The latest trend in the mattress industry is bed in a box brands, and they don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Buying online is convenient, and having a mattress rolled up and delivered to your doorstep takes the hassle out of buying and transporting a mattress from a furniture store. Before you decide to buy online, it’s important to educate yourself on the brands out there and the mattresses they carry.
The editors at Simply Rest compiled a list of our favorite bed in a box mattresses to help you find the best mattress for you. Each one fits a certain type of sleeper and is high-quality. Plus, each of these beds on our list is backed by generous warranties, so you can feel confident in your investment.
The Best Bed in a Box Mattresses
Best Mattress in a Box for Side Sleepers: Amerisleep AS3
Best Memory Foam Mattress in a Box: Zoma Mattress
Best Budget Mattress in a Box: Vaya Mattress
Bed in a Box Mattresses
- Bed in a Box for Side Sleepers
- Bed Memory Foam Mattress in a Box
- Bed in a Box for Kids
- Bed in a Box for Couples
- Bed in a Box for Stomach Sleepers
- Bed in a Box for Sleepers with Back Pain
- Best Flippable Bed in a Box Mattress
- Best Bed in a Box on Amazon
- Best Budget Bed in a Box Mattress
Best Bed in a Box Mattress for Side Sleepers – Amerisleep AS3
The Amerisleep AS3 is the most versatile mattress out of the eight Amerisleep models and has even been voted by Allure as one of the best mattresses you can buy online.
We love Amerisleep because they offer eight different mattresses designed for different sleep needs, so no matter what you’re looking for in a new bed, you can usually find a comfortable option when shopping with Amerisleep.
Amerisleep’s AS3 has a medium firmness (the AS2 is medium-firm and the AS4 is medium-soft) and offers a good mix of comfort and support. We selected the AS3 for the best bed in a box mattress for side sleepers because it features 3 inches of pressure-relieving Bio-Pur® in the comfort layer, which is ideal for cushioning the shoulders and hips.
Let’s take a look at its layers:
- The cover is made with soft, breathable fabric to keep air circulating throughout the bed, so you never have to worry about overheating or night sweats.
- Below the cover, is 3 inches of Amerisleep’s Bio-Pur®. Bio-Pur® is a plant-based memory foam designed to be more responsive and breathable than other memory foams. Plus, the foams in the AS3 are all CertiPUR-US® certified, so you can sleep comfortably knowing your bed is free from harmful chemicals and low in VOCs.
- Next, is the Affinity layer with HIVE® technology. HIVE® contains hexagonal cutouts in five distinct support zones. Under your heat, torso, and feet, HIVE® offers more support to maintain healthy alignment. HIVE® also allows for deeper compression under the shoulders and hips, another beneficial feature for side sleepers avoiding shoulder and hip pain.
- The base layer is 7 inches of sturdy Bio-Core® to give the layers above support and prevent sagging or visible indentations.
Firmness
The AS3’s HIVE® layer is designed with 5 support zones. Meaning, you get support where it’s needed and comfort where it’s wanted. The HIVE® layer also contours the shoulder and the hip of a side sleeper, maintaining natural spinal alignment. If you need additional support, the AS2 is slightly firmer but still comfortable.
Pressure Point Relief
The AS3’s HIVE® layer is designed with 5 support zones. Meaning, you get support where it’s needed and comfort where it’s wanted. The HIVE® layer also contours the shoulder and the hip of a side sleeper, promoting healthy posture.
Edge Support
The edge support of the AS3 mattress is not as firm as traditional innerspring mattresses but it’s definitely great for a bed in a box. The edge does compress slightly when you sit on it, but when you lie down, you feel the support the mattress provides.
Motion Isolation
The AS3 is an all-foam mattress, so motion isolation is naturally very good. So, if you sleep with a restless partner, you don’t have to worry about being woken up.
Size
The Amerisleep AS3 mattress is 12 inches tall and weighs around 88 pounds (weight based on Queen size).
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Amerisleep offers a 100-night sleep trial with their mattresses. After the sleep trial, your mattress is backed by its 20-year warranty.
Price
The AS3 mattress comes with a price tag of $1349.
