Best Affordable Mattresses on A Budget (2024)

Mattresses are notoriously expensive purchases. Thankfully, there are savings to be had by shopping online and having a bed delivered to your door. This bed-in-a-box concept grants you easy access to the best affordable mattresses available, along with generous trial periods to ensure that you’re satisfied.

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I’ve tested and reviewed a lot of beds, and I know that a budget-friendly price can be a big selling point. On this list, I’ve picked out my favorite cheaper mattresses that should help you rest easy and avoid sticker shock.

What’s the Best Affordable Mattress?

The Nectar earned our Editor’s Pick due to its high-quality and multi-layered foam that provides support and comfort at a competitive price point.

Best Cheap Mattresses

Our Top Cheap Mattresses, Reviewed

Compare the Best Cheap Beds

How We Chose the Best Affordable Mattresses

At Sleep Advisor, our mattress reviews are based on findings from in-person product tests that allow us to have a genuine understanding of how the mattress feels and performs.

We test for features that are valuable to consumers, such as temperature control, pressure relief, support, and more.

For this roundup, we included mattresses that are considered affordable but still of good quality. Ultimately, we wanted to feature budget-friendly mattresses that we feel confident recommending to our readers.

In choosing the beds to be featured, there were specific qualities we wanted the products to have. We also consulted the expertise of a medical professional on what to look for in a budget mattress.

A peek at how I conduct hands-on mattress testing.

Advice from a Medical Expert

We asked Dr. Po-Chang Hsu his advice on important qualities to look for when shopping for a budget mattress.

“Key qualities of a budget mattress include support, firmness, durability, and material safety. A mattress with good support helps spine alignment and can alleviate pressure points, which may prevent and alleviate back pain. A person’s sleep position can decide the firmness of the mattress. A back sleeper should look for a mattress of medium firmness, while a stomach sleeper needs a firmer mattress to optimize comfort. A budget mattress with good durability and warranty is more likely to retain its shape and support, which benefits the spine alignment of the sleeper. Finally, material safety is paramount when choosing a budget mattress. A mattress with low VOC emissions and certifications like CertiPUR-US suggests the mattress is not composed of harmful chemicals. As long as the budget mattress satisfies the criteria above (support, firmness, durability, and material safety), it is safe and healthy for sleeping.”

What We Want to See in a Budget Mattress

Queen Sizes Around or Below $1,000

Of course, the obvious factor for making it onto this list is the price. The cost of a mattress can vary depending on the size you get, but Queen-size mattresses are generally the most popular option. Therefore, we made sure to feature mattresses with Queen-size models around $1,000 or less.

Third-Party Certifications

You’ll find that the mattresses on this list have important third-party certifications to ensure the materials in them meet stringent standards for health and safety. The most common certification you’ll find among these beds is CertiPUR-US®, which means the foam in the mattress is free of harmful substances and has low  volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

Good Performance

Another signifcant factor for us was to include beds that have performed well for our testers overall. There’s understandably concern as to whether or not a cheaper mattress is going to be comfortable. Although certain beds will accommodate different sleepers better than others, we think the beds on this list should work for a wide variety of people.

Our Top Affordable Mattresses, Reviewed

What Is a Budget Mattress?

What may be considered a low price for one person, may not be for another. Therefore, when it comes to what is considered a budget mattress, we say that these fall into a range of $250 to $1,000 for a Queen, and last five to seven years depending on the frequency of use.

Budget-friendly mattresses can be found within every bed type, including innerspring, memory foam, hybrid, and latex. However, memory foam and innerspring mattresses tend to be the cheapest among the different mattress types.

Cheaper mattresses don’t always come with the fancy construction of those in higher price ranges, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t made with quality materials that should help you sleep well.

Compare Prices of the Best Affordable Mattresses

What to Look for in a Cheap Mattress

When shopping for a mattress on a tight budget, there are several factors to consider before hitting “add to cart”. Along with the price, you should also consider the type of mattress it is, along with other important features related to the quality of the product and how it is expected to perform for different needs and sleep styles.

