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Since most box springs, especially traditional ones, can only be used with spring mattresses, we know how difficult it is to find a good foundation for a memory foam mattress. That’s why we did all the hard work for you by testing the top brands so you won’t have to. In this article, we share the top five best box springs for a memory foam mattress with the Saatva Mattress Foundation as our Editor’s Choice.
Our Top Five Picks for Best Box Spring for a Memory Foam Mattress
- Saatva Mattress Foundation – editor’s choice
- Bear Foundation – best budget-friendly box spring
- Tuft and Needle Box Foundation – best low profile box spring
- PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation – best heavy duty box spring
- Casper The Foundation – best easy assembly box spring
#1. Saatva Mattress Foundation
Check Current Price | Editor’s Choice
Pros
- Free in-room delivery and setup
- Comes in two height profiles
- Solid wood construction
- Upholstered with foam
- Encased in an organic cotton cover
- Comes in split King and Cal king
Cons
- No footboard brackets
Our Experience with the Saatva Mattress Foundation
If I could pick one box spring for a memory foam mattress, it would definitely be the Saatva Mattress Foundation. Available in 4.75 and 8.75-inch profiles, it can function as a low-profile box spring or a standard height model. And my favorite thing about the product is that the delivery personnel will take it straight to your room and set it up for you. Zero hassle, 100% convenient. It’s also a good box spring if you have a mattress without memory foam.
Moving on to its construction, the Saatva Mattress Foundation is made in the USA using North American spruce. It’s super sturdy, quiet, and it can hold up to 800 lbs of weight in total. You can even pair this box spring with a mattress for a heavy person and it will give you long-lasting support.
This box spring is upholstered with CertiPUR-US foam and encased in an organic cotton cover that’s hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. That’s very good news for allergy sufferers, myself included.
One thing I should mention is that the King and Cal King box springs come in split designs to make the delivery and setup easier. You can use it as a split mattress base, or you can use it as a regular foundation.
The Saatva Mattress Foundation is just head and shoulders above any traditional box spring available on the market. It offers everything from excellent quality, sleek design, and durable support. The only minor drawback with this box spring is that it doesn’t work with a footboard.
Sizes
The Saatva Mattress Foundation comes in 7 sizes. It’s compatible with most mattress types including innerspring and memory foam mattresses.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- Split Queen
- King/Split King
- California King/Split Cal King
Financing options
Saatva offers Affirm financing for their mattress foundations.
Warranty
The Saatva Mattress Foundation comes with a 365-night home trial and is backed by a whopping lifetime warranty. Saatva offers free in-room delivery and setup, as well as free mattress and foundation removal. That’s definitely not something you see with most brands.
Buy: Saatva Mattress Foundation
#2. Bear Foundation
Check Current Price | Best Budget-Friendly Box Spring
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Easy assembly
- No tools needed
- Solid wood construction
- Upholstered in gray fabric
Cons
- Does not come with a sleep trial
Our Experience with the Bear Foundation
If you’re looking for a great budget option to support your memory foam mattress, go for the Bear Foundation. It’s highly durable, and it has an elegant look that could fit any modern bedroom aesthetic. Also, it only took me and my colleague less than 10 minutes to fully assemble the box spring. How’s that possible?
Well, the Bear Foundation is extremely easy to assemble because it features interlocking glides and pins to secure its components in place. Its made of solid wood material, specifically Canadian spruce which provides stable support even for denser and thicker memory foam mattresses.
This box spring can be used for couples and single individuals alike. It’s upholstered in gray fabric for protection and to keep your memory foam mattress in place. And although Bear recommends using this box spring foundation with their Bear Bed Frame, it can also be used with other bed frames or bases.
Sizes
The Bear Foundation comes in 6 sizes. It’s compatible with most types of mattresses including memory foam mattresses and any innerspring mattress.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
Financing options
Bear offers financing for their mattress foundations through ShopPay.
Warranty
The Bear Foundation is non-refundable and does not come with a sleep trial. However, it is backed by a 1-year warranty that covers structural and workmanship defects. Free shipping is offered for orders within the contiguous US.
Buy: Bear Foundation
#3. Tuft and Needle Box Foundation
Check Current Price | Best Low Profile Box Spring
Pros
- Easy assembly
- No tools required
- Solid wood construction
- Comes with a non-skid cover
Cons
- Minor size inaccuracies
Our Experience with the Tuft and Needle Box Foundation
The Tuft and Needle Box Foundation is the best low-profile box spring for memory foam mattresses. It has a classic wooden design that’s suitable for both innerspring and memory foam mattresses. If you’re looking for a supportive box spring that offers a lot of value for its price, this is it.
