Best Budget Mattress to Buy in 2024: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Lying down on the Zoma Start, the first thing you’ll notice is that it is highly responsive for an all-foam mattress. This is all thanks to the layer of bouncy Reactiv™ transition foam that springs back as soon as you move and offers dynamic support.

This medium mattress also offers tons of versatility for all kinds of sleepers. It is on the more supportive end of a medium feel. So it can accommodate some back sleepers and virtually all combo sleepers at once. This is perfect for combo sleepers who tend to favor their backs. It also is a good fit for those who suffer from back pain.

Some of the thousands surveyed on the Zoma Start had this to say:

Parth P: It is a phenomenal mattress especially for the price!

Billy K: Kind of firm waking up with shoulder pain occasionally

Xiao C: It’s of good quality overall. Came with proper packaging and easy to set up. It was a bit too soft for my back the first night, but after that I experience no back pain sleeping on it.

The Zoma Start starts off with a cooling, ventilated cover that breathes all night to wick away heat and sweat. This cover works with the gel memory foam comfort layer to ensure your sleep surface stays cool all night. The gel memory foam also offers a high degree of compression and pressure relief to ensure you get the contouring you need.

Underneath the comfort layer, you’ll find a bouncy transition layer made of Reactiv™ foam. This layer offers buoyancy and dynamic support. It also springs back as soon as you move to ensure that the sleep surface does not have issues with body impressions or slow response time.

Finally, a layer of highly durable base foam ensures there is no sinkage in this mattress. It keeps you lifted onto the sleep surface and provides total spinal alignment. Best of all, this base foam layer increases the durability of the entire mattress.

You can expect it to fight sagging and soft spot development for at least 10 years. That means it will last just as long as many more expensive mattresses.

The Vaya Mattress’s near-universally comfortable feel has a touch of plushness to provide luxury. No need to overspend to offer guests a cushioning surface where they can lie down and relax after a long day of travel.

Most sleepers will enjoy the gentle cradling the surface offers, though a few guests may prefer a more firm surface. Toppers are an excellent way to change a too-soft or too-firm mattress, so it’s smart to keep one on hand if you frequently have guests over.

While not many reviewers use this mattress for a value bedroom mattress, people who bought this mattress for themselves love it:

Mary B: Excellent. Soft top, firm under that. Regular foam as opposed to memory foam doesn’t let me sink all the way down to firm layer. I’m 140, someone over 200 might have different experience. Very comfortable bed.

Natalie E: This Vaya mattress is amazing! It’s supportive and comfortable, just like a hug for your body! I’m looking forward to purchasing another soon!

Erin S: Delivered easily, set up easily, quite comfy, made in America. I don’t wake up with a stuff back, nor am I sleeping in a sunken pit. Pretty good overall.

Under a breathable cover sits a soft layer of Vaya Comfort Foam. This topmost layer in the Vaya Mattress responds quickly like latex, but contours closely to your curves for the ultimate pressure relief. Instead of feeling stuck or trapped in this layer like you would in traditional memory foam, you can maintain a neutral spine no matter the position you choose.

The Vaya Base Foam is the second and final layer of the Vaya Mattress. Thanks to its durable construction, the Vaya Base Foam ensures the soft layer above it won’t sag or cause back pain.

Along with the Vaya Mattress, Vaya offers the Vaya Hybrid. It features the same Vaya Comfort Foam as the Vaya Mattress and has a medium feel, but it contains pocketed coils in the place of the Vaya Base Foam. This construction provides extra bounce, making it easier to switch positions.

The Amerisleep AS2 medium-firm mattress is made to facilitate healthy spinal alignment. Verywell Health even calls it the best mattress for back pain. If you’re a back or stomach sleeper, the AS2 is perfect for you.

While a firmer bed, the Amerisleep AS2 features a plush and breathable cover crafted from a unique fiber blend that shares qualities with Celliant, which a material known for its exceptional energy transfer properties.

Here is what some of the thousands of reviews said about the Amerisleep AS3 firmness. While most are satisfied, some say the firmness doesn’t last:

Me: My husband & I have both had surgeries – him – his hip – me MAJOR back surgery & these mattresses are so incredibly comfortable and give great support without being too firm — no pressure points anywhere – just the right amount of softness — they’re great!