Type of Mattress

Innerspring Mattress

Innerspring mattresses are the oldest and typically the cheapest type of mattress available. They consist of thinner comfort layers on top of a coil unit, which can have either interconnected or pocketed (independent) coils.

If you’re looking for a budget mattress without too many bells and whistles, a classic, no-frills innerspring is a good choice. Just be sure to monitor the bed for any sagging or poking from the coils.

Tester, Julia Forbes, looking at the construction of the Helix Midnight, an innerspring mattress

Average Price: A few hundred dollars for especially basic models with a short lifespan, and around $1,000 for more reliable versions.

Hybrid Mattress

Because they combine layers of foam with a supportive coil unit, hybrid mattresses can be tough to reconcile with a tight budget — they’re essentially two types of mattresses in one package.

Finding a cheap hybrid mattress may mean timing your search around holiday sales or scoping the internet for deals. You don’t want to compromise too much on the quality of the foams or the springs in the bed, so bypass any tempting offers that don’t share a lot of information about the bed’s makeup.

Average Price: There are few hybrids available for less than $1,000. You’re more likely to pay $1,500 and up for these beds.

Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam is best known for its ability to contour the body, creating a responsive “cradle” as you sleep.

Like innerspring mattresses, memory foam beds made of only foam layers are some of the most affordable mattresses out there. You’ll want to ensure the quality of the foam before you buy, so look for foams that have been CertiPUR-US® certified — this designation means that they’re free of certain harmful chemicals and pass emissions standards.

Looking at the layers of a memory foam mattress while mattress testing

Average Price: Discounted and bare-bones models can go for around $500, but models with trustworthy and durable foams cost closer to $1,000 and up.

Latex Mattress

Latex mattresses incorporate latex foam, a poly foam alternative that’s derived from the sap of rubber trees. It’s a relative newcomer to the mattress scene and its advantages — heightened cooling, a comfortable-yet-springy feel, and impressive longevity, to name a few — mean it’s priced a bit higher than more traditional materials.

For many shoppers, the natural and eco-friendly origins of latex foam make it a desirable choice, but as with all mattress materials, latex can be processed and utilized in different ways. Be sure to look into how a mattress brand manufactures and certifies its latex before buying.

Average Price: You’ll typically pay more than $1,000 for a quality latex mattress, so keep an eye out for deals if you’re looking for a budget model.

Our lead product tester, looking at latex mattress construction

Other Considerations When Shopping for a Budget Mattress

Sleeping Position

Your preferred sleeping position is always an important factor when shopping for a mattress.

Generally, we recommend softer beds to side sleepers, who need something to relieve pressure on the shoulder and hip. Medium-firm beds, which provide a nice balance of firm support with softer pressure relief are usually best for back and combination sleepers, and firmer beds that keep the hips lifted are better for stomach sleepers.

Weight/Body Type of Sleepers

A person’s body type and weight should be taken into consideration when shopping for a budget mattress.

While many heavyweight sleepers should be well served by the higher firmness levels in some budget mattresses, the extra weight may cause the cheaper materials and construction to break down more quickly. This may lead to issues with spinal alignment, as well as needing to replace the mattress more quickly. Conversely, very petite sleepers may not sink into these beds as rapidly, but they should still look out for softer options so they experience enough cushioning to avoid that ‘sleeping on a rock’ feel.

Many average-weight individuals are likely to sleep fine on a budget mattress, they will still want to consider the firmness level and how it correlates with their preferred sleep position before purchasing a budget bed.

Firmness

Firmness reflects how soft or hard a bed feels. Many budget beds have a medium-firm feel, which can serve a large population of sleepers.

However, it should be noted that many cheaper mattresses don’t come in multiple firmness options. Therefore, if you are someone who prefers a much softer bed, you may have issues finding one in a lower price range.

