10 Best Mattresses in a Box in 2023

Dec 09, 2023

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I've had more than 70 mattresses delivered to my home for my job as a product reviewer, and I much prefer the mattress-in-a-box experience to white-glove delivery. The convenience is unparalleled.

Usually, within two weeks of your order, a delivery driver drops off a mattress in a box at your door. You can set it up at your convenience. Setup rarely takes more than 10 minutes when you have someone to help you with the lifting. All the mattresses in this guide have home trial periods of at least 90 nights, so you have plenty of time to decide if the mattress is right for you.

I slept on all of the beds for at least two weeks. After putting them through a series of tests, I've selected mattresses for all sleeping styles, body types, budgets, and needs. You can read more about our testing methodology and find answers to mattress-in-a-box FAQs at the end of this article.

Best overall: Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress - See at LeesaThe Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress's mix of memory foam and pocket springs provides an average firmness that makes it an outstanding solution for all sleeping positions.

Best budget: Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress - See at WalmartSleepers of all types will appreciate the average firmness and budget-friendly price of the Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress.

Best foam: Tempur-Pedic Cloud Mattress - See at Tempur-PedicThe Tempur-Pedic Cloud Mattress features contouring foam that cradles sleepers of all body types and sleeping styles while offering outstanding pressure relief and heat dissipation.

Best ultra-firm: Airweave Mattress - See at AirweaveThe Airweave Mattress has a breathable and non-toxic polyethylene core that offers ultra-firm support to all parts of the bed, even the very edges.

Best soft: Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress - See at AmazonCasper's Nova Hybrid Mattress is a great option for people looking for a soft and plush yet supportive mattress.

Best for stomach sleepers: Awara Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress - See at AwaraWith its plush Euro-top and supportive feel, the Awara Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress supplies the ideal balance of comfort and support for stomach sleepers to get a good night's sleep.

Best for back sleepers: Helix Midnight Mattress - See at HelixWhile not bargain-basement cheap, the couples-friendly Helix Midnight Mattress is one of the most affordable mattresses we tested, and it doesn't compromise on comfort or quality.

Best cooling: Nest Bedding Finch Latex Mattress - See at NestThe Nest Bedding Finch Latex Mattress both stayed cool and dissipated heat quickly, and its medium firmness will appeal to most sleepers.

Best for heavy people: Big Fig Mattress - See at Big FigThe Big Fig Mattress is constructed for heavier individuals, with firm support and a high weight capacity for the bed and the included foundation.

Best latex: Birch Mattress by Helix - See at BirchThe Birch Mattress by Helix is made of sustainable, environmentally friendly materials and offers firm and soft comfort options to accommodate several preferences.

Pros: Edge support and motion dampening are perfect for couples, medium firmness suitable for all sleep positions, pocket springs and foam provide support and breathability

Cons: A bit unwieldy to move around

Prior to regularly testing mattresses, I slept Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress for a full year and loved it. It's ideal for all sleeping styles. My wife and I are combination sleepers — she spends more time on her back and I on my side. We were both impressed with the Leesa Sapira's exceptional combination of support and comfort.

The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid and Casper Nova Hybrid are the only mattresses I've tested that compare in comfort to the Leesa Sapira, but the Sapira is the only one that isn't too soft for stomach and back sleepers. It's also the best bed-in-a-box for back pain. I have intermittent back pain, but I rarely experienced flare-ups while testing the Sapira. Couples will also appreciate the impressive motion isolation properties and edge support that keeps you comfortable to the very edge of the bed.

The Leesa Sapira is made up of four layers of foam and airflow-facilitating pocket springs. Even on the most humid nights, my hot-sleeping body stayed cool.

Read our full Leesa Hybrid Mattress review

Editor's note: Zinus is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that fiberglass in the company's mattresses has led to serious health issues. Check out our full article on the lawsuit for more details.

Pros: Medium firmness is ideal for most sleeping styles, made of gel memory foam that stayed cool in our tests, great edge support, four thickness options, good motion isolation

Cons: Not available in Cal king or twin XL, uniform construction may not keep the spine optimally aligned, very little bounce

While it doesn't provide as much comfort as a mattress that costs two or three times as much, the sub-$400 Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress is a budget-friendly option for sleepers with flexible comfort preferences. Gel memory foam is one of my favorite materials to sleep on with its impressive cooling properties, and this was particularly true with the Zinus, which was among the best performers in our cooling tests.

