News

Aug 10, 2023

5 Best Mattresses Under $500 in 2023, Tested by Experts

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Affordable beds that don't skimp on quality.

A nice mattress can improve your sleep but can end up costing a fortune. With many popular models priced upwards of $1,000, it can feel difficult to find an affordable, comfortable bed. Whether you want a cheap mattress to sleep on in your own bedroom or to use in a guest room or kid's room, there are actually lots of affordable options to choose from.

Are cheap mattresses worth it? After years of testing and reviewing mattresses, we've found that there are cheap mattresses that deliver comfort and support so you don't have to sacrifice a good night's sleep if you’re on a budget. In fact, some of the top-rated mattresses our testers and panelists love are under $500 for a Queen-size model, like our best overall pick from Allswell. Now, you can sleep peacefully at night knowing that you don't have to break the bank to buy a new, quality mattress.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we review all kinds of mattresses to find the best ones. We assess mattresses in our Lab and share them with consumer testers who are able to sleep on the beds in their own homes and provide us with real-world feedback. Along with testing mattresses, we survey our GH+ panelists who tell us about the mattresses they personally own. Our surveys from recent years covered everything from sleep temperature to overall comfort to delivery and setup. They resulted in responses from more than 10,000 mattress owners, providing us with over 170,000 pieces of data to help us pick the best affordable mattresses on the market.

Keep reading after our top picks to learn all about how we test mattresses and for helpful mattress shopping tips. If you're looking for cozy bedding to cover your new mattress, try our picks for the best sheets and pillows on Amazon.

Best Mattresses | Best Mattresses in a Box | Best Online Mattresses | Best Cheap Mattresses | Best Innerspring Mattresses | Best Memory Foam Mattresses | Best Hybrid Mattresses | Best Organic Mattresses | Best Latex Mattresses | Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers | Best Mattresses for Back Pain | Best Cooling Mattresses

A favorite among our testers, Allswell's mattresses are affordable but don't skimp on quality. This 10-inch hybrid model combines layers of memory foam and coils for a medium-firm feel. The base of the mattress is constructed using individually wrapped coils that provide support and allow for better airflow than solid memory foam. Next, you'll find a layer of copper-infused memory foam for pressure relief and comfort. On top is a plush quilted cover with a luxurious look and feel. Some users say the mattress is a bit firmer than expected, so keep that in mind if you prefer a bed with more cushion.

This bed-in-a-box is compressed and shipped straight to your door for free, and our testers and panelists say delivery is a breeze and setup is simple. If you're hesitant to purchase a mattress without trying it first, know that Walmart offers free returns for up to 90 days, so there's little risk involved. When asked, owners of this hybrid mattress unanimously agreed that they were happy with their purchase, and they gave it high ratings for comfort, support and sleep quality. One said it was "firm yet comfortable," and another user shared, "The price is highly worth it!"

Over 97,000 Amazon shoppers have given this mattress from Linenspa a five-star review, and it's a total steal at $250 for a Queen model at full price. The 8-inch mattress is built with a base of steel coils for durability and a bouncier feel. Next is a layer of cushioning memory foam that contours to your body for pressure relief while you sleep. To top off the mattress, there's a quilted cover with more foam fill for added comfort. This 8-inch version has a shorter profile with a medium-firm feel, but the 10- and 12-inch versions incorporate even more plush foam if you prefer a bed with more cradling cushion — both are still under $500 for a Queen model.

Dozens of our survey panelists raved about the brand's beds and the great value they offer. One respondent who owns this 8-inch model shared, "You won't find a better mattress for the price. The company is awesome, and the mattress arrived two days after I placed the order and was in perfect condition!" The user added, "Opening the mattress was easy and took less than five minutes until I had it on the bed frame." Other respondents gave it high ratings for quick delivery, easy setup and feeling comfortable to sleep on from night one.

A good cooling mattress can be expensive, but this is a great option if you're a sweaty sleeper looking for a budget bed. The low-priced mattress has an impressive 12-inch profile, which is taller than most affordable beds. (The brand does warn that it can take a few days for the mattress to fully decompress.) The all-foam design starts with a base layer of sturdier foam for support. Next is a layer of gel-infused memory foam that's meant to prevent overheating topped with a plush quilted pillow top for extra padding. It's all encased in a cool-touch cover.

Our tester was impressed by the mattress and gave it perfect ratings for staying at a comfortable temperature all night long. The bed also received top marks for its pressure-relieving abilities, with one tester sharing, "The mattress feels luxurious and cradles my body, no matter what position I'm sleeping in." Online reviewers agree that the foam provides cradling cushion, and one added that the mattress is "super soft and molds perfectly to the body." Some online reviewers and one tester noted that the bed is a bit softer than expected given its medium-firm rating, so it may not be ideal for someone looking for more structure and support.