Again, we completed the setup in 10 minutes and without using any tools. I noticed that its side rails, middle panel, and slats are all made of solid wood to offer lasting support even under heavy load. Capable of supporting up to 800 lbs, the T&N Box Foundation can provide adequate support for both individuals and couples.
One thing we look for when reviewing a box spring is its cover. This T&N box spring is upholstered in a stone gray woven cover that’s durable and quite smooth looking. Moreover, this cover features non-skid fabric to prevent your memory foam mattress from sliding around.
This box spring does have one caveat though, which is minor size inaccuracies. Although the model we tested was good, a number of verified customers have reported size errors ranging from 1-2 inches. Tuft and Needle claims that this is within their margin of error, but please be advised before making a purchase.
Sizes
The Tuft and Needle Box Foundation comes in all 6 standard mattress sizes. It’s compatible with an innerspring, memory foam, and latex mattress.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
Financing options
Tuft and Needle offers financing for their box spring foundation through Affirm.
Warranty
The Tuft and Needle Box Foundation comes with a 100-night sleep trial and is backed by a 5-year warranty. Free shipping and returns are available in the contiguous US.
Buy: Tuft and Needle Box Foundation
#4. PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation
Check Current Price | Best Heavy Duty Box Spring
Pros
- Eco-friendly
- Available in two height profiles
- Heavy-duty design
- Encased in an organic cotton cover
Cons
- Above average price point
- Does not come with a trial period
Our Experience with the PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation
For our heavier individuals or couples who are reading, the PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation is the best box spring to pair with your memory foam mattress. It has a heavy-duty solid wood design that can hold up to 1200 lbs. On top of that, it’s eco-friendly and free of any chemicals that could potentially harm you during sleep.
Its assembly is pretty straightforward and we got it done in around 15 minutes. This box spring is made of sturdy spruce heat-treated wood to give you a long-lasting and eco-friendly mattress foundation. It also has a Euro-slatted design to promote extra airflow and keep you cool at night.
In addition, you can choose between a low profile 5.5-inch model or a standard 7.5-inch box spring.
Lastly, the PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation is encased in an organic cotton cover that’s also hypoallergenic for your benefit. Before I end, I should mention that this box spring has an above average price point. Consider this before making a purchase.
Sizes
The PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation comes in 6 sizes. It’s compatible with most mattress types including latex and memory foam mattresses.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
Financing options
PlushBeds offers financing for their bed foundation through Affirm.
Warranty
The PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation is not returnable due to safety and sanitary regulations. However, it is backed by a 10-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects. Free shipping is available for orders within the contiguous US.
Buy: PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation
#5. Casper The Foundation
Check Current Price | Best Easy Assembly Box Spring
Pros
- Easy, no tool-assembly
- Sturdy wood construction
- Woven exterior upholstery
Cons
- Cannot be used directly on the floor
Our Experience with Casper The Foundation
If you’re looking for a box spring that’s amazingly easy to assemble, go for the Casper Mattress Foundation. It requires no tools and it should only take you 5-10 minutes to complete the setup. Since it has well-positioned slats, it can support your memory foam mattress and withstand a heavy load.
The Foundation by Casper has a total weight capacity of 1000 lbs. This is better than most brands and it can provide adequate support for individuals or couples over 300 lbs. It can also support thicker memory foam mattresses like the Amerisleep AS5.
This box spring also features woven exterior upholstery as well as non-woven interior and slat upholstery for added durability. Although we don’t recommend placing it directly on the floor, you can use it with any type of bed frame or platform bed.
Sizes
Casper The Foundation comes in 6 sizes:
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
Financing options
Casper offers financing for their mattress foundations through Affirm.
Warranty
The Casper Mattress Foundation comes with a 30-night risk-free trial and is backed by a 2-year warranty. Free shipping and returns are available in the contiguous US and in Canada.
