We Asked an Expert What Really Matters When Buying a New Bed-in-a-Box

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It's true, bed-in-a-box mattresses have changed the game when it comes to shopping for new mattresses online. This is because they offer so much impressive variety in terms of firmness levels, cooling properties, materials, and special features, all with the convenience of being shipped directly to your doorstep via standard ground shipping.

Of course, all of these options can be overwhelming. Our guide to the best bed-in-a-box mattresses offers a curated look at the top-rated and best user-tested sleep surfaces to help make this important decision a much easier one for you.

The Best Bed-in-a-Box Mattresses:

What to Consider

To help us make sense of all the choices that are out there, we asked Lexie Sachs, the textiles director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, about what's most important to keep in mind when shopping for a new bed-in-a-box mattress.

Compare Trial Periods and Return Policies

Sachs' first piece of advice, even before choosing a mattress-in-a-box brand, is to read the fine print of the ones you're considering.

“I would say one of the most important things to look for when shopping for online mattresses is the return policy,” she says. This is your insurance in the event that the product doesn’t work for you. “Most online brands offer at least a 100-day return policy, but the specifics can vary with things like return pick-up fees and how to schedule the return. It’s also worth checking what happens to the mattress if you don’t keep it, like whether the brand will donate it to a local charity.”

Decide on Your Mattress Type

Once you've zeroed in on a brand with a solid return policy, you'll have to decide whether you want a foam or hybrid mattress. Many mattress-in-a-box brands now offer both types.

Sachs explains a simple rule of thumb to differentiate between them: “Just consider the type of feel you’re looking for and identify what your idea of comfort is. Foam will give you a pressure-relieving, sinking-in feel, while innerspring mattresses have more of the bounce feel you expect from traditional mattresses.”

Knowing what kind of a sleeper you (and your partner) are can also help guide you to the right material and firmness.

Sachs says, “Side sleepers need something softer with pressure relief around their hips and shoulders, stomach sleepers should go for something firmer, and back sleepers (or people who move around) fall into the medium firmness range. Also, consider your body type; lightweight sleepers need softer, whereas heavier bodies need firmer.”

Consider the Cost

The prices alone are a good reason to consider swapping your old sleep surface for a bed-in-a-box mattress. As with other direct-to-consumer business models, many mattress start-ups are able to keep their prices low by selling directly through their website instead of through a third-party marketplace. But as some brands begin to increase their product range by offering specialized or luxe versions of their flagship mattresses, the prices can climb.

Sach’s advice? “Don’t get hung up on marketing claims. We’ve noticed a lot of brands try to make their bed-in-a-box standout with unique claims (e.g., designed for athlete recovery), but they’re usually very similar to others on the market ... I’ve typically found that the mid-range, around $1,000, is always a safe bet.”

“Don’t get hung up on marketing claims ... I’ve typically found that the mid-range, around $1,000, is always a safe bet.”

Start-up mattress brands also seem to frequently run sales promotions. It's worth watching these brands on social media or through their email newsletters (especially around major shopping holidays), as you may be able to purchase a mattress and bedding bundle at a deep discount.

How We Chose

We've chosen the following 10 bed-in-a-box mattresses for their crowd-pleasing quality, transparency in material construction, and positive feedback from reviewers, as well as our team's testing.

Because all of these products have some memory-foam component to their construction, we've also ensured that all of the brands listed here use CertiPUR-US-certified foams in their products. This certification ensures that all of the foams used meets their standards for content, emissions, and durability.

Ready to seriously improve the quality of your sleep? Read on to learn more about the best bed-in-a-box mattresses you can buy.

Best Overall

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Hybrid

• Available sizes: Twin through California king

• Trial period: 120 nights

While certain mattress brands offer either just one type of mattress or a couple of different firmness options, the Layla Hybrid Mattress combines these two offerings into one meticulously designed product. We think it's the best mattress you can buy because of its unique dual-sided construction, which allows you to choose between sleeping on either its soft or firm side.

Reviewers absolutely love having the choice between the two sides instead of committing to a mattress that offers one firmness and no variation. They also attest that both sides of the Layla Hybrid Mattress are very supportive — according to one reviewer, “We tried the ‘firm’ side for a week. My husband’s shoulder hurt when he woke up. We turned it over and LOVE it! I don’t get as warm as I used to, and, the best part: We don’t wake each other up when getting out, or in, bed during the night.”

Just keep in mind that flipping will be a two-person job, since the mattress weighs over 100 pounds, although there are handles built into the product just for this purpose.

This unique mattress comprises four layers of memory foam that are arranged specifically so that sleepers can reap the benefits of their chosen side, as well as a layer of pocketed coils sandwiched right in the middle. The 14-gauge center coils help with motion isolation, so you can flip over without disturbing your bed partner or pet, and the 16-gauge coils around the perimeter of the mattress give it enhanced edge support. The whole piece is covered by a smooth polyester/viscose/lycra cover.

