Tuft & Needle vs. Casper Mattress Comparison

Sizing Options

Some practical considerations are important when thinking about a new mattress. Among those are the dimensions of a mattress, including its weight, height, and size.

A heavy mattress can be a hassle to lift and carry. This factors into the decision-making of people who expect they will need to move multiple times during the useful life of the mattress.

Height is important for two reasons. Tall mattresses may require fitted sheets with extra-deep pockets to stay in place. In addition, the total height of the bed — the mattress plus the frame — can affect how easily you can get into or out of bed, which can be a meaningful issue for people with creaky joints.

For both brands, hybrids weigh more than all-foam options, which is normal given the higher weight of innerspring coils. Size options for all models include all of the six standard mattress sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king. Casper models are also available in a split king option for couples who use adjustable beds.

Construction and Materials Comparison

The way the layers are laid out and the type of materials used in each layer have a tremendous influence on what you can expect from any specific mattress.

The interior of a mattress is composed of two elements: the support core and comfort system. The support core is the bottom section that provides structural integrity for the mattress as a whole. It contributes to the feel and acts as a stable base for the comfort system.

The comfort system includes the top layer(s) of the mattress and has a huge effect on the bed’s characteristics. It can include multiple materials and layers. Foam, latex, micro-coils, and fabrics like cotton and wool are often utilized in these layers.

To truly compare the Tuft & Needle and Casper beds, it’s important to take a closer look at how they are constructed from the comfort system down through the support core.

Tuft & Needle

All of the Tuft & Needle mattresses have two common components. The cover, made with polyester and micro-polyamide, provides a surface for the Original, Mint, and Hybrid that is breathable and soft to the touch.

The company’s proprietary Adaptive Foam is a second component that is found in all of the Tuft & Needle mattresses. Adaptive Foam is a unique polyfoam formulation designed to offer a blend of traits normally found in memory foam and latex.

For pressure point relief, Adaptive Foam has mild conforming, allowing it to give extra cushioning to heavier parts of the body. At the same time, it has above-average responsiveness, making it easier to move on top of it. Unlike traditional memory foam, it doesn’t get softer as it heats up, and it is gel-infused to try to fight heat buildup.

Original Tuft & Needle

• The Original Tuft & Needle mattress has one of the simplest designs that you can find:
• 3 inches of Adaptive Foam
• 7 inches of high-density polyfoam

While there’s nothing fancy about its construction, the Original provides plenty of support and comfort for a majority of sleepers, especially with its medium firm feel that has broad appeal.

Tuft & Needle Mint

To build on the success of the Original, Tuft & Needle launched the Mint, which adds just one layer to the design of its predecessor:

• 3 inches of Adaptive Foam
• 2 inches of Adaptive Foam
• 7 inches of high-density polyfoam

Because its comfort system is two inches thicker, the Mint provides more reliable pressure relief and durability for people who weigh over 230 pounds. This extra-thick comfort system also further protects against sinking too deeply into the bed.

The cover of the Mint Mattress contains a antimicrobial protectant that is designed to prevent microbes – including harmful bacteria – from affecting the mattress’ lifespan. The top half of the cover can be zipped off and machine washed.

Tuft & Needle Hybrid

The Tuft & Needle Hybrid takes a different approach in its construction:

• Adaptive Foam
• Micro-coils
• Transition polyfoam
• Pocketed innerspring coils

The Hybrid provides a slightly softer feel, but it’s bouncier than the all-foam beds thanks to the dual layers of coils. The coils allow for plenty of ventilating airflow, helping the Hybrid stay cool through the night. The coil layers also increase the Hybrid’s edge support relative to the Original and Mint.

While Tuft & Needle describes the materials that go into their mattresses, they do not offer detailed specifications. This is particularly evident when reviewing the Hybrid because the thickness of each individual layer is not publicly listed. With fewer details about the construction, it is harder to thoroughly evaluate a mattress, but customer reviews can give meaningful insight about its performance.

Casper

Casper’s product line includes five different mattresses.

The Casper One

A new spin on the all-foam design that first made Casper famous, the Casper One contains three individual foam layers, which are organized as follows:

• Adaptive polyfoam
• Transitional memory foam
• High-density base polyfoam

The top layer is composed of adaptive polyfoam, and the comfort system also contains transitional memory foam for added cushioning and support. High-density base foam provides stability, reinforcing medium firm (6) feel. A knit fabric cover encases the mattress.

Casper Dream Hybrid and Dream Max

Casper’s entry-level hybrid is the Dream, which is medium (5) and consists of four individual layers:

• Adaptive polyfoam
• Zoned memory foam
• Pocketed coils
• High-density base polyfoam

The Dream Hybrid is very plush and adaptive compared to the average hybrid model. This makes the mattress a good match for side sleepers, people who weigh less than 130 pounds, and other sleepers who find the typical hybrid too firm.

