Casper vs. Sleep Number: Mattress Comparison

Quick comparison: Casper vs. Sleep Number

Here’s a quick overview comparison of these two brands.

Casper

• Known for: Being one of the first online bed-in-a-box retailers.
• Mattress types: Foam, hybrid
• Available sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
• Price range: $595–$2,595 (based on the queen-size)
• Certifications: Foams are CertiPUR-US certified.
• Trial and warranty: Mattresses include a 100-night, risk-free trial and come with a 10-year limited warranty.
• Notable features: Casper mattresses are made with recycled bottles and are compatible with multiple bed frames, including the company’s adjustable base.

Sleep Number

• Known for: Its adjustable air beds that allow for dual-sided firmness customization.
• Mattress types: Air and foam
• Available sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, FlexTop king, California king, FlexTop California king, split California king
• Price range: $999–$5,099 (based on queen-size)
• Certifications: Foams are CertiPUR-US certified.
• Trial and warranty: Mattresses include a 100-night, risk-free trial and come with a 15-year limited warranty.

Pricing guide

To help give you an idea of how these mattresses compare in terms of pricing, each mattress will be marked with one of the following based on a queen-size mattress:

• $ = under $1,700
• $$ = $1,700–$2,500
• $$$ = over $2,500

Casper mattresses

Casper Element

• Price: $
• Type: Foam
• Height: 10 inches
• Firmness rating: Medium
• Good for: All sleeping positions; people on a budget

This is Casper’s basic entry-level mattress made with foam that’s designed to be more breathable than traditional memory foam. Reviewers generally like the Element, but some feel it’s too firm — especially for side sleeping. There are also mixed reports about off-gassing.

It’s one of the cheaper foam mattresses from a well-known brand on the market, so it’s a good pick if budget is your biggest concern.

Buy the Casper Element online.

Casper Original

• Price: $–$$
• Type: Foam or hybrid
• Height: 11 inches
• Firmness rating: Medium
• Good for: All sleeping positions

You can choose either an all-foam or hybrid model of this mattress — the hybrid is slightly pricier. Both versions of the mattress feature ergonomically designed “zones,” with softer foam under your shoulders and firmer foam for your waist and lower back.

Customers love both mattresses but note concerns about durability. People appreciate the reliable edge support of the memory foam version, which means the mattress doesn’t sag down if you roll over to the edge. They also like how well it isolates movement from tossing and turning partners. It’s also supposed to work well for couples with different firmness preferences.

Buy the Casper Original online.

Casper Wave Hybrid

• Price: $$$
• Type: Hybrid
• Height: 13 inches
• Firmness rating: Medium
• Good for: All sleeping positions

The Wave Hybrid is one of Casper’s luxury options and with that comes a higher price tag. It features layers of the same foam as other Casper mattresses, but it also has an extra layer of gel pods that are supposed to give more support under your waist and lower back.

Reviewers say the mattress offers a great balance of comfort and support — some even claim that the Wave helps with chronic pain.

Buy the Casper Wave Hybrid online

Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress

• Price: $$
• Type: Hybrid
• Height: 12 inches
• Firmness rating: Medium soft
• Good for: Side and combo sleepers

The Nova Hybrid is Casper’s newest mattress. This mattress also has the same foam as other Casper mattresses, but has an extra layer of pressure-relieving foam that is supposed to give it a softer feel.

Reviewers say the Nova offers just the right balance of support and softness, making it ideal for side sleepers or those who toss and turn. People also report that the mattress helps relieve pain.

Buy the Casper Nova Hybrid online.

Sleep Number mattresses

Sleep Number has a few different mattress lines with different mattresses within each line. We’ll walk through each line below and mention the main differences between the mattresses in each one.

Sleep Number Classic Series

• Price: $
• Type: Adjustable air
• Height: 8–9 inches
• Firmness rating: Adjustable
• Good for: Couples on a budget who want to try an adjustable air bed

The two mattresses in the entry-level Classic Series line — the c2 and c4 beds — are almost identical, but the c4 has a thicker comfort layer and therefore a taller overall mattress height.

While they’re thinner than their higher-priced counterparts, they do have the same main elements. They are adjustable and feature the brand’s Sleep IQ technology,* which is similar to the type of sleep tracking available on smart watches or other wearable trackers and designed to give you insight into your sleep.

The adjustable air design and Sleep IQ tech doesn’t make up for the slim design, some customers say, who complain about the model’s lack of cushioning. Reviewers also say it’s not the best pick for sleepers with higher body weight.

*Note: Healthline does not currently endorse Sleep Number’s Sleep IQ sleep tracking technology because we’re unable to validate its health claims. We provide more information on this below.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 c2 Smart Bed online.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 c4 Smart Bed online.

