The Best Cheap Mattresses That Don’t Sacrifice Comfort

We also tested several other popular mattresses. Here are our thoughts on the (notable) ones that didn't make our top picks:

• Tuft & Needle's Original Mattress: This is a solid, no-frills mattress that uses a responsive foam along with gel- and graphite-infused layers for cooling. While it's one of our top-tested mattresses, we've seen consistent price increases throughout the years with limited sales. You're best off waiting until Black Friday if you're set on this model.
• DLX Classic: This is one of the few flippable mattresses you'll find nowadays (with the same firmness level on both sides). We think it's a great value given the design, but with the $1,500 MSRP, it's not the most affordable out there.
• Bear Original: Another all-foam option, this model didn't stand out in our tests. While it was firm and contoured well to our bodies, the edge support wasn't amazing, and the price point isn't competitive compared to similar foam models.
• Silk & Snow The S&S Organic Mattress: For someone who prefers an organic mattress or latex over memory foam, Silk & Snow does a great job for $1,000 (for a Queen). Our testers liked the firm support, but latex isn't always the most popular option amongst our tester pool.
• DreamCloud Hybrid: We've received mixed feedback for this model. While many users found it initially comfortable and dreamy, a good number noticed sagging earlier than expected. Testers also noted it slept warm.
• Nectar Classic: Like DreamCloud, Nectar has gotten mixed feedback in our surveys. Some users swear by its Classic mattress while others noted longevity issues. A few reported issues contacting customer service.

To find the best affordable mattresses in today's oversaturated market, our team of expert scientists and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab have:

✔️ Researched hundreds of new models each year, reviewing information about materials, construction, special features, brand reputation, customer service and online reviews. Brands with repeated issues in either quality or customer service are eliminated from our recommendations. We've evaluated dozens of mattresses below $1,000 for a Queen and have noticed increasing prices.

✔️ Reevaluated top-tested models on an ongoing basis to ensure the ones we recommend perform as expected, from setup to overall comfort and support, especially if there's been any updates to the design or construction since our last test.

✔️ Surveyed more than 10,000 readers on our GH survey panel, analyzing over 170,000 answers to questions about the mattresses they own.

✔️ Sent over 200 mattresses to hundreds of consumer testers to review at home, both short and long term, in the past few years. We ask our consumer testers to provide their initial thoughts on the bed, their thoughts after sleeping on the mattress for several weeks and their thoughts after an extended period of time (several months to years later!) to learn how mattresses perform with repeated use.

✔️ Reviewed company-provided lab data (especially related to temperature and cooling) and firsthand user experiences from our own tests and surveys. We also consider any claims made to see whether any brands may be overpromising on performance and verify any certifications.

✔️ Leveraged our backgrounds in fiber science, materials engineering and consumer science to assess everything from materials and structure to brand reputation.

✔️ Interviewed dozens of medical professionals and kept up with relevant sleep studies.

✔️ Visited dozens of mattress factories and showrooms, interviewing everyone from CEOs to in-house product experts.

Between our expert analysis, consumer testing, and survey feedback, here are some of the factors we consider when evaluating mattresses:

What works for one sleeper may not work for another, so there's no one perfect mattress for everyone. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a cheap mattress:

✔️ Sleep position: You want your spine to achieve neutral alignment while you're sleeping, and different sleep positions require different mattress firmness levels for proper alignment. Stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress, while side sleepers should choose a softer mattress to alleviate pressure around the shoulders and hips. Back sleepers and combination sleepers can opt for a Medium-firmness level, which is stable enough for sleeping on your back or stomach yet plush enough for your shoulders and hips to sink in slightly.

✔️ Body type: Heavier people need firmer beds, so a soft foam bed may not be the best option for someone with a larger frame. Instead, consider beds designed for heavier bodies with firmer foams or hybrid options including supportive coils. Lighter-weight people, on the other hand, will be better served with a softer mattress. Take into account both your weight and sleep position when deciding on the right firmness level.

✔️ Back pain: Those who suffer from back pain can look for a mattress with pressure-relieving foam or a combination of plush foam and coils. Medical experts advise pain sufferers to choose a Medium firmness level because it provides a nice balance of both cushion and support.

