The 8 Best Cheap Mattresses of 2024

Written by Bridget Chapman, Senior Product Editor

Our Methodology

Our Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed more than 300 mattresses in our lab, testing each one on its materials, comfort, cooling, support, and other categories.
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Just Updated

We’ve recently re-reviewed all of our top cheap mattress picks and added more feedback from the testers in our lab — so you can rest easy that if it’s on this list, we’ve personally tested it, slept on it, and stand by its recommendation.

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You should get a good night’s sleep without breaking the bank. Luckily, we’re here to help. Over the last 20 years, dozens of mattress companies entered the market, giving budget-conscious buyers more options than ever before. If you’re looking for the best affordable mattress, read on. We’ll go over mattress pricing, how more expensive options differ from lower-cost options, and how to decide which model is right for you and your wallet. The result is our roundup for the best budget mattresses.

Price-wise, we only included mattresses that came in at $1,000 or under for a queen size after discounts, but still performed well on many of our tests (more on that in the Buying Guide at the bottom of this page). And some of these beds are $1,000 or under for a queen size before any discounts are applied.

Our Top Pick for the Best Cheap Mattress

Budget mattresses don’t always take pressure relief and comfort to new levels, but because the all-foam Nectar does just that, we had no choice but to make it our top pick. It has slow-sinking memory foam that’s outstanding for joint pain relief, as well as contouring that’s more than ideal for side sleeping.

Best Budget Mattresses of 2024

• Nectar – Best Overall Cheap Mattress
• DreamCloud Memory Foam – Best Budget Memory Foam Mattress
• Bear – Best Affordable Mattress for Athletes
• Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Affordable Hybrid Mattress
• Siena – Best Affordable Mattress Under $500
• Titan Plus – Best Budget Mattress for Heavy People
• Leesa Original – Best Affordable Mattress for Back Sleepers
• Silk & Snow Hybrid – Best Budget Cooling Mattress

Best Cheap Mattresses 2024 Video

What We Look For In The Best Cheap Mattresses

Affordability

Affordability is important for all buyers, but we took special care in this roundup to find the best affordable mattresses. Our testers were sure to consider the price of each mattress (usually staying under $1,000 for a queen size after discounts) without compromising comfort, support, or durability. So you can be sure you are staying within your budget while still getting an excellent mattress.

Material Quality

Even though we paid special attention to the price of each mattress in this roundup, we made sure to include mattresses with some of the best materials and added bells and whistles for cooling, edge support, and more. This means that you can shop within your budget while still finding a high-quality mattress.

Return Policy and Warranty

Part of shopping within a budget means considering the return policy and warranty of whatever it is you’re buying. That’s why we paid attention to the return and warranty policies of each mattress in this roundup. You can have piece of mind knowing you can return or replace your mattress if you need to.

Best Cheap Mattress Comparison

Nectar – Best Overall Cheap Mattress

Expert Opinion

When it comes to mattresses that don’t break the bank, our top pick is the all-foam Nectar. When testing it, we gave it a 6 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale — slightly softer than medium firm. It has a thick layer of soft memory foam up top that provides a ton of contouring and pressure relief for side sleepers, and a support layer of firmer foam for stability. When lying on the Nectar, we get some sinkage, but never feel like we’re going to fall too far into its layers. A queen size currently costs well under $1,000 after discounts. All models include a 365-night trial and forever warranty.

We also find the Nectar to be a solid choice for couples because of how good it is at isolating motion. When we tested out its motion transfer using steel balls and a seismometer, there wasn’t a lot of movement, which tells us that if you sleep with a partner, you’re unlikely to feel each other tossing and turning at night.

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What our tester says: “I think the Nectar has a great classic memory foam feel. If you love deep sinkage and contouring, this is the mattress for you.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

On Nectar’s website, you can find a whopping 47,000 reviews, with many of them praising how cushioning the memory foam felt on the sleeper’s back. A common theme seems to be the bed’s deep pressure relief.

Pros of the Nectar Mattress

• Back sleepers should also be comfortable on the Nectar. The soft foam should fill in their lumbar region, and the firmer foam at the bottom of the mattress is supportive enough to help keep their spine in a neutral alignment.
• If you experience hip pain, you might be soothed by the Nectar. When we tested out the mattress with our pressure map, there was little to no pressure at the hips in all three sleeping positions.
• The Nectar could be a good fit for teens. It’s soft enough for younger kids, but can also support them as they grow into adolescence. 

