So glad to see reasonable prices on mattresses!! Would def agree that Cocoon is worth the price—much better than expected.
Finding an inexpensive and affordable mattress without sacrificing on purchasing a high-quality bed can feel like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of affordable beds you can buy online for less than $1,000.
In this guide, we’ll review our 8 top-rated cheap mattresses and help you understand how to find an inexpensive mattress without sacrificing on quality and staying within your budget.
Most queen-size, quality mattresses that you can order online cost at least $1,000. Therefore, we price a “budget mattress” around $700.
If your budget is even tighter than this, you can check out our guide on the best mattresses under $500. But, if you have a little more wiggle room in your wallet, you can see our guide on the best mattresses under $1000.
Best for
Medium-firm: 5.5-6/10
365 days
The Nectar mattress is one of the best value mattresses we’ve ever tested and reviewed. Packaged with 365-night sleep trial (yes, a full year!) and a lifetime warranty, you can rest easy when you make this purchase.
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, durability, pressure point relief, and support.
Read our full Nectar mattress review.
Best for
Medium firm: 5-7/10
100 days
The Studio mattress is Leesa’s budget option that features their well-known proprietary foam. The cushiony pressure relief it offers eases your hips, shoulders, and lower back, so people with back and joint pain wake up feeling refreshed. And this memory foam mattress has great responsiveness for people who toss and turn at night.
See: Best Mattresses for Back Pain
Read our full Leesa Studio mattress review.
Best for
Medium-firm: 6/10
120 days
The Bowery Hybrid is a medium-firm inexpensive hybrid mattress constructed with three layers of foam and one layer of pocketed coils for contouring comfort that also offers support, motion isolation, and durability at an affordable price point.
The gel memory foam topper combined with the coil spring layer keeps you from overheating, making it a great cooling mattress for hot sleepers. The high-density foam bottom provides extra support for people who sleep on their backs and plus-sized sleepers as well.
See: Best Mattresses for Heavy People
This hybrid bed scored particularly well on our spinal alignment test, scoring a 8.75 out of 10, meaning you’ll wake up feeling well-rested and keep your back pain-free each night. The Brooklyn Bowery also offers great durability, cooling, and responsiveness—all important factors to look for in a bed!
Read our full Bowery Hybrid mattress review.
Best for
Medium-firm: 6/10
100 days
The Casper Element is Casper’s budget-friendly, streamlined mattress model. It’s designed with three different foam layers (borrowing two top layers from the Original Casper mattress) that provide durability, soft comfort, pressure relief, and support.
In our testing, the Casper Element stood out for its outstanding edge support, great spine alignment, and overall budget-friendly price tag. This mattress will give you a good night’s rest, and it’s easy on the wallet!
Read our full Casper Element mattress review.
Best for
Medium-firm: 6/10
100 days
The Tuft & Needle mattress is an affordable memory foam mattress that’s suitable for all types of sleepers: side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers! Because its medium firmness level works for all, we recommend this “universal mattress” for anyone who doesn’t have particular preferences, the average sleeper, or someone who doesn’t really know what they want in a mattress.
This bed is built with an Adaptive Foam comfort layer that contours your body, evenly distributes body weight, and provides pressure relief for a comfortable and healthy night of restorative sleep. This foam also mimics the bounce and breathability of latex without the higher price.
A queen-size Tuft & Needle mattress won’t run you more than $595. This mattress comes with the bed-in-a-box standard 100-night trial period and 10-year warranty.
Read our full Tuft & Needle mattress review.
Best for
Soft, Medium, Firm
120 days
Dreamfoam offers many quality budget mattress options. If you find that you love the extra cushioning and conforming of a pillow top mattress, look no further than the affordable latex option, Elements Latex.
See: Best Pillow Top Mattresses
This mattress consists of an optional 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.
Read our full Elements Latex mattress review.
Best for
Medium-Soft: 4.5/10
100 days
The Zinus Green Tea is a high-quality, all-foam mattress offered at a low price point and easily accessible on Amazon. Choose between a six, eight, 10, or 12 inch thick mattress, depending on your needs or body type; a thicker mattress holds off sagging for longer.
This mattress is more on the plush side, so it is perfect for people who love the feeling of a mattress that hugs them. Zinus also offers great motion isolation, perfect for couples or people who sleep with their pets. On top of that it scored well in our spine alignment, pressure relief, and responsiveness tests—essentially everything you need in a good bed.
Read our full Zinus Green Tea mattress review.
Best for
Medium - 5/10
100 days
Affordable hybrid mattresses are hard to come by, but the Allswell mattress is one of those rare finds. Made with a breathable top layer of comfort foam and a base of supportive coils, Allswell is a great option for people who sleep with a partner or those looking for a supportive guest room mattress.
Read our full Allswell mattress review.
