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Overall Rating
7.7
Price Range:
$595 – $1,395
Mattress Type: Foam
Firmness Options: Medium Firm (6)
Pros & Cons:
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Strong support for side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, as well as back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds
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Good motion isolation for people who share a bed
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More accessible price-point for budget-minded shoppers
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Most back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds won’t receive enough support from this mattress
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Limited edge support means sinkage is likely around the perimeter
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Some testers reported feeling “stuck” when moving across the mattress
In business since 2014, Casper is one of the most well-established mattress-in-a-box brands. The company offers an array of all-foam and hybrid mattresses, ranging from low-priced options to luxury models.
One of the most recent additions to Casper’s lineup is known simply as The Casper Mattress. This medium firm (6) foam model is a successor to the budget-friendly Casper Element, which was retired in early 2023.
In addition to The Casper Mattress, Casper sells several other models. The flagship Original Mattress and Original Hybrid are the brand’s other competitively priced options, the Nova Hybrid and Wave Hybrid are luxury mattresses, and the Snow and Wave Hybrid Snow are made with cooling features. Shoppers can also purchase pillows, sheets, mattress toppers, and other sleep accessories from Casper.
We’ll cover The Casper Mattress’ construction, available sizes, pricing, and company policies for shipping and returns. We’ll also discuss performance ratings and make recommendations for sleepers of different body types and sleep position preferences based on our in-house testing.
Side Sleepers
Most of our side sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds found The Casper Mattress too firm and didn’t receive enough cushioning for their shoulders, lower back, or hips. Those weighing 130 to 230 pounds, on the other hand, felt very comfortable, while side sleepers over 230 pounds were also impressed — though some noted a lack of support.
Many side sleepers enjoy all-foam mattresses for their adaptive qualities. Foam layers tend to contour closely and evenly cushion the shoulders and hips, two areas prone to pressure buildup when you sleep on your side. Since The Casper is medium firm (6), it may not conform closely enough for some side sleepers or provide enough reinforcement for others, but the mattress should hit the sweet spot for anyone seeking a balance of cushioning and support.
Back Sleepers
Among our back sleepers, the highest marks came from testers weighing less than 230 pounds. Those under 130 pounds were particularly impressed. The topmost foam layers are both firm and adaptive, and this should ensure an even surface and minimal sinkage for back sleeping.
However, our back sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds noticed significant compression around the midsection, and some complained of pressure buildup in the shoulders and lower back.
Back sleepers often benefit from mattresses with a good balance of contouring and support. Cushioning for the body helps ensure comfortable sleep, while solid reinforcement helps maintain a flat, even surface and reduces the potential for pain the next day. Most people who favor this position prefer mattresses that fall between a 5 and 7 on our 10-point firmness scale.
Stomach Sleepers
Our stomach sleepers under 130 pounds found The Casper comfortable and sufficiently supportive, while those between 130 and 230 pounds were somewhat impressed with the mattress but noted some shortcomings. Due to the lower profile and firmer feel, our stomach sleepers reacted more favorably to The Casper compared with softer, more adaptive all-foam models we’ve tested. That said, most stomach sleepers over 230 pounds felt they sank too deeply.
Stomach sleeping is associated with more aches and pains than side or back sleeping, so determining mattress comfort for this position can be a tricky undertaking. Lying face down pulls all of your weight into your mattress, and this may lead to achiness or soreness in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. We’ve found that firmer mattresses with minimal padding tend to be most comfortable for stomach sleeping.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
As with many all-foam models we’ve tested, The Casper provides very good motion isolation. The foam layers work together to absorb movement and prevent motion transfer across the surface. This helps ensure that sleep partners won’t wake each other up when changing positions or getting out of bed during the night.
Our testers have noticed that mattresses made with more responsive materials like latex and steel coils tend to generate more motion transfer. To evaluate mattresses for motion isolation, two testers lie side by side and feel for movement. We also use weights and kettlebells to determine how motion is dispersed across the surface.
Our hands-on tests show that pressure relief is one of The Casper’s major strengths. Three layers of foam contour moderately to evenly distribute weight, promote spinal alignment, and reduce pressure points in areas like the shoulders and hips. This all-foam composition, coupled with a medium firm design, makes The Casper feel very balanced.
We use body-mapping sensors to pinpoint areas of pressure buildup for our testers, who also provide anecdotal feedback about their experience with each mattress.
All-foam models with medium or medium firm designs tend to provide above-average pressure relief, whereas many firmer innersprings and hybrids don’t provide enough cushioning to minimize pressure.
Our tests showed that The Casper’s foam layers absorb some heat, and the mattress may feel somewhat warm on the surface — especially if you weigh more than 230 pounds and sink deeply into the mattress. That said, the topmost layer of AirScape polyfoam has an open-cell composition and sleeps cooler than the foams used in many competing mattresses.
