Ninety-three percent of people say having a comfortable mattress is essential for getting a good night’s sleep, according to The Sleep Foundation.
But finding the right mattress can be elusive.
Should you choose a firm or soft mattress? Foam or coils? What about gel pads, springs and “cooling” technology?
To help you on your quest for better sleep, we’ve researched two popular manufacturers of mattresses-in-a-box—Leesa and Casper. From mattress styles to prices and warranties, we lay out everything you need to know so you can rest easy.
Leesa vs. Casper
| Product Name | Price Range | Warranty | Sleep Trial | Type | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leesa Original | $849-$1,399 | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam | Twin-Cal King |
| Leesa Hybrid | $1,199-$2,099 | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam and spring | Twin-Cal King |
| Leesa Legend | $1,899-$2,699 | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam and spring | Twin XL-Cal King |
| Leesa Studio | $499-$899 | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam | Twin-Cal King |
| Casper Wave Hybrid | $1,795-$3,495 (snow technology extra, starting at $500) | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam, gel pods, springs | Twin-Cal King |
| Casper Nova Hybrid | $1,395-$2,895 (snow technology extra, starting at $500) | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam and springs | Twin-Cal King |
| Casper Original | $895-$1,695 | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam | Twin-Cal King |
| Casper Element | $495-$895 | 10-year limited | 100 days | Foam | Twin-Cal King |
*Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
About Leesa
Leesa bills itself as a “direct-to-consumer online luxury mattress company.” Its mattresses and sleep products (including pillows, sheets and duvets, among other items) are U.S.-made and delivered right to your door, and are also available at retailers like West Elm and Pottery Barn.
The company, based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, also believes in making a social impact. For every 10 mattresses sold, one is donated to a child in need. Since its launch in 2015, Leesa has donated nearly 40,000 mattresses to nonprofit organizations. Leesa also delivered bed kits (a metal bed frame, mattress and wipeable mattress cover and pillow) to hospitals in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leesa Mattress Options and Prices
Leesa currently offers four mattress styles, ranging in size from twin (and twin XL) to California king.
The mattresses have a medium-to-firm rating and, according to Leesa’s website, are good for all kinds of sleepers—side, back or stomach. They’re also all CertiPur U.S.-certified, meaning they are made without materials like formaldehyde, heavy metals and ozone depleters.
Original Mattress
Dubbed a “fan favorite” by the company, the original mattress has three layers of construction:
- Core foam base that provides support for all body types and sleep positions
- Middle layer that gives the “perfect hug,” according to the company website, contouring to your body and relieving pressure points
- Top foam layer, which the company says is exclusive to Leesa and allows you to sleep cool
Prices range from $849 for a twin to $1,399 for a California king, although the company does run sales. They also offer bundling (for example, a mattress, base and mattress protector) for added savings.
Hybrid Mattress
The Hybrid, which combines foam with 1,000+ pocket springs “for edge-to-edge support,” has five layers of construction, including:
- Core support foam base
- Gauge pocket-spring system
- Another core support layer
- Layer of body-contouring foam
- Layer of premium cooling foam
The mattress retails for $1,199 for a twin to $2,099 for a California king.
Legend Mattress
The Legend is a spring and micro-coil luxury mattress, the first of its kind to be compressed and shipped in a box, says the company. Its six layers of construction include:
- Core support foam base
- Gauge pocket-spring system that extends around the perimeter of the mattress
- Another core foam support layer
- Micro pocket-spring layer
- A pressure-relieving foam layer
- Top foam layer punched with holes for breathability
But perhaps the crowning glory of the Legend mattress is its eco-friendly covering. The mattress is encased in an organic cotton and merino wool cover that also contains fiber made from recycled water bottles (a California king uses 73 plastic bottles). The Legend retails for $1,899 (twin XL) to $2,699 for a California king.
Studio Mattress
The Studio is Leesa’s most inexpensive mattress. It features three layers of foam:
- Bottom layer offers support
- Middle layer reduces pressure
- Top layer provides breathability
The mattress is Leesa’s only offering covered in a striped, heather-blue material, and it ranges in price from $499 for a twin to $899 for a California king.
Leesa Warranties and Discounts
Leesa mattresses come with a 10-year limited warranty (for defects) and a 100-night sleep trial. If you don’t like the mattress after 100 nights, the company will refund your money and arrange for a free return.
There are a couple of caveats, however: You have to keep the mattress for at least 30 days, the 100-night trial/free return is only good on one Leesa mattress per household and there is a $100 fee for mattresses returned in Alaska and Hawaii.
The company also offers a military discount.
What Users Say About Leesa
Overall, customers are pretty satisfied with Leesa mattresses.
