Best Cheap Mattresses of 2023

If you want to buy an affordable mattress without compromising on quality, Mattress Advisor can help you turn the dream into reality. We’ve tested and reviewed dozens of products to put together our list of best cheap mattresses, with an average starting price under $1,200 for a queen size—not counting sales or discounts.

Compare our best budget mattresses, check out our buyer’s guide, and find out why “good cheap mattress” doesn’t have to be a contradiction in terms.

Best Cheap Mattresses: Our Top Picks

• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Nectar
• Best Medium-Firm Mattress – The DreamCloud
• Best Mattress for Back Sleepers – Helix Midnight
• Best Hybrid Mattress – Brooklyn Bowery Hybrid
• Best Cooling Foam Mattress – Nolah Original 10″
• Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Layla
• Best Mattress for Athletes – Bear Original
• Best Mattress for Couples – Cocoon Chill
• Best Mattress for Back Pain – Puffy Cloud
• Best Pillow Top Mattress – Dreamfoam Latex

Why You Can Trust Mattress Advisor

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity in our product reviews and other content by incorporating real customer feedback, empirical testing and objective evaluations. Our results and recommendations are never influenced by the commission we may receive from brands, and products we receive are never guaranteed a positive review.

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Nectar

Queen-Size Starting at $999

When you sleep on your side, it’s important to get the right amount of give in key areas of your body, particularly your shoulders and hips. The Nectar scored an 8.5/10 for pressure relief in our testing process, making it a good mattress for side sleepers.

Pros

In terms of quality, the Nectar does not disappoint. In fact, less than 3% of Nectar’s customers end up returning this budget mattress. It offers great edge support, responsiveness, cooling air flow, and durability.

Cons

The Nectar has a cooling cover and breathable foam layers, but we give at a 7.75/10 score for cooling—not bad for an all-foam product, but not great generally. A cooling mattress topper might be a smart accessory.

Read our full Nectar mattress review.

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DreamCloud

Queen-Size Starting at $1,199

The DreamCloud hybrid is one of the best medium-firm mattresses and a great mattress, period. It has a high-quality hybrid design that combines soft foam layers with a sturdy, supportive layer of pocketed coils.

Pros

The DreamCloud earned a perfect score (10/10) on our edge support test, meaning you can sit or lie along the edge of the mattress and it’s less likely to sag under your weight. Good edge support is also a sign of good durability, so it isn’t surprising that this mattress scored a 9/10 on our durability test.

Cons

The DreamCloud scored an 8.5/10 for motion isolation, which certainly isn’t bad, but if you want to sleep soundly through even the tiniest movement from your partner or pet then you may want to find a mattress with a higher score.

Read our full DreamCloud mattress review.

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Helix Midnight

Queen-Size Starting at $1,249

The Helix Midnight brings a lot to the table for a very reasonable price. With a middle-of-the-road firmness and supportive hybrid construction, the Helix Midnight is a back sleeper’s dream come true.

Pros

Not only great for back sleepers, the Helix Midnight accommodates side, stomach, and combination sleepers as well. It also does a great job at providing pressure relief (8.5/10 Mattress Advisor score), meaning sensitive areas such as your shoulders and hips will feel cushioned and supported.

Cons

We noticed an off-gassing smell as the Helix Midnight was being unboxed. This is normal for mattresses made with foam layers, but you may find it unpleasant. Once unboxed, allow the Helix Midnight to rest for several hours so it can air out fully.

Read our full Helix Midnight mattress review.

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Brooklyn Bowery Hybrid

Queen-Size Starting at $874

The Bowery Hybrid is a versatile budget mattress from Brooklyn Bedding, a brand that produces some of today’s best hybrid mattresses. With a layered, coil/foam design and medium firmness, the Bowery Hybrid can help a wide variety of sleepers enjoy restful nights.

Pros

This hybrid bed scores quite well on our spine alignment test (8.75/10), an encouraging sign for people with back pain. The gel memory foam topper provides a contouring feel while helping you avoid overheating.

Cons

The Bowery Hybrid scored an 8/10 in our lab for responsiveness, which isn’t shabby. However, especially restless sleepers and combination sleepers might look elsewhere for a more responsive mattress.

Read our full Brooklyn Bowery Hybrid mattress review.

