Bed in a box Which mattress is right for you?

Bed In a box

Bed-in-a-box mattresses first entered the market in response to the often eye-watering mark-ups made on mattresses sold in bricks-and-mortar stores. There’s around 40 different brands currently offering boxed mattresses in Australia, so how do you choose the right one? To help you decide, we’ve got some great advice from CHOICE mattress expert Peter Zaluzny.

The internet was relatively slow to disrupt the mattress industry due to the logistical challenges in shipping bulky mattresses. However, bed-in-a-box mattresses are deoxygenated – enclosed in vacuumsealed packaging – making it possible to be transported in a box, earning them their nickname.

“They’re generally much cheaper than conventional mattresses, costing around a thousand dollars for a queen-size mattress”

To combat the uncertainty many might feel about buying a mattress online without being able to physically try it out to see how it feels, these bed-in-a-box brands also offer trial periods that can extend up to 100 days and warranties up to 15 years. If you don’t like the mattress, you can usually return it easily at no extra cost.

Brands that have had success in this market, and whose products CHOICE have tested, include Sleeping Duck, Koala and Ecosa. These mattresses generally represent good value, although they may not be for everyone. One person’s idea of the perfect comfy mattress may differ from another’s, but we’ve found that a mattress that costs $1000 can be just as comfortable and perform just as well over its lifetime as one priced at $6000. They tend to use more foam and foam-like materials than spring mattresses, so beds in a box may not be for you if you prefer the feel of a traditional spring mattress. But that’s what the free trial period is for. CHOICE conducted a number of mattress tests, and recommend eight of the 12 bedin-a-box models that are currently available. We also recommend 11 of the 30 mattresses available from bricks-and-mortar retailers. While that’s a greater number of products, a higher percentage of bed-in-a-box models earned a recommendation in our test. This suggests that the bed-in-a-box industry consistently manufactures better products. Here, we’ve broken down some great options and laid out everything you need to know about each. Sweet dreams! Here are Mama’s top picks:

Koala - Queen RRP $950

120 Night Trial - 10 year warranty Free 4 hour metro delivery

Australian-made and owned, these guys were the originals with the funniest marketing too! We love the Zero Disturbance® feature which means that no matter who you sleep next to, you’ll get a good night’s rest. Who doesn’t want to jump on a bed next to a glass of red wine? It’s built with Kloudcell – a comfortable, breathable, open-cell foam that creates the ultimate comfort layer and it has an all important washable cover. They also give 1% of sales to environmental charities (like koalas!) and are a Certified B Corporation.

Ecosa - Queen RRP $1099

100 Night Trial - 15 year warranty Free same day delivery (metro)

Aussie owned, but made in China, we still love the sound of the waterproof cover that contains microfilaments to protect from bacteria and dust mites. It also has three levels of adjustable firmness which is pretty clever. Plus the pincore holes allow air to flow freely through all layers of the mattress meaning you can say goodnight to sleeping hot.

Emma Sleep - RRP Queen $999

100 Night Trial - 10 year warranty Free 1-10 days delivery

A newer kid on the block hailing from Germany, and the CHOICE 2020 mattress of the year, their exceptional 3-layered Emma Original combines German-designed quality foam and world-class logistics, delivering excellent comfort and value. It’s also got Zero-motion® transfer for uninterrupted sleep and handles to halp you move it if needed.

One Bed - Queen RRP $850

125 Night Trial - 15 year warranty

Fast & Free delivery

This one comes with free steak knives. Nah, not really, but you do get two free pillows and a set of sheets thrown in. With customizable comfort, zero motion transfer, temperature regulation and alignment support, it’s a pretty great deal.

Hugo Sleep - Queen RRP $995

3 month trial - 10 year warranty Free same day Melbourne metro

These Melbourne locals make a simple one comfort level mattress that helps keep your spine aligned and your body temperature regulated. Made from memory foam to tailor to your body’s contours and breathable latex to keep you cool on balmy Aussie nights. Didn’t enjoy it? Hugo donate all their returned mattresses to the Salvos, Awesome!

Sleeping Duck - RRP $1649

100 Night Trial - 10 year warranty Free next day delivery

It’s price tends to say this is the premium mattress in a box and it was the first mattress ever to win Choice’s Best Overall Mattress 3 years in a row, so they must be doing something right!! Not just foam this beauty features real steel springs for proper back and body support. Choose from medium or firm, but don’t worry, you’ll be able to change the firmness via foams swaps for 100 nights for free to get it perfect.

Happy Sleep - RRP $999

100 Night Trial - 10 year warranty Free same day delivery

Born and bred in Melbourne, there are no gimmicky fancy named foams here. Their latex is a tried and tested comfort layer material that is durable and responds actively to body pressure. The tencel top layer is cooler, smoother to touch and more breathable than cotton and the top flippable layer allows you to go from medium-firm to firm.

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