If you are in the market for a new mattress, Casper and Nectar will be among your top considerations. Right off the bat, these two are great mattresses with an incredible quality to price ratio. They are always among our first picks whenever we want to recommend an excellent all-foam bed at SleepSharp.
Now, despite their numerous similarities, these two mattresses also differ a lot in several essential areas. That’s to say that one of them is going to meet your sleep needs much better. Which one?
Well, in this Casper vs Nectar mattresses review and comparison, we are going to zoom in on critical aspects that make a reliable mattress. These will include construction, firmness, motion transfer, and edge support.
Worthy of mention, this side by side comparison of Casper vs Nectar will be about the original mattresses of these brands, not the latest entrants.
Nectar Mattress 
Casper Mattress
Key Similarities
- Both of them have an all-foam construction.
- The two feature 4 layers.
- They have a medium-firm feel.
- They are relatively more affordable compared to most of their competitors.
- The 2 are best for lightweight to average weight folks (130-230 lbs)
Key Differences
- Nectar is 11” tall, while Casper maxes at 12”.
- Casper has a true medium firmness feel, while Nectar is a bit on the firmer side.
- Nectar is cheaper than Casper.
- Casper offers a 100-night trial period with no compulsory break-in period. On the other hand, Nectar gives you 365 nights but there is a 30-day break-in period.
- Casper gives you a 10-year limited warranty, whereas Nectar covers the mattress for life.
Now that you have a clue of the similarities and differences between Nectar and Casper mattresses let’s dig into each bed’s construction layer after layer.
Casper Mattress Construction
The original Casper is a 12” tall bed with 4 all-foam layers. The following section is an overview of what exactly goes into it. If you want a more detailed version of this, be sure to check out our Casper mattress review here.
- Cover– the top panel of the cover is made of 100% polyester, while the side panels boast polyester and spandex combination. Overall, the top side of this panel feels soft to the touch and does not alter the actual feel of the foam layers.
Importantly, this cover has a zip that allows you to remove it. However, note that you can’t throw it in the machine or drier as it’s very likely to shrink.
- Comfort layer– the comfort section consists of 2 layers. The first is a 1.5” block of a proprietary foam that feels like a blend of latex and memory. It’s not a combination of these two types of foam per se. The thing is, this layer has the contour of memory foam, and a notable bounce akin to latex.
Also, this comfort layer has an open-cell design and, therefore, tends to allow heat to pass as opposed to retaining it as traditional memory foam does.
Right beneath this proprietary layer, there is a 1.5” layer of 4 PCF medium-density memory foam.
- Transition layer– next up is the transition layer, which consists of 1.5” 2.5 PCF poly foam. As we note in our Casper mattress review, what makes this layer unique is that it’s zoned. It is firmer around the middle and softer on the head and feet. The essence of this is to lift your mid-body section and prevent it from sinking too deep. This helps in keeping your body balanced on the sleeping surface, thereby preventing uncomfortable twisting of the spine and back.
- Base foundation layer– the fourth layer is a 7-inch thick high-density poly foam mattress. This layer offers the bed overall core support and stability besides boosting its durability.
Nectar Mattress Construction
This is an 11-inch bed that we’ve covered in detail in this Nectar mattress review. For the sake of this Casper vs Nectar comparison, though, here is a snapshot of what you’ll find in the Nectar from the cover to the last layer.
- Cover– this cover consists of a blend of cotton and Tencel and it’s also quilted with a one-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam. We bet you are already familiar with the breathability of cotton. Tencel also has excellent temperature management since it’s derived from eucalyptus pulp.
- Comfort layer– below the gel-infused memory foam quilt, this mattress has another 3-inch layer of 3.5 PCF memory foam layer. This layer has gel infusion too to boost heat dissipation. However, it’s a little bit more supportive than the one-inch foam quilted in the cover.
- Transition layer– unlike the Casper that uses poly foam for this section, the Nectar mattress employs a 1.75” high-density memory foam. Besides acting as a buffer zone between the low-density comfort layers and the high-density foundation, this transition layer also extends the cradling feel of the viscoelastic layers at the top.
- Base foundation layer– the core of the Nectar mattress is a 2.2 PCF 5.25” thick poly foam. Considering the memory foam on memory foam construction profile of the top layers, it’s very impressive to have a more supportive base layer. This poly foam pumps in tons of support to ensure that you don’t sink any further into the mattress besides offering you an even sleeping support. As with other beds, this layer also holds the comfort and transition blocks together for durability.
Construction Comparison Table
| Component | Casper | Nectar |
| Cover | 100% Polyester | Cotton and Tencel blend with Gel memory foam quilting |
| Comfort System | 1.5” Proprietary Foam1.5” 4.5 PCF Medium Density memory foam | 3.5 PCF memory foam |
| Transition Layer | 1.5” 2.5 PCF Poly Foam | 1.75-inchHigh density memory foam |
| Base support | 7” High Density Poly Foam | 5.25-inch 2.2 PCFPoly foam |
| Thickness | 12” | 11” |
A word on construction differences
- Overall, these mattresses are well-made and tend to compete favorably despite their differences in the exact type of materials.
- Casper has a cover with a 100% polyester top panel. Several years back, polyester was synonymous with trapping heat, and this was a significant concern for hot sleepers. That’s no longer the case with modern polyester fabrics, though. Thanks to the advancement of weaving technology, these fabrics now have an acceptable amount of breathability.
