eye Out For Sales – Online mattress brands run a lot of promotions throughout the year. Here at Mattress Nerd, we always round up the best mattress sales throughout the year, as well as have exclusive deals for our readers even when sales are not live. 

Unboxing Your New Mattress 

When your new mattress arrives at your doorstep, you will likely be shocked that your brand new bed is in such a small box. There are few steps to keep in mind to ensure that you and your mattress make it to your room safely and efficiently.

Get Help – The mattress box can be deceptively heavy (especially if you are dealing with a King or California King mattress). We recommend getting someone to help you move the box inside, and to whatever room, the mattress is going to be in. The box really is only big enough for two people to carry, but if you have a hand truck or other tool it may come in handy! 

Wait to unbox – We know it is exciting to get your new mattress in the mail, but it will be much easier to move to the desired room if it is still in the box. Once you and your helper have moved the box into the room, cut the top of the box open, then lay the box on its side on top of the foundation.

Unfold, then cut open – Have one person pull the mattress out of the box, while the other pulls the box in the other direction. Putting the box on the floor, unroll the mattress, ensure the bottom of the mattress is in the correct direction, and then unfold. After the mattress is laying flat, grab a pair of scissors and cut the plastic from the side and bottom of the bed, being careful not to cut the fabric.

Watch it expand – After the plastic is removed from the mattress it will immediately begin to expand. Most beds in a box brands recommend waiting a few hours to a day before sleeping on it. 

Make sure it’s right side up – Most mattresses are constructed with an intended top and bottom in mind. It should be relatively clear which is which, but if it isn’t, check any of the supporting materials or the company website for more information. Check out our article on whether or not you need to flip your mattress.

Off-Gassing

When you cut the plastic off of the mattress, you will likely experience a smell that some describe as “chemically.” This is the mattress releasing VOCs (volatile organic compounds). They are harmless, but the odor can range from very faint to very powerful. The smell should go away within a few hours. If your mattress has a very strong off-gassing smell, you can crack a window and turn on the fan to increase airflow.

These smells come most often from the polyfoam (polyurethane foam) used in memory foam mattresses. Since foam of some type is used in almost every bed in a box mattress, most will have some odor. If you are very concerned about off-gassing, going with a latex mattress is your best bet. Since they are made with organic, all-natural materials, they do not produce any VOCs.

For more information, check out our article on, “Is Mattress Off-Gassing Dangerous?“

Foundation Requirements

While some mattress companies make models that require the use of a specific bed frame (often their own), most mattresses in a box are compatible with any foundation, be it a box spring, wooden slats, adjustable bed, or even the floor in some cases. That said, certain foundations do more for preventing mattress sagging than others.

• Box spring – Box springs are the most traditional bases for a bed. Underneath the cloth surface, a wooden frame supports the grid pattern of springs or metal rods that provides some give to the mattress. A box spring should be placed on a wooden or metal bed frame, and it is best designed to support innerspring mattresses.

• Platform base – Platforms are a raised frame that can support a mattress without a box spring. They can be made from either wood or metal and consist of horizontal slats or solid wood. A platform base can work with any type of bed, but a solid platform works best for foam or hybrid mattresses.

• Slatted foundation – Slatted foundations are similar to platform bases. Wooden or metal planks are spread across the frame horizontally to create “slots” that provide extra circulation. These foundations work well for any mattress type.
• Adjustable frame – Adjustable frames can be adjusted at the head and foot of a bed to meet different preferences. A remote is used to adjust the positions and other features, such as massage vibrations and reading lights. Adjustable frames work best with foam and latex mattresses due to their flexibility

For a more complete overview on finding the perfect base for your bed, check out our mattress foundation guide. 

FAQ

Recap of the Best Beds in a Box Mattresses

	Mattress	Award
	Nectar	Nerd’s Pick
	Helix Midnight Luxe	Best Bed in a Box for Hot Sleepers
	DreamCloud	Best Value Bed in a Box
	WinkBed	Best Mattress in a Box for Back Pain
	Nolah Evolution	Best Luxury Bed in a Box
	Plank	Best Firm Bed in a Box
	Bear Hybrid	Best Hybrid Bed in a Box
	Titan	Best Bed in a Box for Heavyweight Sleepers
	Puffy Original	Best Bed in a Box for Kids
	Leesa Original	Best Bed in a Box for Combination Sleepers