If you’ve ever tried to move a mattress between rooms or houses, then you’ll know how the iconic pivot scene in the TV show Friends can be a pretty accurate depiction of how tiring moving furniture can be.
Even sampling mattresses in a store can feel super awkward, so it’s difficult to get a good sense of how well the bed works for your body. Plus, many retailers only offer a refund if the mattress arrives with some sort of fault or damage.
Thankfully, there are now online bed-in-a-box companies like Koala, Ecosa, Origin and Emma putting these shopping nightmares to sleep.
A bed in a box is essentially a mattress that’s been compressed and rolled (or folded) by a machine and placed into a box for easy transport and assembly. The entire purchase process is completed online, with the bed likely to be delivered straight to your door within the week.
Sounds dreamy, right? Read our guide below to find out the advantages and disadvantages of switching to a bed in a box, plus check out a list of top-rated options on the market including the Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress, which is currently $999 off.
*All prices reflect size queen mattresses, unless stated otherwise.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
OUR TOP PICKS
In this article
BEST OVERALL MATTRESS IN A BOX
The Koala Mattress, $1200 at Koala
What You Need To Know
Koala isn’t just a leading bed in a box brand, but it’s also one of the first companies that boosted the trend in Australia – partly thanks to a viral video, which showed the classic Koala Mattress keep a full glass of wine perfectly still when jumped on. Several years later, the mattress continues to be a bestseller and a top pick for review sites including Canstar Blue, ProductReview and BedBuyer.
The Goldilocks of mattresses, the Koala Mattress is designed to suit all types of sleepers. It comes with a separate double-sided mattress topper that you can flip over to adjust the firmness level, and a three-zone support system that aligns your shoulders, hips and feet to give you pressure relief. The mattress is also fairly affordable compared to other options on the market.
“Best mattress ever! My back feels good and supported,” a happy customer posted.
“(It’s) easy to set up and the most comfortable mattress we’ve ever owned,” another wrote.
Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress, $1499 (down from $2498) at Origin
What You Need To Know
Feeling sweaty and sticky doesn’t exactly sound like cloud nine. Thankfully, the eight-layer Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress is one oasis that can help you beat the heat. It’s packed with a SmartClimate Cooling System made with graphite crystal latex to wick away moisture, plus cool-to-touch PolarSilk Tencel to keep your body dry and comfortable.
The thick and plush pillowtop is also stuffed with AirFill to add even more breathability and ensure the pillowtop can mould to your body and provide some pressure relief (i.e. the ‘floating on air feeling’).
“Best decision I have made! Their mattress is not only soft and plushy, but its also really cooling, which is my favourite part of it!” praised a reviewer.
“Love this model a lot! It’s been super comfy and we’ve been getting the best sleep so far, compared to our previous mattresses!” another wrote.
Boutique Mattress – Memory Foam + Pocket Spring, $566.30 (down from $809) at Mattress Crafters
What You Need To Know
Mattress Crafters’ best selling mattress, the Boutique Mattress is made from both memory foam and pocket springs to deliver your best sleep yet. It has a medium-firm comfort level and an advanced 2.2 coil spring system which works to not only deliver optimal support but also makes this mattress surprisingly affordable.
It features seven zone pocket spring technology to provide targeted support for different areas of your body and also is made from egg style foam for enhanced breathability and cushioning.
And if you sleep with a partner you’re going to love this next feature. Each coil is indivually wrapped which means that motion transfer is minimised and you will no longer be woken up in the night from your partner’s movement. Hallejuah.
It is currently sitting at a 4.9 star average rating with shoppers raving about the “amazing” mattress.
“The mattress is just the right firmness and provides excellent back support. We are extremely impressed by the quality of this mattress and the value for money,” wrote one five-star review.
BEST MATTRESS FOR COUPLES
Sleeping Duck SD MACH II, $1649 at Sleeping Duck
What You Need To Know
Can’t agree on how soft or hard your mattress should be? This award-winning mattress comes in three firmness levels, including a half-medium and half-firm option that lets you enjoy a different level of firmness on either side.
