By: Sarah West

A sturdy wooden frame that is covered cloth and has springs in it. This is a mattress box spring and normally goes on a bed frame to hold it up. It is usually just as large or small as the mattress that goes on top of it. It is also not unusually to find these without a frame but with some other form of support.

There is more than one purpose for a mattress box spring. They help to make the flat and firmer when in use. Shock is absorbed and the wear on the mattress is slowed. There is also additional height added to the mattress to make getting in and out of bed easier.

Right now, the mattress box spring is made of wood then fabric is used to cover it. There is an increased amount of support given to latex and memory foam mattresses when wood is used. There are two sizes for these, standard that is nine inches high and the lower ones that are from five to five and a half inches. It does not factor into the support given.

The size of a mattress box spring will vary depending on the size of the mattress it is going under. Small beds will have a single box spring under the mattress as will the queen size bed. When it comes to the king size bed two smaller box springs will used instead of one large one. When choosing a bed it is usually a set with the box spring.

Whenever you purchase a new mattress, it is vital to purchase a new mattress box spring. If you keep your old box spring, it will cut down on the amount of time that your new mattress lasts. The support will not be as good because the box spring likely wore out with the mattress.