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Bed in a Box vs Tempurpedic – Which Mattress is Better?

Bed in a Box vs Tempurpedic – Which Mattress is Better?

It can take a long time to find the best mattress – with so many choices out there; it’s hard to know where to start. Our Bed in a Box vs TempurPedic comparison may be able to help narrow down your search!

On the face of it, the Bed in a Box and TempurPedic mattresses we’re looking at today are very similar. They’re both comfortable, medium-firm foam mattresses with good sleep trials and warranties. There are some differences, though, and today we’ll be looking at each mattress in detail so that you can find the best one for you.

Let’s start by looking at what sets them apart.

Main Differences Between Bed in a Box vs Tempurpedic

The main differences between Bed in a Box vs TempurPedic are:

  • Bed in a Box is good for hot sleepers, whereas the TempurPedic may run too hot for some
  • Bed in a Box is a lot cheaper, whereas the TempurPedic is priced pretty high
  • Bed in a Box is okay for back pain, whereas the TempurPedic may help to alleviate back pain
  • Bed in a Box has a fairly strong off-gassing smell, whereas the TempurPedic has a powerful off-gassing smell
  • Bed in a Box has a longer warranty at 20 years, whereas the TempurPedic offers a 10-year warranty
  • Bed in a Box has foam that is Oeko-Tex Certified, whereas the TempurPedic foams are CertiPUR-US Certified

Bed in a Box and TempurPedic – The Mattresses Compared

We’ll be looking at both mattresses in more detail. Learn about their feel, the materials used, and their construction, as well as their pricing and warranty/sleep trial information. First up, let’s look at the Bed in a Box …

Bed in a Box

Materials and Feel

The Bed in a Box mattress comes in different types, including the Tranquillium (12” with the cooling gel), the Dual Hybrid (an innerspring/foam combination), and the EcoLux (made from renewable materials with an organic cotton cover). Today we’ll be looking at the original model, which is a gel memory foam mattress.

Hot sleepers should get on well with this mattress. Although memory foam mattresses traditionally run hot, the CoolRest memory foam on the top layer is infused with cooling gel, which works well to keep you cool.

It also has a smooth knit cover on the top, which is soft and comfortable but won’t make you feel like you’re overheating. (It can’t be removed for cleaning – it can only be spot cleaned).

bed in a box

The memory foam contours to your body, so you will feel as though you are sleeping ‘in’ your mattress as opposed to sleeping on top of it. It’s medium-firm, so it’s not super soft, and it does offer a good amount of support.

This has an impact on different sleeping positions. Side sleepers will get on well here, as it is designed to keep your spine in alignment, and it prevents pressure points from forming around your shoulders and hips.

Back sleepers will get on well with it, too, as will stomach sleepers. However, if you’re a stomach sleeper and you weigh over 230lbs, you might want to look for something with more support, as you will sink too far into this mattress to get comfortable.

If you’re part of a couple and one of you moves around a lot at the night, this is a good choice. It has great motion isolation, so you shouldn’t disturb each other with your movements.

The foams used are Oeko-Tex Certified. It’s been tested for harmful substances like heavy metals and certain types of dyes, so you can be assured that this mattress is good for your health.

Construction

Let’s take a look at each layer:

  • Cover – smooth-knit material
  • Comfort layer – 3” of cooling gel-infused memory foam
  • Support layer – 8” of Sure Align high-density support foam

This model works with any standard bed frame or foundation, including adjustable bed frames. It is prone to off-gassing (a strong smell upon unboxing). This dissipates in a couple of days, but it’s a pretty strong smell.

bed in a box mattress

Tempurpedic

Materials and Feel

The Tempurpedic brand sells a few different types of mattresses, like the TEMPUR-Pro Adapt (with advanced pressure relief), the TEMPUR-Luxe Adapt (which conforms to your body shape), and the Breeze (which is designed for hot sleepers). Today, we’ll be looking at the TEMPUR-Adapt, one of their best-selling mattresses.

It does sleep hot, which is something to be aware of right away. This is mitigated slightly because it has a cool-to-touch cover, so you may not feel hot initially.

However, if you tend to get hot at night, this may be an issue for you. The cover has an antimicrobial treatment, which protects you against allergens like mold or dust mite dander, so it may work well if you suffer from certain allergies. The cover can’t be removed, so that it may require spot cleaning from time to time.

tempurpedic

It’s a medium-firm mattress and is truly ‘medium’ in that it sits right in the middle of firm and soft. You will find yourself sinking into it, as it’s designed to contour to your body slightly, which helps to keep your spine in alignment. It’s not completely soft, however, with a little bit of resistance there.

In terms of sleeping positions, side sleepers will enjoy sleeping on this mattress without having to worry about pressure points forming – no more sore shoulders and hips. Back sleepers will get on well with it too. However, just like the Bed in a Box mattress, stomach sleepers over 230lbs might find it doesn’t offer enough support for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Couples will enjoy great motion isolation with the TEMPUR-Adapt, so you won’t have to worry about waking each other up at night.

The foams used are CertiPUR-US Certified, tested for harmful substances like heavy metals. So, it’s another good choice from a health perspective.

Construction

Now, let’s take a look at how the TEMPUR-Adapt is constructed:

  • Cover – cool-knit fabric (with an antimicrobial treatment)
  • Comfort Layer – soft comfort foam
  • Support Layer – high-density adaptable support foam

It can be used with different types of bed frames, including TempurPedic’s smart bed frame, which can be adjusted using a wireless remote control and record insights about your sleeping habits.

