The Best Mattress in a Box Options in NZ for 2023

You’ve been meaning to buy a new mattress for ages (who’s reading this with a mattress they’ve had for 10+ years?!). You’ve heard that buying online could be a great idea… you see the names Ecosa, Emma, Winkl (and others) popping up all over your internet.

They look cheap, they sound good, but you’re confused. Are they actually any good? And the longer you leave it, the more confused you get.

I’m here to help! I’ve slept on most of the big mattress in a box brands available in NZ, and I’ve been sleeping on my current one for 2.5 years. It’s holding up great and I’d never go back to buying from a bed store. Let me take you through the options and find the best mattress for you.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Mattress In A Box

1. Sleeping Position:
   • Do you sleep on your back? You’ll like a medium-firm mattress.
   • Do you sleep on your side? You’ll want something a bit softer to stop you from getting a numb shoulder (this is a problem I have experienced when sleeping on a mattress that was too firm for me)
   • Do you sleep on your stomach? You need a firm mattress that stops your hips from sinking and ruining your spinal alignment.
2. Firmness Level:
   • Mattresses come in different firmness levels, ranging from soft to extra firm.
   • I gave a basic guideline for firmness based on sleeping position above, but personal preference is also important here.
3. Material Composition:
   • Memory foam is a commonly used material in mattress in a box beds. This provides great contouring support.
   • Latex is for people who prefer something natural (memory foam is man made, Latex comes from the sap of a tree so the raw material is natural), bouncier than memory foam, and more durable.
4. Body Weight:
   • Your weight can influence how a mattress feels to you. Heavier people may need a firmer mattress for proper support, while lighter individuals may find softer mattresses more comfortable. This is to do with how much pressure your body puts on the comfort layers.
   • Funnily enough, soft mattresses dont often work for heavier people, they can feel to soft! How does that work? Your body pushes right through the comfort layer and can feel like it’s just lying on the firm support foam. A firmer comfort layer will better support you and prevent this.
5. Temperature Regulation:
   • Some mattresses retain heat more than others.
   • Memory foam traditionally has a bad rap for trapping heat. However, modern memory foams have cooling features and breathable materials, and I personally find them just fine.
   • If you’re very worried about sleeping hot, latex is naturally cooler.
   • Remember: any mattress will feel warmer if you use a waterproof mattress protector. Ventilation, like slats, is also important for air circulation under your mattress.If you tend to sleep hot, consider a mattress with cooling features like gel-infused foam or breathable materials.
6. Motion Isolation:
   • If you share your bed with a partner, you may want a mattress that minimizes motion transfer. This means that movement on one side of the bed won’t disturb the other person.
   • Memory foam mattresses usually have better motion isolation than other materials.
7. Trial Period and Return Policy:
   • Many mattress companies offer trial periods during which you can test the mattress at home.
   • All the mattresses I’m sharing with you in this article give you an average of 100 days, so you’ve got plenty of time to try it out.
   • Additionally, it’s important to know the return policy in case the mattress doesn’t meet your expectations. Many will have a charity collect the mattress for reselling in their op shops.
8. Warranty:
   • Check the warranty period and what it covers. This can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re protected against any potential defects or issues.
   • Since latex is the most durable material, latex mattresses often have longer warranties.
   • I would expect a quality mattress in a box to have at least a 10 year warranty.
9. Longevity and Durability:
   • Consider the expected lifespan of the mattress. While more durable mattresses may have a higher upfront cost, they can be a better investment in the long run.
   • I KNOW you’re probably going to hang on to your mattress longer than you should, so this is important!

Top Mattress-in-a-Box Brands in NZ for 2023

Let’s go through all the brands and mattresses, one by one. My top pick is the Winkl Lux: this is the mattress I sleep on myself, and have had several friends and family members buy for themselves after coming to my house and trying it out.

1. Best Overall: Winkl Lux

Winkl make two mattresses, the Winkl and the Winkl Lux. The Winkl Lux is the mattress I choose to sleep on, and have done for more than two years, despite testing (and liking) a whole bunch of others.

For me, it’s got the perfect blend of softness and support, and although it’s a memory foam mattress the clever technology inside stops you from overheating during the night.

Both are incredibly comfortable memory foam mattresses. The Lux is pricier than the Winkl: for your extra money you get a thicker mattress that has more foam in the comfort layers, charcoal infused into the memory foam and zoning in the support foam.

Basically, the Lux lives up to its name: it’s a high performing mattress with lots of great features and technology whereas the standard Winkl is a decent mattress with less bling. I personally think the Lux is worth the upgrade, and all the friends and family members I’ve told to buy this mattress agree with me.

Two cool things about Winkl:

1. You can go and try their mattresses in some Citta design stores. This is great news if you’re feeling nervous about buying an online mattress. (Wellingtonians: I’ve heard the Citta on College St have some)
2. Winkl have partnered with the National Kiwi Hatchery, and a portion of your sale goes towards protecting kiwi chicks. Pretty cool.

