A mattress-in-a-box, or bed-in-a-box, is a mattress that has been compressed, vacuum-sealed, and rolled before shipping. This allows mattresses to be sent by regular mail rather than scheduled delivery. The earliest models were budget-friendly all-foam models, but nowadays, you can get almost any kind of mattress delivered in a box: all-foam and hybrid models are widely available at a range of price points, from cheap to high-end. Just like with a mattress you'd try out in the store, you should look for the right level of pressure relief and support for your body type and sleeping position, while also considering other aspects that are important to you, like cooling or edge support. While you usually can't try out a bed-in-a-box before it arrives on your doorstep, most companies offer a long return window.
We've tested more than 45 mattresses, and these are our recommendations for the best mattresses-in-a-box. If you want to see more recommendations, check out the best cooling mattresses, best mattresses for side sleepers, and best mattresses for heavy people.
We've recently started testing mattresses. We independently purchase each unit from major retailers, just like you, to keep our reviews free from manufacturer influence. Each mattress goes through the same tests to measure objective data for characteristics like firmness, cooling, and motion isolation, so you can easily compare the results. Since we buy all our mattresses, we can tear them down layer by layer and isolate the mechanical properties of every component: quilted tops, foams, coils, and any special materials.
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Best Mattress-In-A-Box
Firmness LevelMedium (47 Pa/mm)Support8.6Pressure Relief8.3Longevity5.3Cooling8.9Motion Dissipation8.5See all our test resultsResponsiveness5.0The best mattress-in-a-box that we've tested is the Casper Snow. This high-end, hybrid mattress offers versatile performance, with strong pressure relief and support for a range of people, making it a great choice if you need a mattress that suits you and your partner, or if you're a combination sleeper. The very soft memory foam upper comfort layer allows you to sink in and creates an enveloping, hugging feel, while a zoned lower comfort layer and very stiff springs add support.
It has excellent motion dissipation, so movement doesn't travel across the mattress and dissipates quickly, reducing the likelihood of waking you. It's also amazingly cooling, so it can keep hot sleepers comfortable. However, its edge support is mediocre, so it's not a good option if you need sturdy sides for getting in and out of bed. The comfort layers are all made of lower-quality foam and may show signs of wear sooner than those in mattresses made with better-quality materials.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Mattress-In-A-Box
Firmness LevelFirm (81 Pa/mm)Support8.1Pressure Relief6.2Longevity8.9Cooling8.1Motion Dissipation7.5See all our test resultsResponsiveness9.3The Sleep On Latex Pure Green Organic is the best upper mid-range mattress-in-a-box we've tested. This all-foam mattress features latex comfort and support layers, a wool-quilted layer, and a cotton cover. It's very firm and offers impressive support for most people. It's a strong option for back and stomach sleeping, especially for heavier people. The springy latex layers give it a highly responsive feel, so it's easy to move around on, and unlike the Casper Snow, it's a mattress you sleep 'on' instead of 'in'.
It's cooling enough for hot sleepers and has very sturdy edges, so you can sleep comfortably near the edge of the bed. Its motion dissipation performance is good, so you won't feel every small move your partner makes. It only includes dense, high-quality latex, making it a durable option that should resist sagging for longer. It's worth noting that it's also very heavy, so you may need help moving it after it's delivered.
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Best Mid-Range Mattress-In-A-Box
Firmness LevelMedium (46 Pa/mm)Support7.6Pressure Relief7.9Longevity6.3Cooling8.4Motion Dissipation9.0See all our test resultsResponsiveness8.7The Tuft and Needle Mint is the best mid-range mattress-in-a-box that we've tested. This Medium all-foam mattress has very soft upper comfort layers that you'll sink into, which help it provide good pressure relief for a range of side sleepers, including lighter ones. Its good support performance makes it a solid choice for back and stomach sleepers as well. Its polyfoam and memory foam layers aren't as springy as latex, so it's less bouncy overall, but still has a very responsive feel, so you won't feel stuck in place.
This mattress is particularly good for sleeping with a partner, since its excellent motion isolation means you'll hardly feel your partner's movements. It dissipates heat efficiently enough to keep most people comfortable, including hot sleepers. However, it's not as durable as the Sleep On Latex Pure Green Organic. The support and upper comfort layers are good quality, but a few layers of lower-density foam may cause sagging or permanent indentations sooner.
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Best Budget Mattress-In-A-Box
Firmness LevelMedium (44 Pa/mm)Support6.8Pressure Relief8.2Longevity5.3Cooling7.8Motion Dissipation7.9See all our test resultsResponsiveness8.5If you're looking for a budget-friendly bed-in-a-box, consider the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. This Medium mattress is best suited for average and heavier side sleepers, who will sink in enough for proper pressure relief. While it's not as supportive as the Tuft and Needle Mint, it'll offer satisfactory support for lighter back sleepers. Its quilted and polyfoam layers give it an enveloping, contouring feel. They're also quite responsive, and, along with its spring layer, give the mattress a bouncy feel, so it's easy to move around on.
The mattress's sides are reinforced with firmer pocket coils, making them very sturdy, so you can comfortably sleep near the edge. It offers very good motion dissipation, so it's suitable for sleeping with a partner. The very good cooling is enough to keep most people comfortable, although it may not be quite good enough for hot sleepers. Unfortunately, all of its foam layers are made of lower-density, lower-quality foam, so the mattress is likely to show signs of wear sooner than those with higher-quality materials.
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Best Cheap Mattress-In-A-Box
Firmness LevelMedium-Firm (54 Pa/mm)Support7.5Pressure Relief6.6Longevity6.0Cooling8.3Motion Dissipation8.8See all our test resultsResponsiveness8.1The best cheap mattress-in-a-box that we've tested is the Allswell Hybrid. This Medium-Firm mattress is a good option for lighter back and stomach sleepers. It offers decent support for average-weight and heavier people, so it's a good, inexpensive option for back sleepers in those weight categories. While its comfort layers are fairly firm and don't offer enough pressure relief for most side sleepers, it offers excellent body conformity for heavier side sleepers. Although you won't sink into it much overall, a memory foam layer gives it a contouring, slightly hugging feel that helps with pressure relief.
It's more cooling than the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, so you might prefer it if you're a hot sleeper and don't mind the firmer feel. Its excellent motion dissipation means you won't feel most of your partner's movements. It also offers excellent edge support, so it's a good option if you need a solid surface for getting in and out of bed. That said, it's not the most durable. There's one layer of good-quality foam, but its upper layers of lower-density foam will be prone to forming body impressions sooner.
Notable Mentions
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Helix Midnight Luxe 2025:
The Helix Midnight Luxe 2025 is an upper mid-range hybrid mattress with memory foam comfort layers, making it a good option for side sleepers. Unlike the Sleep On Latex Pure Green Organic, it offers enough pressure relief for average and heavier side sleepers. Its motion dissipation is also better, but it's not as supportive overall.
See our review -
Casper Cooling Select:
The Casper Cooling Select is an all-foam mattress available at Costco (U.S.) that offers more support for heavier individuals than the Allswell Hybrid. While it's not as cooling and has worse motion dissipation, it's a good, cheap option for back and stomach sleepers in that weight category.
See our review
All Reviews
The recommendations above are what we think currently represent the best mattresses-in-a-box. We factor in performance, price, availability, and visitor feedback.
Of course, the best mattress for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you'd like more options, here's a list of all our mattress reviews to help you find the right fit.