Are Mattresses in a Box Good or Bad?
As the saying goes, good things come in small packages. Surprisingly, today, mattresses are, indeed, big things that come in small packages. Consumers and mattress manufacturers owe their thanks to innovative compression technology, as well as the pliable nature of mattress materials, for the plethora of readily available and conveniently popular boxed mattresses available today.
Before the invention of boxed mattresses, memory foam was a popular material of choice that had been around for decades. More recently, mattress manufacturers have developed the idea of making their mattresses easily shippable through compression and vacuum sealing methods.
Ultimately, the invention of boxed mattresses in the early 2000s was made possible by the malleable, flexible qualities of memory foam and other systems or materials, which can be easily compressed and rolled using innovative vacuum sealing machinery and techniques.
If you are in the market for a new mattress, you've probably been tempted by or drawn to an online mattress brand or two. However, you may still want to learn more about the bed-in-a-box mattresses offered primarily by online companies. For instance— is the quality of these products good or bad?
Next, you can learn more helpful information about online and boxed mattresses—whether they're mostly decent options out there or if you should choose more wisely and not pick just any brand when it comes to a bed-in-a-box mattress.
The Ins and Outs of Bed-In-The-Box Mattresses
Good things do come in small packages, but who would have thought that you'd see entire mattresses—even king-size beds—compressed, rolled, and packaged in a box, making them easy enough to reach their destination via standard shipping channels?
These days, there are certainly reasonable explanations for why manufacturers began shipping mattresses differently than the original 'old-fashioned way'—the mattress in its complete size, inside a factory-sealed plastic bag. Boxed mattresses were initially introduced to enhance shipping efficiency and provide consumers with convenience during transportation. However, with many different options available today, if you're considering rolled and boxed mattresses, there are additional underlying advantages and disadvantages to be aware of.
Boxed Mattress Pros
Choosing a boxed mattress comes with several obvious benefits, including more efficient shipping and convenient transportation. Still, you should keep in mind other significant advantages of browsing and picking out a bed-in-the-box style mattress:
Budget-Friendly
Many boxed mattresses originated as online brands that are now available in retail stores, such as the locally owned Mattress World Northwest, which also offers multiple payment and financing options to make the purchase even easier and less stressful.
Still, most mattress brands, whether they are boxed or not, offer a reasonable price range, starting at the entry-level and progressing to top-tier mattress options. These premium-quality levels utilize upgraded materials or additional layers to create each brand's top-of-the-line mattress option—such as the Purple Rejuvenate.
Often, even if a brand offers various bed-in-the-box mattress options, it is more common that their top-line mattress models, such as Avocado's Luxury Organic mattresses, are not rolled or compressed at all. Instead, they remain their complete size and are shipped in a factory-sealed plastic bag and cardboard box for extra protection.
Boxed mattress brands like Nectar and DreamCloud supply luxuriously affordable options, ranging from $649 to $1,999 for a queen-size mattress.
Avocado also offers several natural, organic, and eco-friendly mattresses within an impressive price range for top-quality, handmade choices—queen sizes range from $1,299 to $1,999.
Online, boxed mattress brands—such as Purple— were not previously available in stores. Now, you can test the best online brands for comfort at your nearby family-owned mattress shop. So, make sure to check out the latest mattress options and innovative mattress technologies from Nectar, DreamCloud, Posh+Lavish, and Avocado at a local, family-friendly Mattress World Northwest location near you!
Transportation Convenience
One of the more apparent benefits of boxed mattresses is their ease of transportation compared to unboxed options, especially for large mattress dimensions, like king-size. Choosing two Twin XL mattresses to create a split king bed is one way to make transporting your mattresses easier.
Or, opt for free white glove delivery service that comes standard with your purchase at local mattress companies like Mattress World Northwest. Nevertheless, if king-size dimensions are just too big for your bedroom, consider these easy-to-transport boxed mattress brands available to 'try before you buy' at Mattress World Northwest:
Comfort Guarantee
Reliable and well-known mattress brands and retailers, like Mattress World Northwest, typically offer a sleep trial or a Comfort Guarantee. This sleep trial allows you to test your new mattress in the comfort of your own home, giving you time to see how your body adjusts to it.
At Mattress World Northwest, our main goal is to help you sleep better and to hear you say, "I love my mattress." The 90-night Comfort Guarantee provides you with peace of mind, ensuring that your initial choice isn't final as you navigate the process of selecting a new mattress for yourself or a loved one.
A New Mattress At-Your-Own-Pace
If you prefer to do things at your own pace or have multiple projects going on at once, boxed mattresses allow you the convenience of unboxing and setting up your new mattress at your own leisure. If you opt out of free delivery from Mattress World Northwest, you can choose to pick up your mattress at our local warehouse for free.
If you prefer to do it yourself, make sure that when setting up the mattress, you place it right side up before opening the bag and breaking the vacuum seal. Breaking the seal allows air to re-enter the mattress, and once it expands, it will be much easier to slide the mattress into the desired position. If it's upside down, you'll have to flip it from one side to the other, which can be more difficult.
Regardless, bed-in-the-box mattresses are much more convenient to move, especially while they are still compressed and rolled. Choosing a boxed mattress will also allow you to avoid delivery people coming into your home and enable you to set up your mattress at your own pace.
Boxed Mattress Cons
Next, before finalizing your purchase, consider these disadvantages of bed-in-the-box style mattresses:
Off-Gassing
The majority of new mattresses have a 'new product smell' when the packaging is removed. This odor is often from off-gassing. Unlike foam, which inherently has an off-gassing odor, there are alternate options. Natural latex mattresses—such as the Posh+Lavish Reveal—do not necessarily off-gas; instead, they emit a mere smell from the natural materials.
Boxed mattresses made with natural latex rubber, such as the Avocado Green mattress, are recommended for individuals with sensitivities or other respiratory conditions that may be exacerbated by off-gassing.
Vacuum sealing mattresses traps odors and other gases inside the material layers, making bed-in-the-box mattresses often the worst culprit of the 'new mattress smell.' Odors from off-gassing pose no known health risks, and most well-known mattress brands are certified by the CertiPUR-US program or, even better, the Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
For some, the new mattress odor is noticeably unpleasant. Still, because you're the one breaking the seal, at least you know that your mattress is brand new and hasn't ever been used. All the while, the new mattress odor isn't much different than a new car smell, gradually dissipating over time and posing no risks to your sleep health or wellness.
Material Quality Impact
Mattress brands each utilize their own, often proprietary materials, such as the GelFlex Grid created by Purple or the Advanced Pressure Relieving Adapt (APR) material by Tempur-Pedic. Either way, whether you choose foam, gel, or natural latex rubber, it's important to research and select your material and brand wisely, even if you're not interested in a bed-in-the-box mattress.
Certain mattress materials cannot withstand being compressed and vacuum-sealed without compromising their layers or support systems. As a result, bed-in-a-box mattresses made with low-quality materials often fail to provide long-term comfort and support compared to other mattresses made with quality goods.
Not only with boxed mattresses but in any mattress quality scenario, if you choose one made from inadequate, less stable, or cheap materials, this may lead to compromised longevity. Ultimately, compressing and vacuum sealing layers and coil systems can result in a shorter lifespan for the mattress if you're not investing in high-quality products from brands such as Posh+Lavish, Avocado, or Purple.
Bed-In-Box Mattress Q&A
What is the price range for a boxed mattress?
Typically, bed-in-the-box mattresses range in price from $600 to $2,000; premium options with natural materials range from $2,000 to $6,500. If you're curious more about today's mattress prices and product quality, check out "What's a reasonable price for a good quality mattress?"
How long do boxed mattresses typically last?
Bed-in-the-box mattresses typically last 7 to 10 years, according to the Better Sleep Council, and many people wait too long to replace theirs, often by about 3 years. To maintain the comfort and support you deserve and need to sleep well, it is recommended to look for indications that your mattress needs replacing rather than relying solely on an 'expiration date.'
If you notice dipping, sagging, large indents, body impressions, or you're waking up stiff and sore, it’s probably time for a new mattress.
If your mattress isn't sagging or worn out, luxury mattress toppers can also serve as a favorable quick fix. Mattress toppers offer pressure relief, added support, and softness with materials like memory foam or latex.
How heavy are boxed mattresses?
Boxed mattresses, depending on the size and quality level, range in weight from approximately 40 pounds for twin sizes to 180 pounds for king sizes.
Try Bed-in-Box and Other Online Mattress Brands In Stores at Mattress World Northwest!
Sleep experts recognize that your mattress and pillow have a profound influence on your sleep and your health and wellness. Not all sleep products these days are created equally, and mattress quality varies substantially, making one type—boxed mattresses—not necessarily good or bad. More of the question is: what is good and works best for you? Today, it's more important than ever to choose the right mattress that fits your body and supports your weight.
Fortunately, online isn't the only place to get your hands on one of the best online or boxed mattress brands, such as Avocado, Purple, or the Premiere Rest Hybrid by DreamCloud. Many established brands like these have successfully expanded beyond online-only mattresses to showcasing their products in specialty stores like Mattress World Northwest.
These days, countless bed-in-the-box and online mattress brands desire to expand their reach beyond the original online-only business model. Web-based mattress shops didn't allow their customers the utmost satisfaction to "try before they buy."
You can now easily compare a wide range of mattresses, including various online brands and boxed mattresses, at your local, family-owned mattress store—Mattress World Northwest! Trying out a mattress before you buy it, especially with bed-in-the-box options, has many advantages that can increase your chances of being satisfied with your new mattress purchase. Visit us and experience the best selection of reliable brands—such as Beautyrest Black, Sealy Posturepedic, bed-in-a-box, and other online mattresses at local Mattress World Northwest shops today!