The off-gassing with this mattress is particularly strong, with some reporting a faint long-term smell, which is something to be aware of.

tempurpedic mattress

Bed in a Box vs TempurPedic – Warranties and Test Times

There’s a pretty big difference in warranties here, with Bed in a Box offering 20 years, and TempurPedic offering 10 years. Bed in a Box also offers more time to try out their mattresses with a 120-night sleep trial, whereas TempurPedic offers a 90-night sleep trial.

Brand Trial period Warranty
Bed in a Box 120 nights 20 years
TempurPedic 90 nights 10 years

It’s definitely worth trying out a mattress for about 30 nights before you decide whether to keep it or not, as it takes your body a little time to adjust to a new mattress.

For this reason, TempurPedic asks its customers to try their mattresses for at least 30 nights before returning. Bed in a Box requires their customers to try their mattresses for at least 60 nights before returning them.

Bed in a Box vs TempurPedic – Prices

There’s a fairly high price difference between these mattresses, so let’s take a look at the pricing:

Price Comparison

The Bed in a Box Original is much cheaper than the TempurPedic. At the time of writing, looking at the Queen size from both brands, the Bed in a Box came in at over $1,000 cheaper than the TempurPedic.

That is a pretty hefty price difference. Is the TempurPedic worth spending the extra money on?

TempurPedic does have an excellent reputation. Their mattresses are based on NASA technology, and they’re a highly esteemed brand. They use excellent quality materials and their mattresses are durable. They’re also designed to be good for those suffering from back pain. If you can’t get comfortable on other mattresses, you may be tempted to try it to see if it helps.

Bed in a Box vs TempurPedic – Who Are These Mattresses Best For?

Here’s a rundown of who may benefit from a Bed in a Box or a TempurPedic mattress:

Bed in a Box

The Bed in a Box is ideal for hot sleepers, especially when compared to the TempurPedic. The cooling gel layer works well to mitigate some of the heat that comes from sleeping on a foam mattress.

bed in bed eco lux

It’s great for side sleepers, but any sleeping position can work with this mattress – unless you’re over 230lbs and you sleep on your stomach, as it may not offer enough support in that case.

It’s a good choice for couples, as it has great motion isolation. The downside is that the off-gassing smell is pretty strong, although it does dissipate.

Recap: You Should Love the Bed in a Box Mattress If You …

  • Are a hot sleeper
  • Like to sleep on your side or back
  • Are under 230lbs (if you’re a stomach sleeper)
  • Are part of a couple

TempurPedic

Hot sleepers may want to skip this one. Despite the cool-touch cover, you may find it too hot to get comfortable, especially as it is designed to cradle your body.

However, it can potentially work well for those with back pain. It’s designed to keep your spine in alignment, cradling you in the right position, but with enough support to stop you from sinking into it completely. It’s worth investigating if you’ve tried other mattresses and you can’t get comfortable at night.

tempurpedic mattress 1

Side, back, and stomach sleepers can use this mattress and get comfortable, but like the Bed in a Box, stomach sleepers over 230lbs may want to steer clear as it won’t offer enough support to keep you comfortable at night.

It works well for couples as the motion isolation is great. However, the off-gassing may be a bit of a problem if you’re sensitive to certain smells.

Recap: You Should Love TempurPedic Mattresses If You …

  • Like being kept warm by your mattress at night
  • Are part of a couple
  • Are a back or side sleeper, or a stomach sleeper under 230lbs
  • Suffer from back pain

Alternatives To Check?

Yes, we can recommend a few alternatives:

  • If you’re on a tighter budget, Zinus creates some good foam mattresses, like the Zinus 12 Inch Cloud Memory Foam Mattress. It offers good support whilst keeping costs down compared to some of the bigger brands. You can find out more in our Zinus Memory Foam Mattress Review.
  • Nectar is a good choice for those who really like the feel of a memory foam mattress – if you like sinking into your mattress whilst still having good support, it’s worth a look. You can see more about it in our Layla vs Nectar Comparison.
  • Amerisleep is a trusted, well-known brand producing high-quality foam mattresses. It’s on the expensive side, but still cheaper than TempurPedic mattresses. You can find out more in our Amerisleep AS4 Review.
  • Purple – another great foam mattress, the Purple mattress is a little thinner, and the motion isolation is great, making it a good choice for couples. You can read more about it in our Purple vs Nectar Mattress Comparison.

FAQs

Question: How long does it usually take for off-gassing to stop?

Answer: The smell should have dissipated quite significantly after 48 hours. A fainter smell may linger for longer, depending on the individual mattress.

Question: Does Bed in a Box or TempurPedic have showrooms?

Answer: Yes, they both have showrooms across the US – check out the Bed in a Box Showroom Locator and the TempurPedic Store Directory.
What kind of bed frame do I need for a memory foam mattress?
Memory foam mattresses work well on all kinds of bed frames – you can find out more in our guide to the Best Foundations for Memory Foam Mattresses.

Question: Do I need to flip Bed in a Box or TempurPedic mattresses?

Answer: No, neither of the mattresses we’ve looked at today need to be flipped.

To Sum Up … Which Mattress is Right for You?

So, which mattress is the best one for you?

If we had to choose ourselves, we’d probably go for the Bed in a Box. It’s ideal for cool sleepers, it works well for couples, and it has just the right balance between softness and support.  It’s not perfect – the off-gassing smell is strong, and you do have to try it out for 60 days before you are allowed to return it as part of their sleep trial – but we think it’s worth trying out, as you could save a lot of money.

However, if you have a higher budget to work with, and you’re looking for something super comfortable (especially if you suffer from back pain), we still think it’s worth checking out the TempurPedic mattresses too. You might want to skip it if you sleep hot and be prepared for the off-gassing smell!

They’re both great mattresses. If you want to find out more, keep reading: