Serta -in-a-Box Mattress Review

Product Description

Serta has earned a prominent repertoire in the US mattress industry for a period of 85 years. So, after reviewing Serta’s Arctic Hybrid and iComfortECO Hybrid mattresses, I decided to give its Mattress-In-a-Box a try.

You’ll find that a Bed-In-a-Box mattress is a comfortable option, if you sleep alone or with a partner. In this case, Serta has designed a supportive, comfortable, compact bed with cooling abilities. And you also have two versions in this mattress, with different firmness levels – Medium and Medium Firm.

Well, personally I prefer mattresses that exhibit a medium range of firmness as they can cater to a wider range of sleeping styles and body weight. Medium to medium-firm beds are recommended by chiropractors for back sleepers of all weight ranges, stomach sleepers of average build, and side sleepers who are on the leaner side.

In this case, Serta has designed 2 variants: Medium Firm Serta Sheer Slumber™ and its Medium Serta Sheep Retreat™. And I’m about to review them and see how well they balance support and cushioning.

I’ve checked that the mattress has gel memory foam to regulate temperature and airflow. This will actually keep you cool throughout the night as you sleep. As for safety and the quality of materials used, it’s built with CertiPUR-US® Certified materials.

It comes with Serta’s 10-year warranty and 120-day in-home trial. And, I’d recommend you to stay updated on Serta’s offers during all major sales events of the year. By planning your budget well and by tracking mattress offers you can shop wisely. For this you can visit our page on the Best Time to Buy Mattresses and track mattress prices all year round to keep ahead.

Q1. What is unique about Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress? Does it provide superior cooling, comfort, back support, and pressure relief?

I’ll be detailing on each feature of both the mattress variants below.

• Cooling

This Mattress-in-a-Box comes with cooling properties. Here is how. Featuring gel memory foam, this mattress allows for optimal airflow, keeping you cool and comfortable throughout the night. The innovative design prevents heat buildup, ensuring a refreshing sleep experience even on warmer nights.

• Comfort

Serta has designed two firmness options keeping comfort and individuality in mind. Both variants, Medium Firm Serta Sheer Slumber™ and Medium Serta Sheep Retreat™, offer a balance of plushness and support. The gel memory foam gently contours to your body, providing personalized comfort and eliminating pressure points for a restful sleep.

• Back Support

For back support both the medium firm and medium variants are designed in such a way that they provide support to your lower back, hips and pelvis region. Serta’s Foam Core ensures durable and consistent support from edge to edge. This feature not only leads to proper spinal alignment but also reduces the risk of waking up with back discomfort, making it an excellent choice for those seeking reliable back support.

• Pressure Relief

For those of you suffering from back pain and aches in the pressure points of your body, pressure relief can relieve sore joints gradually over a period of time. This mattress showcases pressure relief. Its gel memory foam layer cradles your body, distributing weight evenly and alleviating pressure points. Whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper, or stomach sleeper, the bed supports your body adding in long-lasting comfort to keep you feeling refreshed.

Q2. How firm is Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress?

Okay, so here’s the trick to select a mattress with the ideal degree of firmness. Firmness depends on the variant you choose i.e. Serta Sheer or Serta Sheep Retreat. And, keep your sleep position in mind while choosing a variant.

• Medium Firm (Serta Sheer Slumber™)

To start with, this variant has a medium-firm feel. When you lie atop it you’ll experience a balance between medium and firm level. It has a supportive yet comfortable surface suiting various sleep positions.

• Medium (Serta Sheep Retreat™)

On the other hand, Medium variant of Serta Mattress-in-a-Box offers a medium feel. It provides a slightly softer surface while still maintaining adequate support. This makes it ideal to cushion your painful areas if you have recurring back pain or if you are a side sleeper. It’ll also be well aligned to light and average weight back sleepers, and light weight stomach sleepers.

Ultimately, your preference for firmness varies as per your sleeping style and personal comfort needs. But I’ll advise you to do a thorough research before choosing.

Q3. How thick is Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress?

Serta Mattress-in-a-Box mattress is 8 inches thick. This thickness provides a comfortable and supportive sleep surface while also being conveniently packaged for easy delivery and setup.

Q4. Is Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress safe?

Yes, I find this Serta Mattress-in-a-Box mattress quite safe. It is made with CertiPUR-US® Certified foam, which means it has been tested for and is free from harmful chemicals and gases. Additionally, Serta follows safety standards and guidelines in the design and construction of their mattresses, ensuring a safe and healthy sleep environment for users.

Q5. What sizes are available for Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattresses?

Serta Mattress-in-a-Box mattresses are available in the following sizes:

• Twin: 74.5″ long x 38″ wide x 8″ high
• Full: 74.5″ long x 53″ wide x 8″ high
• Queen: 79.5″ long x 60″ wide x 8″ high
• King: 79.5″ long x 76″ wide x 8″ high

All these size options are made so as to cater to a range of bed frames and your sleeping preferences. You can easily choose the size that best fits your bedroom needs.

Q6. Briefly discuss Serta’s mattress policy on shipping, delivery, risk-free trial, and warranty.