Shan: Place where we regularly sleep on the mattress sides have basically collapsed without any firmness/support. Middle of bed still very firm. Loved the bed when we first got it, but now buying a different bed 8 months later.

Marcos: I’ve had memory foam and standard mattresses previously, this is one of the best mattresses I’ve used. At 65, I need a firm mattress that doesn’t get out of shape.

The Amerisleep AS2 features a soft, breathable cover designed to promote air circulation throughout the mattress. The airy feel of the cover keeps you cool and helps you sleep undisturbed. The cover is also easy to remove and is 100 percent machine washable.

The top layer of memory foam features 2 inches of Bio-Pur® which is more breathable than traditional memory foam. This layer helps keep you cool and relieves pressure points by conforming to the body’s natural curves. After sleeping on the bed for only a few weeks, reviewers mention how the bed has helped with their back pain and overall comfort while they sleep.

The middle layer is 3 inches of Affinity foam with HIVE®, creating zoned support for five areas of the body. Under the shoulders and hips, the mattress is designed to flex more for added pressure relief. Conversely, the head, back, and feet have less give for more support.

The bottom layer of the AS2 contains 7 inches of Bio-Core®, a high-density support foam designed to add durability to your mattress so it won’t sag or lose its shape.

Customers can choose between organic cotton or copper ion for the mattress cover—quilted cotton breathes for excellent airflow, while copper ion is infused with bamboo cellulose and pulls heat away from the body. Wool fibers blend in to act as a natural fire retardant.

Several buyers cited issues with delivery with no timeline or updates being a concern, but other than that people are happy with the actual mattress quality:

Lilly W: We bought two of their mattresses in 2018. Now 5 years later they’re still super comfortable with no signs of issues. I love that they’re made with healthy materials too.

Gina R: I am so happy with this 2-sided mattress! It was so hard to find a 2-sided mattress, and one with decent quality, but Amore definitely delivered on this one. If you have a bias towards a quality 2-sided mattress, then you should give these guys some serious consideration.

Ashley S: It kept nice and cool in the summertime when it was hot outside, but now that it’s cold again, the mattress is cold when you crawl into bed. I find myself turning the heat up a bit before getting into bed. Other than that, it’s pretty comfortable.

The 12-inch thick Amore Hybrid mattress starts with 1inch of FusionFlex™ gel foam which absorbs and disperses body heat while conforming to the body. 1 inch of graphite-infused memory foam enhances cooling by pulling heat away from the body while relieving pressure points for fewer aches and pains. Plus, many customer reviews talk about how sleeping on the Amore Hybrid has significantly improved their pain and was easy to adjust to.

2 inches of transitional foam and 2 inches of high-density poly-foam further contours to the body and keeps the spine in neutral alignment, with excellent motion isolation.

The 4-inch pocketed coil layer adjusts to each sleeping position for consistent support, while a thick high-density foam encircles this layer for great edge support. A 2-inch high-density foam base reinforces the structure of the bed.

Amore offers one other hybrid mattress for you to choose from, the Amore Luxury Hybrid. It’s only slightly thicker than the standard Amore Hybrid—being 12.5 inches thick versus 12 inches thick—but the mattresses’ constructions vary greatly. While the Amore Hybrid contains memory foam and poly-foam layers, the Luxury Hybrid features Dunlop Latex. Not only that, but the Luxury Hybrid’s pocketed coil base is 8 inches thick compared to the Amore Hybrid’s 4 inches.

Lying down on the Original, you’ll notice right away it has a very supportive feel. The ultra-firm base foam offers tons of lift to keep you on top of the sleep surface. At the same time, the contouring comfort foam above offers deep compression and pressure relief.

While most people love the Tuft & Needle, a lot of people citing thickness have mentioned it is less thick than it used to be:

Susan Jane: I was actually disappointed in the mattress. This is the second one i have ordered from you and I thought it was the same on I bought on a previous occasion. My original mattress is much thicker, maybe 12 inches and the new one is much thinner, maybe 9 inches thick. I much prefer the thicker mattress.

Happy Sleeper: This is my 3rd (!) Tuft n Needle mattress purchase. I now have one in each bedroom. This one slightly different than the first two. It’s not as thick, but still provides the quality support I am used to. I think Tuft n Needle mattresses are the best.

Anonymous: Bot a tuft n needle king a few yrs ago. Love it. Bot a queen a month ago and hate it. Its half the thickness. Ive looked at website to see if i bot a different model but they only offer 2 models, cooling gel and reg. No clue why this queen is not near the mattress the king is. This queen is going back.

