What we typed
Queen memory foam mattress, roll-packed in a box
Saying queen and roll-packed lets the estimator build a compressed cylinder rather than a flat slab.
Bedding & textiles
How much does it cost to ship a mattress?
A foam or hybrid mattress ships vacuum-compressed and rolled into a tall box around 20 × 20 × 44 inches at 50–90 lb depending on size. A queen lands near 70 lb, and the price answers both that weight and the oversize dimensions; an innerspring that will not compress usually routes to freight instead. Beyond that, the lane, the service, and the finished roll decide your number.
Live parcel ratesFreight review pathTracking included
One rolled queen, priced live
At 20 × 20 × 44 in and 66 lb, FedEx Smart Post came back at $139.43 on the lane below.
A real quote: Queen memory foam mattress, roll-packed in a box
The description “Queen memory foam mattress, roll-packed in a box” went through the SMKlog calculator on 2026-07-24, Kansas City, MO 64106 to Richmond, VA 23219. The rows below are its output as returned.
Packed box it returned
20 × 20 × 44 in
52 × 52 × 112 cm
Packed weight 66 lb (30 kg).
Route
Kansas City, MO 64106
to Richmond, VA 23219
Live ZIP codes at both ends; a Midwest to mid-Atlantic run is what these four services are pricing.
Volume is brutal at this size: 20 × 20 × 44 ÷ 139 is about 126.6 lb against 66 lb on the scale, so the carton sets the charge. Every inch off the roll diameter shows up in the total.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx | Smart Post | $139.43 | 5-6 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $184.81 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $187.67 | 5 business days |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $240.84 | 4-5 business days |
Each row is the entire checkout amount, postage and SMKlog's charge in one figure. FedEx Smart Post was cheapest here at $139.43. Carriers rewrite their tables and lanes vary, so take this as one measured example and price the route you are actually shipping.
Typical packed size
Around 20 × 20 × 44 in once boxed. Only foam and hybrid builds take compression: bag the mattress in heavy-gauge plastic, draw the air out with a vacuum, band the roll, then box it. A traditional innerspring will not roll and generally travels flat by freight or LTL.
Packed weight
50–90 lb packed. Both figures run high here, and the carrier charges the greater of the scale reading and the carton volume.
What moves the price
The roll, the mileage, and the service. Kansas City, MO to Richmond, VA is a long eastward run; a nearer destination brings it down, and speed pushes it up. The four quotes here ran $139.43 to $240.84 for one identical box. The compression routine those numbers assume is in our mattress shipping box guide.
Shipping a mattress: common questions
What box size do I need to ship a mattress?
Around 20 × 20 × 44 in packed. Compression only works on foam and hybrid builds: bag the mattress in heavy-gauge plastic, pull the air out with a vacuum, band the roll, and box it. A traditional innerspring cannot be rolled and generally ships flat by freight or LTL.
How much does a mattress weigh packed for shipping?
Figure 50–90 lb packed. Carriers charge the greater of scale weight and volumetric weight (the three dimensions multiplied and divided by the carrier's volumetric divisor), so weigh and measure the finished box before quoting. Understate it and the adjustment lands after delivery.
Can any mattress be vacuum-rolled for shipping?
No. Foam and most hybrids will compress and roll into a manageable box. Traditional innerspring mattresses will not compress, and they normally have to travel flat as freight, which costs more.
Why is a mattress expensive to ship even when compressed?
Because it is still heavy once rolled, a queen sitting around 70 lb, and the box it rolls into is long, so weight and oversize both count. Distance then sets the final rate, and freight costs more again where compression is impossible.
How much does it cost to ship a mattress?
Weight and size both work against you. A rolled mattress at 20 x 20 x 44 in carries a volumetric weight of about 127 lb (L x W x H / 139), so that is charged rather than the 70 lb on the scale, and heavy-package handling fees come on top. Distance multiplies everything in this weight class. Give the SMKlog calculator your route and rolled dimensions for live USPS, UPS, and FedEx rates.
What is the cheapest way to ship a mattress?
UPS or FedEx ground, compressed as far as the mattress will go. Past 100 lb billed, those two handle big heavy parcels better than USPS, and ground is the only sensible speed, because expedited pricing at this size is punishing. Compression pays twice over, lowering the volumetric weight and the odds of an oversize surcharge. Buy the label online rather than at a counter.
Can I ship a mattress through USPS?
Only right at the edge of its limits. USPS caps parcels at 70 lb and 130 inches of length plus girth; this mattress sits exactly on the weight cap and measures 124 combined inches, so a single extra pound or inch rules it out. UPS and FedEx take parcels up to 150 lb, which leaves real margin, and anything heavier belongs on freight.