The Casper Mattress Review You Can Actually Trust

No commission • No endorsements • Based on owner experiences • Since 2008 • More

Does a mattress from a leading, well established and generally respectable online brand sound good? Then Casper might be for you.

But if you seek a soft or clearly firm mattress or a mattress that is not all foam, then you will want to look elsewhere.

All things considered, Sleep Like The Dead rates Casper a B-.

Learn how Casper compares to main competitors at the memory foam mattress review summary and the mattress comparison.

Casper Performance Ratings

The ratings – based on 320 consumer reviews gathered using an unbiased, accurate methodology – show how the three Casper models rate compared to the average mattress.

* partial estimate due to recent model revision.

Casper Specification / Construction Ratings

Casper mattresses – assembled and made mostly in USA – consist almost entirely of foam. The ratings – based on consumer experiences and the evaluation of Sleep Like The Dead – show how Casper's construction compares to that of the average mattress.

THE CASPER THE ESSENTIAL THE WAVE Cover C+ C B- Casper: polyester with 2% (estimate) lycra / spandex; removable

Essential: polyester; removable

Wave: wool-infused polyester (estimate) Top layer(s) C+ C B Casper: 1.5" foam (3.5 lb/ft density)

Essential: 2" foam (2.5 lb/ft density)

Wave: 1" foam (3.5 lb/ft density est.), 1.5" latex (50% natural, 50% synthetic) Middle Layer B- B- B- Casper: 1.5" memory foam (3.5 lb/ft density)

Essential: 1.5" memory foam (3.5 lb/ft density)

Wave: 1.5" memory foam (3 lb/ft density estimate) Base / support layer B- D+ B Casper: 1.5" 2.5 lb/ft density foam, 5" 1.8 lb/ft density foam

Essential: 4.5" foam (1.8 lb/ft density) – below-average thickness

Wave: 1.5" foam (2.5 lb/ft density estimate), 5.5" foam (1.8 lb/ft density estimate) with supportive gel OVERALL RATING B- C B Determined by averaging the above specification ratings.

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Casper Company Ratings

The ratings below – based on consumer experiences and the evaluation of Sleep Like The Dead – show how Casper compares to the average mattress manufacturer.

Warranty C+ 10-year non-prorated warranty – similar to most main competitors. (See mattress warranties: what you should know.) Return policy B+ Casper.com provides a 100-day, no-fee, 100%-money-back trial period. No preparation for return shipment is needed, and a courier (if available in your area) removes the mattress from your home to be recycled / donated. No minimum amount of time mattress must be kept. Few customers report difficult returns. Customer service A- Overall, customer service is regarded by consumers to be strong but not necessarily flawless. Marketing accuracy B+ Overall, hyperbole is low especially compared to most main competitors. Access to customer reviews B+ At its website, Casper allows filterable and easy access to all customer reviews posted there, including those that are negative. However, no summary by star rating is available. Reviews are also on Amazon. Integrity of customer reviews B In total, ratings at Casper's website are only moderately higher than those found at independent sources. Casper performs significantly better on this issue than most competitors. Specs disclosed C By disclosing mattress specifications, a company lets consumers know what they are paying for and helps them to comparison shop. Most specs are provided on Casper.com, but cover material and layer thickness and density are not; such information may be available upon request. Time in business B- Casper began in 2014 which is fairly recent but nevertheless earlier than the start date of most main competitors. Number of BBB complaints A- Eleven complaints have been filed to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) against Casper Sleep in the past three years which is low for a mattress company of its size. OVERALL RATING B Determined by averaging the above company ratings.

Sleep Like The Dead (SLTD) Rating for Casper

SLTD RATING B- SLTD (Sleep Like The Dead) rating is determined by averaging the performance, specification, and company ratings. This rating shows how Casper and its mattresses perform against all other mattress companies and their mattresses.



Key Comparisons

In the charts below, "all beds" refers to all mattresses on the market, and "all foam beds" refers to Casper's main and closest competitors – those mattresses that consist mostly or entirely of foam. Compare Casper to competitors in the side-by-side mattress comparison.