The cheapest mattress may not be the same as the best mattress. If your social media feed is peppered with ads for mattresses at a crazy low cost that sounds too good to be true—it probably is. Mattress company ads often use a “starting at” price (which refers to their twin-size mattress price), and twin-sized mattresses will cost significantly less than a king.
The same goes for mattress stores; you may get to physically test out a mattress for a few minutes, but sticker prices can be overwhelmingly higher when (and if) you find one you like. When you buy a mattress from a mattress store, you’re also paying for much more than the actual mattress. Think showroom fees, warehouse markups, shipping and storage fees, commission-based salespeople…the list goes on.
But not to worry. With so many online mattress options available, it is possible to find a great, quality mattress within your budget. Today, you can find a high-quality mattress for around $1,000 or less when you buy from an online-only or bed-in-a-box mattress brand. (For comparison, a quality mattress from a mattress store will typically cost you between $3,000 – $5,000.)
Read More: Best Mattress for the Money
If you’re shopping for a cheap mattress, you may end up with one that cuts corners and lacks quality materials. It’s important to know that, like with any purchase, shopping for a mattress on the cheap end of the spectrum comes with a set of risks including:
A cheaply made mattress won’t offer as much luxurious comfort as a high-end mattress will, and it will have a shorter lifespan than the average mattress. To that end, you may find your mattress sagging within a few years and need to look a replacement anyways, so you may be better off putting in more money initially for a higher quality mattress.
That being said, an affordable mattress isn’t necessarily a bad option. There are many great mattresses available in the low price range that have a decent lifespan and offer great support. The risks of buying a cheap mattress are more applicable to those at that absolute lowest price range.
If you’re finding a mattress under $300 or so, those are more likely to have the shortest lifespans and offer the least amount of comfort and support to sleepers.
You may be wondering how there can be such a wide price range for mattresses–besides, aren’t they all kind of the same?
In fact, there are many factors that differentiate mattresses and can drive up costs. When you’re shopping for a mattress on a budget, it can help to be aware of these factors and know which you’re willing to pay for and which you can skip out on to save money.
The top factors driving up mattress costs include:
So how do you know which of these you can really skimp out on and which you need? It depends on your personal situation.
If you’re a naturally hot sleeper, paying a little extra for a mattress with advanced cooling technology can make a real difference on your sleep quality. But if you live in a cooler climate and don’t tend to sleep hot, this won’t really apply to you.
If you have a lot of allergies, a certified organic and hypoallergenic mattress that you know was made with natural materials may be a necessary element for you to look out for. Or if you have chronic pain or any type of discomfort while you sleep, you may need a mattress made with high-quality materials like advanced foams or zoned support coil layers.
Ultimately, it comes down to your unique situation, but it’s always good to know which of these boxes you need to check and which you can avoid.
Another way to navigate the wide price range of mattresses is to narrow your search by mattress type. Of course, you should be sure you’ve done other research to make sure you know which type of mattress would be best for you, but once you need to narrow your options by your budget, this can help you filter down your options.
The best place to look for a cheap or budget mattress is online. Direct-to-consumer beds come straight from the mattress manufacturer to your door, meaning they also don’t have to worry about sharing the sale with mattress stores and retailers; this means lower costs for you.
One important question you should ask yourself when shopping for a cheaper mattress is: Is this a temporary solution or a long-term bed?
If you’re looking for a quick fix, cutting on higher quality to spend less money isn’t as much of an issue. But if you’re looking for a mattress to support you for the next 10 years, it’s worth investing more in a high-quality bed.
Budget mattresses are well-suited for people who are looking for a temporary mattress for a rental in college, your guest bedroom, or if you’re looking to decorate your Airbnb. But if you’re shopping for yourself, you may consider stretching your budget a little more than you expected. Besides, you spend one-third of your life on your mattress, so you want it to be comfortable and durable.
Similarly to the previous question, the type of mattress you need depends on who will be using it. If you’re purchasing a mattress for guests to use every now and then, you won’t need as high-quality of a bed since it will get much less use.
Kids, teenagers, and adults all have different needs in a mattress as well. Kids and teenagers spend much more time sleeping when they are young, plus they have smaller bodies, so you will want to consider the durability of the mattress and the size. While a twin is appropriate for a child, it’s not for an adult couple.
Related: Best Mattresses for Couples
This is also when the mattress size comes into play. You can save money by purchasing a smaller mattress (twin, twin XL, full) instead of one of the larger options (queen, king, California king).
Which brings us to our next point: How many sleepers are you accommodating on your mattress? The more humans (or animals) that share the bed, the bigger size you will need. Plus you’ll want to consider special features like cooling (more bodies = more body heat), motion isolation (so you don’t wake each other up all night), and durability (because of the added weight).
Weight plays a significant factor. Heavy sleepers require a more durable, and usually more firm mattress, which may factor into higher costs.
