One of the most popular innovations in mattress technology has been the mattress in a box movement. Many brands now offer a vacuum-packed mattress that comes delivered to your door in a compact box, but can be unrolled and fully expanded in an incredibly short amount of time.
These mattresses are usually made of foam, but hybrid mattresses in a box have also become popular in recent years for those who prefer something a little cooler. There are more and more brands appearing on the market every day so it can seem like a daunting choice to make. But, our team has been testing multiple mattress in a box brands to help you find the best one.
One of the reasons that the mattress in a box style has become so popular is down to the ease of delivery and installation. Since the mattress is vacuum packed, it is easy to navigate in and around your home to get it to the room you want it in. When you purchase traditional mattresses, it can take a lot of time and strategy to try and move it through your home.
These mattresses are also easy to purchase online and come with at home sleep trials that cover multiple nights so you can be sure it’s the right mattress for you.
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When choosing your mattress in a box, it can feel overwhelming with all the available options out there, but it’s important you find the right product for you. If you’re not a fan of foam, then it’s going to be a little harder for you to find an ideal partner in the world of boxed mattresses. While there are non-foam options out there, you’re more likely to find that most products are made of varying kinds of memory foam.
One of the biggest pulls for buying a mattress in a box is how easy the whole process can be. Buying online and having your mattress delivered to your door, for free, in a matter of days is ideal for busy people who need their mattress ready to go as soon as possible.
Materials/ Construction
Since there is a wide variety of mattress in a box brands out there right now, you have your choice of materials and construction. Just because the mattresses are delivered in such small packages, it doesn’t mean you’re restricted to one kind of construction. The four main categories available are foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrid – and we’ll dive into more details on these further down.
Firmness/ Sleeping Style
When you’re searching for the perfect mattress in a box, you need to decide what kind of firmness levels will suit this best. This largely depends on the kind of sleeping style that you favor. Mattresses vary from soft to medium to firm, and each one works best for a particular type of sleeper. For example, stomach sleepers usually prefer a firmer mattress as it helps to keep them supported throughout the night.
Budget
One of the big pulls for many who buy a mattress in a box is the wallet-friendly prices. While price ranges do still vary, the majority fall into a pretty solid budget range. Combine this with the extended sleep trials, multiple year warranties, and free delivery and returns, and it’s clear why they have become such a popular option in recent years.
Foam/ memory foam
One of the most common types of mattress in a box brands is foam or memory foam. Foam mattresses are easy for brands to roll and vacuum pack, so it makes sense that so many favor this style. These mattresses can have anywhere between two to five layers of foam, with each layer being placed there for a different purpose. They provide a firmer level of support usually and are great for back and side sleepers.
Innerspring
Traditional innerspring are not as popular when it comes to mattress in a box brands. For those who prefer a springier feel to their mattresses, as well as combination sleepers who move a lot during the night, innerspring will probably be the better choice though. The springs allow for a good level of breathability while you sleep, and firmness levels will vary more than with foam.
Latex
Similar to foam, latex mattresses conform to your body while you sleep, helping to both cradle and support you throughout the night. But, unlike foam, these mattresses tend to run a little cooler, with less heat being retained in the materials. This makes them a great choice for people in warmer climates who prefer to stay cool while they sleep.
Hybrid
If you can’t decide between foam and spring mattresses, then hybrid mattresses are here to help. Constructed with a base layer of springs topped with one or more foam layers, it combines the best of both construction styles. With a hybrid mattress, you get to enjoy the firmness of foam with the springy support of innerspring coils.
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Because you’re purchasing online, you don’t have the chance to test out your new mattress before purchasing. This is why these mattress in a box brands offer at home sleep trials. While you still need to pay for your mattress up front (or with monthly payments if you need to), you have a certain amount of time in which you can return the mattress, free of cost, if it’s not right for you.
Most brands offer 100-night trials, which means at any point within these 100 days you decide this isn’t the mattress for you, the manufacturer will take it back and refund your money. This is a much better way to test out a mattress than a few bounces in a store.
By purchasing a mattress in a box, you’re purchasing an easier delivery process, quick set up, and sleek design. You don’t need to spend hours in a mattress shop, testing and bouncing on every mattress you see. Instead, you just need to click a few buttons online and your mattress will turn up at your door, for free, in a few days.
All you need to do when it arrives is take off the packaging and wait for a few minutes and your new mattress will be fully expanded and ready to use.
Prices vary from brand to brand, but will usually fall between $500 – $1000 for a full-size mattress. There are budget options available for those who are money conscious, as well as more luxury options for those who want to splash out on their purchase.
The larger the size of your mattress, the more expensive it will be. So, if you’re looking to save some money, then err on the smaller side, opting for a full size instead of a Queen, or a Twin instead of a Twin XL.
This all depends on who will be using the mattress. If you’re buying it for yourself to use individually, then any size will work, although you may feel that King and California King beds feel a little too large for you. For couples, we recommend Queen and King mattresses over Full size if you like to spread out.
It’s also worth looking into the dimensions of the different mattress sizes, especially if you’re on the taller side, as you may find some are too short for you to sleep on comfortably. Taller people will probably need to stick to Queen and King size beds if they don’t want their feet hanging off the end.
Having your mattress delivered in a box is a very handy and convenient idea, but how do they shrink a mattress down enough to fit? The mattresses are packaged in tightly wrapped plastic, and then a machine compresses them using very high-pressure levels. Just like how you might vacuum pack items to fit in a suitcase, that’s what these companies do with your new mattress.
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