If you've ever heard the term "mattress in a box," chances are you've also heard of Casper. When the brand first launched nearly 10 years ago, most mattresses were purchased in stores, but Casper normalized the concept of buying your mattress online and having it shipped to your doorstep for DIY setup. As a result of the brand's success, boxed mattresses have hit the mainstream and become popular for shoppers who are looking to skip the headache and hassle of browsing models in mattress stores.
What's the best Casper mattress? After thoroughly reviewing surveys from our mattress testers and consumer panel, we recommend Casper's Original Mattress because it offers the best bang for your buck. It's the most popular model and made entirely of foam, which makes it more affordable than hybrid mattresses with coils. It also stands out for its ergonomic zones to help sleepers stay in proper alignment.
Although the brand has been around for nearly a decade, Casper's Original Mattress has gone through some upgrades over the years, like zoned sections for support and perforations for airflow. The brand has also introduced several other models at different price points to meet the needs of a wide range of sleepers.
The fiber scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab have been testing Casper mattresses since it first launched, and in recent years, we've surveyed over 250 Casper mattress owners to get in-depth firsthand reviews. Here, we're breaking down everything you need to know to decide if a Casper mattress is right for you.
Casper Original Mattress
Pros
- High scores from our panel of reviewers
- Zoned layout for ergonomic alignment
- More affordable than other Casper models
Cons
- Only one firmness level available
| Mattress type | Memory foam |
|---|---|
| Height | 11 inches |
| Firmness level | Medium firm |
| Sizes | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King |
| Trial period | 100 days |
Casper Mattress Overview
Casper has earned a reputation as a leading mattress brand, and with good reason: It's a pioneer in the industry that changed the way we shop online for mattresses, and it's paved the way for many other online bedding brands over the years. In fact, we attended Casper's launch event back in 2014 with the promise that it was "a new sleep company that has re-imagined how we think about, shop for and use our mattresses."
When Casper first launched, it only had one model in its line, dubbed the "one perfect mattress." This Original model is entirely made of foam and has a medium-firm feel, but several other models have since become available, including softer hybrid options for an added cost. Here, we're going to review the most popular Original model, but you can find more information about the other options at the end of this article.
Casper Mattress Materials
The Casper Original Mattress has a simple yet well-thought-out design. Its outer cover is a stretchy knit fabric that's made from recycled water bottles. Inside, its top foam layer uses Casper's signature AirScape foam featuring thousands of small perforations throughout for increased breathability. The next layer is memory foam with zoned support, which means it's softer under your shoulders while firmer under your lower back and hips for proper spine alignment. The bottom layer is a supportive base foam to prevent it from sinking and sagging.
Casper Mattress Performance
Casper earned high scores across the board from our testers, ranging from the ordering process and setup to how well it holds up over time. Here's how it performed during our review:
Comfort and Support
Most of our Casper Original Mattress reviewers found the model to be both comfortable and supportive thanks to its memory foam fill and ergonomic design. One user told us, "It supports all the curves of my body."Another said, "It is hard to describe but it is just so comfy. [It's the] right mix of cushy and supportive. I lay down and think 'Ah!'"
Motion Isolation
Memory foam mattresses are ideal if you want to avoid feeling your sleeping partner move around throughout the night, and the Casper Original Mattress delivers on this aspect. Our reviewers found that they weren't disturbed by their partners (and vice versa) when one was moving around and the other was sleeping.
Edge Support
Firm edges on a mattress make it easier to get in and out of bed, especially for anyone with mobility issues. Unfortunately, this feature is less common in affordable foam mattresses. Though our reviewers didn't complain about the lack of edge support, Casper notes that you'll find better edge support if you upgrade to the Original Hybrid model.
Cooling Capabilities
Memory foam traps heat, making it less ideal for hot sleepers. To combat this issue, Casper's top layer is made of the brand's AirScape foam, which means the foam has thousands of tiny holes throughout to help increase airflow instead of trapping heat. Though we wouldn't consider the Casper Original Mattress to be a cooling mattress, users told us they feel less warm on this than they do with other types of foam. Not to mention, most gave it good ratings for helping to keep them at a comfortable body temperature. If you prefer a cooling mattress, we recommend the Casper Snow, which uses materials that help pull heat away from your body.
