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A comfortable mattress can be the difference between a difficult night’s sleep and a rejuvenating one. Now that companies deliver boxed mattresses to your front door, it’s even more convenient to find the right bed that will suit your needs. Our guide to the best beds in a box is based on extensive research and our own testing. Whether it’s finally time to invest in a high-quality mattress or you’re tired of tossing and turning at night, there’s something for you on this list.
How to Choose the Right Mattress
You’ll want to consider a few different factors when selecting a mattress, including its construction, how firm it is, and whether you want one that sleeps cold.
Foam vs. Innerspring vs. Hybrid Construction
Foam mattresses are the most basic in design and tend to be the most affordable option. Multiple layers of differing density foam often create a firmer feel, but many also come with a softer top layer. Because of the construction, some people find foam mattresses retain a lot of heat.
Innerspring mattresses have coiled springs in the center with a softer top layer of foam. These mattresses can feel more plush or forgiving, and to some people, less supportive. However, the spring construction generally circulates more airflow, allowing you to stay cooler.
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Finally, there are hybrid options, which are growing in popularity. As the name suggests, a hybrid mattress combines the other two types, offering the cushioning of coil springs with a thicker foam top. It boasts comfortable body-contouring foam without retaining as much heat as a foam mattress, making a hybrid model a good choice for people who tend to sleep hot. If you like the structure of an innerspring mattress but not the bounce, a hybrid option offers a more stable feel.
Sleeping Position
With some bed in a box models, you can choose your ideal level of firmness. In general, side sleepers are most comfortable on a softer mattress that conforms to their bodies’ curves and relieves pressure on the hips and shoulders, whereas back and stomach sleepers tend to prefer a firmer, more supportive surface.
What to Know About Trial Periods and Returns
The companies included in this list have excellent customer service, offering trial periods of at least three months and often up to six. Many also offer free returns, but others, like Saatva and Purple, charge a fee of up to $100 or the shipping cost. We recommend reviewing a company’s policies before making a purchase, just in case you aren’t satisfied.
How We Evaluated
To recommend the best bed in a box models, we consulted with mattress experts for recommendations to identify the best choices on the market. We factored in mattress material and construction, cost, and overall customer experience, such as how easy it is to return the bed and the length of the trial period. We also tested eight of the 10 models we recommend here to evaluate each bed’s ease of set up, construction, support, comfort, and value.
Best Foam
Casper Casper Original Foam Queen Mattress
Pros
A more affordable but high-quality option
Cons
- Less cooling than other options
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Foam
- Weight: 79 lbs
- Trial Period: 100 days
- Warranty: 10 years
The original Casper mattress is firm with a forgiving top layer and is a great option for a high-quality bed on the more affordable side. The company’s Airscape technology adds thousands of perforations to the foam that promote airflow and keep you cooler at night. It’s available in an all-foam or hybrid model.
Pros
- Long trial period and warranty
Cons
- $99 fee to exchange or return
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Hybrid
- Weight: 110 lbs
- Trial Period: 180 days
- Warranty: 15 years
Saatva’s Classic Hybrid mattress is one of the best mattresses we tested. The 3-inch top layer combines foam and plush fibers, the wire Lumbar Zone positioned to support your lower back provides additional support, and a separate layer of coils on the inside ensures it’s firm enough that you don’t feel like you’re sinking into the mattress. “It seems to almost adjust to your weight and stay just firm enough,” our tester said.
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Foam
- Weight: 57 lbs
- Trial Period: 90 days
- Warranty: 10 years
The Tempur-Cloud is Tempur-Pedic’s basic mattress. Three different foams combine for a supportive but not too firm. This mattress also limits the spread of movements to minimize disruptions for your partner. The softer top layer adapts to your body and is able to support pressure points, making it a great choice for side sleepers.
