Mattress Guides
Memory Foam vs. Hybrid
Are memory foam or hybrid mattresses better? In this guide, we review both mattress types and explain the materials, how they feel, and the pros and cons of each.
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Shopping for a mattress on a limited budget can sound like a challenging task. The majority of queen-size mattresses range anywhere from $700 to over $3,000. Lucky for budget-conscious shoppers, the growth of the mattress industry has meant the introduction of lower-cost mattresses that are relatively comfortable, quality beds for their price.
Chosen by Experts and Advocates
Despite our team having tested well over 100 mattresses, only five appear on this list. While these mattresses may not have performed as well as the average $1,500 mattress that we bring into our lab, their quality relative to their less-than-$500 price tags make them very much worth considering.
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Best Mattresses Under $500 of 2021
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature – Editor’s Pick
- DreamFoam Chill – Best Cooling Mattress Under $500
- Allswell Mattress – Best King Mattress Under $500
- Brentwood Home Cypress – Best Affordable Mattress for Back and Joint Pain
- Juno Value Mattress – Best Canadian Mattress Under $500
Brooklyn Bedding Signature- Editor’s Pick
The Signature Hybrid mattress comes in three firmness options and is made with a slew of proprietary materials. Brooklyn Bedding know their mattresses.
The Signature Hybrid mattress comes in three firmness options and is made with a slew of proprietary materials. Brooklyn Bedding know their mattresses.
The Signature Hybrid mattress comes in three firmness options and is made with a slew of proprietary materials. Brooklyn Bedding know their mattresses.
Editor's Pick
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Editor's Pick
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Editor's Pick
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
In order to offer a product for what most would consider a budget-friendly price, concessions often have to be made. As the price goes down, so too might the quality. In the case of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, however, this could not be further from the truth.
Available in the Twin size for just $449.25, this mattress has a luxury feel at a bargain price. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature contains a layer of individually wrapped coils, as well as layers of support and comfort foam. The resulting hybrid construction makes for a bed that caters to all sleeping positions and body types.
Speaking of sleeping positions and body types, the Brooklyn Signature comes in three firmness options: soft, medium and firm. All three of which are available at the same price point. Whatever your preference, Brooklyn Bedding has you covered. And don’t worry if you pick a firmness level that you end up not liking; the 120-night sleep trial ensures a risk-free mattress-buying experience.
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress Review. Not sure the Brooklyn Signature is for you? Check out our other recommendations for best mattresses to find your perfect fit.
DreamFoam Chill- Best Cooling Mattress
The DreamFoam Chill is an affordable all-foam mattress available in five heights: 6", 8", 10", 12" and 14" versions. The firmness level varies per height, with thicker versions feeling softer.
The DreamFoam Chill is an affordable all-foam mattress available in five heights: 6", 8", 10", 12" and 14" versions. The firmness level varies per height, with thicker versions feeling softer.
The DreamFoam Chill is an affordable all-foam mattress available in five heights: 6", 8", 10", 12" and 14" versions. The firmness level varies per height, with thicker versions feeling softer.
Best Cooling Mattress
Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Best Cooling Mattress
Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Best Cooling Mattress
Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Foam
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Many mattresses have temperature regulating features, such as copper infusions and gel memory foam. These technologies are meant to keep mattresses, particularly memory foam mattresses, from overheating as you sleep. While often effective, they can raise the price of a mattress significantly. The DreamFoam Chill offers such technologies at a very reasonable price.
While it may not sleep as cool as a state-of-the-art hybrid mattress, the DreamFoam Chill keeps relatively cool for the affordable price. The top layer of swirl memory foam has impressed many customers by keeping too much heat from becoming trapped in the mattress.
In addition to the cooling, the DreamFoam Chill is quite a comfortable mattress in general. We found it to perform quite well for lightweight and average-weight back and side sleepers, specifically. Also, the DreamFoam Chill is available in five different thickness levels, so if you’re willing to spend a bit more you can get a more durable version.
