Written by Olivera Jancikin, Content Writer
In this Casper vs. Nolah comparison we’ll be looking at two heavyweights of the online mattress industry. Casper has been a staple in the bed-in-a-box business since 2014, and their flagship Casper Original mattress promises a balance of support and cooling.
Nolah is slightly newer to the scene, boasting a cooling all-foam bed that features the brand’s breathable, pressure-relieving AirFoam™, offering pressure relief and durability.
Both beds share similarities, but we’ll explain how they differentiate and who we think could benefit most from them. So, which bed will give you the most relaxing night of rest? Let’s find out.
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Who I’d Recommend the Casper For
- Couples – Medium-firm beds like the Casper are often a great choice for couples who need to compromise on firmness because this mid-range offers more versatility. However, we think heavier couples will likely require a firmer bed to get the support they need.
- People with back pain – People with back issues tend to prefer a firmer bed, and the Casper’s medium-firmness coupled with its Zoned Support™ memory foam may be just the ticket to keep your spine aligned and ward off any aches and pains.
- Canadian shoppers – While both beds ship free to the contiguous U.S., the Casper also ships to Canada. Free shipping is offered across the whole of Canada apart from Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories, where additional fees apply.
Who I’d Recommend the Nolah For
- Side sleepers – We think most side sleepers will feel comfortable on the Nolah, with its contouring, pressure-relieving AirFoam™. “Side sleeping is going to be a preferred position for many people,” reported Sleep Advisor mattress tester, Stuart. “These foams really take the strain off my hips and shoulders.”
- Hot sleepers – While both beds feature perforated foam comfort layers that allow for airflow, the Nolah has a slight edge for cooling with its breathable, moisture-wicking Tencel™ cover that helps to keep the surface of the bed temperature-neutral.
- Lightweight sleepers – As it’s slightly softer than the Casper, we recommend the Nolah for lightweight sleepers under 130 pounds, who should be able to activate the deeper layers more easily than on the Casper.
Comparing Casper vs. Nolah: Top Similarities
- Edge support – Both beds had pretty good edge support considering their all-foam constructions, which tend to lack stability around the perimeter compared to beds with innerspring units. While there was some compression on both beds while sitting on the edge, we don’t think you should have too much of a problem when sleeping by the edge.
- Ventilated foam comfort layer – Both beds feature perforated foam as their top comfort layer, which works to offset the potential heat-trapping properties of foam by allowing more air to circulate. We found both beds temperature-neutral, although incredibly hot sleepers may prefer a bed with more cooling technology.
- Motion isolation – All-foam beds tend to excel at motion isolation, and we found this was the case with both the Casper and the Nolah. Light sleepers shouldn’t be disturbed by their partner’s or pet’s movements during the night.
Comparing Casper vs. Nolah: Key Differences
- Bounce – The Casper isn’t as springy as say, a hybrid, but it does offer an element of bounce thanks to its responsive comfort layer, providing more bounce than the Nolah.
- Cooling cover – While both beds feature perforated cooling foam comfort layers, the Casper has a poly-blend cover. The Nolah, on the other hand, boasts a breathable, moisture-wicking Tencel™ cover, which may be a bonus for hot or sweaty sleepers.
- Warranty – The Casper comes with a 10-year warranty while the Nolah has a lifetime warranty. Its slightly higher price point may make up for this, potentially offering you a sound investment for years to come.
Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel
Firmness
Our firmness scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 being like concrete. Our team gave the Casper a 6, placing it in the medium category. We think this bed’s Zoned Support™ could make it suitable for light to average-weight back and stomach sleepers, and average-weight side sleepers.
Nolah scored a 5 from us, which is on the softer end of medium. It was constructed with side and back sleepers in mind, and we think it could suit most side sleepers, and light to average-weight back and stomach sleepers.
Support
“I typically find that all-foam mattresses don’t excel when it comes to support, but I’m actually really impressed with how well Casper does,” noted Sleep Advisor mattress tester, Mark, who weighs around 200 pounds. “It balances that level of support with the pressure relief.”
While the Nolah Original is on the softer side, it does have a 7-inch high-density foam base, which should give many sleepers the support that they need. However, some heavyweight sleepers may require a firmer mattress than either of these beds.
Feel
Our mattress tester, Stuart, was a fan of the Nolah’s cover. “The trendy two-tone cover is made from natural fibers that have a soft, plush feel. It also has a bit of stretch and bounces right back into place.”
Our reviewers liked how the Casper’s poly-blend cover felt soft and durable, although this isn’t as breathable as the Nolah’s moisture-wicking Tencel™ cover, which may be an issue for some hot sleepers.
Comparing Sinkage and Bounce
Casper and Nolah both provide a gentle cradle. We felt supported and ‘on top of’ these beds rather than sinking too deeply, thanks to Nolah’s responsive layers and Casper’s springier surface. Casper’s slightly bouncy foam may make repositioning a bit easier. “Lying on the Casper, you feel a sense of pressure relief and a gentle memory foam hug,” reported mattress tester, Emma.
As for the Nolah, Stuart shared that its foams have a much quicker response than memory foam. “They respond quickly to pressure, taking just a moment to pop back up after pressing my hand in.”
Comparing Motion Transfer
If you share your bed with a restless partner and are easily disturbed by their movements, then you need a bed with good motion isolation. Thankfully, both beds excel at this.
“There’s almost no motion transfer at all in the Nolah; it’s super minimal,” Stuart shared. “So, if you’re somebody who’s bothered a lot by your partner or pet jumping in and out of bed, then this bed could be a great fit for you.”
“I’m a big fan of the way the Casper minimizes motion transfer,” added Emma. “If you share your sleep space, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about waking each other up.”