The T&N original starts off with a plush and breathable cover designed to wick away heat and moisture. This durable fabric is also designed to stand the test of time.

Next, a comfort layer of highly adaptable memory foam offers contouring and compression to this otherwise firm mattress. This graphite-infused foam also conducts heat away from your body and deeper into the mattress to ensure you stay cool.

Finally, a base layer of foundational foam offers lift and support to prevent sinking. This base foam also ensures the affordable Original will last at least a decade.

Of all of Brentwood Home’s mattresses, the Cypress is the most affordable option. Regardless, it still contains upcycled and sustainable materials with similar constructions as their luxury models, like the Oceano or Crystal Cove mattresses.

For the price, people love the Brentwood home mattress:

Darcy K: This is the second Cypress mattress I’ve purchased. I first slept on this model when visiting family in another state, and it was amazingly comfortable. It is supportive, but still feels cushiony, just right! I returned home and bought a queen size, then followed up with a twin for another bedroom. It is great quality, and reasonably priced.

Taylor M: Love this bed so much!! I wanted a nontoxic bed but so many were over $2,000. This bed is such good quality and at an even better price.

Emily R: I’ve been very impressed with this mattress from day one. It’s very comfortable, not too soft or too firm for my liking. I think for the price you really couldn’t ask for a better mattress.

The Cypress mattress features a machine-washable, eco-friendly mattress cover infused with bamboo cellulose. A wool lining acts as a natural fire retardant, regulating body temperature and preventing odor.

The top layer of the mattress is made from charcoal-infused memory foam with BioFoam®. Customer reviews note how, with the help of the charcoal layers, they’ve noticed their pain has reduce and they stay cool throughout the night. Plus, the 2.5-inch memory foam layer has excellent motion isolation.

Next is a 2-inch layer of Airlux foam, a poly-foam with ventilation holes to improve airflow within the mattress. The final layer of the Cypress mattress is a high-density support base foam— it reinforces the top layers and offers full-body support without the risk of sagging.

The Green Tea memory foam mattress offers a range of thickness options including 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, and 12 inches— we’d like to focus on the 12-inch model. The 12-inch model is a medium-firm and, based on reviews, sleepers feel supported throughout the night while sleeping on this bed. They don’t feel trapped in their mattress and sleepers with chronic pain have noted seeing improvements.

People are overall fans of the Zinus Green Tea memory foam for being a natural mattress at a value. Here is what some have to say:

KC Traveler: We slept at an Air BnB on a Zinus mattress and were very impressed! Ours needed replacing and we didn’t give it a second thought. Love it!

SButler: Great company. I ordered a 6″ mattress, received it and decided that I wanted a 12″ instead. Zinus gave me a full refund on the mattress and instead of sending it back, had us donate it to the local homeless shelter. Smart. Because of that one thing I will be a returning customer probably forever. Thanks

2blavkrabbits: I discovered this mattress at a lodge in Colombia. It was the most comfortable mattress ever! I photographed the tags and the company was able to tell me which mattress it was. Ordering was fast, price was fabulous. I have had it about a month and like it as much as the first night.

The first layer of the Zinus Green Tea memory foam mattress is 3 inches of green tea-infused memory foam with ActivCharcoal. These materials shield the mattress from dust mites and bacteria while keeping it fresh and free from odor.

The second layer features 2 inches of high-density poly-foam. This layer relieves pressure points, aligns the spine for a comfortable sleep, and isolates motion transfer.

Two layers of 3.5-inch high-density support foam provide enhanced support without sagging. The convoluted structures of these two layers encourage airflow within the Green Tea memory foam mattress for better cooling.

Zinus offers a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty on their Green Tea memory foam mattress. This limited warranty covers manufacturing defects and sagging greater than 1.5 inches.

On the website, Brooklyn Bedding describes the Plank as a firm bed for sleepers who say a typical firm isn’t enough. (If you prefer some cushioning, or have pressure points, you’ll want to steer clear of the Plank.) Some people who will love the Plank include stomach sleepers, larger people, some back sleepers, and people who get hot at night.

