Bunkie Board vs Box Spring: Which is the Best for Your Bed?
When searching for that perfect night sleep, you need to consider what you’re sleeping on. If your bed and accessories aren’t perfectly matched for your body, you could run into endless nights of tossing and turning.
First you need to assess what it is you are looking to buy. Do you need a new mattress set? Do you need more support that maybe a box spring could provide? What are some other options out there other than a box spring? When it comes to a Bunkie board vs box spring, which is better?
As far as the box spring and Bunkie board debacle goes, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we break down the different specifications between box springs and Bunkie boards so you don’t have to. You’re just an article away from getting your perfect night’s rest!
Table Of Contents
Comparison Table
Bunkie Board | Box Springs |
|---|---|
 |  |
Thinner and easier to move | Extremely heavy |
Made with various materials | Could be hard to move alone |
Are cheaper than box springs | Are very durable and will last |
May move around too much | May be a bit more expensive |
What is a Bunkie Board?
A Bunkie board is a type of flat board, kind of like a piece of plywood which is used to add more stability to a mattress. Even if you have an older box foundation that needs support, a Bunkie board can be placed underneath to make the area firmer.
These are typically used when you aren’t getting the support you need from an already existing bed setup. These things lay on the frame of the bed or on top of a box foundation depending on what kind of setup it is that you’re working with. They are thin, flat and firm and can vary from varying materials, the most common material being wood.
Benefits of a Bunkie Board
Bunkie boards are great when you just need a little extra support without having to spend too much money or worry about heavy materials. Bunkie boards come readily available in all types of material such as wood, steel or even more pliable material such as rubber or plastic.
These are really great when you are looking for just a little extra support and you don’t want to either spend money on a box spring or you don’t want to have your sleep setup be too firm. Bunkie boards are better used as a complementary piece of a bed setup than an actual stabilizer or platform.
Since Bunkie boards are thinner and less heavy than box springs, they do cost less than most box springs and can easily be found online. They are also much easier to move and can be moved by one person without hassle at all.
Downsides to a Bunkie Board
Bunkie boards may just be too thin depending on the person who is going to sleep on one. Although the particular product would be buried under an already existing mattress setup, you could still be lacking proper stability if the board itself is too thin. Some people with back pain issues may not find that they give adequate support.
Bunkie boards are also lightweight, which means movement could be an issue. Unless you find a certain one that is perfectly flush to your bed frame, platform or mattress setup, you may have to worry about slipping and sliding if you’re a restless sleeper. This may be an unnecessary nuisance to readjust in the middle of the night.
What is a Box Spring?
A box spring is a boxy looking mattress, basically, filled with steel or metal coils. They are typically made of heavy wood to create a strong, sturdy frame, then filled with bounce-inducing coils and covered by material like a mattress.
They are also fairly heavy and are hard to move once you have it set up. There are thinner, less heavy box springs on the market, but these are more suited for people who both live alone and would have a hard time moving a box foundation on their own or someone who just moves around a lot.
Benefits of a Box Spring
Box springs are super great if you need a little extra height and added durability. They can be heavy, so naturally, will offer that level of support you need. Because the box foundations like these are typically filled with bouncy coils, being able to get in and out of bed may just be that much easier thanks to all the springiness.
They also pair well with a bed frame and mattress setup alone. Instead of having to buy many pieces for your perfect sleep setup, most consumers are happy with a high grade mattress paired with a firm box spring. This way you won’t have to worry about different elements of firmness and height, since box springs typically come with both of these things.
Box foundations also won’t move around on you. Even if you are a flailing sleeper who moves his/her arms around and tosses from side to side, they really won’t budge too much. These things are pretty solid so you won’t have to worry about scooting around at night or having to readjust anything.
Downsides to a Box Spring
A downside to utilizing a box spring is that they are so darn heavy. Sure, they won’t budge on you throughout the night and you’ll feel stabilized, but with good reason. Since they are made of some steel, wood and metal components, these things are pretty hard to move once they’re all set up.
If you are someone elderly or live alone, moving a large item like this would be impossible for one person. If you are someone who moves from town to town or just likes to have a new apartment every few years, just remember that you’d have to tote this heavy box spring along with you.
These things are also notorious for being noisy over time. You can’t expect sheer silence after years of sleeping on top of plywood and metal. Things just creak over time – much like people! Light sleepers especially find box spring sounds annoying, so if you are a light sleeper, you might want to keep this in mind.
Conclusion
Overall, you need to find the perfect sleep setup that works for your lifestyle and budget. Hopeful you can take all the details of the box springs and Bunkie boards discussed in this article and use them to formulate your own choice. If you’re still stuck, luckily most of these products will come with a warranty or sleep trial so you can test it for yourself – just make sure to check with whichever manufacturer you’re going with that they do honor warranties.
So, which product do you think you’re going to go with? If I had to choose, I’d honestly stick with my good, trusty box spring because they’ve never let me down and I’m not the type of person who moves around often. What is your preference? Do you have any experiences or insight on the topic of Bunkie board vs box spring? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to let us know about your experience in the comments. Otherwise, happy shopping and good luck!
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