Cons of the Nectar Mattress

• Stomach sleepers and heavy sleepers alike probably aren’t going to get the support they need on the Nectar. They should seek out a firmer mattress — perhaps one with a layer of springs. The Titan Plus (our pick for heavy people) could be a good affordable alternative.

For more, read our full Nectar mattress review or check out our roundup of the best mattresses. You can also click here to get the best deal.

DreamCloud Memory Foam – Best Budget Memory Foam Mattress

Expert Opinion

Traditional memory foam often gets a bad rep, as it tends to trap body heat and lead to sweating. Plus, some brands use low-quality foam, which results in premature sagging. With the DreamCloud Memory Foam, though, you’ll get a cooling, high-quality memory foam bed with all of the regular benefits. The best part? It’s set at a low price, considering its materials and construction. Including discounts, you can often a queen for under $1,000.

DreamCloud’s first bed was a luxury hybrid mattress, and the DreamCloud Memory Foam is their first all-foam option. Like its hybrid counterpart, it has a cashmere blend cover, plus an infusion of gel in its foam to assist with cooling. However, it differs from many other memory foam options out there in that it’s fairly firm. When we laid down on it, we rated it a 7.5 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale. This makes it a good fit for back sleepers and stomach sleepers, who tend to need more firmness and support to keep their spine neutrally aligned.

Note: When going to the DreamCloud website, make sure you click “memory foam” and not “hybrid” before checking out.

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What our tester says: “The DreamCloud Memory Foam is a bed-in-a-box memory foam mattress with a firm feel that I think is well-suited for light to average weight stomach and back sleepers.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer

What Customers Say

Being one of the brand’s newer models, the DreamCloud Memory Foam doesn’t have as many reviews as the original hybrid version. But the ones that are there praise the bed’s comfort, as well as its elegant appearance.

Pros of the DreamCloud Memory Foam Mattress

• For being made entirely of foam, the DreamCloud is highly responsive. Combination sleepers should be able to easily switch sleeping positions on its surface.
• It also has strong edge support. You should be able to spread out and use the entire surface of the bed without feeling like you’re going to fall off.
• The mattress has several luxury touches, including the aforementioned cashmere cover and a quilted top.

Cons of the DreamCloud Memory Foam Mattress

• The foams here aren’t soft enough for side sleepers. They’ll likely want a mattress with more contouring and pressure relief at the shoulders and hips, where they put the most pressure. We recommend they try out the extra-cushiony Nectar.

For more, read our full DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress review or check out our roundup of the best memory foam mattresses. Or click here to get the best deal.

Bear – Best Affordable Mattress for Athletes

Expert Opinion

Bear is a unique brand because it caters to athletes. The company has outfitted its flagship mattress with firm foams that support heavy musculature, as well as a cover made of Celliant. This is a soft and breathable material that helps stave off heat after a long workout. Additionally, the memory foam comfort layer contributes to cooling with an infusion of graphite gel. This makes the Bear a good match for hot sleepers.

Another component of Celliant: it’s designed to absorb your body’s energy, then redirect it back to you to assist with recovery and blood flow. While we haven’t independently verified this claim in our testing lab, there have been 10 peer-reviewed studies to back it up. Even without the the Celliant cover, we find the Bear to be an excellent choice for anyone with an active lifestyle due to the aforementioned support and cooling factors. You can often get a queen at $998 before discounts. This includes a 120-night trial and a lifetime warranty.

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What our tester says: “I found the Bear to be especially comfy while back sleeping. Its top layer of memory foam did an excellent job filling in the space at my lumbar region, bringing both support and pressure relief to my spine.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

The reviews on Bear’s website call out its firmness as a positive, and several folks have pointed out that the supportive foams have made it a great mattress for teenagers whose bodies are still growing. A lot of folks also love that the mattress was made without fiberglass.

Pros of the Bear Mattress

• When we tested out the Bear’s motion transfer, it was very low. So if you sleep with a partner, you shouldn’t be woken up by each other’s movements. When you pair that with the bed’s cooling capabilities, it’s one of the best mattresses for couples.
• Even though the Bear is made entirely of foam, it has a high-density layer that’s supportive enough to help keep back sleepers’ spines in a neutral alignment — a key to healthy and restful sleep.
• The foams in the mattress are responsive enough for combination sleepers to easily switch positions. 

