Best cheap mattress: Quick menu
1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall: Nectar Original Mattress
3. Best cheap queen mattress: Siena Mattress
4. Best cheap hybrid: Allswell Mattress
5. Best cheap firm mattress: Zinus Green Tea Mattress
6. Best cheap mattress on Amazon: Lucid 10" Mattress
8. Best cheap firm mattress: Casper Snug Mattress
9. Mattress comparisons
10. How to choose
11. How we test
12. FAQs
13. Where to buy the best cheap mattress
If you're in the market for the best cheap mattress and only have a couple of hundred dollars to spend, then we're here to help you make your decision a little easier. We've slept on a bunch of mattresses at Real Homes, from ones that cost $1,500 to mattresses that start at $89.99 when on sale — like the ones we've featured in this guide.
From the Allswell to the Nectar, you can score a true bargain when you buy directly from these brands. Sometimes your mattress will even come with some freebies (like sheets or a mattress protector), and it'll have a trial period and warranty in case you don't like it.
While we have reviewed the best mattresses overall, we selected our favorite budget options for a more thrifty addition. Even better, all of these options are easy to transport and all are CertiPUR-US® Certified. So although they're cheap, they're not made with any toxic or harmful materials. Win-win.
The quick list
In a rush? Here's a quick glance at all of our best cheap mattresses that we recommend. They all start at less than $500. From mattresses that come in a box to mattresses that are infused with green tea, there's a huge selection here.
Rated our #1 best mattress because it's such a great all-rounder for all types of sleepers. Its price starts at just $399, and this pick offers great comfort and support, as well as minimal motion transfer. It comes in a box for easy transportation and with a 365-night trial so you know you can return at any time.
Rated our best cheap queen mattress, if this is the size you need then this mattress is a no-brainer. Its medium to firm feel is perfect for all sleepers, and it offers great motion isolation. Just note that its edge support isn't the best. It comes in a box, with a 180-night trial and a 10-year warranty.
Starting at just $227, this medium mattress gets a big yes from us, and it's particularly great for back and side sleepers. It comes in a box so it's compact and easy to set up. It also comes with a 100-day trial, while its hybrid construction provides great support and can reduce back pain.
This full-foam mattress sits towards the firmer side of the mattress scale, making it ideal for front and side sleepers. The best part is that its original price starts from $119, and you can choose its depth based on your preference. It comes with a 100-night trial and a 10-year guarantee so you can make sure you love it before committing.
This mattress is available to purchase on Amazon and is highly rated, with 20,000 reviewers backing its comfort. It comes in three firmness levels to adapt to your sleeping position, and one of its layers is made from bamboo. You also get a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty. It has one of the cheapest starting price points, too.
This is a great first mattress to buy if you just want something basic and comfortable. It sits on the firmer side of the scale and is best for back or front sleepers. It has a full foam construction with plenty of support so you can rest comfortably. To ease your mind, this pick comes with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty, with prices from $295.
The best cheap mattresses we recommend in 2024
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The best cheap mattress overall
Buy it if
💕 You want a seriously affordable mattress: It starts from $399 for a twin size and $599 for a full.
💕 You sleep warm: Its adaptive cooling cover is designed to draw heat away from your body and circulate fresh air every time you move.
💕 You're a light sleeper: Its motion transfer is second to none, so if you are a light sleeper or sleep with someone who tosses and turns, it's a good choice.
💕 You sleep next to someone who sleeps in a different position to you: It's designed for all types of sleepers, therefore if you sleep on your back but your partner sleeps on their side, it will please you both.
Don't buy it if
❌ You like a super soft mattress: It's rated 6.5/10 on the firmness scale, with 10 being super firm.
❌ You also sleep with a mattress topper: At 12 inches deep, if you also plan on using a topper with this mattress then you might need to buy deep fitted sheets.
❌ You want a mattress with handles: This will probably only bother renters who might get annoyed at the lack of handles on this mattress when they need to move it from one place to another.
