Best Affordable Mattresses

Finding a balance between comfort and support in a mattress with the right price tag can be a hassle. You don’t want to end up with a cheap mattress that leaves you with aches and pains and gives you a bad night of sleep. However, it is possible to find a bed that works for your comfort preferences and your wallet. In this guide, we will teach you what to look for in a mattress and what the appropriate price range is for a decent mattress. One of our top picks is sure to be the right mattress for your body type, comfort preferences, and your budget.

Disclosure: By clicking on the product links in this article, Mattress Nerd may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Read full disclosure statement.

The Best Affordable Mattresses For Your Budget

• Nectar – Editor’s Pick
• Helix Midnight – Best Affordable Hybrid
• Studio by Leesa – Best For Pressure Relief
• Layla – Best Affordable Mattress For Back Pain
• Nolah Original – Best Affordable Foam Mattress
• Casper Element – Best Affordable Mattress in a Box
• Cocoon by Sealy – Best Cheap Queen Mattress
• Tuft & Needle – Best Affordable King Mattress
• DreamFoam Chill– Best Mattress For Side Sleepers

The Nectar Mattress is 11-inches of gel memory foam. It’s our Editor’s Pick, because it is good for almost all people; back, stomach, side, and combination sleepers. If you like close-body contouring and need pressure relief in your back, stomach, and shoulders the Nectar would be a great option for you. The mattress is topped with a Tencel cover to help carry heat away from the sleeper’s body. It is also an excellent choice for couples since it minimizes motion transfer and helps keep each partner asleep.

The Nectar’s flagship mattress is made of high-density premium memory foam. If you are looking for an affordable mattress for you and your partner who have different sleepers positions, the Nectar is a perfect fit. The edge support, motion isolation, cooling properties, and full-year trial make it one of our top picks for the best cheap mattress. A queen size Nectar mattress sells for approximately $800. 

Read our full Nectar Mattress Review to learn more!

Helix Sleep makes several mattresses, but there is a reason that the Midnight is their best seller. It has a medium-firm feel that suits all types of sleepers, regulates body temperature at night, and relieves pressure in sensitive areas of the body. Side sleepers are typically a tougher audience to make the perfect mattress for since the body has such. different needs in that position rather than lying flat on the beach or stomach.

The Helix Midnight is engineered differently in different parts of the mattress, to accommodate the varying pressure your body parts. This doesn’t make the bed less comfortable for those who are not side sleepers, just increases comfort for those who are. A queen Helix Midnight costs right around $900, and there is a Luxe version of the product that is approximately $500 more.

See our full Helix mattress reviews for more info! 

Leesa is known for making high-quality mattresses at a lower price point than the competition. The Studio by Leesa is no exception. Leesa’s newest mattress features a no-frills 3-layer design measuring 10 inches. The support base is topped with a layer of pressure-relieving foam that takes all the tension off of your hips, shoulders and neck.

The mattress is topped with a layer of breathable comfort foam, ensuring that your body stays cradled and cool. These features are essential for side sleepers, but the mattress is made to suit any sleeping position. If you’re looking for an affordable guest room mattress to impress, or simply have a tighter budget, the Leesa Studio may be a great option.

Read our full Studio by Leesa mattress review to learn more.

The Layla memory foam mattress is a great affordable mattress for those with back pain, but also those who just want a great night’s sleep. When you buy this mattress you get two beds in one, as it has a firm and soft side. We recommend the firmer side of the Layla mattress for sleepers with back pain, especially lightweight and average weight sleepers. This mattress does a good job giving enough support to create proper spinal alignment in most major sleeping positions. If you’re a heavier person, check out the Layla Hybrid. 

Another benefit of the Layla mattress is the copper infused foam, which help keep hot sleepers cool through the night. Overall, Layla is a good choice if you have back pain and don’t want to break the bank.

Read our full Layla mattress review to learn more!

The Nolah Original is known as one of the best mattresses for side sleepers. In lieu of traditional memory foam, the company uses their own proprietary AirFoam™ to contour like foam and bounce like latex, all without building up body heat. Nolah has performed tests proving their special foam is four times better at relieving pressure and will last three times longer than other memory foam.

The Nolah Original is best for those with back pain—thanks to the contouring for the hips and shoulders that keep the spine straight—as well as hot sleepers and those seeking a more luxe mattress at an affordable piece.

Read our full Nolah Mattress Review to learn more!

The Casper Element Mattress is Casper’s baseline, budget model. It is a medium-firm mattress constructed with three layers of open-cell foam to promote airflow, keeping sleepers cool at night. The design of the Element is simple, which is reflected in the price point but is still thoughtful enough to provide sleepers with the needed support at the back, belly and side sleepers. 

Casper is continually refining its design based on customer feedback and testing to make their mattresses better. The Casper Element comes with an easy to remove and clean, zip-off cover, making it perfect for kids, adults and teenagers alike. If you are looking for a durable, affordable, comfortable mattress, the Casper Element may be a perfect fit for you. A queen-size Casper Element mattress sells for approximately $600.

Read our full Casper Element Mattress Review to learn more!