✔️ Temperature: If you're a sweaty sleeper, look for a mattress designed to be cooling or temperature-regulating. Memory foam mattresses tend to be dense and absorb heat, so consider a mattress with coils for improved airflow. If you do choose memory foam, look for design features like copper particles, gel-infused foam, or phase-change technology, which can all help to regulate your temperature while you sleep.

✔️ Trial period: It can be hard to tell if a mattress is right for you without trying it out first. Most of our affordable mattress picks are from brands that offer trial periods from 30 to 100 nights, so you can sleep on your new bed before fully committing to it. Just be sure to read through the brand's return policy to see if there are any associated fees and to learn about the actual return process. For instance, some brands will coordinate mattress pick-up for you, but ones that follow Amazon’s return policy can’t be physically returned—only refunded—if opened.

If you're looking for an affordable mattress, you can find lots of good options under $1,000. Some of our picks are even under $300! Plenty of users on our panel said these affordable purchases are still perfectly comfortable. If you're willing to spend $500 to $1,000, these prices are common in the mattress-in-a-box category and usually include more substantial materials on the inside—from a higher coil count for more support to additional layers of foam for pressure relief. They also typically offer free shipping for DIY setup and a free trial period so you can make sure it's a good fit.

There are also many mattresses that cost over $1,000. At this price point, you're likely getting a luxury bed that will last for many years with special features like cooling capabilities or adjustable settings.

Organic mattresses cost more too, because these materials are more expensive to produce. If you're looking for an organic mattress on a budget, we recommend the Silk & Snow's S&S Organic Mattress, which is priced at $1,000 for a Queen (though we often see it discounted to $850).

Whether you're shopping for the best mattress on a budget for yourself or you're looking to save on a temporary space or guest room, you can certainly find a mattress that performs well for an excellent value, but here are some things you can expect with a more affordable bed:

• Shorter height and fewer comfort layers: The most noticeable difference is cheaper mattresses are usually shorter than more expensive ones, meaning fewer layers on the inside. Fewer layers may translate to less comfort, especially for someone who struggles with back pain, but you can always add a mattress topper for an easy upgrade.
• Firmer feel: The reduced number of layers results in a firmer feel, so you should consider your sleep position: Side sleepers need a softer surface and stomach sleepers need something firmer, while back or combo sleepers can be in between.
• Questionable brands: Sometimes a low price can seem too good to be true, so make sure to buy from a reputable company that can step in if needed. Amazon and Walmart offer affordable mattresses with trustworthy customer service.
• Low-cost materials: Mattresses can be filled with coils, foam, or a hybrid of both. Spring mattresses may be less comfortable, so we recommend sticking with hybrids or adding a mattress topper. If you're worried about the safety of the foam in cheaper mattresses, check whether it's certified by CertiPUR-US or GreenGuard to ensure there are low levels of off-gassing VOCs.

There are plenty of affordable mattresses available on the market year-round, but if you're looking for an even greater deal, check out holiday-specific sales. Tons of brands offer special discounts during major holidays like Labor Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day and July 4th.

Other shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day are also great times to buy a mattress for less. Oftentimes during these holidays and events, brands offer competitive discounts starting around 10% and running upwards of 40% off for certain mattress models.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've been testing home products for 125 years. We've closely followed the online mattress industry's rapid expansion since 2014 and test dozens of mattresses each year to find the best of the best.

Textiles Product Reviews Analyst Grace Wu currently oversees mattress testing at Good Housekeeping. Wu regularly evaluates mattresses herself, coordinates consumer testing and writes about beds for every type of sleeper. Prior to joining GH, she earned a Master of Engineering in materials science & engineering and a Bachelor of Science in fiber science from Cornell University.

This story was previously written by Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine, who joined the Textiles Lab in 2022. She has tested and reviewed other mattresses, including Saatva's Classic Mattress and Tempur-Pedic's collection, and she worked with testers of affordable mattress brands for user input. She used her categorical expertise when researching and making picks for this article.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is constantly updating our collection of mattress reviews to keep the latest and greatest on the market. Here are some of our popular guides.

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