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Tuft & Needle and Casper, two of the most popular online mattress brands, are among the most prominent disruptors of the traditional mattress industry. These companies have been at the forefront of the trend toward buying a mattress online instead of an in a brick-and-mortar store.

Both companies had humble beginnings starting with just one product: an affordable, all-foam mattress. As their sales and brand reputations took off, Tuft & Needle and Casper continued their product development to offer pillows, bedding, and bedroom furniture.

These two major players have also invested in designing new mattress models. In addition to the Original Tuft & Needle, the company now offers the all-foam Mint and their newer Hybrid. Casper has gone even further, launching the Casper Hybrid, the no-frills Element, and the luxury-focused Wave Hybrid and Nova Hybrid.

Given the strong online presence of Casper and Tuft & Needle, it’s not unusual for customers to find themselves deciding between these brands. However, as their product lines have expanded, it’s become harder for shoppers to know which is the best mattress for their bedroom.

Both options have pros and cons, and no one mattress is best for everyone. Instead, the top choice for you depends on your needs and preferences. The following sections cover the critical background that will allow you to be a savvy shopper and pick your winner in this heavyweight battle of Tuft & Needle versus Casper.

Quick Look

We’ve worked hard to show you which mattresses are the best fit for you. Check out our full mattress guides listed below!

Price Range (Queen)

$995 – $1,995

$695 – $2,895

Firmness Options

Medium (5), Medium Firm (6)

Medium (5), Medium Firm (6)

Standout Features
  • Proprietary Adaptive Foam comfort system
  • Blend of conforming and bounce
  • Coil-on-coil design (Hybrid)
  • Utilization of multiple materials to deliver pressure relief
  • Diverse product line
  • Above-average motion isolation for all models
Models
Sleep Trial & Warranty
  • 100 nights
  • 10-Year, Limited
  • 100 Nights (30-Night Requirement)
  • 10 Year, Limited
Customer Service
  • A+
  • A+
Sleep Foundation Exclusive Offer!

15% off mattresses

Shop Now

Up to 60% off

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Sizing Options

Some practical considerations are important when thinking about a new mattress. Among those are the dimensions of a mattress, including its weight, height, and size.

A heavy mattress can be a hassle to lift and carry. This factors into the decision-making of people who expect they will need to move multiple times during the useful life of the mattress.

Height is important for two reasons. Tall mattresses may require fitted sheets with extra-deep pockets to stay in place. In addition, the total height of the bed — the mattress plus the frame — can affect how easily you can get into or out of bed, which can be a meaningful issue for people with creaky joints.

Tuft & Needle

Casper

Height

9.5?

Size Options

Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Height

11″

Size Options

Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Height

12″

Size Options

Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Height

11″

Size Options

Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Height

12″

Size Options

Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Height

13″

Size Options

Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Height

10″

Size Options

Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Height

12″

Size Options

Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

For both brands, hybrids weigh more than all-foam options, which is normal given the higher weight of innerspring coils. All of the hybrids from these companies fall between 106 and 113 pounds in a queen size.

Size options for all models include all of the six standard mattress sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king.

Tuft & Needle Exclusive Offer!

Spring Refresh Sale: 20% off bundles and 15% off mattresses

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Casper Exclusive Offer!

Exclusive Offer! Casper is offering 25% off everything with Code: UPTONVIP for the month of October (Excludes Sale, Bundles, Element Pro)

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Construction and Materials Comparison

The way the layers are laid out and the type of materials used in each layer have a tremendous influence on what you can expect from any specific mattress.

The interior of a mattress is composed of two elements: the support core and comfort system. The support core is the bottom section that provides structural integrity for the mattress as a whole. It contributes to the feel and acts as a stable base for the comfort system.

The comfort system includes the top layer(s) of the mattress and has a huge effect on the bed’s characteristics. It can include multiple materials and layers. Foam, latex, micro-coils, and fabrics like cotton and wool are often utilized in these layers.

To truly compare the Tuft & Needle and Casper beds, it’s important to take a closer look at how they are constructed from the comfort system down through the support core.

Tuft & Needle

All of the Tuft & Needle mattresses have two common components. The cover, made with polyester and micro-polyamide, provides a surface for the Original, Mint, and Hybrid that is breathable and soft to the touch.