Best Memory Foam Mattress in a Box – Zoma Mattress
The Zoma Mattress was originally designed with athletes and active people in mind. Triangulex™ technology and the Reactiv™ layer works to rejuvenate muscles whilst providing great support. However, this design works especially well for back sleepers too, who might not even be active. The zoned support and buoyant response layers can help back sleepers achieve a more restful night’s sleep.
Let’s look inside the Zoma Mattress:
- The topper of the Zoma Mattress is made from 97% polyester and 3% spandex. This stretchy blend of fabrics allows a soft and cooling sleeping surface.
- Under the cover, we find gel memory foam with Triangulex™ technology. Triangulex™ is divided into three support zones. It’s firmer under your torso to maintain alignment and softer under the shoulders and lower body to allow for enhanced pressure relief.
- Below the gel memory foam layer is Reactiv™. Reactiv™ distributes your weight evenly across the mattress and reinforces the memory foam above, providing extra pressure relief. Reactiv™ is a responsive foam, so it keeps you lifted and prevents you from sinking uncomfortably far in the bed.
- Last up is the Support+ layer to reinforce the layers above and extend the life of the mattress.
Firmness
The Zoma Mattress is rated as a medium, so it should never feel too soft or too firm. The comfort layer of gel memory foam provides adequate cushioning while Reactiv™ below keeps you in healthy alignment.
Pressure Point Relief
The zoned support layer of the Zoma ensures proper pressure point relief. The comfort zones under the shoulders and lower body are not as firm, allowing them to sink in just enough to prevent discomfort. The middle of the mattress is slightly firmer to provide the back and the hips more support.
Edge Support
For a memory mattress, the Zoma provides reasonably good edge support. Of course, the mattress edges are not reinforced. But the design of the structure naturally props up the edges, keeping you supported even if you share your bed.
Motion Isolation
Being an all-foam bed, the Zoma mattress isolates motion quite well and allows for virtually zero motion transfer, a nice perk if you’re sharing your mattress with a partner.
Size
The Zoma Mattress comes compressed in a box with dimensions of 19 inches by 19 inches. Once unboxed, the mattress will expand to its 10-inch height. The Zoma is a relatively light and small mattress, making it easy to move.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Zoma Sleep offers a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Both are known as the industry standard, which is expected from any reputable mattress company.
Price
The Zoma costs $750 for a queen, which is an unbeatable price for a mattress of this quality.
Best Bed in a Box Mattress for Kids – Vaya Mattress
The Vaya Mattress is a two-layer, versatile mattress. Made from open-cell Vaya foams, it’s a very adaptable mattress to accommodate sleepers of all ages, sleep styles, and preferences.
Vaya’s mattress is also very budget-friendly, making it a great choice for a kid’s mattress. The low price means it won’t hurt you financially if any “accidents” were to occur and the mattress would need replacing.
Let’s have a look at the layers of the Vaya Mattress:
- The cover of this mattress is made from breathable and soft materials. It’s designed to keep you cool, which is great if your kid tends to get night sweats.
- Under the cover, we find a layer made from Vaya foam. Vaya foam, while contouring, is quite responsive. It relieves pressure points while facilitating healthier sleeping positions, ideal for a growing body.
- The second (and last) layer of the Vaya Mattress is the support foam. This layer provides extra support and ensures a stable sleeping surface for your little one.
Firmness
The Vaya Mattress is rated as a medium. Medium mattresses are great choice for kids because they can accommodate side, back, and combination sleepers, and your child is likely to change their sleeping position as they grow older. The Vaya will provide sufficient support and comfort no matter the sleeping position.
Pressure Point Relief
Although there is no zoned support within the Vaya Mattress, this works in favor of the kids. Zoned layers are only great on a fully grown body, as their placement is guaranteed to be correct. For a kid, zoned support might mean their shoulders and head get placed on a firmer support zone, which will not be comfortable or healthy. That’s why a continuous support mattress, like the Vaya, is a better and safer choice.
Edge Support
The Vaya Mattress doesn’t have great edge support for an adult sleeper. It’s more than sufficient enough for a kid, though. Even if your kid will be sharing their bed with a sibling, they’re sure to have proper stability as they sleep.