❌ You don't like memory foam: This mattress isn't bouncy and it's fairly unresponsive. If you don't tend to go for memory foam, avoid this at all costs or consider a hybrid mattress for good balance.
The bottom line
✨ Nectar Original Mattress This mattress is a failsafe option for all types of sleepers and it offers the utmost in support, comfort, motion transfer, and edge support. It sits at a seriously reasonable price and comes with a decent warranty and trial period.
If you are searching for a trustworthy memory foam mattress that won't lose its shape (even after many years of use), then the Nectar Mattress is your match! It starts at $399 for a twin size, $599 for a full size, and $1,138 for a split king.
This mattress arrives in a box for your convenience although upon taking it out of the box it did have that memory foam smell. Thankfully, faded in a fortnight. Initially, it will feel firm and unresponsive, especially if you're going from a spring or hybrid mattress to all foam. But rest assured what it lacks in softness it makes up for in support. This is a medium-firm mattress that's rated 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. It's made from five layers with a breathable cooling layer that encases it entirely. It's 12 inches deep from top to bottom and it's CertiPUR-US® Certified.
Support and comfort-wise, it's designed for all sleeping positions. Our reviewer Linda is a runner and claims that sleeping on the Nectar cushioned all of her joints exactly where she needed it to — especially in comparison to her previous spring bed. Because of this, we've rated it as one of the best mattresses for back pain. As for motion transfer, it trumped plenty of others she's slept on before, and she felt like she was sleeping alone at times. Edge support was also impressive, so you don't have to worry about the sides not being as supportive as the middle. If you like the bounce of a hybrid, then a great alternative would be the Allswell mattress, which is a tiny bit softer.
When you buy direct from Nectar, it throws in free shipping and returns, as well as a 365-night home trial in case you really can't get along with it (you will). This mattress also comes with a 10-year guarantee, and sometimes, when there's a sale or a holiday period, you can take advantage of freebies and extra discounts.
Read our Nectar mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | It's perfect for all sleepers, but it is medium to firm. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | Affordable price tag considering its trial and warranty. | ★★★★★ |
| Support | It cushions your joints where needed. | ★★★★★ |
| Motion transfer | Incredible, even the lightest of sleepers won't complain. | ★★★★★ |
The best cheap queen mattress
Buy it if
💕 You're on a budget: This mattress starts at only $499 for a twin but it's usually on sale starting at $199.
💕 You like a medium to firm mattress: This is a solid base that sits at 6.5 on the firmness scale, with 10 being super firm.
💕 You're a light sleeper: Its motion transfer is second-to-none so if you are a light sleeper or sleep with someone who tosses and turns, it's a good choice.
Don't buy it if
❌ You need good edge support: If you sit on the corner of your bed to put your socks on in the morning, then you'll probably find that you slide off this mattress.
❌ You want a mattress with handles: This will probably only bother renters who might get annoyed at the lack of handles on this mattress when they need to move it from one place to another.
❌ You like a soft mattress: Avoid this mattress if you prefer a base that's soft as this one is on the firmer side of medium and is pretty solid.
The bottom line
✨ Siena Mattress This affordable mattress offers the best of both worlds when it comes to comfort and price. It's a medium to firm memory foam base that offers great motion isolation but lacks in edge support. It comes with a decent warranty and trial period considering its price.
If you're a memory foam fan but are on a tight budget, then the Siena memory foam mattress is truly a game-changer. Although this mattress' starting price is more than the Nectar, when you price up a queen size from both brands, they cost the same — $699. But, Siena quite often has a sale happening and a queen could cost you just $399 if you buy it at the right time. Here's what our reviewer Rebecca thought...
This mattress arrived in a tidy box and we noticed no off-gassing smells which was a pleasant surprise. It took 24 hours to fully expand but you can sleep on it after three to five hours. Rebecca noted that all of the packaging was fully recyclable in her area. Win! The Siena measures 10 inches in depth, so it's a little smaller in height than the Nectar, and it's also CertiPUR-US® Certified. It's constructed of five layers with a breathable cover at the top. If you're a hot sleeper, it has a layer of gel memory foam to wick away excess body heat, plus air pockets between the layers to make it breathable.