Cooling

Considering that many budget mattresses are made from memory foam or poly foams, materials that have a tendency to trap heat, temperature regulation may be a big concern when shopping for a budget-friendly mattress. Although it may not be economically feasible for manufacturers to incorporate the same kind of cooling technology that they do in their higher-end models, many of them do incorporate gel or other cooling materials in their budget mattresses to help keep sleepers from overheating.

Learn More: Best Cooling Mattresses

Julia testing the cooling properties of each mattress using a temperature control gun as the bed cools down

Motion Isolation

If you sleep with a partner or pet, preventing their nightly movements from waking you is probably a priority. Fortunately, many budget mattresses are made from memory foam, which is known for its motion-isolating properties. This means that many budget mattresses should do an excellent job at keeping a co-sleeper’s movements from traveling to the other side of the bed and waking their partners.

Sex

Sexually active couples typically enjoy beds that are responsive. If your bed is responsive, it can be easier to move around during intimacy without feeling stuck. Further, the amount of bounce that a mattress possesses is another feature that can help make sex more enjoyable.

Beds made from innerspring coils and latex are likely to provide optimal performance for sex, but unfortunately, it may be somewhat difficult to find a suitable budget mattress with latex because most latex models are naturally sourced and can be expensive. Many budget mattresses are made from foam, which is much slower to respond and may not have a lot of bounce.

If bounce and budget are top priorities, though, a great solution is a traditional innerspring bed, which can provide plenty of bounce at a cheaper price.

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief is important for sensitive areas like the shoulders, knees, and hips. If a mattress is too hard, pressure can build up around the parts of the body that come in contact with the mattress because they won’t have enough contouring. Mattresses that are too soft, though, can allow sleepers to sink too far into a bed, and this lack of support may also cause abundant pressure.

Related: Best Mattresses for Pressure Relief

It is important to look for a mattress that will support you and disperse your body weight evenly. A good place to start is with medium-firm beds that typically provide the right balance of support and pressure relief to most sleepers, and fortunately, many budget beds have a medium-firm feel.

Edge Support

Julia Forbes testing edge support.

Couples and those who have a tendency to sleep on the edge of the bed will want to see if the outer perimeter has been reinforced. Reinforced edges are usually made by putting extra-strong coils or high-density foam around the outside of the bed.

However, this could be an area where budget mattresses decide to cut costs. Therefore, if this is an important consideration for you, you will want to make sure that it is a feature in the bed of your choice.

Read more about bed edge support here.

Budget and Value

The price of a mattress is the focal point here. Since we’re reviewing budget mattresses, we made sure all models have a Queen size option with a general average near or slightly above $1,000. These beds reflect relatively cheap prices within the mattress industry, while still offering technologies, features, and materials that make them worth the money.

Material Quality

Julia Forbes testing for material quality and construction.

Mattresses on the lower end of the price scale are often made with cheaper materials, such as lower-quality memory foam or poly foam. Additionally, cheaper all-foam mattresses are more likely to use fiberglass in their production as a way to meet flammability standards in a low cost-matter. While this isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, it does mean that you will have to be aware that there is potential for fiberglass to irritate your skin and respiratory system.

Discover our top mattresses without fiberglass

The mattress cover may also be made from cheaper materials, and this could cause it to wear down faster. This could lead to early sagging in the mattress that impact how supportive and comfortable it is.

Another component of material quality is third-party certifications. There are many affordable mattresses that still have important certifications like CertiPUR-US®, OEKO-TEX, and GREENGUARD Gold. These certifications help ensure the mattress’ materials meet strict health and safety standards. However, some ultra-cheap mattresses may forego such certifications.

Learn more: Mattress Certifications Explained

Brand Reputation

No matter the price, it’s smart to look at the background of the brand you’re purchasing from. However, this can be even more helpful if you’re buying a more budget-friendly mattress for more peace of mind. Some things to consider are whether the brand is well-known, how long they’ve been around, do they have generally positive customer reviews, and if they do any charitable or environmental initiatives that might be important to you.