Motion Isolation
The foams within this mattress absorb the motion exceptionally well. Any movement gets soaked up by the layers underneath and ensures a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep for your little one.
Size
The Vaya is 10 inches tall. It’s a pretty lightweight and small mattress, which is great if you’ll be re-arranging the room as your kid grows.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Vaya Sleep offers a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
Price
The Vaya Mattress comes at a great price of $595 for a queen. That’s a great price for a kid’s mattress, as you never know how quickly you will need a new one. Paying such a budget-friendly price will not set you too far back financially, even if you’ll have to replace it every few years.
Best Bed in a Box Mattress for Couples – PacBed Original
BedInABox®’s PacBed Original mattress is by far their most popular model, and it has recently been revamped with some great improvements.
Let’s look at its layers:
- Their soft polyester knit cover provides the mattress with comfort and breathability.
- The first layer of the mattress is 3-inch thick CoolRest® gel memory foam, providing contouring, pressure point relief, and motion isolation.
- The second layer of this mattress is 8 inches of Sure Align support foam. Designed to provide support to the spine, it offers stability and durability to the mattress.
Firmness
The PacBed Original mattress rates at a medium level of firmness, an ideal choice especially good for couples, as this is a very optimal firmness for most types of sleepers.
Pressure Point Relief
BedInABox®’s CoolRest® gel memory foam layer provides good pressure point relief.
Edge Support
PacBed Original mattress lacks in edge support; when laying or sitting on the edge of this mattress, you feel little to no support.
Motion Isolation
What this mattress loses in edge support, it gains in motion isolation. Motion transfer is non-existent in the PacBed Original mattress, making this a perfect bed in a box for couples.
Size
The PacBed Original mattress comes at 11 inches and 95 pounds; meaning, it should fit most bed frames, making it more adaptable than other mattresses on the market.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
BedInABox® offers a 120-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty. Both their sleep trial and warranty are longer than the industry average, making BedInABox® a more credible brand name.
Price
A queen-sized PacBed Original mattress comes at the price of $879.
Best Bed in a Box Mattress for Stomach Sleepers – Tuft & Needle Original
Tuft & Needle is a well-known online mattress brand. When they first started, they sold only one bed—the Tuft & Needle—and received rave reviews for its comfort. With an outpour of positive response, Tuft & Needle went on to make two more mattresses: the Mint™ and the T&N Hybrid. Of all of their mattresses, we prefer their namesake Tuft & Needle model, especially for stomach sleepers.
Tuft & Needle’s original mattress is medium-firm and offers a lot of support, which is exactly what stomach sleepers need to achieve peaceful sleep and avoid backaches. Let’s talk about its layers.
- The cover of the Tuft & Needle original is a thin, breathable fabric designed to promote airflow and prevent heat retention.
- The first layer of their mattress is 3 inches of contouring but responsive T&N Adaptive® foam. Instead of using memory foam in their beds, Tuft & Needle engineered a version of poly-foam with many of the same traits as memory foam, but without the sinking feeling. T&N Adaptive® foam contours to your body, but instead of cradling you in the foam, it keeps you lifted in the mattress. This is the primary reason why this bed is so great for stomach sleepers—it relieves pressure points as you lay on your belly, but it also keeps your spine lifted in neutral alignment.
- The core layer of the mattress is 7 inches of durable poly-foam to keep you lifted and prevent sagging or sinkage.
Another great thing about this mattress is its cooling technologies. Tuft & Needle infuses graphite into their top layer of foam, and graphite works as a magnet for heat, pulling it away from you and out of the bed.
Firmness
The Tuft & Needle mattress is a medium-firm. While we’ve mentioned it’s a great bed for stomach sleepers, it’s also a nice option for back sleepers and those with back pain. It can also work for sleepers over 250 pounds who want a medium mattress.
Pressure Point Relief
Memory foam is a great material for pressure relief, but it does have its drawbacks, like heat retention and sometimes too much sinkage. That’s why Tuft & Needle created their T&N Adaptive® foam. This foam has all of the same pressure-relieving benefits as memory foam, but it’s more responsive, so it doesn’t make you feel “stuck” in the bed.