Read our full DreamFoam Chill Mattress Review. Not sure DreamFoam Chill is the mattress for you? Check out our other recommendations for best cooling mattresses to stop sleeping hot today!
Allswell- Best King Size Mattress
Offering some of the best value mattresses on the market, you’ll find three budget-friendly hybrid mattress models at Allswell Home, a company that believes anyone can get a good night’s sleep at an affordable price.
Offering some of the best value mattresses on the market, you’ll find three budget-friendly hybrid mattress models at Allswell Home, a company that believes anyone can get a good night’s sleep at an affordable price.
Offering some of the best value mattresses on the market, you’ll find three budget-friendly hybrid mattress models at Allswell Home, a company that believes anyone can get a good night’s sleep at an affordable price.
Best King Mattress
Allswell Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Best King Mattress
Allswell Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Best King Mattress
Allswell Mattress
Read Full Review
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
When considering mattresses under $500 for this list, we prioritized Queen models, since it tends to be the most popular mattress size. However, we would be doing a disservice if we didn’t highlight the fact a King size Allswell mattress can be purchased for only $465. Reader, this is a steal.
King size mattresses tend to be popular with couples looking for a bed that they can share, and the Allswell has many features that cater to co-sleepers. A layer of couples keeps warm air from becoming trapped in the mattress, so you shouldn’t overheat while lying next to your partner. And the layer of charcoal-infused foam does a solid job of isolating motion on either side of the bed; no more waking up to your partner’s tossing and turning.
Read our full Allswell Mattress Review. If you still don’t think the Allswell is for you, check out other recommendations from our experts on the best king size mattresses.
Brentwood Home Cypress- Best Affordable Mattress for Joint & Back Pain
The Brentwood Cypress Bamboo Gel mattress is made of several layers of foam, best for side sleepers.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Brentwood Cypress Bamboo Gel mattress is made of several layers of foam, best for side sleepers.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Brentwood Cypress Bamboo Gel mattress is made of several layers of foam, best for side sleepers.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.
Best for Joint and Back Pain
Brentwood Home Cypress
Read Full Review
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Best for Joint and Back Pain
Brentwood Home Cypress
Read Full Review
Material
Foam
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Best for Joint and Back Pain
Brentwood Home Cypress
Read Full Review
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
It should come as no surprise that the quality of your sleep has an overall effect on your quality of life. A good night’s rest can positively impact your mental and physical health and, for those suffering from back and joint pain, can mitigate or prevent achiness. An affordable mattress that excels in this mitigation of pain is the Brentwood Home Cypress.
This foam bed, with a firmness of 6 out of 10, supports and cushions areas where pain is often experienced, such as the shoulders and hips. And because the medium firmness keeps sleepers from sinking too far into the mattress, your spine should remain in its proper alignment throughout the night.
A Full size Brentwood Home Cypress can be purchased for $499, so if you’re looking for an affordable mattress that can provide substantial pain relief, this may be the one for you.
Read our full Brentwood Home Mattress Reviews. Not sure the Brentwood Home Mattress will work for you? Check out our other recommendations for best mattresses for back pain.
Juno Value Mattress- Best Canadian Mattress
The Juno Value Mattress from Good Morning is a Canadian made mattress that offers comfort and support at an affordable price
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Juno Value Mattress from Good Morning is a Canadian made mattress that offers comfort and support at an affordable price
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Juno Value Mattress from Good Morning is a Canadian made mattress that offers comfort and support at an affordable price
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.
Best Canadian Mattress
Juno Value Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Flat-rate shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Warranty
15-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Kids
This bed is perfect for young sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Best Canadian Mattress
Juno Value Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
15-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Shipping Method
Flat-rate shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Kids
This bed is perfect for young sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Best Canadian Mattress
Juno Value Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
15-year warranty
Shipping Method
Flat-rate shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Kids
This bed is perfect for young sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Most of our “Best Of” lists tend to feature American-made mattresses, but Canada has great products to offer as well. One well-known company, Good Morning, makes quality mattresses that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Their most affordable mattress, the Juno Value Mattress, makes our list as the best Canadian mattress under $500.
