There are a lot of mattress-in-a-box companies out there, but two that always get good reviews from customers are Nectar and Casper. We decided to put together a thorough comparison of the two because these mattresses have such a broad appeal and suit a wide range of different sleepers. When it comes to Nectar vs. Casper, what makes one stand out more than the other? What features can help you decide which one is right for you?
We were surprised by the results of this comparison because we concluded that these are both excellent mattresses with a lot of great things to offer. That said, the Casper vs. Nectar debate did have clear winners for different sleeping positions and types of sleepers. Let’s take a look at what sets these mattresses apart.
| Nectar | Casper |
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| VIEW ON AMAZON | VIEW ON AMAZON |
| Nectar | Casper | |
| Type | Foam | Foam |
| Firmness | Medium-firm (5.5) | Medium-firm (6.5) |
| Thickness | 11″ | 12″ |
| Weight | 75.1 lbs | 85 lbs |
| Sleep trial | 365 nights | 100 nights |
| Warranty | Lifetime limited, replacement within 10 years | 10 years |
| Price | $699 | $954 |
| Certification | CertiPUR-US | CertiPUR-US, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 |
| Nectar | Casper | |
| Support core | 1 3/4″ polyfoam
5 1/4″ 2.2 PCF HD polyfoam |
7″ 1.8 PCF HD polyfoam |
| Comfort layers | 1″ 4 PCF Gel memory foam
3″ 3.5 PCF memory foam |
1.5″ polyfoam
1.5″ 4 PCF memory foam 1.5″ latex-like foam |
| Cover | Tencel® lyocell and cotton | polyester |
First, let’s look at the Nectar mattress. A great thing about this mattress is that even the cover is designed for optimal comfort. It uses Tencel fabric, which helps wick away moisture to keep you cool. Next is a one-inch layer of gel memory foam that provides cushioning support while helping with temperature control. Under that is a layer of adaptive high core memory foam which is soft and supportive. Finally, the bottom support layer provides a stable foundation with surprising breathability that provides stable support while allowing air to circulate through for a better night’s sleep.
The Casper mattress features a seven-inch dense polyfoam support core that makes it a little firmer than the Nectar with a 6.5 rating. There are three comfort layers. The top layer is made of 1.5-inch foam made by Casper. It’s designed to gently cradle you while still providing a good amount of support. Under that layer are 1.5 inches of slightly firmer memory foam designed for contouring to your body. The third layer of support foam is also 1.5 inches and features Zoned Support, which provides more support for the hips and back while being a little softer under the shoulders and legs. Finally, the polyester mattress cover easily unzips for spot cleaning.
There are a lot of things that contribute to how comfortable a mattress is. In some of these areas, Nectar comes out on top; in other, Casper is the better choice. Let’s take a look at all of the things that contribute to a comfortable sleep and how each mattress measures up.
The Nectar mattress is considered medium-firm but is just slightly softer than the Casper. The Nectar is rated as a 5.5 on the firmness scale, the Casper — a 6.5. Since there are two layers of memory foam, the Nectar mattress conforms to your body while helping to cushion pressure points and prevent pain in the neck, shoulders, and back.
As we mentioned, the Casper mattress is just a little firmer than the Nectar. It has a gentle cradle that doesn’t hug quite as much like the Nectar. Because you don’t sink as much, it’s a little easier to change position on the Casper mattress.
One of the downsides to memory foam in general is it tends to sleep hot. Because it’s so dense, it soaks up heat and holds onto it throughout the night. Different mattresses try to cope with this in different ways.
The Nectar mattress uses cooling gel memory foam in the cover, and the top layer of the mattress and Tencel fabric helps wick away moisture to help you stay cool. We wouldn’t necessarily say that the Nectar mattress sleeps cool, but it does a pretty good job of dissipating heat when compared to other memory foam mattresses.
That said, the Casper does a good job of regulating temperature, too. Although it doesn’t have the cooling gel that Nectar does, the Casper mattress doesn’t hug as much, which means less heat gets absorbed and more air moves around to dissipate heat.
Most memory foam mattresses are good at preventing motion transfer because they’re constructed without using any springs of coils. The Nectar and Casper mattresses are pretty evenly matched in this area.
Because the Nectar mattress uses gel memory foam in the cover and on the top surface of the mattress, it contours to the body well. That said, it doesn’t hug you closely, and it doesn’t have the same amount of sink that most other memory foam models do.
The surface of the Casper isn’t as responsive as the Nectar mattress. As we mentioned, it doesn’t have as much sink, so the surface isn’t that bouncy.