Cons of the Bear Mattress

• Side sleepers probably won’t get enough pressure relief from the Bear. They should seek out a softer mattress. We once again point these folks to the cushioning (and affordable) foams of the Nectar.

For more, read our full Bear mattress review or check out our roundup of the best mattresses for athletes. Or click here to get the best deal.

Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Affordable Hybrid Mattress

Expert Opinion

Hybrid mattresses became popular for bringing sleepers the desired combination of pressure relief and support. We think the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a classic example of a bed that hits this sweet spot. When testing it out, we sank just a little bit into the upper layers of foam, but never too far. The support layer of individually wrapped coils propped us up and treated us to some bounciness. Another major perk is that the Signature Hybrid is offered in a Soft, Medium, and a Firm model. So, you can pick the firmness level that works best for your needs. It’s currently priced at $1,332 for a queen before discounts (usually under $1,000 after discounts) and includes a 120-night trial and a 10-year warranty.

When running the Signature Hybrid through our series of tests, we found that the mattress had nice, firm edge support. You should be able to spread out and utilize its entire surface without feeling like you’re going to fall off the bed. And when we tested out its motion transfer using our seismometer, we found that it successfully isolated movement and kept it from rippling throughout the bed.

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What our tester says: “Speaking to the Medium model, I found it to be a great match for couples. It has a nice medium-firm feel and does a great job providing support and absorbing movement.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

The reviews on Brooklyn Bedding’s website cover all of the brand’s various models, and praise the versatility of the company. Based on what customers say, they view the Signature Hybrid as a high-quality middle-of-the-road option — not as stripped-down and budget-friendly as the Dreamfoam Essential, but not as expensive and luxurious as the Aurora Luxe. Everything from the value price to its medium-firm feel is balanced.

Pros of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress

• The Signature Hybrid is bouncy and responsive enough for combination sleepers to easily switch positions throughout the night.
• The coils in this mattress help promote airflow and prevent body heat from trapping in the layers. This makes the Signature Hybrid a good choice for hot sleepers.
• Anyone who shares their bed with a partner should enjoy the motion-isolating abilities of the foams. If either of you are a light sleeper, you’re unlikely to be woken up by the other person’s movements.

Cons of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress

• The mattress has a fairly simple design without a ton of bells and whistles. So if you’re looking for a bed with more luxurious features, check out our list of the best luxury mattresses. Or if you still want something on the cheaper side that has some luxury touches, we suggest the DreamCloud Memory Foam.

For more, read our full Signature Hybrid mattress review or check out our roundup of the best hybrid mattresses. Or if you’re ready to purchase, click here to get the best deal.

Siena – Best Affordable Mattress Under $500

Expert Opinion

Although it’s made entirely of foam, the Siena is surprisingly supportive, its layers starting off soft, then getting firmer and firmer as you get to the bottom of the bed. That means it’s an exceptionally durable memory foam mattress, and at under $500 for a queen size after discounts, a solid (and affordable) long-term investment.

When we laid down on the Siena, we definitely got more of an-top-of-the-bed feeling. However, the longer we stayed on the mattress, the deeper we sank in. This push and pull resulted in a firm feel with a little bit of cushioning. We should also talk about the Siena’s ability to isolate motion. We test this by dropping several steel balls of different weights onto the bed’s surface. We then measure the vibrations with a seismometer. If the vibrations are low, then movement is less likely to ripple across the mattress. The Siena excelled at this test, so you’re unlikely to feel a partner moving around at night.

What our tester says: “The Siena has a simple, minimalistic design that gets the job done for stomach sleepers and a lot of back sleepers. I think it’s a great option for those after a firm mattress. It will keep sleepers propped up and slightly cushioned, which is especially a major win for stomach sleepers. I also think it’s fairly easy to move around on for an all-foam bed and has some solid edge support.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

On Siena’s website, there are nearly 1,200 reviews, with many customers commenting on how good the mattress felt on their back. However, a few folks did point out that, because of the firmness, it might take a few nights to get used to the bed. So give yourself a little time to break it in.

Pros of the Siena Mattress

• You should get some cushioning at the lumbar region from the Siena’s top layer of body-adapting memory foam, while also getting spinal support from the bottom layer of foundational foam. This makes the mattress a natural choice for back sleepers.
• The Siena is the rare foam mattress that can accommodate stomach sleepers, who tend to put more pressure on a bed’s layers than side sleepers or back sleepers. But this mattress gets the job done, holding up stomach sleepers so that their hips are aligned with their shoulders.
• With strong edge support, foams that are responsive enough for sex, and the ability to isolate motion, the Siena is a good match for anyone who shares their bed with a partner.

