Most of us have plenty of essentials – rent, gas, food – that require our hard-earned cash. That means when it’s time to buy a mattress, there might not too much left in the piggy bank. But you could also argue that a mattress is just as important as any of those other necessities. After all, we spend a third of our lives in bed. That’s why I’ve put together a list of my favorite mattresses that cost less than $500.
All of these high-quality options are supportive, comfortable, and won’t bleed the customer dry. For those who can afford a super-expensive mattress, congratulations, I’m happy for you (truly). For everyone else, read on to find a great affordable bed!
Our Top 6 Picks
The best mattresses under $500 are:
- Dreamfoam Chill – Best Cooling Mattress Under $500
- Brooklyn Bedding Bowery – Best Mattress Under $500 for Side Sleepers
- Siena Original – Best Online Mattress Under $500
- Allswell – Best Mattress Under $500 for Back Pain
- Zinus – Best Memory Foam Mattress Under $500
- Lucid – Best Hybrid Mattress Under $500
How We Chose Our Products
Our team of sleep specialists have reviewed more than 150 mattresses, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to establish easy-to-understand scores. In addition to an overall score, we measure subscores for support, edge support, cooling, motion transfer, durability, trial period, and warranty.
When choosing the Best Mattresses Under $500, we started with a very simple and specific requirement: they all had to cost less than $500. From there, we picked beds that scored especially high for their corresponding superlative. For instance, the Dreamfoam Chill (our Best Cooling Mattress Under $500) scored a 4 out of 5 in the area of cooling. Likewise, back sleepers need a lot of support, which is why we chose the Allswell (which scored a 4 out of 5 on support) as the Best Mattress for Back Pain.
Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam Mattress
The Dreamfoam Chill is a cooling, affordable memory foam mattress that comes in multiple thicknesses.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam Mattress
The Dreamfoam Chill is a cooling, affordable memory foam mattress that comes in multiple thicknesses.
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam Mattress
The Dreamfoam Chill is a cooling, affordable memory foam mattress that comes in multiple thicknesses.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
If you’re looking for a memory foam mattress that costs less than $500 and is good for hot sleepers, take a look at the Dreamfoam Chill. It’s a high-quality, affordable bed-in-a-box with some great heat-dissipating materials.
How Makes the Dreamfoam Chill Stand Out?
- The Dreamfoam Chill features a cover designed to promote airflow through the top of the mattress.
- Its memory foam is infused with gel to keep the mattress from trapping too much heat.
- It comes in five different heights (6″, 8″, 10″, 12″, and 14″), giving you multiple firmness options. We reviewed the 12″ model and found it to have a great balance of comfort and support for back sleepers!
Read our full Dreamfoam Chill mattress review.
Brooklyn Bedding Bowery Mattress
The Brooklyn Bedding Bowery is an affordable mattress that a lot of people will like because of its value and the pressure relief it provides.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Brooklyn Bedding Bowery Mattress
The Brooklyn Bedding Bowery is an affordable mattress that a lot of people will like because of its value and the pressure relief it provides.
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Brooklyn Bedding Bowery Mattress
The Brooklyn Bedding Bowery is an affordable mattress that a lot of people will like because of its value and the pressure relief it provides.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Out of Brooklyn Bedding’s ever-growing line of beds, the Bowery is their most affordable. With discounts, a Queen costs less than $700. Design-wise, it’s a streamlined mattress with Energex foam, a transition foam layer, base foam, and a coiled support layer. The Energex is especially soft, yet also responsive. Side sleepers should sink in, but shouldn’t have too much trouble moving around.
What Makes the Brooklyn Bedding Bowery Hybrid Stand Out?
- The Bowery has that classic memory foam feel. However, because it’s a hybrid, it’s more responsive than an all-foam bed, meaning you won’t get stuck in the mattress.
- It’s also a particularly good fit for lighter back sleepers.
- The Bowery contains breathable foams, so it shouldn’t trap an extreme amount of heat.
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Bowery Hybrid mattress review.
Siena Mattress
The Siena mattress comes from Nectar, but it's sold at a value price. It's a great option for lightweight sleepers.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
180 Nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Siena Mattress
The Siena mattress comes from Nectar, but it's sold at a value price. It's a great option for lightweight sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
180 Nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Siena Mattress
The Siena mattress comes from Nectar, but it's sold at a value price. It's a great option for lightweight sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
180 Nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
We love the convenience of being able to purchase mattresses online. And for a great deal, you should definitely look at the Siena mattress. A discounted queen will run you just around $500! Here’s what you need to know.
It’s an all foam bed that’s going to provide great pressure relief in your hips and shoulders if you sleep on your side. Lightweight back sleepers should feel a great amount of body contouring, too.
This mattress has a great trial period: up to 180 days, and if you keep it, it has a 10-year warranty! Lots of great perks here.
What makes the Siena Mattress Stand Out?
- It’s a great memory foam mattress for shoppers on a budget.
- Lightweight back and side sleepers should find good pressure relief and body contouring.
- It has a long trial period to help you figure out if it’s the bed for you.
Read our full Siena Mattress review.
Allswell Mattress
The Allswell is a supportive mattress that should be a great fit for back and stomach sleepers, and it is also a very good value.Â
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Allswell Mattress
The Allswell is a supportive mattress that should be a great fit for back and stomach sleepers, and it is also a very good value.Â
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Allswell Mattress
The Allswell is a supportive mattress that should be a great fit for back and stomach sleepers, and it is also a very good value.Â
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
When we think of stores that offer great deals, I’m sure most of us think of Walmart. The big-box store is so, well, big that they can sell quality products with a much lower profit margin. So it’s no surprise that, in the last few years, Walmart jumped in the bed-in-a-box game with its line of Allswell mattresses. The original is their most affordable, and is available for under $400. Its firmness and support make it an ideal choice for stomach sleepers and back sleepers, or sleepers who suffer from back pain and can benefit from a firmer mattress that supports spine alignment.
What Makes the Allswell Mattress Stand Out?
- It contains supportive coils and then a thin foam comfort layer above that. On our firmness scale, the Allswell was close to a 7.5/10, making it one of the firmest mattresses on this list.
- It’s a significantly responsive mattress, so sleepers shouldn’t get the feeling of getting stuck.
- The company also offers the Allswell Luxe and Allswell Supreme
Read our full Allswell mattress review.
Zinus Cooling Copper Adaptive Hybrid Mattress
The Zinus is a cooling, comfortable hybrid mattress that is also a fantastic value.
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 Nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Zinus Cooling Copper Adaptive Hybrid Mattress
The Zinus is a cooling, comfortable hybrid mattress that is also a fantastic value.
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 Nights
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Zinus Cooling Copper Adaptive Hybrid Mattress
The Zinus is a cooling, comfortable hybrid mattress that is also a fantastic value.
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
100 Nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
As a company, Zinus is all about options. Just scanning their website or Amazon, they seem to have countless models available, including 8″, 10″, 12″, and 14″ memory foam mattresses, as well as hybrids. As a side sleeper and hot sleeper, I reviewed their 12″ Cooling Copper Adaptive hybrid mattress, and was not disappointed. Lying on my side, the thick memory foam comfort layer relieved almost all the pressure on my shoulders and hips.
What Makes the Zinus Stand Out?
- We also tested the mattress using a pressure map, and it performed quite well. Watch our individual video review of the Zinus to see how well it relieved the pressure!
- With its gel infusion, the Zinus doesn’t sleep too hot. This is a plus, since memory foam can be known to trap heat and make sleepers wake up sweaty in the middle of the night.
- For those back and stomach sleepers, the Zinus 10″ should be a better fit.
Read our full Zinus mattress review.
Lucid Hybrid
The Lucid Hybrid mattress is a great value and features a balance of comfort and support
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Lucid Hybrid
The Lucid Hybrid mattress is a great value and features a balance of comfort and support
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Lucid Hybrid
The Lucid Hybrid mattress is a great value and features a balance of comfort and support
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Like Zinus, Lucid offers quite a few mattress options. Customers can choose from a number of models with varying thicknesses and designs, but I received the Lucid 10″ Memory Foam Hybrid to review. It contains two layers of memory foam, as well as innerspring coils. When I lie on my side, that memory foam melts the pressure away, so it’s a great bed for side sleepers. When I move to my back, the coils offer me the support I need while the memory foam contours to my body’s curves.
What Makes the Lucid Stand Out?
- The memory foam is infused with charcoal, a material known for helping with heat dissipation.
- Also assisting with temperature regulation is a gel infusion, plus the coils, which help promote airflow.
- The coils make it very easy to move around on the mattress, even though it contains soft memory foam.
Read our full Lucid mattress review.
RELATED: Best Mattresses to Buy
Buying Guide
You can certainly find a quality mattress for under $500 as long you know what to look for. Be sure to read mattress reviews, comparison-shop, and keep an eye out for sales and mattress coupons. Additionally, shopping for an online mattress is a great way to save money since direct-to-consumer sites have less overhead than brick-and-mortar stores, meaning they can sell mattresses at a more affordable price. And, if you want to get the most bang for your buck, you can opt for a smaller-sized mattress made of higher-quality materials. The smaller the mattress is, the cheaper it is to make, so you can take your dollar further when shopping.