Detailed below is my take on Serta’s comprehensive mattress policy. I’ve covered all the important things – from shipping, delivery, to risk-free trial, and warranty.

• Shipping & Delivery

The delivery timeframe for your new mattress to reach you is typically 1-3 weeks via FedEx Ground shipping. However, you need to keep in mind that shipping to Alaska and Hawaii is currently not available.

• Risk-Free Trial

There’s a 120-Day In-Home Trial that comes with this Bed-In-a-Box mattress. You can actually use this period wisely and try out the mattress in your bedroom for up to 120 days. Check whether you’re completely satisfied during this trial period. Just in case, you can exchange or return the mattress for a refund.

• Warranty

I’ve said this before, and I’ll share this again. Serta mattresses are all backed by Serta’s 10-Year Limited Warranty period. Now, a mattress’s usual lifespan is around 7 to 10 years. Thus this warranty pretty much covers manufacturing and workmanship defects. If you encounter any issues covered by the warranty, you can contact Serta for assistance and solutions.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Those looking for a convenient mattress solution with compact packaging.
• If you prioritize cooling comfort during sleep.
• For sleepers seeking a balance of support and cushioning for various sleep positions.
• If you value CertiPUR-US® Certified foam for safety and quality.
• Anyone interested in a risk-free trial and a 10-Year Limited Warranty for added assurance.

Cons:

• If you prefer extremely firm or extremely soft mattresses outside the medium to medium-firm ranges offered here.
• Sleepers who seek specific features such as – advanced adjustable firmness or specialized support systems not offered in this model.

Firmness

I’ll explain in simple terms what mattress firmness means by. Your mattress’s firmness refers to the feel or hardness of a mattress surface. It determines how soft or firm the mattress feels when you lie down on it. The firmness scale is a way to classify mattresses based on their firmness levels, typically ranging from soft to firm.

A mattress firmness scale uses numbers from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. This industrial scale helps you understand and choose a mattress that aligns with comfort preferences.

Now I’ll break down the varying firmness levels across its two variants.

Medium Firm (Serta Sheer Slumber™)

• Firmness: Medium-firm
• Suitable Sleeping Styles: I’d recommend this for back sleepers who prefer a balance of support and cushioning. Stomach sleepers do need support to keep their hips elevated and this firmness can be comfortable. Also I’d ask side sleepers to give this firmness a try, particularly if you need adequate support but don’t like sinking deep into the mattress.

Medium (Serta Sheep Retreat™)

• Firmness: Medium
• Suitable Sleeping Styles: Since this on the less-firmer side, I’d advise side sleepers to opt for this firmness level. They usually need a softer surface to relieve pressure points. This firmness will also go well for light to average weight back sleepers who prefer a slightly plush feel specially if they have back pain or painful pressure zones. Additionally, light weight stomach sleepers may find this firmness level comfortable.

Material & Construction

Q1. What are the unique technology, design, and materials used in the construction of the Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress?

Both the variants are comfortable and compact but they provide different feel and firmness level. The difference lies on what goes into the making of each variant and its layers.

Here I’ve described every layer and materials used in the design of Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress for both its variants.

Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™)

• Top Layer: It has a gel-based memory foam designed to contour and cushion your body. The cover promotes breathability for cooling comfort.
• Support Layer: Serta Foam Core adds to the durability of this variant. It provides a consistent support edge to edge, ensuring sustained comfort throughout the night.

Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™)

• Top Layer: Gel memory foam layer delivers cushioning comfort and airflow. It gently contours your body for pressure relief.
• Transition Layer: Support Foam strikes a balance between cushioning and support, catering to varying sleeping styles. It’s especially beneficial to back pain sufferers and people with body aches.
• Support Layer: Transitional support foam offers all-over body support, contributing to long-lasting comfort and proper spinal alignment.

Both variants are responsibly crafted in USA and feature CertiPUR-US® Certified foam, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals and gases. These unique layers and materials are carefully designed to deliver optimal comfort, support, and cooling for a restful night’s sleep.

Rating

Repositioning

Q1. How would you rate Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress from a repositioning & responsiveness perspective? 

From a repositioning and responsiveness perspective, I would rate Serta Mattress-in-a-Box mattress as quite good. Allow me to explain.

Although it’s a compact bed-in-a-box mattress, it’s designed to deliver responsiveness. It has gel memory foam in both variants to provide a responsive surface that adjusts to your movements, making it easier to change positions without feeling stuck.

Additionally, its supportive foam core ensures support across the mattress, aiding in smooth repositioning. This responsiveness is particularly beneficial if you are a combination sleeper who likes to move frequently during the night.

Comfort, Back Support, Pressure Relief

Q2. How would you rate Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress for providing comfort and pressure relief to sleepers? 

Comfort

I would rate this compact Serta Mattress-in-a-Box mattress highly for comfort. Both its variants—the Medium Firm Serta Sheer Slumber™ and the Medium Serta Sheep Retreat™—offer a well-balanced feel. This I what makes it suitable to various sleeping preferences. The gel memory foam layer in each variant contours to the body, providing a plush and supportive surface that enhances overall comfort. Whether you prefer a medium-firm or medium feel, this mattress ensures a comfortable sleeping experience.