Quick view and comparison
| Brand | Saatva Mattress Foundation | Bear Foundation | Tuft & Needle Box Foundation | PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation | Casper the Foundation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Height (inches) | 4.75/8.75 | 7.5 | 7 | 5.5/7.5 | 7.5 |
| Compatibility | Memory foam and innerspring | Memory foam and innerspring | Memory foam and innerspring | Memory foam and innerspring | Memory foam and innerspring |
| Sleep Trial (nights) | 365 | N/A | 100 | N/A | 30 |
| Warranty (years) | Lifetime | 1 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
| Link to buy | Buy Saatva Mattress Foundation | Buy Bear Foundation | Buy Tuft & Needle Box Foundation | Buy PlushBeds Orthopedic Foundation | Buy Casper the Foundation |
Box spring vs. foundation for a memory foam mattress: What’s the difference?
What I mean by box spring here is the old model which was typically made of wood and filled with metal coils. These traditional box springs were designed for absorbing impact and reducing wear-and-tear on innerspring mattresses. That being said, we would not recommend that you pair a traditional box spring with a memory foam mattress. It’s not going to provide the even support that a foam mattress needs and it will likely cause premature sagging.
Nowadays, the modern box springs that you see on the market and on our list above are also known as mattress foundations. They don’t contain metal springs anymore, but they serve the same purpose of supporting your mattress and also adding a bit more height to your bed setup.
Mattress foundations are great for memory foam mattresses because they usually contain solid wood or metal slats that prevent sagging and prolong the life of a mattress. Stay away from a traditional box spring if you’re looking for a foundation for your memory foam mattress.
Box spring alternatives for memory foam mattress
Memory foam mattresses don’t need box springs. Some good alternatives include:
- Platform bed
- Bunkie board
- Wood slat foundations
- Metal frames
- Adjustable base
If you don’t want the extra height that a box spring provides, I listed a couple alternative bed frames for memory foam mattresses below for you to choose from.
Platform bed
A platform bed is a single level bed base that may have a solid or slatted foundation. This can be used for memory foam mattresses without the need for a box spring. Just make sure the slats are no more than 3 inches apart before getting a platform bed for your memory foam mattress. But there should be no problems if the bed has a solid foundation instead of wooden slats.
Bunkie board
A bunkie board is another box spring alternative that you can use for your memory foam bed. It has the same function as a box spring in terms of reinforcing your mattress, but it does so without adding extra height to your bed. Check out our best bunkie board article for high-quality options.
Wood slat foundations
Wooden slat foundations are the most popular of all the memory foam mattress foundations. They are affordable, easy to assemble, and super lightweight. It evenly supports the weight of your memory foam mattress across multiple wooden slats for long-lasting support.
Metal frames
While there are some metal bed frames that can support memory foam beds, others require a box spring on top to do so. A metal bed frame is inexpensive, but it’s prone to squeaking if it’s not made with high-quality materials. Check out how to fix a squeaky box spring if you’re experiencing this problem.
Adjustable base
You should place your memory foam mattress directly on an adjustable bed base so it can move along with it. An adjustable bed is usually compatible with latex or memory foam mattresses.
Can you put a memory foam mattress on the floor?
You might be thinking of just place your memory foam mattress directly on the floor. Believe me, you don’t want to do that. Memory foam is known for trapping moisture and heat which could encourage mold and mildew growth. It’s much better to use a box spring or an alternative such as a platform bed or a metal bed frame.
Aside from providing enhanced support, these bases or foundations also promote airflow which keeps your memory foam mattress fresh and clean year-round.
Lastly, don’t forget to rotate your mattress every 3-6 months to combat wear-and-tear. Memory foam mattresses can develop indentations over time so it’s best to regularly change where most of your body’s load rests.
FAQs
A wooden box spring will provide better support for foam mattresses and last longer than a metal box spring.
No, a box spring is not necessary for a memory foam mattress especially if it’s placed directly on a platform bed or wooden slats.
Yes, you can put a TempurPedic mattress on a box spring as long as its compatible with foam beds.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a foundation for your new memory foam mattress or you just need a box spring for extra height and support, all the models above are top-notch. Although each product offers unique benefits, all of them are easy to assemble and highly durable.
If you have another mattress type like an innerspring or hybrid mattress, we recommend taking a look at our best box spring article for sturdy foundations.
How We Rate Box Springs
Box Springs are judged by 3 standards:
- Ease of Assembly
- Durability & Support
- Box Spring Cover
Learn more about how we rate box springs.
Next step: Read our guide to Japanese bed frames. If you’re looking for a way to keep your memory foam mattress low to the ground, then a Japanese bed frame is the way to go. We tested out different low-profile options and came up with a list of pros and cons so you can make your own decision.
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