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Bed in a Box vs Amerisleep – Which is the Better Foam Mattress?

Bed in a Box vs Amerisleep – Which is the Better Foam Mattress?

If you’re on the hunt to find the best mattress, you’ve come to the right place – our Bed in a Box vs Amerisleep comparison may help to narrow down your search.

Bed in a Box and Amerisleep produce excellent quality mattresses and have tons of glowing reviews. How can you tell which one is best for you, and what is the difference between them?

We’ll be looking at both mattresses in detail. We’ll look at their construction, the materials used, how they feel to sleep on, their price, and their warranties and test times. Hopefully, this will help you to figure out which one of the two suits you best.

First, let’s look at the main things that set them apart.

Main Differences Between Bed in a Box vs Amerisleep

The Main Differences Between Bed in a Box vs Amerisleep are:

  • The Bed in a Box is better for hot sleepers, whereas the Amerisleep isn’t as good at keeping you cool
  • The Bed in a Box has less resistance, whereas the Amerisleep has a little more resistance
  • The Bed in a Box may be okay for those with back pain, whereas the Amerisleep is great for those with back pain as it offers good spinal support
  • The Bed in a Box has a stronger off-gassing smell, whereas the Amerisleep’s off-gassing smell isn’t so bad
  • The Bed in a Box materials are Oeko-Tex Certified, whereas the Amerisleep’s materials are CertiPUR-US Certified
  • The Bed in a Box offers a 120-night sleep trial, but you must test it for 60 days to get your money back, whereas the Amerisleep offers a 100-night sleep trial, but you only have to keep it for 30 days to get your money back

Bed in a Box and Amerisleep: The Mattresses Compared

Let’s take a look at both mattresses, including their materials, feel, and construction, to get more of an idea about how they perform for different types of sleepers.

Bed in a Box

Bed in a Box

Materials and Feel

The Bed in a Box mattress comes in multiple sizes and types.  Today we’ll be looking at the original gel memory foam model.

It’s a good mattress for those who get overheated at night, thanks to the CoolRest memory foam, which is infused with cooling gel. The smooth knit cover is comfortable and soft without causing overheating, although it can’t be removed for cleaning – you’ll have to spot clean it instead.

It’s suitable for all sleeping positions, although some are more comfortable than others. 

The soft memory foam contours to your body. This means if you like your mattress to have a bit of resistance to it, this won’t be the best choice for you. It’s still a medium-firm mattress, so you won’t sink into it completely, but it’s definitely soft compared to an innerspring mattress, or firmer types of foam mattresses.

It does seem to work quite well for different sleeping positions. Side sleepers will probably find this the most comfortable, as it is designed to support your spine, keeping it in alignment whilst preventing pressure points from forming (in the shoulder and hip area).

Back sleepers and stomach sleepers also find it comfortable. However, the heavier the sleeper, the less support it provides if they sleep on their stomach. Stomach sleepers over 230lbs may not find it supportive enough to prevent them from sinking into the mattress, which can cause aches and pains over time.

It has pretty good motion isolation. This means that you won’t have to worry about disturbing your partner at night if you’re a light sleeper and you tend to toss and turn a lot.

The foam used is Oeko-Tex Certified. This means it has been tested for harmful substances, so you won’t have to worry about breathing in dangerous chemicals every night.

Construction

Let’s look at how the Bed in a Box mattress is constructed.

  • Cover – smooth-knit cover with blue border fabric
  • Comfort layer – 3” of cooling gel-infused memory foam
  • Support layer – 8” of Sure Align high-density support foam

The Bed in a Box Mattress is designed to work with any standard frame or foundation. You can even use it with an adjustable bed frame.

It’s prone to off-gassing, which means it will release a strong smell upon unboxing. It will dissipate eventually, but it’s fairly strong, even compared to other foam mattresses.

Amerisleep

Materials and Feel

Amerisleep manufactures a few different mattresses. We’ll be focusing today on the Amerisleep AS3, which is their best seller. They sell both an all-foam AS3 and a hybrid AS3 – we’ll be focusing on the foam model for the sake of comparison to the Bed in a Box mattress.

If you’re a hot sleeper, this might not be the best choice for you. The downside of the AS3 is that, despite the open-cell structure of the foams used, it does suffer a little from heat build-up in comparison to other foam mattresses on the market.

It has a pretty good response time for a memory foam mattress. This prevents painful pressure points, and it bounces back in seconds. It will contour your body slightly. This provides support for the spine, keeping it in alignment. It works well for most sleeping positions, although again, heavier stomach sleepers suffer here from a lack of support (although they will get on better with the Amerisleep than the Bed in a Box).

Those suffering from back pain might get on well with the Amerisleep, as it cradles the spine.

A great feature of the Amerisleep mattress is that the foams used are somewhat eco-friendly. They’re also CertiPUR-US Certified (this means it is made without harmful materials like heavy metals). The materials are resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. 

The cover isn’t removable but can be spot-cleaned. It is breathable and feels quite cool to the touch.

It’s pretty good in terms of motion isolation, which means you shouldn’t disturb your partner at night.

Construction

Let’s take a look at the individual layers of the Amerisleep AS3:

  • Cover – cotton/polyester blend
  • Comfort layer – 3” of Bio-Pur open-cell foam
  • Transition layer – 2” of polyfoam
  • Support layer – 7” of high-density polyfoam

It is designed to work with different types of bed frames, including their adjustable bed frame.

It does suffer from a bit of off-gassing, but less so than the Bed in a Box – the smell isn’t as strong and dissipates quickly.

Bed in a Box vs Amerisleep – Warranties and Test Times

Both brands offer decent warranties (20 years). This is a good length of time to protect you against manufacturing defects or faults. Meanwhile, they both have sleep trials, so you can test the mattress fully before you commit to keeping it. Bed in a Box offers 120 nights, while Amerisleep offers 20 nights.

