I'm a certified sleep science coach who has tested over 50 mattresses.
Your mattress plays an important role in your quality of sleep, but you don't have to sacrifice staying within budget to get the kind of rest you deserve. Given today's competitive market, there's no shortage of mattresses at appealing prices for those who are looking for a wallet-friendly new bed. Together, senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman and I have personally tested each recommendation in our roundup (we have over 120 total tested beds under our belts), so you can trust that the winners on this list are quality picks despite their low price tags. We named the Nectar Classic the best affordable mattress overall, thanks to its supportive and accommodating medium-firm profile, temperature-regulating cover and overall ultra-comfortable feel.
If you're interested in other options, however, browse the rest of our top picks below, which range from $300 to $1,000 for a queen-size bed. All of the models on our list of the best affordable mattresses come personally recommended for their quality and performance by our sleep experts after extensive testing, as well as by discerning shoppers. Better yet, several of these budget-friendly beds have generous trial periods, lifetime warranties and free accessories that add to their already exceptional value.
Price is obviously a factor when deciding on which affordable mattress to go with -- but ultimately, you need to select a mattress that's as good a fit for your sleep style and preferences as it is your budget.
Generally speaking, soft to medium mattresses are best for side sleepers, medium-firm mattresses are ideal for back and combination sleepers, and firmer mattresses are well-suited for stomach sleepers. Individuals with chronic back pain should also seek out a firmer mattress.
However, firmness is subjective. Body weight and height affect how soft or hard a mattress feels, and so this varies from one person to another. This is why being able to test your mattress with an at-home trial is important.
Your sleep style refers to how you (and your co-sleeper, if applicable) position yourself while you sleep. Do you often fall asleep and wake up on your side, back or stomach, or a combination of each? Knowing your sleep style heavily influences how firm or soft you need your mattress to be for proper alignment and sufficient pressure relief.
Lighter-weight sleepers (those less than 150 pounds) should fare well with a soft to medium-soft mattress since they don't usually sink too deeply into their beds. Meanwhile, heavier sleepers who weigh over 250 pounds may want to consider a firm to extra-firm mattress to support them. Average-weight sleepers can typically look for a medium-firm mattress that has a near-equal balance of comfort and support.
Note that the average mattress can handle up to 250 pounds per side (500 pounds total). If you and/or your sleeping partner exceed that, seek a specialty model made with durable materials like high-density foam, reinforced coils or latex. Such mattresses have much higher weight limits (up to 1,100 pounds total).
Mattresses are available in a variety of materials: Some are made entirely of foam, while others are a combination of foam and springs. Here's how each stack up in terms of affordability:
All sleepers benefit from a breathable mattress to prevent overheating at night. Generally speaking, hybrid, latex and innerspring mattresses are good for regulating temperature; memory foam mattresses, however, are prone to trapping heat in their layers.
Components like cooling covers and gel-infused foams have become more common among today's affordable mattresses -- most in notably the Cocoon Chill, our pick for the best affordable memory foam mattress -- but the advanced cooling tech found in the best cooling mattresses often commands a higher price.
Buying a mattress sight unseen is a risk that retailers are keenly aware of, which is why they offer at-home trials. The industry standard for home trials is 100 nights, with a 30-night minimum so your body can sufficiently adjust to your new mattress. Some brands are extremely generous in this regard and offer up to a one-year trial, which gives you the chance to feel how well a mattress performs across all seasons.
So what happens if you decide your new mattress isn't the right fit? Most companies allow you to return it free of charge and grant you a full refund before your trial period is over.
The average length of a mattress warranty is 10 years. Familiarize yourself with the terms of your mattress warranty so you don't unknowingly void it. For instance, removing a fixed cover or placing your mattress on an improper frame can potentially render your mattress ineligible for warranty coverage. Also, lifetime warranties are usually prorated after a certain point, which means you eventually have to pay for repairs or replacements.
Reading customer reviews can help you gauge how well a mattress performs for someone with your sleep needs. Several sites allow you to filter reviews by age, sleep style and bed size -- although in most cases you can perform a keyword search to find the information you're looking for. While 5-star and 1-star reviews can be telling, don't overlook the feedback that falls in between, either.
All of the affordable mattresses on our list rate at least 4 stars (out of 5) and have received lots of praise for their overall value for their price.
Cheaper beds may not last as long as their more expensive counterparts. but knowing how to clean a mattress can guarantee you years of comfy sleep, no matter how much money you paid for it.
One of the easiest ways to prolong the lifespan of your mattress is to invest in a mattress protector. This safeguards your bed from stains and spills, as well as dust mites, pet dander and bedbugs. Look for a mattress protector that's machine washable, so it's easy to clean it with your sheets and pillowcases.
Rarely do mattresses come with a removable cover you can wash. Instead, pull out the vacuum cleaner about once every three months and use the upholstery attachment to pick up any debris sitting in the crevices. Rotate the mattress (or flip it, if possible) about twice a year to prevent indentations from forming in the center.
You can deep-clean your mattress at home using a vacuum cleaner with the proper attachments or a garment steam cleaner, then follow up with a mild cleaning solution to lift away grime and bacteria. Finish off with a generous layer of baking soda to deodorize.
Of course, you want to read the care instructions for your mattress before any spot treatments or deep cleaning.