To determine how warm or cool a mattress sleeps, we use a mix of thermal body mapping, temperature-controlled water bottles, and anecdotal feedback from our testing team.
All-foam mattresses usually retain more heat than other mattress types, but models like The Casper sleep relatively cool due to breathable materials directly beneath the surface.
The Casper is medium firm and fairly supportive for an all-foam model, but we still noticed some sinkage along the perimeter when testing the mattress for edge support. Although the compression wasn’t excessive, you may not feel secure when sleeping along the mattress’ edges or getting in and out of bed.
Our edge support evaluations involve “sit tests,” during which each team member sits along the mattress perimeter and gauges whether the sinkage is minor, excessive, or somewhere in between. We also measure precisely how much compression occurs beneath different amounts of weight.
In our testing experience, most all-foam mattresses don’t provide the same level of edge support as models with coils or latex base layers.
The Casper’s medium firm feel prevents excessive sinkage when you move across the surface, so most people won’t feel trapped when changing sleep positions or getting in and out of bed. However, the adaptive foam layers respond slowly to movement and aren’t particularly bouncy, so you’ll have a harder time moving on this mattress compared to most all-latex, innerspring, or hybrid models.
Ease of movement might seem like an afterthought compared to other mattress qualities, but struggling to change positions night after night can be a hassle — especially if you’re a combination sleeper.
While all-foam beds tend to underperform in this category compared with other mattress types, The Casper is fairly firm and promotes movement better than many of its foam competitors.
After unboxing The Casper, we detected a faint yet noticeable chemical smell. The odor began to fade within a couple of hours, and it had completely dissipated after two days.
Off-gassing is common to mattresses with foam layers because polyurethane emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after being unboxed. We always recommend airing out new mattresses in well-ventilated rooms, particularly if you’re sensitive to smells.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
Up to 60% off
The Casper is a foam mattress consisting of three individual layers. AirScape polyfoam comprises the topmost layer. This proprietary material is engineered with perforations intended to promote airflow, which helps it resist heat buildup and sleep cooler than traditional foam. A memory foam transitional layer adds cushioning while forming a buffer between your body and the support core.
The support core contains high-density polyfoam, which stabilizes the mattress. A knit cover encases the foam layers. This cover incorporates recycled polyester, upcycled cotton, rayon, and Lycra spandex, so the fabric is soft, breathable, and stretchy.
In all, The Casper measures 10 inches thick. We’ve rated it as medium firm, or a 6 on our 10-point firmness scale.
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Firmness
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Medium Firm – 6
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Mattress Type
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Foam
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Construction
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Cover Material:
Polyester, Cotton, Rayon, Lycra
Comfort Layer:
AirScape Polyfoam
Memory Foam
Support Core:
Polyfoam
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Mattress Prices and Sizing
The Casper is among the company’s most affordable mattresses, carrying a sticker price that’s considered average for an all-foam model. Other budget-friendly Casper models include the all-foam Original and the Original Hybrid. Other models, such as the Nova Hybrid and the Wave Hybrid Snow, are high-end and fairly expensive.
You can choose from six standard sizes for The Casper Mattress. Additional sizes, such as split king, are not available at this time.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
Up to 60% off
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability The Casper Mattress is available for purchase on Casper’s official website. You can also buy this mattress through Casper’s Amazon.com page, or in select brick-and-mortar stores where Casper products are sold.
Shipping Standard ground shipping via UPS is free of charge for shoppers in the contiguous U.S. and provincial Canada. Those residing in Alaska, Hawaii, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Yukon pay an additional fee for delivery.
Additional Services White Glove delivery is available for an additional fee in the contiguous U.S. and select Canadian cities. This service includes full mattress assembly in your bedroom and removal of your old mattress
Sleep Trial Casper’s sleep trial runs for 100 nights. You must test The Casper for at least 30 nights before initiating a return. Return shipping is free of charge.
Warranty The Casper’s warranty covers material and structural defects for up to 10 years after the point of purchase. These defects include indentations greater than 1 inch, physical flaws that cause the foam layers to split or crack prematurely, and defective zippers. Other defects are considered either normal wear and tear or the fault of the owner, and are not covered under this warranty.
Since the warranty is entirely non-prorated, Casper covers the cost of repairing or replacing your mattress if it’s deemed defective during the first 10 years of ownership.
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.
Written By
Brad Nehring,
Senior Product Analyst
Brad is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest who holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Western Washington University. As someone who has lived with sleep problems throughout his adult life, Brad is passionate about helping others get the rest they need. He’s professionally tested and reviewed sleep products for more than five years.
Learn more about our Editorial Team
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