RELATED: Queen vs. Twin Beds
In addition to finding a mattress within your budget, make sure you take the following factors into consideration during your search:
- Mattress Materials: Your mattress’ lifespan is directly impacted by the quality of its materials. Try to get a mattress made of high-quality materials, such as high-density foams, to get the most time out of it.
- Cooling Features: If you typically sleep hot, then you may want to look for a cooling mattress for under $500 that enables greater temperature regulation at night. Mattresses with gel infusions, such as the Dreamfoam Chill, can keep them from trapping too much heat.
- Motion Isolation: Motion isolation is an important factor for couples to consider. Motion isolation refers to the amount of movement you feel when someone else shifts in a bed. Memory foam is particularly good at reducing this motion transfer.
- Mattress Type: Memory foam mattresses are typically the most affordable options, while latex mattresses tend to be the most expensive. Additionally, different types of mattresses are best for different situations. For example, innerspring mattresses tend to sleep cooler than memory foam because of their layer of coils, which creates more airflow. However, memory foam mattresses are great for couples because they result in less motion transfer. Consider the factors that are most important to you and the type of mattress that best meets those preferences.
- Sleeping Position: Consider what your normal sleeping position is when deciding which mattress to buy. Side sleepers often need a thicker, softer comfort layer, while stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress with a thinner comfort layer. Back sleepers are usually satisfied with a 2-inch comfort layer that helps fill the gap in the lumbar area.
RELATED: Best Mattress for Your Sleep Position
How to Make Your Mattress More Comfortable
For those who think they need a new mattress but are worried about spending too much, consider these other ways to make your mattress more comfortable. These tips will also help make your mattress last longer.
- Use a Mattress Topper: A mattress topper is a great way to spruce up an old mattress without having to invest in a new one (many toppers are less than $100). A topper can change the feel of the mattress as well as the firmness. For instance, a memory foam mattress topper can add some of that slow-moving pressure relief to the top of an older mattress, and it can also make the mattress considerably softer. Mattress toppers can also help cool down a hot sleeping mattress, as there are a variety of toppers that contain gel, graphite, and copper, all designed to create a much cooler-sleeping surface.
- Rotate or Flip Your Mattress: Most mattresses nowadays don’t need to be flipped, but if you have an older mattress that does require flipping, doing so can lengthen its life and help keep your spine in neutral alignment. Before rotating or flipping your mattress, check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Try a Mattress Pad: While thinner than a mattress topper, a mattress pad can provide an additional layer of comfort to an uncomfortable bed for a much cheaper price than buying a new one. A mattress pad is typically attached like a fitted sheet, and some options can help prevent dust mites and allergies in addition to comfort.
RELATED: Mattress Topper vs. Mattress Pad
Why Should You Trust Our Reviews?
To put together this roundup of the best mattresses under $500, we obviously considered price. But we also looked at each of our traditional mattress review factors, including support, firmness, motion isolation, company reputation, quality of materials, edge support, and cooling. Our mattress experts hands-on tested each bed listed above to give an informed review to guide you in your mattress journey.
Final Thoughts
Here’s a recap of our top picks for the best mattresses under $500:
| Mattress | Superlative |
| Dreamfoam Chill | Best Cooling Mattress Under $500 |
| Brooklyn Bedding | Best Mattress Under $500 for Side Sleepers |
| Siena Original | Best Online Mattress Under $500 |
| Allswell | Best Mattress Under $500 for Back Pain |
| Zinus | Best Memory Foam Mattress Under $500 |
| Lucid | Best Hybrid Mattress Under $500 |
Check out some of our other pricing guides if budget is a big factor in your decision:
If anyone has a question about these mattresses or even want a personal mattress recommendation, leave a comment below!
FAQs
What's the best, least expensive mattress?
There really is no one best affordable mattress. However, I really do believe that one of these six companies is a good place to start: Dreamfoam, Allswell, Zinus, Brooklyn Bedding, Lucid, and Linenspa.
What's a good price for a mattress?
Online mattresses can range in price from the low hundreds up to many thousands of dollars. It's important to consider the quality of materials, as well as comfort, support, and durability. Keeping that in mind, paying under $500 for a nice bed-in-a-box mattress is a good deal.
Why are mattresses so expensive?
First off, mattresses can be expensive because they contain premium materials. Latex, high-end memory foam, and pocketed coils can also drive up the price. Second, mattresses sold in-store are often more expensive because of markup and large profit margins. Online mattresses are usually sold for less than those found in-store.
Where can I buy a cheap mattress?
Shopping for mattresses online is a good place to start. As mentioned above, mattresses sold in-store are frequently more expensive due to their markup. All of our favorite mattresses under $500 that we listed above are bed-in-a-box mattresses that you can purchase online!
