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Casper joined the mattress game in 2014 when it took the internet by storm doing the seemingly impossible: making buying a mattress cool. Claiming to be the millennial’s mattress, Casper opted to market their mattresses via celebrity endorsements and quirky brain teaser subway ads instead of TV commercials and jingles.

And it worked. A slew of viral unboxing videos and celeb social posts later, Casper quickly became a game-changer in the mattress industry.

But cool factor aside, how are the mattresses? In this article, we climb under the Casper covers, looking at each of the company’s mattresses and how the company compares to the competition.

Ready to call it a night already? Here are some quick pros and cons of the Casper line.

Pros

  • Mattress types offered. Casper sells both all-foam and hybrid mattresses.
  • Layers of goodness. Kinda like a cake, each Casper mattress has multiple layers bringing a different flavor: some regulate temp, some provide support.
  • They’re literally cool. Casper mattresses are made with perforated foam the company says allows for better airflow than traditional memory foam. Goodbye hot nights, hello cool comfort.
  • Zoned support. If you deal with pain or stiffness, Casper literally has your back. Foam layers with different ergonomic zones give your body more support where it needs it most.
  • Planet- and people-friendly. All the Casper foams are CertiPUR-US certified and the company has reduced its use of nonrenewable resources by making recycled polyester from water bottles.

Cons

  • What’s that smell? Foam mattresses like Casper have an odor caused by chemicals (usually flame retardants) releasing into the air after being trapped in the wrapping during transportation. It should disappear in a couple days, but some reviewers complain that it stuck around much longer.
  • Good sleep doesn’t come cheap. Casper only has one mattress that falls in the budget category — the rest of the line requires more coin. But financing options are available.

Pricing guide

Casper’s mattresses run from just under $600 to over $2,500 for a standard queen. Compared to your basic spring mattresses, this may seem nightmarish. But in the world of foam and hybrid mattresses, it’s not too shabby.

  • $ = under $600
  • $$ = $601–$1,500
  • $$$ = over $1,500
  • Price: $
  • Type: all-foam
  • Height: 10 inches
  • Firmness: medium firm
  • Good for: people on a budget

Construction: The Casper Element is a no-frills all-foam mattress with a sturdy foam base built to prevent sinkage and a layer of softer perforated foam. The tiny perforations in the foam are designed to let cool air in and warm air out, so you aren’t trapped in your own body heat all night.

Unlike other mattresses in the Casper line, the element doesn’t have a layer of zoned support, so it’s the same level of firmness throughout. This means the heavier parts of your body will sink lower into the foam — how low you go depends on your body weight.

What reviewers say: Reviewers praise the unboxing experience and agree setting up the mattress is simple and easy. But there’s little consensus on comfort, with some reviewers complaining the mattress is too soft and others saying it’s too firm.

That’s typical for mattresses, though — people with higher body weight will probably find this mattress softer than people with lower body weight.

  • Price: $$
  • Type: all-foam or hybrid
  • Height: 11 inches
  • Firmness: medium
  • Good for: combination sleepers

Construction: The Casper Original is the only mattress in the line that’s available in all-foam and hybrid. Like the Element, the top layer is perforated foam.

But unlike the Element, the second layer of foam has three ergonomic zones designed to keep your spine in alignment: a firmer center to help keep your hips and lower back lifted and softer at the top and bottom to allow your shoulders and legs to sink in and relax.

The base layer depends on the model you choose: the all-foam option has — you guessed it — a foam base, and the hybrid model has spring coils. Spring coils tend to provide better edge support (making getting in and out of bed easier for some people), allow for better airflow, and be a little more durable.

What reviewers say: Reviewers applaud the mattress for relieving all their aches and pains. They also agree this mattress is great for partner sleeping because it has great motion isolation, which means they’re no longer bouncing around every time their partner makes a move.

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 13 inches
  • Firmness: medium
  • Good for: people with back pain

Construction: The Casper Wave Hybrid uses not one but three layers of perforated foam, plus a gel layer to help prevent you from sweating while you sleep.

The Wave has the same ergonomic zoned support layer as the Original, but it’s reinforced further by a layer of gel pods under your waist and lower back to help keep your posture on point throughout the night. And it all sits on a spring base that provides both bounce and edge support.

What reviewers say: Many reviewers say they’re now getting the best sleep they’ve ever had after switching to the Wave Hybrid. Some customers complain of delayed shipping, but the majority seem to be thrilled with their Wave experience.

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 12 inches
  • Firmness: plush
  • Good for: side sleepers

Construction: The Casper Nova Hybrid is the plushest mattress in the Casper line. The top foam layer is perforated for improved airflow and made with an extra soft material designed to feel like a pillow.