Another feature to love is the antigravity surface foam layer, which is essentially a high density AirGrown polyurethane foam that promises to create the feeling of weightlessness. It’s also breathable and porous to encourage airflow, making it handy for avoiding night sweats.
The Sleeping Duck mattress additionally contains a Perimeter Zone that provides edge support as well as add 20 per cent extra space, with the brand claiming it makes “the Queen size mattress feel like a King”. There are also twice tempered springs in several zones to support different parts of your body.
BEST LUXURY MATTRESS IN A BOX
Emma Diamond Hybrid Mattress, $1999 (down from $2248) at Emma Sleep
What You Need To Know
The Emma Diamond Hybrid Mattress isn’t just all (pillow) talk. Thousands of consumers in a survey conducted by NielsenIQ voted it as a Product of the Year 2023, with Best Mattress AU similarly labelling it as the “best cooling choice”.
To reduce morning aches and pains, this Emma mattress has an ergonomically designed foam layer that adapts to your body and distributes body pressure so you can sleep comfortably no matter what position you’re in.
If you’re a hot sleeper, this Emma mattress contains diamond and graphite particles to get rid of excess heat while the foam’s low rolling resistance minimises the amount of effort needed from your body when you toss and turn.
“The mattress is very supportive, firm but not hard. No more aching hips or tossing and turning all night,” a customer posted.
“The Emma mattress is extremely comfortable. My husband and I both have back issues but have very different sleep requirements – one sleeps hot, the other a cold frog – both of us have been sleeping like babies, and waking up well rested, with significantly less aches and pains,” another reviewed.
BEST VALUE MATTRESS IN A BOX
Emma Comfort Mattress, $810 (down from $939) at Emma Sleep
What You Need To Know
The Emma Comfort Mattress is not only the brand’s “most awarded mattress”, but it’s one of the most popular budget friendly bed in a box options on the market. This bed in a box has a medium to firm feel, and contains an Airgocell layer that wicks away moisture to keep you dry and comfortable as well as minimise motion transfer. The mattress additionally features a HRX foam with zoning technology support individual hip, shoulder and spinal alignment. It’s also designed to distribute pressure and adapt to different parts of your body, which is said to help keep your spine in a natural lying position.
“This mattress has set a whole new standard of sleep,” praised a commenter on Product Review.
Comfort Classic Mattress, $1200 at Eva
What You Need To Know
While mattresses sold instore are typically cheaper than bed in a boxes, they generally don’t come with the luxury of 100 night trials or the option to return the product if you don’t like it.
Formerly called the Eva Mattress, this is one of the most affordable options on the market and offers the longest trial period of 365 days. It’s made with a five-zone pocket springs system to keep the body aligned, and a gel memory foam to promote airflow and help you from overheating.
“This is by far the best and most comfortable mattress I have ever owned. I always get a good night’s sleep – not too hot or cold and whether I lay on my side, back or front, it is always comfortable,” one reviewer commented.
“(I) have been getting some of my best sleep Eva in recent weeks. Why didn’t I ditch my older mattress earlier?” another wrote.
“For the price point, I am amazed at the perfect balance of supportive firmness yet comfortable softness to be able to sleep on both my back and side without aggravating or creating next-morning lower back soreness.”
BEST HYBRID MATTRESS IN A BOX
Atlantis Mattress, $1899 at Atlantis
What You Need To Know
Picky about how firm your bed feels? Atlantis has several firmness levels to choose from, including soft, medium, firm, firm and soft, medium and firm and soft and medium. You can even exchange the mattress for another firmness level without charge (and you’ll only need to change the comfort adjust layer, which makes the process simple and convenient).
Currently the brand’s only mattress option, the Atlantis Mattress is topped with a soft Australian knitted quilt cover and contains a multi-zoned pocket spring support system to minimise partner disturbance and provide firmer support where you need it most. The perimeter of the mattress also uses a firmer spring to prevent the edges from sagging.
