Do You Need a Box Spring? What Is the Point of It?

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Do you need a box spring? What is the point of a box spring? In this article, I’ll list the benefits of using a box spring and whether you need one or not for your mattress.

A box spring is needed for your mattress for the many benefits it provides. The four main reasons why a box spring is needed are as follows:

  1. Provides a More Comfortable Sleeping Experience
  2. Extends the Service Life of Your Mattress
  3. Raises Your Mattress to a More Comfortable Height
  4. Enhances Air Circulation

A box spring is essential for your sleeping comfort not only because it raises the mattress to a more comfortable height but also preserves the mattress quality over time. A box spring absorbs the impact of your weight and reduces the wear and tear of the mattress. It also gives the mattress a stable and strong platform to sit on.

You could just place your mattress on the floor or even on a raised platform; however, a box spring will provide added benefits. So, for these reasons, a box spring is needed for your mattress or at least highly recommended.

A box spring is not needed if you have a latex mattress. In fact, a box spring can be damaged under the weight of a latex mattress. Latex mattresses are very heavy, and the weight of the mattress can bend the springs in the box spring. So you do not need a box spring for a latex mattress.

Read on to learn more about box springs, including their benefits and why a box spring is a necessity for your mattress.

Also, take a look at an excellent box spring, the Zinus Sleep Master Smart Box Spring. It is made of solid steel, is easy to assemble, and will support your mattress for many years.

Click here to see it on Amazon.

Do You Need a Box Spring? What Is the Point?

If your mattress is not properly supported or if it is set on an uneven surface, premature sagging will result. Its service life will also drastically reduce. But if the mattress is set upon a box spring, you will prevent this undesirable consequence.

So, what is the point of a box spring? The primary purpose of a box spring is to provide an even supportive foundation throughout the mattress. Typically, the structure has the same dimensions as the mattress to optimize its supportive function. It tends to extend the service life of the mattress as well.

If your bed has a traditional frame, a box spring is needed. Other types of bed frames require the addition of box springs. You need to check with the seller if the bed frame you want to buy requires a box spring.

You will know if you need a box spring under your bed/mattress with the following checklist:

  • The bed frame states on it that it requires a box spring.
  • You want to increase the height of your bed.
  • The warranty of the mattress specifies the need for it.
  • You want the added bounce that a box spring can provide.
  • Your mattress has the typical double-sided innerspring.
do you need box spring

What Are the Benefits of Using a Box Spring?

If you use a box spring to support your mattress, you stand to gain the following benefits:

1. Provides a More Comfortable Sleeping Experience

One of the functions of a box spring under a mattress is to provide a comfortable sleeping experience. A box spring will also absorb the impact of your body weight as you rest on your bed. Because of this feature, it will reduce the wear and tear of your mattress.

You also need a bed or mattress that is stable and will not move as you roll and turn on your bed. Using a box spring provides that stability.

2. Extends the Service Life of Your Mattress

A box spring absorbs the shock produced by a sudden drop of considerable weight on the mattress. If you have kids who love to jump on your bed, the box spring under the mattress will absorb the abrupt and unexpected drop of weight.

Without it, the full force of that weight will be carried by the mattress. If this happens frequently, your mattress will sag, and you may need to replace it every so often.

3. Raises Your Mattress to a More Comfortable Height

A box spring will raise your bed to the exact height that you want. It is not comfortable to sit and sleep on a bed that is too high or too low from the floor. The right bed height makes it easier for you to get in and out of bed. Also, it is more sanitary for a bed or mattress to be sufficiently elevated from the floor.

4. Enhances Air Circulation

Additionally, a box spring creates an air space between the mattress and the floor, providing better air circulation under the bed. Enhanced air circulation under the bed will give a more comfortable temperature when sleeping.

So, what’s the point of using a box spring? When you use a box spring under your bed, you will be able to enjoy the four benefits mentioned above. In other words, you will improve the quality of your sleep and prolong the service life of your mattress if you use a box spring.

If you do not have a box spring yet, I highly recommend the Zinus Sleep Master Smart Box Spring:

Click to see this box spring on Amazon.

This very popular box spring on Amazon is available in twin, full, queen, and king sizes. If you have a Twin XL or California King size bed, take a look at the Zinus Sleep Master Box Spring Twin XL or Cal King size (Click here to see it on Amazon).

