Box mattresses made their way into the market back in 2016, making the bed-buying process cheaper and convenient. Gone is the hassle of scouting the mattress stores in person and the worry of strapping your chosen mattress to the roof of your car just to get it home. The best box mattresses deliver the bed of your dreams right to your door.
We've taken the time to test the box mattress from big-name brands like Casper, Nectar, and Emma. We've found the best cheap box (you can even order it on Amazon), the best box mattress for back pain, because box mattresses have a tendency to be too soft, and the best box mattress for side sleepers, you're sure to find a bed that best suits you.
With so many companies competing for the best box mattress, we've put quality, comfort, and convenience at the forefront to find only the best. After months of testing, these are the box mattresses that survived our tests to make it into our list of the best mattresses.
Best box mattress 2024
Why you should buy it
The Emma is the best box mattress at a fair price if convenience and comfort are your priorities.
Why we love it
This mattress 'instantly impressed' our tester Chiana Dickson, who found that even just sitting on this box bed was comfortable. A medium-firm bed, it gently cushions you without the sinking feeling of some memory foam mattresses. It's springy and responsive, bouncing back to form, and always feels stable and secure.
This is a truly comfortable mattress, helping reduce Chiana's joint pain. She was very impressed with the motion isolation and edge support, and though they could be better, it's a good performance at this price point. Though it retails for $1399 for a queen bed, it's often on sale for around $699. Combined with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty, it's excellent value.
Good to know
There's a chance that this mattress might not work for hot sleepers. Our tester Chiana tested it over February and March, and while they weren't uncomfortable, both she and her partner noted that the Emma Original sleeps much hotter than their previous mattress. We'll update this review in summer when we know how it sleeps in hotter months. It's also quite plush compared to most memory foams, so if you know you like a firmer sleep surface, or are on the heavier side, you may want to look at a hybrid instead.
Chiana's full Emma Original Mattress review has all the detail.
Best cheap mattress in a box
Why you should buy it
Arguably the most convenient bed you can buy, the Siena is just $499 for a queen, and available to buy on Amazon.
Why we love it
The stand out for this mattress is its price. Yes, mattresses in a box are cheaper than innerspring or non-box types, but this one is a great mattress, for an equally great price. It's new to the market and already has great reviews – our tester was impressed by its performance despite how cheap the bed really is. At half the price of sister brands Nectar mattresses, it offers great comfort and support for side sleepers. Ideal for students or those on a tight budget, and not a big space, this is a great mattress you can pick up quickly and easily.
Good to know
Don't expect amazing support with this affordable option. If you're someone with additional sleep needs like if you suffer from back pain, you may want to look for a box mattress with specialist features. Being a soft bed, customers describe it as 'like you're sleeping in the mattress as opposed to on top.' This also means edge support isn't great.
Best value box mattress
Why you should buy it:
Box mattresses aren't always of the best quality. This mattress has premium features at an incredible cost, making it the best value box mattress.
Why we love it:
The best thing about this mattress is its value for money. In our rundown of the best mattresses, it was narrowly beaten by a mattress that's almost $1000 more expensive. Not just a cheap option, this is a high-quality mattress, with a 14-inch profile. It looks indulgent and comfortable on almost any bed frame. Not only does it look the part, but its cashmere-topped cover will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and the quilted memory foam offers great pressure relief. For around $800 this mattress suits pretty much any sleep style. It skews to medium-firm, sitting in the sweet spot between too-firm and too-soft. Our reviewer Camyrn found that it was well-suited to both her and her husband, who have drastically different sleeping preferences.
Good to know:
Motion isolation isn't the best, so light sleepers might notice if their partner turns over during the night, and it may be a little firm for some.
Camryn's DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Review goes into more detail.
Best mattress in a box for side sleepers
Why you should buy it
This bed in a box suits side sleepers who need to keep their spine aligned
Why we love it:
This mattress has a high 'sink in' factor. If you like a soft bed, this mattress will contour around your body, offering relief beneath achy joints. This is thanks to a mix of mattress layers. The top comfort foam provides extra airflow to keep you cool, the pressure-relieving memory foam contours gently to your body and the dense 6” core adds support and durability for joints. We also like the super soft knitted top layer, which sleeps cool despite the soft memory foam.
Good to know:
The mattress initially feels quite firm but becomes incredibly giving as it warms to your body temperature. If you like a firm mattress, you'll find this far too soft. This softness also means that while others note the edge support and motion isolation leave something to be desired.
Our Leesa Original Memory Foam Mattress review goes into more detail.
Best box mattress for back pain
Why you should buy it:
Most memory foam mattresses are soft, which can be a problem if you suffer from back pain. This box option has proven to tackle aches and pains.
Why we love it
This firm mattress helped alleviate the pain of a bad back. It starts off firm, and as the memory foam heats up it gently molds to your body for excellent support. Our tester found it to be slightly on the firmer side of medium-firm – with the website ranking as 6.5 on a firmness scale of 1-10. Hence, users who like soft mattresses found them way too firm. Still, this is a great choice for front and back sleepers who need some support for their back.
It also features a cooling cover, so if you run hot, this is a good option. We also loved that it also had almost no motion transfer, so it's great for couples.
