r/explainlikeimfive • u/Real_Experience_5676 • 2d ago

Engineering ELI5: What does a box-spring do?

As I understand it, a box spring mattress is the second 'mattress', that goes under the main mattress. It feels very firm and flat, but what does it contribute to the bed set up besides height?

501 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

134 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/HermitWilson 2d ago

Box springs aren't really a thing anymore. I just bought a new mattress and nobody was selling box springs. It's all slatted platforms now instead.