Casper Original (Queen, foam, 11") review 2027

What problem does the Casper Original solve, and who is it for?

The Casper Original is a memory foam mattress built around zoned foam that is softer at the shoulders and firmer at the hips. That zoning is the point: it produced good alignment readings for both testers, which is the outcome side sleepers usually chase and often miss in a single-firmness foam bed. The bed is also sold on Amazon, at Costco and in stores, so you can lie on it before buying rather than ordering blind.

Its feel is balanced — neither slow foam nor bouncy — which suits sleepers who want foam pressure relief without the deep sink of traditional memory foam. The perforated top layer sleeps cooler than most foam, another benefit for hot sleepers. Casper positions it for side and back sleepers, and the verdict is blunt about the trade-off: most people will like it, few will love it. It is a safe, well-engineered bed rather than a standout in any single measurement.

How did it score in our testing?

We scored the Casper Original 7.7 overall across six criteria, each measured rather than judged by feel alone.

• Comfort & support: 24 out of 30. Pressure-mat readings at the shoulder and hip for side, back and stomach sleepers, plus spinal alignment on a laser line. This is the bed's strongest result.
• Motion isolation: 13 out of 15. An accelerometer on one side while a 10 lb weight drops on the other.
• Cooling: 11 out of 15. Surface temperature after 30 minutes under a heated pad versus room temperature.
• Edge support: 7 out of 10. Sink under a seated 200 lb load at the edge, and roll-off feel.
• Materials & durability: 12 out of 15. Foam densities, coil gauge, certifications, warranty terms and sag depth after the test.
• Value: 10 out of 15. Queen price at the usual sale price, trial length and return cost.

The pattern is consistent: solid results everywhere, no category win. Edge support and value are where the points came off.

Where the Casper Original stands out

Two measured strengths carried the score. First, the zoned foam produced good alignment readings for both testers — the shoulder and hip pressure readings and the laser alignment line both held up. Second, the perforated top layer sleeps cooler than most foam, which showed in the 30-minute heated-pad surface temperature test.

Testers also noted the balanced feel: neither slow foam nor bouncy. That matters for couples and for anyone who has found deep-sink memory foam hard to move on. Availability is a practical strength too — the bed is sold on Amazon, at Costco and in stores, so returns and showroom testing are straightforward.

How does AirScape and Zoned Support work?

AirScape is a perforated foam layer. Perforating foam opens channels through the material so air can move and heat can escape rather than building up at the surface, which is why the top layer runs cooler than solid foam. Zoned Support uses memory foam with different firmness across the bed: softer under the shoulders so they can sink in, firmer under the hips and midsection so the pelvis stays level with the spine. The result is a sleep surface that holds alignment instead of letting the heaviest part of the body sag. Both sit over a base foam layer.

Parts, materials and build

The Casper Original is a memory foam bed, 11 in tall, with a firmness of 6 /10. The build is AirScape perforated foam, Zoned Support memory foam and base foam. It is made in the USA and is not certified organic. Casper backs it with a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial. The queen list price is $1,295.

How it compares with the rivals we tested

Against Nectar Classic (8.0, $1,099), the Casper is behind on score and price. Nectar is also memory foam at 6.5 /10 and 12 in, with the best motion isolation in the test, a 365-night trial and a forever warranty. Casper's 100-night trial and 10-year warranty are shorter, and its discounts are smaller.

Against DreamCloud Hybrid (8.4, $1,099), the Casper is behind on score and price. DreamCloud is a 12 in hybrid at 6.5 /10 with a cashmere-blend cover, gel memory foam and pocketed coils, plus a 365-night trial and forever warranty.

Against Helix Midnight (8.4, $1,373), the Casper is behind on score but cheaper. Helix is an 11.5 in hybrid at 6 /10 with memory foam and Helix Responsive Foam over 8" pocketed coils, a 100-night trial and a 15-year warranty.

Against Saatva Classic (8.4, $2,099), the Casper is behind on score but far cheaper. Saatva is an 11.5 in innerspring at 7 /10 with the best edge support and back support we measured, a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty.

Against Avocado Green Mattress (8.0, $2,299), the Casper is behind on score but cheaper. Avocado is an 11 in latex hybrid at 7 /10 with GOLS organic latex, GOTS organic wool and cotton and up to 1,414 pocketed coils, a 365-night trial and a 25-year warranty.

Where the Casper Original falls short

The verdict is direct: value against Nectar, and edge support. Edge support scored 7 out of 10, and testers described it as modest — sink under a seated 200 lb load at the edge and roll-off feel were both unremarkable. Value scored 10 out of 15: $1,295 list for a foam bed, with discounts smaller than Nectar's.

The broader weakness is that it is not the best at anything we measured. It finished 9th of 10 tested mattresses. If you want the strongest result in a specific category — motion isolation, edge support, cooling — another bed in this group owns it.

Is the Casper Original good value?

The queen list price is $1,295, with a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty. Value scored 10 out of 15, measured on the queen price at the usual sale price, trial length and return cost. The foam beds that beat it on individual measurements cost less: Nectar Classic and DreamCloud Hybrid are both $1,099. Helix Midnight is $1,373, Saatva Classic is $2,099 and Avocado Green is $2,299. Casper sits in the middle on price while trailing on score.

Who should buy the Casper Original?

Side sleepers who dislike deep-sink memory foam are the clearest fit. The zoned foam gives shoulder and hip alignment without the slow, sinking feel, and the balanced build is neither slow foam nor bouncy. Back sleepers are also covered by the 6 /10 firmness and the zoned support under the hips.

Skip it if edge support matters — you sit on the edge every morning — or if you want the longest trial and warranty for the money. Nectar Classic and DreamCloud Hybrid both list at $1,099 with a 365-night trial and a forever warranty.