Layla's mattress has something else that many other mattresses don't: copper cells that are infused within its memory-foam core. Copper is naturally antimicrobial and antiviral, adept at killing bacteria caused by skin cells, sweat, and other environmental allergens, and this addition to the material is meant to help prevent the mattress from becoming a hotbed for germs.

Best Mattress on Amazon

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Foam

• Available sizes: Twin through California king

• Trial period: 100 nights

Just because you can immediately Prime-ship yourself the cheapest mattress you can find on Amazon, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do your homework first!

The Tuft & Needle Original Mattress may be made up of just two foam layers, but both of these components can be actively felt by the user. The 2-inch top layer consists of their own proprietary Adaptive Foam, which is a responsive material that contours and supports the body and is also infused with graphite and cooling gel for added heat-wicking properties. The foundational base layer is made of high-density foam, and the mattress's cover is made of a soft and breathable micro-polyamide and polyester blend.

For stomach and back sleepers, the Tuft & Needle mattress has all of the supportive elements for a comfy night's sleep. Side sleepers, however, may find there to be a little too much pushback at the hips. Though the Adaptive Foam may change over time with use, folks who are not used to sleeping on responsive foam may find it tough to adjust to this one.

Comfy tip: We loved testing Tuft & Needle's pillow during our test of the best pillows, and we highly recommend it as an addition to this (or any) mattress. It's made entirely of the same Adaptive Foam that's in the mattress and has maintained its same cushy springiness, even with nightly use over the course of several months.

Best Budget Mattress

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Hybrid

• Available sizes: Twin through California king

• Trial period: 100 nights

The Allswell Mattress is the most inexpensive bed-in-a-box mattress that we could find that also boasts high-quality construction. This hybrid model comprises cooling, graphite-and-copper-infused memory foam atop hundreds of individually wrapped coils.

This 10-inch-high mattress also offers edge support, so the coils around the edges are considerably less malleable — this feature prevents that unstable, sinking feeling when you sit on the edge of the bed. The feel is described by reviewers as being quite soft, with the top layer of memory foam providing a contoured, "cradled" feeling.

The pricing of the Allswell Mattress ranges from $339 for a twin to just $539 for a California king — so, if you need a brand-new mattress (or two) on the cheap, this is the one to get.

Best for Pressure Relief

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Foam with a GelFlex Grid top layer

• Available sizes: Twin through California king, including split king

• Trial period: 100 nights

Want a mattress that feels addictively cushy? The Purple Mattress is for you. It features a uniquely responsive grid-shaped layer called the GelFlex Grid, which is made of a proprietary Hyper-Elastic Polymer.

This layer is soft, stretchy, and highly responsive. The grid's shape isolates motion transfer and conforms just enough to offer the right balance of sink and support for every user. It also allows air to flow through more freely than from a pure foam layer. Underneath the grid layer are two layers of foam: One that's designed for added responsiveness to complement the Hyper-Elastic Polymer and a foundational layer for support.

Keep in mind that if you favor the uniform bounce of an innerspring mattress, the original Purple Mattress may be a major adjustment for you. The brand also offers a hybrid mattress, which keeps the top grid layer but swaps out the memory foam for wrapped coils. For folks who need a high level of pressure-point alleviation, however, the Purple Mattress may be one of the best mattresses you can buy, and we think that any sleep position could benefit from using it.

Best Variety

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Hybrid

• Available sizes: Twin through California king

• Trial period: 100 nights

Helix offers an impressive amount of firmness variety in the bed-in-a-box space, making it a great choice for folks who aren't sure where to begin their search for a new mattress. They currently offer six different hybrid mattresses of varying pressure-relief and body-contouring support levels, along with a Luxe version of each mattress that provides more lumbar support, along with a pillow-top surface and a cooling cover. You can even take a free quiz to match with the mattress that is best suited for your sleep preferences.

Helix’s Midnight Hybrid Mattress is the brand’s most popular model, offering medium firmness and a support level that’s constructed for side sleepers. I’ve lived with this mattress for 6 years, and it continues to be one of the most comfortable mattresses I’ve ever slept on. Its top layer of proprietary memory foam is very cushy and responsive — it perfectly contours the body whether I'm sitting or lying on it. There’s also a second layer of support foam covering the rows of wrapped coils right underneath.

And while the Helix Midnight Mattress is compatible with my side-sleeping preferences, reviewers of all other sleep types also find that it works for them, too. Says one person, “My partner is a side and stomach sleeper, I’m a side and back sleeper. We both really enjoy the mattress, took some weeks to break it in and get used to it but we love it.”

If you want a high-quality mattress and you don't need all of the pricey bells and whistles, the Helix Midnight Hybrid Mattress is an excellent choice.

Best Memory-Foam Mattress

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Foam

• Available sizes: Twin through California king, including split king

• Trial period: 365 nights

The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress proves that you don't have to break the bank for a fantastic sleep surface. It has four layers of memory-foam mattress that's covered by a cooling-fabric cover. In my own experience in sleeping on this foam mattress for over 2 years, there is no unstable sinking or uncomfortable pushback when lying on its surface.

