A mattress in a box is a full-size mattress that has been compressed, rolled and sealed in plastic so it fits in a carton. Carry the box to the bedroom, unroll it on the bed base, then cut away the plastic. Ours start expanding straight away, are generally ready within a few hours, and keep settling for days.
- If you'll collect it in a car or carry it upstairs: choose a slim build like the Sleep Essential III Pocket Spring Mattress, which is 20 cm tall once open.
- If you share the bed: choose individually wrapped pocket springs, like the Posture Delight Pocket Spring Mattress, to help limit partner disturbance.
- If you want support that changes along the body: choose a 5-zone spring core, like the Cradle Rest 5 Zone Pocket Spring Mattress.
In this guide
The box changes the delivery, not the mattress
"Bed in a box" sounds like a type of mattress, but it only describes how the mattress travels. Inside the carton you can find almost any construction. Across our mattress in a box range there are traditional Bonnell coil mattresses, pocket spring mattresses, zoned pocket spring mattresses and memory-foam-topped pocket spring hybrids. The comfort you get depends on what is rolled up inside, not on the box.
That matters when you compare boxed mattresses online. Two cartons can look identical and hold very different beds. Here is how four of ours differ once they are out of the plastic. The packed sizes are for a Queen, and they are the measurements to check against your car boot or back seat.
Pieces in this guide
| Feature | Sleep Essence | Sleep Essential III | Posture Delight | Supreme Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring core | 17 cm Bonnell (linked coils) | 18 cm pocket spring | 20 cm pocket spring | 25 cm 5-zone pocket spring |
| Comfort top | Polyester fibre and comfort foam | 2 cm comfort foam quilting | 5 cm comfort foam and convoluted foam quilting | Memory foam quilted top and convoluted foam |
| Feel on its page (1 soft to 10 firm) | Soft, 4 | Soft, 4 | Firm, 7 | Plush, 4 |
| Height once open | 18 cm | 20 cm | 28 cm | 30 cm |
| Queen carton (L × W × H) | 160 × 31 × 31 cm | 159 × 31 × 31 cm | 160 × 33 × 33 cm | 162 × 33 × 33 cm |
The Supreme Care 5 Zone Memory Foam Mattress is a good example of why names can mislead: despite "memory foam" in its name, it is a pocket spring mattress with a memory foam quilted top. If you are comparing models in the mattress sale range, check the construction line on each product page before you compare prices.
Before you open it: room, base and a helper
Most unboxing trouble starts before the plastic is cut. Sort these out first.
- Open it in the room where it will live. A rolled mattress is compact and fairly rigid. Once it expands it is full size, floppy and much harder to get through doorways and round corners.
- Set up the bed frame or base first. Our boxed mattresses are designed for a solid (platform) base or a slatted base with evenly spaced slats. Build the frame, check the slats are all in place, and wipe or vacuum the base so the mattress goes straight onto a clean surface.
- Clear the floor around the bed. You need room to stand at the side and the foot of the base while the mattress unrolls.
- Get a second person for bigger sizes. A Queen or King roll is long and awkward, and it is easier with someone steadying the far end.
- Find a safe cutting tool. Blunt-tip scissors or a small cutter used only on the plastic. Keep long knives in the kitchen.
If you are collecting the carton yourself, measure the car first. The rolled sizes in the table above are typical: a Queen carton is roughly 160 cm long and a little over 30 cm square at the end, and a King carton is about 190 cm long. Most of our boxed mattress pages list the packed size for each mattress size.
How to open a mattress in a box, step by step
These steps suit every boxed mattress we sell, whether it has pocket springs or Bonnell coils inside. If your mattress has its own instruction label, follow that first.
- Stand the carton next to or on the base. Open the cardboard flaps only. Do not push a blade deep into the box, because the mattress is pressed right up against the cardboard.
- Slide the roll out onto the base. Lay it with the loose end of the roll facing up, and line it up with the head of the bed so it unrolls in the right direction.
- Remove the outer wrap and let it unroll. Cut the outer plastic with short, shallow snips and peel it back by hand. The mattress will unroll and start to open out.
