Do You Hate The Mattress In A Box Trend? How To Get It Delivered The Old Way

These days, you can get just about anything in the mail — fresh food, houseplants, even prescription medications. Not to mention a bed in a box. It's wild! But the truth is, not everyone loves the idea of their mattress being folded and compressed into a box, as these products often come with a few drawbacks. For instance, some are made with lower-density foams so they can fit into the box and ship easily without professional handling. Even the compression process can affect the foam's structure, leading to issues with both support and comfort. Plus, there's the challenge of opening the vacuum-sealed mattress — if you're not careful, it can knock you off your feet if you open it wrong.

The good news is that you don't have to follow the trend and settle for a mattress in a box. You can still get your mattress delivered the old-fashioned way, by a few delivery pros carrying your fully expanded, plush mattress right to your bed frame. To get your mattress delivered the traditional way (and by that, we mean not in a box), look for a mattress company that offers in-home setup, which is usually mentioned on its website. Some mattress stores include this service for free when your spending reaches a certain threshold, while others offer it for an additional fee, often with the add-on of an old mattress haul-away so you don't have to deal with disposal.

To buy a mattress that's not sold in a box, check the company's delivery information before ordering to see exactly how it's shipped. If the delivery details mention white-glove delivery or offer scheduled setup windows, that's a good sign the mattress will arrive as intended, flat and unfolded. Phrases like "in-home setup" or "full delivery service" also usually indicate the mattress won't be shipped in a box. But watch out for words like "vacuum-sealed," "rolled," or "compressed" as it usually means it will arrive boxed up. If it's being delivered by a major carrier like UPS or FedEx, there's a good chance it will come in a box, as their drivers don't typically handle assembly or in-home setup.

Mattress Warehouse, for instance, mentions on its website that it offers free white-glove delivery on orders over $999. That includes in-home setup, base adjustment, and even old mattress removal and recycling (for an extra $25 per piece, unless it's stained). It also offers limited delivery windows for your convenience, another key indicator that the mattress will be delivered the traditional way.

Mattress Firm is another well-known retailer that includes terms like "mattress setup and haul away" on its website. However, you'll incur a $99.99 fee for setup and old mattress removal (up to three flights of stairs) or $149.99 if you want the base adjusted as well, with delivery available for up to five flights of stairs. If you want to find out if a store or online retailer offers traditional delivery, simply check the shipping policy before checking out or give the store a ring to confirm how it'll be delivered.