Sleep Trial and Warranty

Sleep trials are an excellent way to make sure that your budget-friendly mattress will work for you. These trials can last anywhere from 100 to 365 nights, depending on the brand. We advise getting a bed with at least a 100-night trial to give you enough time to know if you like your mattress, and if you don’t, you can send it back.

Sleep trials differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Therefore, make sure that you have a full understanding of the trial period for your specific mattress.

Warranties will vary amongst manufacturers but most will be at least 10 years long. Like with sleep trials, you will need to read your warranty carefully to see what it entails. However, having a warranty is a good sign that although your mattress may cost less, the manufacturer still stands by its durability.

How could a cheap mattress impact someone’s sleep and/or overall health?

“While a cheap mattress may seem like a good choice for those with a limited budget, a mattress that compromises support, durability, and material safety can be a health hazard. A mattress that lacks support or durability can lead to improper spine alignment and issues such as back pain. A cheap mattress made of unsafe materials with higher VOC emissions can exacerbate allergies and respiratory issues. Compared to latex mattresses, cheap mattresses may have poor breathability, leading to overheating and poor sleep. An average adult spends one-third of their time a day in bed. Therefore, investing some money in a good mattress for sleep and health is crucial.” – Dr. Po-Chang Hsu

Tips for Saving Money on a New Mattress

Buy Online

Buying online gives you easy access to numerous mattress brands and models, but one of the biggest advantages is that it can save you money. When you buy online direct from the manufacturer, you’re cutting out overhead costs that can come up when shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store.

Changyuan are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

Shop During Holidays and Sales Events

Mattress companies typically provide deals throughout the year, but they offer even bigger savings around major holidays and sales events. Along with slashing mattress prices, many top brands will offer special bundle deals to include some accessories with your purchase. Some popular times for mattress sales include Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.

Do Your Research

Doing your research ahead of time can also help you save on a new mattress. This might include narrowing down what’s most important to you as a consumer and picking out beds that align with those needs. For example, if you’re not a hot sleeper, it wouldn’t make sense to splurge on a very cooling bed.

It’s also helpful to look into any specific return policies and whether this might incur additional costs if you don’t like the bed. Most online brands offer generous sleep trial periods, but in some cases, you may have to pay a return shipping fee. This isn’t always the case, but it’s good to know ahead of time to avoid any unwanted surprises.

Who Should Consider a Cheap Bed?

People with a guest room – If the bed is for the guest room, quality and durability aren’t nearly as important because the mattress won’t be under the pressure of everyday use. This may mean that even if you’re spending less, you want something that feels like a great mattress for the money.

For More Details: Best Mattresses for Guest Room

Parents with teenagers – If the mattress is for a teenager, consider that they’ll likely be moving out of the house soon for college or their own apartment, and they may not need a long-lasting bed. However, if it’s for an adult, they may be more selective and require a higher-end experience.

College students – If you’re just using the bed while in college, it could be worth it to save for now. That way, when you graduate and get an apartment, you can then invest in a more luxurious mattress.

Who Shouldn’t Consider a Cheap Bed?

Heavy sleepers – Adults who are heavier will naturally put more weight and pressure on a bed. For this reason, if one or more of the sleepers weighs over 230 pounds, they’ll probably need a firmer and higher-quality mattress for maximum comfort and support.

For More Details: Best Mattresses for Heavy People

People who need advanced comfort and support – If you’re dealing with significant back pain or joint discomfort, you will likely want a more high-end mattress that has an enhanced construction to help you feel more comfortable. Cheaper beds may not come with special features like a pillow top or zoned support, which are often helpful for those with back pain or joint sensitivity.

Price Ranges for Cheap Mattresses

Under $1,000

If you’re searching for a quality mattress under $1000, you have considerable options, especially if you’re buying online. We’ve found that online mattress companies are often able to offer premium quality at about half the cost of brick-and-mortar retailers because they cut out the middleman. In fact, many online mattress stores carry premium options at just under $1,000.

