Are mattresses-in-a-box any good? Yes, and over the last decade, I would argue that they've improved so much that some of them even give the best traditional beds a run for their money. I would know – I've been testing mattresses for almost five years and some of my absolute favorites landed on my doorstep in a box. Below are my top three boxed beds, all of which cost less than $950 for a queen.
Savvy shoppers may notice that all of my choices not only have a place in our general best mattress guide, but they also share a parent company (Resident). While Resident may not have been the first player to enter the boxed bed scene, I think their mattresses stand out for offering the right balance of value and quality. Plus, Resident is known for offering the best extras in the sleep industry with a 1-year trial and a lifetime warranty included with most of its beds.
Of course, if you want to broaden your scope beyond Resident's offerings, take a look at our overall list of the best mattresses-in-a-box. Meanwhile, all of my picks are affordably priced but you'll have the potential to save even more during upcoming Memorial Day mattress sales.
My top 3 mattresses-in-a-box picks
How long do you have to wait to sleep on a mattress-in-a-box?
Boxed mattresses are convenient to ship, but not always easy to set up. Aside from some beds being clumsy to handle once you unbox and unwrap them, you'll also have to give them time to decompress. This can depend on how long your mattress has been boxed up; the longer it's been sealed away, the longer it'll take to expand.
You can sleep on a boxed bed the same night you set it up, but try to give yourself at least an 8-hour window. Even then, you might have to allow a few days for it to achieve its intended firmness and height. You may also have to wait for any off-gassing smells to dissipate, especially if the mattress has been boxed up for quite a while.