Cons of the Siena Mattress

• This isn’t going to be the best mattress for side sleepers. They’ll probably want a softer mattress with more pressure relief. Even though the Nectar is a bit more expensive than the Siena, the extra dollars might be worth it for these folks to get the contouring they need at the shoulders and the hips.

For more, read our full Siena mattress review or check out our roundup of the best queen size mattresses for other options. Or if you’re ready to purchase, click here to get the best deal.

Titan Plus – Best Budget Mattress for Heavy People

Expert Opinion

For an affordable and comfortable option for heavy sleepers, we always recommend the Titan Plus mattress. But because these folks put more pressure on a bed’s layers than other sleepers, we asked Paulie — a pro power lifter with a larger body type — to test it out. He felt that the three inches of foam allow for adequate pressure relief, and the sturdy coils and high-density base foam provided durable support. This isn’t surprising, as the Titan Plus was designed specifically for sleepers over 250 pounds. It’s priced at $1,249 for a queen before discounts and includes a 120-night trial and a 10-year warranty. After discounts, a queen size can often be found for under $1,000.

We should point that out that, when it comes to firmness, the Titan Plus is going to feel softer to heavy sleepers and firmer to average weight and lighter sleepers. For context, our reviewer experienced the bed as a 7.5 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, where Paulie felt that it was closer to a 6.5 (the industry standard for medium firm).

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What our tester says: “I think couples will find a lot to love with the Titan Plus because of its solid motion isolation and edge support. Overall, I felt super supported on this bed. I think it could be a nice fit for a lot of back and stomach sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

The Titan Plus has numerous testimonials from heavier sleepers, including a video review from a couple. Many of these reviews speak to how comfortable the mattress is for their body type, with some of them praising it as the most comfortable mattress they’ve ever slept on.

Pros of the Titan Plus Mattress

• Even if they weigh under 250 pounds, back sleepers looking for a firmer feel or more support should like this mattress.
• Similarly, stomach sleepers who weigh under 250 pounds should be comfortable on the Titan Plus, although it will feel a bit firmer to them than it does to heavyweight stomach sleepers.
• We recommend this bed for heavy couples because of its impressive motion isolation and edge support. You’re unlikely to feel your partner tossing and turning, and you should both be able to spread out across the entire surface of the mattress.

Cons of the Titan Plus Mattress

• Because of the thick and durable materials, we found that the Titan Plus slept hot. You can purchase a cooling panel, but it costs extra.
• Side sleepers — even heavy ones — will need a softer mattress that has more pressure relief than the Titan Plus offers. We don’t recommend it for this sleeping position. They’d be better off on the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, which should help heavy side sleepers get the contouring they require at the shoulders and hips.

For more, read our full Titan Plus mattress review or check out our roundup of the best mattresses for heavy people. Also, you can click here to get the best deal.

Leesa Original – Best Affordable Mattress for Back Sleepers

Expert Opinion

While we believe that all of the mattresses on this list are a good value, the Leesa Original is particularly fantastic for those who rest on their backs. In fact, this mattress is marketed to have the “Goldilocks” feel that’s most recommended for back sleepers, with a balance of comfort and support that comes from its soft memory foam comfort layer and extra-durable base foam. While testing, we noticed that this mattress contoured nicely to our backs, and determined it our favorite sleeping position on this mattress.

We really put this all to the test with our pressure map, which presented mostly blue and green while back sleeping. This indicates that most folks should avoid excess pressure buildup; in fact, this mattress might even help alleviate back pain in the lumbar region. Based off of our results, we think it’ll provide plenty of lower back contouring and lift at the hip for sleepers under 250 pounds.

What our tester says: “I felt some nice pressure relief while laying on my back, which helps alleviate pain in the lumbar region. I think this is the most comfortable sleeping position on the Leesa. However, I don’t think side or stomach sleepers who suffer from back pain will get the relief they need on this mattress.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

Astoundingly, the Leesa Original boasts over 20,000 reviews on the company site, totaling 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many happy customers praise the Leesa’s ability to prevent and help with back pain, especially for such a fantastic value. The few complaints that did exist mentioned that the Leesa wasn’t quite as durable as they had hoped. However, it’s important to note that many times, great prices and mattress lifespans go hand in hand.

