The Arrival

Casper Element can be purchased online from the company’s website, as well as at select retail locations in Canada and the U.S; shipping is free for most addresses. There is a shipping fee for customers in Alaska, Hawaii, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. The mattress arrives within 1–6 business days in a box that requires two people to lift.

The Unboxing

Like other bed-in-a-box mattresses, Casper Element is simple to unpack. Once unboxed, the mattress fully expands to 10 inches in height within a few minutes.

The Look

Casper Element mattress features a two-tone grey colour scheme. The mattress cover is a simple knit design with flecks of darker grey.

The Feel

Casper Element is less firm than the previous version, Casper Essential (see the next section for testing conducted by third-party engineers). Casper Element’s top layer is three inches of perforated foam, which helps increase airflow and reduce heat while you sleep. The base layer is 6.5-inches of high-density foam.

Sleepers who like to feel some ‘hug’ as they sink slightly into the top layer of the mattress will be comfortable on the Element. Unlike memory foam mattresses of decades past, the Element’s perforated foam is less likely to feel like it’s trapping body heat. 

The following results were determined by licensed 3rd-party engineers, commissioned by us:

Casper Element is available only in one firmness option, which is a similar approach to other bed-in-box brands like Mira, Bloom, and Juno.

Casper Element Mattress Layers

Casper Element contains two layers of foam. Like other all-foam budget mattresses, the layers of the Casper Element work together to provide a good balance of comfort and support. 

• First layer: 3 inches of AirScape™ perforated polyurethane foam. The top layer of foam conforms to your body and provides pressure-point relief when you lie down. Casper claims that this foam increases airflow and reduces heat while you sleep. Layer density: Unspecified.

• Second layer: 6.5 inches of support foam. This bottom support layer gives Casper Element its structure and prevents sleepers from sinking in too deep. Layer density: Unspecified. 

Of note: Foam density or origin information for Casper Element is not publicly available.

Casper Element Mattress Cover

Casper Element’s knit mattress cover uses polyester made from recycled plastic bottles, as well as cotton, rayon, and spandex.

Casper Element does not have a removable and machine-washable cover. The previous version of Casper’s budget mattress, the Essential, had this feature. That means that if you get a spill or stain on your Casper Element, the cover must be spot-cleaned. Customers who value the ability to easily clean their mattress should consider buying a mattress with a removable and machine-washable cover. 

Casper Sleep is one of the most recognizable brand names in the bed-in-a-box marketplace. Although it wasn’t the first company to ship compressed foam mattresses in cardboard boxes to customers, Casper has excelled at creating a distinct brand image and receiving millions of dollars of funding from investors. 

Today, Casper has expanded its product lineup to include four mattresses, along with various pillows, bed frames, bedding, and other sleep accessories.

Casper Element was released in 2020 to replace the outgoing mattress model, Casper Essential.

Casper delivers to most parts of Canada and the U.S. In some cases, the delivery can be left outside while the customer is away from home. Shipping is free for most Americans and Canadians; however, customers in Alaska, Hawaii, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut will have to pay a shipping fee. Casper customers can expect their new mattress within 1 to 6 business days.

Like many bed-in-a-box companies, Casper heavily promotes its mattress sleep trial. At 100 nights, this sleep trial is average in length when compared to other online brands. The company also offers free mattress pick-up and a full refund when returned.

It is worth noting that Mattress-Reviews.com did not complete the return process, but received this information via the ‘Live Chat’ function on Casper’s website.

We hire 3rd-party engineers and use public data to rate mattresses on over 25 criteria.

Among Casper’s expanding selection of mattresses, the Element isn’t its first attempt at a lower priced mattress. By replacing an outgoing model, Casper Essential, the Element is $55 CAD cheaper for a queen. However, it loses some key features, like a removable and machine-washable cover and a transition layer of memory foam. 

Compared to competitors in the value-mattress segment, Casper Element is about average when it comes to foam construction, edge support, motion isolation, free delivery, and trial period. Casper Element’s most significant downside is its high price: $795 CAD for a queen. That price is squarely in the mid-range memory foam and hybrid mattresses category from many other bed-in-box brands, yet those competitors tend to offer greater overall value and feature sets at that price point.

If you’re looking to get the most value in an affordable mattress, there are several mattress options that offer similar (or better) features at a much lower price. To browse brands and read more reviews for mattresses within your budget, check out 2021’s Best Mattresses.