Comparing Cooling
All-foam mattresses often sleep hotter than hybrid or innerspring models because there’s less airflow, which means heat can get trapped. However, the Casper is constructed with a top layer of the brand’s signature perforated AirScape™ foam, which allows air to circulate. While this bed doesn’t have any other cooling technology, we think most sleepers should stay temperature-neutral.
The Nolah is slightly more impressive at cooling, starting with a breathable, moisture-wicking Tencel™ cover, which we found fostered a cool sleeping surface. Nolah claims its top layer of AirFoam™ is 100 percent temperature-neutral and sleeps cooler than gel-infused memory foam. We agree that it did a pretty good job of keeping us comfortably cool.
Find more of the best cooling mattresses.
Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)
Casper Original Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Casper Original Construction
Casper is an all-foam mattress that comes in at 11 inches tall. It will arrive at your home wrapped and rolled into a box.
The stretch-knit cover is OEKO-TEX®-certified and made of a durable blend of recycled polyester, upcycled cotton, rayon, and lycra.
- The comfort layer sits at the top and is made from the brand’s AirScape™ poly foam. This layer should also provide surface bounce and quick response for easy repositioning. The AirScape™ is perforated and this should allow for temperature-regulating airflow.
- In the middle of this bed, you’ll find a layer of Zoned Support™ memory foam. This foam unit is firmer under your midsection to help keep your spine in neutral alignment while softer sections around the shoulders and knees offer pressure relief.
- The supportive base of this mattress consists of a thick, high-density poly foam that provides durability for the rest of the bed.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nolah Original Construction
Another all-foam option, this 10-inch mattress arrives vacuum-sealed and shipped in a box. Its trendy cover is similar to its competitor’s in style but is made with sustainable, breathable Tencel™ derived from wood pulp. This is specially designed to regulate heat and wick away moisture.
- The comfort layer features 2 inches of cooling patented AirFoam™, which has billions of microscopic air bubbles to evenly distribute body weight, provide pressure relief, and aid in temperature regulation. According to Nolah, this foam dissipates heat 20 percent faster than high-end memory foam and is up to 300 percent more durable.
- The transition layer provides a latex-like bounce on 1 inch of supportive, pressure-relieving high-resilience foam. Nolah claims this foam is stronger and more durable than memory foam.
- The base layer reinforces the comfort of the surface layers with its 7 inches of highly dense but breathable foam.
Comparing Company Policies & Price
- Warranty – The Casper comes with a 10-year warranty, whereas the Nolah has a lifetime warranty.
- Shipping – Both beds come with free bed-in-a-box shipping across the contiguous U.S., with only the Casper offering shipping to Alaska and Hawaii, for a fee. The Casper also ships for free across most of Canada, aside from Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories, which will incur shipping fees. Nolah offers the option of old mattress removal and/or new mattress set-up for an extra charge.
- Trial Period – You’ll have 100 nights to make your decision with the Casper and 120 nights with the Nolah. However, Nolah gives you the choice of opting out of the trial, which will save you some money. However, if you choose this option, it does make the bed non-returnable.
- Returns – So long as you’ve slept on the bed for at least 30 nights, you’re eligible for a full refund with both the Casper and Nolah, if returned within the trial. However, there’s a return transportation fee with the Nolah.
- Price – The Nolah is more expensive than the Casper, but the amount differs based on the size of the bed.
| Size | Casper Original Price (w/o discount) | Nolah Original Price (w/o discount) |
| Twin | $895 | $999 |
| Twin XL | $995 | $1,199 |
| Full | $1,195 | $1,349 |
| Queen | $1,295 | $1,449 |
| King | $1,695 | $1,749 |
| Cali King | $1,695 | $1,749 |
| Split King | N/A | $2,398 |
| Split Cali King | N/A | N/A |
Casper vs. Nolah Compared Side-by-Side
| Features | Casper Original | Nolah Original |
| Height | 11” | 10” |
| Cover | Poly-blend stretch-knit cover | Tencel™ cover |
| Materials | Ventilated poly foam, zoned memory foam, poly foam | AirFoam™, polyfoams |
| Cooling | Ventilated foam | Breathable Tencel™ cover, ventilated AirFoam™ |
| Firmness | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | Great | Great |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal |
| Edge Support | Good | Good |
| Sinkage | Gentle Cradle | Gentle Cradle |
| Bounce | Moderate | Minimal |
| Warranty | 10-year limited | Lifetime |
| Trial Period | 100 nights | 120 nights |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US® | CertiPUR-US® |
| Adjustable Base Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Shipping | Free across continental U.S. and Canada. Fees apply for Alaska, Hawaii, Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories | Free across contiguous U.S., white glove delivery available for a fee |
| Made in the USA | Designed and assembled in the USA | Yes |
| Read Full Review | Casper Original Mattress Review | Nolah Original Mattress Review |
| Shop Now | Casper Original Mattress | Nolah Original Mattress |
Final Thoughts
So, are you going with the more versatile, bouncy sleeping surface of the Casper? Or does the Nolah, a bed geared toward providing comfort in the hips and shoulders, sound more appealing? Whatever you decide, you should feel comforted knowing that both offer a decent trial period, so if you think you made the wrong choice, you’ll have plenty of time to make a return.
If you need some more information before purchasing, read our in-depth reviews of the Casper and Nolah, where we chat about the specifics of each bed more extensively.
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Olivera Jancikin
Content Writer
About Author
Olivera is a content writer for Sleep Advisor and is enthusiastic about sleep. She firmly believes in the benefits of daytime naps on top of getting a full 8-hour sleep at night.
Combination Sleeper