Best Mattress Under $500

Not everyone can spend thousands on a mattress, even if they want to. While mattresses under $500 aren’t always the most luxurious option ever, they still offer excellent cushioning and support for sleepers. After all, you don’t need a bed with fancy tech and confusing names to sleep well.

When spending less than $500, your mattress options are limited. Still, you don’t have to settle. With our guide, you can learn about the best mattresses available for under $500.

Best Mattresses Under $500

Easily the best mattress for under $500 is the Zoma Start. Originally built for active adults, the Zoma Start is a cooling bed that relieves muscle pain and improves your sleep quality. At 10 inches tall, it has a medium feel that provides a balance of cushioning and support.

Zoma wraps the Start in their ventilated AirCloth fabric, a stretchy knit that prevents you from getting too sweaty at night.

The Zoma Start features a thermo-regulating gel memory foam comfort layer. It maintains the optimal temperature for sleep while cushioning your hips. Next is a layer of Zoma’s Reactiv™ foam. This layer evenly distributes body weight, maximizes pressure relief, and makes it easy to move around in bed. The Support+ base prevents wear, sags, and indentations in the mattress.

The Zoma Start mattress is made in the USA and CertiPUR-US® certified. This means the foams are free of harmful, stinky chemicals. With that, the Zoma comes with free shipping and a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

An affordable mattress made with sustainable materials is the Vaya 8-Inch Mattress. It provides an excellent balance of softness, bounce, and support so you sleep peacefully all night long. With its medium-plush feel, we recommend the Vaya 8-Inch Mattress to side sleepers, petite sleepers, and some combination sleepers.

The Vaya 8-Inch Mattress features a stretchy and lightweight knit cover. It doesn’t trap heat or moisture so you never have to wake up sweaty or uncomfortable. Under the covers are two layers of hypoallergenic foam.

The first layer is made from Vaya Comfort Foam. It’s similar to latex because it’s responsive, pressure-relieving, and breathable. The mattress’s second layer is Vaya Base Foam, which evenly distributes body weight and supports your spine.

The Vaya 8-Inch Mattress has a similar construction to the original Vaya Mattress, only it’s thinner. If you’re interested in the original Vaya Mattress, several of its smaller sizes are available for less than $500.

The great thing about the Vaya 8-Inch Mattress is that it’s made in the USA and CertiPUR-US® certified. Vaya offers free shipping and a 10-year warranty covering workmanship defects and sags.

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

Hot sleepers, look no further. The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress offers all the perks of traditional memory foam beds without trapping heat. The Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress has different firmnesses based on your thickness choice. Your thickness options are 8, 10, 12, or 14 inches, though all of the 14-inch sizes cost over $500.

The Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress’s cover is made from a jacquard fabric. It’s cool to the touch and built to keep the mattress ventilated.

Inside the mattress is a layer of cool gel memory foam. The gel swirls regulate your body temperature so you never overheat while sleeping at night. Beneath that is a layer of comfort foam with open air pockets and a durable base layer. The base provides deep pressure relief while preventing sags and soft spots.

Zinus offers a 100-night trial, a 10-year warranty, and free shipping for the Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress.

SEE ALSO: Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress: Buyer’s Guide

The Dream Foam Chill by Brooklyn Bedding is an excellently-made cooling memory foam mattress available at a decent price. It comes in five different thicknesses with varying firmnesses.

The 6- and 8-inch options have a medium-firm to firm feel suited for stomach and back sleepers. The 10-inch model is medium-firm and good for side, stomach, and back sleeping. The 12-inch version has a medium feel, while the 14-inch version has a medium-plush feel suited for side sleepers.

Regardless of thickness, the Chill Mattress features an eco-friendly Nano Stain Terminator cover to protect against moisture and stains. The top layer of the bed is a gel swirl memory foam, which helps relieve pressure without getting hot.

A layer unique to the 12- and 14-inch models are the VariFlex™ transition foam. It provides deeper contouring and prevents the bed from feeling too stiff beneath you.

At the base of every mattress is a durable foam. It maintains the mattress’s shape while also ensuring healthy spinal alignment.

The Chill Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding is CertiPUR-US® certified and includes free shipping and returns, a 120-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress for Hot Sleepers

Hybrid mattresses can get expensive, but the Allswell manages to be affordable while also being comfortable. The Allswell is 10 inches thick and has a medium-firm feel great for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and people with chronic back pain.

The Allswell features the company’s signature quilted top panel. It includes tufted rosettes to secure the mattress layers and help your affordable mattress last a long time.

The top of the Allswell is charcoal and copper gel memory foam. Both the charcoal and copper gel are built to absorb your body heat, preventing you from feeling uncomfortable and sweating while sleeping. The Allswell features a pocketed coil support layer with reinforced edges. The coils support your body while furthering air circulation.