Edge Support
Tuft & Needle doesn’t craft their mattress to have a ton of edge support, but by no means will you be sliding off the corners of the bed. The durability of this base foam allows for support from corner to corner, you can even plop down on the side of the bed to put on your shoes without sinking.
Motion Isolation
The Tuft & Needle is a great mattress for couples because it transfers virtually zero motion. T&N Adaptive® foam adapts to your every movement—you could share the bed with the most restless of partners and their tossing and turning will never disturb you.
Size
The Tuft & Needle Original mattress is 10 inches tall and 64 pounds (for a queen. It’s a bit thinner than most mattresses, so you can expect it to feel quite firm and sturdy.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Tuft & Needle beds are primarily sold online; however, since T&N merged with Serta Simmons, their beds are more available. Despite the fact that they can be found at mattress retailers and stores like Walmart, you very rarely get a chance to try the T&N before you buy—many retailers leave it in the box and just let customers know it’s available for purchase. With that, Tuft & Needle offers a 100-night sleep trial with every bed. If you try it and decide it’s not right, T&N will pick up the mattress and issue a full refund.
Tuft & Needle also backs their mattresses with a 10-year limited warranty.
Price
The Tuft & Needle costs only $595 for a queen, making it one of the more affordable bed in a box mattresses.
Best Bed in a Box Mattress for Sleepers with Back Pain – The Original Purple
The Original Purple mattress is “World’s First No-Pressure Mattress”, according to Purple themselves. Meaning, it is designed to completely eliminate pressure points and create superb airflow. The mattress does this by using Purple Grid™ technology, which is unique to Purple’s brand. It includes a grid made from their unique, stretchy material, hyper-elastic polymer.
Let’s take a look at its layers:
- Purple’s cover is a blend of polyester, viscose, and Lycra. Lycra is known for its ability to wick away moisture and is used to provide the mattress with great temperature control.
- The first layer of the mattress is 2 inches of their Purple Grid™, designed for great pressure point relief and breathability.
- The second layer is 3.5 inches of poly-foam, offering support to the sleeper.
- The base layer is 4 inches of higher-density poly-foam; this layer provides the mattress with durability and stability.
Firmness
The Original Purple mattress is rated as a medium-firm, which is ideal for people with back pain. A mattress that is too soft or too hard will misalign the spine, causing even more back pain, and a medium-firm mattress will provide just enough support for your spine whilst allowing pressure point relief.
Pressure Point Relief
The Purple Grid™ is made from their branded hyper-elastic polymer. It is designed to provide great pressure point relief. When laying on your back you will feel your hips and shoulders comfortably contoured, and your lumbar region will get full support.
Edge Support
Because they use higher-density poly-foam as their core layer, the Original Purple mattress has relatively good edge support.
Motion Isolation
When it comes to motion isolation, the Original Purple mattress does not perform as well as other mattresses on our list. If you sleep with a restless partner, chances are that you might feel them move around at night.
Size
Original Purple mattress is 9.5 inches tall and 110 pounds—considerably shorter than most other mattresses, however, its weight is about average.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Purple offers a 100-night sleep trial to try out their mattress and decide if it’s the right fit for you. If you decide that it is, it comes with a 10-year warranty. Both the trial and the warranty are slightly shorter than the industry average.
Price
Original Purple mattress comes at the price of $999 for a queen size.
To read about other mattresses for back sleepers, check out our guide with the best mattress for back sleepers.
Best Flippable Bed in a Box – Nest Bedding Alexander Signature Series® Flippable
When you can’t decide between a soft or firm bed, choose something flippable! Many memory foam mattresses are built from the core up and not meant to be flipped, but Nest Bedding’s Alexander Signature Series® Flippable is a diamond in the rough. One side of the bed is medium and the other side has a luxury firm feel, giving you, essentially, two beds in one.
To make flipping a mattress easy to do, Nest even builds handles on either side of their bed. However, we suggest flipping the mattress with a partner, especially if its larger than a queen size. Handles are convenient, but flipping a mattress is still a tricky task.
Let’s talk about how Nest Bedding built this flippable bed.