Pros of the Leesa Original Mattress

• This is a responsive mattress, and the ease of movement it allows should make it a nice option for combination sleepers.
• Even though this mattress has a more “on top of” feel, it still isolates motion well, so couples shouldn’t wake up from each other’s movements.
• Some side sleepers between 130 and 250 pounds, especially those wanting a firmer feel, should really enjoy the Leesa’s medium firmness.

Cons of the Leesa Original Mattress

• This bed doesn’t provide the adequate support for heavy sleepers over 250 pounds. However, we really did love the Leesa Sapira Chill for these folks.

For more, read our full Leesa Original mattress review or check out our roundup for the best mattresses for back sleepers. And if you’re feeling ready, click here to get the best deal.

Silk & Snow Hybrid – Best Budget Cooling Mattress

Expert Opinion

The Silk & Snow is a budget hybrid mattress that can usually be found for under $900 for a queen size. We think the main draw of the Silk & Snow Hybrid is its impressive cooling properties. For such a value mattress, cooling abilities like this can be hard to come by. But the Silk & Snow Hybrid includes a cool-to-the touch cover and breathable coils to prevent hot sleepers from overheating. We felt the effects of this bed firsthand in our mattress lab, where the Silk & Snow Hybrid received an impressive cooling score of 4 out of 5.

The Silk & Snow Hybrid’s combination of memory foam and innerspring coils makes it a medium-firm and responsive bed. That latter trait comes from the coils, which provided a good amount of bounce and made it easy for us to change sleeping positions. That means the Silk & Snow is a fantastic match for combination sleepers who switch between their back, stomach, and side at night.

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What our tester says: “It is a great middle ground firmness for those who don’t want an ultra-firm bed, but also want to feel well-supported. It achieves this feel through a hybrid construction, utilizing some conforming foams in the upper layers and sturdy coils below.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer

What Customers Say

There are 3,000+ reviews on the Silk & Snow company site, and a large number of them have positive things to say about the delicate balance between comfort and support.

Pros of the Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress

• This mattress did well on our pressure map test (lots of blue around the lumbar region). We think that it could be a good choice for anyone struggling with back pain.
• There’s enough support and pressure relief here for back sleepers to be comfortable.
• Side sleepers should also get the contouring they need from the Silk & Snow’s soft cover, foams, and medium firmness.

Cons of the Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress

• The Silk & Snow Hybrid didn’t do the best on our edge support test, which is a bit rare for a hybrid mattress. So, if you’re the kind of sleeper who likes to spread out and take up a lot of room on your bed, this may not be the choice for you. You’d probably be more comfortable on the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, which we found to have exceptional edge support.

For more, read our full Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress review or check out our roundup of the best cooling mattresses for other options. Or if you’re ready to purchase, click here to get the best deal.

How Much Should You Spend On a Budget Mattress?

What qualities you want and the priorities you have for your mattress may dictate the price. The lowest end of budget mattresses are usually around $400, but some mattresses that are higher quality but still considered a great value may be closer to $1,000. See below for how we classify mattresses in regards to price. And for more information on these varying price points, see our guide on Cheap vs Expensive Mattresses.

Price Category	Price Range (Queen Size)
Cheap	Less than $1,000
Budget	$1,000 to $1,500
Average	$1,500 to $2,000
Luxury	More than $2,000

Pros of Cheap Mattresses

• Obviously, cheaper mattresses allow you to save that extra cash for other important things. You can even use the money you save on mattress accessories, such as the best mattress toppers or the best pillows.
• Most mattress brands offer at least one budget option, so it’s likely that your favorite company has a bed with your wallet in mind
• There are a number of budget mattresses offer that still allow for a restful sleep, a comfortable surface, and a healthy posture.

Cons of Cheap Mattresses

• May not provide the high-quality materials and support for larger body types.
• May not include the necessary pressure relief needed for specific conditions like joint pain.
• Cheap mattresses may not last nearly as long as something with higher quality materials and a consequently heftier price tag.

How Mattress Cost Is Determined

A mattress can be one of the most expensive items of furniture in your home. The price of a mattress is determined by several factors, like the ones outlined below.