The company’s proprietary Adaptive Foam is a second component that is found in all of the Tuft & Needle mattresses. Adaptive Foam is a unique polyfoam formulation designed to offer a blend of traits normally found in memory foam and latex.

For pressure point relief, Adaptive Foam has mild conforming, allowing it to give extra cushioning to heavier parts of the body. At the same time, it has above-average responsiveness, making it easier to move on top of it. Unlike traditional memory foam, it doesn’t get softer as it heats up, and it is gel-infused to try to fight heat buildup.

Original Tuft & Needle

  • The Original Tuft & Needle mattress has one of the simplest designs that you can find:
  • 3 inches of Adaptive Foam
  • 7 inches of high-density polyfoam

While there’s nothing fancy about its construction, the Original provides plenty of support and comfort for a majority of sleepers, especially with its medium firm feel that has broad appeal.

Tuft & Needle Mint

To build on the success of the Original, Tuft & Needle launched the Mint, which adds just one layer to the design of its predecessor:

  • 3 inches of Adaptive Foam
  • 2 inches of Adaptive Foam
  • 7 inches of high-density polyfoam

Because its comfort system is two inches thicker, the Mint provides more reliable pressure relief and durability for people who weigh over 230 pounds. This extra-thick comfort system also further protects against sinking too deeply into the bed.

The cover of the Mint Mattress contains a antimicrobial protectant that is designed to prevent microbes – including harmful bacteria – from affecting the mattress’ lifespan. The top half of the cover can be zipped off and machine washed.

Tuft & Needle Hybrid

The Tuft & Needle Hybrid takes a different approach in its construction:

  • Adaptive Foam
  • Micro-coils
  • Transition polyfoam
  • Pocketed innerspring coils

The Hybrid provides a slightly softer feel, but it’s bouncier than the all-foam beds thanks to the dual layers of coils. The coils allow for plenty of ventilating airflow, helping the Hybrid stay cool through the night. The coil layers also increase the Hybrid’s edge support relative to the Original and Mint.

While Tuft & Needle describes the materials that go into their mattresses, they do not offer detailed specifications. This is particularly evident when reviewing the Hybrid because the thickness of each individual layer is not publicly listed. With fewer details about the construction, it is harder to thoroughly evaluate a mattress, but customer reviews can give meaningful insight about its performance.

Casper

Casper’s product line includes five different mattresses.

The Casper Original and Casper Hybrid

The Original Casper and its companion mattress, the Casper Hybrid have the same comfort system but have a different support core.

The layers of the Casper Original are organized as follows:

  • 1.5 inches of polyfoam
  • 2 inches of zoned memory foam
  • 7 inches of polyfoam

The Casper Hybrid has the following construction:

  • 1.5 inches of polyfoam
  • 2 inches of zoned memory foam
  • 6 inches of pocketed coils with a 7-inch foam encasement

By using two different types of foam in the comfort system, the Casper and Casper Hybrid generate significant contouring without losing responsiveness. As a result, these mattresses deliver above-average pressure relief and motion isolation. The Hybrid provides a higher degree of edge support and bounce.

The Casper Element

Casper’s entry-level product is the Casper Element. This is a no-frills mattress with the following design:

  • 3 inches of ventilated polyfoam
  • 6.5 inches of polyfoam

Like other Casper beds, the Element provides pressure relief through the foam in its comfort layer; however, it does not have the zoned foams found in other models. It was designed as a basic, entry-level mattress and provides solid value for people on a tight budget.

Casper Wave Hybrid

The Wave Hybrid is composed of these components:

  • 1 inch of polyfoam
  • 1.5 inches of ventilated latex
  • 1.5 inches of zoned memory foam
  • 1.5 inches of zoned polyfoam with built-in targeted gel pods
  • 6 inches of pocketed coils with a 7-inch foam encasement

The Wave Hybrid has a robust design that takes advantage of Casper’s innovative approach to product development. The newest feature is the layer with targeted gel pods. These pods give the mattress an enhanced ability to provide zoned support that matches up to fit any individual sleeper. The use of latex-like polyfoam, latex, and memory foam above the gel-pod layer contributes to a mixture of motion isolation, bounce, and pressure relief.