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Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers
Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Bloom Hybrid Queen Mattress
Pros
- Firm, supportive feel
- Two depths available
Cons
- On the firmer side for side sleepers
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Hybrid
- Weight: 100 lbs
- Trial Period: 120 days
- Warranty: 10 years
The Brooklyn Bedding Bloom Essential Hybrid is a solid choice for back and stomach sleepers. You can choose between two mattress depths: 11 inches, which has a 1.5-inch layer of premium Talalay latex, or 14 inches with a 3-inch top layer for a plushier sleeping experience. Our tester found this mattress to be most comfortable when lying on their back or stomach. When sleeping on their side, they felt a minimal amount of pressure on the hips and shoulders. “Though the top foam is pretty responsive and plush, it just may not be deep enough to fully support those areas when side sleeping,” they said.
Best Budget Option
Tuft & Needle Tuft & Needle Original Queen Mattress
Pros
- Great quality for the price
Cons
- Might feel hot to some people
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Foam
- Weight: 72 lbs
- Trial Period: 100 days
- Warranty: 10 years
The Tufts & Needle Original Mattress is one of the more affordable options on the market. It’s a soft bed yet still feels sturdy and supportive thanks to the dual-layer foam construction. The top 3 inches are made from the company’s patented foam blend that cradles and supports key areas, like your hips and lower back. We found the foam makes this mattress comfortable for all sleeping positions.
Pros
- Handles on both sides make it easy to move and lift
Cons
- Expensive
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Hybrid
- Weight: 111 lbs
- Trial Period: 100 days
- Warranty: 10 years
The Wave Hybrid Snow mattress is made with Casper’s innovative Snow Technology, which the company says can keep you up to six degrees cooler. The tech includes a top fabric that feels cool to the touch, a layer of cooling gel, Airscape foam, and six HeatDelete Bands in the middle of the mattress that pull heat away from you. In our testing, this mattress was firmer than expected. “I have slept in it after hard workout days and lazy days, and the sleep is about the same. It is a mattress that feels good to lay down on and recharge. But it's not the coziest,” our tester reported.
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Pros
- Good value for the price
Cons
- Not as firm as other options
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Foam
- Weight: 80 lbs
- Trial Period: 100 days
- Warranty: 10 years
The Mint is an updated version of Tuft & Needle’s Original mattress. The company installs an additional layer of memory foam to the Mint, which makes it softer and ideal for side sleepers. The construction also makes this bed a good option for people who sleep hot. Even though it doesn’t provide as much cooling as some of the other more expensive options, it’s a great choice for the cost.
Pros
- Ideal for side sleepers
Cons
- Takes a few days to firm up
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Foam
- Weight: 125 lbs
- Trial Period: 100 days
- Warranty: 10 years
Sleep on Latex is known for its mattress and mattress toppers made from 100 percent natural latex, which is more breathable than memory foam. The Pure Green mattress is made from a supportive organic latex base, a softer layer of latex foam, and an additional layer of organic wool, all wrapped in a cotton exterior. The mattress with medium firmness is on the softer side, which makes it ideal for side sleepers. Still, it’s supportive enough for back and stomach sleepers without making you feel totally sunken into the bed.
Pros
- Best for people who like a softer mattress
Cons
- Tester observed that the mattress had a smell that lasted for about a week
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Hybrid
- Weight: 122 lbs
- Trial Period: 100 days
- Warranty: 10 years
The Purple Hybrid is a good choice if you’re looking for a mattress on the softer side that still feels supportive. Our tester reported that the mattress is soft when you press on it but feels firmer once you’re lying down. “My body was well supported from head to toe even though it feels like a very plush mattress,” our tester said.
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Pros
- Certified organic materials
- Lengthy trial period
Cons
- Shipping takes longer
Key Specs
- Construction Type: Hybrid
- Weight: 97 lbs
- Trial Period: 1 year
- Warranty: 25 years
The Avocado Green Mattress is a great choice if you’re looking for a bed made from environmentally friendly materials. The bed consists of certified organic latex, cotton, and wool—no polyester, polyurethane foams, or fire retardants here. Our tester reported that this bed is on the firmer side but feels a lot squishier with the additional two-inch foam pillow top.
Leeron Hoory
Leeron Hoory is a New York-based journalist with experience covering technology, health, and real estate. Her work has appeared in publications like Quartz, the Village Voice, Gothamist, and Slate, among others. She has reviewed home, outdoor and technology products for Popular Science, Tom's Guide, First for Women and Woman's World.