The foam did a decent job of adjusting to the contours of my body, but it didn't feel as dynamic and supportive as pricier beds. I had trouble keeping my spine optimally aligned while lying on it. To avoid stiffness, I frequently shifted positions in the night, whether on my back, stomach, or side. For this reason, individuals prone to muscle soreness or joint pain might want to pass on the Zinus Green Tea mattress.

The mattress comes in four thicknesses: 6, 8, 10, and 12 inches, which I tested. I would caution against purchasing the thinner models because I've found mattresses under 10 inches thick tend not to offer enough support. Couples will appreciate the above-average edge support and motion isolation.

Pros: Caters to all sleep styles, features 10 inches and 3 layers of comfortable and supportive foam, great motion isolation, 90-night trial, outstanding heat dissipation

Cons: No white-glove delivery, shipping deducted from your refund if return mattress, poor edge support

This is one of the most comfortable mattresses I've ever tested. Whether I slept on my side or stomach. I fell asleep within a few minutes of lying down each night. My back-sleeping wife also enjoyed the feel of the mattress. What sets Tempur-Pedic Cloud apart from other foam mattresses is its proprietary CertiPUR-US certified memory foam. It contours to your body to offer an impressive balance of support, pressure relief, and comfort.

The Cloud has three foam layers: a durable and supportive base, a firm middle support layer, and a top layer of responsive and soft foam. The cover is made of a polyester blend for breathability and moisture-wicking.

The excellent heat dissipation kept me cool. In addition to passing my bowling ball motion-transfer tests, the Tempur-Pedic Cloud dampened the motion so much that I didn't notice when my rambunctious rat terrier jumped on board. However, the bed has poor edge support. When I lay or sat on the edge of the mattress, there was significant sinkage.

Read our full Tempur-Pedic Cloud Mattress review

Pros: Machine-washable cover, decent motion isolation, great heat dissipation, 100-night sleep trial, excellent edge support, comes with soft insert that transforms mattress from ultra-firm to just firm

Cons: Not recommended for side sleepers, hard to move around, some assembly required

Most mattresses in a box come vacuum-sealed, and the setup process involves nothing more than removing the packaging. The Airweave Mattress bucks that trend. It comes fully expanded in two boxes and consists of three polyethylene blocks that you zip up in a machine-washable cover. You can choose to add the included soft polyester insert to give the mattress a firm, rather than ultra-firm, feel.

I've found that mattresses that are less than 10 inches thick usually aren't supportive enough, but the 8-inch-thick Airweave is the exception. It provided plenty of support, and the firmness also continued to the very edges of the bed for excellent edge support. The motion transfer is good. In my bowling ball tests, the can would only fall over sometimes. Yet it's so bouncy that subsequent bounces of the ball would cause the can to tumble over.

Even with the soft insert added, the Airweave is quite firm. However, I slept comfortably on both my stomach and back. Plus, the breathable core with its open structure kept it cool through the night.

Pros: Plush comfort perfect for side sleepers, good edge support, made with eco-friendly materials, outstanding heat dissipation, 100-night risk-free trial

Cons: Failed motion transfer tests, held onto its new bed odor, may not be supportive enough for back or stomach sleepers

In addition to being the best soft mattress, the Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress landed in the top spot in our guide to the best mattresses for side sleepers. Because of its soft feel, it's also the ideal solution for petite sleepers who might not sink into firmer mattresses and older individuals who need a little extra soothing comfort.

After testing all of the top mattresses from Casper, one of the leading names in the bed-in-a-box industry, I found the Nova Hybrid was the most comfortable and best at cooling. The CertiPUR-US certified foams feature ergonomic zones that are softer under the shoulders and firmer around the lower back, hips, and waist. The pocket coils add durability and support. Thanks to a firm foam border, it performed well in our edge-support tests. However, the bed has noticeable motion transfer. It failed our bowling ball test, and as my wife shifted positions in the night, I could feel her movements.

Casper recently introduced a new version of this bed, the Nova Hybrid Snow, which costs $500 more and is supposed to offer better cooling. I still prefer the Nova Hybrid and found the new model doesn't have as good of edge support and any heat dissipation improvements were minimal.

Read our full Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress review

Pros: Handles on all four sides for easy moving, made of environmentally friendly materials, good heat dissipation

Cons: Sides sink significantly when sitting, heavy, may be too firm for side sleepers

Stomach sleepers tend to gravitate toward firmer mattresses because they do a better job keeping the spine aligned in that position, which protects against back pain. With its firm, comfortable support, the Awara Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress is great for stomach sleepers.

