Bed-in-a-box mattresses

The days of spending Saturday morning slogging through a mattress showroom pursued by pushy salespeople are officially over. Mattress retailers and consumers alike are embracing the concept of a bed in a box, which can free you from trips to the store or having to schedule in-home delivery and setup.

What is a bed in a box?

A bed in a box is exactly what it sounds like: It’s a mattress compressed to fit neatly in a box. They’re usually made from a combination of high-quality memory foam and springs for easy home delivery.

The bed in a box is possible with new packaging techniques and advances in mattress materials. Once the concept proved successful, it didn’t take long for it to catch on. Even a California king mattress can now be vacuum-packed into a small, easy-to-manage box.

Pros and cons of buying a bed in a box

Which brands offer a bed in a box?

How to unbox a bed in a box

Preparing your new bed couldn’t be easier with five basic steps:

1. Carry your new mattress in its compact box to your bedroom. Some brands offer white-glove delivery to help you do this.
2. Open the box and remove the rolled mattress.
3. Unroll the mattress directly onto the bed frame.
4. Remove the protective plastic from the mattress.
5. Leave the mattress to expand.

Depending on the brand, you might need to wait up to 72 hours for it to attain its full shape.

Bottom line

Ordering a bed in a box from one of the many online mattress brands in this new market can be a convenient and hassle-free way to shop. Free trials and budget-friendly price tags make these beds tempting options over traditional mattress shopping.

Frequently asked questions

• How long can I leave the mattress inside its box?

  Up to three months after you buy it. But any free trial that comes with the mattress starts from the day of delivery.

• What if I don't like my mattress?

  Most brands offer a risk-free trial of 100 or even 200 nights. Know the details of the specific trial of the brand you’re buying to make sure you’ll have the time you need to test it out. If you don’t love it, return it for a full refund, no questions asked.

• Can I put the mattress back into its box?

  No. When the mattress is manufactured, special machines compress it to fit into the box. If you need to return it within the trial period, most brands collect the mattress for free in its expanded condition. Contact your retailer for details.

• Where can I buy a bed in a box?

  More and more brands offer mattresses in the bed-in-a-box format, including:

  • Purple
  • Casper
  • Leesa
  • Helix Sleep
  • Allswell

• How do I return my bed in a box?

  Contact the company you purchased it from to arrange a return. Most brands offer free returns in the first 100 nights or more. The brand’s customer service team arranges a date and time to collect your mattress from your home. Most brands then donate your unwanted mattress to charity, so you know it won’t go to waste.