“I’m a 75-year-old woman with arthritis and the other aches and pains that come with getting older,” said one reviewer on Costco who purchased a Leesa Hybrid mattress. “I wasn’t feeling rested even after eight to nine hours of sleep. After a lot of research, I decided this mattress could work for me. I now sleep through the night with little tossing and turning.”
While another reviewer on Costco noted that while the Hybrid is meeting most of their needs, “you will have some ‘off-gassing’ smell for about a week, and since the mattress has springs, there is some transfer of motion…”
Another who reviewed the Legend mattress on Costco’s website said, “Been getting great sleep on this mattress. Has enough give but also very supportive.” Some disagreed, however, noting that the mattress was softer than expected. “This was not a medium-firm bed—more along the lines of plush/wet noodle,” commented one reviewer.
About Casper
Casper is a company on a mission “to awaken the potential of a well-rested world.”
The company, founded in 2014, says that what sets it apart from other mattress manufacturers is its emphasis on science and testing. Casper employs 45 researchers, engineers and scientists and makes over 55 products, including pillows, sheets, a self-dimming glow light to help induce sleep and even dog beds. According to Casper’s website, “every fiber of every product is tested to make sure it provides great sleep.”
Casper, based in New York City, offers mattresses online, at its own brick-and-mortar stores and through retailers such as Target and Mattress Warehouse.
Like Leesa, Casper also believes in giving back. The company has donated over 70,000 sleep products to people (and dogs) in need. Sheets, pillows and other bedding can be brought to select Casper stores for environmentally-friendly recycling.
Casper Mattress Options and Prices
Casper has four mattresses in its lineup, all of which range in size from twin to California king. Like Leesa mattresses, Casper’s also are CertiPur-certified. On its website, the company doesn’t distinguish which mattresses are best for side, back or stomach sleepers.
Wave Hybrid
This is Casper’s most supportive mattress, making it ideal for people with back pain, the company says. Some of its features include:
- Zone Support Max, a combination of 3D foam and 86 gel pods to help lift and align your spine.
- AirScape 3, three layers of cooling perforated gel to help get rid of body heat.
- Springs inside the mattress to provide lift and air flow.
- Snow Technology, which consists of “HeatDelete Bands” that continuously pull heat away from the body, can be added for an extra cost.
Prices for the Wave Hybrid start at $1,795 for a twin and go up to $3,495 for a California king (snow technology is extra, starting at $500).
Nova Hybrid Mattress
This mattress has a lot of the same technology as the Wave Hybrid, but it’s designed to be plush and pillow-like and offer “targeted” support. For example, it’s softer under the shoulders and firmer under the lower torso. It also has:
- Zone Support Pro, which is seven layers of support to properly align your spine.
- AirScape 2, technology that’s similar to AirScape 3, but with just two layers of perforated foam.
- Springs to prevent sinking and aid in airflow.
- Snow Technology (at an added cost).
Prices range from $1,395 for a twin to $2,895 for a California king.
Original Mattress
Casper’s most popular mattress, according to the company, is engineered for balanced support and a “cool, comfortable sleep.” It comes in two versions: all foam or a hybrid model with springs and foam. Like Casper’s other offerings, it has Zone Support (providing three zones of targeted support) and AirScape. It also has:
- Premium foam
- Durable base foam
It’s priced from $895 to $1,695.
Element Mattress
This is Casper’s lowest-priced mattress. Like other Casper models, it has AirScape technology and a durable foam base. Prices range from $495 to $895.
Casper Warranties and Discounts
The company offers a 10-year limited warranty. The warranty extends to the mattress and, in some cases, the mattress cover. The warranty is void, however, if the mattress is used improperly—for example, if it’s not placed on a solid base. Other exceptions also apply.
The company does run sales and offers savings when you bundle products. Casper also offers a 20% discount to members of the military, health care workers, teachers and students.
What Users Say About Casper
Casper gets high marks from many Better Business Bureau reviewers. “I have fallen in love with my Casper Wave Hybrid mattress,” said one happy consumer. “This has been the best mattress I ever owned and one of the finest I’ve ever used.”
“I am sleeping better, waking up without back or neck pain, and not waking up as much at night! It is a great investment,” said another.
But not everyone is a fan. One Better Business Bureau user complained about “intolerable pain” after using a Casper mattress. Another said, “My wife and I used [a Casper mattress] for about a week and woke up nearly every morning with excruciating back pain.” Others complained about long delivery times and poor customer service.
Leesa vs. Casper: Which One Is Right for You?
Since “soft,” “firm” and “cooling” are subjective terms, buying a mattress sight unseen can be risky. Casper seems to provide more support options (all of Leesa’s mattresses are medium-firm), and its snow technology is pretty advanced. You’ll pay for all that engineering, though, as some of Casper’s offerings can be substantially more expensive than Leesa’s solid options. Whichever manufacturer you choose, make sure you take advantage of the sleep trial—and double check the return policy so there are no surprises.