Looking for the best mattress under $1,000? From foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses to beds for side and back sleepers, we’ve got you covered with this round-up.
The Best Mattresses Under $1,000
- Best Mattress for Back Sleepers – Bear
- Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Layla
- Best Memory Foam Mattress – Nectar
- Best Mattress for Combo Sleepers – Leesa
- Best Hybrid Mattress – Helix
- Best Cooling Mattress – Tuft & Needle
- Best Latex Mattress – Ghostbed
- Best Mattress for Couples – Brooklyn Bedding Signature
Best Mattress Under $1,000 – Top 8 of 2020!
Best Mattress for Back Sleepers
Bear
If you prefer to sleep on your back, then take a look at the Bear mattress. Back sleepers require proper support to keep their spines aligned, and this bed’s construction should provide exactly that. The Bear is an all-foam mattress that creates a supportive feel via multiple layers of firm poly foam. At the same time, the memory foam comfort layer gives a touch of pressure relief to balance out that support.
Worried that the memory foam in the Bear’s comfort layer will sleep hot? Fear not. The foam is infused with graphite, which helps dissipate heat. The breathable Celliant cover also helps the mattress sleep cool. (And there’s even some evidence to suggest this material helps with athletic recovery.) From spinal support to nice pressure relief and cool sleep, the Bear offers a ton of benefits. Best of all, you can enjoy them all for under $1,000.
Want to save even more money on the Bear? Check out our exclusive Sleepopolis discount (and full review) here.
The cover of the Bear mattress uses celliant, which some studies suggest may help those with active lifestyles recover faster! Enjoy 20% off your order with the code SLEEPOPOLIS!
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Layla
The Layla is built to accommodate the unique needs of side sleepers, who generally want a softer feel in order to avoid pressure points at the shoulders and hips. A softer mattress allows the sleeper to sink in a bit, and that sinkage can promote proper spinal alignment while side sleeping (because you won’t get “jammed up” at the shoulder). This is why the memory foam Layla is my pick for side sleepers seeking a mattress under $1,000.
The Layla is a flippable mattress, meaning one side is firmer than the other. Side sleepers will probably want to try the “Soft” side, which features 3” of memory foam. To help ensure that the thick layer of memory foam doesn’t sleep too hot, the foam is infused with copper. This helps draw heat away from the body and keep the mattress sleeping cool — without sacrificing the great motion isolation that’s a staple of memory foam. The mattress’s ability to cut down on motion transfer could make the Layla a great option for couples in addition to being a budget-friendly mattress for side sleeping.
Love the look of the Layla? Learn more in our comprehensive review.
A flippable design makes the Layla mattress a truly customizable bedroom accessory. Get $160 off your purchase using code SLEEPOPOLIS.
Best Memory Foam Mattress
Nectar
Love the feel of sleeping on memory foam? Then check out the Nectar. This all-foam, bed-in-a-box mattress uses a grand total of 5” of memory foam in its top layers. This allows sleepers to enjoy the full range of benefits that memory foam has to offer. Namely? The mattress is great at isolating motion (which is ideal for couples). You should sink deeply into the mattress and enjoy some great body contouring and pressure relief. And you’ll feel more “in” the bed than on top of it.
ven though the Nectar allows for plenty of sinkage, you shouldn’t plummet through the mattress. It’s actually pretty supportive and has a medium firm feel. The pressure relief from the memory foam is balanced with support from high-density poly foam, which helps keep the hips elevated and promotes healthy spinal alignment. Because of the balance of comfort and support, the bed could be a fit for back sleepers, side sleepers, or combo back/side sleepers. (Stomach sleepers will probably want a firmer mattress.) On top of all that, the Nectar has an eco-friendly Tencel cover. It’s also one of the best values on this list — even a King costs less than $1,000.
Need to know more about the Nectar? Check out our detailed review.
Sleepers will sink deep into the Nectar mattress for some soothing pressure relief, something that side sleepers will particularly appreciate! Click here to get $399 of free accessories with every mattress purchase!
Best Mattress for Combo Sleepers
Leesa
If you’re a combo sleeper, then you might find comfortable sleep in multiple positions on the Leesa. This all-foam mattress has a medium firm feel, which is usually the sweet spot for combo sleepers. That’s because this firmness provides a balance of comfort and support in multiple sleep positions. The Leesa also allows for good mobility, which makes it easy to switch between different positions during the night.
