As you’ll see when you check out our mattress guide, choosing the right box spring is just as important as choosing a mattress. Box springs and mattresses go hand in hand to create a bedding setup that’s right for you. The primary functions of a box spring are to raise the mattress, allow for proper ventilation of the bedding, and provide the essential support needed for your comfort so that every night’s sleep is pleasant and restful.
We’ll therefore walk you through the criteria to consider when finding the best possible match between a mattress and its bed base, based on the most common issues and questions. We’ll cover topics such as the ideal bed height and the characteristics of the main types of bed bases: the slatted bed base, the box spring, and the post-style bed base.
This information will help us determine which box spring is best suited to make the most of your mattress's qualities, whether it's a foam mattress, a spring mattress, or a natural latex mattress.
What is the ideal bed height?
The height of a bed is determined by adding the thickness of the mattress, the thickness of the box spring, and the height of the box spring legs. When purchasing a complete bedding set (bed frame + mattress + box spring), the height specified by manufacturers is generally around 50 cm.
However, this bed height corresponds to the height specified for people who are 1.75 m tall, which is the average height for men in France. As a result, people who are much shorter or much taller may find that the bed is too high or too low.
Ergonomics experts recommend setting the bed height so that getting out of bed requires the least amount of effort. Ideally, you should be able to sit on the edge of the bed with both feet flat on the floor and your lower leg and thigh forming a right angle. This very simple test ensures that you won’t aggravate back or hip problems when getting up in the morning, while your body is still asleep.
If you have purchased a particularly thick mattress, you can adjust the total height of your bedding to suit your body type by choosing the height of the bed frame and its legs. A person of short stature (about 1.65 m) should therefore aim for a bed with a total height of 45 cm, while a person who is close to 1.90 m tall should consider a bed height of 55 cm.
The Different Types of Mattress Bases
The slatted bed base is now a classic in bedding. It consists of a frame to which wooden slats are attached; the width and spacing of the slats vary depending on the model. The spacing between the slats allows for excellent air circulation, which helps ventilate and air out the bedding—an important consideration for people who tend to get hot while sleeping.
The quality of the slats—which, if possible, should be made of solid wood—plays an important role in the overall firmness of the mattress and its lifespan, with options ranging from fixed, rigid slats to flexible ones.
For its part, the upholstered box spring is characterized by a wooden frame covered in fabric and the option to choose from several technologies: covered slats (softer), exposed slats (firmer), or springs (which shorten the mattress’s lifespan). An upholstered box spring can also be covered with a fabric ticking, which limits the ventilation of the box spring/mattress assembly.
Finally, the bedding market offers slatted bed bases and spring bed bases. Spring bed bases should be avoided for many reasons: excessive cost, mattress wear and tear, questionable firmness, noise, and an outdated appearance. Spring box springs are a prime example of how it’s possible to ruin all the qualities and comfort of a good mattress by pairing it with a poor-quality box spring.
A box spring for a latex mattress
100% natural latex mattresses, regardless of their size, offer the very best in comfort, natural breathability, and durability. Choosing a box spring for a latex mattress must therefore be done with the utmost care so as not to compromise the qualities we’ve just mentioned, because, as the saying goes: the mattress accounts for two-thirds of a bed’s comfort, and the box spring for the remaining third.
The best choice is a bed base with exposed slats, which can be fixed, flexible, or adjustable in the case of an electric bed. You’ll also find bed bases on the market where each side of the bed has different slats, designed to accommodate two people with different body types or comfort preferences at the same time. Fixed, rigid wooden slats on one side of the bed provide more firmness, while flexible slats on the other side offer suppleness and a slightly softer feel to your sleeping surface.
What kind of box spring should I use with a foam mattress?
Synthetic foam mattresses, in addition to being made with chemical products and processes that can release air into the bedroom that is potentially harmful to health, are known for their poor breathability. This leads to increased moisture in the mattress and promotes the growth of dust mites and bacteria.
To compensate for this poor natural ventilation and the presence of volatile organic compounds, the bed base for a foam mattress should be as breathable as possible; therefore, a wooden slatted bed base is the best choice, even for memory foam mattresses.
Bed frames designed for spring mattresses
When choosing a bed base for a pocket-spring mattress, you can opt for an upholstered, spring, or slatted bed base, keeping in mind that slats provide a firmer bed while springs offer more flexibility.
Traditional spring mattresses and mattresses with exposed slats are not recommended due to their lack of support. In fact, the gaps characteristic of these types of bed bases do not fully support all of the springs inside the mattress, thereby reducing their comfort and firmness.
What should you look for in an electric bed?
The bed bases for electric mattresses are typically made of raised pads or exposed, hinged slats. The best possible combination seems to be pairing them with a natural latex mattress.
In addition to their eco-friendly qualities, latex mattresses provide firm and precise support, which promotes relaxation and pain relief, making them the ideal choice for an electric bed.
The storage bed
When choosing a mattress for a storage bed, the first thing to consider is the type of box spring included with the purchase of the storage bed. In any case, a natural latex mattress remains the best choice due to its excellent environmental profile, unlike foam mattresses.
A storage bed is a product that provides extra storage space in a bedroom, but you should always keep in mind its primary function: to be a bed that offers you comfort and is tailored to your body type and your preferences regarding firmness.
Do you already have a slatted bed frame?
Although it's recommended to buy a mattress and box spring at the same time, there are times when you might want to replace your mattress while keeping your old box spring.
The type of mattress to choose for a slatted bed frame could be: a natural latex mattress or a synthetic foam mattress, if you don't mind their chemical composition and poor natural ventilation.
Which mattress is best for a slatted bed frame?
A slatted bed frame can be paired with a memory foam mattress. However, if your priority is allergy-free nights and a healthy sleeping environment, you should opt for a latex mattress, making sure to choose a model labeled "100% natural latex."
In fact, some unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of their customers' lack of information to include mattresses made of synthetic latex—which is also derived from petrochemicals—in their product offerings.
What kind of mattress should be used with a box spring?
What type of mattress should you choose for a box spring? For soft support, it's best to pair a box spring with a spring mattress.
For firmer support, the ideal combination is to use it with a natural latex mattress.
A mattress for a box spring
Depending on whether it has slats or springs, an upholstered box spring offers several options. With an upholstered box spring featuring pocket springs, you can choose between a spring mattress (soft support) and a latex mattress (firmer support).
If the box spring is made of wooden slats, you can choose a foam or latex mattress.
We recommend these other pages:
- Everything You Need to Know About Mattresses
- How to Choose a Mattress
- How to Choose a Mattress Topper?
- The mattress protector
- How to Care for Your Mattress
- Bedding
- How to Choose a Duvet
- Which Pillow to Choose