The Origin Hybrid Mattress, $699 (down from $1165) at Origin
What You Need To Know
Don’t know whether to buy a spring or foam mattress? Get the best of both worlds with hybrid mattresses like this one from Origin, which contains both pocket innersprings and bamboo-infused memory foam. Plus, this bed in a box provides a medium firmness and made to suit all sleeping positions.
Other features to expect include side handles, a HexaGrid Orthopaedic layer that creates a plush feel while cradling your pressure points, and a cool Tencel pillowtop to prevent your head from overheating. Tencel is also naturally antibacterial and dust mite resistant, making it allergy friendly. The Hybrid mattress additionally helps you maintain a healthy back by offering more support in the centre third of the mattress, which is where your body weight is concentrated.
“This mattress was a life saver! It provides the best sleep ever, and you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day,” praised a reviewer.
BEST MATTRESS IN A BOX FOR PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES
Noa Luxe Mattress, $1149 (down from $1549) at Noa
What You Need To Know
If you’re particularly sensitive dust mites, dander, mould spores and other common allergy triggers, Noa offers a fragrance-free, allergen-free and non-toxic option with its Luxe mattress. The hand-tufted pillow top (i.e. the attached mattress topper) is also made from Tencel, a breathable fabric with antibacterial and hypo-allergenic properties.
On a firmness scale out of 10, the luxe mattress sits between on a seven or eight out of 10. But this varies depending on the person’s weight, height, sleeping position and room temperature.
“The mattress market is flooded with promises these days, but this mattress is worth the money and, does live up to its promises. Overall I’m really happy with this purchase and would recommend, most notably to side sleepers as it conforms well to shoulders and hips albeit reasonably firmly,” a reviewer wrote, rating it five stars.
BEST SPRING MATTRESS IN A BOX
Sleep Firm Bed Mattress, $1299 at Sleep Firm
What You Need To Know
Awarded by BedBuyer as the Best Firm Mattress in a Box for 2023, this firm pocket spring mattress is hard to ignore. It’s made with pocket springs claimed to be 42 per cent stronger than standard springs, resulting in a durable and long lasting product.
Rather than having one layer of springs, the mattress has a high spring count that’s distributed across five zones and in multiple levels to create maximum support for natural contour of the body and spine.
And if that isn’t enough – the Australian-made bed in a box includes a Boomerang Foam, which has a high rebound level to maintain its hardness and ensure long-lasting firm support. It’s also a Dunlop Approved foam, which has been given the thumbs up by the Sensitive Choice program), making it suitable for people with allergies and asthma.
“After sleeping on the sleep firm I am very impressed and would highly recommend if your after a good firm mattress. I will never buy a memory foam mattress again,” praised a reviewer.
“As this was my first ‘mattress in a box’ purchase I was a little sceptical about how the quality would be but there was nothing to worry about. Great mattress, good edge support, very happy with the quality and looks like it will last a long time.”
BEST FOAM MATTRESS IN A BOX
Macoda Mattress, $1200 at Macoda
What You Need To Know
Made with gel-infused memory foam, this Macoda mattress is going to make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud as well as keep you cool. The removable bamboo cover also helps wick away moisture since it’s naturally breathable and super soft.
Similar to other bed in a box products, this mattress includes a latex layer to add bounce and support. There are also hundreds of independent pocket springs to minimise motion transfer, so it won’t feel like a waterbed whenever someone gets up.
“Brought this after reviews mentioned it has a soft feel and it has not disappointed! Love the medium soft feel of this mattress and have been having fantastic sleeps from day one. I feel the quality of the mattresses for the price is really good,” an impressed customer wrote, rating it five stars.
“It’s comfortable, well made and it looks great even without a bed base. Delivered fast without any issues,” another commented.
BEST LATEX MATTRESS IN A BOX
Ecosa Pure Mattress, $1360 (down from $1700) at Ecosa
What You Need To Know
If you’re a hot sleeper, latex mattresses are the way to go. They’re great at circulating airflow and regulating temperature, and trap less heat than other types of foam. You can see it in products like this Ecosa bed in a box, which uses a mixture of micro coils, pocket springs and a latex foam with open cells to promote airflow throughout the mattress.