Allwell offers free shipping and returns, a 100-night risk-free trial, and a 10-year warranty. Plus, they’ll haul away your old bed!

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses for Back Pain of 2023

A natural mattress with a low price is the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress. It starts for less than $200 and includes multiple customizations to suit any home. You have the choice between the mattress being 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches thick, with thinner options being cheaper. With over 1,500 reviews, the Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress rates 4.3 out of 5 stars.

The Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress has a jacquard cover made from polyester. It’s soft against your skin but still breathable and moisture resistant. The mattress contains three layers of memory foam, but their thicknesses will vary based on what overall thickness you choose.

At the top of the bed is a layer of green tea memory foam. It cushions your pressure points while the green tea and charcoal particles deodorize the bed. Next is Zinus’s comfort foam with air pockets built to promote airflow. The base of the mattress is Zinus base foam, which relieves joint pain and aligns the spine.

Zinus’s Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress is CertiPUR-US® certified. It includes a 100-night trial period, a 5-year limited warranty, and ships for free.

SEE ALSO: Mattress Sizes and Dimensions

Types of Mattresses Under $500

With a budget under $500, there are only so many types of mattresses available. Still, you can find memory foam, latex, innerspring, and even hybrid mattresses with this budget.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are one of the better budget mattress options out there. You can find high-quality memory foam beds for less than $500, though they may not include high-tech features such as zoned support.

A memory foam mattress is great for soothing pressure and cushioning your body. If you deal with chronic pain, memory foam is always a good choice.

The main issue with memory foam is it can get hot. So, we suggest choosing memory foam beds with cooling technologies, such as charcoal, gel, or green tea infusions.

Latex

Latex mattresses are a natural option if you’re hoping to reduce your carbon footprint. They’re made from rubber trees and aren’t harmful to produce. A latex mattress is springy, cooling, and can last between 12 to 15 years.

It’s rather difficult to find a natural latex mattress for under $500, but it’s still not impossible. When searching for a budget latex mattress, avoid blended or synthetic latexes. Synthetic latex is made entirely of unnatural materials, while blended latex contains both natural and unnatural materials.

Synthetic and blended latexes are more budget-friendly compared to natural latex. However, they contain potentially harmful chemicals and don’t last nearly as long as natural latex. You’re better off choosing a memory foam mattress rather than a blended or synthetic latex mattress.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are one of the most popular types of beds out there. They’re readily available through most mattress manufacturers for a great price, so they’re an affordable option many people choose.

Most innerspring beds contain continuous coils, meaning the coils are attached to each other. While they’re cheap to produce, continuous coils cause lots of motion transfer and are prone to scraping and breaking.

Rather than foam comfort layers, innerspring mattresses have pillow tops made from materials such as cotton, wool, polyester, or feathers. While these materials feel light and fluffy, they don’t offer as much pressure relief as latex or memory foam. Still, their lightweight design means they function well as bunk bed mattresses.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are difficult, but not impossible, to find for under $500. They have complex constructions, so it can be difficult for brands to keep prices down while designing a hybrid bed. Hybrid mattresses contain features from both innerspring and hybrid mattresses, being breathable, springy, and pressure-relieving.

Hybrid beds have comfort layers made from memory foam, poly-foam, or latex foam. The comfort layer must be at least 2 or 3 inches thick to be considered a hybrid rather than a regular innerspring. Some luxury hybrid mattresses may feature a pillow top or Euro top and a foam comfort layer, but this is unlikely for budget options.

Rather than the continuous coils in innerspring mattresses, hybrid mattresses contain pocketed coils. Pocketed coils are wrapped in fabric to prevent squeaks, isolate motion, and help the coils last as long as possible.

Air

Not all air mattresses are uncomfortable, vinyl bags built for camping or mattreses for guest rooms. You can find high-quality air mattresses with pillow tops or foam comfort layers built to use every night. High-quality air mattresses are great if you suffer from joint pain or sleep hot.

The primary issue with air mattresses is they aren’t the most durable. If you pop a hole in your air mattress, it’s likely irreparable.

Sleeping Position

The way you sleep is the most important factor in determining how firm your mattress should be. Your sleeping position affects how your body touches the bed and how your spine lines up, which determines how much support and pressure relief you need while you snooze.

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers need a mattress that provides both support and cushioning. It should keep the body from sinking while still giving enough pressure relief under the buttocks and enough support under the lumbar area. This helps the mattress follow the curve of the spine and keep it aligned. That’s why medium-firm mattresses, with a balance of lift and pressure relief, are usually best for back sleepers. They contour to the body’s shape while still keeping it from sinking too much.

