The box spring bed: construction, pros and cons

By Deluxe Sleep · Published on 28 July 2026

The box spring bed: construction, pros and cons

Demand keeps rising, they are becoming more popular across generations, and they can already be found in many Swiss bedrooms: box spring beds. High time, then, to take a closer look at how this bed is built, and at its pros and cons.

Box spring bed: origins and what sets it apart

Box spring beds may seem modern and novel – but this type of bed construction has actually been around for a long time. At the end of the 19th century, American bed manufacturers were looking for a hygienic solution for beds. Until then, mattresses had simply been laid directly on the floor. This led, for the first time, to innerspring mattresses being combined with likewise metal-sprung bed bases. These so-called box spring beds caught on only slowly and were especially widespread in the Anglo-American world, Scandinavia and the Benelux countries. In our part of the world, box spring beds are still relatively new, but they are steadily gaining in importance.

Box spring bed: how the elements are built

The term "box spring" combines "box" and "spring" and so describes the construction: a box with a spring core in place of a slatted base. Metal springs are typically used here. An innerspring mattress is then usually placed on top of the box. This double layer of springs creates the "floating lying feel" that many box spring bed owners describe.

It is different with the BICO box spring beds we carry in our range: instead of traditional steel springs, BICO uses metal-free polymer springs. They are fatigue-free and are combined with high-quality premium foams. The 5-zone construction creates optimal support and pressure relief across the entire sleeping surface.

In "continental" box spring beds, the mattresses are upholstered in fabric or leather, which gives the bed its typical look. Alternatively, a box spring bed can also be combined with cold-foam or latex mattresses. Here it should be noted that the mattress should be matched to the box, and that the lying feel changes slightly as a result.

The sleep system is rounded off – with BICO too – by a topper. This is a padded mattress overlay (approx. 4-7 cm) that is placed on top of the mattress. The topper increases lying comfort and can be easily cared for and replaced when needed.

Finally, the headboard is what gives most box spring beds their stylistic character. It not only turns the bed into a stylish piece of furniture, but also serves as a comfortable place to lean against.

Box spring bed: pros and cons of the bed system

Visually, and also in terms of lying comfort, a box spring bed is largely a matter of taste. You can configure the bed like a piece of furniture, to your own taste. Thanks to its headboard and upholstery fabric, it radiates a pleasant homeliness that can turn your bedroom into a cosy retreat. Thanks to the wide choice of different shapes, materials and colours, the bed can be put together individually to match all kinds of interior styles. Anyone who finds box spring beds too bulky now also has the choice of visually lighter, less dominant shapes. The generally rather high entry height of the box spring, on the other hand, is appreciated by most people, since it makes getting up easier.

Many people only know this typical lying comfort from hotel stays: they describe a very distinctive and highly comfortable lying feeling, "as if on clouds." This is created by the double layer of springs. Good box spring beds are coherent systems made up of specially matched components that meet the requirements of different body types. However, they can rarely be adjusted entirely to the individual.

Anyone with very particular requirements for their sleep environment may be better served by a traditional bed system. Consisting of a mattress and an insert frame, this usually offers a larger range of differently constructed and highly differentiated, zoned mattresses. These, in turn, can be combined with various, mostly adjustable, insert frames.

BICO box spring beds are the first to unite the best of both worlds here: the differentiated, zoned lying feel of state-of-the-art mattress technology, integrated into an award-winning and fully customisable box spring design.

Conclusion

A box spring bed stands out for its look as well as its distinctive lying feel. As with any other bed, the same rule applies here: get expert advice and try before you buy. Make sure that factors such as body weight, sleeping habits or health concerns have been considered when choosing your box spring bed. We would be happy to advise you on this in our showroom in Bischofszell and let you try out the various box spring beds in peace and quiet.

Source: this article is based on a piece from the BICO sleep blog (bico.ch). The research findings, product developments and test results mentioned in it come from BICO or from the respective named third parties.