You will definitely need a strong support if your mattress is foam or latex.
Foam mattress box spring plywood.
In the case where the mattress was originally designed for use with a flexible boxspring use of plywood under the mattress will accelerate wear.
Do doctors physicians recommend placing a piece of plywood between your mattress and box spring.
All you need for your foam mattress is a solid base.
You can find perforated plywood in a good hardware store.
That said if your box spring is rigid and firm less than an inch of give it should be okay to use with a memory foam or latex mattress.
Closely laid wooden slats a metal base a bunkie board or even the floor will all do just fine in place of a box spring.
In order for your box spring to allow proper air circulation i recommend you put a sheet of perforated plywood on top of the box spring.
While you shouldn t directly use a memory foam mattress with a box spring you can still use it to make your bed taller by slipping a bunkie board between your mattress and box spring.
Bunkie boards are pieces of plywood or particleboard that are two or three inches thick which provides a flat surface with enough support to prevent your mattress from sagging.
Can i use plywood under a box spring.
Using a box spring for a foam mattress.
If you do not want to throw out your box spring just yet adding a few layers of plywood will make your box spring firmer.
The plywood also gives added strength to allow even distribution to the weight of the memory foam on top of it.
You can also create a flat surface with a bunkie board or a piece of plywood.