Like many of our budget-friendly picks, the Juno utilizes foam in every layer of its construction. This build lends itself to straight down the middle, dependable sleep experience, especially for lightweight and average-weight back sleepers.
Shipping of the Juno Value Mattress is free to most parts of Canada, but customers in the United States may have to pay a fee. Good Morning offers customers a 120-night sleep trial and a 15 year warranty once the mattress has been purchased.
Looking for other recommendations? Check out our best Canadian mattresses page to find your perfect night sleep.
What Type of Mattress Can You Get Under $500?
Memory Foam
The best memory foam mattresses typically contain layers of memory foam and a high-density support core. While they typically have a lower lifespan than hybrid and innerspring mattresses, especially at the under $500 price point, they offer the best pressure relief and motion isolation of all mattress styles.
We recommend looking into memory foam mattresses under $500 if comfort, minimal motion transfer, and pressure relief are at the top of your list. Alternatively, if you’re concerned about temperature neutrality, edge support, or durability, other mattress styles may be a better choice for you. Also, memory foam mattresses are the most likely to emit an off-gassing odor when unboxed, but it usually fades within 24 hours.
Related: Is Mattress Off-Gassing Dangerous?
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are the most traditional types of mattresses on the market, and they’ve been around the longest. A traditional innerspring mattress combines a grid of coils with a top layer of wool or padding. The spring systems of innerspring mattresses offer a high amount of durability and support, but some complain that the springs aggravate pressure points and are uncomfortable regardless of the amount of cushioning in the top layers. If you like a bouncy, responsive feel and don’t require much pressure point relief, an innerspring mattress could be a good choice for you. Innersprings also tend to be the most inexpensive mattresses on the market, which is an added bonus if you’re purchasing the bed for a temporary living setup or have a very tight budget. For more great innerspring bed options, check out our best innerspring mattresses page.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses are among the most expensive mattresses available today—and for good reason. These beds combine comfort foams, transitional layer foams and pocketed innersprings into a single construction, taking from the best of both worlds. The best hybrid mattresses have foams that provide pressure point relief and can create a variety of firmness feels, while the pocketed coils at the bed’s core provide bounce and durability and improve breathability. Despite hybrid models’ tendencies to be costly, some are available for less than $500.
Latex
Latex mattresses, made from latex sourced from rubber trees, are growing in popularity thanks to their eco-friendliness, breathability and excellent pressure relief. However, it is difficult to find a latex mattress for less than $500 that isn’t made with synthetically produced latex foams. If you do find a latex mattress on a budget, be sure to pay attention to the process through which the latex is made, and discern whether the latex will suit your needs. Dunlop and Talalay latex are the two types of latex, and each type has unique properties. If you like the feeling of “floating” on a mattress, you may enjoy a latex bed. Our best latex mattresses page includes our top picks for beds that use this material.
Other Considerations For Mattress Shopping on a Budget
When deciding on the best mattress under $500, the type of mattress and your budget are two of the most important considerations. However, there are other factors to consider, which we outline below.
Sleep Trial Period
Most mattresses sold online now come with a sleep trial, which provides customers with a predetermined number of nights to adjust to the new mattress and return it if it isn’t a good fit. This allows you to have several weeks or months (sometimes even up to a year) to decide if the mattress suits your preferences and sleeping style. Most mattresses at average and higher-than-average price points come with sleep trials, but these can be more difficult to find among low-cost mattresses. Still, among the best affordable mattresses shoppers can still discover great policies. We recommend looking for an affordable mattress with a sleep trial period of at least 30 days, given that affordable mattresses are more likely to be made with low-cost materials that may not feel comfortable to every sleeper.
