The Casper Mattress

Casper Original Mattress Review: Updated for 2023

Casper Mattress Review
4.5

Summary

The original one-size-fits-all memory foam mattress – recently updated with a variable zone support layer to provide better spine alignment.

Great Choice for: memory foam buyers looking for a simple, inexpensive medium-firm mattress.

Avoid if: you don't like all-synthetic foam or want a choice in comfort level.

Price: $805.50 – $1,525.50 (w/ SleepDelivered $100 discount)

 

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Casper's Original mattress is as good as most premium store-bought foam mattresses but costs far less.

The Casper mattress excels at comfort, support, and temperature control and will satisfy the vast majority of people. And everyone who buys one will save hundreds vs. a comparable quality mattress bought from a store.

It performs slightly lower in some areas that may matter to you, however, including motion transfer and edge support.

Casper attracted a lot of attention and sales a few years ago when they entered the ancient mattress market with an aggressively low priced, really simple product sold directly to the consumer with a no-risk pitch.

Sales took off.

We bit, too. Casper was the first online mattress my husband and I bought, back when they were the only pure online manufacturer we knew.

Times have changed since then, of course. And so has Casper's original product. Today, Casper offers two different versions – the original foam mattress that we review here plus a hybrid upgrade.

So how does Casper's Original “best-fit” all-foam mattress compare today against newer competitors like Leesa, Tuft and Needle, and Loom and Leaf?

Let's find out!


What's In This Mattress Review

In this mattress review, we'll take a deep look at the newly-updated Casper Original foam mattress and see how it stacks up against its main competitors such as Leesa, Tuft and Needle, Bear, and Helix.

This is a 10-minute “deep dive” review, so we added a table of contents (expandable “Contents” box) to make navigating the sections easier.

To return to the table of contents, click ↑ Table of Contents.


Summary

Casper Original Mattress

The original Casper mattress has always excelled at comfort, support, and temperature control and will satisfy the vast majority of people. And everyone who buys one will save hundreds vs. a comparable quality mattress bought from a store.

Recently, Casper added better support for your spine to the Original mattress in the form of a zoned foam layer with different density zones that target specific areas of your body (a soft zone to cradle your shoulders and a firmer zone to align your spine).

This had improved support for side sleepers like me, one of the knocks I gave the Casper when we first reviewed it over a year ago.

That said, the Casper Original still performs slightly lower than others in areas that may matter you, including responsiveness and edge support.

If you need a mattress with better edge support and that's bouncier, upgrade to the new Casper Original Hybrid mattress (read our in-depth Casper Original Hybrid review).

Choice of firmness is another area of compromise when buying a Casper – they only sell medium-firm.

But simplicity has its charms. Because there is only one firmness, you don't have to worry about configuring your order. You just choose the size, place the order, and set it up when it arrives.

The one-size-fits-all design is a downside if you don't end up liking the sleeping experience, but Casper eliminates your financial risk with their 100-day, no questions return policy.

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About Casper

Casper mattress

Even though it's a household name and nearing an IPO, Casper is still a relatively young company. They've only been in business since 2014.

While this is not long enough to judge the durability of their product, Casper's popularity and a long list of very happy customers (see reviews) are good indicators.

Today, Casper competes on price and comfort mostly with Leesa, Tuft and Needle, and Saatva.

One common thing about all of these companies is that they have reduced mattress costs and prices dramatically by cutting out the middleman.

If you think about all the costs, a retailer incurs by moving the product from the manufacturer to the store (transport, storage, logistics, handling, etc.). The typical 30-100% markup local furniture stores add to the price, you can see why buying directly from Casper would save you $1,000 or more – without sacrificing quality.

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Social Impact

Casper original mattress reviews

Casper takes great steps to ensure that its mattresses are safe for the environment and protect the health of their customers.

All foams used in the Casper original are Certi-Pur certified, meaning that they lack any components harmful to health and the environment. This means no ozone depleters, no PBDE flame retardants, no heavy metals, and no phthalates.

Also, the Casper Original mattress uses an eco-friendly cover that is partly made from recycled bottles. According to Casper, each mattress contains up to 57 recycled bottles.

Casper also adheres to Consumer Product Safety Commission rules, guaranteeing that it has very low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Finally, Casper helps less-fortunate individuals by donating all returned and damaged mattresses to charitable organizations.

