Quality sleep is pretty much priceless, but a quality mattress? That comes with a price tag, and it’s usually a steep one. There’s no way around it: a well-made mattress costs money. After all, crafting a bed that’s comfortable, durable, and supportive enough to give you those blissful eight hours isn’t cheap. Factor in eco-friendly, certified non-toxic materials, and you’re looking at an even bigger dent in your bank account. But here’s the thing: there are plenty of affordable mattresses out there that don’t sacrifice quality for price, and we’re here to help you find them.
If you’re ready to replace your old mattress—maybe the one you’ve had since college or the one that’s started sagging in the middle—but you’re not ready to shell out thousands of dollars, you’re in the right place. The best affordable mattresses combine comfort, support, and durability without breaking the bank, and many of them even come with the same perks as pricier models, like generous trial periods, warranties, and sustainable materials. Whether you’re a side sleeper, a hot sleeper, or someone who craves a plush, cloud-like bed, there’s a budget-friendly option for you.
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Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best affordable mattresses on the market today. Rest easy knowing your next mattress upgrade won’t leave your wallet wide awake—keep reading to find the perfect fit for your sleep style and budget.
In This Article
Best for side sleepers: Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress, from $349
Best for back sleepers: Cloverlane Hybrid Mattress, from $599
Best memory foam: Casper Element Mattress, from $393
Best hybrid: DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress, from $419
Best cooling: Zinus Cooling Airflow Hybrid, from $118
Best latex: Sleep On Latex Pure Green Organic Mattress, from $699
Best flippable: Layla Memory Foam Mattress, from $749
Best eco-friendly: Avocado Eco Organic Mattress, from $699
Best soft: Serta Perfect Sleeper Plush Mattress, from $599
Things to consider while mattress shopping
I’ve written about mattresses a lot over the last few years and have tested a ton firsthand. The most important thing I’ve learned? Comfort is extremely subjective and dependent upon your body and preferred sleeping position. Still, there are a few key things to keep in mind if you want to be set up for success while mattress shopping:
Your body + sleep position
Again, whether a mattress feels soft or firm to you will depend on your body weight—smaller folks will likely want something slightly softer to offer pressure relief, while larger folks will need a little more support to stay in alignment. Side sleepers, regardless of size, will want more pressure relief for their hips and shoulders (beds rated medium-firm to soft), while back and stomach sleepers will need more support (medium-firm to firm).
Materials
Do you know what’s in your mattress? While all of the beds on this list are safe to bring into your home, some brands have a stronger focus on using more natural materials like cotton, wool, and natural latex in their designs. Latex foam is more expensive to produce, so those beds tend to be pricier (although we found two latex options that aren’t too splurgy!), while synthetic foam (think: memory foam) tends to be more affordable. Still, the beds on this list that do use synthetic foams are CertiPUR-US certified—that basically means it’s free from formaldehyde or ozone-depleting chemicals.
Added perks
A queen-sized hybrid mattress from a DTC brand (think Avocado, Leesa, and Purple) can cost around $2,000 (although, pro tip, mattress shopping around major holidays basically guarantees discounts). These brands, most of which deliver their beds in a box, might seem a little pricer on the surface, but they usually include generous trial periods and warranties when you purchase directly from the brand’s site.
Shop 9 of the best affordable mattresses for all sleep types
Best for side sleepers: Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress, from $349
Mattress type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium-firm | Height: 12″
Thick, plush, and affordable to boot, the Nectar Classic mattress is a great pick for anyone who loves the feel of memory foam. It has plenty of pressure relief for side sleepers’ hips and shoulders but is also not too soft that combination side and back sleepers couldn’t get comfy—although if you do share your bed with a have a combination sleeper, you can also choose to make this model a hybrid for added support. The 12-inch profile is complete with a cool-to-the-touch cover that helps keep things chill.
- Pressure relieving memory foam is great for side sleepers
- Cool-to-the-touch cover for temperature regulation
- Comes with a 365-night sleep trial and forever warranty
- Strict back sleepers may need more support (although you can make it a hybrid for $150 more)
Best for back sleepers: Cloverlane Hybrid Mattress, from $599
Mattress type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium, Firm, or Extra Firm | Height: 15″
While I typically recommend the Saatva Classic to back sleepers, it doesn’t quite tick the “affordable” box. That’s where Cloverlane comes in—it’s a dupe of the Saatva Classic with a luxury hotel bed feel at a stomach-able price point. The hybrid design offers plenty of support for back sleepers, while the plush Euro-top adds cushioning and softness. What’s especially awesome about this bed is the ability to choose your own firmness. Smaller back sleepers will be just fine with the medium, while couples and larger folks might prefer the firm or extra firm—luckily, you’ll have a full year to try it in your home and free returns if it doesn’t work out.