Us mattress pros know there are a few ways to do your wallet some good and save big on a mattress. We’ll let you in on our secrets.
There are certain times of the year that are ideal for buying a mattress. The best times to buy a mattress are
Many brands have big sales during these holidays so you can get more bang for your buck and save money on a mattress.
Even when it’s not a holiday, many companies often have on-going promotions and discounts so you can save some money on a mattress. Bundle deals are also a popular way to save money. If you’re getting a new mattress, you’ll probably need new sheets, pillows, or a bed frame at least too so you might as well bundle them all from the same company to save money in the long run.
P.S. You can always check our mattress deals page to look for active sales and coupon codes.
Shopping online from a direct-to-consumer (DTC) mattress brands helps cut out the cost of the middleman. Instead of shopping in a store where a salesperson is working towards a commission, you can conveniently browse online to find the mattress that’s best for you.
Read more: Benefits of buying a mattress online
If you’re nervous about buying a mattress before you try it–don’t worry! Many brands offer generous sleep trial periods during which you can sleep on the mattress in your one home and return it for a refund if you decide it isn’t right for you.
When looking for a mattress on a budget, you need to consider what you’re getting for that price. If you find a mattress under $500, it typically means the manufacturer cut corners or used cheaper materials (which means you’ll likely be waking up sore and achy, and looking for a new mattress in due time). But that might be fine if you’re looking for a temporary bed or something to put in your guest bedroom.
There are four different categories of common material used in mattresses, and determining what’s inside your mattress gives you an idea of how much it should cost. Here’s a quick rundown of the types of mattresses on the market:
Mattress Type | Average Price Range |
Memory foam | $350–$1,000 |
Latex | $900–$2,000 |
Innerspring | $1,000–$1,900 |
Hybrid | $2,000–$5,000 |
Foam and memory foam mattresses curve to your body and offer lumbar support, pressure relief, and great motion transfer (if your sleeping partner moves around a lot, you won’t feel it). Foam mattresses are the cheapest and most affordable to purchase.
Latex mattresses offer the longest lifespan of mattresses, so you get more bang for your buck. It provides the same benefits as foam, but with more bounce (and usually more eco-friendly materials). Latex mattresses are in the medium to expensive price range.
Innerspring mattresses are the traditional mattress often found in retail and specialty stores. It is made with at least one layer of spring metal coils—offering great bounce and edge support, but not always the best pressure relief. Innerspring mattresses are often in the medium to expensive price range.
Hybrid mattresses are a combination of memory foam and innerspring mattresses but can include other materials and combinations as well (like latex and memory foam). Hybrid mattress are typically the most expensive type of bed to buy.
Mattress costs vary depending on the size of your purchase, so it’s important to consider what size mattress you’ll really need to help you stick to your budget.
If it’s just you and your pup sharing the space, a twin XL or full-size mattress may do the trick. If it’s you, your pup, and your significant other, a twin size may be a tight squeeze. The most common mattress size for couples is a queen-size mattress. It allows space for both people to sleep comfortably, and will fit in most bedrooms.
Read More: Best Queen Mattresses
King-size mattresses have gained more popularity in recent years because they offer even more space for couples, plus some extra room for pets or squirmy kids. California king mattresses are not as wide as kings but are longer. So if you happen to be super tall or just prefer more space while you sleep, then a king or California king might be worth considering.
It is worth noting that you’ll find a wider range of sheets and bedding that are made for queen-size mattresses, so decorating your bedroom can be more affordable.
Compare our top picks for the best cheap budget mattresses below:
Mattress | Award | Our Rating (Out of 10) |
Nectar | Best for Side Sleepers | 8.7 |
Studio by Leesa | Best for Back Pain | 8.7 |
Bowery Hybrid by Brooklyn Bedding | Best for Heavy People | 9 |
Casper Element | Best Memory Foam Mattress | 8.4 |
Tuft & Needle | Best Queen Mattress | 8.7 |
Dreamfoam Elements Latex | Best Pillow Top Mattress | 8.4 |
Zinus Green Tea | Best on Amazon | 7.8 |
Allswell | Best King Mattress | 8.2 |
Answer a few quick questions on your budget and sleep preferences to be matched with the mattress of your dreams.
Take Mattress QuizSo glad to see reasonable prices on mattresses!! Would def agree that Cocoon is worth the price—much better than expected.
Elaine – isn’t it great to know you can get a quality mattress without trading a limb?! We hear you on the Cocoon – it’s a great deal!
This is where it’s at. I thought I had to decide between a good mattress and a mattress that fit in my budget. But I guess I can have my cake and eat it too. 🙂 Will be ordering one of these soon!
Tyrone – we’re pumped for you and the new mattress you’ll be getting! (You deserve it!) And we agree – it’s great to know that you don’t have to blow your budget to get great sleep. Glad we were able to help you out!
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