For an extra fee, you can upgrade your order to the Casper Dream Max. This model’s comfort system consists of an adaptive polyfoam top layer, zoned polyfoam middle layer, and transitional memory foam bottom layer. The support core and cover remain the same. While the Dream Max is also medium (5), it feels noticeably plusher than the standard Dream Hybrid.

Casper Snow Hybrid and Snow Max

Casper’s luxury model is the Snow Hybrid, which is medium (5) and consists of five individual layers:

• Memory foam with phase change material coating
• “HeatDelete” bands
• Zoned memory foam
• Pocketed coils
• High-density base polyfoam

The Snow Hybrid is designed for excellent temperature control. The topmost layer is coated in phase change material, which is engineered to dissipate body heat on contact. Proprietary HeatDelete bands in the second layer and cooling fibers woven into the cover accomplish the same task.

As with the Dream Hybrid, you can upgrade your Snow Hybrid for an extra fee. The Casper Snow Max includes a third memory foam layer in its comfort system. This addition alters the firmness to medium soft (4), so there’s a much deeper contour compared to the standard Snow Hybrid.

In-Depth Ratings

From a distance, many mattresses seem similar. With a closer look, though, the differences in construction, features, and performance begin to stand out. In this section, we’ll review the key drivers of customer satisfaction with mattresses so that you can decide which are your biggest priorities and compare and contrast specific brands and models.

• Durability: In supporting the body for hours every night, mattresses are subject to heavy use. Under this strain, a poorly constructed mattress will wear out prematurely, and that can reduce its pressure relief, bounce, and comfort. In addition, the longer a mattress lasts, the better your return on investment. Most mattresses will hold up for five years, but solidly built models can perform well for several years longer than that.
• Motion Isolation: People who share a bed know all too well that one person’s tossing and turning can disturb their partner. Motion isolation helps prevent these disruptions by limiting how much movement is transferred from one part of the mattress to another. Memory foam is a top material for motion isolation, but many polyfoams and latex often perform well in this area, too.
• Sex: If you want a mattress that works well for sexual activity, look for an option with plenty of responsiveness. When you move on a responsive mattress, it feels bouncy, making it easy to quickly move on the bed. Latex and hybrid mattresses usually have the most responsiveness. In contrast, plush mattresses that slowly rebound when pressure is removed can complicate sex by inhibiting movement.
• Temperature Neutrality: Some mattresses can cause a person to overheat at night. Most often, this occurs because it hugs the body so closely that it cuts off cooling airflow. Some materials, including memory foam, are also more prone to heating up. Many mattress makers include features to keep heat retention to a minimum and to improve airflow around the body and through the mattress layers.
• Pressure Relief: The support the body needs depends on its shape and where its weight is distributed. Areas that are heavier or at risk of more strain, like the lower back, abdomen, and shoulders, often need extra cushioning. A mattress should accommodate these pressure points to prevent aches and pains. Mattresses with at least moderate contouring tend to most effectively relieve pressure and improve spinal alignment.
• Off-gassing: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) created during the manufacturing process can emanate from a mattress when it is first set up in your bedroom. This isn’t a health risk, but it can cause a noticeable odor. This smell, which normally is worse with foam mattresses, typically goes away within a few hours, but to people who are very sensitive to smell, it may persist and be quite bothersome.
• Ease of Movement: Even people who like a plush feel normally don’t want to feel like they are sleeping in quicksand. Unfortunately, a mattress with too much sink and too little responsiveness can provoke this sensation. Ease of movement is especially important for combination sleepers who like to frequently change their sleeping posture over the course of the night.
• Edge Support: The perimeter of the mattress is usually its weakest point, sometimes even to the extent that it feels like you’ll roll out of or be ejected from the bed. This issue is most severe on very soft mattresses and those with limited responsiveness. Some beds are reinforced near the edge to help resolve this issue, which is of greater importance for people who regularly sleep or sit near the edge of the bed.

The tables below provide an in-depth look at how we rate the performance of the Tuft & Needle and Casper mattresses in these categories.

Tuft & Needle

Casper

In-Depth Pricing

Mattress prices can be all over the map. Promotions abound, which can add confusion for customers who may already be wondering why there is such a huge range of mattress prices.

The first thing to know is that shoppers very rarely pay the full retail price (MSRP); there is almost always some type of offer available to reduce the final bill.