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Nolah Original 10″

Queen-Size Starting at $1,149

The Nolah Original 10″ is designed to keep you from overheating at night, and the price could keep your wallet from overheating at checkout. It performs comparably with some of our best cooling mattresses, and you can get this Nolah model in the popular queen size for less than $1,200.

Pros

The Nolah Original 10″ combines proprietary AirFoam and a breathable Tencel cover, which earns this mattress an 8/10 score for cooling—not bad at all for an all-foam bed. High scores in motion transfer (9/10) and spine alignment (9.5/10) are good signs for couples and back sleepers.

Cons

The Nolah Original’s 7.25/10 pressure relief score could be problematic for some side sleepers. Heavier people and stomach sleepers should consider a thicker mattress.

Read our full Nolah Original 10″ mattress review.

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Layla

Queen-Size Starting at $1099

The Layla mattress suits combination sleepers not just because it earned a 9.5/10 in our testing of responsiveness, suggesting that it’s easy to move around on—but also because it has two usable sides with different levels of firmness. This party trick allows you to sleep on its softer side when you want more pressure relief for side sleeping, or its medium-firm side when you want more firm support for resting on your back. It’s a good mattress for couples who want to change positions without feeling like they’re disrupting their partners on the other side of the bed. And it’s also fairly light on your wallet—particularly given that it’s two mattresses in one. 

Pros

For those seeking pressure relief, the Layla is a slam dunk: Our testing found that its thick layers of memory foam do an excellent job at contouring to your body’s curves, and relieving stress at the shoulders, hips, ribs, and knees. The mattress earned a 9/10 in this department.

Cons

Excessively hot sleepers might find that this mattress is too warm for comfort—despite the Layla’s copper-infused top layers for cooling, it’s still a memory foam mattress that doesn’t sleep as cool as a hybrid or innerspring model. We gave it a 7.5/10 for cooling.

Read our full Layla mattress review.

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Bear Original

Queen-Size Starting at $998

The Bear Original works well for athletes looking to make the most of their recovery time. Not only does its memory foam construction provide good pressure relief and cooling, but it even has a cover layer designed to promote blood circulation and muscle repair. For these reasons, we found the mattress is a great choice for not just active people but also sweaty sleepers and those with joint pain. Its medium-firm firmness and high responsiveness also benefit those who switch sleep positions or toss and turn. And it’s a bargain, with a queen priced below $1,000 before discounts—so you can save your money for more weight equipment or race fees. 

Pros

Memory foam tends to sleep hot, but not so with the Bear’s open-cell and graphite-infused foam, which allows for better breathability and airflow. The mattress also has a celliant cover layer that absorbs your body’s heat so you sleep cooler.

Cons

The Bear doesn’t isolate motion well, earning just a 7.75/10 in our testing of motion transfer. This suggests that couples who tend to wake each other with their sleepless repositioning might opt for a mattress that better limits the rippling effects of those movements to one area of the bed. 

Read our full Bear Original mattress review.

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Cocoon Chill

Queen-Size Starting at $1,239

A good mattress for couples should perform well in isolating motion and providing support around the edges. The Cocoon Chill earns 9/10 scores in our testing lab for both motion transfer and edge support, which means that couples are (a) less likely to be disturbed by movement and (b) free to use more of the mattress surface without feeling the edges sag.

Pros

Thanks to its impressive performance in spine alignment and pressure relief, as well as its medium firmness level, the Cocoon Chill is a good match for most side sleepers. Restless sleepers who toss and turn should benefit from its responsiveness (9/10 in Mattress Advisor testing).

Cons

The Cocoon Chill’s desirability for couples comes with an asterisk. Since it has a weight limit of 500 pounds, it’s best suited for people of average weight rather than plus-size sleepers. Couples with a combined weight over 500 pounds might consider a sturdier alternative like the Emma CliMax Hybrid or Brooklyn Bedding Titan.

Read our full Cocoon Chill mattress review.

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Puffy Cloud

Queen-Size Starting at $1,799

Can you put a price on a mattress with the potential to relieve back pain? The Puffy Cloud mattress aims to provide a useful answer to that question, with 7/10 firmness and an 8.75/10 spine alignment score.

Pros

The high-density foam in the Puffy Cloud mattress is designed to adapt to your body and provide structured support. Also, the high motion isolation score (9.25/10) means that couples can toss and turn with less chance of disturbing one another.