Brand Trial period Warranty
Bed in a Box 120 nights 20 years
Amerisleep 100 nights 20 years

Ideally, you should try out your mattress for at least 30 nights to get an idea of how it truly feels. Some discomfort may occur initially as your body gets used to the new mattress, which is why you may need to stick with it to decide if it’s right for you.

It’s worth bearing in mind that Bed in a Box requires you to try the mattress for at least 60 nights before returning it. Amerisleep allows you to return it after 30 nights.

Bed in a Box vs Amerisleep – Prices

Ideally, you will have a budget set before you start shopping for your new mattress. As a general rule, hybrid mattresses can be more expensive than all-foam ones (which is why the AS3 hybrid costs more than the AS3 foam, for example).

Price Comparison

In terms of pricing, the Bed in a Box is cheaper. At the time of writing, both had sales, but even at their regular price, the Bed in a Box is almost $500 cheaper than the Amerisleep (for the Queen size).

Is the Amerisleep worth the extra money? It depends on what you’re looking for. From an eco-friendly perspective, it may certainly be worth the investment. Amerisleep in general seems committed to making a positive impact using their Bio-Pur foam, which is plant-based. 

In terms of comfort though, it may not work out to be worth the price gap depending on what you’re looking for. The Amerisleep may be worth the investment if you suffer from back pain – in that case, you might decide it’s worth the extra cost.

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

How can you tell which one is the right mattress for you? Here’s a quick reminder:

Bed in a Box

The Bed in a Box is the better choice for hot sleepers, thanks to the cooling gel layer. For a foam mattress, it’s on the cooler side.

It suits any sleeping position for sleepers under 230lbs – those heavier than that may start to suffer from a lack of support if they sleep on their stomach, which is something to watch out for.

If you like the feeling of being ‘cradled’ by your mattress at night, this is a good choice, as you do sink into it slightly. It’s also a good choice for couples thanks to the motion isolation. The off-gassing is a bit of a pain, though.

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

  • Are a hot sleeper
  • Like to sleep in different positions
  • Are under 230lbs (especially if you’re a stomach sleeper)
  • Like the feeling of being ‘cradled’ at night
  • Are part of a couple

Amerisleep

The Amerisleep won’t work as well for you if you are a hot sleeper. Despite the open-cell foam, some find it to be too hot.

Like the Bed in a Box, it suits any sleeping position, but those over 230lbs will start to encounter problems if they sleep on their stomach. It does offer a bit more support than the Bed in a Box, with a little more resistance.

It works well for those suffering from back pain, as it is designed to keep your spine aligned whilst keeping you comfortable at night.

Again, it’s a good choice for couples, as it has great motion isolation. It has slightly better off-gassing than the Bed in a Box.

Recap: You Should Love the Amerisleep If You …

  • Don’t mind feeling warm at night
  • Like to sleep in different positions
  • Are under 230lbs (if you’re a stomach sleeper)
  • Suffer from back pain
  • Are part of a couple

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the two mattresses:

Question: Where are Bed in a Box and Amerisleep mattresses made?

Answer: Bed in a Box manufactures their mattresses in the USA, as do Amerisleep.

Question: How long should I wait for off-gassing to stop?

Answer: The smell should have significantly reduced after 48 hours, but a faint smell may still linger after that time.

Question: Can I try out the Bed in a Box or Amerisleep in person?

Answer: Yes. Amerisleep has showrooms, so you can see each mattress type in person and test them out for yourself.
Bed in a Box also has a few showrooms across the country.

Question: Are foam mattresses okay for back pain?

Answer: They can be, but it depends on the construction of the individual mattress and the type of pain that you have. Some back pain responds better to firmer mattresses with no sinkage, in which case, you’re better off looking at a hybrid mattress (like the Winkbed or Dreamcloud mattresses – you can see more about those in our Winkbed vs Dreamcloud comparison).

Some foam mattresses (like the Amerisleep AS3) are good for back pain as they cradle the spine in the correct position. It may take some trial and error to work out what suits you the best.

Can you recommend any alternatives?

Yes, we can! Here are a few mattresses you might want to check out:

  • Amerisleep AS4 – similar to the AS3, this is a great mattress with cushioning to prevent pressure points in the hip and shoulder area. For this reason, it works well for side sleepers. You can read about it in our Amerisleep A4 Review.
  • Nectar – the Nectar mattress is ideal for different sleeping positions, and it comes at a good price, so if you’re on a tighter budget, it’s worth checking out. You can read more about it in our Nectar vs Loom and Leaf comparison.
  • Purple – if you want something a little thinner, the Purple stands at 9.5”, and it’s a little more firm than some of the others on this list. It’s good for couples as the motion isolation is excellent. You can read about it in our Purple vs Nectar Mattress Comparison.

Our Final Thoughts – Which Mattress is Better?

Which mattress is best? It’s always going to come down to personal choice, and there are positives to both.

The Bed in a Box is great if you are on a tighter budget. It works well for hot sleepers, especially if you normally find foam mattresses to be too hot. Stomach sleepers over 230lbs might want to avoid it, but otherwise, it works well for all sleeping positions.

However, if we had to pick, we’d go for the Amerisleep. It’s not great for hot sleepers, and heavier stomach sleepers may encounter problems with it too, but it has a lot of advantages that make it worth the money. Especially if you suffer from certain types of back pain – we think it’s worth trying for that reason. It’s a comfortable mattress with great motion isolation, too.

We also like the fact that you only have to give it a go for 30 nights before sending it back if it doesn’t suit you – so you won’t be stuck with it for too long if for some reason you find it uncomfortable.

We hope this has helped to narrow down your search for a new mattress! If you like, you can find out more about them: