Thinking of buying your next mattress online? 4 reasons why you should — and the 2 teeny drawbacks to consider

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35% of all mattresses sold last year were bought online versus 23% the year before, so you won't be alone in your online bed browsing

The image shows two mattress testers unboxing the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress and setting it up on a white bed frame in a blue bedroom
(Image credit: Future)

Every mattress I've ever tested has been delivered in a box. In fact, I can't remember the last time I set foot in a physical bed store. From Saatva and Nectar to DreamCloud and Helix, I've tried lots of mattresses from the biggest sleep brands in the US and all of them are available to buy online. In fact, one of my favorites so far, the EgoHome Black 12" Memory Foam Mattress, down to $256 at EgoHome, is only sold online.

And the top-rated option in our guide to the best mattresses to buy in 2026, the Saatva Classic, is an online only mattress (although you can try before you buy via a Saatva viewing store).

According to research, 35% of all mattresses sold last year were purchased online. That's up 12% on 2024. So even though the majority of people are still heading to physical bed stores, the online portion of the market is growing – and for good reason. Sleep trials, warranties, and free shipping are generally excellent across the board.

Tom's Guide mattress testers inspect the newly unboxed DreamCloud Classic mattress.

(Image credit: Future)

1. There's no difference in quality

A bed-in-a-box is a mattress that has been compressed, rolled in plastic, and placed inside a shipping box to be delivered to a customer's doorstep.

Since they're compressed, a common mattress myth is that boxed mattresses are of a lower quality as the materials deteriorate during the packaging process.

This couldn't be further from the truth. The best mattresses in a box we've tested and slept on go toe-to-toe with traditional mattresses shipped flat and sold in store.

Remember I mentioned the Saatva Classic earlier? That handcrafted luxury hybrid is shipped flat, and you'll even get free White Glove Delivery where all of the unboxing and old bed disposal is handled for you.

Of course, knowing how to unbox your mattress properly will ensure you can enjoy your new bed to its fullest.

Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress in a box next to a bed frame

(Image credit: Future / Alex Temblador)

2. It's super convienient

In the contest between a mattress-in-a-box vs a traditional mattress, a boxed mattress wins hands down in the convenience department.

Most boxed mattresses are shipped within one to two business days for a quick doorstep delivery.

Compressed mattresses are also much easier to transport and maneuver, and unboxing and setup usually only require two people (sometimes even one).

The boxed-up EGOHOME Black 12" Mattress positioned on top of a wooden bed frame in a green bedroom.

(Image credit: Future)

3. Online mattresses are generally cheaper

The best cheap mattresses online come in a box. More affordable prices have become one of the main draws for buying a boxed mattress, as online brands have less overheads and shipping costs.

However, some of the best luxury mattresses we've tested have all come in a box and cost a premium. Still, you'll generally spend less for a luxury mattress online than in-store.

A woman sits on the side of the Helix Dawn mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom, testing the edge support

(Image credit: Future)

4. You can test them for longer

Most online mattress brands offer a sleep trial with every mattress purchase, so you have time to decide whether or not you want to commit to your purchase.

This basically means the mattress is returnable for an allotted time. For instance, if your mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial (the average trial length), then you can return the mattress within 100 days from delivery.

Some mattress brands, like Nectar, DreamCloud, Saatva, and Awara, offer a full year's sleep trial, so you get to 'test-drive' the mattress through every season.

In most cases, these trials are risk-free — meaning you'll receive a full refund and not be on the hook for any processing fees. However, this varies by brand. (More on that below.)

By comparison, most people spend minutes – not months – testing a mattress in store.

The foot of the Plank Firm mattress sitting on a wooden bed frame in a bedroom, showing the Plank logo

(Image credit: Future)

The drawbacks of buying a mattress online

Two women unbox and unwrap a rolled-up mattress still in its plastic packaging.

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, buying a mattress in a box online can have is drawbacks, one of them being that a compressed mattress needs time to expand. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 72 hours, depending on the brand and material.

Another is return fees. While you can get your money back if you return a mattress before your sleep trial is over, some brands still charge a return fee (usually around $99).

Still, there are plenty of brands (such as Nectar, Naturepedic, and DreamCloud) that offer free returns.

A couple go mattress shopping together

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The drawbacks of buying in-store

Although buying a mattress in-store is the traditional (and still the most popular) purchasing method, that doesn't mean it's without shortcomings.

One of the biggest drawbacks of a flat-packed mattress is transportation. A full-blown mattress is bulky, space-consuming, and a hassle to maneuver and ship.

Many shoppers also believe purchasing in-store allows you to try before you buy, but that isn't always the case.

Awkwardly and self-consciously trying out a mattress in-store for a few minutes at a time doesn't always allow you to gain the full picture of what it's like to sleep on a mattress every night, especially when compared to a sleep trial.

3 of our favorite online mattresses

1. DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress (queen)
1. DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress (queen): $699 at dreamcloudsleep.xuok.net

The DreamCloud Classic Hybrid is No 1 in our mattress-in-a-box guide. A queen-size mattress is always on sale for $699 in the DreamCloud mattress sales, and it comes with up to $599 in free accessories to sweeten the deal. This best-value luxury hybrid comes with other amazing benefits: a one-year sleep trial, free shipping and returns, and a lifetime warranty.

View Deal
2. Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress (queen)
2. Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress (queen): was $2,398 now $1,751 at helix-sleep.tkjf.net

The Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress goes to show that a bed-in-a-box can offer a luxe sleep experience, and it's the best mattress for side sleepers, too. With code TOMS27, a queen is 27% off and down to $1,751 in the current Helix mattress sale and comes with a 120-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty.

View Deal
3. Siena Memory Foam Mattress (queen)
3. Siena Memory Foam Mattress (queen): was $349 now $294 at Amazon

Believe it or not, the budget Siena Memory Foam Mattress beat out some of the most premium hybrid mattresses on the market during our vigorous re-tests. With its firm support, we think it's among the best mattresses for stomach sleepers we've tested. A queen-size is down to $294 at Amazon.

View Deal

Today's top mattress sales

Frances Daniels
Frances Daniels
Senior Sleep Staff Writer

Frances Daniels is a PPA-accredited journalist and Sleep Staff Writer at Tom's Guide with an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University. Her role includes covering mattress and sleep news and writing sleep product reviews and buyer's guides, including our Best Hybrid Mattress 2025 guide. She is interested in the relationship between sleep and health, interviewing an array of experts to create in-depth articles about topics such as nutrition, sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, and mattress care. She is also our specialist on mattress toppers — producing bed topper reviews and taking care of our Best Mattress Toppers 2025 guide — and leads content relating to fiberglass-free beds for a non-toxic sleep. Outside of Tom's Guide, she has written for Ideal Home and Marie Claire.

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