Sleep Number Performance Series

• Price: $$–$$$
• Type: Adjustable air
• Height: 10–11 inches
• Firmness rating: Adjustable
• Good for: Side sleepers seeking pressure relief

There are three mattresses in the Performance Series: the p5, pSE (special edition), and p6. These mattresses are a little softer and thicker than the Classic series because they feature added comfort layers for pressure relief. The p6 model is the thickest of the three at 11 inches. The pSE and p6 also have extra cooling features.

Reviewers have many positive things to say about the Performance mattresses. Some say this line helps with back pain, and others — couples in particular — appreciate the dual-sided adjustability. A few customers report bad experiences with these mattresses, saying they feel like a camping bed or that they’re too firm.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 p5 Smart Bed online.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 pSE Smart Bed online.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 p6 Smart Bed online.

Sleep Number Innovation Series

• Price: $$$
• Type: Adjustable air
• Height: 12–13 inches
• Firmness rating: Adjustable
• Good for: People who sleep hot

The two mattresses in this line — the i8 and i10 — are an upgrade from the Performance series, offering temperature regulating features that Sleep Number claims help cool sleepers down. The i10 is the thicker option of the two at 13 inches.

While many people rave about how comfortable the Innovation mattresses feel, some reviewers say the mattresses don’t provide the amount of pressure relief advertised. Others report that the app works inconsistently and that the bed just isn’t worth the high price tag.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed online.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Bed online.

Sleep Number Memory Foam

• Price: $$$
• Type: Adjustable air and memory foam
• Height: 11 inches
• Firmness rating: Adjustable
• Good for: People who like the body contouring feel of memory foam but also want adjustability

Finally, the memory foam mattress from Sleep Number features a combination of air technology and cushy, body-contouring memory foam. Despite containing memory foam, customers say the mattress feels like it’s lacking support. However, people love how well it isolates movement.

Buy the Sleep Number 360 m7 Smart Bed online.

How to choose the right mattress

So, how do you choose between brands? Here are the main considerations.

Price point

In the mattress world, a higher price tag often means higher quality, but that’s not always the case. But as a rule of thumb, the higher the price tag, the more features and durability you’ll likely get. Mattresses on the lower end of the price scale tend to be thinner than premium offerings.

Sleep Number mattresses are a lot more expensive than Casper models, but some customer complaints about the mattresses dipping and malfunctioning leave us wary. But other customers we spoke with say they’ve become Sleep Number loyalists since purchasing their first bed.

If adjustability is a key concern, you may find the Sleep Number smart beds worth the price. If you’re more focused on budget, Casper is your best bet.

Type

Casper offers a variety of mattress types, including all-foam and hybrid models. Hybrids combine the best qualities of foam and innerspring mattresses, providing extra comfort from layers of foam and solid support from a spring coil core. They tend to be pricier — but more durable — than all-foam mattresses.

All-foam mattresses are ideal for motion isolation and pressure relief. They also work well for people who want to feel like their mattress is hugging their body.

All of Sleep Number’s smart beds feature adjustable air chambers, so they’re highly customizable. Both sides of the bed can be adjusted independently, which is excellent for couples with drastically different preferences. Adjustable mattresses can also be a good option for people with back pain, says one 2015 study.

Firmness

Mattress firmness is largely up to personal preference. Still, there’s evidence that medium-firm mattresses provide the ideal amount of comfort for most sleepers.

Since Sleep Number mattresses are adjustable, it’s up to you to decide the firmness of the mattress, which can be a great way to ensure you’re always comfortable over time. Most of Casper’s mattresses are medium firmness, which can definitely still be a good option for most sleepers. People with higher body weight might find them too soft, though.

Materials

The stuff inside your mattress — and covering it — can affect your sleep. People sometimes avoid memory foam, for instance, because they say it feels like sleeping in quicksand. Foam is also notorious for trapping heat, which is not ideal if you’re prone to night sweats.

Though Casper’s foam is designed to feel a little different than memory foam, you might want to avoid an all-foam mattress if that body contouring, sinking-in feeling doesn’t appeal to you. If that’s the case, opt for a non-memory foam Sleep Number mattress instead.

Casper vs. Sleep Number delivery service

Here’s how Casper and Sleep Number delivery services stack up against each other.

Casper

Unsurprisingly, the bed-in-a-box retailer ships its mattresses compressed in boxes. Shipping via UPS is free to the lower 48 states. Casper also ships to most of Canada. In-home setup is available for a fee but is only available for some mattress types and sizes.

