The 6 mattresses in a box our experts would buy

Mattresses in a box or roll-up mattresses (as they're variously known) are the easiest way to update your sleep set-up. As their name suggests, they land on your doorstep boxed-up and spring into shape on opening. They still provide the same level of comfort as one of our regular best mattresses, just without the extra leg work of lugging a large, unwieldy object into your bedroom – provided you unbox them in situ, of course.

While we normally recommend trying out a mattress in-store before making a decision, these are available online only, which you may think of as a bit of a gamble. However, they offer either 200- or 100-night trials, so you have time to decide if it's the right option for you.

Plus, ordering mattresses online is increasingly common – in fact, most of our best mattresses in a box can be ordered in a few quick clicks. If you’re not sure what sort of design you need, we recommend reading our comprehensive mattress buying guide first. But if you’re ready to invest, you'll find the Good Housekeeping Institute's top-rated designs below.

Read our other mattress guides: Best hybrid mattresses | Best pocket sprung mattresses | Best mattress toppers | Best mattresses for back pain | Best organic mattresses | Best Simba mattresses | Best Emma mattresses

How and why are mattresses in a box made?

The mattresses are rolled and vacuum packed to squeeze into their boxes, which typically measure 50 x 50 x 110cm. Their smaller size means delivery and packaging costs for the manufacturer are cheaper, and more can be squeezed into transit vans, lowering their carbon footprint. These cost savings are passed onto the consumer, making mattresses in a box slightly more affordable than their counterparts.

As they arrive boxed, they're also easier to manoeuvre around your home. The boxes are still quite hefty (typically weighing from 20kg up 50kg), but the delivery teams should do all the hard work for you.

After all, new mattresses should be a dream, not a nightmare.

How does a mattress in a box work?

Start by moving the box into the room where your mattress will be based. Unbox it on its side – avoid using any sharp objects to open the packaging as you run the risk of slicing your new mattress.

Next, position the rolled-up mattress on any solid or slatted bed base and remove the outer layer of plastic wrap. Then, unwrap and unfold the mattress before tearing away the inner plastic. It should then begin expanding and taking shape (and no, it won’t fit back inside the box once opened).

The mattress may take up to an hour to fully expand and a few days to fully firm up. Note that it's normal for the mattress to have a slight chemical odour when it's first opened, but this tends to dissipate after time.

Once the mattress is fully expanded, you can go ahead and add extras like a mattress protector to keep it safe from spills or stains, as well as your favourite bedding set so you’re ready for a great night’s sleep.

How we test at the Good Housekeeping Institute

To ensure each mattress in a box was up to shape, we asked a panel of consumers trial them for up to six weeks. Then, they were sent a questionnaire, devised by our team of experts, and were asked to comment on the comfort, design, quality, and overall perception of their new mattress. Finally, we asked our testers whether they would happily buy the mattress and if they’d recommend it to friends and family.

Then, to make sure that you can rely on your new set-up for many more nights to come, we turned to our reader panel to get longevity feedback on each mattress brand. Everyone who took part must have owned their mattress for at least six months so we could learn more about how they change over time.

Combining all that feedback, here's our round-up of the best mattresses in a box (all prices quoted are for a UK double).