- The cotton-Tencel blend cover of the Nectar mattress is breathable too. Again, unlike Casper’s synthetic cover that may be a little bit harsh on the skin when it’s hot, we like that Nectar’s cover has organic origins. As such, it’s going to be a little bit friendlier, especially to people with sensitive skin.
- As a boost to its cooling strength, the Casper mattress uses a porous comfort layer. This block has pretty much all the praiseworthy attributes of memory foam. However, it promotes air circulation, thereby putting it almost at par with the Nectar on the issue of breathability. Also, this layer is notably bouncier. So, it not only gives you a cooler sleeping surface, but it also offers you a more stable surface without that stuck-in-bed feeling. On the other hand, the Nectar mattress uses a lot of memory foam right from the cover to the transition layer. As such, the latter might interest individuals who want more of the classic memory foam feel.
- Another notable difference between Casper and Nectar mattresses is that the former is zoned. So, back and stomach sleepers are going to get more support on their butt and belly, respectively, for even support. Side sleepers will also appreciate that their hip joints won’t be digging too far into the mattress.
Firmness and Feel Differences
At SleepSharp, we believe the biggest determinant for most people in this Casper mattress vs Nectar comparison will be the feel of each bed. So, let’s compare their firmness levels.
These mattresses are very close to each other on this aspect and fall in the medium-firm category. When doing the review of Casper mattress, our team gave it a rating of 5 on the 1-10 firmness scale. This is what we’d call a true medium-firm bed that should accommodate all sleeping positions nicely.
When sleeping on your back or side, the zoned transition system of the Casper will offer more support to your butts and thighs to prevent sinkage. It’s also going to be of much help to stomach sleepers, although we’d recommend going for a slightly firmer bed.
Another important feature of the Casper is its bounce or responsiveness that comes from its proprietary layer. Besides giving you the feeling of sleeping on the mattress, this bounce also makes moving, turning, and switching positions very easy.
The Nectar mattress feels like a 6 to us on the 10-point mattress scale. Although this mattress uses a little more memory foam than the Casper, the fact that it’s slightly shorter means that it might feel a tad on the firm side for most folks. In general, thinner mattresses feel firmer than thicker beds.
However, this does not eliminate the fact that you’ll be sinking a little bit more on the Nectar mattress than on the Casper. Sleeping on the Nectar will feel firm in the first few seconds, but you’ll begin to sink as the gel-infused memory foam on the quilt and comfort system respond to your heat and pressure.
This mattress will also offer a well-balanced sleeping surface, especially for side sleepers and back snoozers. However, keep in mind that you’ll be sleeping in the bed, not on top. Again, this close contour may hamper movement and switching positions on the Nectar.
Motion Transfer Differences
All-foam mattresses offer top-notch motion isolation. So, these 2 mattresses tend to score almost equal marks on this issue. However, if you’ve checked out our reviews of these 2 mattresses, you’ll realize that the Nectar scores 5/5 while Casper gets a 4.8/5.
Although the Casper is still an excellent performer on this issue, its porous comfort layer means that it does allow some movement energy to pass. This energy may register as motion on the other side of the bed, although it’s implausible to wake up most light sleepers. All in all, if you were to compare Casper versus Nectar mattresses solely on the ability to isolate motion, Nectar would emerge the winner.
Casper 
Nectar
Edge Support Differences
All-foam mattresses generally struggle a lot when it comes to edge support, and that’s the case with the Casper and Nectar beds. All in all, you’ll experience a little bit less sinkage when lying towards the edge of the Casper than on the Nectar. The high-density transition layer of the Casper helps a lot in minimizing excessive sinkage compared to the 3 memory foam layers of the Nectar.
Performance Rating Score Table
| Casper | Nectar | |
| Firmness (out of 10) | 5 | 6 |
| Edge support (out of 5) | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Motion isolation (out of 5) | 4.8 | 5 |
Who should pick Casper?
- Individuals who don’t want to feel stuck on the bed. The slight bounce of the Casper’s comfort layer makes it almost effortless to move on the surface of the bed.
- Memory foam lovers who appreciate sleeping on the mattress not in– the bouncy comfort layer and zoned transition system tend to push you up softly, thereby preventing you from sinking deep in the mattress.
- Combo sleepers– although both the Casper and Nectar mattresses will accommodate all sleeping positions, the Casper will win thanks to its zoned support layer. This makes more sense, especially for stomach sleepers.
Who should pick Nectar?
- People who love the classic feel of memory foam– this mattress employs memory foam in its first 3 layers. As such, it feels like sleeping on a cloud.
- Individuals who want the pressure-relieving attributes of memory foam– the thick foam of this mattress means that it conforms even more closely to create a comfortable cocoon. This helps a lot in relieving pressure points and stressed joints.
- Those who want the most affordable bed– the Nectar tends to be $100-$150 cheaper than the Casper on average. Be on the lookout, though, Casper also regularly offers discounted prices depending on the season.
Our Verdict – Casper or Nectar?
At this point, we hope you’re now able to compare Nectar and Casper mattresses and get a bed that works for you. As a recap, Nectar has a more pronounced traditional memory foam feel, while Casper feels kind of neutral. If you prefer sleeping on a mattress that envelopes you with its foam, go with Nectar.
If you want a foam mattress with a bounce and that which is easy to move on, go Casper. If you were to compare Nectar versus Casper in terms of affordability, the former is notably cheaper, but remember that it’s an inch thinner too. While Casper is 12”, the Nectar mattress is 11” tall.