Type

Certain types of mattresses are more expensive than others. High-tech features like customizable zones, automatic temperature and firmness control, under-bed lighting, and sleep-tracking systems tack on extra costs. Bespoke (made-to-order) mattresses are labor-intensive to manufacture and can cost as much as six figures. Extra comfort and support layers, pillow tops, and unique design features such as colored fabrics and quilting can boost the price of a mattress.

Construction and Materials

Both the quality of construction and build-time impact mattress price. A custom or hand-made model should be higher quality and will have a price that reflects the time and attention required to make it. Machine-built or bed-in-a-box mattresses are constructed quickly without costly craftsmanship, allowing them to be priced lower.

Organic mattresses with natural fibers such as wool and mohair, and luxury textiles like silk generally cost more than synthetic or mass-produced materials like poly foam, latex, and memory foam.

Environmental, safety, or medical certifications are also reflected in the price of a mattress. Certifications often require the use of higher-quality materials or different manufacturing processes that are more expensive and/or labor-intensive.

Brand and Retailer

Some mattress companies are able to command a higher price due to their position in the bedding market. Mattresses sold at brick-and-mortar stores tend to be more expensive than bed-in-a-box or traditional models that can be purchased online.

Addtionally, Mattresses made in the U.S. or EU are often more expensive than those made in countries with less rigorous safety and environmental standards. Materials that are manufactured in countries with looser requirements may cost less, but could also give off a strong smell, become discolored, be vulnerable to defects, or degrade more quickly. For more international mattresses, see our roundup of the best Canadian mattresses.

Our Favorite Mattress Roundups by Price

• Best Value Mattress
• Best Mattress Under $1,000
• Best Luxury Mattress

Other Factors To Consider When Buying A Cheap Mattress

When shopping for a cheap mattress, there are other factors you should consider besides price. Read on below or check out our guide to choosing a mattress for more in-depth information.

Sales and Coupons

If you’re looking for a budget mattress, you might be looking for sales. Remember to check sales and coupons for not only cheap mattress brands but any brands you’re interested in. Some of the best mattress deals occur around holidays, specifically Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and Christmas. For more tips, see our guide on When’s the Best Time to Buy a Mattress. You can also check out our Sleepopolis mattress coupons and promo codes page to stay up to date on all the latest deals.

Online mattress companies are also a great way to find budget friendly mattresses. If you are looking to get the best mattress at the best price, not just the cheapest one, check out our picks for the best mattress for your money. The majority of the best bed-in-a-box brands are also available exclusively online and are generally more affordable and easy to set up alone.

Shipping Costs

Remember to look at the calculated shipping costs, especially if you live outside the contiguous United States. You may need to pay for freight shipping. A cheaper bed without free shipping can end up being more expensive than a pricier mattress with free shipping. It’s a good idea to check the final price tag before finalizing your purchase. Take a look at our page for the best online mattresses to find beds with favorable shipping methods.

If you are shopping internationally, shipping and handling costs may be more expensive. We recommend checking out our top picks for the best mattresses in Canada to learn more about international pricing, shipping, and shopping.

Trial Period and Warranty

Trial period and warranty length are important factors to consider, especially when choosing a budget mattress. Select a bed offering a 100-night or longer sleep trial. If your new bed isn’t comfortable, you’ll want the option of returning it. Budget mattresses with 10-year (or longer) warranties are better investments than budget beds without warranties. An affordable mattress with a generous warranty policy is typically well-made and will be replaceable if it starts sagging quickly.

Quality

Reducing costs may sacrifice some quality. The less you pay, the less durable your mattress will be. A good quality budget mattress should last you at least five years. Higher-quality budget mattresses could last you up to 10 years, and lower quality beds could start to break down in as little as two to three years. Materials like latex and steel coils indicate a more durable budget mattress.

But just because a mattress is cheap doesn’t mean it has to be low-quality. Many renowned and trusted companies in the sleep industry offer up their beds for under $1,000 or even $500 for a queen size. That said, you may have to do some digging to identify these brands and which of their products are giving you the best value. That’s why it’s important to check out reviews from different sleep sites, in addition to seeking out customer feedback on brand websites and online retailers. Paying attention to the trial period and warranty (see more above) is also key.

Durability

Sometimes, cheaper mattresses are made with cheaper materials, such as foams that aren’t likely to last as long. Make sure you check out a mattress’s score in the category of support to ensure you’re buying a product that will be long-lasting. And once again, a bed with a longer trial period and warranty (regardless of price) is probably going to be more durable and less likely to sag.

