How To Set Up A King Size Box Spring

Updated May 26, 2022

A box spring is a bed base with a wooden frame and either actual springs or metal rods that provide back up to a mattress. It is a type of mattress foundation. The box leap is usually the same size as the mattress that sits on it.

What's the Purpose of a Box Spring?

So, what does a box spring do? While the mattress provides support to the human being torso, the box leap ensures that the mattress itself is properly supported. Information technology provides a stable surface for your mattress to residuum on and absorbs shock, reducing wear on the mattress. This helps ensure your mattress maintains a long comfort life and provides you with a good nighttime's sleep.

Box springs also raise the height of a mattress to make information technology easier to get in and out of bed. In a complete bed set up, they're typically placed on top of a wooden or metallic bed frame that'south connected to the headboard and footboard.

It's also common to encounter mattresses and box springs used together without a complete bed. Many sleepers who don't feel the need to have a decorative-looking bed will place their box spring directly on the floor, or on casters that stand on the flooring. Depending on what you need, there are different types of box springs.

Practice You Need a Box Spring?

Although most modern mattresses don't need 1 to be comfortable some mattress warranties still require a box spring. In some cases, calculation it to your mattress enhances the condolement and back up you go from your bed. The information below should answer the question, 'Practice I Need a Boxspring?'.

A box spring is necessary if:

• Your mattress warranty requires one (helps to forbid your mattress from breaking downwardly)

• Yous're using a bed frame (mattresses tin can't rest on those alone)

• Your mattress is a traditional double-sided innerspring

• You need or want the extra height, to brand it easier to get into and out of bed

• You desire the added bounce and support

Sometimes a dissimilar blazon of foundation works better, depending on the type of mattress and your personal preferences. Larn more about that in our Foundation Guide.

Related: Which Mattresses & Box Springs Work with Platform Beds?

When Should Y'all Buy a New Box Spring?

Does your New Mattress Need a New Box Bound?

When shopping for a new mattress, y'all may be considering whether you should buy a new box spring (foundation) as well. Or, you may wonder if it would assist to supersede information technology periodically regardless of a new mattress.

Information technology's not ever necessary to replace your box spring every time you replace your mattress, but it's probably a good idea to do so. They do clothing out at a similar rate equally mattresses. Box springs concluding effectually x years, which is a slightly longer lifespan than the typical mattress.

If a box bound has any major defects like cleaved slats or noticeable sagging, information technology won't provide adequate support and you lot will need a new one. Worn-out box springs can cause your new mattress to sag sooner and create discomfort. Mattress warranties will often be voided if you apply a box spring that'due south cleaved or sagging.

You lot should buy a new box bound if:

• You do non already have an appropriate base for your mattress

• Your current 1 has broken slats

• Your electric current one has noticeable sagging

• You lot've already had your current one for eight-10 years

Find Your New Box Spring

How to Set Up a Box Spring

Typically, box springs come up fully assembled, and so you would simply place it where yous want information technology. Some, like a smart box leap, that get above and beyond a traditional box spring may have a few parts to put together, but it should be easy to assemble with instructions. These are normally metal, with a fabric covering that acts equally a complete foundation.

In a complete bed set, box springs are typically placed on a bed frame that connects to the headboard and footboard. Information technology'due south likewise mutual to see mattresses and box springs used together without a consummate bed frame.

Those who don't experience the need to have a decorative-looking bed can but place their box leap on the flooring or on casters, with the mattress on top.

With large mattresses, like a male monarch-size, the box spring can be difficult to maneuver through tight spaces in your home. In this case, information technology may be benign to buy a split box jump, which is split into two halves.

How to Cull a Box Spring

What type of box jump should you use with your mattress? Well, it'south all-time to start past figuring out what you want and what will piece of work in your home. Here's how to do that:

Measure your mattress and bed frame:

You demand to cull the correct dimensions for your box leap. You lot'll want the dimensions to be the same as your mattress so information technology isn't sticking out or allowing the mattress to hang over the edges. Make sure information technology volition fit with your bed frame besides if yous accept one.

For reference, the chart below shows the standard dimensions of each mattress size.

Size	Dimensions
Male monarch	76" x 80"
Cal Male monarch	72" 10 84"
Queen	60" x 80"
Full XL	54" x 80"
Total	53" x 75"
Twin XL	38" x 80"
Twin	38" x 75"

Make up one's mind what you lot want your overall bed tiptop to exist:

Box springs add additional height to your bed. Mattresses have gotten taller than they used to be, so one mode to offset that is to apply a depression-profile box spring, usually 5 inches in height. On the other hand, if you're looking to make your bed taller, a standard box spring is 9 inches in acme.

Choose betwixt split and standard box springs:

When buying a large mattress, such as a rex-size, the box spring will besides be large. As they're much less flexible, they tin can exist hard to maneuver through the hallways and doors in your home. A solution to this problem is a split box spring. It'll come in two halves, making it much easier to movement it around tight corners and small spaces.

Think about the materials:

If you take allergies, you lot tin can observe options with hypoallergenic materials and covers. In that location are besides organic box springs, as well as some that add back support.