The second thing to remember is that a higher price doesn’t guarantee a better mattress. While price and quality are often connected, it’s not a perfectly correlated relationship because various factors can influence the MSRP of any specific mattress model. Example of these factors include:

• The total number of layers
• The thickness of the layers
• The material used in each layer
• Whether the mattress has any certifications (such as for organic production)
• The country where the mattress was manufactured
• The inclusion of special features (for pressure relief, temperature regulation, or other performance elements)

The good news for shoppers is that intense competition in the mattress industry means that great values are available in almost every budget category.

This table shows the retail pricing of the Tuft & Needle and Casper mattresses in each of the standard sizes.

Tuft & Needle

Casper

The offerings from Tuft & Needle and Casper demonstrate the broad range of prices within the online mattress industry.

The Casper One and Tuft & Needle Original have comparable price-points. Both offer a budget-friendly option with an all-foam, no-frills design.

With a step up in price, you find two more robust all-foam mattresses – the Casper Dream Hybrid and the Tuft & Needle Mint – with a similar price. These hybrids are excellent choices for overall value. Compared to the budget options, they have a thicker comfort system that provides for a durable bed with more well-rounded performance.

Regardless of which option you are leaning toward, make sure to look for a promotion or discount because in most cases you can get a deal that allows you to pay at least 5% less than the sticker price.

Trials, Warranty and Delivery

A huge part of the success of brands like Casper and Tuft & Needle has come from their ability to make online mattress shopping convenient for customers. Achieving this has required careful attention to the logistics of shipping, returns, and warranties.

If this is your first time buying a mattress online, the following sections explain these practicalities and what to expect from these two powerhouse brands.

Shipping

When ordering a mattress online, delivery is handled in one of two ways: mattress-in-a-box shipping or White Glove delivery.

Mattress-in-a-Box Shipping

Mattress-in-a-box shipping has been critical to the growth of the online mattress industry. It involves compressing the mattress, encasing it in plastic, and sending it via FedEx or UPS ground services. The box is delivered to your door, and once you bring it to your bedroom and remove the packaging, the mattress decompresses to regain its complete size.

This is the standard shipping method for online mattresses and is almost always offered for free. The package normally arrives within a few business days after an order is placed. Though it is convenient, shoppers should be aware that it usually requires two people to move the box and set up the mattress.

Tuft & Needle offers free mattress-in-a-box shipping on all of its mattresses. Expedited mattress-in-a-box shipping is available for an additional charge.

Casper provides free standard shipping mattresses. Expedited shipping, including same-day delivery, is offered in some locations for a fee. The Wave Hybrid comes with free White Glove delivery.

White Glove Delivery

White Glove delivery includes mattress installation. A team brings the mattress to your home and sets it up in your bedroom. When they are finished, the service usually includes removal of your old mattress as well.

Casper and Tuft & Needle each offer White Glove delivery services for an added charge.

Shipping Outside the Contiguous United States

Shipping policies are generally different for Alaska, Hawaii, or other locations outside the 48 contiguous states. Delivery may not be available, and options, including White Glove delivery, may be limited. Extra costs frequently apply.

Both Casper and Tuft & Needle offer ground shipping but not White Glove delivery to Alaska, Hawaii, and some international locations. An extra charge is assessed at checkout and can vary depending on the shipping address.

Returns

Online mattress companies generally offer a much more customer-friendly return policy than brick-and-mortar stores. Often referred to as a sleep trial, these return policies allow you to use the mattress for a period of time with the ability to get a refund if you aren’t satisfied.

Most customers find that a sleep trial is far more meaningful in evaluating a mattress than going to a showroom and spending just a few minutes on a bed. Online companies tend to work hard to make the return process simple and straightforward.

Casper and Tuft & Needle both have hassle-free return policies. They offer a sleep trial of 100 nights, and there is no minimum number of nights that you must keep the mattress. If you decide to make a return, these companies work with you to coordinate pickup or donation of the mattress, and there is no return shipping or restocking fee.

Warranties

Mattresses almost always come with a warranty included in the purchase price. A warranty provides coverage of defects in materials and craftsmanship.

Mattress warranties virtually never cover standard wear-and-tear or accidental damage. Instead, they protect against more extreme or abnormal breakdown of the product. In addition, the warranty requires proper care including only using the mattress on certain types of bed frames.

If a defect arises, a warranty will stipulate a remedy. Usually, that means that the company can choose to repair or replace a defective mattress. A prorated warranty requires the customer to pay some of the repair or replacement costs, and the customer’s share goes up based on how long they’ve had the bed. A non-prorated warranty maintains the same coverage over the full warranty term.

Tuft & Needle and Casper both include a customer-friendly warranty that is non-prorated and lasts for 10 years, effectively protecting customers in the rare situation in which a mattress defect occurs.