Although I am a combination sleeper, I preferred to sleep on my stomach while testing the Awara. I didn't experience soreness during the two-week testing period. A plush organic wool Euro-top adds some additional comfort. Below that is a layer of Dunlop latex certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Individually wrapped coils make up the support core.

The motion isolation and edge support were average. While some people might appreciate how bouncy the bed is, it failed our motion isolation tests but not by much. This is one of the heaviest mattresses in our guide, but the handles sewn into the sides made it easier to maneuver.

Pros: Great for stomach and back sleepers, outstanding edge support, OKEO-TEX and CertiPUR-US certified, easy to move, good motion isolation

Cons: Side sleepers may find it uncomfortable, strong initial odor, poor heat dissipation

Experts recommend mattresses with a medium-firm feel for back sleepers to keep their spine in a neutral position, so it's no surprise the medium-firm Helix Midnight Mattress is our pick for the best bed-in-a-box for back sleepers. I found sleeping on my stomach and back were most comfortable on this bed.

The Helix Midnight is made of OEKO-TEX and CertiPUR-US certified materials in the US. Cushioning memory foam makes up the top layer. Then there are two layers of pressure-relieving, supportive foam. It gets support, durability, and motion-dampening help from the individually wrapped pocket coils in the base. While the plush cover is supposed to help with airflow, the Midnight did not dissipate heat well.

The outstanding motion isolation makes this a great mattress for couples. When my kid bounded onto the bed, I barely felt them. And, the bed passed my bowling ball test. Plus, the edge support is among the best I've ever experienced. When sitting on the bed's sides, I didn't sink much, and while lying down, I didn't roll off until I was on the very edge.

Pros: Average firmness appeals to most sleepers, many individual standards organizations have certified the bed's materials, stays cool and dissipates heat well, exceptional edge support

Cons: Hard to move, poor motion dampening

We named the Nest Bedding Finch Latex Mattress our top pick in our best cooling mattresses guide. In my tests, it had some of the lowest temperature readings. I even had to add an extra blanket while testing one night because I was so cold.

You can choose between a firm or medium feel when ordering. Testing the medium firmness, I was comfortable in all sleeping positions, suggesting the Finch will appeal to hot sleepers who sleep on their stomach, back, side, or a combination of these positions.

The Finch's top layer is made up of organic cotton, wool, and CertiPUR-US-certified foam which gives it good airflow and bounce. Two OEKO-TEX-certified latex layers are beneath that. The top latex layer provides firmness while the bottom latex layer offers support, structure, and durability. The motion transfer is quite noticeable, but couples will appreciate the good edge support.

Pros: Above-average heat dissipation, firm, excellent edge support, 1,100-pound weight capacity, good motion isolation

Cons: Might be uncomfortable for petite people and side sleepers, hard to maneuver

The Big Fig Mattress is perfect for heavier individuals because it has firmer-than-average support and a weight capacity of 1,100 pounds. The cover features cooling materials. Three CertiPUR-US certified foam layers are below that offering durability, edge support, and airflow. The base of the mattress is made up of individually wrapped coils for durability and support.

Due to the Big Fig's firm feel, I preferred sleeping on my stomach and back but not on my side while testing it. Heavier individuals may still be comfortable on their side since the mattress will sink in more, keeping the spine aligned.

The Big Fig's edge support was exceptional. Even as I lay right on the edge, I was as comfortable as in the middle of the bed. It also offered an impressive balance of bounce and motion isolation. In my experience, the motion dampening was good, though the mattress failed the bowling ball test.

Save $300 on the Big Fig Mattress when using the code FORME at checkout.

Pros: Made of natural materials, above-average firmness, Greenguard Gold certified, outstanding motion isolation, soft topper available for an added cost

Cons: May be uncomfortable for side sleepers without the pillow top, pillow top doesn't attach to mattress and is slightly smaller than it

I've found latex mattresses are more responsive and cooler than memory foam. This was true with the Birch Mattress by Helix. On its own, the mattress is firm, but you can add a soft organic mattress topper, which is sold separately.

The mattress is Greenguard Gold-certified to be free of harsh chemicals and is made of environmentally friendly materials. The top layer consists of wool fibers with rayon. Below is a comforting wool layer that helps with temperature regulation. Latex and individually wrapped coils make up the middle layers and offer motion-dampening and support for all sleep styles and for couples. The base gets its stability and durability from wool batting, and the mattress comes with a cotton cover.

The Birch is ideal for couples because of its excellent motion isolation and edge support. I gave the bed to my 6-foot-5 kid when I was done testing it. They suffer from joint pain and said the bed helped soothe their aches. Both of us sleep hot, but the Birch kept us cool on all but the hottest of nights.

