The Best Mattresses Under $1,000: Get Cozy for a Comfortable Price

Few mattresses come close to the value of the Nectar Classic. A queen-sized mattress often goes on sale for just under $700. My fellow mattress testers and I gave the Nectar Classic a 4 out of 5 or higher across every category, but cooling and motion isolation were where it performed the best.

As a hot sleeper, one of the first things I noticed and appreciated about the Nectar was its crisp cover layer. To test the Nectar Classic’s cooling abilities, I measured the temperature of its surface before and after lying on it. After 5 minutes, the temperature only increased by 5.4 degrees, earning it a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 in the cooling category.

However, the Nectar Classic’s motion isolation is the real star of the show and earned it a 4.7 out of 5. The Nectar’s ability to isolate motion to one side of the mattress is nearly unrivaled, which is fantastic news if you sleep with a restless partner or pet. I invited my fellow mattress tester, Livvi DiCicco, to help me test the Nectar’s motion-dampening abilities.

During this test, one tester lies blindfolded on one side of the mattress while the other jumps in and out of bed and moves around on the opposite side. Aside from one or two gentle actions, we hardly detected each other’s movements.

“I’m normally someone who feels every little movement, but the Nectar is one of the best mattresses I’ve tested to date,” Livvi said. “Aside from when he got out of bed, I didn’t feel Kenny move.”

Although the Nectar received high scores in every category, it isn’t necessarily a perfect fit for all sleepers. We think this mattress is best suited for side sleepers, back sleepers, and couples who sleep hot or are easily disturbed by motion. We don’t recommend this mattress for folks with mobility concerns or stomach sleepers.

People needing a sturdy surface to bear down on in the morning may find the cooling cover too slippery to grip. Meanwhile, strict stomach sleepers may experience pressure buildup around their backs, as Dr. Joe Tedesco, licensed physical therapist and Sleepopolis’ chief medical product tester, explains. “I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this for stomach sleepers,” he said. “Your pelvis won’t sink much, and you stay anatomically neutral, but on your stomach, you want to be slightly posteriorly tilted to prevent back pain.”

Want to learn more about the Nectar? Head over to my full Nectar Classic mattress review to see how it performed on all our tests. If you’re a stomach sleeper or someone who needs a bed with stronger edge support, check out the Saatva Classic instead.

If you’re looking for a luxurious mattress without the premium price tag, look no further than the DreamCloud. A queen-sized DreamCloud mattress often goes on sale for just $649 and features high-quality materials, such as gel memory foam, a cashmere cover, and sturdy innerspring coils. We gave the DreamCloud a 4.5 out of 5 or higher in key testing categories like pressure relief, edge support, and responsiveness.

Our testers found that the DreamCloud’s plush yet supportive surface makes it a great match for numerous sleep styles. It earned an impressive 4.5 out of 5 for pressure relief, with standout performance for back sleepers.

“The DreamCloud relieved a lot of tension around my lower back,” said mattress tester Bridget Chapman. “I felt its foam layers filling in the space at my lumbar region to offer some serious pressure relief.”

When you think of a luxurious bed, chances are you picture the plush, cloud-like pillow top of a high-end hotel mattress. However, luxury also means built-to-last. The reinforced perimeter of the DreamCloud mattress helped it earn another 4.5 out of 5 for edge support, making it a smart pick for couples and anyone who needs extra stability when getting in and out of bed.

Still, the real showstopper is its perfect 5 out of 5 responsiveness score. The DreamCloud makes it easy to shift positions throughout the night, which is a plus for combination sleepers or folks who don’t like to feel “stuck” in their bed.

That said, the DreamCloud may not be the best choice for everyone. With a motion isolation score of 3.5 out of 5, it’s not ideal for light sleepers who share a bed with a restless partner or a pet. And while it offers solid overall pressure relief, some side sleepers with hip sensitivity may find the surface too firm.

Want to dig deeper? Read our full DreamCloud mattress review or explore the Helix Sunset if you would prefer a hybrid mattress with a softer feel.