With this budget, you’re not limited to just memory foam mattresses, either. For people who love memory foam beds, you can get a top-of-the-line bed in this price range. When you’re buying a foam mattress, it’s important to remember that not all foams are created equal.

They come in varying levels of density, and higher densities generally perform better than lower ones. While evaluating different brands, you’ll see numbers ranging from 2.5 to 7.0 pounds per cubic foot.

Low-density foams are not inherently awful; however, they usually contain less material, which is one of the reasons they’re cheaper. There’s less material, so these cheaper mattresses are also liable to soften quickly and lose support, shortening the life of the mattress. Low-density foam beds tend to last five years (or less), while medium to high-density foam could serve you comfortably for up to 10 years.

If you come across a cheap bed with low-density foam, don’t discount it as low-quality right away. Many higher-quality mattresses have multiple layers of foam of varying density.

They work together offering a combination of support and comfort to give you a superior night of sleep. For example, you may see a high-density foam for the base layer and a very low-density number for the top layer.

Under $500

There are some genuine mattress deals under $500 out there, but you’re going to have to look a little harder and give up on a few of the luxury features.

At this inexpensive price point, you may be limited mostly to pure foam mattresses, though there are a few notable hybrid exceptions. Overall, the materials won’t be high-end, and you’ll sacrifice some durability.

For example, the coils you might find in beds less than $500 may not maintain the same buoyancy and support as the years go by. The foam can also be a lower grade. Again, as we mentioned above, lower-density foams tend to degrade more quickly.

Something else that should be a major consideration is how much support a cheap mattress might provide. In addition to breaking down faster, low-density foams tend to provide less support.

For some people, this isn’t a dealbreaker. People who like the feeling of sinking into their mattress may find this beneficial, provided they don’t develop any back pain. However, back and stomach sleepers, as well as combination sleepers who switch positions throughout the night, shouldn’t compromise on support.

Still, if you’re on a tight budget but don’t want to sacrifice too much quality, you can find a gem or two that won’t break your wallet or your back.

Under $300

While you can certainly get a fair-quality product in this price range, we may not recommend this route to everyone. You’ll find that your options are more limited, and the durability of these beds might be subpar.

Like the $500 group, you should find that these cheap mattresses are mostly memory foam, though again, there may be a few hybrids available. Again, the quality will not be the same as the beds that cost between $500 and $1,000. However, there are some instances where this might be your best bet.

For example, if you’re looking for a short-term bedding solution, you might not want to spend a lot of money. If you’re in a short-term lease, it’s for a college apartment, or you are extra budget-conscious, you may find yourself needing a bed that’s a lower price.

Under $200

Your options are going to be limited, but there should be a couple of choices. Again, you’ll be sacrificing durability and support by getting a mattress at this cheaper price, but if it’s genuinely a short-term buy, then it might make more sense than splurging on something pricier.

Like the the ones around $300, you should find mostly memory foam beds at this price, along with a few hybrids with lower-quality materials.

One trick we should mention is that if you’re particularly budget-conscious, consider sizing down from a Queen to a Full. You may be able to save anywhere from $30 to $100 by scaling down.

Our recommended Queen mattress choice is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Full mattresses are 54 inches wide by 75 inches long.

Related: Best King Mattress

If you’re buying the bed for a kid or teen or if you sleep alone and don’t need much space, you can save money without losing out on quality just by downsizing.

Under $100

When looking for a mattress under $100, your options will be more narrow, but you still have some choices, including a blow-up air mattress. The best chance you have of finding something decent that isn’t an airbed is to check Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

If you choose this route, it’s crucial to inspect the condition of the product before committing and be careful about who you’re talking to. While most transactions tend to be positive, it’s still critical to be cautious when meeting someone from the internet.

While buying a used mattress is not for everyone, it’s not uncommon to find a mattress from a barely used guest bedroom that’s still in excellent condition, so don’t lose hope.

We also advise cleaning the bed thoroughly before sleeping on it and possibly letting it air out before putting it on your bed frame. Throw one some fresh sheets and you could enjoy a mattress that feels good as new.