Most memory foam mattresses don’t have a lot of bounce, and both the Nectar and Casper are no exception. This is another area where they’re pretty evenly matched.
Edge support varies a lot with all-foam mattresses. The Nectar performs pretty well in this area, though there is some question as to whether this holds up over time.
The Casper mattress doesn’t have much edge support at all so it might not be the best choice for people who like to sleep on the edge of the bed.
Off-gassing is a common complaint when it comes to memory foam mattresses, so it’s not really surprising that both the Nectar and the Casper give off an odor right out of the box, although the Casper mattress is a little more potent.
| SLEEP POSITION | Light sleepers(less than 130 lbs) | Average sleepers(130 lbs to 230 lbs) | Heavy sleepers(greater than 230 lbs) |
| Nectar | |||
| Side | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Back | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Stomach | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Casper | |||
| Side | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Back | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Stomach | 9 | 10 | 7* |
* out of 10
When it comes to sleeping positions, Nectar is a better choice for back sleepers of any size. In fact, the difference is pretty significant, particularly when it comes to sleepers over 230 pounds. That said, the Casper mattress is a little better for side and stomach sleepers, likely because of the Zoned Support layer that’s a little softer on the shoulders and legs.
| SIZE | Nectar | Casper |
| Twin | $499 | $595 |
| Twin XL | $569 | $645 |
| Full | $699 | $895 |
| Queen | $799 | $995 |
| King | $999 | $1195 |
| California King | $999 | $1195 |
| Sleep trial | Warranty and refund | Delivery | |
| Nectar | 365 days | lifetime warranty, replacement within 10 years | wthin the U.S. |
| Casper | 100 days | 10-year limited warrantya full refund (minus shipping) | within the U.S. and Canada |
Nectar has the most impressive sleep trials in the industry. They give you 30 nights to get used to the mattress because that’s about how long it takes your body to adjust. After that, you get a 365-night trial to try the mattress out at home. If you decide not to keep the mattress, customer service will help to determine the best way to proceed. Usually, the mattresses are donated or disposed of locally.
Sleep trial from Casper is more on par with the rest of the industry. You get 100 nights from the day it arrives to try it out. If you decide to return the mattress, they will arrange for a courier to come to your home to remove the mattress. From there, they try their best to donate or recycle the mattress.
Again, Nectar is ahead of most other brands in the industry. They call it their «Forever Warranty». If the mattress ever breaks from normal use, they’ll replace it. Forever. There is some fine print, of course. The warranty covers deterioration causing visible damage of more than 1.5 inches due to normal wear as well as any splits or cracks. Be aware that you have to use the right kind of foundational support for your mattress or the warranty does not apply. Normal softening from use isn’t covered.
Since Nectar’s warranty covers such a long period of time, it’s worth mentioning how they take care of warranty claims. During the first ten years, they replace the mattress outright, free of charge. After that, they may evaluate the mattress and repair or recover the damages or replace at their discretion. You also have to pay a $50 transportation fee which they’ll refund if the damage is shown to be due to a defect.
The Casper warranty is more in line with industry standards, a 10-year limited warranty. Visible indentations of greater than one inch, cracks, and splits are covered as long as a proper supportive foundation is used continuously. Normal wear and softening are not covered.
If a weakness is found to be a defect, Casper will repair or replace the mattress at their discretion, and the customer is responsible for shipping costs.
Nectar uses FedEx as their carrier and delivery is free within the continental US. They also offer a White Glove delivery service. For a $149 non-refundable fee, a representative will set up the mattress for you and remove your old one. If you order extra items like a bed frame or headboard, there is an additional $45 fee per item for set up.
Casper offers free delivery for the contiguous US and most of Canada and but charges for shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, and Northern Canada. They also offer in-home delivery and set up for a $149 fee and will remove your old mattress for you.
Nectar doesn’t offer straight exchanges. If you want to return your mattress, you have to start the returns process and wait until it is completed to get your money back. You can order a new mattress in that time, but it isn’t treated as exchanging one product for another. This process is a little different for warranty claims and damage. Their customer service is helpful in this area.
If you decide to return your Casper mattress, you can exchange it for another product, but that product does not qualify for the sleep trial unless the original product was unopened.
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
These two mattresses are honestly pretty evenly matched. One of the biggest differences is in how well they support different sleeping positions. The Nectar is exceptionally good for back sleepers while the Casper is better for everyone else.
Honestly, sleeping position is probably the biggest deciding factor in which one of these is a better choice for you. There isn’t any area where one is overwhelmingly better than the other, with the exception of price. Nectar is much more affordable than Casper and performs just as well.