- Nest Bedding wraps their mattresses in an organic cotton cover, cotton is easy on those with sensitive skin, and it’s breathable to promote airflow. Whether you choose the medium or firm side to sleep on, you can enjoy this comfortable cotton cover.
- The comfort layer (starting on the medium side) is 1 inch of proprietary CoolFlow™ Plush Quilting foam. The quilted top layer feels soft-to-the-touch, and when you lay on this mattress, the CoolFlow™ foam contours to your body for even weight distribution and pressure relief. The cooling gels within this layer wick away body heat and keep you at a comfortable temperature.
- The next layer is 2 inches of gel memory foam for enhanced temperature regulation and deeper pressure relief.
- Below the gel memory foam, is a 1.5-inch transition layer of responsive poly-foam. This layer serves primarily as a buffer between the soft side and the firm side of the bed, but it also promotes better spinal alignment, as well.
- The core of the mattress is 7 inches of durable, luxury firm base foam—this makes up the firm side of the bed. Below the core is more quilted cotton for added cushioning, but you can expect the firm side of the mattress to live up to its name.
Firmness
As we’ve already mentioned (probably a few times now), this bed offers dual firmness. One side of the mattress is medium and the other side is a luxury firm. We recommend the medium side of this mattress for side sleepers since it’s cushioning enough to prevent pressure points, but we suggest stomach sleepers stick to the firm side of this bed. Back sleepers, however, can find comfort on either side.
Pressure Point Relief
The firm side of this mattress doesn’t allow for much pressure relief—granted, it allows for some, but it certainly cannot accommodate side sleepers (who are more prone to pressure points). The medium side of this mattress, though, is a whole other story.
Nest Bedding crafts the medium side of this mattress with 3 layers of pressure-relieving foam, allowing your body to compress deeply into the mattress for optimal pain relief. This side is ideal for side sleepers who need a lot of cushioning for their shoulders and hips.
Edge Support
The Alexander Signature Series® Flippable does not feature any edge support technologies or foam to bolster the sides, however, the durable luxury firm base of this bed offers a ton of support and prevents uncomfortable sinkage near the sides.
Motion Isolation
This bed isolates motion quite well because it’s made with all foam layers, each of which adapts to your movement to prevent motion transfer.
Size
Nest Bedding’s Alexander Signature Series® Flippable is 13 inches tall and weighs 65 pounds for a queen. It’s available in all mattress sizes.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Nest offers a 100-night risk-free sleep trial with each of their beds, giving you a little over three months to determine if it’s a good fit for you. If it’s not, you have the option to exchange or return for a full refund. Nest also offers a Lifetime Warranty with each of their beds, helping you get better sleep for years to come.
Price
The price of a queen size Alexander Signature Series® Flippable mattress is $1,599. It comes with free shipping (within the continental U.S.) and free returns during the trial period.
Best Bed in a Box on Amazon – Zinus Green Tea Mattress
If you’ve done any online shopping for a new mattress, you’ve more than likely checked Amazon. Amazon is a great way to buy a new bed (especially if you’re a Prime member—fast and free shipping!) and the site has plenty of options to consider. Our favorite Amazon mattress, though, is the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Bed. In fact, it’s voted one of the best memory foam mattresses on Amazon, so it’s hard to go wrong with this choice.
We like this mattress because it’s available in various thickness options to fit different sleep needs. When shopping with Zinus, we recommend choosing either their 10-inch (for back and stomach) or 12-inch (for side sleepers) model, depending on your sleep style.
Let’s talk about the construction of these beds.
- Every Zinus Green Tea mattress has a soft, stretchy cover to prevent heat retention.
- The first layer is pressure-relieving memory foam to cradle your body and help you feel weightless. In the 10-inch model, this layer is 2.5 inches thick. The 12-inch model, however, has 3 inches of cushioning memory foam for better pressure relief.
- Next, in both the 10 and 12-inch models, you’ll find 2 inches of Zinus’s Comfort Foam. This responsive poly-foam allows for improved pressure relief while keeping you lifted in a comfortable position. It also prevents you from sinking through the top layer of memory foam and bottoming out on the firm core.
