You’re staring at a brand-new mattress, your bank account is a few hundred dollars lighter, and then the salesperson drops the bomb: "Do you need the matching box spring with that?" It feels like a shakedown. Honestly, most people just want to know how much is a box spring so they can get out of the store without being overcharged.
The short answer? You’re probably looking at $100 to $300 for a standard queen. But the long answer—the one that actually saves you from a sagging bed or a voided warranty—is a bit more nuanced. Prices swing wildly based on height, material, and whether you're buying a "true" box spring or just a glorified wooden crate.
The Real Price Breakdown by Size
Let’s get the numbers out of the way. If you walk into a big-box retailer like Mattress Firm or browse Amazon, the price scales almost perfectly with the surface area of the bed. A Twin box spring usually hovers around $100 to $150. Jump up to a Full, and you’re looking at $130 to $180.
The Queen is the industry standard. This is where competition is fiercest, so you can often find deals. Expect to pay $150 to $250 for a decent one.
King sizes are the curveball. Because a standard King is so massive, it’s almost always sold as a "Split King." That means you’re buying two Twin XL foundations to sit side-by-side. This isn't just to be annoying; it’s so the delivery drivers can actually get the thing up your stairs without pivoting into a wall. Because it’s two separate pieces, the cost jumps. You’re looking at $250 to $400 for the set.
Why Is There Such a Massive Price Gap?
You’ll see some "foundations" for $60 on liquidation sites and others for $500 at high-end boutiques like Saatva or Stearns & Foster. Why?
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Construction matters. Old-school box springs actually had steel coils inside. They bounced. They gave your bed a specific "feel." Nowadays, most things labeled as box springs are actually just "foundations." They are rigid wooden or metal frames wrapped in fabric.
The Low-End ($60 - $120)
These are usually "Easy-to-Assemble" kits. They arrive in a surprisingly small box. You spend an hour with an Allen wrench putting metal slats together. They work, but they can be squeaky. If the slats are more than 4 inches apart, your heavy memory foam mattress might start to dip between them. That’s bad news for your back.
The Mid-Range ($150 - $300)
This is the sweet spot. You get a fully assembled unit. The wood is usually solid spruce or pine. The fabric (the ticking) is high-quality and won't rip the first time you move the bed. Brands like Zinus or Amazon Basics dominate the lower end of this, while name brands like Sealy or Serta sit at the top.
The High-End ($350+)
Here, you’re paying for specialized features. Maybe it’s a "low-profile" box spring. These are only 5 inches tall instead of the standard 9 inches. They cost more because they require more reinforced support to maintain strength at a thinner profile. Or, you’re buying a split-queen for an old house with a narrow staircase. Specialized logistics equals a higher price tag.
Do You Even Need One?
Before you drop $200, check your bed frame. This is where people throw money away.
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If you have a platform bed—the kind with built-in wooden slats—you do not need a box spring. In fact, adding one might make your bed so high you’ll need a step-ladder to get in.
However, if you have a traditional metal rail frame (the kind that looks like a giant "I" beam), a box spring is mandatory. Without it, your mattress has nothing to sit on except thin air.
Wait. Check your warranty. This is the "gotcha" moment. Many modern mattress companies, like Casper or Purple, explicitly state in their fine print that the mattress must be supported by a firm, flat surface. If you put a new memory foam mattress on an old 1990s-style coil box spring, the lack of uniform support could cause the foam to degrade. If you try to file a warranty claim in five years because the bed is sagging, the company might ask for photos of your foundation. If they see an old, bouncy box spring, they’ll deny your claim.
The Hidden Costs: Delivery and Removal
When calculating how much is a box spring, don't forget the "convenience tax."
If you buy a box spring online, shipping is often "free," but it's factored into the price. If you buy from a local furniture store, they might charge a $50 to $100 delivery fee.
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Then there’s the "Old Mattress Problem." Most municipalities won't let you just toss a box spring on the curb. You’ll have to pay a junk removal service or a recycling center a fee—usually $30 to $50—to take the old one away. Some retailers include "white glove" delivery and removal for free if you spend over a certain amount, so do the math before you click buy.
Quality Indicators: What to Look For
Don't just buy the cheapest thing. Look for:
- Slat Spacing: If it’s a slatted foundation, the gaps should be less than 3-4 inches.
- Weight Capacity: A cheap box spring might only support 500 lbs. That sounds like a lot, but subtract 150 lbs for a heavy King mattress and 350 lbs for two adults, and you’re already at the limit.
- Material: Steel is generally more durable than wood. Pine is fine, but it can crack over time if it’s "green" (unseasoned) wood.
Real-World Shopping Strategy
If you're on a budget, look for a metal "smart base." These are essentially a box spring and a bed frame combined into one. They cost about $100 to $150 total and eliminate the need for a separate decorative frame.
If you want the aesthetic of a high bed, go for the standard 9-inch "High Profile" box spring. If you have a 14-inch thick pillow-top mattress, for the love of your shins, get the 5-inch "Low Profile" version.
Actionable Steps for Your Purchase
- Measure your doorframes. If you’re buying a Queen or King, make sure a rigid box can actually fit around the corners of your hallway. If not, you must buy a "Split" version.
- Check the mattress tag. See if it requires a specific type of foundation to keep the warranty active.
- Audit your current frame. If you have more than five cross-slats, you might be able to skip the box spring entirely and just buy a "Bunkie Board"—a 2-inch thick piece of plywood or fabric-covered slats that costs about half the price of a box spring.
- Compare "Kit" vs. "Assembled." If you're okay with an hour of manual labor, you can save roughly $50 to $80 by buying a metal frame that you bolt together yourself.
- Negotiate. If you are buying a mattress and a box spring together at a physical store, the box spring is the easiest thing for them to throw in for free or at a 50% discount to close the deal. Never pay full MSRP for a foundation when buying a set.