Who the Casper Mattress Is Best For
While there are many factors that go into your decision to buy a specific mattress model, here are the groups that may benefit the most from the Casper Original Mattress based on the model's specifications and our reviewer feedback.
- Side Sleepers: Memory foam offers excellent pressure relief, which is key in a mattress for side sleepers. And because the Casper mattress has zoned sections, it helps keep your spine aligned so that you aren't putting too much weight on your pressure points (like your shoulders and hips) when lying on your side. Just note that because it has a medium-firm feel, it may be too firm for side sleepers with lightweight body frames; lightweight sleepers need a softer surface for spine alignment.
- Back Pain Sufferers: The best mattresses for people with back pain are ones with a medium firmness level made from memory foam. Casper checks off these boxes, though it's considered just slightly firmer than a true "medium."
- Value Shoppers: Though it's certainly not a cheap mattress — it costs over $1,000 for a Queen size — it's still in a reasonable price range, especially compared to other models on the market. Mattress prices have skyrocketed in recent years, so finding a top-rated mattress under $2,000 can be considered a big feat.
- Young Adults: Throughout our years of surveying Casper users, we've found that it tends to get more positive feedback from the under-40 crowd. This could be because the mattress height is lower and there's less edge support, making it harder for people with mobility issues to get in and out of bed. That being said, Casper still received praise from users of all ages who enjoyed sleeping on the mattress.
- Busy People: Casper proved to be convenient in terms of its ordering process and delivery — and also in terms of bed-making. Because it has a lower profile and weighs less than mattresses with metal coils, our reviewers said it was quick and easy to lift the corners when putting sheets on the bed.
Casper Mattress Ordering, Delivery and Trial Period
Our reviewers gave high ratings and praise to Casper's customer service. You buy the mattress online and it ships within days, then you can set it up at your own convenience. Users loved how it was contact-free and that there was no need to schedule a delivery window or wait around for a service to show up at their homes. Just note that you'll likely need a friend or family member (or hired helper) to set up the mattress with you. A Queen size weighs 79 pounds, and it doesn't have side handles to assist with setting it up on the bed.
Casper offers an any-reason 100-day trial period. That means you can get a refund if you don't love the mattress and find that it's not the right fit. It also comes with a limited 10-year warranty, but we recommend focusing more on the trial periods when making a purchasing decision because warranties only cover manufacturer defects, which can be difficult to prove.
Casper Mattress Life Expectancy
The brand says the mattress can last up to 12 years, but since the company is less than 12 years old, it's not easy to verify this yet. Still, Casper mattress owners have told us that so far, it has held up well over the years. You can also help extend the life of your mattress by using a mattress protector.
More Casper Mattresses
How We Test Casper Mattresses
As with all mattresses, the scientists and engineers in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab review the materials, claims and other noteworthy features, then have sleep testers try them out in real life. Users give feedback after several weeks of sleeping on the mattress, then we continue to follow up with them over extended periods to see how they hold up after repeated use. On top of that, we survey our proprietary panel of consumer testers to get feedback on the mattresses they already own. In recent years, we've surveyed over 250 Casper mattress owners and reviewed answers to more than 5,000 questions, giving us deep insight into real experiences with this popular brand.
Our survey asks Casper mattress owners about ease of ordering, speed of delivery, ease of set up and whether they encountered any issues throughout these processes. Users also let us know whether the mattress took shape quickly and felt comfortable right away, along with whether it felt comfortable and supportive over an extended period. We ask questions related to sleep quality, including whether they remained at a comfortable body temperature and whether they woke up feeling sore while sleeping on the bed. Our reviewers also have the opportunity to answer open-ended questions, telling us specific aspects they liked and disliked about the mattress.
Why You Can Trust Good Housekeeping
Lexie Sachs is the executive director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees bedding testing, including the best mattresses. She attended the Casper launch in 2014 and has personally tried out several Casper models since it first hit the market. She also manages the reviewer surveys sent to real mattress owners and conducts consumer mattress tests, getting in-depth feedback from thousands of sleepers.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
