2 inch low profile box spring king

Depth

The ideal box-spring height depends on your preferences around the overall height of your bed, the height of your mattress, and the height of your bed frame. The typical rule of thumb is that you should be able to sit at the edge of your bed with your legs at a 90-degree angle. Depending on your height (and sometimes the height of a partner), as well as your bed and mattress, the height of your box spring can vary. Many box springs come in a variety of heights. If you like your bed closer to the ground, you’ll want a low-profile box spring around four or five inches tall. If your mattress and bed frame already have your bed lifted pretty high up off the ground, you may want to stick with a lower box spring so you don’t have to literally jump into bed each night. If you have limited mobility, a lower box spring may be best for you. But if you like feeling lifted, you’ll want to go for something that’s seven or nine inches tall. We’ve flagged the most popular height for each of our picks, along with the other variations.

Mattress compatibility

The truth is that your mattress is the star of the show while your box spring plays more of a supportive role. According to Foley, a box spring is the most useful in three specific scenarios: “If you are using a metal bed frame that is designed to cradle box springs, if you have an older innerspring mattress, or if you are trying to elevate your bed to make it easier to get in and out of.” Traditional coil box springs work best with innerspring mattresses as they are able to create traction so that the mattress stays in place. Memory-foam and latex mattresses tend to slip and slide out of place if the box spring isn’t made to support that type of material. But if you want to add a bit of height to your bed but love the body-hugging feeling of memory foam, you can use a nonslip mattress pad between the mattress and the box spring to create necessary traction or opt for a “zero-deflection” box spring (more on that below).

Materials and level of flex

Box springs can be made of metal or wood, include coils or slats, or have a mix of a few materials. You’ll notice that the box springs below don’t actually contain coils, unlike the box springs your parents may have had. Even though the term “box spring” is still common, modern box springs are more of a mattress foundation, acting as a firm platform for your mattress to rest on. Your needs and preferences, and the type of mattress you have, will help guide you to the right type of box spring. Zero-deflection box springs usually have sturdy wood slats that don’t flex, creating a firm and flat supportive surface that works best with memory foam or latex mattresses. (Foley says firmness and stability are essential if you have a heavier latex or foam mattress, as they require more support.) Newer zero-deflection box springs can also be made of inflexible steel as well. The best of both worlds is the semi-flex box spring — a wood frame topped with a metal grid over the slats. Semi-flex box springs are ideal for adding the bounce of coils and the firm platform of a mattress foundation. These types of box spring also work well with weighty memory foam and latex mattresses, because they are supportive while still being lightly flexible.

Weight capacity

The weight capacity of your box spring is important to note so that you don’t have to worry about the slats snapping or having to purchase an early replacement. The capacity can vary depending on the material that it’s made of as well as the size, with larger sizes having a higher weight capacity. If you have a heavier memory-foam or latex mattress, you’ll want to include that in your overall total along with the weight of anyone who will be occupying the bed.

Zinus 9-Inch Smart Box Spring

From $139

Depth: 5-inch, 7-inch, and 9-inch | Weight capacity: 700-pound capacity for all sizes except twin and twin XL | Materials and flex level: Steel, Zero-deflection

Zinus makes some of our favorite affordable but high-quality mattresses, so it’s no surprise it’s also behind several of our readers’ favorite box springs — five of the nine on this list, in fact, including this best overall nine-inch box spring. It has more than 52,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, too, with many noting it’s strong, sturdy, and surprisingly supportive even after years of use. The strength comes from the quality of the metal, a durable, zero-deflection steel that can support up to 700 pounds. (The steel frame is covered by soft-knit polyester.) It’s easy to put together, with many reviewers noting it took less than an hour to do alone and even less when done with someone else. But, if you want to go the easier route and cut down your assembly time, there is a quick-assembly option that is $30 cheaper (for the nine-inch queen box spring). And if you want to spend a little less, you can get it in a low-profile five-inch height, or for a slightly higher price, the seven-inch height is available. But since they’re part of the same line, we’ve wrapped them into one here and named it the best overall.

From $139 at Amazon

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From $151 at The Home Depot

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Amazon Basics Mattress Foundation Smart Box Spring

From $130

From $130

Depth: 5-inch, 7-inch, and 9-inch | Weight capacity: 350-pound capacity | Material and flex level: Steel, Zero-deflection

This Amazon Basics box spring takes the prize for the best metal box spring for a bargain, as long as a 350-pound weight limit will suffice. Many Amazon shoppers who have purchased this box spring used the phrase “easy to assemble” in their review: No tools are required to put this interlocking box spring together. Similar to the Brooklyn Bedding Bi-Fold box spring below, as they both have a tool-free assembly, this one more or less snaps together in six easy steps — and the whole thing takes about 20 minutes, according to reviewers. More than 100 reviewers noted that the box spring was affordable and the durable steel frame and horizontal slats provide a sturdy, quiet base. Additionally, the fabric cover is removable for spot cleaning.