- The core of this mattress is high-density base foam to provide durable support to the layers above. This layer is 5.5 inches thick in the 10-inch model and 7 inches thick in the 12-inch mattress.
Two cool things about this mattress are the inclusion of ActivCharcoal and green tea extract. Zinus infuses green tea throughout their mattress to keep your bed smelling fresh even after years of use. ActivCharcoal is a cooling technology designed to wick away moisture and body heat, keeping you comfy.
Firmness
Zinus offers their mattress in several firmness options to provide sleeping solutions for different needs and preferences; however, these beds are all ranked between medium and firm. If you like a very soft, cloud-like mattress, this bed isn’t for you.
Pressure Point Relief
The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress offers superb pressure relief due to the use of memory foam in the top layer and contouring poly-foam in the transition layer. The memory foam in the comfort layer eases pressure from your head to your toes, helping you achieve restful sleep and wake up each morning without aches or pains.
Edge Support
Zinus mattresses offer pretty good edge support due to the use of high-density foam in the core. Higher-density foams provide sturdier support than foams with a lower density, giving this bed a little more edge support than other mattresses on this list.
Motion Isolation
The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress transfers close to no motion, so you can easily get peaceful sleep on this bed. Every layer responds to individual movement, so even if you share your mattress, your partner’s movements shouldn’t disturb you.
Size
The Zinus mattress is available in all standard sizes, as well as short queen—an excellent option for those who want a bigger bed but have a smaller bedroom. You can choose 6, 8, 10, or 12-inch thickness, and the models vary in weight from 18.9 pounds to 78.8 pounds.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Zinus offers a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty with each of their beds. If you decide your Zinus isn’t right for you, they give you the option to return for a refund or exchange for a different model. After the sleep trial, you’re protected from defects by their 10-year limited warranty.
Price
Zinus’s mattresses are quite affordable and a great value. Their 10-inch model costs only $278 and their 12-inch model is priced at $344 (based on queen size mattresses). If you shop direct with Zinus, they offer free shipping with every mattress.
When shopping on Amazon, double-check to ensure you’re buying your bed from Zinus and not a third-party retailer. Being charged for shipping may be an indicator that you’re buying from a third-party. Plus, buying from a third-party means no sleep trial or warranty.
Best Budget Bed in a Box Mattress – Tulo Liv
Tulo Liv mattress is the second release by the company and it has a more innovative design compared to the original Tulo Liv.
Let’s take a look at its layers:
- Their soft knitted cover hugs the layers of the mattress and is breathable enough to allow for air to flow easily out of the mattress.
- The first layer is 1.5 inches of their unique gel memory foam called LumaGel™; this promotes breathability and pressure point relief.
- The second layer of this mattress is 2.5-inch thick support foam layer, and it offers good support and motion isolation.
- The base layer is 5-inch thick poly-foam providing the mattress with stability and durability.
Firmness
The Tulo Liv mattress measures as a medium level of firmness, catering to most types of sleepers. If you prefer your mattress a little firmer or plusher, it might be worth your while to investigate their other mattress, the Tulo Comfort. It comes in the choice of three levels of firmness – soft, medium, and firm.
Pressure Point Relief
The Tulo Liv mattress does not have a specifically designed pressure point relief in their mattress. However, the foams do a pretty good job of providing support where it is needed.
Edge Support
The edge support of this mattress is not as good as other choices on our list. If you are a restless sleeper that rolls around a lot, there is a small chance you’ll wake up on the floor.
Motion Isolation
Given its layers of foams and their density, the Tulo Liv mattress is designed to have very little motion transfer.
Size
The Tulo Liv mattress comes at 9 inches tall and 57 pounds. It is definitely one of the smallest and lightest bed in a box mattresses on the market. Meaning, it can easily be unpacked and moved around without any help.
Sleep Trial & Warranty Information
Tulo offers a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
Price
Tulo Liv comes at an unbeatable price of $1099— by far the lowest price tag on our bed in a box mattress list.
Our Guide to Buying a Bed in a Box Mattress
Just as with any type of mattress on the market, bed in a box mattresses have their own specifications that you should consider. After all, you want to purchase a mattress you’ll be comfortable on for years to come.