Cons

Over time, you may notice the Puffy Cloud sag in areas where you regularly sleep. This eventually happens to most mattresses, but especially those made with memory foam. The issue can be mitigated by rotating your mattress several times per year.

Read our full Puffy Cloud mattress review.

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Dreamfoam Latex

Queen-Size Starting at $1,124

The Dreamfoam Latex includes a quilted plush pillow top, a responsive latex layer, and a supportive polyfoam base layer. Together, these layers create a mattress great for every sleeping position—and your wallet.

Pros

This mattress should do a good job of keeping you cool at night—we give it an 8.5/10 for cooling. Pressure relief also shows good results, with an 8.7/10 score, as does spine alignment (8/10).

Cons

The Dreamfoam Latex scores only 7/10 in our lab for edge support, so it might not be the right option if you like to spread out and enjoy all the mattress surface. If you’re willing to pay more, the pillow-top DreamCloud Premier has better edge support.

Read our full Dreamfoam Latex mattress review.

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Buyer’s Guide to the Best Cheap Mattresses

Terms like memory foam, hybrid, and pocket coils might sound like the stuff of luxury, but plenty of budget-friendly mattresses offer these features, and more. Many of today’s best cheap mattresses can help you find a happy medium between price and quality for about $1,000.

In fact, the mattresses featured on this page have an average regular price of about $1,150 for a queen-size, which doesn’t include sales prices or discounts. In terms of quality, their average overall Mattress Advisor score is 8.8/10.

Here are some important questions and answers that can help you find the right cheap mattress for your sleep needs.

• Is a Cheap Mattress a Good Investment?
• Most Affordable Mattress Types
• How to Save Money on a Mattress
• What Affects the Price of Mattresses?

Is a Cheap Mattress a Good Investment?

The answer is probably yes, as long as you avoid the extremes. Buying a mattress at the lowest end of the price range—say, $300 or less—often means making big compromises not just on comfort but also longevity. A mattress that starts to wear out and sag after just a few years could turn out to be a less economical choice than a mattress with a lifespan twice as long.

You can find a mattress under $1,000—or even a mattress under $500—that offers reasonable quality, but you’ll probably have to compare the choices more carefully.

Although you can’t really put a price on comfort, you should also consider the value of getting more restful sleep every night. Spending more than the rock-bottom price could make a huge difference in your health and overall quality of life, especially if you struggle with back pain, sleep apnea, or other health issues.

From a purely financial standpoint, better sleep could also mean less money spent on sleep medications, fewer trips to the chiropractor, and so on.

Related: Best Mattresses for the Money

Most Affordable Mattress Types

Mattresses tend to vary in price by type, sometimes greatly. Here’s a quick rundown of price ranges from low to high, plus lifespan and pros/cons for each type of mattress:

	Typical Price Range	Lifespan	Pros + and Cons –
Memory Foam	$500-$1,800	5-7 years	+Pressure relief +Spine alignment -Tends to sleep hot
Innerspring	$800-$2,000	6-8 years	+Firmness +Support -Motion transfer
Hybrid	$1,200-$3,000	7-10 years	+Cooling +Durability -Limited firmness options
Latex	$1,500-$3,200	8-15 years	+Responsiveness +Durability -Purity of foam varies
Smartbeds	$2,000-$5,000	5-7 years	+Adjustable firmness +Customizable elevation -Very expensive

What if you’re less interested in materials and design than simply finding the cheapest possible sleeping surface? If you need a cheap mattress for camping or something an overnight guest can use in a pinch, the prices get much lower.

• Air mattresses
• Folding mattresses
• Floor mattresses

In many cases, you can buy an air mattress or folding mattress for $100-$200. For long-term use, however, a standard bedroom mattress like the ones featured on this page will be a lot easier on your back even if they’re not quite as easy on your wallet.

How to Save Money on a Mattress

The best cheap mattresses do more than save you money. They also improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep without worrying about the expense. Follow these tips to find the right balance between spending wisely and sleeping comfortably.

