Our Verdict
Our Verdict
Best for: Back sleeperCombo sleeperSide sleeperStomach sleeper
Score Breakdown
Performance
7.3 /10
Policies
6 /10
Durability
6 /10
Features
9 /10
Pros and Cons
Pros
Zoned memory foam makes it softer where you need it
Sleeps cooler than other 100% memory foam mattresses
Excellent motion isolation
Budget-friendly
Ideal for most sleeping positions
Cons
Feels more like you're sleeping on top of the mattress, rather than sinking into it
Not enough support for anyone over 230 pounds
If you’re looking for a new mattress, you've probably come across the brand Casper. Casper may not have been the first mattress in a box company, but it is one of the most well-known ones. As one of the first popular brands, ads for Casper were everywhere, and the brand played a key role in growing the trend of buying a mattress online.
And now, with over 175 players in the online mattress market, Casper is still one of the top direct-to-consumer choices. But finding the right mattress can be tricky, especially when shopping online. That's why I put the Casper Original -- the company's most popular model -- to the test. In this Casper mattress review, I break down all the features of the bed and who it's best suited for. This mattress has been recently discontinued by Casper, but that does mean that now is a great time to buy the mattress as you can find it deeply discounted.
casper2
Lindsay Boyers/CNET
Looking for a new mattress? Aside from our Casper Original mattress review, we've also got recommendations for the best mattress for stomach sleepers, the best mattresses for side sleepers and the best mattresses for back pain.
First impressions
The Casper Original mattress arrived just like any other mattress in a box. It was tightly wrapped in two layers of plastic and needed to be cut open and left to expand until it was ready for testing. I lifted the rolled-up mattress onto my platform bed frame, carefully took the plastic off and let it expand. One thing I noticed right away was that it didn't have an off-putting smell that some memory foam mattresses can have, so I didn't feel the need to leave my windows open to let it air out, which was a plus.
It did look a little lackluster though. There was nothing especially plush or appealing about it, although the cover felt soft to the touch. I didn't want to judge it on looks alone though, so I left it to expand for the rest of the day and got to the real testing later.
When I first slipped into bed, I didn't have that "ahhh" moment that you get with plush, soft mattresses. I positioned myself on my back and rather than sinking into the mattress, I felt like I was lying on top of it. The longer I lay there, though, the more comfortable it became. When I laid down on the mattress I felt the foam cradle around my body, alleviating my pressure points and giving a sort of feeling of weightlessness that helps take the edge off.
After several minutes, I turned over to my side and the mattress started to adjust accordingly. Memory foam typically has a delayed response time, but in my Casper Original mattress review I found it responds much faster to pressure than the typical material. After a few seconds, the foam filled in and contoured my body. I did also notice it was softer near my shoulders, a feature of the Zoned Support that's integrated into the middle layer.
Video: Casper One mattress review
Learn all about the most comparable bed in the new Casper lineup -- the Casper One mattress.
Watch CNET video producerOwen Poole review the Casper One mattress.
Casper mattress firmness and feel
What does Casper feel like?
While completing this Casper mattress review I slept on the bed exclusively for 15 days and, like any mattress, it had its pros and cons. I felt incredibly comfortable lying on my back and stomach, but I could only spend so much time lying on my side before I felt like I had to change positions. If I slept on my side too long, I would wake up with tingling arms -- a sign that the mattress may have been just a little too firm for me personally. However, I see a lot of side sleepers enjoying this mattress if you weigh over the 150 pound range.
How firm is the Casper mattress?
I would rate the Casper Original mattress around a five or six out of 10 on the firmness scale. That means that it's a medium to medium-firm mattress, and offers a pretty balanced feel. While the mattress felt soft to the touch and definitely had some sink to it, it still gave that sleeping on top of the mattress feel.
I'm more of a soft or medium-plush mattress kind of person, but if you like firmer mattresses -- or you're a back or stomach sleeper who's been experiencing back pain on your current mattress -- the Casper Original is a good choice for you.
Casper mattress construction
casper-original-mattress-review-construction-1
Matthew Ross/My Slumber Yard
As far as construction goes, the Casper Original is pretty basic, although there are some additional touches that you don't see with all memory foam mattresses. The mattress is 11 inches tall and built of three memory foam layers. All of the foams are certified by the CertiPUR-US program, which means they're made without ozone-depleting chemicals and they have low emissions of volatile organic compounds.
The base layer is a standard high-density polyurethane memory foam that supports your body weight and the rest of the mattress to prevent sinking or sagging. Since this layer provides the foundation for the whole mattress, it's the thickest layer.
The middle layer is a zoned memory foam that's separated into three distinct sections designed to alleviate pressure on your shoulders and cradle your hips for proper spinal alignment. This layer is softer under the shoulders and firmer around the hips, waist and lower back.
