How to Unbox a Mattress (2025)

Published: April 3, 2025

Many retailers now deliver bed-in-a-box mattresses that are vacuum-sealed, rolled up, and placed in a box—right to your doorstep. Compared to a traditional fully expanded mattress, buying a bed-in-a-box makes it much easier to buy, receive, and transport a mattress into your home.

However, unpacking a bed-in-a-box mattress isn’t always intuitive, and there’s a right way to get a rolled-up mattress out of the box. Our step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to unbox a mattress.

 

 

1. Prepare the room and clear a path

When you receive your boxed mattress, you’ll likely need to move it from your doorstep to the room of your choice. To ensure a smooth process, keep the following points in mind:

• Make sure there’s enough space in your chosen room to unbox the mattress. This may involve getting rid of your old mattress before you bring in the new one.
• Ensure you have enough space between your front door and your bedroom to move the mattress box. You may need to temporarily move furniture and other items out of the way.

Mattress boxes tend to be 16″–20″ in length and width, and are commonly up to 46″ in height. However, these measurements can vary depending on the mattress brand. Some brands even deliver their mattresses in a bag rather than a box.

Different mattress types can also vary in weight based on their height and construction. Here is a rough guide to how much different-sized mattresses can weigh:

• Twin: 35–100 lb (common weight: 35 lb)
• Twin XL: 35–110 lb (common weight: 40 lb)
• Full/Double: 40–110 lb (common weight: 50 lb)
• Queen: 60–160 lb (common weight: 65 lb)
• King: 80–180 lb (common weight: 80 lb)
• California King: 80–180 lb (common weight: 80 lb)

Keep these factors in mind to make your moving and unboxing experience easier. With mattresses weighing more than 50 lb, we recommend asking a friend to help you move the mattress into your room and unbox it.

 

2. Bring the box into your home

 

Once your mattress is delivered, it will usually be placed at your doorstep, and you will need to bring it inside. Many bed-in-a-box mattresses are delivered directly to your home and left at your front door without requiring a signature. Keep this in mind when ordering your mattress to ensure it arrives safely.

READ MORE: Get our ranked list of the best mattresses in a box

Depending on where you purchased the mattress, the courier will most likely not bring the box inside your house.

Some companies may offer white-glove delivery service for an extra charge, in which case the delivery person will bring the mattress into a room of your choice. However, you will need to be home to receive the mattress.

 

3. Move the box into the bedroom

 

Now it’s time to move your mattress to the bedroom of your choice. Most mattress boxes have handle cutouts, making it easier to carry them upstairs. You can also tip the box onto its side and have one person carry each end.

Generally, moving a mattress is a two-person job. This can help you avoid injury and accidents, especially if you’re carrying a mattress box up a flight of stairs.

It may be possible to carry a twin or twin XL mattress by yourself, or move a mattress through a single-floor dwelling. However, it’s best to ask a friend for help. The extra set of hands will make moving and unboxing much easier.

READ MORE: How to move a mattress

 

4. Open the box

 

Now it’s time to open the box. Most boxes are sealed with heavy-duty packing tape, so you can use either a box cutter or a pair of scissors to open the top of the box.

We recommend scissors to reduce the risk of accidentally cutting your mattress, as this type of damage isn’t typically covered by mattress warranties. Always be careful when using sharp objects to avoid injuring yourself.

 

5. Remove the mattress from the box

 

Once you’ve opened the mattress box, we recommend using the tip-and-pull method to remove the mattress from the box. Follow these steps to do it safely:

1. From a standing position, tip the mattress box onto its side.
2. One person holds the unopened end of the box in place.
3. The other person firmly grasps the mattress and pulls it out of the box while anchoring their feet, slightly bending their knees, and engaging their core to avoid injury.

 

 

6. Place the mattress on your bed frame

 

Working with your partner, each of you should pick up the plastic-wrapped, rolled-up mattress at either end. Lift with your knees and place the mattress lengthwise on the bed frame. This will ensure you have enough space to unroll the mattress.

To make things even easier, look for a seam in the plastic wrap to see which way the plastic will unroll and place your mattress accordingly.

Before placing the mattress on your bed frame, double-check to make sure your new mattress is compatible with that type of bed frame. It’s possible you might need a box spring, foundation, wooden slats, or other accessory to ensure your mattress is properly supported. If you do, place the mattress on the necessary support system and proceed from there.

 

7. Remove the plastic wrapping

 

The mattress will likely be wrapped in at least two layers of plastic. The outer layer keeps the mattress rolled up, and the inner layer keeps the mattress vacuum sealed.

• To remove the first layer, grip the edge of the plastic and unroll the mattress until it lies flat. If needed, flip it so it’s right side up—some manufacturers roll mattresses with the bottom side out. You can discard this first layer of plastic. At this point, your mattress should be lying flat on the bed frame, right side up, and wrapped in a second, thicker plastic layer.
• To remove the second layer, use a pair of scissors to carefully cut open the second plastic layer in a straight line along the side of the mattress. Pull the plastic wrap away from the mattress when you’re cutting to avoid damaging it.

