Between a box spring and a mattress, most setups need nothing — the mattress sits directly on the box spring. The two exceptions are a mattress pad for surface protection or a bunkie board if the box spring surface has wide gaps that let the mattress shift or sag.
A standard Greaton solid wood box spring provides a flat, even surface by design — the snug-fitting joints and solid wood construction mean there are no gaps for a mattress to sink into, which is the problem a bunkie board solves on slatted frames. Adding a thin waterproof mattress pad on top of the box spring can protect the mattress ticking from abrasion over years of contact, but it adds no meaningful support.
- A bunkie board between box spring and mattress adds 1"–2" of total bed height.
- Greaton Amish-made solid wood box springs use snug-fitting joints with no metal hardware that can loosen and create gaps.
- A mattress pad placed between box spring and mattress serves a protective function only — it adds no support layer.
- Greaton box springs ship flat-packed in two pieces, each piece fitting through standard doorways and stairwells.