Shop for Top Brands Online

Shopping online for a mattress is a fairly easy way to get an affordable, high-quality mattress. However, it doesn’t mean that a big-box retailer’s website always offers the best deal. Here are some reasons why:

• You’ll find some nationally recognized brands, but also some second-tier or third-tier brands you probably never heard of. Those brands might also use an entirely different company to sell and deliver their mattresses.
• While most top mattress brands offer free shipping when you buy online, that service might not be available from a retail chain unless you sign up for a special membership (like Walmart’s W+, which costs about $98 a year).
• With discount brands sold by a big-box store, you might get a shorter sleep trial and a shorter, less comprehensive warranty.
• Top mattress websites tend to be more transparent about total costs rather than tacking on various fees (shipping charges, minimum purchase requirements, and so on).

In other words, the allure of rock-bottom prices often comes with strings attached. You could be sacrificing quality, longevity, and overall long-term value for what seems to be a smaller upfront investment.

Holiday Deals and Sales

Certain times of the year are ideal for saving money on a mattress. Mattress brands, retailers, and online sellers have several big sales every year:

• February–Presidents Day (third Monday)
• May–Memorial Day (final Monday)
• July–Fourth of July and Amazon Prime Day (two days every July)
• September–Labor Day (first Monday)
• November/December–Black Friday and Cyber Monday (fourth Thursday of November and following Monday)

During holiday sales, mattress companies and online marketplaces routinely offer deals that shave hundreds of dollars off their regular prices. Holiday sales are also a great time to shop online thanks to exclusive discounts and coupons.

Related: When is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?

Use Promo Codes and Coupons

Online mattress shopping provides some opportunities to save money that in-person shopping doesn’t. Many brand websites and online marketplaces have promo codes and coupons that you can use at checkout to potentially save hundreds of dollars.

Look for banners that display the codes you can use to get a discount. In some cases, the codes will be ready to enter when you check out so you don’t even have to type them in.

Cash Back Deals with Your Bank or Credit Card

Sometimes banks and credit cards offer special cash back deals on purchases from partner brands, including mattress brands. When you log in to your credit card or bank account, look for these deals and be sure to activate them.

Here’s an example: If your credit card provider has a 10% cash back deal on a mattress brand, you can earn 10% cash back for a qualifying purchase. Buying a $1,000 mattress would mean earning $100 cash back, which you could apply to your balance or redeem as a gift card. You won’t earn those returns at the time of your purchase, but you can think of it as a deferred discount.

Check Out a Bundle Deal

Even when it’s not a holiday, many companies often have ongoing promotions and discounts so you can save some money on an already-cheap mattress. Bundle deals are also a popular way to save money. If you’re getting a new mattress, you might want new sheets, pillows, or a bed frame. Bundling them into one transaction at a discount could save money in the long run.

Related: Best Mattress Deals

What Affects the Price of Mattresses?

You may be wondering how there can be such a wide price range for mattresses. Actually, there are many factors that differentiate mattresses and can drive up costs. When you’re shopping for a budget mattress, think about which features and capabilities you’re willing to pay extra for, and which ones you’re not.

• Size: Larger mattresses require more materials, which of course makes them more expensive to manufacture. If you buy from a seller that doesn’t offer free shipping, more weight could also mean higher shipping costs.
• Materials: High-density memory foam and organic or natural latex are higher-quality and can make a mattress more expensive (and more comfortable).
• Design: Innersprings or hybrids with zoned or targeted supportive coil layers require advanced construction and cost more.
• Brand: Some companies market themselves as luxury brands, while others target the average consumer.
• Cooling elements: Copper, gel-infused foam and other cooling technologies drive up the price of a mattress.
• Smart-bed technology: Highly engineered adjustable airbeds can cost thousands of dollars more than a typical mattress.

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Recap: Our Picks for Best Cheap Mattress

Here’s another look at our top picks for the best cheap mattresses, along with links to coupon and deals pages:

Mattress	Award	Coupons/Deals
Nectar	Best for Side Sleepers	Coupons
DreamCloud	Best Medium-Firm Mattress	Coupons
Helix Midnight	Best for Back Sleepers	Coupons
Brooklyn Bowery Hybrid	Best Hybrid Mattress	Coupons
Nolah Original 10″	Best Cooling Foam Mattress	Coupons
Layla Mattress	Best for Combination Sleepers	Coupons
Bear Original	Best Mattress for Athletes	Coupons
Cocoon Chill	Best Couples Mattress	Deals
Puffy Cloud	Best Mattress for Back Pain	Coupons
Dreamfoam Latex	Best Pillow Top Mattress	Coupons