Does A New Mattress Really Require A New Box Spring
by Sleep Boutique | Jul 18, 2014
So you go into a Mattress Shop to purchase a new mattress, and the salesperson tells you that you need the same brand engineered Box Spring, so you dont void the mattress warranty. Do you go ahead with it? Do you really need a new Box Spring? Is it really engineered for that mattress?
The simple answer is NO, you dont. However, there are some things to look at to ensure that you dont cause premature wearing to your new purchase. The large retailers and manufacturers may void your warranty, but if you find the right company it shouldnt void any warranty. The right company will stand behind their product as long as you have a strong and supportive foundation.
What is a Box Spring? First off, lets go back in history a little bit to a time when there was no foam in mattresses and most mattresses were metal springs, cotton, wool, horse hair ect . These natural fibres last forever but are more of a padding layer. Basically, they compact over time and are firm and not soft and plushy. So, to make your mattress softer along comes the Box Spring.
A Box Spring generally adds more movement to your mattress, since you are on a bouncy surface. Another selling point would be the fact that as you go into and out of bed or do other activities, other than sleeping, the Box Spring below you would take some absorption and thus put less wear and tear on your mattress. This is somewhat true, but is not too big a concern with modern materials.
What About A Bunkie Board
If youve been Googling bed bases, youve probably come across a bunkie board. Typically found in bunk beds, thus the name bunkie, these boards are designed to work with traditional metal bed frames and provide support to mattresses that are being used without a foundation. A bunkie board is thick piece of plywood used to increase the firmness of box springs. Because of its solid, smooth surface, a bunkie board could be used to support your foam mattress, but may not be as good of an option as something more solid like a foundation, platform bed or adjustable base.
Do You Need A Box Spring When To Skip It Box Spring Alternatives And More
Depending on what type of bed you have, a box spring can either help or hurt your mattress. Use this guide to make your decision.
KJ Callihan
KJ Callihan is a freelance writer with a background in mental health and education. Her writing often covers product reviews and lists, animals and pet care, food and hospitality, health, wellness, and culture. When she isn’t crafting the perfect sentence, you may find her bingeing true crime documentaries, browsing mid-Michigan farmer’s markets, and tasting her son’s latest homemade cuisine
Designed to support a mattress, a box spring consists of a wood frame filled with either springs or a metal grid. The box spring is encased in fabric and placed beneath the mattress on a bed frame. Some also have supportive slats on the bottom. They’re made to match the sizes of most traditional mattresses, from twin to king.
Once commonly sold as an integral part of traditional innerspring mattress sets, box springs served several purposes until recent innovations began limiting their usefulness. Such purposes include:
- Adding support to the mattress
- Extending the mattress’s longevity
- Lifting the mattress higher so sleepers can more easily get in and out of bed
- Absorbing impact in order to protect the mattress and reduce wear and tear
- Improving breathability and airflow to help sleepers feel cool
- Helping to prevent mold and mildew growth outside the mattress
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Best Overall Box Spring
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How Come Mattresses Dont Come With Box Springs
Simply put, they just dont need it anymore.
Mattresses have come a long way from being just single layer of foam and just like the times have evolved to give us solar powered cars, zoom meetings and VR headsets, mattresses became the plush powerhouses they are today.
That said, we never want to stop you from doing you and if you want to get yourself a box spring, then by all means, go get one. Old school has never stopped being cool, I always say. Chances are, your folks are still holding on to their old box spring set, maybe you could surprise them with a new one.
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How Can Leesa Help You
At Leesa, we’re passionate about helping you on your journey to get a great night’s sleep every night, and we think our foam and hybrid mattresses are the best way to get there. Since traditional spring mattresses aren’t on our roster, we don’t make a traditional box spring either. Instead, we have a variety of firmer bed bases that are perfect for your foam or hybrid mattress.
Whether you’re shopping on a budget, looking for a showstopper, or ready to create your dream relaxation space, we’ve got both the mattress and base to suit your needs and you can order conveniently through our website and have it shipped right to your door. You’ll be able to sleep in style in no time.
Does A Memory Foam Mattress Need A Box Spring
If youve just purchased yourself a brand-new memory foam mattress, youre probably wondering: do foam mattresses need a box spring? The answer is typically no, although it can depend on the preferences of the person, seeing as a box spring affects the comfort and structure of the mattress. If you are looking for ways for how to make a memory foam mattress firmer, there are several solutions to explore besides the traditional box spring.
