Last Updated: August 2017
Not every mattress requires a box spring to increase the level of support and comfort one experiences, but even some modern mattresses still need a box spring.
Do you need a box spring? Let’s learn more.
No Flip Mattresses
Mattresses have changed over the years from being ones that typically could be flipped over to even out the wear on both sides and extend its useful life, to no flip designs that don’t offer the same flexibility as previous models allowed.
Platform/Base Options for Mattresses
With mattresses that require a hard base or for people who don’t want to lie down on a mattress that’s on the floor, then there are some good options available.
An adjustable base is good for individuals who always like to keep their options open. The hardwood floor certainly would provide a solid enough base for a mattress, but it doesn’t have a good look for anyone who cares what people think. A platform bed is another one to consider where the foundation of the bed, legs, and headboard are all incorporated together to complete the bed. A bi-fold bed is also an attractive choice for people who have a smaller bedroom and prefer to fold up the bed in the morning to create more floor space for the daytime (be careful what mattress you select with this type of bed).
Even though there are many interesting choices, the traditional box spring is still the standard for converting a mattress into a desirable bedroom setup ready for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Is Putting the Mattress on the Floor a Bad Idea?
There are a few problems that arise from placing a mattress directly on the floor:
Hygiene – Whatever gets on the floor will inevitably reach the sides and underside of the mattress. Soon enough, it’ll become too difficult to keep the mattress clean because the stretch fabric cover picks up everything. It’s not as if one can simply throw the mattress into the washing machine for a spin when it gets dirty…
Mold – When a mattress gets damp, the trouble really begins. It will absorb moisture from the liquids spilt on the bedroom floor and this will inevitably turn into mold eventually. Sleeping above a moldy mattress and breathing the mold particles deep in the lungs overnight is a recipe for a health disaster. Your health is worth more than the cost of purchasing a box spring.
Access – Climbing into a bed when it’s so low to the ground is tough. Anyone with a bad back could discover that it’s easy enough to put their back out again with a sleeping level so low down.
The cost savings of skipping a box spring and using the floor as the “foundation” just isn’t worth the many problems it creates. Trust us on this.
Risks of Not Having a Box Spring
While mattresses are designed to provide a pleasant and supportive surface, less focus is placed on the underside of the product, especially considering most mattress now have no-flip constructs.
The lifespan of the chosen mattress matters because they’re not cheap after all. The considerable investment should last a good few years before needing to be replaced. Premature sagging, in spite of excellent mattress construction, is one of the first tell-tale signs that the product has seen better days. Quite often, the lack of foundational support from a box spring, especially with the old two-sided mattresses, is the likely culprit for the deterioration of the mattress over time.
Warranty Implications with Box Springs
A good mattress comes with a solid warranty one can rely upon. However, a condition of many warranties is that the mattress must be positioned on a box spring for a claim to be validated.
It’s true that newer adjustable beds are an exception now, but these typically require different types of mattresses and the product selection is more limited. Platform beds are okay, but a box spring is still considered the standard. Using something other than a box spring with a mattress could invalidate the warranty designed to protect the purchase.
Two-sided mattresses which are flip-able require a box spring to provide sufficient support as a foundational piece, while newer mattresses may be okay without one, but please check the product warranty first to be sure you’ll be fully covered.
Box Spring 101
The box spring acts as a foundation for a mattress. It is made in the shape of a rectangular box – hence the name – with metal rods or springs added to provide support for the weight of the mattress that sits on top.
It is a good idea to have a box spring that’s approximately the same dimensions as the mattress, so neither the mattress nor the box spring sticks out. One simple way to think about a box spring is that the mattress supports your body and the box spring supports the mattress itself.
A by-product of using a foundation like this is the added height from stacking the mattress above the box spring. Climbing in and out of bed becomes much more natural than sleeping near the floor where it would feel like sleeping on a futon by comparison. Anyone who likes jumping up and down on the bed or leaping into bed could potentially damage the mattress, not just on the top side, but also on the unprotected underside. The use of a box spring prevents unintended damage due to the added support. Parents with younger kids who like to share their bed in the early morning might find this extra benefit quite valuable.
Complete Bed Setup
With a complete bed, this might include a metal/wooden bed frame, a headboard, a footboard, the box spring and mattress above it. A box spring provides a buffer between a more structural bed frame and the mattress.
Other people prefer not to have a formal-looking bed frame and feel that headboards and footboards look too fussy. In which case, they only use a box spring for added support and height, and a quality mattress sat atop it.
Box Spring Types
The box spring is available in three styles:
Basic foundation – These provide a basic foundation for any mattress. The purpose of this product is to reduce wear and tear on the bottom of a mattress to extend its life.
Full support & height – This box spring type gets the mattress off the floor using its raised platform (9-inches on average) and also provides structural support via springs or other embedded support system.
Low profile – This type is a newer development. Due to the increased height of certain kinds of multi-layered mattresses today, a new low profile variety of box spring is available. The low profile version (5 to 5.5-inches on average) offers the same support to the mattress above it, but it has a smaller height. Between the taller modern mattress and the low-profile box spring, the total height of the bed comes out the same.
Box springs remain a valid, useful addition to create a supportive sleeping experience and protect the mattress at the same time.