Back sleepers need a supportive and soft mattress to keep their spines aligned as they sleep while alleviating tension around their lower lumbar area. If you’re a back sleeper who could benefit from both, you’ll love the Silk & Snow Hybrid. This hybrid mattress has a medium-firm feel that hits the sweet spot for back sleepers at a price well below $1,000. The S&S Hybrid is just $850 for a queen size before discounts (yes, you read that right). Our mattress testers gave it a 4 out of 5 or higher for back-sleeping pressure relief, cooling, and motion isolation.

When our testers assessed the Silk & Snow in our studio, they felt great in the side- and back- sleeping positions. The top layer of this mattress features gel-infused memory foam that adds some sinkage and contouring that side sleepers should appreciate.

“I felt supported in the side-sleeping position while still getting sinkage and contouring in all the right areas, namely the shoulders and hips,” said mattress tester Dan Caffrey. “The soft foam also provided some nice lumbar support while I was on my back. I also appreciated the lift and support from the layer of coils below.”

We also invited Dr. Joe Tedesco, our chief medical product tester and licensed physical therapist to test the Silk & Snow Hybrid and weigh in on it. He concurred that the Silk & Snow is a solid choice for back sleepers. 

“My pelvis sinks into this mattress in the back-sleeping position,” Dr. Tedesco said. “However, there is some good support through my legs so I don’t feel like I’m arched. You get a little posterior pelvic tilt on this bed, which makes it feel like your knees are bent and your knees are slightly elevated. It’s almost like sleeping with a small pillow under your knees, minus the pressure buildup you might get from having something actually under your knees.”

Like many of the other best hybrid mattresses, the Silk & Snow also excels in cooling and motion isolation. Its innerspring coils facilitate better airflow, while its gel infusions work to draw excess heat away from the body. During testing, our mattress testers used a thermal gun to measure the surface temperature of the Silk & Snow before and after lying on it for five minutes and saw a 4.1-degree increase. Such a low increase in temperature indicates stellar temperature regulation, which led to us awarding it a 4.5 out of 5 in cooling.

The Silk & Snow’s foam layer also effectively absorbed movement and minimized disturbances during our tests. To assess its motion isolation, we had Dan lie blindfolded on one side of the bed while another tester shifted positions and got in and out on the other side. Dan reported only minimal sensation from the movements.

“The vibrations were very low, so I don’t think you’re likely to feel your partner tossing and turning,” he said. “But if you’re a particularly light sleeper, you might want to consider a mattress without springs for even better motion-dampening.”

However, there are a couple of things to consider about the Silk & Snow Hybrid. The first thing is its edge support score, which was only 3.6 out of 5. When our testers cut into the mattress to examine its layers and materials, we saw that its coils didn’t quite reach the edge of the bed. The layers collapsed quite a bit when our testers sat and lay on them, meaning this mattress wouldn’t be a good fit for folks who need a strong perimeter to bear down on in the morning.

The second drawback is its lack of support for stomach sleepers. Strict stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress to keep their hips elevated and aligned with the rest of their bodies as they sleep. Proper hip elevation helps these sleepers avoid lower back pain down the line.

Want to take a closer look at the Silk & Snow Hybrid? Read our full Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress review for more information. For a mattress with stronger edge support, try the Helix Midnight instead.

Memory foam is typically known for a slow-moving, quicksand sensation that contours the curves of your body. According to our chief medical advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta, this material is the key ingredient to relieving pressure and preventing pain, as it cushions the sleeper’s sensitive joints as they sink into the bed. However, some memory foam mattresses lack support due to the exclusion of an innerspring layer. If you’re a shopper on a budget seeking an all-foam bed, we think the Leesa Original mattress is a great option. Not only does this bed offer strong support that extends from edge to edge, but it also earned an average pressure relief rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars during testing.