From $130 at Amazon

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From $130 at Amazon

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Zinus 7.5-Inch Quick Lock Smart Box Spring

From $260

From $260

Depth: 4-inch, 7.5-inch, and 9-inch | Weight capacity: 700-pound capacity for all sizes except twin and twin XL | Material and flex level: Steel, Zero-deflection

For an even sturdier metal box spring, this Zinus model has more steel slats running the length of the bed than our top pick Zinus box spring above, with about three inches between each to provide better weight distribution. If more slats sounds like more work to you to put it together, think again: This one uses Zinus’s Quick Lock assembly system, which means the slats snap into place — no screws needed, and they don’t flex for a firm foundation. Even without the use of screws, though, the box spring can support up to 700 pounds, and it’s earned much praise from Amazon reviewers, about 6,500 of whom have given the box spring a five-star rating. Many of those reviewers comment that they put the box spring together in 20 to 30 minutes, and once assembled, it didn’t budge, squeak, or let the mattress sag.

From $260 at Amazon

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From $203 at Walmart

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Zinus 9-Inch High-Profile Metal Smart Box Spring

From $179

Depth: 4-inch, 7.5-inch, and 9-inch | Weight capacity: 700-pound capacity for all sizes except twin and twin XL | Material and flex level: Steel and wood slats, Semi-flex

For those who prefer wood slats, Zinus is the reader pick again. This box spring combines the strength of steel in the base with the natural yet sturdy bend of wood in the slats, which some sleepers say offers a more comfortable night’s rest. While wood can be less durable than steel, this box spring is designed to hold up. The slats are spaced close together (about three inches apart) for maximum sturdiness and support, and they’re strung together so you don’t have to worry about spacing them correctly — just unroll the bundle and lay them on the box spring’s frame. And as with all Zinus products, this one is praised for how easy it is to assemble.

From $179 at Amazon

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From $179 at Amazon

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Zinus Edgar 4 Inch Low Profile Wood Box Spring/Mattress Foundation

From $243

From $243

Depth: 4-inch and 8-inch | Weight capacity: 500-pound capacity for all sizes except twin | Material and flex level: Wood, Zero-deflection

If you don’t want your bed to sit too high off the ground, a few inches in your box spring’s size can make a world of difference. Similar to the other Zinus box springs on our list, this one is available in a low four-inch profile — but instead of having a steel frame, it’s made of solid wood, both the base and the slats, with the slats made of thicker wood than most to ensure a solid base. Many of the over 3,500 people who gave it five stars on Amazon have noted how surprised they are that it’s so thin and lightweight yet so sturdy. The lower profile offers just enough height for people who’d rather not literally climb into bed.

From $243 at Amazon

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From $150 at Wayfair

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Zinus Upholstered Metal Box Spring With Wood Slats

From $145

Depth: 4-inch, 7.5-inch, and 9-inch | Weight capacity: 500-pound capacity for all sizes except twin | Material and flex level: Steel and wood, Semi-flex

For those who want a put-together look from their quilt all the way down to their bed frame, this upholstered box spring from Zinus offers a crisp, clean design in a — you guessed it — sturdy package. It’s made of strong steel for the base and thick, 2.8-inch wood for the slats, but that’s all hidden beneath a gray woven fabric cover for a polished look. As some reviewers note, that means even when their box spring peeks out from under the covers or there’s no bed skirt, it looks okay. And of course, it’s easy to assemble, with a base that comes together in steps. The wood slats are encased in a fabric covering that makes them even easier to roll out onto the frame.

From $145 at Amazon

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From $145 at Walmart

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Kingsdown Dynamic Semi-Flex Foundation

$569

Depth: 5.5-inch, 8.5-inch | Weight capacity: 750-pound capacity | Material and flex level: Steel and wood, Semi-flex

Semi-flex box springs are sturdy options that work well with all mattress types, including heavier memory-foam and latex mattresses. Constructed with high-quality steel that is connected to a wooden frame, this Kingsdown box spring can hold up to 750 pounds. It’s available in two heights: a low 5.5-inch height and a taller 8.5-inch option. It is also covered in breathable cotton that promotes airflow, which Costner says is important when it comes to getting good sleep. “Box springs can impact your quality of sleep by enhancing airflow through your mattress, making for more quality sleep,” explains Costner.

$569 at Wayfair

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$670 at Perigold

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Brooklyn Bedding Ascension Bi-Fold Foundation

From $299

Depth: 8-inch | Weight capacity: Weight limit not listed | Material and flex level: Steel, Zero-deflection

At first glance, the Ascension Bi-Fold Foundation looks like your typical fabric-covered box spring. While it checks all of the important boxes of a box spring — adding height (in this case eight inches), absorbing impact, and providing mattress support — the all-steel foundation can be folded in half for effortless transportation. Since it is a folding foundation, the center bar helps prevent the box spring from dipping or collapsing in the middle for dependable mattress support. The easy-to-assemble construction is tool-free, and the fabric cover can be removed to make folding easier.

From $299 at Brooklyn Bedding

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Serta Perfect Sleeper Box Spring Foundation

$200

Depth: 5-inch or 9-inch | Weight limit: Weight limit not listed | Material and flex level: Steel and wood, Zero-deflection

If you sleep with a partner, you may be well acquainted with feeling them toss, turn, and shuffle around while they sleep. While there are mattresses that can help limit that motion, the Serta Perfect Sleeper box spring, a favorite of Costner, can take those efforts a step further. The unique construction has a high carbon steel grid and is surrounded by a kiln-dried hardwood frame that helps to further isolate your partner’s movement for a more peaceful sleep. The box spring is available in a low five-inch profile and a higher nine-inch profile.

$200 at Mattress Firm

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$1,199 at Serta

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