Do I Need a Box Spring With My Mattress?

Wondering whether you need a box spring with your foam mattress and bed frame? It's a good question. When investing in a quality bed, you want the right mattress foundation to reap full benefits.

The truth is—most modern mattresses don't need a box spring. Using your mattress directly on a slatted bed frame provides plenty of support and airflow to keep you cool and comfy through the night.

Read up on the best solid foundation for your new mattress and popular box spring alternatives!

What is a Box Spring, and What Does It Do?

Box springs are a type of foundation that provide mattress support, breathability, and durability. A box spring consists of wood and metal springs for extra support and cushioning. When used with traditional mattresses, the purpose of a box spring is to absorb shock, reduce wear and tear on the mattress, and distribute weight evenly to prevent sagging. Additionally, a box spring can raise the height of the mattress, making it easier to get in and out of bed. Although box springs have traditionally been used with innerspring mattresses, some newer models are designed to be used without a box spring or with a different type of foundation, such as a platform bed or solid surface bed. If you have a traditional innerspring mattress, it's best to check with the mattress manufacturer to know if you need a box spring!

New-generation modern mattresses (like the Endy Mattress) have all of these features built into the foam, eliminating the need for a box spring. With our 15-year mattress warranty^*, rest assured that your mattress will stay in tip-top shape on any of our frames!

Benefits of Using a Box Spring With a Foam Mattress

If you want to, you can use a box spring under a foam mattress. The added height or extra firmness might suit your personal preference better. Here are the top reasons to consider a traditional box spring, even if you don't have a traditional innerspring mattress:

Box springs provide added height

A box spring will make your bed several inches taller. This can make getting in and out of bed much easier for people with mobility issues.

Style tip: Make sure the combined height of your box spring and mattress won't cover your headboard!

Box springs offer maximum firmness

Box spring bases provide support across the entire bottom surface of the mattress. As such, a box spring can make a noticeable difference in how firm your bed feels!

On the other hand, putting your mattress directly on a slatted foundation allows for more give, creating a slightly plusher sleep experience.

Box springs & mattress warranties

Some mattress companies require you to use a box spring for warranty purposes, but not Endy. The Endy 15-year limited warranty on your mattress is valid with or without a box spring—just make sure to use a base or bed frame with gaps no wider than 3 inches.

Endy mattresses are built with a layer of high-quality support foam designed to keep you and your mattress in tip-top shape night after night and year after year.

What Are Some Reasons to Skip the Box Spring?

To box spring or not to box spring? It's a common question. Now that you're familiar with the benefits of traditional box springs, let's look at the main reasons to go with a different mattress foundation.

1. A box spring is an extra cost

Box springs are expensive! You can get the same support from a slatted or platform bed, so why pay extra?

2. A box spring takes up space

Box springs take up more room and can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. If your bedroom is small, skipping the box spring could make your space feel a little roomier.

3. A box spring changes the feel of your mattress

Some people find box springs less comfortable than other bed foundations, such as platform beds or slatted bed frames. Box springs do change the feel and perceived firmness of mattresses, especially with memory foam beds. The result is a firmer, less plush sleep surface.

4. A box spring is one more thing to replace

Box springs eventually break down (or start squeaking) and may need to be replaced more frequently than other types of bed foundations, like a metal frame or quality wood frame.

5. A box spring may not suit your decor

Box springs may not fit with the aesthetic of some modern bedroom designs, which tend to favour low-profile beds.

Foam, Latex, Innerspring; Which Mattresses Need a Box Spring?

Foam mattresses, including memory foam and latex mattresses, generally do not need a box spring. These types of mattresses can be used on other sturdy, supportive foundations like a solid surface bed or platform bed. Using a box spring with a foam mattress may change the feel and support of the mattress. In the case of the Endy Mattress, it will make the mattress feel a little firmer.

Traditional innerspring mattresses have a coil-based support system and are designed to be used with a box spring. Box springs provide a sturdy base for coil mattresses and help distribute weight evenly, extending the life of a traditional mattress. However, some newer innerspring mattress models are designed to be used without a box spring or with a different type of foundation, such as a platform bed. Check directly with the mattress company to determine if you need a box spring with the specific innerspring mattress you have or are considering.

Both the Endy Mattress and Endy Hybrid Mattress are designed for long-lasting comfort and support without needing a box spring. Put your mattress directly on your Endy bed frame for the perfect look and feel!

Bed Frame Types That Don't Require Box Springs

Looking for box spring alternatives? You're in luck! These bed frames can accommodate most mattresses without a box spring.

Platform bed

Platform beds consist of a flat, raised platform usually made of slats or a solid piece of wood. These types of bed frames provide a sturdy, supportive base on their own, so they often make a box spring redundant. Platform beds tend to have a simple, minimalist design and can range from basic to more elaborate styles with additional storage options. Go for a wooden frame or a metal bed frame to achieve the perfect look!

Wooden slats bed

The wood slats on a bed frame serve as the foundation for the mattress, providing support and stability. The slats run perpendicular to the frame and are spaced evenly apart, usually with a gap of no more than 3 inches between each slat. Properly spaced-out wooden slats allow for excellent air circulation and evenly distributed weight, which prevents the mattress from wearing unevenly.

Because they provide a sturdy, supportive base for most mattresses, wood slat foundations make box springs redundant. In fact, slatted bases are the most popular box spring alternative!

Adjustable bed

An adjustable bed frame is a type of bed that allows the head and foot of the mattress to be adjusted to various positions. Adjustable beds are designed to provide ultra-personalized comfort and support and can be useful for people dealing with acid reflux, snoring, or back pain. Adjustable foundations can be used with a variety of mattress types, including all Endy mattresses!

Most memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses, and hybrid mattresses can be used with an adjustable foundation. However, you should note that adjustable beds are incompatible with box springs. It makes sense—box springs are designed to provide rigid support on a flat surface, not to bend!

Does Endy Sell Box Springs?

No, the Endy collection doesn't include a box spring. All Endy mattresses are built with high-density support foam to keep your mattress in tip-top shape without any extra support from a box spring—you can just set it on your frame and snooze! Plus, Endy Comfort Foam is extra breathable, so using your mattress on a slatted Endy bed frame provides plenty of air circulation for cool comfort.

If you're looking for maximum support from actual springs, check out the Endy Hybrid Mattress, made in Canada with high-carbon steel coils.

So, Do You Need a Box Spring? The Answer in a Nutshell.

If you have an Endy mattress, you do not need a box spring. Excellent foundation support is already built into your mattress! However, if you want to use a box spring for aesthetic or mobility reasons, you can!