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Price

 

Among comparable mattresses, the Casper Original all-foam mattress remains one of the lowest-priced high-quality foam mattresses on the market.

Here is the full price list for Casper mattresses after applying our $100-off coupon code, SLEEPDELIVERED:

Twin size  $805.50
Twin XL  $895.50
Full size  $1,075.50
Queen size  $1,165.50
King size  $1,525.50
California King  $1,525.50

In collaboration with Affirm, Casper offers customers a 0% financing option for those who prefer to pay overtime (pending credit approval). With this program, you'll make monthly payments for six months at 0% interest.

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Ordering Online

Casper original purchase process

The best way to buy a Casper mattress is on their website, https://casper.com/.

Selling exclusively online helps Casper provide and maintain a great customer experience that is characterized by convenience, efficient shopping, and low costs.

Like many other mattress-in-a-box brands, Casper only offers one level of firmness, so there's no choice to worry about there.

Through extensive research and testing, they have established one type of mattress that suits most people.

The first choice you have to make is the size of the mattress:

Casper mattress size options

List prices (before discounts) range from $595 to $1,195, which makes the Casper Original one of the most budget-friendly mattresses you can buy online at this level of quality.

You can also opt to upgrade to Hybrid construction, which costs slightly more than the all-foam mattress.  The hybrid version includes a base layer of wrapped innerspring coils plus a reinforced edge.

That said, in our opinion, there are many excellent hybrid mattresses to choose from in that price range (click here to see our top hybrid mattress choices).

Casper also offers an excellent 0% financing plan if you'd prefer to spread your payments out.

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Shipping

Shipping is free. Casper ships via UPS in the United States and Canada. However, there are shipping fees for deliveries to Alaska, Hawaii, and a few areas in Canada.

For those in the US, UPS Ground will deliver your mattress in 2-5 business days.

In certain areas of New York, you can get your mattress delivered within a one-hour window of your choosing.

For those in Canada, your mattress will be delivered via UPS Air in 2 business days plus an extra day for customs.

You can opt to have the mattress left outside your door or be notified when a delivery is being made.

Additionally, you can choose a specific delivery date during the checkout process.

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Delivery & Unboxing

Casper delivery

After you place your order, the mattress should be delivered on your doorstep within 2 to 5 days – or for some New York residents, within an hour.

Casper makes deliveries free of charge to the United States and Canada (except Alaska, Hawaii and some parts of Canada).

The mattress is delivered compressed in a box. You have to do the unboxing and setup yourself.

Please note that there are no charges involve

ed for deliveries or returns.

Additionally, Casper does not make deliveries during the weekend. So make sure to make the necessary arrangements during weekdays.

Once you get the Casper mattress out of the box and its wrapper, it takes less than three minutes to expand to its normal size.

White glove delivery is also available through third-party partners – check the Casper website for more details and pricing.

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Styling

Casper mattress styling

Nothing too fancy here.

Once you get past the stylish bag containing a welcome message and opening tool, the first thing you will notice is the removable, breathable cover.

The cover is a minimalistic design, with white on top and grey on the sides and bottom. This creates a simple décor style that fits well in almost any bedroom.

The grooves and patterns on the cover look nice, too.

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Technology

Casper mattress benefits

Nine months of extensive research and repeated testing were required to develop the Casper mattress.

According to the company, they tested over 200 formulations of foam, had 108 prototypes developed and tested, and spent a total of 3,240 hours testing and retesting materials, designs, and prototypes.

The resulting product is both innovative and excellent in its performance.

Most notably, the company has managed to combine the best properties of latex foam with those of memory foam in a way that results in ultimate comfort, pleasure, and support. Not many mattresses have successfully combined two completely different types of foam with such a great result.

The way Casper's foam layers are arranged ensures that you get the best comfort, pressure relief, body contouring, temperature control, support, and durability.

Specifically, the top Airscape foam layer is designed to provide breathability and plush comfort while the mid memory foam layer is for body support and contouring.

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Casper Original Mattress Construction

Casper uses three layers of foam with a special zoned support feature for correct spinal alignment and comfort – to create a mattress that customers have come to fall in love with.

The types of foam used and their placement are the factors that define a mattress' firmness, motion transfer, edge support, temperature control, and overall sleep quality.

Top Layer: Breathable Airscape Foam

Casper

The topmost layer is 1.5-inches of breathable open-cell foam. Casper calls it Airscape foam. It performs four main functions:

  • keep the mattress cool
  • provide comfort (that plush yet firm feeling)
  • provide full-body support and
  • create a gentle bounce.

