Mattress in a box vs traditional mattress: which should you buy?

A woman unboxes a mattress in a box, the rolled mattress is placed on a bed frame in its packaging (left), two women set up a traditional mattress delivered flat on a bed frame.

The boxed bed phenomenon revolutionized the mattress industry. While traditional mattresses were delivered flat and awkwardly maneuvered into place by a team of delivery people, today's best mattresses in a box are vacuum-packed, rolled, tucked into a box and sent to your door. But are there disadvantages to opting for a bed in a box model rather than a traditionally packed mattress?

We've tested boxed and traditional mattresses to put together our guide to this year's best mattresses, so our experienced sleep team are familiar with the ins and outs of both styles. We'll be honest: most of the difference is during delivery. By the time the mattress is on your bed frame, it won't really matter how it got to your house.