About Casper#
Casper launched in New York in 2014 and is widely credited with pioneering the direct-to-consumer mattress model. It entered the UK market in 2016 and quickly established itself as one of the most trusted brand names in the online mattress space, despite fierce competition from homegrown UK brands. Casper offers a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty in the UK.
Casper Original: construction#
The Casper Original is a four-layer all-foam mattress:
- Perforated comfort foam (top): Open-cell foam with perforations to improve airflow, Casper's approach to the heat-retention problem of all-foam mattresses.
- Memory foam layer: A thin pressure-relieving memory foam layer beneath the comfort layer.
- Zoned support layer: This is one of Casper's distinguishing features. The support foam has different density zones, softer under the shoulders, firmer under the hips and lumbar area. This is achieved through a waffle-cut pattern that creates varying resistance across the mattress surface.
- Durable base foam: High-density support base.
The zoned support system#
Casper's "Zoned Support" technology is a genuine differentiator in the all-foam market. By using a waffle-cut pattern in the support layer, the mattress provides softer support under the shoulders (allowing them to sink more, keeping the spine level for side sleepers) and firmer support under the hips (preventing them from sinking too far). For side and back sleepers in the average weight range, this zoned approach produces better spinal alignment than a homogeneous-density foam mattress.
Casper Hybrid#
The Casper Hybrid adds a layer of pocket springs beneath the foam layers. The zoned support system is retained, so the hybrid benefits from both the spring airflow advantages and the foam zoning technology. It's a more versatile mattress than the Original, better suited to hot sleepers, heavier individuals and those who prefer a more responsive feel.
Firmness and feel#
The Casper Original feels medium, neither particularly soft nor hard, which Casper positions as a deliberate design choice to suit the widest range of sleepers. The Hybrid feels similar on the surface but has more pushback from the spring layer below.
Who Casper suits#
- Best for: Side and back sleepers of average weight who want a well-engineered, zoned all-foam mattress; those who trust an established international brand name with a strong service reputation
- Less suitable for: Very hot sleepers (the Original), heavy sleepers (under 14 stone better fit), those who want the deepest pressure-relief contouring
Our verdict#
Casper is a well-executed, thoughtfully designed mattress. The zoned support is a meaningful feature that improves on generic all-foam designs. The 100-night trial is shorter than Emma and Simba's 200 nights, which is worth noting. Overall, a strong choice in the premium all-foam segment, with the Hybrid being the better long-term investment for most UK buyers.
From the shop floor#
How we assessed Casper: this section draws on the reviewer's twenty years selling mattresses on UK high street shop floors, including fitting customers to Casper beds and hearing what they came back to say. It is not a structured sleep test of the current models. Construction details come from the brand's published specifications, and the comparison scores below are for the mattresses we have scored ourselves, not for Casper.
Casper is the brand that taught the UK market that a mattress could arrive in a box, and it did that job well enough that every competitor copied it. What it did not do was stay: Casper wound down its own European operations in 2020, and UK stock now comes through third-party retailers, which means trial and warranty terms are set by whoever is selling it rather than by Casper. Before you buy, confirm in writing who handles a return and who honours the warranty in year six.
On the mattress itself, the zoned foam is the honest feature. We sold plenty of zoned mattresses and the concept works, but only if the zones land under your shoulders and hips, which depends on your height and where you lie on the bed. Taller and shorter sleepers, and anyone who sleeps diagonally, get less from zoning than the diagram suggests. Try it lying where you actually sleep, not centred on a showroom bed.
How Casper compares with the mattresses we have scored#
Casper's Original is a medium all-foam mattress with zoned support at a mid-market price; the Hybrid adds springs. These are the closest matches in our catalogue, all of which are sold direct with clear trial and warranty terms.
| Model | Type | Depth | Feel | Support | Comfort | Price (double) | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Original | Foam | 25cm | Medium | 8.4 | 8.9 | £469 | Medium all-foam with the strongest trial in the market |
| Emma Original Pro | Hybrid | 25cm | Medium-firm | 9.0 | 8.8 | £699 | Zoned pocket springs do what Casper's zoned foam does, more precisely |
| Superior Cashmere | Foam | 23cm | Medium | 8.5 | 8.8 | £198 | Medium foam feel for a fraction of the price; no trial |
| Luxe Velour Hybrid | Hybrid | 28cm | Medium | 8.2 | 8.4 | £399 | Cheapest sprung medium with a 100-night trial |
Prices are for a double at the time of writing (September 2026), using the sale price where the brand runs a permanent one. Full scores are on each review page. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you; it never affects a score.
If the appeal of Casper was zoning, Emma Original Pro zones with springs rather than foam cuts, which holds its shape longer. If the appeal was a reliable medium foam feel, Emma Original matches it with a longer trial and a brand that still operates here directly. Our Emma vs Casper comparison and Foam People vs Casper go head to head.
Frequently asked questions#
Is Casper still sold in the UK?#
Not directly. Casper closed its own European operations in 2020. Some UK retailers still stock Casper mattresses, but trial, returns and warranty are handled by the retailer, so check those terms before buying.
Is the Casper Original firm or soft?#
Medium. Casper markets it as a universal feel, and for average-weight back and side sleepers that is fair. Heavier sleepers will find it soft and front sleepers may want firmer.
Does the Casper zoned support actually work?#
Yes, when your shoulders and hips fall on the intended zones. Very tall or short sleepers, or anyone who sleeps off-centre, get less benefit. Zoned pocket springs achieve the same aim with more precision and durability.
What is the best alternative to Casper in the UK?#
For the same medium foam feel with a stronger trial, the Emma Original. For zoned support, the Emma Original Pro. For a similar feel at a quarter of the price without a trial, The Foam People's Superior Cashmere.
Related reading#
- Emma vs Casper – head-to-head on the medium foam feel
- The Foam People vs Casper – the budget alternative
- Best memory foam mattress UK – the all-foam field ranked
- Mattress trial periods explained – what to check when a retailer sets the terms
- Memory foam collection – every foam mattress we score