The mattress will start to expand at some point during the unwrapping process—normally when you cut the second layer, but sometimes when you finish unwrapping the first layer. You can either keep going or wait a few minutes to allow for full expansion.

Many mattress companies that offer sleep trials require you to cover the mattress with plastic wrap if you decide to return it. This protective second layer is intended for that purpose, so hang onto that layer in case you decide to return the mattress during the trial period.

 

8. Allow the mattress to expand

 

During the unwrapping process, you’ll notice the mattress starting to expand to its full size. Bed-in-a-box mattresses can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days to expand to their full height. For example, mattresses from GoodMorning.com usually take less than three minutes to fully expand and are sleep-ready the same day.

New mattresses often have an odour when you first unbox them. This is referred to as “off-gassing” and is typically not harmful, especially if a mattress uses CertiPUR-US® certified foams. Generally, this smell will dissipate within 24 hours.

To speed up the process, you can leave the bedroom door and windows open until the smell dissipates. It can also help to tip the mattress on its side for a short time to air out the top and bottom covers.

 

9. Throw away the empty box

 

Mattress boxes are usually recyclable. Just break it down and fold it as much as possible to fit in a recycling bag. Your local garbage collectors most likely won’t take a fully expanded box. (If you live in an apartment building with a recycling dumpster, you can use that instead.) The first layer of plastic wrap can be recycled, too.

Like we mentioned earlier, it’s good idea to keep the thicker inner layer of plastic, just in case you need to return the mattress for any reason. If you’d rather not keep the plastic around, you can always purchase a mattress bag from the hardware store if you need one.

 

10. Enjoy your new mattress

 

Once your mattress is fully expanded, it’s time to add bedding, such as:

• A mattress protector
• A fitted sheet and flat sheet
• A duvet or comforter
• Your favourite type of pillow

READ MORE: Get our ranked list of the best pillows in Canada

You’re all set! Enjoy your new mattress and many nights of quality sleep.

 

FAQ

What is mattress off-gassing?

Mattress off-gassing is the initial chemical-like odour that’s released when vacuum-sealed mattresses are opened. This smell is typically due to the packaging process, which seals in the “new foam smell” released during foam manufacturing.

While this smell can be unpleasant, it typically isn’t harmful. It should dissipate within 24 hours, or as the mattress fully expands. To speed up the process, unbox the mattress in a well-ventilated room and open a window to allow airflow.

 

How long does it take to break into a new mattress?

It can take 30–90 days to fully break in a new mattress. This is why the industry-standard sleep trial length is 100 nights, with most manufacturers not allowing returns before at least 21 nights. The process can take even longer if you are sleeping on a type of mattress that your body isn’t used to.

 

How can I break into a new mattress faster?

Breaking in a new mattress can take some time, but there are a few ways to speed up the process and help it feel more comfortable sooner:

1. Let it fully expand and breathe for at least a few hours before you sleep on it.
2. Allow it to reach room temperature. Foam tends to stiffen in colder temperatures. To help make it feel softer during the break-in period, you can increase the temperature in your room by a few degrees (Celsius) to soften the foam layers in your mattress.
3. Place heavy items on it, like a good number of hardcover books. Move them around periodically to ensure even weight distribution across the mattress. The added weight will help to soften up the top layers in a mattress, which can typically feel stiffer the first few days you sleep on it.
4. Be patient. The best way to break in a mattress is to lay on it regularly for extended periods of time. If you don’t want to sleep on it right away, you can also choose to lounge on it when you’re reading, watching television, or working. That way, the top layers of the mattress have a chance to break in and help it become your ideal sleep surface.

Please note that we don’t recommend jumping on your mattress to break it in. This can damage both your bed frame and the internal layers of the mattress.

 

What is a sleep trial?

A sleep trial is a period of time during which you can test out a mattress at home, with the option to return it back to the retailer if the mattress isn’t the right fit. Exact return policies differ from company to company.

Some companies, like GoodMorning.com, offer sleep trials up to 365 nights long. They also offer full refunds when you return a mattress during the sleep trial.

Other types of sleep trials include exchange-only trials, where you can exchange your returned mattress for a different one in the company’s collection. Carefully review the sleep trial policy for your chosen mattress to avoid any surprises if you decide to return it.

 

Do coil mattresses bend or fold?

Certain mattresses with coils aren’t designed to be bent or folded for long periods of time. However, these mattresses are usually delivered fully expanded.

Bed-in-a-box hybrid and innerspring mattresses are a different story. They’re designed to be compressed and rolled up using special equipment in a factory setting. Many of these mattresses use pocket coils, which provide extra protection during the boxing process. Once the mattress has unboxed, it shouldn’t be bent, folded, or rolled up again.

 

How do I roll my mattress back up into the box?

Most bed-in-a-box products are compressed and vacuum-sealed using high pressure and industrial-grade machinery. Once the mattress expands, it can’t be compressed back to its original size without specialized equipment.

If you want to return your mattress, most companies will pick it up fully expanded. They won’t ask you to fit it back in the box. However, they may ask that you cover the expanded mattress with the plastic cover that it originally came with, or a mattress bag purchased from a hardware store.