The Wave Hybrid resists significant heat buildup, helping the mattress sleep cool despite its notable contouring. It has a medium feel that works well for most people under 130 pounds as well as most side sleepers.

Casper Nova Hybrid

The Nova Hybrid includes the following components:

  • 1″ adaptive polyfoam
  • 1.5″ zoned polyfoam
  • 2″ contour-cut memory foam
  • 6″ pocketed coils in a 7″ polyfoam encasement

Casper’s softest mattress, the Nova Hybrid provides exceptional contouring for a hybrid model. A top layer of adaptive polyfoam hugs the body closely, while the second polyfoam layer is divided into three firmness zones to provide enhanced support where it’s needed and comfortable cradling for lighter areas of the body. Other benefits include consistent temperature neutrality thanks to steady internal airflow and above-average motion isolation for couples. We recommend the Nova Hybrid to anyone who prefers a plusher mattress feel.

In-Depth Ratings

From a distance, many mattresses seem similar. With a closer look, though, the differences in construction, features, and performance begin to stand out. In this section, we’ll review the key drivers of customer satisfaction with mattresses so that you can decide which are your biggest priorities and compare and contrast specific brands and models.

  • Durability: In supporting the body for hours every night, mattresses are subject to heavy use. Under this strain, a poorly constructed mattress will wear out prematurely, and that can reduce its pressure relief, bounce, and comfort. In addition, the longer a mattress lasts, the better your return on investment. Most mattresses will hold up for five years, but solidly built models can perform well for several years longer than that.
  • Motion Isolation: People who share a bed know all too well that one person’s tossing and turning can disturb their partner. Motion isolation helps prevent these disruptions by limiting how much movement is transferred from one part of the mattress to another. Memory foam is a top material for motion isolation, but many polyfoams and latex often perform well in this area, too.
  • Sex: If you want a mattress that works well for sexual activity, look for an option with plenty of responsiveness. When you move on a responsive mattress, it feels bouncy, making it easy to quickly move on the bed. Latex and hybrid mattresses usually have the most responsiveness. In contrast, plush mattresses that slowly rebound when pressure is removed can complicate sex by inhibiting movement.
  • Temperature Neutrality: Some mattresses can cause a person to overheat at night. Most often, this occurs because it hugs the body so closely that it cuts off cooling airflow. Some materials, including memory foam, are also more prone to heating up. Many mattress makers include features to keep heat retention to a minimum and to improve airflow around the body and through the mattress layers.
  • Pressure Relief: The support the body needs depends on its shape and where its weight is distributed. Areas that are heavier or at risk of more strain, like the lower back, abdomen, and shoulders, often need extra cushioning. A mattress should accommodate these pressure points to prevent aches and pains. Mattresses with at least moderate contouring tend to most effectively relieve pressure and improve spinal alignment.
  • Off-gassing: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) created during the manufacturing process can emanate from a mattress when it is first set up in your bedroom. This isn’t a health risk, but it can cause a noticeable odor. This smell, which normally is worse with foam mattresses, typically goes away within a few hours, but to people who are very sensitive to smell, it may persist and be quite bothersome.
  • Ease of Movement: Even people who like a plush feel normally don’t want to feel like they are sleeping in quicksand. Unfortunately, a mattress with too much sink and too little responsiveness can provoke this sensation. Ease of movement is especially important for combination sleepers who like to frequently change their sleeping posture over the course of the night.
  • Edge Support: The perimeter of the mattress is usually its weakest point, sometimes even to the extent that it feels like you’ll roll out of or be ejected from the bed. This issue is most severe on very soft mattresses and those with limited responsiveness. Some beds are reinforced near the edge to help resolve this issue, which is of greater importance for people who regularly sleep or sit near the edge of the bed.

The tables below provide an in-depth look at how we rate the performance of the Tuft & Needle and Casper mattresses in these categories.