Rebecca went from a spring mattress to this memory foam one and admits she did find it hard to adjust but knows she managed to get a better night's sleep on it. It doesn't offer any initial coziness as it's solid and substantial without being hard and heavy. This was a welcome feeling for her back, though, which sometimes gets sore by the end of the day. The foam is super responsive and keeps your spine aligned at all times and takes the pressure off of your hip and shoulders if needed. It excels in motion isolation, too. However, it loses points when it comes to edge support as its edges are quite soft.
When you buy direct from Siena you'll get free shipping and returns. Also included comes a 180-night trial, which isn't as long as Nectar's but is still decent, and a 10-year warranty. Siena often has sales and normally there is a big discount on its mattresses. You might also find its bedding bundle is reduced, too.
Read our Siena mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | It's perfect for all sleepers, but it is quite solid. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | Affordable price tag (especially when on sale). | ★★★★★ |
| Support | Great for hips and shoulders, lacks edge support. | ★★★★ |
| Motion transfer | Incredible, even the lightest of sleepers won't complain. | ★★★★★ |
The best cheap hybrid mattress
Buy it if
💕 You find memory foam too firm: This is much softer than our first two picks, which are full memory foam. It sits at 5 on the firmness scale, with 10 being very firm.
💕 You're on a budget: Hybrid mattresses usually cost more than full foam, especially if they come in a box. Not in this case though, as the Allswell starts at $227.
💕 You sleep next to someone who sleeps in a different position to you: It's designed for all types of sleepers, therefore if you sleep on your back but your partner sleeps on their side, it will please you both.
Don't buy it if
❌ You like a super soft or super firm mattress: This Allswell Mattress sits at medium on the firmness scale, making it not soft but not firm.
❌ You want a mattress with handles: This will probably only bother renters who might get annoyed at the lack of handles on this mattress when they need to move it from one place to another.
❌ You want a mattress with a long warranty: Included comes a free three-year Mulberry accident protection plan. You can upgrade to a 10-year plan for a small fee. This is the shortest warranty out of all of the mattresses in this guide.
The bottom line
✨ Allswell Mattress The Allswell is a great affordable hybrid mattress that sits right in the middle of the firmness scale. It offers great edge support and motion transfer plus it comes with a 180-night trial. Its price starts at $277, but we're not sure if this mattress would last eight to 10 years if used every single night.
A good cheap hybrid mattress can be hard to come by. The Allswell is that happy medium — the Goldilocks, our reviewer Alex called it — between soft and firm. It also starts from only $227, making it another crowd-pleaser, with its largest size — a Cal king — costing just $397.
This hybrid mattress comes tucked into a box with a handle for ease of carrying from your door to your bedroom. It expanded within about 30 minutes and only has three layers as it's just 10-inches deep in total. There was a faint chemical odor the first night Alex slept on this mattress, but it disappeared fast. In terms of mattress construction, Alex does have some worries that it won't last for as long as a mattress should (eight to 10 years) as the memory foam layer is thin, so it could break down or you might see body indentations sooner. The foam in this mattress is CertiPUR-US® Certified.
Measuring the same depth as the Siena, its top layer is a charcoal and copper gel-infused memory foam, its second is individually wrapped coils, for good balance to the foam, and at the base, you'll find a quilted top panel. We did notice that this panel looked a little loose on the sides, even after fully expanding. But this didn't impact the comfort of the mattress and wasn't visible once the bed was made. Alex also noted that temperature-wise, the mattress was comfortably cool at night thanks to the gel layer. When she put her hand on the bedsheet, she could feel the "coolness" coming through.
Alex sleeps in all positions but did note that she was most comfortable when sleeping on her back and side. It's neither too firm nor too soft, which is an ideal middle-ground that most sleepers will enjoy. Thanks to its thin layer of memory foam, she was able to enjoy the support that the individual coils provide without actually feeling the coils. The mattress even offers very important edge support, so you won't feel like you're going to just roll off the bed. When it comes to motion transfer, Alex noted that the coils minimize the disturbance when a partner moves in bed.