One reason Casper put this foam on top of their memory foam and not the other way around is that many people complain about memory foam conforming to their bodies, making it harder to shift positions during the night – which can interrupt sleep.

It also makes for a cooler mattress. Memory foam retains more heat, especially when it is in close contact with your body. Putting it in the second layer keeps the mattress from getting too warm.

Second Layer:  Zoned Memory Foam

Casper zoned support

Instead of the usual uniform density slab of foam, the second 2″ layer has zones of variable density.

The upper part under the shoulders is softer to provide targeted pressure relief. The middle area under your lower back is firmer to keep your spine aligned and provide lumbar support. The lower part of the mattress is softer to provide additional body hug for your lower body.

The zoned support design greatly improves comfort and sleeping experience, especially for side sleepers like me.

Foundation Layer: Polyurethane Foam

Casper durable base

Beneath the memory foam is a 7-inch layer of foundational polyurethane foam for added support and durability.

The hybrid version of the Casper Original mattress contains a pocket coil base instead of poly foam. It makes the mattress bouncier, improves cooling, and provides better compression support for heavier sleepers. You can see why the hybrid costs more.

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Cover

Casper original mattress cover

The Casper removable mattress cover is the model of simplicity. It is white on top and ash grey on all other parts. A large ‘Original' label adorns one side of the mattress.

The cover is removable using a zipper. But do not machine-wash it as it can shrink.

Instead, the spot cleans it with mild detergent. Also, do not put it in the dryer as it can cause shrinking. You should air-dry it.

The cover is made from a blend of eco-friendly textiles, including recycled bottles.

One tip: be careful when moving the mattress, as the porous design of the cover makes it easy to get caught on something. You don't want an ugly tear on your beautiful mattress on the first day!

Another important thing to note is that Casper does not provide choice in cover material or designs. So hopefully, you'll like what you get.

Overall, the cover's look and feel create the impression of a quality product that is made with obsessive attention to detail. It speaks to the great sleeping experience you will find, once under the cover.

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Smell/Off-Gassing

mattress off-gassing

The Casper mattress is delivered tightly compressed, in a box.

As with other compressed mattresses, you can expect a little bit of off-gassing after you remove it from the box. This is completely harmless. It's kinda like a new car smell.

Unlike cheaper alternatives, Casper uses only water-based solvents and adhesives and avoids solvent-based adhesives that emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds like acetones and ketones) into your home.

The only complaints I've heard are from people who have sensitive noses, which doesn't include me.

The off-gassing begins when you unbox the mattress; for most people, it lasts a few minutes to maybe day.

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Sleeping Experience

casper mattress review - sleeping experience

The sleeping experience is 99 percent of a mattress.

If it's not great or at least close to perfect, the whole mattress is a waste of money.

This is why we get so anxious shopping for these things – especially online!

Well, don't worry: sleeping on the Casper mattress is close to perfect, in my opinion.

Other Casper mattress reviews generally agree that the Casper sleeping experience is superb, although not the absolute best in the market.

But we like to break things down a bit more scientifically, so in the next three sections, we are going to look at the four main factors that determine how good the mattress is at creating a “great sleeping experience”, which include:

  1. firmness
  2. sinkage
  3. motion transfer and
  4. temperature control.

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Firmness / Comfort Level

Casper original mattress firmness

As discussed, there is only one firmness level available.

According to the company, this was decided after extensive research and testing showed the majority of customers prefer that level of firmness.

I would characterize the Casper as medium-firm, at 6/10 on our firmness scale with one being very soft and ten very firm.

For many customers, the mattress leans a bit to the firm side but still retains a comfy, plush feeling at the top. It's slightly firmer than the Leesa, in case you're comparing the two.

So if you are a side sleeper that loves to sink in and feel hugged by your mattress, then the Casper may not be the right choice for you. That said, their latest innovation – adding a zoned support foam layer – has likely resolved that issue.

But if you love a moderately soft mattress with firm support all around, then the Casper will make you happy.

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Sinkage

Casper original mattress sinkage

Sinkage refers to how deeply a mattress sinks when weight is bearing down on it.

If a mattress exhibits too much sinkage, then it produces the feeling of being stuck in a swamp. In addition to making it hard to get out of bed, sleeping like this can be bad for your health because it creates uneven pressure points, causing you to wake up with aches in certain areas of your body.

