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Tom’s Guide

Technology

Frances Daniels

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

Nectar Saatva Dreamcloud Helix United States

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.

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.

If you're thinking of buying your next mattress online too, but need some reassurance from a professional mattress tester (hi, that's me), here are five reasons to do so, plus a couple of tiny drawbacks to consider...

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.

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).

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.

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 drawbacks of buying a mattress online

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.

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.