Boring Mattress Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and feel of the mattress. We then take the results of those tests and compare them to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	Boring Mattress	Average
Overall Score	8.72	8.55
Price (Queen)	$699	$1,096 (Foam only)
Cooling – Score	9.0	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.16″	2.21″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.3	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	8.88 m/s²	8.81 m/s²
Response Time – Score	10	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.3 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	8.62″	8.96″
Bounce – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	8.7	8.7
Edge Support – Sitting	3.50″	3.95″
Edge Support – Lying	Good	Excellent
Sex – Score	8.4	8.3
Pressure Relief – Score	8.0	8.6
Comfort Layer Thickness	3.0″	4.3″
Mattress Thickness	10″	12.2″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.1	8.1
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	7 days	7 days
Company – Score	9.6	8.8
Trial	365 nights	169 nights
Warranty	10 years	41% have lifetime warranties, average of other 59% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Boring Mattress Different?

The Boring Mattress is a 10″ foam mattress with an overall performance level that is above average and a price tag that is well below average—a savings of nearly $400 compared to the average. If you’re looking for a good value, the Boring Mattress is a great pick to consider.

Advantages

In addition to the low price, other advantages of the Boring mattress include better cooling, fast material response time, and a long 365-night trial period.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has moderate levels of sinkage and bounce. Motion transfer, edge support and sex performance are also near average levels, making them a bit of a neutral factor.

Disadvantages

The biggest disadvantage of the Boring mattress is slightly worse pressure relief than average, with only 3.0″ of comfort material (1.3″ less than average). Aside from that, it has a well-balanced performance and a fantastic price.

The Boring Mattress has excellent cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention around my body.

The mattress breathed well and the max surface level temperature was kept to a reasonable level. Boring AF uses a simple all-foam design, including a 3.0” comfort layer. That 3.0” layer is a poly foam called Energex.

Energex is both highly responsive and better than many other types of poly and memory foam we’ve tested when it comes to cooling. We’ve seen Energex used on numerous mattresses, including the Boring Hybrid.

In most cases where we’ve tested Energex mattresses, I’ve been impressed with the performance and that holds true here on the Boring.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Beyond the high-performance poly foams, the mattress is equipped with a thin knit cover, which allows air to easily flow in and out of the mattress.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 90.5° F. This is 0.6° more than the average of 89.9° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress, the temperature declined by 6.7 degrees from minutes 0 to 1, which is 2.0 degrees cooler than the average 0 to 1 minute decline of 4.7 degrees.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

When we consider the combination of objective data, my subjective experiences, and an analysis of the materials, I’m confident in my view that cooling is excellent.

The Boring Mattress has moderate sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.16″. This is 0.05″ less sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.21″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress creates a balanced body contouring hug. The topmost 2.0” comfort layer is fairly soft, so the body sinks down into it easily. However, it’s also a relatively thin comfort layer, so the body is coming into more immediate and abrupt contact with the support layer.

I call this effect coming into contact with a “support wall” and it’s fairly common on thin mattresses, especially those that are 10” or thinner. Notably, in our tests of the Boring Hybrid, I did not experience the support wall, as the pocketed coil unit created a more gradual transitional support.

The Boring AF uses a poly foam comfort layer called Energex, which creates a more even, balanced, and less polarizing body contouring hug around the body.

This is in contrast to memory foam, which will create a more dramatic, exacting, and significant hug around the body. Neither body contouring hug dynamic is better or worse, but each is a more specific feel.

The Boring Mattress has a low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 8.88 m/s². This is 1% more motion transfer than the average of 8.81 m/s².

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

The Boring mattress benefits from the all-foam design, thin cover, and high-performance poly foam in the comfort layer.

Each of these material and design attributes helps to mitigate and reduce the motion generated and also quickly disperse that motion. In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.94 seconds.

Motion duration is a touch worse than average, but it’s nothing extreme. While we would have loved to have seen a shorter motion duration, given the motion intensity is only slightly higher than average and the price point is considerably less than average, it’s really hard to complain too much.