- Plush Euro-top provides a luxury feel (at a lower price)
- Three firmness options to choose from
- Great support and pressure relief for back and combination sleepers
- Might require deep-pocketed sheets
Best memory foam: Casper Element Mattress, from $393
Mattress type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium | Height: 10″
Memory foam is beloved for that cradling sensation, especially among side sleepers. And while memory foam can sometimes be suppressive for hot sleepers, this open-cell foam design from Casper aims to keep things light and breezy. The medium firmness will be great for side sleepers, but also supportive enough for combination sleepers, too.
- Pressure-relieving memory foam is ideal for side sleepers
- Open cell memory foam helps promote cooler sleep
- May not be supportive enough for strict back sleepers
Best hybrid: DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress, from $419
Mattress type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium firm | Height: 12″
Love the feel of a hotel bed? Then you’ll probably like the DreamCloud. It’s a firm, yet plush hybrid that uses quilted gel memory foam and individually wrapped coils for a great combination of support and pressure relief. The edge support is great on a DreamCloud (which means you can sprawl further out to the edges), but if you want even more support (and another inch of height) you can upgrade to the DreamCloud Premier.
- Good for all sleep types, especially back and combination sleepers
- Comes with a 365-night sleep trial and a forever warranty
- Breathable hybrid design and hotel-quality feel
- May be too firm for foam-lovers
Best cooling: Zinus Cooling Airflow Hybrid, from $118
Mattress type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium | Height: 10″
Sleeping hot is a real bummer. Luckily, a ton of mattress brands cater to hot sleepers, as is the case with this bed from Zinus. The Cooling Airflow Hybrid uses coils and a layer of gel-infused foam to help promote cooler sleep. Best of all, at under $200, it’s the lowest-priced bed on this list. There’s an even lower-priced option that’s 8 inches tall, but we suggest shelling out the extra dollars for a thicker mattress, which will hold its shape longer.
- Lowest priced bed on this list
- Made with coils and cooling gel for hot sleepers
- Medium firmness should work for most sleep types
Best latex: Sleep On Latex Pure Green Organic Mattress, from $699
Mattress type: Latex foam | Firmness: Medium | Height: 8.5″
Latex is a naturally derived foam (it’s made from the sap of rubber trees!) that provides a lofty, supportive feel. If that sounds up your alley, check out this all-latex mattress from the aptly named brand, Sleep On Latex. It’s made strictly with latex foam, organic wool, and organic cotton, for a durable and breathable surface—attention: hot sleepers—that will hold up over time.
- Made with naturally temperature-regulating materials like latex and wool
- Arrives wrapped in paper (vs plastic)
- Buoyant support from latex is ideal for back and combination sleepers
- Thinner profile
- May not be soft enough for all side sleepers
Best flippable: Layla Memory Foam Mattress, from $749
Mattress type: Memory foam | Firmness: Soft or Firm | Height: 10.5″
If you’re picky about your mattress feel (as you should be), Layla gives you two chances to get it right with this flippable memory foam mattress. One side is soft (Layla rates it as a 4/10), and the other is firm (7/10), so you can try both out to decide which works best for you. Side sleepers will probably prefer the plushness of the soft side, while back and stomach sleepers will like the supportive foam on the firm side. It’s also great for muffling motion if you sleep with a partner—let’s just hope you agree on which side of the mattress feels best.
- Dual firmness design lets you try two mattresses in one
- Good pressure relief and cushioning for those who like the feel of memory foam
- 120-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty
- Dual firmness is only helpful until you decide which side you prefer
Best eco-friendly: Avocado Eco Organic Mattress, from $699
Mattress type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium | Height: 10″
If you’ll sleep sounder knowing exactly what materials are in your mattress (and where they came from), look no further than Avocado. As one of the most Earth-friendly mattress brands on the market (and a Certified B-Corporation), Avocado mattresses boast a slew of certifications from orgs like the Global Organic Textile Standard, Made Safe, and Greenguard. While that does have an impact on the price of these beds, the brand’s Eco Organic is the most affordable of the bunch thanks to its straightforward latex hybrid design.
- Latex foam provides medium firmness that’s great for combination and side sleepers
- Comes with a 100-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty
- Made with certified organic materials and certified by several third-party orgs
- Avocado is a Climate Neutral certified company and a certified B-Corp
- May be too firm for strict side sleepers
Best soft: Serta Perfect Sleeper Adoring Night Plush Mattress, from $599
Mattress type: Hybrid | Firmness: Soft | Height: 10.5″
If cloud-like softness is what you’re after, check out the Serta Perfect Sleeper mattress. It’s a hybrid mattress, so it still provides plenty of support with a layer of coils, but the top is extra soft and pressure-relieving. Side sleepers in particular will like the cradling feeling of the gel foam (as will hot sleepers—the rippling design allows heat to move freely throughout the mattress) but it might not be firm enough for strict back sleepers, it’s that plush.
- Soft surface is great for side sleepers
- Plush, hybrid design
- Cooling gel
- May not be supportive enough for strict back sleepers or heavier folks
Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.