The Zinus Sleep Master Smart Box Spring comes with assembly tools and a five-year warranty. It is a strong and sturdy metal-frame box spring that will absorb body weight and extend the life of your mattress. The box spring is smartly delivered in a box that is 1ft tall, 1ft wide, and 4-5ft long. It is also a breeze to assemble with easy instructions.

What Is a Box Spring?

Essentially, a box spring is a support base for mattresses. It’s made of wooden frames covered with fabric or cloth and with or without springs in the middle. The size of the box spring should ideally be the same as that of the mattress. Many mattresses are sold in sets, which means that they come with their respective box springs.

These bed support structures are called box springs because, in the past, these boxes or frames had springs inside them. Some of them still have springs inside to support the weight placed on top of the mattresses. These springs make you feel like the bed is softer than it really is.

do i need a box spring

Modern Box Springs

It is somewhat a misnomer to call them box springs today because they don’t contain springs anymore. Box spring manufacturers no longer incorporate springs inside their products. The term’ box spring’ came about because the thing is really a box with springs in them.

Today, these boxes are designed as a flat and hard foundation or base for mattresses. There are variations in their height, length, and width. Some box springs have a low profile. These boxes are intended for people who want their beds to be lower than the average height.

Other low-profile box springs are designed for thick mattresses. With these box springs, the bed’s overall height will not be too high for comfort. In other words, box springs can be designed to satisfy the specific requirements of consumers.

Due to the varying consumer requirements, box spring manufacturers came up with alternative designs. These designs include wood foundations, adjustable power bases, and platform beds. However, some homeowners just simply put their mattresses on top of their hardwood floors.

One-sided Mattresses Vs. Double-sided Mattresses

One-sided mattresses usually come with all the accessories necessary for comfort. The only thing you need to provide is a stable, flat, and hard surface for the mattress. A hard floor, a platform bed, an adjustable base, or a box spring can provide that surface.

Typical double-sided mattresses require box springs. So, if you are buying this type of mattress, you really need to have a box spring. These mattresses are designed to be on top of box springs. The quality of your sleep will considerably decrease if you don’t use a box spring under your double-sided mattress.

See the below video for more tips and advice on box springs and whether you need one or not:

Are There Alternatives to Using a Box Spring?

If you are still asking yourself the question, “do I need a box spring?” then the answer is still yes, except if you have a latex mattress. If you simply cannot get a box spring for whatever reason, here are the alternatives:

  • Platform Bed – This structure has a surface that functions as a platform. The platform is either composed of slats or one solid block with a surface. The mattress lies directly on top of this platform. There is no spring in the structure.
  • Adjustable Power Base – This alternative is the most expensive because it uses an electric motor. It has a base with a motor integrated into its structure. You can raise or lower the height of the bed by flipping a switch that runs the electric motor.
  • Hard Floor – This box spring alternative is the least expensive. If you have a hard wooden floor or cement floor, you can just put your bed/mattress directly on top of it. However, it may not be super comfortable and sanitary. Also, it is not a good and healthy practice to put mattresses directly on the floor.

If you have a latex mattress, you do not need a box spring, and in fact, it is not recommended. Latex mattresses are very heavy, and the weight of the mattress can bend the springs in the box spring.

Conclusion – Do You Need a Box Spring? What’s the Point of One?

So, to revisit our initial question: Do you need a box spring? What’s the point of a box spring? A box spring is essential if you want to sleep comfortably. It can guarantee a restful sleep because of the four things it can provide:

  1. Provides a More Comfortable Sleeping Experience
  2. Extends the Service Life of Your Mattress
  3. Raises Your Mattress to a More Comfortable Height
  4. Enhances Air Circulation

One of the biggest benefits of a box spring is that they help absorb the impact of the sudden weight placed on top of the bed or mattress. There will be times that you or someone else will just suddenly drop their whole body weight on the bed.

If there’s no box spring to support that sudden weight, and if you are in the habit of doing that many times throughout the week, imagine what will happen to the integrity of the bed/mattress. Pretty soon, your mattress will sag and won’t provide you with the comfort and relaxation you need when you rest or sleep.

So you could just lay your mattress on the floor or on a raised platform; however, to extend your mattress life quality and the quality of your sleep, a box spring is needed.

Related reading:

Bed Sizes in Order – 7 Most Common

Largest Bed Size [What Is the Biggest Mattress?]

Best Inflatable Mattress – Top 10 Picks

Why Are Mattresses So Expensive? [5 Reasons]

Replacing Slats on Bed [How to]