When you buy direct from Allswell, you'll get free shipping and returns, plus a 100-night trial. This isn't as long as the Nectar and Siena, but it's still something. It comes with a three-year accident protection plan, which isn't the same as a warranty. You can add to a 10-year plan for a fee.
Read our Allswell mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Sits right in the middle of not too firm and not too soft. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | Affordable price, especially for bigger sizes. | ★★★★★ |
| Support | Most comfortable for back and side sleepers as it's not that firm. | ★★★★ |
| Motion transfer | Does the job! | ★★★★ |
The best cheap firm mattress
Buy it if
💕 You're a Prime member: You may qualify for next-day delivery.
💕 You love a mattress that contours to your body: This mattress molds to your sleep position and although it's not the fastest to respond to movement, it does contour to your position to support your spine and stays that way all night.
💕 You sleep on your front or side: Because of its medium to firm feel, this mattress is best for front or side sleepers. Front sleepers will find it particularly comfortable, as the firmer the mattress the better if you sleep in this position.
Don't buy it if
❌ You're a back sleeper: This mattress isn't soft enough for back sleepers, so you might find it uncomfortable if this is your sleep position of choice.
❌ You want a mattress with handles: This will probably only bother renters who might get annoyed at the lack of handles on this mattress when they need to move it from one place to another.
❌ You need good edge support: If you sit on the corner of your bed to put your socks on in the morning, then you'll probably find that you slide off this mattress.
The bottom line
✨ Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress This mattress is the cheapest on our list and it's a medium to firm total foam option that's perfect for front or side sleepers. Back sleepers should avoid it as it's not soft. Instead, it contours to your body to keep your spine aligned. It offers good motion isolation but its edge support could be better. You get a 10-year warranty and a 100-night trial.
The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress is actually the most affordable on this list, with prices starting at $169. It comes in four depths but its full foam medium to firm construction makes it best for side and stomach sleepers. Our reviewer Alex prefers a firmer base and really liked sleeping on this mattress. This mattress arrived wrapped in plastic and was packaged in a cardboard box. Zinus said it would take 72 hours to expand, but Alex slept on it after six hours as it looked and felt comfortable.
You can choose from four different depths when buying this mattress, from six inches to 12 inches. It's CertiPUR® US Certified and is crafted from three layers of foam. Its top layer is green tea memory foam — to help maintain the freshness of the mattress, neutralize odors, and absorb moisture — and Alex admits that she definitely slept cooler. In addition, it has a layer of cloud-like Zinus Comfort Foam and its base is high-density Zinus Base Foam.
This memory foam mattress isn't as fast to respond to movement as others, but if you sleep on your side it will definitely keep your hips and shoulders cushioned all night long. Essentially, it cradles your body while providing necessary spinal support. What it lacks in responsiveness, it makes up for in the way it contours to your body and molds to your sleep position. Alex admits it's not the best pressure-relieving mattress she has ever slept on, but it's definitely better than coil-spring mattresses. This is to be expected for the price. When it comes to edge support, it doesn't offer a lot, but don't let this alone sway you unless you require extra support on the edge of your mattress to get out of bed. Its motion isolation was pretty decent. As long as you're around eight inches away from your partner, you shouldn't feel them moving around.
If you buy this mattress direct from Zinus you'll get free shipping as well as a 10-year warranty. It also comes with a 100-night trial which isn't as long as other brands, but it is impressive considering its low price. This mattress is also available to buy from Amazon, too.
Read our Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Best for front or side sleepers. Back sleepers should avoid. | ★★★★ |
| Price | The cheapest mattress on this list. | ★★★★★ |
| Support | Not the best but not the worst considering price. | ★★★★ |
| Motion transfer | Does the job! | ★★★★★ |
The best cheap mattress on Amazon
Buy it if
💕 You need a mattress quickly: Get fast and free delivery from Lucid, or if you're an Amazon Prime member.
