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Best Mattresses in a Box of 2024 | U.S. News
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A mattress in a box is one of the most convenient options when you’re buying a new bed, and they tend to be more affordable, too. These types of mattresses arrive at your doorstep compressed and in a box, making it easy to move into a bedroom. Once it’s placed where you want it to be, you’ll remove the packaging and the mattress will expand into its full shape. Many models are ready to sleep on that same night.
Our list of the best mattresses in a box includes five models, all of which we tested in our 360 Lab. The Nectar Premier Mattress, our top recommendation, stood out to us for its excellent edge support and body-contouring comfort. In addition to testing, we relied on consumer surveys, extensive research, and expert insights to find the best options for a variety of sleepers.
The Nectar Premier Mattress, our top pick for the best mattresses in a box, is an all-foam bed that uses three layers of support. We found it to fall between a medium and medium-firm feel. In our lab, it softened slightly after the first few minutes, conforming to the body. “Almost immediately, my body started to sink providing support around my curves,” said tester Catalina Arndt, who is 5 foot, 8 inches and 146 pounds.
We also found that the Nectar Premier provides impressive edge support, which isn’t always the case for memory foam beds. Tester Craig Hanks, who is 5 foot, 11 inches and weighs 200 pounds, said, “You can lay as close to the edge as possible and not fall off.” This is a plus for those who like to spread out when they sleep.
In a queen size, the bed weighs 83 pounds, so while it’ll arrive compressed and in a box, it still might take two people to move it into the desired room. Nectar gives sleepers 365 nights to make sure the mattress feels comfortable and supportive, and you’ll get a lifetime warranty.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly mattress in a box, you’ll want to consider the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam, which sells for less than $500. On Amazon, this mattress comes in four heights (6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches).
This model features three layers of foam, including the upper Green Tea Memory Foam layer designed to cradle a sleeper’s body. Green tea and purified charcoal are infused into the memory foam to help keep the mattress fresh. The middle Zinus Comfort Foam layer helps to provide additional support for sleepers to prevent them from sinking into the mattress too deeply, while the high-density Base Foam provides a foundation for the mattress while also increasing its pressure-relieving capabilities.
However, the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress isn’t for everyone. Some of our testers found that the mattress wasn’t contouring or supportive enough for their bodies. “It felt stiff,” said tester Huston Evans, who is 5 feet, 11 inches and 200 pounds. Tester Melinda Yeaman, who is 5 foot, 7 inches, and 165 pounds, agreed, saying “I would be sore sleeping on this mattress.”
While the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress might not end up being your first choice for your primary bedroom, it could be an affordable pick for a guest room or a younger child’s bedroom.
Specs:
List Price (Queen):
$499
Mattress Type:
Memory foam
Height:
6 in., 8 in, 10 in, or 12 in.
Sizes:
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, short queen, king, California king (availability varies by mattress height)
If prioritizing pressure relief and alleviating pain is important to you when shopping for a new mattress, take a look at the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud. Designed with the company’s proprietary Tempur-Material, which was originally invented by NASA to keep astronauts cushioned as they traveled into space – this mattress is supportive and cushioning. The design features three foam layers that give it a medium feel: the responsive and cradling Tempur Comfort layer, the adaptive and conforming Tempur Support Layer, and the supportive base layer. If you prefer the feel of a hybrid mattress, you can upgrade your purchase to include a layer of wrapped coils between the base and the Tempur Support Layer that’s designed to make it easier to change positions on the mattress.
In our lab tests, we found that this mattress performs well when it comes to motion isolation, making it a solid choice for couples. “The mattress absorbs pretty much all of the motion of a partner,” said tester Melinda.
Our testers also liked the pressure relief offered by the Tempur-Cloud. “It instantly conforms to the body,” says tester Catalina. Similarly, tester Craig noted “If you find your position, it will cradle you for as long as you stay there. My spine felt great in every position.”