Sleep Number

Sleep Number smart beds need to be assembled upon arrival because they include several parts. Delivery, which includes setup, costs $199. People in Alaska and Hawaii have to pay extra for mattress delivery.

Sleep Number has a checklist to help customers prep for their mattress delivery.

Casper vs. Sleep Number company policies

Both companies offer a 100-night in-home trial and at least a 10-year limited warranty.

Casper

You’ll have 100 nights to give your new Casper mattress a whirl. A phone call or email to the support team will get the ball rolling if you decide to return or exchange the mattress.

Mattresses come with a pretty standard 10-year limited warranty. It covers defects and construction flaws like deep sagging.

Sleep Number

You need to sleep on your new Sleep Number mattress for at least 30 days before initiating a return. If you decide to return your mattress, know that the shipping fees aren’t refundable. You’ll also have to pay additional fees ($199–$249) if you want to return or exchange a mattress.

The mattresses come with a limited 15-year warranty. After a year, any required repairs are prorated based on when you bought the mattress.

Casper vs. Sleep Number company reputation and transparency 

Casper

• Casper has a BBB rating of A+ with an average customer review rating of 2.58 out of 5. Many of the complaints have to do with quality issues and Casper has responded to most of them.
• There is one pending lawsuit against Casper. It accuses the mattress company of hiding a reduction in profits from investors. An additional case dismissed in 2018 alleges that Casper tracked unknowing website visitors to grab their personal information, including addresses.
• Casper hasn’t recalled any products in recent years.

When it comes to transparency, Casper claims to design their mattresses in the United States, but the website has no information about where they’re manufactured. You can, however, find details about mattress materials and flammability information in the FAQ.

Sleep Number

Sleep Number has a good reputation based on the following criteria:

• Sleep Number is BBB accredited with a rating of A+ with an average customer review rating of 4.54 out of 5, and over 2,000 reviews. Most complaints have been marked as closed and have received responses from Sleep Number.
• We found one lawsuit from 2015 in which customers claimed that Sleep Number failed to honor the warranty when a recent bed purchase needed fixing. But the case was vacated and remanded in 2018.
• Sleep Number has not recalled any mattresses in recent years. But according to our research, they recalled the foot-warming accessory for Sleep Number 360 beds.

In terms of transparency, it’s tough to find information on what Sleep Number’s mattresses are made of and how they’re made. The only information we were able to find about whether the mattresses meet federal flammability standards was deep in the Q&A section of their Comfortaire RV mattress. Here’s the response from Sleep Number:

“Our beds meet federal regulations by using a proprietary configuration of fire retardant materials. We have worked closely with our suppliers to confirm both the safety and quality of these materials. However, for proprietary reasons, we cannot disclose the specific materials we use in our manufacturing process.”

A note on Sleep Number health claims

All Sleep Number smart beds have built-in SleepIQ technology, which is supposed to track biometrics like heart rate and breathing to give you insights about your sleep.

We know sleep tracking technology can be exciting for tech savvy sleepers, but some companies make claims that their technology can improve your sleep or overall health. These claims are often hard or impossible to validate.

We always recommend picking a mattress based on the mattress itself rather than any sleep tracking technology that comes with it. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk with your doctor about potential solutions before making your big mattress purchase

Casper vs. Sleep Number customer service and reviews

Here’s what customers have to say about each brand.

Casper

Reviews of Casper mattresses are a mixed bag. Many people love their Casper mattress and report having a great delivery experience. Others complain of shipping and delivery hiccups and difficulty getting in touch with customer service.

Several customers also complain that Casper customer service failed to address certain mattress flaws, claiming they don’t fall under the warranty. Reading the fine print is the best way to avoid any surprises when it comes time to contact customer service about a return or defect.

Sleep Number

While there are many positive reviews of Sleep Number mattresses, a common complaint is that the mattresses tend to dip down the middle. If a couple inflates each air chamber to a significantly different firmness level, it can cause unevenness, leading to uncomfortable sagging.

Some reviewers also say that the air beds frequently deflate, which you wouldn’t expect at such a high price point. With multiple moving parts, the Sleep Number beds are vulnerable to durability issues and premature breakdowns. Unfortunately, customers also report getting poor customer service both when dealing with new and old mattresses.

Takeaway

While Sleep Number has been around since the late ’80s, bed-in-a-box Casper is a relative newcomer in the mattress industry.

With solid reputations, both Casper and Sleep Number offer a wide selection of mattress types to suit different sleep styles. Their policies are pretty similar, too — barring the pricey shipping from Sleep Number.

Ultimately, you’ll need to decide whether Sleep Number’s smart features are worth the hefty price tag.

Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When she’s not click-clacking away on her keyboard, she’s probably nose-deep in a good book.