This 12-inch-high mattress is on the firm side (particularly for side sleepers), but every element from its soft, quilted cover to its three memory-foam layers comfortably contour the body without any cratered feeling. There is also very little motion transfer from one side of the bed to the other, making this mattress a great pick for couples, as well. I’ve also noticed in changing the sheets on this bed that the corners of the mattress are very light and easy to lift.

While you can buy upgraded models of this same mattress that are taller and offer more cooling features, if budget is of the utmost concern, the Nectar Memory-Foam Mattress is a cheap yet comfortable product that doesn’t cut corners. Plus, you can purchase with total peace of mind, thanks to the brand's impressive year-long trial period.

Best Cooling Mattress

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Foam

• Available sizes: Twin through California king, including split king

• Trial period: 120 nights

Most bed-in-a-box mattresses have some cooling element in their product, but optimal temperature regulation is the core idea behind the construction of the Bear Mattress.

This mattress comprises three layers of memory foam, starting with a graphite-gel layer at the very top, which is meant to wick away body heat, followed by a responsive, pressure-relieving foam layer, and a support foam layer at its base. It also has a cool-to-the-touch cover, which is made from Celliant, a material that's been clinically proven to help users stay asleep through the night.

Reviewers attest that this medium-firm cooling mattress is incredibly supportive without being rock-solid. It supports movement for all sleep positions without kinking the body out of alignment.

Best for Targeted Comfort

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Foam

• Available sizes: Twin through California king

• Trial period: 100 nights

The Casper Original Mattress is one of the most name-brand-recognizable bedding products on the market, and what keeps it at the forefront of the bed-in-a-box marketplace is that it frequently updates its flagship product with new design features. Named the best overall boxed mattress from the Good Housekeeping Institute, the latest version of Casper's Original Mattress has three foam layers — but it now offers Zoned Support, which provides a firmer feel to the hip area and a softer, more cushioned texture to the shoulder area.

The Zoned Support may be embedded in the very middle of this mattress, but having slept on it myself, it is a noticeable feature. At the surface level, the mattress is pleasantly cushy, and its lack of pushback allows sleepers to nestle in without their back or shoulders getting thrown out of alignment. The mattress's firmness is very balanced, and I found it to be quite soft while also very supportive.

Our editor Stefan Vazharov also owns this mattress, and in his review, he specifically touts its cooling properties. “The cooling layer works very effectively,” he says. “By helping my body maintain optimal temperature, it put an end to tossing and turning. On a few occasions, I even found my cat sound asleep at my feet, no longer swatting at them as I try to get comfortable.” After living with this mattress for 2 years, Vazharov says that this mattress still feels wonderful, but he does note that its motion transfer isn't the best.

The Casper Original Mattress also comes in a hybrid form, for those who favor innerspring support over all-foam.

Best Hybrid Mattress

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Hybrid

• Available sizes: Twin through California king

• Trial period: 100 nights

As aforementioned, many bed-in-a-box brands now offer a hybrid mattress in addition to an all-foam model. But the Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress is a standout product for its 11-inch-high, three-layer construction, which comprises a ventilated responsive-foam layer, a contouring memory-foam layer, a support memory-foam layer, and over 1,000 individually wrapped coils at its base. It's also covered by a super soft, quilted material.

This hybrid mattress has also garnered top marks from Wirecutter and Mattress Advisor, which tout the mattress's breathability, limited motion transfer, softness, and exceptional support as being well worth the slightly higher price tag.

Leesa is also a certified B Corporation brand with a charitable initiative of donating one mattress to a family for every 10 that they sell.

Best for Sore Backs

Key Specs

• Mattress type: Foam

• Available sizes: Twin through California king

• Trial period: 365 nights

If sleeping on your old mattress is a total pain in the neck (and back), the Molecule 2 AirTEC Mattress is designed to address this sore subject.

This mattress comprises four layers of foam, including a proprietary foam called AirTEC that has larger-than-average cells to better help facilitate airflow instead of retaining it — this material is also buoyant and supportive, just like regular memory foam or latex foam. The whole mattress is engineered to help those with chronic or injury-related body pains, so it's a little firmer than average, but it offers the very best in support.

When our tester Perri O. Blumberg tried this mattress out, she needed a few days to adjust

to the ultra supportive feel. But, as she says, “By day five on the Molecule 2 AirTEC mattress, I was waking up feeling more rejuvenated than ever, and I really felt like the amount of deep sleep I was logging has significantly improved in my first month of use.”

Another unique feature of the Molecule 2 AirTEC Mattress is its cover. It's made of a soft, cool-to-the-touch, polyester/lycra fabric that's infused with an antimicrobial treatment called Microban that's meant to stop microbes from spreading on the surface of your mattress — that's great news for allergy sufferers!

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