Owner Satisfaction

All models perform at least as well as the average mattress and mostly similar to main competitors. Specifically, the Casper has 80% satisfaction, the Essential 74%, and the Wave 78%.





* For everyday adult use. Satisfaction for child or temporary / guest use is about seven percentage points higher. Learn more about how owner satisfaction is determined.

** Partial estimate.

Price

Unlike the Casper and the Essential, the Wave is priced higher than the average mattress. (See how Casper mattresses compare to other mattresses in the sortable price comparison.)







Value

The Casper model appears to perform better than the other model offerings by Casper in regard to value or "bang for the buck."







Durability / longevity

Casper mattresses appear to have above-average durability / longevity. Reports of sagging, loss of support, and the development of body impressions for Casper models are not common.



* partial estimate.





Mattress Support

Support tends to correlate with the price of the model.



* partial estimate.





Pressure Relief

Of the three models, the Casper model appears to perform best at reducing pressure by conforming effectively to a sleeper's body and providing well-distributed support.



* partial estimate.





(Back) Pain Relief

The at least fair degree of support and conforming ability of the Casper and the Wave result in above-average potential for back pain relief. (See mattresses and pain relief for general analysis.)



* partial estimate.





Easy To Move On

The mattresses tend to not conform to a degree which makes body movement difficult.



* partial estimate.





Easy To Get On / Up Off – Tall Person

The Casper and especially the Essential have below-average thickness which make getting on and off the mattress somewhat difficult for taller people.







Easy To Get On / Up Off – Short Person

The Casper and especially the Essential have below-average thickness which can make getting on and off the mattress somewhat easier for shorter people.







Motion Isolation

All Casper models to a significant extent prevent a person's movement from disturbing another person on the bed, but they do not eliminate such disturbance.



* partial estimate.





Edge Support

As is often true for foam-based mattresses, support near the far edges may be inadequate for sleeping or sitting, especially for larger people. The recent addition of extra firmness / support in the center third of the Casper model may improve edge support somewhat in this area.



* partial estimate.





Topper Usage

Overall, about 7% of owners (1 in 14) report adding a topper (priced $35 to $500) to soften the mattress and create acceptable comfort.



* partial estimate.





Initial Off Gassing Odor

About 8% of Casper owners (1 in 13) report an enduring unpleasant initial odor – a rate somewhat higher than that of most competitors. (General analysis: mattress off gassing.)



* partial estimate.





Heat Retention

About 5% of Casper owners (1 in 20) report heat retention occurring to an extent that undermines sleep quality / quantity – a rate similar to that of main competitors overall.

About an additional 10% of Casper owners report that the mattress sleeps warm but usually not to a bothersome extent. (General analysis: mattresses and sleeping hot.)



* partial estimate.





Sex Friendliness

The table below evaluates the Casper models on several factors important to sex. (See mattresses and sex for general analysis.)

THE CASPER THE ESSENTIAL* THE WAVE* Easy to move on B- C+ B Sex can be performed without great effort as the beds provide at least fair support and do not conform to a restrictive degree. Bouncy C+ C- C+ All have some bounce but less bounce than a traditional innerspring mattress. Comfortable B C+ B All tend to minimize pressure put on knees, elbows, hands, buttocks. No bottoming out C D B For the Essential, thickness may be inadequate for some positions. Allows discretion C D+ B All models are silent, but the Essential may lack weight to stay firmly planted during sex. Durable B B- B All models are likely to withstand repeated passionate use. Whole bed suitable C- D+ C The far edges may not offer adequate support especially for larger people. Allows fast climax B- C+ C+ The mattresses conform enough to allow for efficiency of movement. Fluid, stain cleanup B- B- C Casper and Essential have removable covers which allow for thorough spot cleaning. OVERALL RATING B- C- B-

* partial estimate.





Noise

Like other foam-based mattresses, Casper mattresses are silent.