The top layer is also polyfoam, although it's thinner and a more breathable foam than the base layer, thanks to thousands of perforations that allow air to circulate and heat to escape.
Everything is wrapped up in a knit polyester blend cover that feels soft and stretchy, almost like a jersey material. And, as an added bonus, it's made from recycled bottles -- 57 of them, to be exact -- so you can sleep more soundly knowing that the mattress is at least a little sustainable.
Casper mattress performance
Motion isolation
Because the original Casper mattress is all foam and no springs, there's no bounce at all. If you sleep with a partner who tosses and turns at night -- or a large German Shepherd mix who likes to jump on and off the bed seven times a night -- you'll have absolutely no issues here. In fact, this Casper mattress is so good at isolating motion that it could probably be the poster child for those "jumping on the bed near a wine glass" commercials.
Edge-to-edge support
Thanks to the thick, high-density foam base, the Casper Original has some decent edge-to-edge support, but memory foam mattresses will always fall short of coil or hybrid mattresses in this department. If you sleep on the extreme edge, the mattress will cave a little, but you won't feel like you're going to roll off.
Temperature
Unlike other 100% memory foam mattresses that trap heat, the Casper Original was engineered with temperature regulation in mind. The top memory foam layer has thousands of perforations that circulate air, so rather than absorbing your body heat and throwing it back to you, that heat and humidity is dispersed away from you and released. Casper calls this Airscape technology, a trademarked term. But does it work?
In comparison to other traditional memory foam mattresses, yes. The Casper Original did seem to sleep a tad bit cooler. While I wouldn't say that it felt noticeably cool to the touch, like the Ghostbed Luxe, it didn't turn into a sweat box, and that was good enough for me. Granted, I sleep pretty cool in general, so overheating isn't an issue I run into a lot, but my boyfriend, who sleeps like a furnace on full blast, also felt toasty and warm, without waking up sweating.
Durability
To determine the durability of a mattress, we look at a bed's different materials and the quality of its construction. Casper is an average, three-layer foam mattress and should last around seven years (depending on how well you take care of it). That means your mattress should be rotated every six months, deep-cleaned once a year and free of bad spills. For a more durable and supportive mattress, I'd opt for the Casper Hybrid. It has a steel coil layer in the bottom of the mattress that's stronger than Casper Original's foam layer.
Off-gassing
You know that lingering smell in a new car? You'll notice a similar odor when you open your bed-in-a-box mattress from its packaging. It's a result of the manufacturing process and compressing the bed inside of a box, so it'll need to be aired out for about a day or two after unboxing. It should dissipate after a few days, and you can also open a window in your bedroom to help circulate fresh air.
Who is the Casper mattress best for?
Like any mattress, the Casper Original isn't for everyone, but depending on your preferred sleeping position and body type, it might just be the ideal mattress for you.
Sleeping position
The original Casper mattress is best suited for back, stomach, side sleepers or combo sleepers -- people who frequently shift between back and side sleeping. While the zoned support does offer some extra give near the hips and shoulders, it can still be a little too firm for petite side sleepers under 150 pounds, resulting in shoulder pain and numbness and tingling in your arms and hands. However, for most side sleepers, it's going to be a comfortable mattress.
Diagram of back, stomach and combo sleepers, depicting the pressure points of each type.
Zooey Liao/CNET
Body type
Because it's only made of foam, the Casper Original is best suited for those who weigh 230 pounds or less. Casper mattresses don't have an official weight limit, but in general heavier people need more support in the form of coils or innersprings, which also help ensure that the mattress doesn't break down as quickly.
Foam-only mattresses, like the Casper Original, tend to compress to a greater degree than hybrid mattresses or latex mattresses, so if you weigh more than 230 pounds, you may notice that the mattress sinks down and feels even firmer, which isn't ideal especially since it's on the firmer side to begin with. Casper does offer a hybrid model, however, which is made with steel coils and more supportive for heavier individuals.
Price
Casper mattress pricing
undefined
Size Measurements (inches) Price (MSRP)
Twin 38x75 inches $895
Twin XL 38x80 inches $995
Full 54x74 inches $1,195
Queen 60x80 inches $1,295
King 76x80 inches $1,695
Cal king 72x84 inches $1,695
As far as bed-in-a-box memory foam mattresses go, the Casper Original is fairly budget-friendly. A twin mattress typically goes for $895 and the king -- and California king mattress -- retails for $1,695. However, that's probably not the price you'll pay. Casper regularly offers promotions and deals and if you time it right, you can score a new mattress for at least 10% off. For holidays like Labor Day, you can expect even bigger discounts. Find out what Casper and other mattress brands are offering at our best mattress deals page.