What’s the standout feature of the mattress? The charcoal infusion in the lux is a neat innovation, it’s there to provide heat transfer and also has antimicrobial properties. The zoning in the support layer of the Lux is something I haven’t really seen before at this price point, usually you could expect to pay a lot more for this feature.

Best For: People who want a touch of luxury softness. Winkl Lux is my top pick for this feel. 

Price range:  From $900 – $2150. Winkl run various promotions on their website, often $200 off which sweetens the deal.

Sleep trial: 120 nights (currently the longest of all mattresses in NZ)

Warranty: 10 years for the Winkl, 15 years for the Lux

Read My Full Winkl Review Here

2. Best Spring Mattress In A Box: Emma Diamond

Most mattress in a box options in NZ are all foam, but not the Emma Diamond. This mattress has a pocket coil base (that means it’s got individually wrapped springs inside, which don’t make noise and offer better support than traditional style spring units).

It’s also got a surprisingly lush memory foam comfort layer in the top. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this mattress. It feels really luxe and comfy for the price tag, and if you’re wanting a coil base instead of all foam (this one’s great for hot sleepers) I don’t think you’ll find a better value option.

What’s the standout feature of the mattress? I’ve already said it, but the coil base and the value for money. Emma are also renowned for their huge sales, so follow my links to score an absolute bargain.

Best For: hot sleepers, those wanting a coil base, people wanting a more contouring than bouncy memory foam.

Sleep trial: 120 nights

Warranty: 10 years

3. Best Latex Mattress In A Box: Peace Lily

Latex mattresses are known for their cooling properties, natural materials and durable support. They usually come with a massive price tag, but Peace Lily have managed to make an excellent quality mattress that I’ve slept on myself, and am happy for my 6 year old to sleep on.

Peace Lily use sustainably sourced latex from Sri Lanka, where they manufacture their mattresses at their own facility.

This latex mattress in a box features a generous 20cm of natural latex and is flippable: one side is a gentle medium feel and the other is firm. You’re basically getting two mattresses in one, which takes a lot of the worry out of whether the mattress you’re choosing is going to be the right feel for you!

What’s the standout feature of the mattress? Definitely the quality of the materials for the price, along with the two sided design.

Best For: People looking for a mattress made from all natural materials that will last for many years to come

Price range: $1099 – $2049

Sleep trial: 100 nights

Warranty: 25 years

Read My Full Peacelily Review Here

4. Best Value: Emma Comfort Mattress

Yep, this is the same brand as the Emma Diamond Mattress I introduced you to above.

Emma are massively popular for their budget friendly yet good quality mattresses, and the Emma Comfort mattress is perfect for you if you want something a little more on the firmer side than Winkl (but not too firm) and also get premium features like a zoned core and cooling memory foam.

I have this mattress in my house: it has a really nice medium firm feel (Emma updated their mattress recently after complaints their previous mattress was too firm, I can happily confirm this one has more of a universally comfortable feel) and is also the bounciest of all the foam mattresses on our market. The foams feel incredibly resilient and I think it’s going to be a mattress that lasts a long time. My four year old sleeps on this one, he loves it.

What’s the standout feature of the mattress? Definitely the bounciness. All foam mattresses usually have pretty much zero bounce. This is great for minimizing motion transfer, but when you’re used to a bed with springs it can take a bit of getting used to. Emma doesn’t compromise on motion isolation but feels really springy. Also the cover. The fact that you can just zip off the top part really appeals to me for easy washing.

Best For: People looking for a medium firm, resilient mattress with a bit of bounce

Price range: Emma ALWAYS run big sales, I’m talking 40-50% off or awesome value bundle deals. I highly recommend you check out the current deal following my link below, as they change regularly and are some of the best value in NZ.

This is one of the cheapest mattress in a box options that will actually last.

Sleep trial: 120 nights

Warranty: 10 years

Read about my first impressions of the Emma mattress and watch me unbox it here.

Read my full Emma mattress review here. 

5. Napp: Made In New Zealand

Napp is another kiwi family business that has been operating since long before online mattresses were a thing. A really nice thing about this company is that they like to give back to the community. For every 15 mattresses sold, they donate one brand new mattress to Habitat for Humanity.

Napp just make the one mattress, which is an all foam mattress (memory foam and poly foam). Napp make their mattresses right here in New Zealand using foams from Australia. Napp also offer adjustable beds, and the really cool thing about buying from Napp is that if you buy an adjustable base from them, your mattresses are included as part of the package, which is an absolute bargain!

What’s the standout feature of the mattress? Napp is the only company in the New Zealand market that actually makes their mattress right here in New Zealand. The fact that they are able to do that is a huge win in my opinion. If I had my time again and was looking to purchase a mattress, the ethos and values of Napp would make them a strong choice.

