As a sleep writer, I've had a lot of practice unpacking mattresses in a box. With practice comes experience, and also plenty of mistakes. I've made all kinds of errors unboxing mattresses and with this guide, i want to prevent you from running into the same issues.
Having found the best mattress for your sleep style, the last thing you want is to damage it while unpacking. Mattresses in a box come compressed, rolled, and tightly packaged, so they require some careful maneuvering. Otherwise you might be off to a nightmare start with your new bed.
In this guide, I'm exploring some of the most common mistakes you might come across when unboxing a new mattress and how to avoid them. I've also rounded up some of the best mattress sales on beds in a box to shop today.
7 common mattress unboxing mistakes and how to avoid them
1. You've left it too long in the packaging
To fit a big mattress into a small box, the bed has to be compressed, rolled, and then tightly packed. While this initial rolling process is carefully done to avoid damaging the interior of your best mattress in a box, once rolled, a mattress should only be kept in that state for a short while.
If left sitting in the box too long you might find once unrolled it never expands to its full shape. Keeping the mattress packaged can also lead to a build up of off-gassing – an unpleasant surprise when you finally get to unboxing. So once your new mattress has arrived, unpack it as soon as possible. Preferably, right away.
2. You didn't get help
Compressing and rolling a mattress into a box might make the bed smaller, but it isn't any lighter. Mattress unboxing is typically a two person job, especially if you're dealing with a larger size, like the best queen size mattresses. I recommend asking for a helping hand, otherwise you risk damaging the bed and hurting yourself.
If you are planning on unboxing alone, go carefully and try to choose a mattress with handles. Alternatively, you might want to invest in white glove delivery. With white glove delivery, the company delivers the bed to a room of your choice, unboxing it and placing it on the bed frame.
3. You didn't clear the area
An unrolled mattress is a bulky item, and you're probably going to have to move it around to get it centered in the bed frame. Speaking from personal experience, it's easy to knock over a lamp or chair when trying to get your mattress straight on the frame.
As well as the size, mattress unboxing can be a surprisingly speedy process. Once that tight packaging is off, the bed has a tendency to spring open. You want to make sure there's nothing in the way when your mattress starts unfurling.
4. You snagged the mattress with scissors
Mattresses in a box typically come in tightly packed layers of plastic that hold the bed in its rolled shape. When unboxing, you need to slice through this plastic, avoiding the mattress underneath. Cutting a mattress as you unbox isn't just a frustration – it can also void the warranty. So take your time, go carefully, and clear away excess packaging as you work.
5. You put it on the bed frame upside down
Most mattresses consist of several layers of materials, each carefully placed to enhance the overall performance of the bed. Placed the wrong way round, these layers can't provide the comfort and support you need. Plus, you risk damaging the interior.
When the mattress is still in its packaging it can be hard to spot which is the right way up, so don't worry if you get it wrong first time. But once the mattress is on the bed frame, take a step back and double check it's facing upwards. If it isn't, flip the mattress over now so that it can expand properly.
6. You didn't open a window
Mattress off-gassing refers to the unpleasant smell released by a mattress in a box when removed from the packaging. Off-gassing can take a while to clear and if you're sensitive to smells, you might even find it disrupts your sleep.
This can be a particular problem with memory foam mattresses – even the best memory foam mattresses are likely to have some off-gassing. The best way to clear off-gassing is to open a window and allow for the scent to dissipate. To deal with the problem immediately, leave the window open as you unbox.
7. You unboxed right before bed
A boxed mattress needs time to expand before it can be slept on, and it can take as long as 72 hours before your bed is fully ready. Sleeping on a mattress before it has fully expanded risks damaging the materials, so leave plenty of time between unboxing and going to bed. While it's tempting to collapse straight on your new bed, giving it time to expand will mean you have a better experience when you finally get to enjoy the bed.
3 best mattress in a box deals to buy today