Overall, motion transfer is low and I don’t expect it will be an issue for most sleepers.

The Boring Mattress has an extremely fast material response. In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the average of 0.4 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.3 seconds, which is 0.69 seconds faster than the average of 0.99 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

This is effectively an instant material recovery speed and it’s tied for 1st with a number of other highly responsive mattresses we’ve previously tested.

The incredibly rapid responsiveness ensures you’ll never feel stuck and the mattress is easy to move around on. When it comes to material responsiveness, this is as good as it gets.

The Boring Mattress has a moderate level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 8.62″. This is 0.34″ less bounce than the average of 8.96″, based on all of our tests to date.

All foam mattresses typically have less bounce than average and that’s exactly what we measured with the Boring. The lack of coils simply means that less energy will be returned, which in turn means less bounce.

On the positive side, the Energex comfort layer and thin cover, as opposed to a quilted cover, are both helping to create bounce.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

So while bounce is lower than average, it’s still a high enough level to facilitate good ease of movement. Even so, sex performance is negatively impacted by the lower-than-average bounce. So there are pros and cons to consider.

The Boring Mattress has excellent sitting edge support and good lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.50″. This is 0.45″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 3.95″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

While lying directly on the edge of the mattress, I felt that the support was good in all sleeping positions. The Boring uses a simple design, medium-firm feel, and has quality materials, all of which help to create robust support in general and also good edge support.

However, the mattress is also thinner than average and the 10” design compresses quickly under weight. Given the thinner-than-average comfort layer the body is quickly sitting or lying on the 7.0” support foam, which is creating lots of pushback.

While this limited comfort layer means pressure relief isn’t incredible, it is beneficial for edge support. Seeing just 3.50” of sitting sinkage compression is fantastic and notably better than average.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

Lying edge support didn’t quite feel as robust as sitting edge support, and yet, it’s not bad by any stretch. I would have loved to have seen a reinforced foam running along the perimeter of the mattress.

A perimeter foam would have likely improved both sitting and lying edge support further. Even so, given the price point, it feels really rough to complain about that. Overall, edge support is solid and I don’t expect it will be an issue for most sleepers.

The Boring Mattress has good sex performance. On the positive side, noise is minimal and both cooling and edge support are excellent. With just 3.50” of sitting sinkage, the edge is robust and a usable part of the mattress for amorous activities.

Moving on, pressure relief is good enough, though it doesn’t rise to the excellent or outstanding level. Last but not least, we have bounce, which earned a below-average score.

With 8.62” of total bounce height it’s not a low, but it’s also far from great. The limited bounce is beneficial for limiting motion transfer, but it’s also the single biggest factor decreasing sex performance.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	7.9	Moderate
Edge Support	20%	9.4	Excellent
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	8.0	Good
Cooling	5%	9.0	Excellent

Ultimately, this is an all-foam design and a fairly thin one at just 10”. This combination just isn’t capable of creating the highest levels of bounce, which is why sex performance is only good, but not amazing.

The Boring Mattress has a good level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt a slight level of pressure, but overall comfort was good and yet, didn’t rise to the excellent or outstanding level.

The mattress is equipped with 3.0″ of comfort material, which is 1.26″ less comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.26″, based on all of our tests to date.

On the positive side, I’m pleased with the foam quality and foam choices. Boring uses 3.0” of Energex foam. Energex is a foam I’ve seen on many mattresses. It’s a quality foam, durable, and feels good on the body. Even so, we still only have a 3.0” comfort layer, which is thinner than average.

In my view, the relatively thin comfort layer, combined with the thin cover, support foam, and thin 10″ overall profile, is the reason that pressure relief is only good and not great. Much of the pressure coming from the Boring AF is resulting from the “wall” that the combination of limited comfort foam and support foam layer creates.