Mattress Warranty
A mattress warranty covers physical defects in the mattress including sagging, coils breaking or popping out of the side, foams on top bunching, and more. Some of the mattresses we’ve listed above come with a 10-year warranty, but we recommend reading the fine print to ensure that what the warranties cover is substantial. That being said, since your mattress will ultimately cost less than $500, a generous warranty period with great coverage shouldn’t be a dealbreaker in your decision like it would be if you were investing in a high-end mattress.
Shipping and Return Policies
When purchasing a bed-in-a-box mattress online, oftentimes shipping is free. This has become the industry standard for most mattress companies and third-party mattress retailers, and this standard is maintained in the under $500 price category. Access to free shipping will vary based on where you live. For example, many companies do not ship free to Alaska and Hawaii, which aren’t considered part of the contiguous U.S. Many returns are free and will come with a full refund minus shipping costs.
We recommend reviewing the company or retailer’s return policy prior to purchase. Make note of whether the mattress company or third-party-retailer will pick up the mattress from your home and re-box it if you decide it isn’t for you.
Sales and Discounts
Even if the mattress you’re purchasing won’t be the most expensive piece of furniture you own, it’s still a several hundred dollar investment. There’s no “best time” to buy a mattress, but well-known shopping and sales seasons can give you an edge on price. Look for discounts and promotions around Christmas, Black Friday, Easter, Presidents’ Day, and July Fourth. Some mattress brands and third-party retailers even offer discounts to first-time buyers.
Durability
Durability is one mattress quality we recommend looking for regardless of the style. How “good” a mattress feels is subjective, but the ability to hold up year after year isn’t. A mattress’ lifespan is determined by its structure, the quality of its materials and how well it is cared for.
Most average-cost mattresses last between 7 to 10 years, but we think a good life expectancy for a mattress under $500 is three to seven years. Also, keep in mind, there are ways to prevent or even fix mattress sagging.
Temperature Neutrality
If you or your partner sleep hot, we recommend looking for mattresses that incorporate materials and designs that improve breathability. For example, most all-foam beds retain heat, but some manufacturers will infuse the top layer with temperature-neutral materials like copper and gel. Hybrid and innerspring mattresses tend to sleep cooler, thanks to the airflow allowed through the mattresses’ springs.
Materials
As we say often here at Mattress Nerd, the construction of a mattress can make or break its feel. The mattress industry is quite diverse, and manufacturers compete to concoct the most unique beds. From cooling gel to hypoallergenic materials and eco-friendly layers, mattresses have come a long way in the last few decades.
Still, some of these mattress products remain more expensive than others, and a $500 budget can preclude many beds that include, say latex foam. Gel memory foam and contouring coils are possible with a $500 mattress, but many beds in this lower price range have an all-foam construction with a simple fabric cover.
Edge Support
Edge support refers to the mattress’s ability to maintain its shape when pressure is exerted on the outer edges of the mattress. This is an important feature to consider if you have trouble getting in and out of bed, as sagging edges can make this much more difficult. Edge support can be tested by sitting on the side of the mattress and measuring how much sagging occurs. The best mattresses have thick foam encasements to improve edge support, but some cheaper mattresses have steel rods on their sides.
Related: What is Edge Support in a Mattress?
Firmness Level and Lumbar Support
Finding a mattress under $500 that’s a good fit for you is much easier when you understand mattress firmness level scales and know which firmness level best suits your needs. Mattress firmness refers to how soft or firm the bed feels to an individual sleeper. While subjective, our team ranks mattresses on a scale of 1 to 10, from extremely soft to extremely firm.