💕 You're a sweaty sleeper: The bamboo-charcoal-gel mix is cooling and minimizes odors.
💕 You want a mattress that's tailored to your comfort needs: This mattress comes in firm, medium, or plush options.
💕 You're particular about the materials used: This fiberglass-free mattress uses CertiPUR-US® certified, and fire-retardant cotton.
💕 You live with chronic pain: This mattress claims to ease pressure points.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want a big, plush bed: The bigger and softer the mattress, the more expensive it is. Ie: A plush Cali King will cost nearly $500. But FYI, this is still cheaper than lots on the market.
❌ You want a bed that's ready to sleep on, out of the box: Lucid recommends allowing 1-3 days for your mattress to regain its full shape once out of the packaging.
✨ Lucid 10-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress This mattress is an affordable option for hot sleepers. Chances are, if you buy this, you won't have to spend on a cooling topper. There's a firmness for all sleep positions, and you get a decade's warranty.
There's a lot to like about this Lucid mattress. It's crafted using bamboo support foam and it comes in three firmness options for you to choose from based on how you sleep. We haven't slept on it yet but here's what reviewers say about it. It's one of Amazon's best-rated mattresses, with a star rating of 4.4 stars out of five and 20,000+ reviews backing it up. It arrives in a box and Lucid recommends allowing 24 to 72 hours for your mattress to regain its full shape.
This mattress comes in three firmness levels to make it easier to get a good night's sleep. These include firm, medium, and plush. The former is the cheapest, FYI. This 10-inch mattress has three incredible layers of foam to offer you comfort and support throughout the night. Its top layer is bamboo and charcoal gel-infused memory foam which helps to minimize odor build-up, keeps your mattress fresh, and works to regulate temperature. Then there's a layer of transition foam. And at the bottom is the layer that sets it apart from the rest. Depending on the firmness level you choose, it offers 4.5 inches to 6.5 inches of dense charcoal-infused, bamboo support foam. All foam is also CertiPUR-US® Certified. Oh, and it's one of a select number of models that Lucid claims do not use fiberglass and instead use treated cotton fire retardant.
Reviewers say that this mattress not only provides extra stability and full-body support but it also conforms to your body to ease pressure points. Depending on the firmness you choose, you will have a different experience with this mattress as it's not a one-size-fits-all. Go for firm if you're a front sleeper or if you generally prefer a more solid mattress. Opt for medium if you're a back or side sleeper who tends to change positions throughout the night. The plush is best for side sleepers who prefer a softer base. We can't comment on the motion transfer and edge support until we've tested it ourselves.
When you buy direct from Lucid, you get free shipping and returns, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty. If you buy via Amazon you get free delivery and returns, plus the 10-year guarantee. You'll need to double-check that you get the free trial.
Review coming soon
The best cheap first mattress
Buy it if
💕 You want a low-slung bed: Without a frame, this mattress sits lower to the floor.
💕 You don't want to compromise on comfort or coolness: This mattress comes with CertiPUR-US® certified and ProSupport foam.
💕 You're moving into your first apartment: This is a great entry-level mattress.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want a deep bed: This basic mattress has one of the more shallow specs.
❌You're a side sleeper: It's on the soft side, so might not offer much support for this sleeping position.
The Casper Snug is a basic offering that starts at $295. It offers Casper comfort (the Casper Original is rated one of our best mattresses you can buy) but for less, and it's made from premium memory foam.
This mattress comes in a box for your convenience, and depth-wise, it's one of the smallest in height on this list. At just eight inches, you will find that you're sleeping lower to the floor. It's comprised of two layers. One is premium memory foam which is nice and breathable to allow airflow, and the other is ProSupport Foam which is there for added support. It's made with CertiPUR-US® Certified foam.