Good to know
This mattress helped relieve some of our tester's pain, but if you're suffering from aches and pains, a hybrid mattress may be better. A firmer mattress (note not too hard) can help with your back. That being said, you should always discuss back pain with a doctor if you're really struggling. This bed also gets mushy at the edges - you might not notice it as you sleep, but you might when sitting on the edge of the bed.
Our Nectar Memory foam mattress review goes into more detail.
Best cooling box mattress
Why you should buy it:
Box mattresses, typically made from memory foam are known to sleep hot. This hybrid box from Casper is the best cooling box mattress, ever.
Why we love it:
The Wave Hybrid Snow lives up to Casper's claim that it'll keep you cool for at least 12 hours. Tested in a steamy summer down in Georgia, this mattress passed our tests with flying colors. If you sleep hot, this is the mattress for you. The Snow technology is an add-on to the Wave Hybrid Mattress, which is itself a fantastic bed. A combination of 3 different zones keeps your spine aligned; softer foam toward the top of the bed gently sinks the shoulders, combined with a denser foam in the middle to support the waist, as well as gel pods for the lower back that add further support.
Good to know:
The edge support on this mattress could be better as it gets a little mushy at the corners. What's more, despite box mattresses tending to be a cheap option, this bed is very expensive.
Our Casper Wave Hybrid Snow review goes into more detail.
How we test box mattresses
For more information on how we test mattresses, from the best box to cooling you can refer to our guide. And for more general insight into our hands-on review process, you can see how we test review guidelines.
When it comes to box mattresses mind, there are a few things we pay special attention to. This includes the convenience of delivery, performance, and cost. Box mattresses are known to not be as good quality as non-box types. Due to the fact they have to be compressed and rolled up inside a box to be delivered to your door, firmness and materials used may be compromised. It is impossible to fit an innerspring into an easy-to-move box. Because of this, the price tends to be lower. That's not to say box mattresses aren't as good as non. This all depends on your needs.
All of the mattresses on this best list with rankings have been personally reviewed by members of our team, based on their first-hand experience of using these products at home. Testers sleep on each featured mattress for at least a month and will often return a few months later to keep you up-to-date with how the mattress fares long-term.You can meet our team of expert testers below:
Louise is our dedicated Sleep Editor, covering mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows, bedding, and anything else you need for a good night's sleep. She has plenty of experience in the industry. She previously covered on mattress reviews and news for Real Homes, as well as a stint on the other side of the aisle as a PR representative for a mattress company.
Our former sleep ecommerce editor, Jaclyn frequently tests out and stays up to date on all things mattresses and bedding. She's not willing to sacrifice comfort or value and is after a mattress that makes it easy to sleep through the night. In addition to Homes & Gardens, you can find her work in Real Homes, Livingetc, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, and The Spruce. She lives in Atlanta, GA.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her five years as a product tester, she's tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more. Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island.
Jamie Davis Smith is a writer, attorney, and product reviewer with more than ten years of experience. She has tested hundreds of items first-hand, sometimes with the help of her four children. As a working mother of four, Jamie values a good night’s sleep above all else.
Her review of the Helix Midnight Mattress is based on her first-hand experience, as she and her partner slept on the mattress for just under a month before writing this review.
Chiana is our Junior Writer, and spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website. She helps readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips. She reviewed the Emma Original mattress for this guide.
How to choose a box mattress
When it comes to box mattresses, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with browsing through pages and pages of mattresses online. So to help filter out the masses of mattresses, you should focus on two things: your sleep needs, and your budget.
- Sleep needs: There are box mattresses to suit different needs. Pay attention to the features the mattress offers to find the best one for you. Do you sleep hot? Most bed in the box types will be memory foam, which are known to radiate heat – look for one with cooling properties. If you suffer from back pain a box mattress might not be best either. Most will be soft, and not offer enough support.
- Budget: Generally box mattress are quite affordable, which means there's probably one that will work for your budget. But go too low, and you could run the risk of your mattress not lasting very long and lacking in performance. Make sure you have a price in mind to find a box mattress that offers good enough quality for the cost.
Box mattresses: FAQs
Should I go for a box mattress or buy one in store?
Some readers will simply want to see their mattress in person before buying it. That's a perfectly smart move; outside of a home, a car, or a degree, a mattress is one of the biggest single purchases most of us make in our lives.
The advantage of box mattresses, however, is that they're cheap and convenient. Because it's such a competitive market, there are mattress sales almost constantly and the big manufacturers are always dropping their prices to try and get the better of each other. Box mattresses can be hundreds of dollars cheaper and be delivered straight to your door. If you buy directly from the retailer too, you can benefit from perks such as sleep trials, hassle-free returns, and warranties. It's basically better sleep, or your money back.
How long does it take to deliver a mattress in a box?
It will vary by the brand and where you're based, but the brands like Nectar tend to deliver in 3-5 days. It's common to wait between 7-10 days for your new bed. They're also likely to offer a service that takes away your current mattress for you. This saves many from dumping their mattress in landfill and instead recycling them.
If your mattress is in good condition, but you're uncomfortable and looking for a cheap way to upgrade your sleep, then you could consider a mattress topper. Also affordable and can be delivered to your door, a mattress topper is a great way to change your sleep surface, without ordering a brand-new bed.
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