The best mattresses in a box for easy delivery and total comfort

Score: 90/100

Our testers enjoyed the supportive design of this high-scoring hybrid mattress, which has layers of pocket springs, foam, latex and wool all encased in a cooling Tencel cover. This helped regulate testers’ body temperatures well – one even said that sweating at night was now “a thing of the past”.

One tester found it difficult to manoeuvre once unboxed, as there aren’t any handles, making it awkward to lift. But unbox it in the bedroom, and you should only have to move it a little bit – it doesn’t need any rotation once it’s in place.

Score: 89/100

The Simba Hybrid Mattress is another design that combines memory foam and pocket springs, providing full body support without compromising on softness. Most testers were impressed with the helpful delivery team and found it easy to manoeuvre into their room of choice. Even the unboxing was easy thanks to the helpful tool provided for cutting the plastic wrapping!

It took its shape quickly and the new smell dissipated well. Testers found the mattress quiet to sleep on, and most would buy from Simba again. And the brand is a B Corp, making it a good pick if environmental credentials are high on your wish list.

Score: 89/100

Panellists loved the compact delivery of this REM-Fit mattress and appreciated how it plumped up to its size quickly.

Inside the mattress, you'll find 1,000 pocket springs surrounded by open cell foam, which left one tester hailing it as "the most comfortable mattress" they'd ever slept on.

There's also a 100-night trial, so if it's not quite up to standard, you can return it. That's an unlikely scenario, though, considering almost every person we surveyed about the brand gave it a thumbs up.

Score: 88/100

This hybrid duvet combines pocket springs for targeted support and pressure-relieving CloudTec foam. Panellists found it stable, so they weren’t disturbed by their other half. “The biggest plus for me was not feeling any movement when my partner leaves the bed,” said one tester.

The CloudTec foam delivered on its temperature regulating properties too, while also helping to relieve pressure on points such as the hips, shoulders and back, according to testers.

The brand recommends giving your new mattress in a box around 10 hours breathing space to reach its full size and shape.

Score: 88/100

This luxurious buy received rave reviews from our panel for how quickly it took shape after opening. Plus, they only had to wait a couple of hours before they could test out the comfort of the 11-layer mattress (including a whopping 6,000 springs). The breathable layer of bamboo and wool deserves an honourable mention too, as it kept our panel cool.

At 31cm, this is one of the deepest mattresses on our list, so it’s worth double-checking that it will work with your current bed frame – one tester found that it wasn’t a perfect fit.

Score: 87/100

If you’ve ever worried about ordering online, REM-Fit is the perfect example of why you shouldn’t. Our testers received delivery updates via mobile for every step of the journey and the delivery team was helpful, attentive, and efficient when getting our testers’ mattresses into place.

The mattress features an impressive 4000 pocket springs and a memory foam layer that’s denser in some spots (to provide optimum support in all the right places). Everyone found it comfortable to sleep on throughout the trial, and testers praised how temperature regulating it was, too.

Just note that its dense design meant some found the mattress heavy to move and lift when fitting their sheets.

Score: 86/100

If you run hot at night, it could be worth looking at a cooling mattress. This Mattressman design has a cooling topper, which is dimpled to allow air to flow through, plus a gel-infused foam layer to stop heat building at night. Many of the hot sleepers on our panel said it helped to keep them cool – “Breathability is good, as neither my husband nor I woke up clammy or sweaty,” said one.

It’s also made with supportive memory foam and mini pocket springs that mould to your body shape. Some testers found it a little too firm, so if you like a sink-in style, it may not suit. Otherwise, feedback was positive, with many saying it improved the quality of their sleep, and they were rarely disturbed by fidgety partners.

It’s easy to unpack, but you might want another person at hand to help pop it onto the bed frame, as some found it quite heavy.

Score: 86/100

This luxe mattress proved a dream to sleep on. And at 35cm deep, with a pillow top and 11 layers, it’s perhaps not surprising. Princess and the pea who?

It’s on the firmer side, providing a more supportive feel rather than a squishy, sink in surface. It has good motion isolation and several testers said it helped alleviate existing aches and pains in the hip, neck and back area, so if that’s something you struggle with, it’s a reliable pick.

The generous depth means you might need to reevaluate your sheet sizes, but we think that’s a minor consideration for years of comfort to come.

Score: 85/100

Another option from B-Corp brand, Simba, this mattress in a box is packed with 4,800 titanium alloy springs as well as the brand’s bespoke foam to encourage airflow.

Panellists were pleasantly surprised at how quickly it took shape, only needing a few hours rather than the suggested six before they could hop into bed and snuggle down. Most found the mattress comfortable and breathable, and said they weren’t disturbed by their partners rolling over in the night.

Score: 85/100

This deep hybrid mattress boasts 7,300 springs and 11 different layers, including foam and cooling bamboo. All panellists were pleased with the delivery service, but once unboxed, one reported a strong ‘new’ smell that took a while to dissipate.

Everyone rated it highly for comfort though and found the ‘cool touch Stratos tech’ used in the breathable top cover effective at keeping them the right temperature overnight. That meant everyone would recommend this one to friends and family.

Score: 83/100

With a combination of pocket springs and memory foam, this mattress was brilliant at minimising any movement, ensuring an undisturbed sleep for you and your partner. “It felt like I was sleeping on a soft fluffy cloud, but was fully supported,” was how one tester put it.

While most panellists were pleased with the delivery service, some had to move the rolled-up mattress up the stairs on their own – a tricky task due to its 35.8kg weight. Once in place, though, the mattress was easy to unpack and quickly inflated to the right height.

Score: 74/100

This memory foam mattress impressed with its temperature regulating properties, which is down to the cooling cover that surrounds the pressure relieving memory foam core. Some testers thought it would suit those who prefer a softer mattress, despite its medium firm claim. However, many noted that it moulded to their body well, which is a key property of memory foam.

“So clever how it comes in a box that springs into a mattress,” said one impressed customer. However, it is heavy, so it’s a good idea to make sure you have help on hand to move it.