Here is what you should pay attention to:
Firmness
Because mattresses are made from different materials, their levels of firmness vary as well. Keep in mind your preferred sleeping position, and make sure the mattress meets your requirements. Otherwise, you might get one that does not provide you with quality sleep. Or worse, it causes you pain.
Size
Never forget that your new mattress needs to be compatible with your current bed frame. Otherwise, you might end up sleeping on the floor. You should also check the dimensions of your room to determine what size mattress can comfortably fit. A mattress that’s too big leaves little room for walking space and other furniture, and a cramped or overcrowded bedroom is not conducive for a peaceful sleep.
Price & Warranty
A mattress isn’t necessarily a cheap purchase, so it should be viewed as an investment toward better sleep, and as a result, better health. And with any investment, you want to get your money’s worth—this is where warranty coverage coms in.
Before purchasing a new bed, read through the warranty details to see what kind of coverage is offered. Any high-quality mattress should have at least a 10-year warranty backing it.
Also, compare the features of your mattress to its price. If your mattress doesn’t feature any sleep-enhancing materials or technologies, you should not be paying more than $500 to $700 for it. Keep in mind, memory foam will often cost more because it’s a modified version of poly-foam (used in cheaper mattresses as an alternative to memory foam) and latex beds will be on the pricier side because they’re made with eco-friendly materials.
Other Factors to Consider When Shopping
Beyond mattress brands and where to buy, there are a few key things to take into consideration before settling on a new bed—including, your sleep style, body type, and preferred mattress type. Once you take a step back and think about what you need from a new bed, it’s much easier to navigate the sea of bed in a box mattresses.
Sleep Styles
The way you sleep determines the type of support you need from a new mattress. However, determining the absolute perfect firmness comes down to personal preference, as well. Let’s talk about what different sleepers need from a comfortable mattress.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers need the most pressure relief of any sleep position because the hips and shoulders are pressed against the mattress when lying this way. If a mattress is too firm, it can lead to pain and pressure points in those joints.
The best mattresses for side sleepers offer enough give to allow the hips and shoulders to compress and adequate support to keep the spine aligned. More often than not, medium, medium-firm, and medium-soft beds work for side sleepers—determining which one of these firmness options is best comes down to body type and preference,
Back Sleepers
Back sleeping is relatively uncommon, but it’s a great position to sleep in if you’re somebody with back pain, as it allows the spine to rest in a neutral position. Back sleepers need a mattress to maintain that healthy alignment and prevent their hips from sinking. When a back sleeper’s hips sink too far, it creates a “U” shape in their spine, which over time, can lead to chronic aches and pains.
Like side sleepers, we recommend medium, medium-soft, or medium-firm mattresses for back sleepers, too.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleeping is the unhealthiest way to sleep because it puts undue stress on your lower back. When you sleep belly down, your center of gravity shifts to your stomach, causing your torso to sink into the mattress. If a stomach sleeper’s mattress isn’t firm enough, it will allow the stomach to sink, and as a result, the lower back to arch—and sleeping with an arched lower back is a recipe for long-term back pain.
We suggest stomach sleepers switch to side or back sleeping to get better sleep and avoid long-term health issues. However, if making the switch proves too difficult, you can decrease your chances of experiencing discomfort by resting on a firm mattress that prevents sinkage.
Body Type
While sleep style is a good indicator of the ideal firmness for your new bed, body type also plays a role. When you carry more weight, you need more support—this is why many sleepers over 250 pounds opt for firmer mattresses. If you’re over 250 pounds, choose the firmness level above your desired firmness (i.e. choose medium-firm if you prefer medium, firm if you prefer medium-firm). Doing so helps you find your preferred feel while ensuring you have plenty of support.
On the other hand, more petite sleepers (or those under 130 pounds) will find most mattresses feel firmer than what they’re advertised as. This is simply because petite sleepers don’t have the bodyweight to compress into the mattress. For this reason, it’s always better to go softer when you have a smaller build.
If you consider your body type to be average (between 130 to 250 pounds), you’ll find most beds feel true to their advertised firmness.