So, when it comes to answering does a memory foam mattress need a box spring, its important that we first start with bed frames. Why? Because some require box springs and some dont, and it often has nothing to do with the mattress type at all.
Lets discuss.
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Can I Use An Old Box Spring With A New Mattress
If your new mattress is compatible with a box spring, such as an innerspring mattress, you might be able to reuse your box spring if its in good condition. The average box spring lasts about 10 years, which can be longer than a mattresss lifespan. However, the coils inside a box spring will sag eventually, just as the coils inside a spring or hybrid mattress do.
How do you know if your box spring has worn out? Check for damage or any signs of bending, sagging, or bowing across the base. Squeaky coils can also mean that the box spring is losing support.
Pick One That Fits Your Bed Frame
Select a box spring mattress that will fit on your bed frame. If you have an older rigid frame, check if the box spring can slide in or rest on top of it. Its vital to make sure that your bed frame is sturdy and will provide a tight fit with the box spring. If you just cant make your bed fit your bed frame, remember that your box spring mattress can also rest on the floor. A bed frame is not absolutely necessary when you use a box spring mattress.
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Is There A Way To Use A Box Spring With A Memory Foam Mattress
While you shouldnt directly use a memory foam mattress with a box spring, you can still use it to make your bed taller by slipping a bunkie board between your mattress and box spring. Bunkie boards are pieces of plywood or particleboard that are two or three inches thick, which provides a flat surface with enough support to prevent your mattress from sagging.
If you choose to shop for a bunkie board, double-check that its moisture resistant. Since a bunkie board is a solid base, its difficult for air to flow through and remove the moisture that collects at the bottom of your mattress. This is how stinky mold and mildew can grow underneath your mattress.
Putting Your Mattress On The Floor Without A Frame Or Foundation
Can you put your mattress on the floor without a box spring or foundation?
Absolutely! In fact
Big mattress stores down the street from your house would disagree with the statement above, but thats okay. They just want you to buy a boxspring from them with your new mattress! Im here to help make sure you have the best nights sleep of your life! Some people choose to leave foundations out of the picture altogether. A few common reasons to place your mattress flat on the floor include:
- Aesthetic value
- The desire for a more minimalist bedroom.
And even though some sleepers prefer being closer to the ground like this, one of the downsides to keeping your mattress on the ground is that there wont be properly ventilated as you sleep. Actually, the ventilation problem is why boxsprings were originally created
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Is A Box Spring Still Useful
Like I said above, a box spring can still do the job of providing a flat and firm structure for your mattress to lie on.
I advise against putting your mattress directly on the floor so a box spring can provide a platform for it. Heres why:
- Air cant circulate underneath the mattress. This is particularly a problem for foam mattresses because air cant move through the foam support core and mold can grow on the bottom if there is no air circulation underneath it.
- Allergies. Dust mites and other allergens love to live in our carpets. If you have your mattress directly on the floor, youre putting yourself a lot closer to them.
- Bed height. Having your mattress directly on the floor will make your bed quite low. Some people will find it hard to get in and out of bed if its too low.
- Many modern mattresses advise against putting their mattress directly on the floor. You dont want to risk voiding your warranty.
So a box spring will elevate your bed off the floor and do that job. You can get modern box springs that dont actually contain springs but there are loads of other ways you can keep your mattress off the floor without using a box spring.
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What Is A Box Spring Anyway
If youre unfamiliar, a box spring is the fabric covered metal or wood structure that sits beneath your mattress. On the inside, its often constructed with bars or slats that span the entire width or length of the frame, providing an even surface for your mattress to rest upon.
A box spring serves a few different functions:
- Provides an even and sturdy foundation for your mattress
- Absorbs impact from movement
- Allows the user to customize the height of the bed
Despite the array of mattress foundation options, if you like the idea of having a box spring, there are a few different types you can consider.
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Whats The Difference Between A Box Spring And Foundation
Your mattress should be comfortable, with the right amount of support to help you get your best rest. But did you know that your mattress needs the right kind of support, too? Whether you sleep on a traditional spring mattress, a newer memory foam, or a hybrid mattress, you need the right bed base to match.
Having the right base is important for you and your mattress. A solid foundation can reduce wear on your new bed, raise it to a comfortable height, and help absorb impact while you sleep.