Casper says this mattress offers a firm feel, but doesn't go any further into its rating or firmness level. We'd say that if you're a front or back sleeper, it will be perfect, but side sleepers might struggle as it's not very soft. When it comes to support, Casper notes that it cradles you with just enough pressure relief. We can't comment on its motion transfer or edge support until we've slept on it. The reason it's deemed the ideal first mattress is that it doesn't feature any extra features and is quite basic, which is all you want from your first-ever mattress.
This mattress comes with a 100-night trial when you buy direct from Casper, as well as a 10-year guarantee which you get with all Casper mattresses. It ships for free, too. You'll also be happy to hear that there's usually a sale happening at Casper, especially around certain holidays.
Compare these cheap mattresses
| Mattress | Our verdict |
| Nectar Original mattress | A great all-rounder, for all types of sleepers. |
| Siena Mattress | The best cheap queen mattress to buy. |
| Allswell Mattress | A hybrid base that starts from less than $250. |
| Zinus Green Tea Mattress | Full foam for front and side sleepers, cheapest on our list at $169. |
| Lucid 10" Gel Mattress | Available from Amazon and in three firmness levels to suit your sleep style. |
| Casper Snug Mattress | A great first mattress that's firm and affordable, but basic. |
How to choose the best cheap mattress for you
Wondering which type of mattress to buy (and which firmness it needs to be), based on how you sleep?
If you are a side sleeper, then opt for a soft-medium mattress.
If you are a stomach sleeper you want to go for a firm or medium-firm mattress.
If you are a back sleeper, then go for something in the middle that's not too soft or too firm.
This is only an estimate, as there are so many factors that play a role in selecting a mattress. The right choice can also be determined by your weight, whether you have any pressure issues, or if you suffer from back pain or joint pain. So, use this as a rough guideline.
What to expect from a cheap mattress?
While a cheaper mattress is great for your budget, let's get realistic about the experience, from purchase to design.
The basics
You may have noticed that this list is mostly comprised of all-foam designs and just one hybrid. These types of mattresses typically cost less to produce, especially when they have a smaller number of layers, or a smaller foam density, meaning less material is actually used.
Mattresses made with latex, especially natural latex, are not available in the under-$500 range, but we've seen good options pushing the $1,000 mark. These mattresses typically have less customizable options and special features like improved pressure relief or sophisticated cooling technologies and tend to be viewed as medium or firm.
Cheaper mattresses may break down faster over time due to the use of cheaper materials. Oftentimes, there is less transparency about the production process of the mattresses, giving us a shorter explanation as to how the mattress is made and what materials are used. For instance, we like to see mattresses that use foams certified by CertiPUR-US, meaning they are low in VOCs. All of the mattresses in this guide are made with this safe foam.
Fiberglass precautions
Mattresses on the cheaper end of the spectrum are often more likely to feature fiberglass deeply woven into the inner covers as part of a fire barrier. It's cheap and nontoxic, and in the event of a fire, it will melt in on itself without releasing toxic fumes. While extremely common, if exposed, fiberglass can dispel minuscule shards around your home that are hard to clean up and lead to health or respiratory problems.
You can typically check your mattress' label to determine if any ratio of fiberglass is present. If your mattress does contain fiberglass, the simplest way to keep it contained is to never unzip the mattress cover. If you need to clean it, spot clean only, and if you want more peace of mind, add a mattress protector. If the mattress is punctured or damaged, you'll want to look into replacing your mattress entirely. If fiberglass is a concern for you, you'll likely want to upgrade to one of the best organic mattresses, which utilize natural fire retardants like wool or thistle.
The logistics
One of the best parts of a cheap mattress is that you can typically enjoy fast shipping to your door, and they arrive neatly in a box. Don't be surprised if there is an odor while it off-gases. While annoying at first, the smell will go away. When it comes to getting any individualized assistance or contacting customer service, it can be a little more difficult with cheaper models. While the mattresses do have standard warranties, they tend to offer shorter sleep trials in the event the mattress is not right for you. All of the mattresses on our list offer trials of at least 100 days.