Once you've determined the above, y'all'll exist prepared to decide on the right box spring for your mattress and home.

Consider your mattress blazon:

If you have a retention foam mattress, y'all may demand something different than if you accept an innerspring or hybrid mattress. Box springs were designed for innersprings, and you may have a faster breakdown of your memory cream if you place information technology on a box leap rather than a platform bed, foundation, or adjustable bed. Foundations tin exist helpful for adding edge support to a memory foam mattress.

Mattresses with coil systems are platonic for box spring use, although some will practise okay on other types of foundations. Your best bet is to consult your mattress warranty.

Check the weight chapters:

Whatsoever yous decide to use to support your mattress, make sure to cheque its weight capacity. It has to be strong enough to hold upward the weight of the mattress and the people sleeping on it.

The Dissimilar Types of Box Springs

In that location are different construction types as well as varying height options and split foundations. Over the last several years, advancements in sleep engineering have resulted in mattresses that are a lot taller than they used to be. For this reason, many manufacturers produce low-profile box springs. too equally ultra-low profile box springs.

The difference in height is completely aesthetic. There'due south no divergence in the amount of support they provide to the mattress. Whether you use standard or depression profile, yous can count on your mattress getting the support it needs.

Ultra-Low Profile Box Springs

Ultra-low box springs measure 2 inches in peak and are the thinnest of the thin. These are usually but bunkie boards made for all sizes of mattresses. This blazon of foundation is ordinarily used in platform beds and older wooden frame beds.

Low Profile Box Springs

Low-profile box springs are abouthalf the height of a standard one, measuring betwixt 5 and v.5 inches in height. They're good for those who don't similar the rising heights of new mattresses. The comfort doesn't alter, low profile box springs are fabricated with the aforementioned materials as a standard box spring, and provide only equally much support.

Standard Box Springs

While they come in a multifariousness of unlike constructions, the standard box jump is usually 9 inches in summit.

Coil Box Springs

These are the traditional option, they have a wooden frame with coils that are evenly spaced throughout. The coils will give your mattress more than bounciness and can help soften a firmer mattress. They may not offer equally much support as other types, especially for more modernistic mattresses which are usually designed for a more solid foundation. Coil box springs are all-time with innerspring mattresses.

Zip-Deflection Box Springs

These are the virtually unremarkably used because they offer expert support for your mattress. They consist of wooden slats and sometimes use wire for more support. They're much more durable than coil box springs and don't have every bit much flexibility. They're compatible with near all modern mattresses. It could be considered a wood box bound.

Semi-Flex Box Springs

This blazon gives more support with a flake of flex. They're made up of a wooden frame with a metal filigree above the slats and are usually the well-nigh expensive type of box jump. If you take a heavier mattress (latex and memory foam style mattresses oft are) then this may be a adept option.

Split Box Springs

This user-friendly option comes in two halves, which makes it much easier to move throughout your house. If you have tight corners this can be nice, as box springs aren't bendable like a mattress. These are usually merely offered for larger mattresses, like king size or queen size. Merely make certain your bed frame tin hold this kind of box bound, it volition need to have support in the eye.

Explore Box Springs

Box Spring vs Foundation

These two words are often used interchangeably, just what's the difference? Both provide back up to a mattress, and they look the aforementioned from the outside. Even so, box springs accept steel springs that add support and shock absorption. They work very well with innerspring mattresses, equally that's what they were designed for. They're not platonic for mattresses that don't take a coil arrangement, so work best for latex or foam mattresses.

Foundations are more solid frames, fabricated of metal or forest, and encased in cloth. In that location are unlike styles, some are designed with slats and some are solid wooden frames without openings. They're more than suited to not-curl mattresses, which tend to be heavier. They tin support more than weight than the springs of a box spring but don't accept as much flex.

Protect Your Mattress Warranty

Near manufacturers crave that a mattress exist supported by a box leap to file warranty claims. An exception to this is when a mattress lies on a platform bed or adjustable base of operations. Since platform beds characteristic either wooden slats or a deck, the mattress doesn't need the extra support. Check out our article to learn more about foundations.

The warranty also requires that the box bound is in good plenty status that information technology will not damage the mattress.

Nosotros're Here to Help You Detect the Right Box Spring

At Usa-Mattress, our team of experts is dedicated to helping you on your shopping journey, whatever you're looking for. If you accept any questions at all, they'll exist happy to help! They know information technology tin be a confusing procedure and will practice what they can to get in easy.

So, if you take any questions about choosing the correct box leap, yous tin call one-800-455-1052to speak to a friendly mattress practiced who tin help you brand the right determination.

You can also chat live with a mattress expert by clicking on the imperial "Chat" bubble.

Y'all may also find answers in these related articles:

• Which Mattresses/Box Springs Work with Platform Beds?

• What is a Foundation?

• Adjustable Bed Base Guide

About the Writer, Juliana Huhta, Mattress Expert

Juliana has spent several years in the mattress industry, writing about and reviewing mattresses. She has a deep understanding of how mattresses work for different people and bear on sleep.

Source: https://www.us-mattress.com/what-is-a-box-spring.html

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