Tuft & Needle

Tuft & Needle Original
T&N Original Mattress T&N Mint Mattress T&N Hybrid
Firmness Medium Firm (6) Medium Firm (6) Medium (5)
Durability 3 /5 4 /5 3 /5
Motion Isolation 3 /5 4 /5 3 /5
Sex 3 /5 3 /5 4 /5
Sleeps Cool 3 /5 4 /5 4 /5
Pressure Relief 4 /5 4 /5 3 /5
Off-Gassing 3 /5 3 /5 4 /5
Ease of Movement 4 /5 3 /5 4 /5
Edge Support 2 /5 3 /5 4 /5

Casper

Casper Original Mattress
Casper Original Mattress Casper Original Hybrid Casper Wave Hybrid Casper Element Casper Nova Hybrid
Firmness Medium (5) Medium (5) Medium (5) Medium Firm (6) Medium (5)
Durability 3 /5 3 /5 4 /5 2 /5 4 /5
Motion Isolation 4 /5 4 /5 4 /5 4 /5 4 /5
Sex 3 /5 3 /5 3 /5 3 /5 3 /5
Sleeps Cool 3 /5 4 /5 4 /5 3 /5 3 /5
Pressure Relief 4 /5 4 /5 4 /5 4 /5 4 /5
Off-Gassing 3 /5 3 /5 3 /5 2 /5 3 /5
Ease of Movement 3 /5 4 /5 4 /5 3 /5 4 /5
Edge Support 3 /5 3 /5 3 /5 3 /5 3 /5

In-Depth Pricing

Mattress prices can be all over the map. Promotions abound, which can add confusion for customers who may already be wondering why there is such a huge range of mattress prices.

The first thing to know is that shoppers very rarely pay the full retail price (MSRP); there is almost always some type of offer available to reduce the final bill.

The second thing to remember is that a higher price doesn’t guarantee a better mattress. While price and quality are often connected, it’s not a perfectly correlated relationship because various factors can influence the MSRP of any specific mattress model. Example of these factors include:

  • The total number of layers
  • The thickness of the layers
  • The material used in each layer
  • Whether the mattress has any certifications (such as for organic production)
  • The country where the mattress was manufactured
  • The inclusion of special features (for pressure relief, temperature regulation, or other performance elements)

The good news for shoppers is that intense competition in the mattress industry means that great values are available in almost every budget category.

This table shows the retail pricing of the Tuft & Needle and Casper mattresses in each of the standard sizes.

Tuft & Needle

Tuft & Needle Original
T&N Original Mattress T&N Mint Mattress T&N Hybrid
Twin $745 $1,095 $1,395
Twin XL $795 $1,195 $1,595
Full $895 $1,395 $1,795
Queen $995 $1,595 $1,995
King $1,395 $2,095 $2,595
California King $1,395 $2,095 $2,595

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

15% off mattresses

Casper

Casper Original Mattress
Casper Original Mattress Casper Original Hybrid Casper Wave Hybrid Casper Element Casper Nova Hybrid
Twin $895 $1,095 $1,795 $495
Twin XL $995 $1,195 $2,395 $545 $1,795
Full $1,195 $1,395 $2,745 $645 $2,145
Queen $1,295 $1,495 $2,895 $695 $2,295
King $1,695 $1,895 $3,495 $895 $2,895
California King $1,695 $1,895 $3,495 $895 $2,895

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

Up to 60% off

The offerings from Tuft & Needle and Casper demonstrate the broad range of prices within the online mattress industry.

The Casper Element and Tuft & Needle Original have nearly the same price point. Both offer a budget-friendly option with an all-foam, no-frills design.

With a step up in price, you find two more robust all-foam mattresses – the Casper Original and the Tuft & Needle Mint – with a similar price. These are both 12-inch models that are excellent choices for overall value. Compared to the budget options, they have a thicker comfort system that provides for a durable bed with more well-rounded performance.

While the all-foam options have a similar price, there is a greater disparity between the Casper Hybrid and the Tuft & Needle Hybrid. The Tuft & Needle Hybrid costs more, but it also includes a coil-on-coil design that provides extra appeal to people who like the feel of innerspring coils.

Only Casper has mattresses available in the luxury category. The Nova Hybrid and Wave Hybrid are more feature-rich and include innovative materials for support and temperature control. Not surprisingly, these mattresses come with markedly higher price tags than the budget and value options from these two companies.

Regardless of which option you are leaning toward, make sure to look for a promotion or discount because in most cases you can get a deal that allows you to pay at least 5% less than the sticker price.