- Check which side is up. All the boxed mattresses we cover here are single-sided, with the comfort layers on top. Make sure the quilted side faces up before you go further.
- Cut the inner vacuum layer at an edge. Start your cut along a long edge, away from the sleeping surface, with the blade pointing away from the fabric. Pull the plastic off and let the air in.
- Step back and leave it alone. Do not jump on it, sit in the middle or pile bedding on yet. Open a window or run a fan so the room stays fresh while it rises.
How long it takes to expand, and the first night
Every boxed mattress in our range starts expanding as soon as the vacuum seal is cut, and is generally ready to sleep on within a few hours. Like most rolled mattresses, it can keep settling over the following days. In practice that means three stages.
- The first few minutes. The springs push the mattress back towards its full shape almost straight away. This is the fun part to watch.
- The first few hours. The comfort layers fill out and the edges square up. For most people this is when it is ready for a fitted sheet and a first night.
- The next few days. The foam layers carry on settling. A mattress can feel a little different on night three than on night one, so give it a few nights before you decide how it feels.
Taller builds have more to recover. The 30 cm Cradle Rest and Supreme Care stand much taller than the slim 18 cm Sleep Essence Bonnell Spring Mattress, so they may take a little longer to look completely square. If a corner still looks flat after a day, it is usually still settling rather than faulty.
A light "new mattress" smell when the plastic comes off is common with foam comfort layers. Fresh air helps, which is why the care notes on our mattresses say to let it breathe and keep the room well ventilated.
Unboxing mistakes we hear about most
- Opening it in the hallway. Then trying to drag a full-size, expanded mattress up the stairs. Open it where it will sleep. If stairs are unavoidable, carry it up in the box.
- Cutting with a kitchen knife. A long blade can slice straight through the vacuum wrap and into the cover. Short snips, edges only.
- Putting it on an unsuitable base. Widely spaced or missing slats leave parts of the mattress unsupported. Use a solid base or evenly spaced slats.
- Judging it on the first night. The feel continues to settle over several days.
- Flipping it. These mattresses are single-sided. Rotate them head-to-foot every few months instead, so they wear evenly.
- Skipping the protector. A mattress protector keeps the cover cleaner and guards against everyday spills, and the care notes on our mattresses recommend one. Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild cleaner; never soak a mattress.
If you would rather feel the difference between a soft Bonnell top, a medium pocket spring and a zoned build before you buy, our five showrooms are in Rocklea, Virginia, North Ipswich, Bundall and Beenleigh. Ask which store has the mattress you like on display before you visit. The Spine Care 5 Zone Pocket Spring Mattress and the Sleep Vital Pillow Top Mattress are two more boxed options worth comparing: the Spine Care is a medium 5-zone pocket spring, and the Sleep Vital is a soft pillow top over a Bonnell coil base.
Mattress in a box questions
Can you sleep on a mattress in a box the first night?
Usually, yes. The boxed mattresses in our range are generally ready to sleep on within a few hours of the vacuum seal being cut. They keep settling over the following days, so the feel can change slightly after the first night.
What is a bed in a box?
It is another name for a mattress in a box: a full-size mattress compressed, rolled and sealed in plastic for delivery. It is a delivery format, not a construction. Inside the box can be a Bonnell spring, pocket spring or memory-foam-topped pocket spring mattress.
What bed frame do I need for a mattress in a box?
Any standard bed frame or base that supports the mattress evenly. Use a solid (platform) base or a slatted base with evenly spaced slats. An unsupportive base can affect comfort, so check the slats before you unroll the mattress.
Will a mattress in a box fit in my car?
Often, yes. A Queen carton is roughly 160 cm long and a little over 30 cm square at the end, and a King carton is about 190 cm long. Most of our boxed mattress pages list the packed size, so measure your boot or back seat with the seats folded before you collect.
Is the new-mattress smell normal?
A light smell when the plastic comes off is common with foam comfort layers. Open a window or run a fan, and give the mattress a few hours to air before you make the bed.
Do I need to flip a mattress in a box?
No. The boxed mattresses we sell are single-sided, with the comfort layers on top. Rotate the mattress head-to-foot every few months instead, so it wears evenly.