In our testing, I couldn’t help but compare the all foam Boring to the Boring Hybrid, which we recently tested here. While the Boring Hybrid uses a similar comfort layer compared to the Boring AF, the support layer is a pocketed coil unit, which creates better transitional support.

This easier transition has the effect of improving the pressure relief dynamic considerably on the Boring Hybrid.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.14	0.85

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.08	0.60

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.08	0.70

In our pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.85, which is well within the range we hope to see. A 2.0 PSI is a high-pressure point and the Boring was nowhere near that level.

When I consider our objective pressure mapping tests, material thickness, material quality, and my subjective experience on the mattress, I’m confident most sleepers will find the pressure relief to be good.

The Boring Mattress had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The smell was one of wet paint, which isn’t great. The mattress smelled for 7 days. This is 0.4 days longer than the average smell duration of 6.6 days.

Boring mattresses come with a 365-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Shipping and returns are both free.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Returns	40%	10	$0
Trial Period	30%	10	365 nights
Warranty	20%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	10%	10	$0
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 102+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 169 nights, 196 nights less than Boring offers. The Boring mattress comes with a 10-year warranty, 3 years shorter than the 13-year average.

Also this excludes the 40% of mattresses that have lifetime warranties.

The Boring mattress comes in a single firmness, medium-firm, which is 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale.

This firmness is considered suitable for the widest range of sleepers, as it is firm enough to provide support, but not so firm as to create painful pressure points.

Support on the Boring Mattress is good. During our tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with a 7.0″ support layer. This is 0.90″ thinner than the average support layer thickness of 7.90″, based on all of our tests to date.

The mattress has a medium-firm feel, which is appropriate for most body types and all sleeping positions. Boring uses a simple, but proven design. I’m pleased with the foam quality, which feels good both in hand and on the body.

In addition, the foam quality is clear by Boring’s transparency disclosures on the foam density levels. Denser foams typically last longer, feel better, and create better support.

The Boring topmost poly foam has a 3.0 PCF (pounds per cubic feet), core poly foam is a 2.5 PCF, and support foam is a 1.8 PCF. Ideally, I want to see at least one comfort layer in the 3-4 PCF range and we see that with Boring.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleeper	Side Sleeper	Back Sleeper
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Given the price point, these density levels are excellent. My only concern with support comes back to pressure relief. The limited 3.0” comfort layer means the body comes into more abrupt contact with the support foam layer, which creates more pressure relief and complicates the support dynamic.

To be fair, it’s not a bad level of pressure relief at all and as a result, support is good too. Even so, the support dynamic was worse than the Boring Hybrid and, in my view, it’s clear the Boring AF’s support could be improved (though it would likely take another 1-1.5″ transitional poly foam layer in the core).

Based on all of my tests to date, an analysis of the materials, and my subjective experiences, I’m confident most sleepers will find support on the Boring Mattress is excellent.

Design

The Boring Mattress is a 10″ foam mattress that comes in a single firmness option—Medium-Firm.

Materials

The Boring Mattress is 10″ thick and contains a combination of different foam types. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

• 2.00″ poly foam
• 1.00″ poly foam
• 7.00″ support foam

The Cover

The Boring Mattress has a thin knit cover that is stretchy and breathable.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is 3.0″ thick and made of two layers of poly foam. On top, there is a 2.0″ poly foam (orange) and directly below that is a 1.0″ poly foam (green).

These two layers work together to provide the complete 3.0″ comfort system that sits above the support material.

The Support Layer

The support layer is 7″ thick and made of a firmer support foam.

Product Evolution

Boring Mattress Co. was founded in March 2023 by Daehee Park (co-founder of Tuft and Needle), Tyler Marino (former head of Product at Tuft and Needle), and Corben Leo.

Since launching, there have been no major material or design changes to the Boring mattress.

Other Mattresses to Consider

If you’re looking for other budget-friendly mattresses under $750 to consider alongside the Boring AF mattress, check out the top three options below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Boring Mattress mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.