But how do you know which base is right for you and your mattress? Well, you’ve got a few options when it comes to bed bases.
In this helpful guide, we’ll answer your questions about them, including: Can you just put your mattress on the floor or any firm surface? What exactly is a box spring anyway? Will ditching the box spring void a mattress warranty? Do you need DIY skills to put together a bed frame? What about shipping? Is metal or wood better? Can I purchase bed bases online?
We’ll cover the pros and cons of each so you can make an informed decision.
Box Spring Vs Foundation: Whats The Difference
People often mistake box springs for foundations, and they really arent the same thing. They look similar from the outside, but the support materials inside are different box springs contain, yep, springs, inside, but foundations usually contain wooden slats.
Foundations are usually used to support more modern types of mattresses such as memory foam models, but box springs are used to support innerspring mattresses and create a barrier between the mattress and bed.
When we move around and lie on innerspring mattresses, we put a strain on the coils. Box springs are intended to absorb some of that shock and strain and ensure that the mattress lasts for as long as possible without weakening or sagging prematurely.
Box springs also have an aesthetic purpose because they add some real height to the bed. Some people prefer the look of a taller bed and when we add in a box spring, the mattress can rise quite far off the ground.
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Why Should I Even Use A Box Spring
You could be saying, Hey, you just told you box spring is outdated. Why am I worrying about it?
Because the foundation or box spring also absorbs impact when its properly installed. Maybe you like to literally jump into bed. Maybe youre clumsy and have been known to literally fall into bed. In that case, the box spring sits between your mattress and its foundation. Without one, its you hitting the mattress and the mattress hitting the floor and nothing else.
Do I Need A Boxspring
So, back to the main question, do you need a boxspring? Well, you need to put the mattress on something. Lets look at the options.
- You can put the mattress on the floor. This actually gives the mattress proper support, but it doesnt look as nice, is more difficult to get in and out of bed, and isnt as sanitary since youre right on the floor.
- You can put the mattress on a boxspring. This raises the mattress up off the ground and provides the solid support that a mattress needs. This is usually used in conjunction with a bed frame to keep everything off the floor and provide a little storage space under the bed if necessary.
- You can use a platform bed. These are very popular in Europe. They consist of a platform surface, either solid or with slats. The mattress goes directly on the bed with no box spring. has a good selection of traditional platform beds if you want to buy online. A company called as well that I like.
- If you want to really go all-out, you can get an adjustable power base for your mattress. This is a base with a motor in it that can have such features as raising up the head, raising the legs, or even a massage feature. Believe it or not, you can get those delivered by for pretty low prices, as well as any other mattress retailer, including online retailers. Read more about adjustable bases here.
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Do I Need A Box Spring With My Mattress
When youre investing in a high-quality mattress, youll want to make sure you have everything you need for a great night of sleepand that includes solid support for your mattress to lay on.
While traditionally a mattress would come with a matching box spring to provide that support, times have changed as the industry innovates and grows. In this article, well explore a very common question: what exactly is a box spring, and do I need one?
Overview: Do You Really Need a Box Spring?
While box springs used to be a necessary purchase alongside traditional innerspring mattresses, theyre not as important nowadays. But we do recommend using some sort of support with your mattress. With the many alternatives on the market today, including metal foundations and adjustable bases, youve got options.
Do You Need A Box Spring
Logan Foley, Certified Sleep Coach
We regularly assess how the content in this article aligns with current scientific literature and expert recommendations in order to provide the most up-to-date research.
For most mattresses, having something between the mattress itself and the floor is helpful. Whether this should be a box spring, a foundation, or a platform bed depends on several factors.
All mattresses will benefit from having a firm, solid foundation to rest on. Box springs were created to help absorb impact, reducing the wear and tear on the mattress. However, box springs were more prevalent when mattresses had much thinner profiles overall, and were primarily innerspring designs. Today, most modern mattresses do not necessarily require a box spring.
Determining whether its better to sleep with or without a box spring depends on a few factors. The main people that should use a box spring include:
- Those using a traditional metal rail bed frame, which is designed to cradle box springs
- Those with an older innerspring mattress designed for use with a box spring
- Those with a mattress whose manufacturer specifically recommends box springs
- Those who want to elevate their bed to make it easier to get in and out of
There are a few reasons why you shouldnt use a box spring. These include:
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