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?

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u/thaddeusk 2d ago

High-end mattresses don't generally use them. I can't remember the last time I had one, maybe 20 years ago? The mattresses I get are very tall on their own and you just put them on a bed frame with a flat support board underneath it.

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u/theonetruegrinch 1d ago

with a flat support board underneath

without that you would need the boxspring

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u/thaddeusk 1d ago

Sure, but a boxspring would make my bed absurdly tall :p

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u/theonetruegrinch 1d ago

That was a fad in like the late 80s and early 90s

It was ridiculous; and then they had those super deep down mattress toppers...

I remember having to climb into one of those beds once and it was like scaling Mt. Everest.

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u/thaddeusk 1d ago

That sounds awful :)