How to Make An Affordable Mattress More Comfortable

With a budget mattress, you should expect it to last five to seven years. If you’re looking for something longer-lasting but can’t afford it right now, one of the best ways to extend your mattress’s life and make it more comfortable is a mattress topper. There are a wide variety of toppers out there, and we’ve put together several lists of them to cater to different sleeping preferences:

• Best Mattress Toppers
• Best Soft and Plush Mattress Toppers
• Best Firm Mattress Toppers
• Best Memory Foam Mattress Toppers
• Best Cheap Mattress Toppers
• Best Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers

Types of Mattresses

There are all sorts of different mattress constructions out there, but at Sleepopolis we tend to recognize four different types: memory foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrid.

Memory Foam

Memory foam: This type of bed is less expensive since its popularity as a bedding material grew. It’s often used in mattresses as a comfort layer. Memory foam mattresses have a plush feel and little bounce. Memory foam is found in many of the best mattresses for couples.

Poly foam: This foam is often used as a deeper support layer or pillow top fill and is a cheaper alternative to memory foam.

You should expect to pay around $500 to $1,200 for a good memory foam mattress. Poly foam is generally cheaper.

Latex

Latex is a natural product made from the sap of the rubber tree. In contrast to memory foam, latex feels firmer, bouncier, and more responsive. Latex has little sinkage and is good for folks who prefer the feeling of sleeping on top of their mattress rather than in it. Latex can also be appealing to warm sleepers due to its natural cooling properties. The open-cell structure of latex encourages airflow, reducing the retention of body heat.

Depending on the construction, you should pay roughly $1,500 to $2,500 for a quality latex bed.  See our picks for the best latex mattress to learn more.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses use an internal network of steel coils for support and durability. Their comfort and base layers are constructed from memory foam, latex, or poly foam. An innerspring mattress offers responsive support and transfers more motion than a memory foam mattress. We’ve rounded up the best innerspring mattresses if firm support is what you’re after.

For a good innerspring mattress, expect to pay around $700 to $1,500.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses use coils and layers of foam, providing pressure relief and support. The benefits of hybrid mattresses are similar to those of innerspring mattresses. Steel coils create space inside a mattress, providing increased airflow and breathability. The natural springiness of coils creates bounce and motion transfer. Comfort layers made of latex offer additional bounce, while memory foam layers offer conforming comfort that reduces motion. For more, check out some of our picks for the best hybrid mattress.

A good hybrid mattress should cost around $1,200 to $2,500.

Average Mattress Cost by Construction

All of the different mattress types we just outlined above often come at different price points. Here’s how they tend to break down:

Type of Mattress Construction	Average Cost
Foam	$500–$1,200
Latex	$1,500–$2,500
Innerspring	$700–$1,500
Hybrid	$1,200–$2,500

How we Test the Best Cheap Mattresses

Body Type

A Note on Body Type

We recognize that people come in all shapes and sizes, and people of every size deserve a mattress that works for their body type. We use the weight categories light, average, and heavy to more easily categorize sleepers based on how mattresses will perform for their body type, as most mattresses are designed for the group we call “average” (130 to 250 pounds).

Lightweight Sleepers	Average-Weight Sleepers	Heavyweight Sleepers
< 160 pounds	160 – 230 pounds	> 230 pounds

Budget mattresses often work best and last longest for sleepers under 130 pounds because they need less support. Heavier people (over 250 pounds) should use caution when buying a budget mattress; these sleepers should opt for a budget hybrid or innerspring mattress that will last longer and offer more support than a cheaper foam mattress. We test all of our mattresses with various body types in mind to help you find what you need to be comfortable.

Pressure Relief

Firmness Level

Sleeping Position

Depending on what position you spend the majority of the night in will determine what areas you need to be more supported as well as what kind of firmness is best for comfort and support. Even when shopping on a budget, these are important things to consider when buying a new mattress. For side sleepers, we generally recommend a mattress that is softer, somewhere between a 3 and a 6 on our firmness scale, and we look for pressure relief around the shoulders and hips, and support through the back. For back sleepers we recommend mattresses that rank from 4 to 7 on our scale, and test for support through the lumbar and hip areas. For stomach sleepers we recommend a firmer mattress, and test for pressure relief around the hips and support through the spine.