The Leesa Original is a 10-inch mattress made with three layers of foam. When we tested this bed in our studio, we thought it had a medium-firm feel that leaned slightly firmer than average, falling at a 7 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale. The top two layers of foam offer a touch of initial softness that contours around the body and hugs the sleeper’s curves. However, the thick foam base layer offers firmer support and prevents the sleeper from sinking too far into the mattress. 

To determine what type of sleeper is most compatible with the Leesa Original, we brought in three expert testers of different body types and asked them to lie on the mattress in different sleeping positions. Across the board, every tester felt great pressure relief in both the back- and side-sleeping positions, so our testers gave this mattress’s pressure relief an average of 4.7 stars and 4.3 stars in these positions, respectively. Regardless of how they lay on the mattress, each tester felt a combination of support and cushioning to achieve both proper spinal alignment and a pain-free sleeping experience.

When I tried the bed on my back, I felt excellent support at my hips that kept my spine in a neutral, straight line, so I think sleepers with back pain could find a lot of relief from this bed. I also felt the soft comfort layer cushioning my lower back and providing additional lumbar support. I had a similar experience when I slept on my side, feeling a balance between spinal support and pressure relief at the joints. I really liked how the bed allowed for some slight sinkage that hugged my body and provided the classic memory foam mattress experience without compromising on support.

Some memory foam beds provide solid lift but begin sagging at the edges over time. We put the Leesa’s edges through three separate tests to evaluate their support level and whether they’re prone to premature sagging, and we found excellent results. When sitting on the side of the bed, the layers slightly compress. However, they offer much stronger support when our tester lay directly on the edge in three sleeping positions. We ended up giving the edge support an overall score of 4.4 stars because you should be able to fully spread out on this bed — though you might not want to sit on the edge for prolonged periods. 

While this bed performed exceptionally well on most of our tests, there are some areas where it fell short. When we tested this bed on an adjustable base, it struggled to perfectly bend when placed in the “TV mode” preset, so we only gave the base compatibility 3 stars. We were also unimpressed by the length of Leesa’s sleep trial period, 100 nights, which only earns 3.5 stars compared to the gold standard of 365 nights. 

For more information on the Leesa, read our full Leesa Original mattress review. If you’re looking for a memory foam mattress that comes with a full-year sleep trial, try the Silk & Snow mattress.

The Centers for Disease Control’s 2019 National Health Interview Survey found that 39 percent of adults suffer from back pain. If you’re one of them, you’ll want to check out the DLX Classic mattress, our pick for the best mattress for back pain under $1,000. This mattress was a treat for the testers, scoring a 4 or above in every performance evaluation, including a perfect 5 out of 5 in responsiveness and back pressure relief.

Those who experience back pain need a bed that is supportive enough to keep their spine in a neutral alignment while offering enough contouring and cushioning for pain relief. The DLX does both. My colleague Riley Otis, a sleep science coach, tested this bed and said, “I really like this bed on my back. It feels medium-firm in this position, and there’s a really nice balance between support that’s lifting up my core and cushioning that feels great along my entire body, especially my lower back.” Riley is a lightweight sleeper, meaning she weighs less than 130 pounds, and she said that the DLX Classic offered “perfect” pressure relief when she was on her back.

Showing that it is not a one-trick pony, the DLX also earned impressive scores in features that are often important to shoppers, including cooling and motion isolation. When Riley tested this bed’s cooling capabilities, she said that although it had a neutral feel when she first lay on it, it didn’t feel like the mattress was heating up due to her body heat. When she used the thermal gun to measure the mattress’s temperature, she found that there was less than a 5-degree increase from her initial reading to the one she took after resting on the bed for 5 minutes.

Riley’s tests of motion isolation also highlighted that you should be able to share this bed with even the most restless of partners without worrying about their flipping and flopping keeping you awake at night. 

Riley said, “I thought the motion isolation on this bed was sublime. The thick foams inside this mattress did a great job absorbing my testing partner’s movement and preventing it from traveling to my side of the bed.”