Specs:
List Price (Queen):
$1,999
Mattress Type:
Memory foam (hybrid option available for $140 more in queen size)
The Nolah Evolution 15-Inch Mattress might be the best choice for you if you share a bed with a partner. This hybrid mattress offers a layered construction designed to keep sleepers cool, comfortable, and supported overnight. The mattress’s ArcticTex organic cover works with the high-thermal conductivity Euro topper to pull heat away from individuals as they sleep, while the graphite-infused AirFoamICE and breathable border gusset help ensure they stay cool all night long. The special AirFoamICE layer also includes microscopic pockets of air to allow for even weight distribution and tension relief. This layer works alongside the HDMax Tri-Zone coils, which alleviate pressure points.
The cooling and supportive features aren’t the only thing couples are likely to find appealing, however. The Nolah Evolution also offers excellent motion isolation to let individuals sleep soundly even if their partner is tossing and turning or getting into or out of the bed. Those with an adjustable base will be pleased to know that they can purchase a split king option, allowing each partner to choose from a Plush, Luxury Firm, or Firm feel for their side of the bed.
If you weigh 250 pounds or more and have trouble finding a bed that’s supportive enough to keep your body in alignment and alleviate pressure points, consider the WinkBed Plus. This version of the mattress is specifically designed with heavier sleepers in mind and seeks to offer comfort where other mattresses fall short. It’s rated as an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, though individuals who weigh more than 300 pounds are more likely to describe it as having more of a medium firmness rating, or about a 6.5 out of 10.
One feature of this mattress that makes it an optimal choice for heavier individuals is its high-density “anti-sag” foam construction. Compared to the foams used in most innerspring mattresses, this option is much denser, allowing it to maintain its shape and avoid sagging over time. “There is clearly good support built into this mattress,” says tester Catalina.
The coil layer of this hybrid mattress is also designed with heavier individuals in mind. A 2.5-inch layer of pure latex sits above the coil system. The latex, which is divided into seven zones, not only offers support for individuals but also helps pull heat away from their bodies to keep them cooler as they sleep. According to tester Catalina, “The WinkBed proves to be a great mattress as far as cooling is concerned – it does not get hot at all. It maintains itself at room temperature.”
A mattress in a box is a convenient way to get a new mattress. These arrive compressed in a box on your doorstep, making them easier to bring inside and to your desired room. They can be especially convenient if you live in an apartment or small space because the boxed mattress is easier to move than a fully expanded model.
Our top overall choice for a mattress in a box is the Nectar Premier mattress, a memory foam bed that’s 13 inches tall with three layers of foam support. Our testers found it to be a medium to medium-firm bed that provided excellent edge support and pressure relief and slept relatively cool.
Materials: There are different types of mattresses that can be sold in a box, including foam, latex, hybrid, and innerspring models (though the latter option is less common). Understanding the difference between these material options can help you decide which mattress type is right for you.
All-Foam Mattresses: As their name suggests, all-foam mattresses are made entirely of foam. They typically have multiple layers of different types of foam, such as memory foam (or similar types) on the top layers to provide pressure relief with denser polyfoam support layers. According to Buddy Delaney, the president of Best Mattress Company, all-foam mattresses are “more body-conforming,” which will allow you to feel cradled as you rest. Delaney adds that all-foam mattresses also allow for less motion transfer, letting an individual sleep undisturbed even if their partner is moving around in the bed.
Latex Mattresses: Latex mattresses offer a natural alternative to synthetic foams. The material, which is derived from rubber trees, has a springier feel than memory foam. It is contouring to alleviate pressure points and doesn’t trap heat (as memory foam can) but won’t offer the same cradling feel as foam because individuals don’t sink as deeply into the material.
Innerspring Mattresses: Innerspring models, which are made using a system of coils, are firmer and bouncier than most other mattress types. However, you’re unlikely to find an innerspring mattress in a box. These models are typically delivered flat and unboxed.
Hybrid Mattresses: Dustin Morgan, the store manager at SleePare in Tysons Corner, Virginia, shares: “A hybrid mattress uses similar styles of pressure relief and comfort foam on the top layers and has individual pocketed inner springs." He adds that you get "the comfort and pressure relief" of all-foam mattresses and "the ease of movement" of innerspring mattresses.
Firmness: The firmness of a mattress is often rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. There are a number of factors that can help you decide which firmness level is the most likely to keep you comfortable when you sleep. One of the most important factors is your preferred sleep position. Individuals who sleep on their stomachs generally require a firmer mattress to keep their spines in alignment. Back sleepers tend to feel most comfortable on a medium-firm mattress that will provide ample cushioning for their lower backs and joints but that won’t let their hips sink too deeply into the bed. Side sleepers typically prefer a medium-soft to medium-firm mattress that will cradle their hips and shoulders to alleviate pressure points.