The Leesa achieves a balanced feel thanks to a mixture of poly foam and memory foam layers. The memory foam lets you sink in for a bit of pressure relief, while the firmer poly foam helps keep the hips elevated and aligned with the spine. Since you’ll likely feel more on top of the bed than “in” it, you should enjoy more air flow and avoid overheating. Long story short, if you’re a combo sleeper on a budget, check out the Leesa.
Like what you’ve seen about the Leesa? Learn more in our full review.
Made from a blend of proprietary foam, memory foam, and high-density poly foam, the Leesa Mattress offers a softly balanced feel that's great for a wide range of sleepers. Enjoy $150 off mattresses + a FREE mattress Protector!
Best Hybrid Mattress
Helix
The bed-in-a-box Helix stands out from many of the options on this list because it’s a hybrid mattress that combines foam and coils (instead of being all-foam). This means it’s a bouncier bed than many of the choices in this round-up, which could appeal to sleepers who like a mattress with a springy, mobile feel. The Helix also has a broader line of mattress models than a lot of brands, so there should be an option for you no matter your preferences when it comes to support and feel.
Helix’s standard line of mattresses includes six choices. The Sunset and Moonlight have a softer feel; the Moonlight and Dusk have a medium firm feel; and the Twilight and Dawn are on the firmer side. Side sleepers should feel at home on the softer options, while back and combo sleepers might prefer the medium firm models and stomach sleepers will probably feel most supported on one of the firm options. Helix also offers a Luxe line, which upgrades the standard line with a sturdier feel and zoned support.
Have I piqued your interest? Learn more about Helix mattresses here.
Whether you choose the standard or luxe edition, Helix mattresses have something to offer every style of sleeper! Enjoy $75 off the standard Helix mattress and $125 off the Helix Luxe mattress by using our exclusive discount codes!
Best Cooling Mattress
Tuft & Needle
Looking for a new mattress because you’re tired of sleeping hot? Then consider the Tuft & Needle, which has several features to keep it sleeping cool. The all-foam bed has a thin, polyester cover that allows for plenty of air flow through the mattress. It also uses a proprietary Adaptive Foam that’s more breathable than conventional foams. This means you should be able to enjoy the comfort and pressure relief of foam without having to worry about heat getting trapped around your body.
Even though it’s made entirely of foam, the Tuft & Needle has a surprisingly firm feel. This supportive vibe could be ideal for back and stomach sleepers, who need plenty of support to keep their hips elevated and spines aligned. The firm feel also means that sleepers should feel like they’re on top of the mattress, which allows for good mobility and lets you change positions easily. And thanks to its no-frills design, the Tuft & Needle offers cool comfort at a great value. Even a King comes in below $1,000.
Will the Tuft & Needle keep you sleeping cool? Find out in our detailed review.
The Tuft & Needle mattress offers sleepers a medium-firm feel, and that floating-on-foam experience!
Best Latex Mattress
Ghostbed
If you’re not a fan of memory foam, then you might want to consider a mattress that utilizes latex, such as the GhostBed. Latex distinguishes itself from memory foam in several ways. It has a bouncier feel and a quicker response to pressure, so sleepers should be able to move around easily on top of the mattress. The GhostBed actually uses both latex and memory foam, but because the memory foam is placed underneath the latex, the latex dictates much of the mattress’s feel.
That combination means sleepers shouldn’t have to worry about feeling stuck or getting hot. But they should enjoy some nice pressure relief alongside the bouncier feel of the latex. The inclusion of memory foam also lowers the cost of the bed — while all-latex beds can be pretty pricey, incorporating some other foam gives you the buoyant feel of latex at a lower price. All told, the budget-friendly GhostBed has a medium firm feel that should be great for back or combo sleepers, who need a bed with a balance of comfort and support.
Could the GhostBed give you the sleep of your dreams? Learn more in our comprehensive review.
The combination of bouncy latex and body-hugging memory foam offer sleepers a nice, balanced feel. Click this link to save 25% on your GhostBed purchase!
Best Mattress for Couples
Brooklyn Bedding Signature
The hybrid Brooklyn Signature helps meet the distinct needs of couples in multiple ways. For starters, the patented Titanflex foam layer helps isolate motion, which means that one person’s movements shouldn’t create a major disturbance for the other sleeper. The mattress also has great edge support, so couples can utilize the full surface of the mattress without feeling like the sides will collapse.
What’s more, the Brooklyn Signature has a medium firm feel, meaning it should provide a balance of comfort and support in multiple positions. That’s helpful for couples wherein each partner has a different preferred sleep style. The foam layers do a good job of dissipating heat and helping the mattress sleep cool, even with two bodies in the bed. And finally, the pocketed coils offer excellent bounce to balance the pressure relief from the foam.