When buying a cheap mattress online, make the most of its sleep trial to evaluate if you're waking up more refreshed and watch for any poor performance indicators like sagging or deformation.
FAQs
When can I get the best deal on a cheap mattress?
While these mattresses are already pretty affordable, you can snag even more savings if you pick one up at the right time. Major sales events like Memorial Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday typically include mattress brands so it's a great time to pick one up.
Is a cheap mattress really worth it?
It's important to buy the best mattress that you can afford. Budget mattresses are a great option for furnishing guest rooms, temporary stays, rentals, or kids' rooms (as they may quickly outgrow a bed).
Additionally, those with minimal health conditions and of average size who aren't after fancy features will do just fine with a budget model.
How we tested these cheap mattresses
At Real Homes, we aim to test these affordable mattresses as you would use them, and sleep on them for at least four weeks before forming any opinions. As of this update, we've currently reviewed four out of six of these mattresses. The mattresses we have reviewed have been given a star rating, and we've been able to go into more detail about the mattress and how it feels. We're currently working to review the Casper Snug.
For the last two mattresses in this guide, we've extensively researched, examined countless consumer reviews, and considered factors like value, construction, ordering, and setup experience, and other special features, like breathability, pressure relief, and edge support.
Meet our cheap mattress reviewers:
Alex is one of Real Homes' expert reviewers. The Dallas-based freelance writer has covered home, design, architecture, and art in publications like Real Homes, Dwell, Architectural Digest, Artsy, Neighborhoods.com, and Culture Trip, among many others. She's a real thorough tester, and from this guide, she has tested the Allswell Mattress and the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress.
Alex's sleep stats: • Mattress review count: 6 • Sleep position: Flexi (front, back, and side) • Insomnia: Not usually • Sleep problems: Difficulty getting a deep rest with someone else in the bed. Can't sleep on a mattress that is too soft • Average sleep time: 8–9 hours
Linda has been writing about homes and interiors for nearly 20 years, working for publications such as Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Real Homes, Ideal Home, Livingetc, and House Beautiful. She's our freelance sleep expert and has been reviewing mattresses for Real Homes since 2018. Based in the UK, Linda has slept on the Nectar mattress from this guide.
Linda's sleep stats: • Mattress count: 24 • Sleep position: Falls sleep on side, rolls onto back • Insomnia: At certain times of the month, insomnia hits for about three nights. I can be awake for three to four hours • Sleep problems: Night sweats are also bad news as I navigate the giddy fun of peri-menopause, again just for two to three nights a month • Average sleep time: 7.5–8 hours
Rebecca is a wife and mom of three who loves being cozy in her bed. She is an author and speaker living in her hometown in Connecticut. You can often find her typing words, driving her kids to various places, or scoping out places where there is chocolate. She reviewed the affordable Siena Memory Foam Mattress for us.
Rebecca's sleep stats: • Mattress review count: 1
Where to buy the best cheap mattress
Purchasing from a reputable brand is one way to ensure you're getting a great mattress. The following retailers carry a decent selection of affordable mattresses. Bonus points if they have an extended policy for letting you trial your mattress.
- Amazon: Snag mattresses at all price points and enjoy free two-day Prime shipping and an extended return period of 100 days.
- Ashley: Encompasses all price points and name brands including Ashley's own mattress line.
- IKEA: Mattresses can range from $150 for a foam mattress to $800 for a top-of-the-line spring design from the Swedish household staple, but availability is dependent on your closest location's stock.
- Mattress Firm: It's incredibly easy to shop by budget here as Mattress Firm features brands like Beautyrest, Sealy, Zinus, Sleepy's, and Tulo. The site frequently runs sales up to half off a mattress if you're looking to snag a better mattress for cheap.
- Target: A robust selection of budget mattresses, including some exclusives from Simmons, Lucid, and Serta
- Wayfair: Queen-size mattresses start at around $200, and all beds have a 100-night sleep trial
- Walmart: Allswell got its start with Walmart before becoming its own entity, but Walmart also carries thousands of recognizable names at great prices.