Combination Sleepers

Combination sleepers don’t have a favorite sleep position. They may switch it up or change positions during the night. So, they need a mattress that can work for different sleep positions without being made for one in particular. Medium mattresses are perfect for them since they offer a balance between support and pressure relief. They can protect joints when you’re on your side and give enough lift for stomach sleeping. These mattresses are also great for couples because they can work in different sleep positions.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need more pressure relief than other sleepers because their shoulders and hips push down on the mattress, creating pressure points. A mattress that’s too firm can cause pain in these joints. That’s why they need a soft to medium mattress (3 to 5) that can absorb pressure and ease hip and shoulder pain.

Combination Sleepers

Combination sleepers move around a lot during the night, switching between 2 to 3 sleep positions. This is good because it has benefits for their heart health and spine alignment, but it can also cause problems like snoring and neck pain. The best mattress for combination sleepers is a medium to medium-firm mattress to keep their spine aligned in any position.

What to Consider When Shopping on a Budget

When you have a small budget, your mattress options are a bit limited. It can be hard to find high-quality mattresses for less than $500, but we have some tips on how to shop.

Mattress Firmness

Regardless of your budget, choosing a mattress firmness is crucial to sleeping comfortably. Mattress firmness refers to how much cushioning your bed has and how soft it feels. Firmness is scored on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest.

The best way to choose a mattress firmness is based on your sleeping position:

• Back sleepers need medium mattresses (5) or medium-firm mattresses (7)
• Side sleepers need soft mattresses (3) or medium mattresses (5)
• Stomach sleepers need medium-firm mattresses (7) or firm mattresses (8)
• Combination sleepers need medium mattresses (5)

Reviews

It’s always a good idea to read customer reviews when looking for a budget mattress. It can be difficult to gauge a mattress’s performance, so reading about other customers’ experiences can help you decide whether or not it’s the right choice for you. Most mattress brands list their customer reviews on their website, but you can also find reviews on third-party websites.

Reading reviews gives you an idea of how durable a bed is, how it feels, if it’s breathable, and more.

Look for Sales

If you’re on a tight budget, always take advantage of mattress sales throughout the year. Such events include:

• Presidents Day Mattress Sales
• Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• Fourth of July Mattress Sales
• Columbus Day Mattress Sales
• Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

During these days, countless brands offer discounts and coupon codes on their mattresses, whether it be money off or bundling deals. This way, you can get nicer mattresses without paying more than you can afford.

You have a better chance of finding mattress deals online than in-store. This is because online stores have less overhead costs than retail stores, meaning they can offer bigger discounts more often on their online mattresses.

Sleep Trials and Warranties

When spending less than $500 on a mattress, you’re less likely to find long sleep trials or warranties. While many brands still offer warranties or sleep trials, they may not be as long or all-encompassing as with luxury brands.

Warranties for budget mattresses are usually between 1 to 10 years. Still, it’s possible to find one of the best mattresses with a warranty while shopping on a budget.

You may have more difficulty finding an inexpensive mattress with a lengthy sleep trial. If a brand offers a sleep trial for their beds, it may only be between 30 to 100 days and companies may not offer free returns. However, for a mail order mattress you haven’t had a chance to try out, a sleep trial can give you some peace of mind.

FAQs

What’s the best hybrid mattress under $500?

Hybrid mattresses can be hard to find for less than $500, especially if you want a big bed. While it’s not impossible to get a cheap hybrid bed, your options are somewhat limited.

The best hybrid mattress on sale for under $500 is the Allswell. It contains cooling foams and has a medium-firm feel great for back or stomach sleeping.

What’s the best memory foam mattress under $500?

With a budget of less than $500, you can find lots of high-quality memory foam beds. A common difference between affordable memory foam mattresses and luxury memory foam mattresses is the affordable ones have simpler designs. They likely have fewer layers and won’t have zoned technology.

Some of the best foam mattresses under $500 are the Zoma Mattress, Vaya Mattress, and Dream Foam Chill.

What’s the best queen mattress under $500?

Queen mattresses often run you at least $750 to $1500, which is unreasonable for many people. Still, you can find a variety of queen beds for under $500 if that’s what you’re looking to spend.

The best queen beds available for under $500 include the Vaya 8-Inch Mattress, the Allswell, and Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress.

What’s the cheapest and most comfortable mattress?

It’s hard to say what the most comfortable and cheap mattress is since comfort is so subjective. The most comfortable mattress ever for one person can be the most uncomfortable mattress ever for someone else. Consider what mattress type and firmness level you prefer when searching for a cheap and comfortable bed.

Is it better to buy a mattress online or in-store?

There are pros and cons to both online and in-store mattress shopping. Online generally has a wider selection of beds and better prices, but with that, you can’t feel the beds before buying them.

You can physically feel and lay on beds when shopping in-store, but they’re expensive compared to online. And although you can lay on the mattresses, they’re often worn down and won’t feel the same compared to when you take one home.

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on a new mattress. With less than $500 in your pocket, you can purchase any type of bed to suit your needs, whether you want something extra cushioned or extra supportive. Use our guide as a resource when comparing these budget beds and let us know what you ended up going with!