The second layer is also perforated, and it has those three zones of ergonomic support to help keep your spine aligned. An additional layer gives even more support under your waist, lower back, and hips, and has a contoured cut design that lets air flow out the sides. Now that’s cool. 😎 ❄️

What reviewers say: While some reviewers claim the mattress isn’t much to write home about, the majority love the sleep they get on the Nova. The quilted, plush top fabric seems to be a hit, with many reviewers saying it’s like sleeping on a soft yet supportive cloud.

Here are some things to think about when shopping mattresses made by the friendly ghost:

How hot are you?

Some like it hot, but usually not when it comes to sleeping. Basically all Casper mattresses work well for hot sleepers because each model is designed with a cooling component.

But if you’re next-level hotness, you may want to spring for the Wave Hybrid for its three layers of perforated foam and extra layer of cooling gel. It’s also a hybrid mattress, which usually have better airflow than all-foam mattresses.

Who’s in bed with you?

Motion isolation is key for partnered sleeping, whether your partner is a human or a pet. If you don’t want someone else’s rolling around to disrupt your sleep, opt for the Element or all-foam Original. All-foam mattresses are known for having better motion isolation than their hybrid counterparts.

But if your biggest problem is your slumber mate constantly creeping onto your side of the bed and forcing you to the edge, you may want a hybrid mattress for that extra edge support. All-foam mattresses tend to feel less supportive on the sides, making you feel like you’re about to fall off.

Do you have aches and pains?

All the Casper models except the Element feature zoned ergonomic support to keep you from waking up stiff or in pain. But if you deal with an achy, breaky back on a regular basis, consider the Wave Hybrid or Nova Hybrid for their extra layer of support.

Casper seems to put their customers first and has many policies that demonstrate that:

  • 100-night sleep trial
  • free, no-contact delivery
  • free shipping in the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii) and most of Canada
  • free returns in the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii) and most of Canada
  • 10-year limited warranty

While the company receives a lot of praise and positive reviews, some reviewers complain about delivery delays, the return process, confusion over what products fall under the 100-night sleep trial, and customer support when dealing with those issues.

The company covers most of this information on the website, so be sure to do your research before you purchase.

So, how does Casper stack up to the competition? We put together this chart to make it easy to compare some of the popular mattress brands. Prices are for queen-size mattresses.

CasperTempur-PedicPurpleLeesaTuft & NeedleNectar
Sleep trial100 nights90 nights100 nights100 nights100 nights365 nights
Shippingfree shipping in the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii) and most of Canadafree shipping in the U.S. except remote locations, Alaska, Hawaiifree shipping in the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaiifree shipping in the U.S.free shipping in the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaiifree shipping in the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaii
Warranty10 years10 years10 years10 years10 yearsLifetime
Returnsfree returns in the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii) and most of Canadafull refund within trial period minus shipping chargesfull refund minus any interest accrued and shipping chargesfree returns in the U.S. except for Alaska and Hawaiifree returns in the U.S. except for Alaska and Hawaiifree returns in the U.S. except for Alaska and Hawaii
Deliveryno contactfree white glove delivery except in remote locations, Alaska, and Hawaiifree white glove delivery for the Purple Hybrid Premier model onlyfree, no contact; white glove available for additional feewhite glove available for additional feeno contact
Price$595– $2,695$1999–$4999$1149–$2299$1099–$2299$695–$1595$1198–$1898
Mattress typeall-foam and hybridall-foam and hybridall-foam and hybridall-foam and hybridall-foam and hybridall-foam
CertificationsCertiPUR-USCertiPUR-USCertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD GoldCertiPUR-US and certified B CorporationCertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold, and Intertek’s Clean Air CertificationCertiPUR-US
Financing0% APR for up to 24 months0% APR for up to 36 months0% APR for up to 48 months0% APR for up to 18 months0% APR for up to 12 months0% APR up to 24 months
Philanthropydonates sleep products through partners like the International Rescue Committee, Badass Brooklyn, and A Sense of Homedonated more than $100 million in mattresses to military personnel, first responders, and disaster relief effortsno info availabledonates 1 mattress for every 10 sold to a family in need, donates returned mattresses to a 501(c)(3) organization or charity partnerdonated more than $13 million in mattresses back to the communityno info available

Casper sells a solid bunch of mattresses featuring a variety of models with cool (figuratively and literally) layers of comfort and support. Our verdict: you should be able to find the mattress of your dreams in Casper’s collection.