However, if you plan to also ease your back pain by using your mattress on an adjustable base, the DLX is probably not your best choice. Riley found that when she moved the bed from a flat position to the TV setting, the bed wasn’t comfortable and she could “feel the coils moving beneath me, the more they bended.”
If you want a bed that is better with an adjustable base, try the Helix Midnight. For more information on the DLX Classic, check out our full review.

More mattress usually means more money, which is a challenging reality for many folks who need a big bed on a budget. Fortunately, the king-sized Bear mattress frequently goes on sale for just under $1,000. It also excelled in many categories that a spacious sleep surface should. Our mattress testers gave it a 4 out of 5 or higher in motion isolation, cooling, and edge support.

Folks who sleep with restless partners or pets are bound to appreciate the Bear’s near-perfect motion isolation, which we awarded a 4.7 out of 5 when putting it through our extensive testing methodology. On top of having space to spread out, you won’t have to worry about feeling anyone else’s movements while you’re trying to catch some shuteye.

To test the Bear’s motion isolation, one of our reviewers lay blindfolded on one side of the mattress while another moved around and got in and out of bed on the other side. Aside from a few subtle shifts, our mattress tester, Riley Otis, barely noticed any movement.

“I was impressed by the motion isolation on the Bear Original,” Riley said. “I could hardly detect when my colleague got in the bed with me and switched positions.”

Another feature that couples should appreciate on this king-size mattress is its superior temperature regulation. Our mattress testers gave the Bear a 4.5 out of 5 in the cooling category for its impressive performance on the thermal gun test, where we measured the surface temperature of a mattress before and after lying on it for five minutes. After five minutes of uninterrupted rest, Riley found that the Bear only increased by 5.3 degrees, indicating excellent cooling.

“I thought this mattress had a really nice cool-to-the-touch feel when I first laid down on it,” Riley said. “The Bear Original felt cool the entire time I was on it, which is impressive for a memory foam bed.”

A sturdy perimeter can make a king bed feel even more spacious. Consistent edge support allows you to roll to the far reaches of the mattress without feeling insecure or unstable. Our testers gave the Bear a 4.2 out of 5 in this category because they felt secure lying and sitting on the sides and corners of the mattress.

One of our colleagues, Kate Meier, has owned the Bear Original for three years and can attest to its excellent edge support.

“I’ve never had any issues sliding off the edge or feeling like I was going to fall off the bed,” Kate said. “I do have one dog who has fallen off the bed more than a dozen times, but he is a silly little guy, and I’m not sure I can blame this on edge support!”

Unfortunately, just because the Bear Original is spacious and secure doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for every type of sleeper. I wouldn’t recommend this mattress to side sleepers with sensitive joints or folks under 130 pounds.

Since the Bear is a little on the firmer side, side sleepers might experience more pressure buildup along their hips and shoulders, which could lead to joint pain over time. Similarly, this mattress will feel firmer to people under 130 pounds, meaning these sleepers will not get the cushioning and contouring they need around their lower backs and other potential pressure points.

Interested in getting to know the Bear a little better before you buy? Read our full Bear Original mattress review to learn more about it. If you’re a side sleeper looking for something that will gently cradle your sensitive joints, check out the Bear Elite Hybrid instead.

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has all the makings of the best mattress for couples with an affordable price tag. This mattress excels in edge support and cooling — two key features that make sharing a bed with a partner much more tolerable. During our tests, my fellow mattress testers and I awarded it a 4 out of 5 or higher in both categories. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid’s stellar performance, coupled with a price tag just south of $1,000 during promotions, make it a no-brainer for lovebirds looking for a mattress to fall for.

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has a strong coil layer beneath its soft foam layer, contributing to its strong edge support. Couples who enjoy spreading out and using the entire surface of the mattress will get the same consistent support on the perimeter of the Signature Hybrid as they do lying on its center. I gave it a 4.2 out of 5 for edge support because I never felt like I was falling off the bed at any point, even when lying on the very edge. The only downside was the soft cover made it a little more challenging to switch between different positions on the sides of the bed after sinking in a little bit. 