Trial, shipping and warranty
Regardless of your timing, shipping (and returns) are always free and you'll get a 100-night at-home sleep trial to give your body some time to adjust before deciding if you like the mattress. If you do keep it, you get a 10-year limited warranty, but you have to make sure you're using it on the recommended type of bed base -- in this case, it's a firm, sturdy platform base -- or the warranty is void.
The final verdict
To wrap up this Casper mattress review, I'd say it's a medium to medium-firm mattress that's ideal for almost all sleeping positions. While you don't get that cloud-like feel that you'd get from softer mattresses, sometimes the proper spinal alignment that you get from a firmer mattress is more important, especially if you have back pain.
You might like the Casper Original mattress if:
You're a back, side, stomach or combination sleeper.
You tend to get cold at night.
You like a medium-firm to firm feel.
You weigh less than 230 pounds.
You have back pain from your current mattress.
You might not like the Casper Original bed if:
You're strictly a side sleeper under 150 pounds.
You're a hot sleeper, or you tend to get hot at night.
You prefer a soft, plush feel.
You weigh more than 230 pounds; if you're sold on Casper, you may want to try the Casper hybrid instead.
Other mattresses from Casper
Editor's Note: The following mattresses have also been discontinued but can still be purchased through Amazon while supplies last.
The Casper Original is (as the name implies) the brand's OG mattress, but there are a few models to choose from in Casper's mattress catalog.
Casper Element: The Element mattress from Casper is the company's entry-level model. It offers Casper's signature AirScape foam, giving it a similar neutral and balanced feel. However, it's only two layers thick and more affordable for budget-friendly shoppers. Casper Element is currently unavailable on Casper's website, but you can purchase a queen-size model through Amazon for under $600.
Casper Nova: Most of Casper's mattresses have a balanced, medium feel that offers both pressure relief and support. The Casper Nova mattress is the brand's soft bed model, offering a plush and pressure-relieving feel for people who like a more cushiony profile. I see it being a great mattress for side sleepers, and thanks to its strong hybrid construction, it's great for all body types. With that being said, it's one of Casper's more expensive mattresses.
Casper Wave: The Casper Wave is the brand's premium mattress offering, and endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association because of its ergonomic design. It has two zoned support layers to provide targeted pressure relief and support where your body needs it most, a strong pocketed coil layer and it utilizes multiple different foam materials for a comfortable, yet supportive feel. Like the Casper Original, it's rated around a five out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it accommodating for all sleeping positions.
Casper recently announced two new mattress ranges, the Wave and Snow, and no longer produces the Nova and Wave, though they are still available at knock-down prices until all the stock is cleared. We'll update this page when we've tested the Wave and Snow.
How does the Casper compare to other mattresses?
Casper vs. Purple
In the match-up between the Casper and Purple mattresses, two of the industry's biggest names, there are several notable differences including feel and price. Casper has more of a traditional foam feel and it offers a zoned support feature, making it more supportive underneath the back and more pressure-relieving underneath the shoulders and hips.
The Purple mattress, on the other hand, is made with a special Hyper-Elastic Polymer material that the brand calls the Purple Grid. This Grid sits in the comfort layer of the mattress and it feels soft and supportive at the same time. It gives the mattress a weightless, floating feel and promotes maximum airflow. The Purple mattress is also more expensive than the Casper Original.
Nectar vs. Casper
When looking at the differences between Casper vs. Nectar, you see they have different feel and firmness profiles. The Nectar mattress is a dense memory foam bed and it's slow to respond to pressure. It takes a few seconds for your body to activate the foam, but once it warms under your body, it starts to morph and contour around your curves.
Casper, on the other hand, has more of a neutral-foam feel. It bounces back much quicker after pressure is released and is easier to switch positions on. The Nectar is also a tad firmer than the Casper Original, as it's rated around a six out of 10 on the firmness scale, and slightly more advantageous for back or stomach sleepers.
It's a great mattress for a lot of people, especially if you want a foam mattress with a neutral, responsive feel. It's accommodating for all sleeping positions under 230 pounds, and offers an ergonomic zoned support design to give you extra support and pressure relief where you need it most.
Your Casper mattress should last around seven years if you properly rotate it every six months, and routinely wash your bedding to avoid dirt and grime from seeping into your bed. Just because it comes out of a box, doesn't mean it's poor quality.
No. Some mattresses in the online industry are flippable like the Layla mattress, but Casper is not one of them. The bottom layer is dense and firm, and it's meant to provide a bulk of the bed's support. If you flipped it over, this slab of foam would not be a cozy comfort layer. You can, however, rotate the Casper mattress to ensure it wears evenly.
No, you do not need a box spring for your Casper mattress -- just a bed frame. The Casper mattress is compatible with most bed frames including slatted, flat foundations and adjustable bed frames.
You should give your Casper mattress a full day to fully inflate to its full capacity, but it'll be safe to sleep on right after you unbox it.