The Cocoon Chill mattress by Sealy is a fantastic value product for its cheap price: a queen size of this mattress comes in at only $930 without any discounts or sales. The Cocoon’s two options for firmnesses – medium soft and extra firm – are perfect for back, stomach, and side sleepers who want a mixture of support and cradling comfort. Depending on the firmness level you select, the base layer of foam will differ in density. Sealy’s Perfect Fit memory foam will top off this mattress regardless of the firmness you choose.

The motion isolating element of the Cocoon Chill is perfect for couples trying to sleep as peacefully – and cheaply – as possible without rolling over and disturbing each other. The phase-changing material in the mattress cover also has a cooling effect so sleepers can stay comfortable throughout the night.

See our full Cocoon Chill Mattress mattress review for more information.

The Tuft & Needle Original mattress is Tuft & Needle’s flagship product. It is a firm, memory foam mattress that was built to accommodate a large range of sleepers. It is constructed with proprietary Adaptive foam to provide comfort and support without the sinking feeling. Beneath that is a supportive base of high-density polyfoam to keep you lifted and aligned.

The Tuft & Needle original mattress is a mattress that’s great for a wide range of sleepers and shoppers of all budgets. The Tuft & Needle Original provides great support, cooling properties, and relief to your pressure points. The firm feel of this mattress is best for back and stomach sleepers who need more support for their lower back and hips. A queen-size Tuft & Needle Original mattress sells for around $600. 

Read our full Tuft & Needle Mattress Review to learn more!

If you’re a budget shopper, the DreamFoam Chill could be your perfect mattress, ranging from about $199 for a Twin to $449 for a King in the 6” versions—which brings us to height. Interestingly, this bed comes in five thickness options from 6” to 14”. Keep in mind that all these layers are foam, which are not cool to the touch. If you are a hot sleeper, you might like to add the cooling DreamFoam Chill Mattress Topper.

As to firmness, the 10” mattress has more of a medium feel, while the thinner models feel firmer, and the thicker versions are softer. We’d recommend the DreamFoam Chill for lightweight and average-weight sleepers, but it might not be firm and supportive enough for heavyweight folks (230 lbs. plus). Regardless, we think this bed should keep most side sleepers and back sleepers supported and comfortable. Perhaps the mattress’s best feature is the 2.5” comfort layer made of gel foam, which keeps delicate joints feeling cradled.

What Does a Good Mattress Cost?

How much should you pay for a decent mattress? Mattress price is largely dependent on size and type and can range anywhere from $300 to $7,000 for a queen. But beware, you get what you pay for.

You might be wondering what’s the big deal between a lower end mattress and one that is more expensive? Sure, there mattresses out there for $300 that provides a place to lay your head, but that’s about it.  When shopping for a mattress, consider how it will hold up in the long run and how it will affect your sleep quality. All in all, it boils down to what your sleep is worth to you. You’ll come to find, a good night’s sleep is worth much more than a couple of hundred bucks.

Mattress Types by Price Point

Of all the different mattress types available, the most budget-friendly is memory foam. Memory foam mattresses range anywhere from $250 to $1,000 and last roughly 7 years.

On the other hand, you’ve got hybrid and latex mattresses that typically have a higher price tag. A decent hybrid mattress ranges anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 and lasts about 10 years. Hybrids are more durable than memory foam, and you will pay for that. Latex mattresses can reach prices up to $3,000 because of there naturally sourced materials, which cost more to produce. However, like hybrids, latex mattresses are highly durable, lasting up to 15 years when properly cared for.

Regardless of the type of mattress you buy, you can find a decent bed for under $1,000, especially if you shop online.

Price Depending on Where You Buy

When debating mattress price, quality is key, but the price tag is important too. If you don’t want to compromise on quality but are worried about spending too much, shop online. You will generally find cheaper prices when shopping for a mattress online than you would in a store. That’s because online mattress retailers cut out all the middle man costs, floor markups and salesman tricks. Online mattresses are sold direct-to-consumer, so you don’t have to worry about a salesman trying to make a commission off you. Plus, online retailers often have incredible sales on the best mattresses.

Read our full guide on the best online mattresses to learn more!

Risks of Sleeping on a Budget Mattress

Beware that if you go the cheaper route and purchase a lower quality mattress, you put yourself at risk for a number of negative physical symptoms. These include low back pain, joint pain, waking up achy, and sleep loss that can lead to memory issues, increased blood pressure, weight gain, and depression. 

Our best advice is to take your sleep trial period seriously and pay attention to how your body adjusts to the new mattress. Is it supportive enough? Does it wear out easily? Does it limit motion transfer enough? Is there enough edge support? Is your sleep suffering from being on the mattress? Most brands give you an average of 100 nights to try the bed out, so take it seriously and pay attention to how your sleep changes as a result of sleeping on the mattress.

Invest in Your Mattress and Your Sleep

Investing a high-quality mattress isn’t something that should be taken lightly. Sleep is when we rest, recover, and refuel ourselves for the next day. When you’re on the hunt for your next mattress, don’t get overwhelmed. Weigh your choices wisely, test out your mattress if you can, and find the one that will fit you and your wallet appropriately.

Recap of the Top Rated Cheap & Affordable Mattresses