The right firmness for you will vary based on your weight, height, preferred sleeping position, and personal preferences for the feel of the bed. Most importantly, shoppers should consider the link between mattress firmness and lumbar support. Stomach and back sleepers tend to need firmer mattresses to help with lumbar support and avoid back pain, while side sleepers need softer beds to keep their spine aligned. Our best mattresses for stomach sleepers article has much more information, as well as our best mattresses for back sleepers and best mattresses for side sleepers pages. If you switch positions often at night, our list of the best mattresses for combination sleepers will come in handy.
Picking the Best Mattress Under $500 for You
Below, we walk you through crucial considerations when it comes to choosing the best mattress under $500 for your unique situation. Use this as a checklist prior to purchasing your budget mattress to ensure you’ve taken the most important factors into consideration.
What’s the mattress intended for? Are you buying it for short-term living accommodation or a permanent space, like a guest bedroom in your home? How often the bed will be used and how long you plan to own it should impact how much money you spend.
Budget: Any mattress under $500 is suited for shoppers with a small budget. If you have a budget of less than $250, you may have trouble finding high-quality, queen-sized mattresses in any style at that price point. If that’s the case, consider an air mattress or a sleeping mat instead, or consider borrowing an unneeded mattress from a friend.
Construction preferences: Have you slept better on memory foam, innerspring or hybrid mattresses in the past? Do you like the feel of memory foam or prefer the bounce and breathability of a hybrid? Your personal preferences may impact the type of mattress you purchase.
Do you sleep hot? If you tend to sweat or sleep warm throughout the night, we recommend looking into mattresses’ qualities that improve breathability and temperature neutrality. These will increase the likelihood that you sleep undisrupted.
Do you sleep with a partner or a pet? If you sleep alone, your mattress choice is completely up to you. If you sleep with a partner, you’ll need to take their weight, size, sleeping position and comfort preferences into account. We also recommend looking for beds that isolate motion well if you or your partner (or pet) toss and turn throughout the night. You can find some great options on our best mattresses for couples list.
What’s your preferred sleeping position? Stomach sleepers, back sleepers, side sleepers, and combination sleepers each have unique needs when it comes to firmness, pressure point relief and other mattress qualities. The mattress that’s best for you will depend primarily on your sleeping position and weight. For example, lightweight side sleepers need relief at the hips and shoulders, and they typically need an extra soft, plush bed that allows them to sink in rather than rest on top of the mattress.
Durability: Similar to budget, the importance of the mattress’ longevity is dependent on how often you plan to use it and how long you want the bed to last. If it’s a mattress for a short-term (less than one year) setup, durability shouldn’t be a big factor. If you want it to last you more than two years, durability is essential to consider. To find durability, look for a bed that has good edge support, meaning it doesn’t buckle too much at the edge when you sit down on the perimeter.
Return and trial policies: As mentioned, many of the best online mattress companies and third-party retailers now offer extensive sleep trials that last several months, regardless of how much the bed costs. If you’re the “try it before you buy it” type, look for a mattress with a generous sleep trial period and friendly policies for returns, like white glove pickup and re-boxing.
Conclusion
Finding a mattress when you have a tight budget is easier than ever thanks to today’s wide variety of options and readily available online retailers. What’s difficult is deciding on the mattress you want to purchase. Use the style of mattress and your budget to steer you in the right direction. From there, use our list of shopping considerations in the buyer’s guide to making your decision. We hope this guide to the best mattress under $500 gets you started off on the right foot in making your budget mattress purchase with confidence!
If you still need guidance in your mattress buying journey, check out our ultimate mattress buying guide and our best mattresses of 2021.
Recap: Best Rated Mattresses Under $500
| Mattress | Award | Price of a Twin |
| Brooklyn Bedding Signature | Editor’s Pick | $449.25 |
| DreamFoam Chill | Best Cooling Mattress | $186.75 |
| Allswell Mattress | Best King Mattress | $265.00 |
| Brentwood Home Cypress | Best for Joint and Back Pain | $399.00 |
| Juno Value Mattress | Best Canadian Mattress | $197.36 |
