# Box Springs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-springs/163650>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 23, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-springs/163650 "2003-03-23T23:37:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-springs/163650/1 "2003-03-23T23:37:08Z")

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Why exactly are box springs needed for conventional beds?

I never had one on the twin bed I had as a child, but when I went to look at $97 twin mattresses, I was told that that was the price only if I bought all the pieces, that is, both a matress and a box spring.

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**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/box-springs/163650/2 "2003-03-24T00:21:15Z")

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It supplies give for the mattress. Allowing for longer life.