My fellow mattress testers and I were impressed with how it performed on our cooling test and gave it a 4.5 out of 5. After lying on the Signature Hybrid for five minutes, I touched my hand to the part of the mattress where my body had been. While it was apparent that someone had lain there, I didn’t feel any noticeable temperature increase while I was on the bed. My thermal gun results showed the bed heated up by 7.4 degrees after I was done lying on it, which indicates good cooling.

Aside from being an excellent mattress for couples, the Signature Hybrid has a lot more going for it. Dr. Joe Tedesco, licensed physical therapist and Sleepopolis’s chief medical product tester, enjoyed how comfortable the Signature Hybrid was for every sleeping position.

“Across the board, I feel great,” said Dr. Tedesco. “The bed provides a very supportive feeling, and I don’t feel any significant pressure anywhere.”

Unfortunately, this bed might not be the best for light sleepers due to its average motion isolation score, which earned only 3.6 out of 5 stars. It shouldn’t be a problem for most sleepers, but if you are sensitive to motion, you will likely feel your partner tossing and turning next to you. This budget-friendly mattress also features a fairly straightforward design, so if you’re after high-end features like phase change material and zoned support, you may want to look elsewhere.

Interested in learning more about the Signature Hybrid? Head over to my full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress review to learn more about its construction and features. If you’re looking for something with a few more bells and whistles, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe instead.

Sleepers with bigger bodies need a mattress that offers ample support to prevent them from sinking through its layers and “bottoming out.” Finding a high-quality, supportive mattress at a reasonable price can be tricky. Fortunately, the Titan Plus is here to save the day. The Titan mattress is constructed with sleepers over 230 pounds in mind and features excellent edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 or higher in each category. And the best part? A queen-sized mattress is usually on sale for just under $1,000.

One thing that all sleepers need from their mattress is consistent support throughout the entire surface. In other words, you should be able to lie on the edge and still get enough structure and bolstering to keep your spine aligned with the rest of your body. Our mattress testers loved that they could lie down on the very edge of the bed without feeling unsupported and awarded the Titan Plus a 4.6 out of 5 for edge support.

“I felt very secure on my back, side, and stomach when lying close to the edge of the Titan,” said mattress tester Sosha Lewis. “It was easy to switch positions, and I wasn’t afraid of toppling out of bed when I was on my side.”

Our chief medical product tester, Dr. Joe Tedesco, also agreed that the Titan Plus offered adequate support all sleepers should appreciate. He especially enjoyed its high-density foam for side sleeping.

“I was more comfortable on my side on the Titan Plus than on my back,” said Dr. Tedesco. “I didn’t feel any significant pressure buildup. I was looking for pressure buildup in my shoulder, but didn’t feel much.”

Typically, excellent motion isolation comes at the expense of a bouncy, responsive surface. Similarly, responsive mattresses usually aren’t the best at isolating motion to one side of the bed. The Titan Plus is one of those rare mattresses that offer sleepers the best of both worlds. Sosha and her fellow mattress testers gave the Titan a perfect 5 out of 5 in both categories for its ability to dampen motion while being easy to maneuver and change positions on.

“I sleep with a very restless partner and the motion isolation on this bed makes me wish I owned it,” Sosha said. “I could easily toss and turn and flip on this mattress without worrying about the motion carrying over to the other side.”

However, since the Titan Plus has a firmer feel, side sleepers may notice pressure building up around their hips and shoulders, which could cause discomfort or joint pain over time. It may also feel too firm for individuals under 130 pounds, who likely won’t get the contouring or lower back support they need for optimal comfort.

If the Titan sounds like the right mattress for you, check out our full Titan Plus mattress review to see how it performed on all our tests before you make your final decision. If you want something that matches the support of the Titan Plus but offers a little more contouring, I recommend looking into the Titan Plus Elite instead.