The bed-in-a-box concept took the mattress world by storm when it came along over a decade ago. Low-cost mattresses that you could try at home without the hassle of going to a showroom ticked a lot of boxes for consumers.
But bricks-and-mortar stores stuck around. While these traditional retailers used to be more expensive than a bed-in-a-box, prices have gradually met in the middle. Our test results have been pretty comparable for some time as well.
Does bed-a-box offer better value? In 2015, sure. In 2026? Things aren’t quite as clear cut.
So does bed-a-box offer better value? In 2015, sure. In 2026? Things aren’t quite as clear cut. There are plenty of reasons to return to the shops or stick with online stores depending on how you like to shop and the kind of bed you prefer.
What’s best for sleep: A retail mattress or a bed-in-a-box?
Back in the day, bed-in-a-box mattresses were mostly made of foam while traditional mattresses from retailers tended to skew towards spring or hybrids (with a few exceptions). The different builds would often determine which type a shopper would opt for, as each has a very particular feel while you sleep.
But according to CHOICE mattress expert Chris Barnes, things have changed and now all three types are available everywhere.
“Manufacturers even figured out how to put spring mattresses into a box without affecting build quality,” he adds.
“These days, main differences are in the shopping experience and after sales service.”
CHOICE’s expert testing of more than 60 mattresses hasn’t found a single clear indicator of whether brands from bed-in-a-box or traditional retailers are better quality, more supportive, or less bouncy. There’s a fairly even number of great, average and poor performers across both categories.
Of the 26 currently available models we recommend, 15 are from mattress-in-a-box manufacturers, ten are sold by traditional retailers and one is a full-sized spring mattress sold at an online-only store.
Text-only accessible version
Buy a bed in a box if you…
Want to try a mattress at home. Know which type of mattress you want – spring, foam or hybrid. Want a different firmness on each side of the bed. Live in a city or major rural centre/large town. Need a bed pretty quickly. Don’t want to deal with a large range of products.
You should buy a bed-in-a-box if you…
Want to try a mattress at home
Since day one, mattress-in-a-box brands have set themselves apart from traditional retailers with their trial periods. “We’ll send you the mattress and if you don’t like it after 30 days, you can return the mattress for a full refund, risk free,” they often advertise, or something to that effect.
An at-home trial will give you a much better understanding of whether the mattress is right for you. You’re in your space, you’re comfortable and salespeople aren’t peering at you from across the room (hopefully).
“Just remember that it’s not really try before you buy,” warns Chris. “You still have to purchase the mattress, hand over your cash and then apply for a refund if it doesn’t suit your sleeping style.”
You may even need to cover a portion of the return costs, depending on the brand and where you live. Always double check the returns policy before committing.
Know which type of mattress you want – spring, foam or hybrid
Spring, foam and hybrid mattresses each have a distinct feel. Spring supports you at the top of the bed while foam lets you sink in a bit, with a sense of contouring around your body. Hybrid is somewhere in the middle.
“You need to know your preference before buying, which is where a showroom comes in handy,” suggests Chris. “Blindly buying a bed-in-a-box means you may be stuck with a style that doesn’t work for your body until the trial period is over.”
A couple of bed-in-a-box mattresses have adjustable firmness zones for each side of the bed (excluding singles). Sleepers can add or remove foam sheets to set their section to a preferred firmness that doesn’t affect the other person.
“It’s a useful feature but one that seems to be limited to a few bed-in-a-box brands,” Chris explains. “We’re yet to come across a product like this from traditional retailers.”
Live in a city or major rural centre/large town
The bed-in-a-box trial period is largely geared towards more populated areas. Almost all brands can organise a free collection or arrange an easy drop-off for customers in cities, larger towns, regional centres and so on.
Things get a bit harder if you’re living in a more remote location. The onus may fall on you to sort out the return before getting a refund.
Need a bed pretty quickly
Mattress-in-a-box brands usually keep stock on hand, so your orders should arrive within a couple of weeks depending on where you live. Traditional retailers, however, mostly manufacture based on demand after you commit to the purchase. This can lead to long delivery times.
That’s not to say bed-in-a-box manufacturers don’t experience delays. But most will lay out the estimated delivery windows before buying, so be sure to check this before ordering if time is of the essence.
Browsing aisle after aisle of display beds from over a dozen brands in a full-scale mattress showroom isn’t just time consuming, it’s overwhelming. Toss in a few pushy salespeople and you’ve got yourself a pretty uncomfortable day (or days) of shopping ahead.
“Bed-in-a-box brands generally offer a much smaller selection that’s easier to browse and understand which product fits your needs,” says Chris. “And all the information is online.” Granted, there are a pretty substantial selection of brands but most make one to four beds, maximum.
Text-only accessible version
Consider a traditional retailer if you…
Don’t know what you want in a bed. Don’t want to commit to a purchase. Live in a remote or rural area. Like a soft mattress. Are happy to haggle. Are shopping on a budget.
Consider a traditional retailer if you…
Don’t know what you want in a bed
Not quite sure if you’re a foam fan, spring stan or hyping for hybrid? You can get a pretty good idea of your preference by trying a few mattresses in-store. That way you can avoid the returns process if a particular build isn’t right for you.
Don’t want to commit to a purchase
When you buy a mattress-in-a-box, you’re out of pocket during the trial period. A showroom may not be a real representation of your home but you don’t have to pay to get in.
Live in a remote or rural area
It’s uncommon for bed-in-a-box brands to collect mattresses from customers outside cities, large towns, regional centres etc. Instead, the terms and conditions usually put the process back on you, which can take time and cost money.
“You may have to organise a collection yourself or transport the mattress to a charity partner or drop-off location,” Chris explains. “In this case, online retailers don’t tend to specify whether you’ll receive a refund for extra expenses like petrol.”
That’s not to say that returning a mattress to a retailer is any easier. But trying mattresses in store gives you a better chance of finding the right one before buying.
There aren’t many mattresses-in-boxes with a soft feel. Most, including adjustable beds, skew towards medium, medium-firm and firm with just a couple of soft and medium-soft alternatives.
Are happy to haggle
Slick negotiators can save even more money on a mattress by haggling with a salesperson. That’s an option you’re not going to get via an online-only bed-in-a-box brand.
The ticket price in showrooms has a lot of flexibility, even during sales periods. Plus, you can chip away even more by buying multiple items at once – like new pillows, mattress protectors, electric blankets and more.
Almost all of the cheapest mattresses in our test are sold by traditional retailers. Only a few bed-in-a-box models fall into the budget category, which really limits your options. Retailers, meanwhile, offer a larger selection including some of top performers in CHOICE testing.
Have money to burn
All that said, the super expensive mattresses are only available through traditional retailers. We’re talking over ten thousand dollars in some cases (no, we haven’t tested these).
If you enjoy splashing cash or firmly believe that price equals performance, head on down to your local bricks and mortar and bust out that gold card.
Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses.
Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions.
Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.
Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses.
Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions.
Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.
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