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The 11 best online mattress companies compared

21Oak Contributor
By

Remember when we first heard of bed-in-a-box companies? It seemed like they were here to simplify our lives, didn’t it? They offered free trials, mattresses with one choice of firmness, and overall comparatively low prices. But as more and more of such companies started popping up, things became a whole lot more confusing. Some let you try their mattresses for 100 days, others for 120, while others went for sleep trials lasting the whole year. You can find mattresses that only give you one firmness option, while others can be tailored to your size, shape, and individual sleeping habits. Now you can find over 100 different bed-in-a-box companies. So how do you know which mattress-in-a-box is for you?

To help you make sense of all this mattress confusion, we rounded up some of the biggest names in the bed-in-a-box delivery game (Nectar, Lessa, Casper and Tuft & Needle, to name a few). Whether you want the lowest price, the longest trial period, or the most customized mattress, we can help you out. Keep a look at our Black Friday mattress sales page to find the latest mattress sales this October 13 and 14.

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At a glance:

    • Best for back sleepers: Nectar
    • Best for combination sleepers: Leesa
    • Best budget value: Tuft & Needle
    • Best for pressure point support:Casper
    • Best variety: Brooklyn Bedding
    • Best personalization: Helix
    • Best flippable (two-sided) mattresses: Layla
    • Best hand-crafted: Loom and Leaf
    • Most innovative slumber systems:Luma
    • Best choice of kids’ and pet beds:  Nest Bedding
    • Best luxury: Saatva

Best for back sleepers: Nectar

While the Nectar Mattress can support every sleeping position, it’s medium-firm feel makes it a great option for back sleepers. The Queen mattress has medical grade memory foam, a top gel memory foam layer, and a top quilted cover. If you need a mattress for back pain, this is a solid option.

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  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Mattress Options: Memory Foam Mattress, Lush Mattress
  • Trial period: 365 nights.
  • Warranty: Forever.

Best for combination sleepers: Leesa

Arriving on the scene shortly after Casper, Leesa takes a similar approach with their few choices: The Original, Hybrid, and new Legend mattress styles. As a certified B company, Leesa pledges that for every 10 mattresses Lessa sells, the company donates one to a local shelter. Leesa also offers bedding, bases, and pillows as well.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Options: Original, Hybrid, Legend, Studio.
  • Trial period: 100 days.
  • Warranty: 10-year limited warranty.

Best budget value: Tuft & Needle

Often mentioned alongside Casper and Leesa, Tuft & Needle is a great delivery-to-your-doorstep mattress option. The material on their Original mattress is neither latex nor memory foam, according to the company, but its own proprietary foam. (They also carry two other types of mattresses now: their Mint and their Hybrid). What really sets the mattress apart, however, is the price, which is among the very cheapest on our list.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Mattress Options: Original, Mint, Hybrid.
  • Trial period: 100 days.
  • Warranty: 10 years.

Best for pressure point support: Casper

Casper took a one-softness-fits-all approach to its mattresses when it launched in 2014. Now it also sells sheets, bedding, bed frames, glow lights, dog beds, pillows, and more.  If you want to try Casper mattresses out in person, they’ve teamed up with area retailers near you. If you’re looking for a mattress for side-sleepers, Casper has several models for back and shoulder pain. Find a store or partner location here.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Mattress Options: Wave, Casper, Nova Hybrid.
  • Trial period: 100 days.
  • Warranty: 10 year limited warranty.

Best variety: Brooklyn Bedding

Brooklyn Bedding has been in business since 1995 and began shipping beds-in-a-box in 2009, making it one of the first players in the space. You can also buy pillows, sheets, and a platform from Brooklyn Bedding. Because it offers three levels of firmness, you can either read the company’s guide on choosing the right mattress or call or email for a recommendation.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Options: Signature Hybrid, Bowery, Bowery Hybrid, Bloom Hybrid, Aurora Hybrid, Spartan Hybrid; each in soft, medium, or firm.
  • Trial period: 120 days.
  • Warranty: 10 years.