When it comes to comfort, this Ecosa bed in a box features seven zones of ergonomic support. It provides firm pressure to support your lower back, and offers cushioning around your hips and shoulders for pressure relief. There are also firmer springs around the mattress for edge support.
“I recently retired my 15 year old super king latex mattress – which had got lumpy (as well as incredibly heavy and unwieldy) and replaced it with Ecosa’s Pure Mattress. It was half the price of the old mattress but it’s 10 times better and not just because it is SOOOO comfortable,” a customer posted.
“It’s also cool (the old one used to get quite hot) and with some inner structure and handles on the side, it’s much easier to move.”
“Believe the hype, this is one comfy mattress. Well made, and I feel the firmness ratings are fair. I like a firm bed, and the medium-firm setting just gets there for me,” another commented.
ARE BED-IN-A-BOX MATTRESSES BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL MATTRESSES?
The biggest upside of a bed in a box is that instead of heading in-store to test a mattress out, you can use the mattress for a particular trial period and return it if it’s not the right fit. And don’t worry, many brands either donate or recycle returned mattresses so your bed will be fresh.
The warranty period is also typically much longer compared to store-bought mattresses.
Unlike regular mattresses, bed in a boxes are generally made using a combination of materials like innersprings, memory foam and latex foam.
This means you can experience a wider range of benefits … well, at least theoretically. As with everything you buy, choosing the best mattress is going to vary on different factors and some products will suit your body and needs better than others.
To compare, we’ve listed some pros and cons of a mattress in a box below.
PROS OF MATTRESS IN A BOXES
• Can usually adjust the firmness by flipping the mattress topper over.
• Long free trial periods (for example, 100 nights).
• Longer warranty periods (for example, 10 years).
• Conveniently shipped to your front door.
• Fairly easy to assemble because it mainly involves lifting one or two boxes and rolling the mattress out onto your bed. It takes one or two days to fully expand.
CONS OF MATTRESS IN A BOXES
• Like with many bedding products, the mattress might smell weird at first but it should disappear within a few days.
• Some mattresses need a specific type of bed base, otherwise it might cause mattress to sink, limit ventilation, allow for more motion transfer or create other issues. That’s why it’s always a good idea to double check what kind of base works best.
• No face-to-face customer service.
IS THERE A TRIAL PERIOD FOR BOXED MATTRESSES
While you can’t see how the bed feels in store, boxed mattresses generally have either a 100 night trial period. Certain companies including Eva even offer a 365-day trial. This lets you get a real taste of how well the mattress works for you. If it doesn’t, you can usually return it for free. What better way to see if a product is the best for your body than by using it for three months?
Keep in mind it takes a few days, or potentially up to a couple of weeks, for your body to adjust to a new mattress (traditional or boxed).
DO BOXED MATTRESSES COME WITH WARRANTIES
Boxed mattresses have spectacularly long warranties, usually ranging between 10 and 15 years. This typically covers any physical damages, flaws, blemishes or manufacturing defects. It’s likely you won’t be able to send back a mattress (once the trial period ends) simply due to regular wear and tear, or damages caused by alterations or improper cleaning, among other things.
More Best Mattress Coverage
More Coverage
Looking for more tips to make your bedroom feel like cloud nine? Read our roundups and
guides on the best mattresses, best mattress toppers, best bed sheets, best pillows and more.
Don’t forget to bookmark the Coupons page and save on your favourite brands and retailers, including Myer and Bed Threads. We also recommend signing up to our free shopping newsletter to receive the latest sales and trends in your inbox every week.
Originally published as Best mattresses you can get delivered in a box in Australia
Tahnee-Jae Lopez-VitoRead related topics:Best Of: SleepncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7wqGcnKOfqsFwtM6mnGaZnpl6qK3RnZynZ5KasbO7zqZmppmkqb%2Bmv9KeqmialajBbrnAraurnaOoeqq6jJpkm6eoYrGmuMivnKuxX6OyuL%2BMrKuoqqlkr6aDw59nnJ5mm4amgJiea3FtZGh%2Bp3zFnmhvbJWYhnQ%3D