Body weight is another factor that can play a role in determining which firmness level is best for you. As a general rule, lighter sleepers prefer softer mattresses than heavier individuals. This is because a heavier sleeper’s body weight will cause them to press too deeply into a mattress, potentially bottoming out (pressing through all of the comfort layers of) an overly soft mattress.
Pressure Relief: Mattresses that offer pressure-point relief are better able to distribute a sleeper’s weight across the surface, alleviating the pressure that’s placed on their joints. Generally speaking, memory foam and other more adaptive materials will offer the best pressure-point relief. These mattresses contour to the shape of each body, cradling the hips, shoulders, and other joints to take some of the pressure off of them. However, as we mentioned above, you need to keep your preferred sleep position in mind to ensure that you choose a mattress with an appropriate firmness level. Otherwise, it won’t be able to offer pressure-point relief to the right areas of your body.
Temperature Regulation: Considering the temperature-regulating properties of each mattress can be especially important if you tend to sleep hot. As Morgan explains, sleeping warm can be uncomfortable, so if you're looking for cooling, he recommends "a mattress that has a cooling material feature or fabric that helps regulate body temperature." He continues: "It is also better to choose a mattress that promotes breathability. Hybrid mattresses are a good choice to consider as the springs will adapt and respond to the body as you move.”
Natural latex is another material that may be a good choice for hot sleepers. Its open-cell structure allows for more breathability than memory foam, which can trap heat. Some memory foam mattresses do have integrated cooling features that can counteract this tendency of heat retention.
Motion Isolation: If you sleep with a partner, then choosing a mattress that’s able to isolate motion may be among your priorities. Motion isolation is a term that’s used to describe how well a mattress can stop the transfer of motion. For example, if one partner is tossing and turning on their side of the bed, how much will the partner sleeping on the other side of the mattress feel their movements?
Memory foam and hybrid mattresses with memory foam comfort layers are more likely to offer better motion isolation than innerspring models. This is because of the memory foam’s ability to absorb movements, preventing them from being felt on the other side of the bed. Latex performs OK in this category but can’t match the motion-isolating qualities of memory foam. Innerspring mattresses tend to perform the poorest when it comes to motion isolation. Their interconnected coils spread the movement from one side of the bed to the other. Newer innerspring mattresses often feature individually wrapped coils instead of interconnected coils. While these models will fare better when it comes to minimizing the transfer of motion, they will still not be able to match the performance of memory foam.
Edge Support: Edge support describes the ability of the sides of a mattress to support an individual's weight - whether sitting on the edge of the bed or lying on it - without sinking down. “Edge support is important when it comes to sleeping on a mattress, especially to those who tend to sleep on the edge of the bed. This, of course, provides support so that you do not roll off the edge of the mattresses,” says Morgan. Mattresses with good edge support can also provide a greater surface for sleeping since individuals can sleep right up to the edge without fear of rolling off. For this reason, edge support is something that couples might want to pay close attention to when shopping for a mattress. It can also be important for those with limited mobility who need to be able to sit on the edge of the bed without fear of slipping off.
If you’re shopping for a new mattress and want to see how it performs in this category, Morgan shares some advice. He recommends individuals lie on the edge of a mattress instead of sitting, "As your body weight will be more evenly distributed among the edge of the mattresses, providing a more accurate test of the edge support that a mattress offers.”
Delivery: Before finalizing your decision to purchase a particular mattress, be sure to look for more information about shipping and delivery. Many mattresses-in-a-box ship for free. However, shipping times and delivery options can vary.
Some companies also offer white glove delivery. With white glove delivery, you don’t need to worry about unpacking the mattress or setting it up on your bed frame, as the person delivering it will take care of this service for you. However, this feature isn’t available with all mattresses. The cost of the service will also vary.
Warranty and Trial Period: Look for information about the warranty and trial period offered by each mattress manufacturer. Both of these factors can help you decide whether or not a particular model is the right choice for you. Mattress warranties tend to be a minimum of 10 years, with some companies offering a lifetime warranty for their products. While the warranty will typically cover defective parts and craftsmanship, it’s still a good idea to closely read the details of the warranty of a mattress you want to purchase.