On the other hand, if there is zero sinkage, then the mattress is too hard to be comfortable and will also create pain points.

When lying on the Casper mattress, the average person will experience a sinkage of 1 to 1.5 inches, similar to many other mattresses. This is just enough to create a comfortable hug around your body contours, but not too much to cause that swampy feeling.

Casper has more pronounced sinkage at the edges, though, at around 2 to 2.5 inches. So if you tend to sleep on the edge, you may find it easier to fall out of bed.

Sinkage also depends on your weight. Casper Original was designed for people weighing up to 450 pounds, with the best performance achieved for people less than 250 pounds each.

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Motion Transfer

motion transfer

Another important aspect is motion transfer. This refers to how easily the mattress transfers a motion on one side of the mattress to the other side.

Motion transfer is important for couples and singles with larger animals or children that sleep with them.

Minimizing motion transfer is preferable to ensure that one moving partner does not disturb the other.

Thanks to its all-foam construction, the Casper Original mattress has very little motion transfer. No matter how fitfully your partner sleeps, you'll sleep like a baby.

The minimal motion transfer is also helpful if your partner wakes up a lot at night or gets up before you.

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Hot/Cold Issues

Casper cooling mattress

The Casper mattress performs well when it comes to staying cool.

The placement of the breathable open-cell foam layer on top makes the difference. The temperature is even all over the mattress, eliminating any need for a pad.

You won't experience hot or cold spots at night.

Due to the kind of foam used, the mattress performed equally well in all four seasons we owned it.

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Warranty

Casper hybrid warranty

Casper offers a 10-year limited warranty.

Like most other mattresses, the warranty covers structural damage and workmanship. Issues to do with comfort or damage from soiling, burns, or improper placement of the mattress are not covered, and some of them can void the warranty.

It is important to note that this warranty only extends to the original purchaser of a Casper mattress.

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Return Policy

Casper 100 night trial

Casper provides one of the friendliest return policies in the mattress industry.

First off, you can sleep on the mattress up to 100 nights before deciding to keep it. This is enough time for anyone to decide whether they have bought the right mattress.

By offering 100-day risk-free returns, Casper makes it easy to buy a mattress online, sight unseen.

If you aren't pleased with your mattress during the trial period for any reason, you may return the mattress at zero expense to you. The company will send someone to pick it up and donate it to a charity or send it to a recycling facility.

Casper recommends sleeping on the mattress for at least 30 nights before you initiate a return. This is to allow your body time to adjust to the new mattress. It takes roughly 2-4 weeks to get used to a new mattress.

At the end of the break-in period, you'll have a better idea of whether you want to keep the mattress.

If you choose to get another Casper mattress, please note that the second mattress will not come with a 100-night trial period.

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Pros and Cons

casper original mattress

Pros

  • Very budget-friendly.
  • Performs well in comfort, temperature control, and side-sleeper support.
  • Perfect for those who love medium-firm mattresses.
  • Hassle-free ordering, shipping, and returns.
  • A long no-risk trial period.
  • Low VOC emissions.

Cons

  • A short period of off-gassing (new mattress smell).
  • Lack of firm support at the edges.
  • Only one firmness level available.

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This Mattress is Perfect For You If…

Casper mattress styling

  • You love a medium-firm mattress that balances between support and comfort and has excellent temperature control.
  • You are a back- or a stomach-sleeper: you'll probably feel that the Casper mattress is perfect.
  • Side sleepers will also like the way the updated mattress hugs their contours and aligns their spine.

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Conclusion

The Casper Mattress

The updated Casper Original mattress is a great choice for anyone who doesn't have truly unique needs and wants to save a ton of money.

But to be honest, it is not the highest-end mattress-in-a-box you can buy. There are better and more configurable alternatives like the Alexander from Nest Bedding and Loom and Leaf. But be prepared to pay more.

Casper started the “war on the middleman”, and it remains the clear leader for one simple reason:  the Casper is an excellent mattress for the vast majority of people, and it's one of the least expensive memory foam mattresses in the market today.

So if you aren't too particular about the firmness and lack of bounciness, then you can't go wrong, saving a few bucks with Casper.

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Where to Buy


How the Casper Mattress Compares

See how the Casper mattress compares to other top online mattresses in the following in-depth matchups.


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