Best For: People looking for a mattress with a true medium feel, some contouring hug but plenty of support

Price range: $800 – $1550

Sleep trial: 100 nights

Warranty: 10 years

Read My Full Napp Review Here

6. Firmest Mattress In A Box NZ – Ecosa

This was the very first mattress in a box I bought, back before I started this website. We eventually sold it, because it was just too firm (yes you can change the layers around, they’re all still too firm in my opinion). Other people I know who have bought this agree. It’s a great quality mattress though, so if you really like it firm and want the hardest mattress in a box NZ can offer you, this is it!

What’s the standout feature of the mattress? The mattress has two internal comfort layers that are interchangeable. Each has a slightly different feel and softness, so you can play around with how you layer them to customise the feel of the mattress to your needs. This is pretty clever because it means Ecosa only needs to make one mattress that is going to suit a wide range of people. However, I think the options you get are “firm” or “very firm”!

Ecosa is the mattress I bought in 2019 and used for nearly 2 years as my own bed (I’ve just replaced it with Napp). If you want more detailed information about it, you can read all my Ecosa articles here.

Best For: People who want a firm sleep surface that is flat (no conforming hug from the foams)

Price range: $850 – $1550 but there is always a deal going on the Ecosa website such as $200 off. If you can’t get the mattress with $200 off don’t buy it.

Sleep trial: 100 nights

Warranty: 15 years (the longest out of all available mattresses at the time of writing)

Read My Full Ecosa Review Here

7. Other Mattress In A Box Options

MyBed

If you’re looking for a spring based alternative to the Emma Diamond, MyBed have you covered:

MyBed is the online identity of Furnco, a family company that has been in the New Zealand market since the 1990’s. It is a family owned and operated business.

MyBed has a range of four different mattresses, each with a pocket coil support core. MyBed uses Chinese materials in their mattresses, which are also made in China. If you’re after a cheap mattress in a box that has springs, this is a good option.

What’s the standout feature of their mattresses? These mattresses are the only ones in this article that aren’t purely made of memory foam and polyfoam. MyBed mattresses are pocket spring mattresses, with different materials in the comfort layer in the top. If you’re used to sleeping on a traditional spring mattress, choosing a pocket spring mattress in a box can feel a little more familiar than buying an all foam mattress.

Best For: People who like the feel of springs in their mattress and don’t want an all foam model

Price range: $599 – $1259 but again you should be able to get a deal.

Sleep trial: 100 nights

Warranty: 10 years

The Mattresses I Haven’t Tried Yet

Like I said at the start of this article, there are more and more brands appearing all the time, it’s exhausting to keep up with! Phew! While I’m a thousand percent sure you’ll be happy with Winkl, Emma, or Peace Lily, these are the other brands you need to be aware of if you want to make sure you’ve examined all your options.

I’ll update this article as and when I get more information about these mattresses for you.

• Joy (A new offering from BedsRUs and Sleepyhead, currently only available in Auckland)
• Comfi (another spring alternative, I went and tried these in their Auckland showroom last time I was up there, and they’re great). Comfi actually doesn’t come in a box, so if you want to buy online with all the benefits of free delivery and the long sleep trial but the box part is freaking you out, check out Comfi
• Teddy
• Bed Stop

Your Questions About Mattresses In Boxes

Why You Should Buy A Mattress Online

There are several advantages to buying a mattress in a box. These are:

• You can get a really great quality mattress of equal (if not better) quality to brands sold at our big furniture stores, for about half the price, or less. When you buy a mattress in a box online, you’re cutting out all the costs associated with running a bricks and mortar store, so the cost savings translate to a cheaper mattress.
• Mattress companies know it’s a huge risk and can feel scary to buy a mattress without having seen it or laid on it. But do you really think that a 5 minute awkward lie down on the range at your local Big Save is really giving you an accurate gauge of whether the mattress is right for you? I don’t! When you buy a mattress in a box, a 100 night sleep trial is pretty standard. That means you can test drive the mattress from the privacy of your own home for more than three months. That’s pretty epic. And it’s actually quite important because it takes around 30 days for your body to fully adjust to a new mattress. When I went around the stores the best they could offer me was 7 nights. Doesn’t compare really, does it.
• You could get a longer warranty. I’d expect a good quality mattress to come with at least a ten year warranty, and all of the mattress in a box options here in the New Zealand market have that. I was shocked to hear that some of our more well known in-store brands only offer five year warranties.
• A mattress in a box will have the delivery fee built into the price. You can go ahead and order the usual brands from the big furniture shops’ online stores, but you’ll probably be stung with a delivery fee, of up to $150. Ouch.

Best Mattress In A Box NZ – Conclusion

Now you know what to look out for when buying a mattress in a box, your questions have been answered and your concerns allayed. You’ve seen all the best options, and can now buy with confidence! Wohoo! Remember, Winkl Lux is my choice, but if you want some help deciding, please send me a message. I’ll do my best to help.