Mattress Types
While we often get caught in up which brand of mattress is best, we can sometimes forget to consider what type of mattress we’re interested in first. Most bed in a box brands sell all-foam beds (memory foam, poly-foam, or latex) because they’re the easiest to compress and roll-up. That said, you can find high-quality innerspring and hybrid mattresses in a box, too.
So before you get too far into your search for a new bed, stop to consider the best mattress type for your needs.
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattresses are some of the best for pain relief, and considering how many people deal with occasional to frequent aches and pains, it’s not hard to understand why they’re so popular. Memory foam is made by modifying standard poly-foam to have viscoelastic properties. It responds to heat and pressure to contour to your body, adapt to your every movement, and isolate motion.
Memory foam is described as having a “hug-like” or “cradling” feel because it allows you to compress into the materials. That said, some sleepers dislike memory foam because it makes them feel like they’re sinking or “stuck” in the bed. Another drawback to memory foam is its tendency to retain heat, which can be attributed to this bed’s contouring abilities.
Memory foam brands have listened to customer feedback over the years, and now many modern memory foam beds contain technologies to minimize these potential drawbacks. Plant-based foams and cooling gel foam can improve airflow, while responsive transition layers can prevent sinkage. When searching for a memory foam bed, look for these features to get a more comfortable sleep.
Latex
Latex mattresses are another popular option in today’s modern mattress sphere. They’re a great option for eco-friendly shoppers or those with allergies because their materials are sourced from rubber trees and they’re naturally hypoallergenic.
Latex, like memory foam, is contouring. However, it doesn’t contour as closely to your body and, as a result, has a more “lifting” feeling. Latex is a great option for those with aches and pains who prefer a bouncier bed. Latex is notably responsive and can feel firmer than memory foam due to its increased responsiveness.
We should mention, latex mattresses can also be made from synthetic latex. We recommend against buying these beds because they’re oftentimes made of chemicals, off-gas, and break down easily. They’re a cheap alternative to an all-natural latex mattress, but with how quickly these beds develop sags, you’ll find you’re better off investing in the more expensive, high-quality latex mattress from the beginning.
If you’re somebody with latex allergies, a synthetic latex mattress could work for you, but it’s important to do your research to ensure the synthetic latex used in the bed is free of harmful chemicals and durable.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses have only been around for the last decade or so, so they’re fairly new to the mattress industry. Hybrids were developed by manufacturers in an effort to develop a bed with numerous benefits and zero drawbacks. The idea was to combine two different mattress materials that could counter each other’s drawbacks, offering sleepers the best sleep yet.
Hybrids contain at least two layers of foam and a layer of coils, combining the pressure-relieving benefits of foam and the notable airflow of innersprings. Hybrids cushion your body, promote a cooler night’s sleep, isolate motion, and have a bouncy responsiveness. They’re ideal for people who like the bounciness of a traditional innerspring mattress but want the cushioning comfort of foam layers.
Hybrids can be pricey because they combine both high-quality foam and coils, so you can expect to pay over $1000 for one of these beds. We suggest avoiding cheaper hybrids because they’re usually made with sub-par materials and break down after only three or four years.
Innersprings
Innersprings, known as traditional mattresses, are not nearly as popular as they once were. Being the first mattress type, innersprings dominated the mattress industry for many years. However, after brands started using memory foam and latex in their beds, innersprings became a thing of the past.
You can still find some high-quality innerspring mattresses made by modern mattress brands, but in general, these beds aren’t as comfortable as other mattresses. Innersprings are defined by their inner coil systems and lack of foam layers. These beds will have some cushioning materials in the cover, and many brands offer optional pillow tops with their innerspring models, but these can’t compare to thicker foam layers when it comes to comfort.
Back and stomach sleepers can get comfortable rest on an innerspring, but we don’t recommend them for side sleepers. It’s also worth mentioning that while these mattresses have a lower price point, they typically break down the quickest. You can expect one of these beds to last only five to seven years.
Did You Find Your Next Bed?
We hope our guide has been helpful in choosing the best bed in a box mattress to meet all your sleep needs. If you’re not so sure buying online is your best option, be sure to read our other articles discussing other mattress brands to find the best mattress for yourself.
This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.