Is the Brooklyn Signature the best mattress for you and your SO? Save even more on this mattress with our Sleepopolis discount.
How I Picked The Best Mattresses Under $1,000
Now that I’ve shared my picks, here’s a little more info on how I selected each mattress on this list. This was tricky, because budget is just one consideration out of many—the best mattress option for you will depend on your preferred sleeping position, whether you run hot or cold at night, whether you have a strong preference for organic materials, and many more factors. So, here are some things to think about—other than price!—when you’re selecting a new mattress.
Sleep Position
I typically recommend that people look for a mattress best suited to their preferred sleeping position. People who are strict stomach sleepers generally need a firm mattress that can provide the appropriate support for their spine, allowing them to sleep “on top” of the mattress rather than “inside” it.
Things are a little different for side sleepers and back sleepers, who might prefer a softer bed. A gentle, body-contouring mattress will help cushion your joints and alleviate pressure on any sensitive spots. This is particularly crucial if you suffer from any injuries, like a bad back! So when looking for the best mattresses under $1,000, I made sure to include good picks for back, side, stomach, and combo sleepers to ensure there’s an option for everyone.
Materials
Something else to consider when perusing affordable options? What materials you prefer in a mattress. Some people enjoy memory foam mattresses, which contour to the body for a snug feeling. Also popular is latex foam, which is bouncier than memory foam and easier to move around on top of—usually, with latex foam, you don’t feel like you’re sinking into the mattress which can sometimes be the case with memory foam. Other people like innerspring coil mattresses, which have a bouncy feel and are less enveloping. And of course, there are hybrid mattresses, which offer both innerspring coil and memory foam technology. I made sure to look at options that would suit various preferences.
So, how do you know which materials are right for you? Just think about your own preferences, including your sleeping position. Everyone is different, but generally, people who are side sleepers or have achy joints will prefer a mattress that contours to their body and offers pressure relief. If you like a bouncy, springy feel, or are a strict stomach sleeper, innerspring might be your best bet.
Another consideration here? Price. When you compare innerspring models to foam, the innerspring options have been around for longer and have a wider price range, meaning they can be a little more affordable.
Motion Transfer
If you sleep with a partner or a pet, motion transfer is a really important consideration. That goes double if you’re a light sleeper who is easily disturbed at night. A mattress that does an excellent job isolating motion will make it less likely you get woken up at 3 AM by someone tossing and turning on the other side of the bed!
Looking for tips on how to find out which mattresses have good motion isolation technology? Generally speaking, memory foam does a great job isolating movement. Personally, I always test mattresses for motion isolation using a 10 lbs steel ball and a seismometer—check out those results in each individual mattress review.
Edge Support
Edge support is an important consideration regardless of what position you sleep in. Without strong edge support, you might find yourself easily rolling off the bed at night, unable to use the full surface area of your mattress.
When you’re looking at a mattress under $1,000, check out the mattress construction and some of the reviews to see what is offered in terms of edge support. This can be particularly important for couples or people who are larger in body size, as beds with poor edge support can be uncomfortable—or even annoying!
FAQs
What’s better: hybrid or memory foam?
It really depends on what you’re looking for in a mattress. Hybrids tend to provide more bounce, while memory foam offers more body-contouring. (There are also memory foam hybrids, which offer the best of both worlds.) As a general rule, you should opt for memory foam if you want to sink into the bed, and choose a hybrid if you want more mobility.
How much should a good mattress cost?
It depends on the materials used in the mattress. You can find quality foam and hybrid beds, like the ones featured above, for around $500 to $1,000. (Innerspring beds tend to be a bit more expensive.) Of course, you can also find super cheap beds online, but they probably won’t provide the same comfort and are likely to break down quickly.
Are expensive mattresses better?
Not necessarily. It’s true that more expensive beds may use higher-quality materials to enhance durability a bit. But the most important thing is to find a mattress that’s the right mix of support and comfort for your sleep style, regardless of price.
Summary: The Best Mattresses Under $1,000
- Best Mattress for Back Sleepers – Bear
- Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Layla
- Best Memory Foam Mattress – Nectar
- Best Mattress for Combo Sleepers – Leesa
- Best Hybrid Mattress – Helix
- Best Cooling Mattress – Tuft & Needle
- Best Latex Mattress – Ghostbed
- Best Mattress for Couples – Brooklyn Bedding Signature
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