Trials, Warranty and Delivery

Tuft & Needle

Sleep Trial & Returns

100 nights

Warranty

10-Year, Limited

Shipping

Free to contiguous U.S.

Casper

Sleep Trial & Returns

100 Nights (30-Night Requirement)

Warranty

10 Year, Limited

Shipping

Free to Contiguous U.S. and Canadian Provinces

A huge part of the success of brands like Casper and Tuft & Needle has come from their ability to make online mattress shopping convenient for customers. Achieving this has required careful attention to the logistics of shipping, returns, and warranties.

If this is your first time buying a mattress online, the following sections explain these practicalities and what to expect from these two powerhouse brands.

Shipping

When ordering a mattress online, delivery is handled in one of two ways: mattress-in-a-box shipping or White Glove delivery.

Mattress-in-a-Box Shipping

Mattress-in-a-box shipping has been critical to the growth of the online mattress industry. It involves compressing the mattress, encasing it in plastic, and sending it via FedEx or UPS ground services. The box is delivered to your door, and once you bring it to your bedroom and remove the packaging, the mattress decompresses to regain its complete size.

This is the standard shipping method for online mattresses and is almost always offered for free. The package normally arrives within a few business days after an order is placed. Though it is convenient, shoppers should be aware that it usually requires two people to move the box and set up the mattress.

Tuft & Needle offers free mattress-in-a-box shipping on all of its mattresses. Expedited mattress-in-a-box shipping is available for an additional charge.

Casper provides free standard shipping for the Casper Original, Hybrid, and Element mattresses. Expedited shipping, including same-day delivery, is offered in some locations for a fee. The Wave Hybrid comes with free White Glove delivery.

White Glove Delivery

White Glove delivery includes mattress installation. A team brings the mattress to your home and sets it up in your bedroom. When they are finished, the service usually includes removal of your old mattress as well.

Casper provides free White Glove delivery for Wave Hybrid mattresses in a king and California king size. This service is available for an added fee for Wave Hybrid models in different sizes, as well as other Casper mattresses.

Tuft & Needle also offers White Glove delivery services for an added charge.

Shipping Outside the Contiguous United States

Shipping policies are generally different for Alaska, Hawaii, or other locations outside the 48 contiguous states. Delivery may not be available, and options, including White Glove delivery, may be limited. Extra costs frequently apply.

Both Casper and Tuft & Needle offer ground shipping but not White Glove delivery to Alaska, Hawaii, and some international locations. An extra charge is assessed at checkout and can vary depending on the shipping address.

Returns

Online mattress companies generally offer a much more customer-friendly return policy than brick-and-mortar stores. Often referred to as a sleep trial, these return policies allow you to use the mattress for a period of time with the ability to get a refund if you aren’t satisfied.

Most customers find that a sleep trial is far more meaningful in evaluating a mattress than going to a showroom and spending just a few minutes on a bed. Online companies tend to work hard to make the return process simple and straightforward.

Casper and Tuft & Needle both have hassle-free return policies. They offer a sleep trial of 100 nights, and there is no minimum number of nights that you must keep the mattress. If you decide to make a return, these companies work with you to coordinate pickup or donation of the mattress, and there is no return shipping or restocking fee.

Warranties

Mattresses almost always come with a warranty included in the purchase price. A warranty provides coverage of defects in materials and craftsmanship.

Mattress warranties virtually never cover standard wear-and-tear or accidental damage. Instead, they protect against more extreme or abnormal breakdown of the product. In addition, the warranty requires proper care including only using the mattress on certain types of bed frames.

If a defect arises, a warranty will stipulate a remedy. Usually, that means that the company can choose to repair or replace a defective mattress. A prorated warranty requires the customer to pay some of the repair or replacement costs, and the customer’s share goes up based on how long they’ve had the bed. A non-prorated warranty maintains the same coverage over the full warranty term.

Tuft & Needle and Casper both include a customer-friendly warranty that is non-prorated and lasts for 10 years, effectively protecting customers in the rare situation in which a mattress defect occurs.

Still have questions?

Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] or call us at (877) 672-8966 with your questions and we'll help you find exactly what you're looking for.

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