Total Thickness

The Essential's thickness is suited for shorter people and poorly suited for taller people, and vice versa for the Wave. Also a significant number of Essential owners report "bottoming out" or that they can feel the frame beneath the mattress. As a result, the Essential is likely best suited for lighter people, including children / teens, or temporary / occasional use by average-sized adults.







Weight

Casper queen models weigh 63 to 86 pounds. A light mattress may have the disadvantage of not staying firmly in place on its base but the advantage of being relatively easy to move, lift and handle.









Adjustable Bed Base Friendliness

Using the Essential on an adjustable bed base may result in "bottoming out" when sitting upright due to the Essential's relative thinness. Wave's thickness may not allow it to bend as easily on an adjustable base as the other Casper models.





Casper Model Firmness Analysis

The Casper

On a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm, the Casper appears to on average be regarded as a 6 or 6.5.



* The recent addition of extra firmness / support in the center third of mattress may cause firmness to be evaluated as slightly to somewhat more firm than indicated.

Casper's firmness level suits most owners but not all. Beyond break in about 10% of owners find it too firm and about 5% find it too soft. About an additional 15% find the firmness to be acceptable but not ideal.

Those with a body mass index of 20 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness (after break in).

Compared to main competitors, the Casper mattress currently appears to have a firmness / support level that is at least slightly better suited for the average person. Of course, your own individual evaluation may differ.

The Essential

On a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm, the Essential appears to on average be regarded as about a 4.5 to 5.

The Essential's firmness level suits a majority of owners but not all. Beyond break in about 14% of owners find it too soft, especially large people. About an additional 20% find the firmness to be acceptable but not ideal.

The Wave

On a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm, the Wave appears to on average be regarded as a 7.5 or 8.

The Wave's firmness level suits most owners but not all. Beyond break in about 17% of owners find it too firm and about 3% find it too soft. About an additional 15% find the firmness to be acceptable but not ideal.

Person Size & Sleep Position Suitability For Casper Models

* partial estimate due to model newness.

The table below evaluates the Casper mattress models for person size and sleep position. It shows what tends to be true for Casper owners; your own personal evaluation may differ. See the mattress firmness guide for details based on your body type. And people of below- and above-average weight, see the mattress guide for large and small people.

BACK SLEEP FRIENDLINESS



The Casper The Essential The Wave* Average-Sized People

(130-230 lbs) B C+ B+ The Essential has the most complaints from back sleepers due to inadequate thickness. The Wave is often suited for back sleepers of average size that seek above-average firmness and support. Large People

(230+ lbs) B- D B+ Large people should likely avoid the Essential as it lacks the firmness / support and thickness that large people often require. Small People

(under 130 lbs) B B B- Most back sleepers under 130 pounds find the mattresses to be at least fair.

SIDE SLEEP FRIENDLINESS



The Casper The Essential The Wave* Average-Sized People

(130-230 lbs) B C+ B- The Casper model appears suited for side sleepers of average size. Nevertheless, at least 9% of these owners report excessive firmness (beyond break-in) resulting in hip and or shoulder pain. Those with a body mass index of 20 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness. Large People

(230+ lbs) B D B- For large side-sleeping Casper model owners, the comfort layer is thick enough to mostly prevent one's shoulder or hip from reaching the firmer layer(s) underneath. The Wave's firmness may be excessive for some. The Essential should probably be avoided. Small People

(under 130 lbs) B- B- C+ The Essential with its relative softness may be best for small side sleepers. For the Casper and Wave models, at least 15% of side sleeping owners under 130 pounds report excessive firmness. This is likely due to not weighing enough to exert the pressure needed for the bed to conform to their bodies. Those with a body mass index of 21 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness.

STOMACH SLEEP FRIENDLINESS



The Casper The Essential The Wave* Average-Sized People

(130-230 lbs) B C B- Most average-sized stomach sleepers find all the model to be at least fair. Large People

(230+ lbs) C+ D+ C Most large stomach sleepers find the Casper and the Wave to be at least fair. Small People

(under 130 lbs) B- B- C+ The Casper and the Wave tend to be well suited for small-sized stomach sleepers.

* Partial estimate due to model newness or recent design changes.