Shop at Brooklyn Bedding

Best personalization: Helix

Unlike many of its competitors, Helix wants to make personalized mattresses. Instead of selecting a firmness, you have to check a lot of boxes on its questionnaire. From your height and weight to body shape and sleep position, Helix wants to know it all. If you have a partner, you can either choose a blended option, which will result in a mattress based on your combined stats, or split it in half, so each side is customized to the individual.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Options: Helix: customized based on a questionnaire; Helix Luxe: customized with upgraded features; Helix Plus: for plus size and tall sleepers; Birch: organic mattress.
  • Trial period: 100 days.
  • Warranty: Helix: 10 years; Helix Plus and Luxe: 15 years; Birch: 25 years.

Best flippable (two-sided) options: Layla

In order to give you a bit more choice, Layla baked softness and firmness into a memory foam mattress as well as a hybrid. One side is soft, the other firm. The memory foam mattress is also infused with copper on the softer side, which the company says keeps it cooler and helps with circulation — though some are a bit skeptical of that claim.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Options: Memory Foam or Hybrid.
  • Trial period: 120 nights.
  • Warranty: Lifetime.

Shop at Layla

Best hand-crafted: Loom and Leaf

From mattress maker Saatva, Loom and Leaf bills itself as a luxury mattress that doesn’t come in a box. Instead, someone delivers and sets up your Loom and Leaf for you. It also comes with a higher price tag, shorter trial period, and couple more inches of cushion than many of the other mattresses on our list. It even has a layer of gel that’s supposed to keep you cool.

  • Shipping and returns: Free delivery, old mattress removal and setup; $99 for returns.
  • Options: Relaxed firm or firm.
  • Trial period: 120 days.
  • Warranty: 15 years.

Shop at Loom and Leaf

Most innovative slumber systems: Luma

Back when there were just a few of these companies, all it took to stand out was a slightly longer trial period. Since Luma was a bit late to the game, it added extra options to the original Luma mattress. Now customers can also select a Natural Hybrid option, the Hybrid Slumber System, and Latex Slumber System, as well as assorted types of bedding, pillows, and foundations.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Options: Luma, Hybrid, Hybrid Slumber System, and Latex Slumber System.
  • Trial period: 100 nights.
  • Warranty: 10 years.

Shop at Luma

Best choice of kids’ and pets’ bedding: Nest Bedding

There are seven main types of mattresses available on the Nest Bedding site, including Love & Sleep, Alexander Signature Hybrid, Alexander Signature Series Flippable, the New FLIP Hybrid, Natural Hybrid Latex, All Latex (Natural & Organic), and the Certified Organic Hybrid Latex model. Additionally, Nest now offers bedding, pillows, furniture, crib mattresses/bedding, and pet beds. Find a Nest showroom near you on this map to experience their products in person.

  • Shipping and returns: Free.
  • Options: Seven different styles plus kids’ and crib mattresses.
  • Trial period: 100 days.
  • Warranty: Lifetime.

Shop at Nest Bedding

Best luxury: Saatva

You may remember Saatva from earlier on our list. Like the Loom and Leaf, the Saatva mattress doesn’t come in a box but is set up by employees. The company will also haul away your old mattress free of charge. It’s missing the layer of gel that Loom and Leaf has, sure, but it also costs less. It also swaps some of the foam layers for coils.

  • Shipping and returns: Free white glove delivery and mattress removal; $99 for returns.
  • Options: Saatva Classic, HD, Youth, Zenhaven, and Solaire.
  • Trial period: 180 days.
  • Warranty: They vary: the Saatva Classic has a limited lifetime warranty, Loom & Leaf has 15 years, Solaire has 25 years, HD and Zenhaven both have 20, and Youth has 12 years.

Shop at Saatva

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