Cooling

Even though you are looking for an affordable mattress, you don’t have to compromise on the comfort of your sleep. One of the most important elements of a comfortable mattress is how well it can stay cool, so we test all of our mattresses using a thermal heat gun. We measure the temperature of the mattress by itself and then again after lying on it for 5 to 10 minutes. The difference in temprature is how we assess the cooling capabilities of the mattress. We consider anything below an 8-degree difference to be good cooling, and below a six-degree difference to be great cooling. We also like to look out for cooling materials, things like breathable coils, Tencel covers that are naturally cooling, gel foams, and cooling materials like latex.

Motion Isolation

What About Fiberglass in Cheap Mattresses?

Fiberglass is sometimes used in mattresses as a fire retardant chemical, but it can be dangerous if you are exposed to it. Even though the materials in a cheaper mattress may be slightly less high quality than luxury mattresses or pricey organic mattresses, they should not expose you to dangerous chemicals. We pay special attention to the materials in all of the mattresses we test and urge you to also look into the mattresses you buy and consider their materials before purchasing. You can check out our recommendations for the best mattresses without fiberglass to learn more.

How We Chose The Best Mattresses for a Budget

When selecting the best budget mattresses, we naturally placed a high importance on price. At the time of this writing, all of the mattresses here can be found for under $1,000 for a queen size after discounts have been applied (keep in mind this might fluctuate throughout the year). At the same time, we still wanted to ensure that we’re recommending quality beds, which is why the beds also have an overall score of 4 or higher, as drawn from our series of tests.

FAQs

How much should a mattress cost?

There is no “one cost fits all.” The cost of a mattress comes down to a lot of factors including size, materials, the type of mattress, and so on. The average price for queen-size mattresses from well-known online brands comes in around $1,500, but it’s possible to find good options at lower price points.

What is the best time of year to buy a mattress?

The following weekends tend to have the best sales: Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday. That said, a lot of companies have deals going on all the time, so check out the coupons page on Sleepopolis to find exclusive discounts.

How long will a low-cost mattress last?

Many value mattresses are built to last as long as more expensive beds. When in doubt, ask a mattress company representative and check your warranty. The length and conditions of a warranty can give you a good idea of the mattress’s reliability. Be careful to follow care instructions so your mattress performs as expected over the long-term.

I’m not on a strict budget. Why should I buy a lower-cost mattress?

A low-priced mattress can be a great option in certain circumstances for certain buyers, even those who don’t have to bargain-hunt. You might want to purchase a budget mattress if you need to furnish a guest room, if your child needs a new bed, if you’re sending a kid off to college, or if you need an extra mattress.

What’s the cheapest kind of mattress available?

A basic innerspring bed or a memory foam mattress are two lower-cost options. You may be able to upgrade to a mattress with higher-quality materials that will last longer and offer comfort for years to come.

How can I make a cheap mattress more comfortable?

The easiest way to make a cheap mattress more comfortable is by purchasing a mattress topper. You can even find quality mattress toppers for under $100. These accessories are designed to change the firmness of your mattress, whether it’s making it softer or firmer. This allows you to create a firmness level that’s comfortable for you and your individual sleep needs.

Best Budget Mattresses of 2024

Mattress	Best For	Price After Discounts (Queen)	Coupon	Review
Nectar	Overall	$699	Nectar Coupon	Read Our Review
DreamCloud Memory Foam	Memory Foam	$765	DreamCloud Coupon	Read Our Review
Bear	Athletes	$699	Bear Coupon	Read Our Review
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid	Hybrid	$999	Brooklyn Bedding Coupon	Read Our Review
Siena	Queen	$399	Check Coupons	Read Our Review
Titan Plus	Heavy People	$937	Brooklyn Bedding Coupon	Read Our Review
Leesa	Back Sleepers	$999	Check Coupons	Read Our Review
Silk & Snow Hybrid	Cooling	$700	Check Coupons	Read Our Review

Bridget Chapman

Former Senior Product Editor

About Author

Bridget is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and senior editor here at Sleepopolis. From testing mattresses to writing about various sleep health topics, her goal is to help you get a good night’s sleep. You can also find her in videos on our YouTube channel. Bridget graduated magna cum laude from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and a minor in English. Before joining the Sleepopolis team, she was a TV news reporter and worked in cities across the country. She loves spending time outdoors, checking out new restaurants, snuggling with her pets, and of course — getting some quality Zzz’s.

Combination Sleeper