I slept on all of the mattresses for a minimum of 14 days and put them through a battery of tests.

Attribute

Zinus Green Tea

Tempur-Cloud

Airweave

Casper Nova Hybrid

Awara Luxury Hybrid

Helix Midnight

Nest Finch

Big Fig

Birch by Helix

Firmness (1 softest to 10 firmest)

5

5.5

6

10 (9 with insert)

4

6

6

5.5

7

7

Motion Isolation (1 awful to 10 best)

7

6

7

7

3

5

4

4

6

10

Edge Support (1 awful to 10 best)

7

6

3

10

6

5

9

9

10

10

Heat Dissipation (1 traps heat to 10 stays cool)

7

7

9

7

8

6

3

10

6

5

Trial Period

100 nights

100 nights

90 nights

100 nights

100 nights

100 nights

100 nights

365 nights

120 nights

90 nights

Warranty

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

25 years

10 years

Lifetime

20 years

10 years

Comfort: I evaluate the firmness of each mattress by comparing it to my experiences with dozens of other models I've tested. My subjective experience also plays into my evaluations of a mattress's support and comfort. I note which sleeping positions my body gravitates toward. Heat dissipation is also important. I measure this using an infrared thermometer, taking measurements before, right after, and two minutes after lying on the bed for at least an hour.

Trial and warranty: I look at whether or not there's white-glove delivery and how much it costs, if the bed is available to test in showrooms, and the fine print of the home trial and warranty. The return policy is also important because this is what sets mattresses in a box apart: You want a mattress that you can try out for months risk-free before committing to it.

Setup: If you don't get white-glove delivery, you want the setup to be as effortless as possible. I time how long it takes me to unbox a mattress and note any strange or confusing steps. Most take less than five minutes. I also take a good whiff to see if there was a "new bed smell" and check again before going to bed (at least 10 hours later) to see if the odor has dissipated.

Motion isolation: A partner's tossing and turning can wake you up in the night, so it's important to find a mattress in a box with good motion isolation. In addition to tracking my subjective experience, I perform an objective test where I drop a 15-pound bowling ball onto the mattress from a height of 4 feet so that it lands 12 inches from a 12-ounce can of soda pop. If the can stays upright, the bed has good motion isolation. If it doesn't, the motion isolation is poor.

Edge support: This is a somewhat subjective test. I lie on the very edge of the bed and slowly roll until I literally fall. I note how much I'm able to roll before I fall. I also sit on the side of the bed and put my shoes and socks on and observe how much the mattress sinks. When sleeping on the bed, I pay attention to how I feel close to the edges and if it feels like I'm going to fall off.

Portability: We don't weigh portability heavily, but it's useful to know how easy a mattress is to move around if you frequently redecorate or relocate, regularly rotate your bed to increase its longevity, or need to reposition it to put on fitted sheets. I move each mattress around several times during testing and note if it flops around, has handles, or is hard to move in general.

While the line between the two continues to blur, a mattress in a box is traditionally made of foam, pocket coils, or a combination of the two and comes with a long home trial. Traditional mattresses tend to feature innersprings that can't be compressed in a box. You can try them in showrooms before you buy.

The warranty is a good indicator of how long you can expect your mattress in a box to last. Most brands offer warranties of at least 10 years, so you can expect your mattress to last that long. If it starts to show significant defects or deterioration before then, take advantage of the warranty.

Most mattress brands will tell you what bed frames work best with the mattress you are buying. In general, you want a firm, supportive foundation. This might include wooden boards or slats that are no more than a couple of inches apart. Check out our bed frame guide for the best options.

Unbox your mattress within a day or two of its arrival since prolonged time spent in the vacuum seal could impact its structural integrity. With the help of another person, open one end of the box and tip it onto your foundation or bed frame. Lift the unopened end of the box and shake the sealed mattress onto the foundation. Use extreme caution when removing the packaging and cut parallel to the mattress. You can use a slitter or other cutting implement to cut through the first layer of plastic, but it may be easier to just unroll the plastic with a yanking motion. Then unfold the mattress onto your foundation. You may need to flip it so the top is facing up. Lastly, I use a yanking motion while trying to keep the mattress in place so I can remove the plastic from the bottom side.

This varies by manufacturer. Once you sleep on a mattress, the manufacturer can't resell it. They may coordinate with a local organization to recycle your mattress or donate it to those in need. If you're concerned about the environmental impact your returned mattress might have, we encourage you to ask the manufacturer what they do with returned mattresses in your area.

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