Most mattress companies also offer a sleep trial with their products. Sleep trials allow users to try out a mattress for several nights to ensure that it offers the comfort and support that their body requires. If they decide the mattress isn’t the right fit for their needs, they can contact the company to return it for a refund. The length of the sleep trial can also vary.
Our editors carefully researched, tested, and reviewed a vast array of mattresses and considered customer reviews. All of the mattresses on this list have been tested in our 360 Lab in Salt Lake City, where we had panelists of different weights and sizes spend hundreds of hours evaluating top-rated mattresses for firmness, motion transfer, ease of movement, edge support, cooling, pressure relief, and comfort.
We also consulted with experts in the mattress industry including Dustin Morgan, sleep expert and store manager of SleePare in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and Buddy Delaney, president of Best Mattress Company, a small family-owned mattress factory in South Carolina that was founded by his grandmother in 1928.
WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?
Our contributors and editors have years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing products. Deirdre Mundorf, the author of this piece, has been writing about home-related topics for nearly five years, including several other pieces about mattresses. Her work has been published in Discover Magazine, Bob Vila, and House Digest. Lauren Allain, the other contributor to this piece, has more than five years of experience writing about sleep products and their influence on how rested we feel each morning. In addition to 360 Reviews, Allain has written for Reader’s Digest, Sleep.com, and Homes & Gardens. Marlo Jappen Porto, who edited this piece, is a home goods editor at 360 Reviews, specializing in sleep and fitness content.
Memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses are the types that you’re most likely to see sold in a box. These mattresses are easier to compress and roll up than innerspring models, which tend to have thicker coils. This is why innerspring models are more commonly delivered flat, and most of the bed-in-box options are either memory foam, latex, or hybrid mattresses.
The lifespan of a mattress-in-a-box will vary based on the manufacturer, the materials used to make the mattress, and how it’s used and cared for. While mattress warranties will not cover normal wear and tear, they can offer protection against defective parts or craftsmanship.
Many mattresses-in-a-box don’t require a box spring, though it’s always advisable to check the recommendations of the manufacturer of the mattress you choose. Foam and latex mattresses require a solid base. A box spring is often not rigid enough for these models. Some hybrid mattresses-in-a-box may be compatible with a box spring, but some manufacturers, like Tempur-Pedic, caution individuals not to use them with their mattresses. Whether or not you need a box spring will also depend on your bed frame. For example, a metal bed frame won’t offer any support without a box spring, while one won’t be necessary with a solid platform bed.
You may notice an odor when you unpack a new mattress-in-a-box, particularly one with an all-foam design or foam layers. This odor, which is called off-gassing, is caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the production process that become trapped in the packaging. When the packaging is unsealed, these compounds are released into the air. While they’re considered generally safe, the off-gassing odors produced by a mattress can be unpleasant and may cause dizziness, headaches, or nausea for some individuals. These odors will not last forever. Depending on the mattress, they may be mostly unnoticeable within a few hours, though some may take a few days or even weeks to fully dissipate.
The return policy of each mattress company varies, but many offer a sleep trial. During the sleep trial, customers can return their mattress if they’re not satisfied with their purchase. (Just note that you might have to pay return shipping in some cases.) The length of the sleep trial varies by company.
Mundorf is a freelance writer who specializes in home and family content. She has more than three years of experience as a professional writer and her work has been featured in Bob Vila, Discover Magazine, and House Digest. Prior to her freelancing career, Mundorf was an elementary school teacher for more than a decade.
Lauren Allain is a contributing writer for U.S. News 360 Reviews where she covers sleep products and other home goods. She’s a trained journalist with expertise in sleep health, fitness, and wellness. In addition to 360 Reviews, her sleep-product writing has appeared in Homes & Gardens, INSIDER, tuck.com, Mattress Firm, and sleep.com.
Marlo Jappen Porto is an editor for U.S. News 360 Reviews, focusing on home goods. Prior to joining the team, she was a researcher at NBCUniversal, where she gathered compelling and relevant archival content for live broadcasts. In addition, she has spent years working as an editor and community journalist.
U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.