Pressure Relief

Its gel-based memory foam layer can distribute your body weight and alleviates pressure points, near your body’s pressure zones i.e. hips, shoulders, pelvis or knee. This is particularly beneficial if you happen to be a side sleeper and if you experience discomfort in areas like the hips and shoulders.

The additional layers in the Medium variant further enhance pressure relief by offering extra cushioning and support. This targeted relief ensures you wake up feeling refreshed and free from aches and pains.

Cooling & Temperature Control

Q3. How would you rate the cooling and overall temperature control characteristics of Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress?

I find Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress effective in dissipating body heat, and I’d recommend this compact bed for you if you tend to sweat or overheat during sleep. The inclusion of gel memory foam in both variants promotes airflow and heat dissipation, keeping the mattress surface cool throughout the night.

Motion Isolation and Sharing a Bed

Q4. Does Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattress provide reasonable motion isolation when sharing a bed with others?

It does on a decent level. Its gel memory foam layer in both Medium Firm and Medium variants is designed to reduce motion transfer. This means that movements on one side of the bed are less likely to be felt on the other side, ensuring a more undisturbed sleep for both partners. This feature is especially beneficial if you share your bed, as it helps minimize sleep disturbances caused by a partner’s movements during the night.

Edge Support

Q5. How would you rate the edge support of Serta Mattress-In-a-Box mattresses?

I would rate the edge support as decent. Both the Medium Firm and Medium variants feature an improved Serta Foam Core that provides consistent and durable support from edge to edge. This design ensures that you can sit or sleep near the edges of the mattress without experiencing significant sagging or loss of support. The robust edge support is beneficial for maximizing the usable sleep surface and maintaining comfort and stability across the entire mattress.

Recommendation based on sleeping style

The medium and medium-firm range of firmness makes this Serta mattress well-designed to cater to a variety of sleeping styles. I would say, side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers may all feel quite comfortable on this mattress. One more thing, you need to consider your body type and weight before deciding which variant to go for.

Here’s how I find each variant aligns with your unique sleeping style and weight range.

Side Sleepers

Light Weight (<130 pounds)

• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): Good for side sleepers, offering a softer surface that contours to the body and provides pressure relief at the shoulders and hips.
• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): May also be comfortable, providing balanced support without being too firm.

Average Weight (130-230 pounds)

• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): Suitable for average weight side sleepers, providing a balance of cushioning and support to alleviate pressure points.
• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): Also a good choice, offering support while still maintaining adequate comfort.

Heavy Weight (>230 pounds)

• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): More suitable for heavyweight side sleepers, providing the necessary support to prevent excessive sinking and maintain spinal alignment.
• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): May be less supportive for heavyweight individuals, potentially leading to more sinkage.

Back Sleepers

Light Weight (<130 pounds)

• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): I’d recommend this variant for lightweight back sleepers, as it offers a comfortable balance of support and cushioning.
• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): Also appropriate, providing slightly firmer support which I think can be beneficial for your spinal alignment.

Average Weight (130-230 pounds)

• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): Pretty well for average weight back sleepers, as it ofers firm support to maintain spinal alignment and prevent lower back pain.
• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): Also a viable option, providing a balance of comfort and support.

Heavy Weight (>230 pounds)

• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): Well suited for heavyweight back sleepers, offering the firm support necessary to prevent sagging and maintain proper spinal alignment.

• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): May not provide sufficient support for heavyweight individuals, potentially leading to discomfort due to sinkage.

Stomach Sleepers

Light Weight (<130 pounds)

• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): Decent for lightweight stomach sleepers, providing firm support to prevent the hips from sinking too much and maintaining spinal alignment.
• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): Also comfortable for light weight stomach sleepers, offering adequate support and softness.

Average Weight (130-230 pounds)

• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): Works quite well for average weight stomach sleepers, providing firm support to keep the body properly aligned.
• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): May still be suitable, but some may prefer the firmer support of the Medium Firm variant.

Heavy Weight (>230 pounds)

• Medium Firm Variant (Serta Sheer Slumber™): I’d recommend this for heavyweight stomach sleepers. It provides the necessary support to prevent excessive sinking and maintain proper spinal alignment.
• Medium Variant (Serta Sheep Retreat™): Likely too soft for heavyweight stomach sleepers, potentially causing discomfort and misalignment.

Keeping the end note short. I find Serta Mattress-In-a-Box a compact, comfortable mattress that’s meant for solo sleepers or if you plan to sleep with your partner. It gives a snug and cozy sensation, if you lie down on its Medium variant. But the Medium-Firm model can go well for athletes or if you have an inclination towards a firmer bed.

In essence, it’s a bed-in-a-box mattress that offers versatility and comfort. Its firmness and design is such that it can fit a range of sleeping styles too. Each variant is uniquely engineered by Serta to cater to your specific needs based on weight and sleeping position.

Price

Coupons & Deals

• Save up to $725 on select mattresses + adjustable bases.

Check Other Serta Mattress Models