While it’s fun to find inexpensive treasures online, we do recommend purchasing a new mattress for the best sleep, if your budget permits it. A quality product with fewer years on it could last you much longer and offer more bang for your buck in the long run.

Best Cheap Mattress FAQs

How Long Do Cheap Mattresses Last?

Cheaper mattresses will typically last from five to seven years. This will be dependent on factors such as if the bed is used daily or only occasionally as a guest bed, along with the sleeper’s body weight as added pressure could cause materials to wear faster.

Therefore, it is important to look for durable materials. Additionally, many budget mattresses provide warranties, and depending on what is covered, these warranties may help you replace your mattress if it wears out too quickly.

What Should I Look for In A Cheap Bed?

We mentioned Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace as options earlier. Not only can you find used mattresses on these platforms, but many local furniture stores also run specials advertising their beds at rock-bottom prices to attract a local market.

However, a good place to search for deals is on Amazon. As the world’s largest marketplace, you can find almost anything you need there, and it can often reflect some of the lowest prices. If you want to spend less than $500, Amazon may be a good place to start as well as the web pages of many other mattress manufacturers.

Find Out More: Top Rated Beds on Amazon

What Do You Think of Ikea Mattresses?

The Swedish furniture maker has a reputation for aesthetically pleasing, bare-bones furniture designed for modern spaces. While they are not best known for their bedding options, their beds range in price from $159 to $899, plus they offer a 25-year limited warranty.

Within this range, they also offer innerspring, foam, and hybrid constructions. However, before you jump in your car and head over to Ikea for a bed, it may help you to know that their mattress firmness levels are generally firm to medium-firm. This means that if you’re a side sleeper, you may not feel as comfortable, but if you’re a back or stomach sleeper, you may be able to find something you like.

Looking for more information? Read our Ikea mattress review.

Julia Forbes

Lead Product Tester

About Author

Julia is the Lead Reviewer at Sleep Advisor, specializing in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.

Stomach Sleeper

References:

1. “What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?”. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Last modified January 4, 2024.
2. CertiPUR-US. Webpage accessed October 11, 2024.

So this is coincidental, I'm a manager at the largest mattress chain in the Northeast (probably shouldn't say its name online) and one of the executives recommended MMM to the entire company in a company blog post. Since then I've read every blog post and just recently joined the forum.

As a professional, I can tell you that how well you sleep directly affects every aspect of your life. From muscle soreness, to fatigue, to memory and cognition. If you toss and turn, if you wake up more than once throughout the night, or if you wake up in the morning feeling pain and then the pain goes away throughout the day then your mattress is not doing you right.

The proper mattress and pillow for you will keep your back in alignment throughout the night and relieve all pressure in areas like your hips, ribs, and shoulder. The biggest mistake people make is they get a mattress that is too firm. As long as the support is right, go as SOFT as possible. If your back is straight, you want as much pressure relief as you can get. If you get something good quality, you don't have to worry about it wearing out prematurely.  Just make sure you have a waterproof mattress protector and proper support under the mattress (boxspring, frame, or sturdy platform).

As much as I hate selling them, because they pay terrible commission, Tempurpedic really is the best. Memory foam is self leveling so it always puts your back in alignment no matter if you're 100 lbs or 300 lbs. The foam contours to your body and gives the best pressure relief. Their quality is better than every other memory foam company. People have TP's for 20+ years.

Now here is the secret, mattresses have huge markups almost everywhere. And many places are willing to negotiate. Depending on the place, shoot for 40-60% off the everyday price. This won't work at sears or discount places, but it will work at most bedding stores. I don't know if it is against the policy, but the mustachian in me would be happy to help out other mustachians with discounts and advice. We can deliver anywhere.  Feel free to shoot me a PM. 

If you don't like memory foam, you're best bang for your buck is Beautyrest World Class. Great mattresses and priced pretty well.

One other note, be careful with mattress reviews. So tough to translate what someone else feels to how you will.

I

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