We like this mattress because of its dual, flippable firmness. This means one side of the bed has one firmness, and the other side has another. With the Plank, one side is firm, and the other is extra-firm. Both sides have cooling technologies to prevent hot nights. Plus, both sides do feature a thin layer of quilting to provide a slight cushion.

Out of over 1400 reviews, the Plank scores a 4.8 out of 5 stars. Buyers talk about how sleeping on the Plank has improved their sleep and pain immensely. Plus, despite being so firm, the bed is still comfortable and doesn’t leave them feeling achy. The firmness also helps customers who share a bed, ensuring they won’t disturb their sleep partner when shifting or getting out of bed.

Here are some of those reviews:

Unis K: So far, it has met our expectations. I hope it stays the same and doesn’t sink. It is quite firm and very comfy. My husband and I love it. My back pain is gone.

Pulkit J: My parents started getting bad back pain

Cory L: Still deciding on the bed! It might be a little bit too firm even on the softer side. I will let you know when I lay on it more thank you.

As we mentioned, both sides of this mattress act as comfort layers. Each side is a quilted top layer, with the extra-firm side having a 0.75-inch thick quilted top, while the firm side is a 1.5-inch quilted top, followed by 2 inches of TitanFlex™ comfort foam. The core of the mattress is 7 inches of dense base foam.

Each side can also have an optional cooling panel sewn on to better regulate the surface temperature.

The hexagons in the fabric are slightly raised for a soft feel under the sheets. Also super durable, stain resistant, and easy to zip off and launder. The Essential Mattress cover aids in cooling for a comfortable night of rest.

While the Essentials is a newer mattress, the reviews so far are great:

Sarah: If you’re scrolling and thinking about making this purchase, scroll no longer and add to cart! Best purchase ever, super affordable and has already significantly improved our quality of sleep 😴 which is priceless!

Marianne: Love this mattress! Who knew? I was looking at super pricey mattresses and then came across Layla. I didn’t expect much at this price point, but boy is this thing amazing.

Edward: I’m impressed. This mattress is the best thing I’ve ever slept on, just so good. Great feel, not too memory foamy/muddy and I have no issue with heating up in bed like I used to. Life changer. Feels very well made, way exceeded expectations! Thank you Layla!

The Layla Essentials mattress consists of two layers.

The first is a proprietary foam manufacturing process that applies constant variable pressure to the foam as it forms its shape. This process is called VPF®, and it results in a perfectly formed foam layer every time made for cooling.

Next is a base of CertiPUR-US® certified foam made without PBDEs or the following Tris flame retardants: TCEP, TDBPP, TDCPP or TEPA and without toxic chamicals.

How the Brooklyn Bedding Dreamfoam Essential feels depends on its chosen thickness, with a thicker option offer a softer feel. For adult sleepers seeking a budget bed, we suggest the 10-inch mattress with a medium-firm feel or a 12-inch mattress with a medium feel.

Buyers are overall not especially pleased with this mattress as a Murphy bed, but it should also be noted for the price, it is still a strong selection, and most reviews are positive:

Deborah K: I am not certain that you do make a mattress specifically for the folding Murphy bed style. In which case, when I have arranged with a local charity I will have to forgo sleeping on your mattress. I hope that you will contact me to advise on application for the refund

Julie O: Very disappointed. Purchased 8 in essential for my camper Murphy bed so I didn’t sleep on it often enough to get a good sense before the 120 night trial or I would send it back. I expected a mattress that had a memory foam top layer of 2 inches. The top 2 inches is foam but it is NOT conforming memory foam

Alan B: Arrived promptly, well packaged, easily handled and as expected for guest Murphy Bed. Thank you

How the Dreamfoam Essential is constructed depends on your chosen mattress height, with thicker options offering more material:

• The 6-inch mattress has 2 inches of gel swirl memory foam on top of a 4-inch base foam.
• Similarly, the 8-inch option has 2 inches of gel swirl memory foam on top of a 6-inch dense base foam.
• The 10-inch mattress has 2.5 inches of gel swirl memory foam supported by 7.5 inches of support foam.
• The 12-inch model is the first to introduce a transition layer. Its construction is similar to the 10-inch model, with 2.5 inches of gel swirl memory foam on top of 2 inches of VariFlex transition foam layer and 7.5 inches of support foam.
• The 14-inch mattress has the thickest comfort layer. This option has 3 inches of gel swirl memory foam on top of 3 inches of VariFlex transition foam layer and 8 inches of support foam.