This Amazon-exclusive bed is the top-performing brand Tuft & Needle's lowest-priced mattress model. With a slightly shorter profile of 8 inches (a 6-inch model is also available), the all-foam mattress weighs in at only 40 pounds, so it's not as cumbersome to set up as some other popular boxed mattresses, which often weigh over 100 pounds. It consists of two layers of foam: a more structured, supportive layer for the base and a pressure-relieving layer on top for cushion and comfort. Plus, the foam is certified by CertiPUR-US and GreenGuard Gold, so you won't have to worry about harmful levels of VOCs.

The brand offers a 100-day "any reason" trial period, so you're able to sleep on it for a few months before deciding if it's the bed of your dreams. Our survey panelists love the memory foam bed, with one sharing that it's "a good blend of soft and supportive for a great price." Another respondent shared that her new bed is "way better than a spring mattress." It is important to note that some online reviewers have experienced issues with the mattress decompressing to its full 8-inch advertised profile, so it's on the shorter side — even for an affordable boxed bed.

This affordable mattress from Novilla is made of four layers of foam designed for both support and comfort. The bed features a base layer made with high-density foam for stability followed by two layers of foam designed for airflow and topped with a layer of gel-infused foam for a plush feel. One tester and some online reviewers share that the bed is on the thinner side, explaining that it didn't expand to its full 12-inch advertised profile. But they still say it's comfy and that they achieve restful sleep on the mattress. They're especially impressed by the bed's motion isolation, with many remarking that they can sleep soundly all night long without being disturbed by moving partners or pets.

I deal for side sleepers, the memory foam bed cradles your hips and shoulders for pressure relief without leaving you feeling like you're sinking too deeply into the mattress. The bed has a medium firmness level that one tester described as "right in the Goldilocks zone," adding that it's not too soft or too firm and feels just right. If you prefer the feel of a firmer bed, opt for the 8-inch mattress, which uses a thinner layer of memory foam than the taller models.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've reviewed hundreds of mattresses over the years. We first consider product information and construction and vet the mattress brands to ensure they're trustworthy before checking out many of the models in person. We also share mattresses with our consumer testers who sleep on the beds in their own homes and provide us with real-world feedback.

Along with testing mattresses, we survey our GH+ panelists about the mattresses they currently sleep on or have purchased. Our surveys have been completed by over 10,000 mattress owners, leaving us with over 170,000 data points for analysis that cover everything from overall comfort and sleep temperature to delivery and setup. We combine our expert analysis, consumer testing and survey responses to decide which mattresses are worth it. Here's what we consider when picking the best mattress for you:

✔️ Ordering & delivery: Our testers and survey respondents share insight about the ordering and delivery processes, letting us know how easy it was and whether or not their mattresses arrived on time. If they experienced any issues during the process, we ask them to share how the brands worked to resolve them.

✔️ Setup: We evaluate if the mattress brands offer white-glove delivery service or require you to set up the bed yourself, and we consider if the mattress properly takes its intended shape in a timely manner.

✔️ Firmness level: Brands' firmness claims aren't always consistent with how consumers perceive them when using the mattresses, so we ask our testers and panelists to rate the firmness level of their mattresses: soft, medium, medium-firm, firm, etc.

✔️ Temperature regulation: We consider brands' cooling claims and features, and our reviewers and testers rate whether or not they're able to maintain a comfortable body temperature while sleeping on the mattresses.

✔️ Edge support: We ask our testers and panelists to sit on the edge of their beds to determine if the mattresses sink under their body weight or if they're able to withstand the additional pressure.

✔️ Comfort and support: Testers and panelists rate the overall comfort of their mattresses and have the opportunity to share their sleep experiences in an open-ended format.

✔️ Sleep quality: We ask our testers and panelists to share if the mattress affects their sleep quality — for better or worse. We want to know if they woke up feeling refreshed or achy and sore, and we ask them to compare their ratings to other beds they've slept on.

✔️ Additional feedback: Along with providing ratings for different features, we allow our reviewers the chance to share anything they specifically like or dislike about the mattresses and any other feedback they want us to know.

After years of evaluating mattresses of all kinds, we've put together some helpful tips for mattress shopping:

✔️ Sleep position: While you're sleeping, it's important to achieve neutral spinal alignment to prevent aches and pains. Depending on your sleep position, you may require a mattress that's firm, medium or soft. Stomach sleepers should choose a firmer mattress, while side sleepers should opt for softer beds for pressure relief around the shoulders and hips. Back sleepers and combination sleepers should opt for a medium firmness mattress that's stable enough to sleep on your back but plush enough that your hips and shoulders will be able to sink into the mattress slightly as you change positions.

✔️ Body type: A soft mattress may not be the ideal mattress for heavier people or those with larger frames who need more supportive beds. Instead of a plush mattress, try a firmer foam mattress or a hybrid option that combines foam with structured metal coils. Lighter-weight people tend to prefer softer mattresses and don't find as much comfort in firmer beds. Consider both your weight and your sleep position when choosing your mattress firmness level.

✔️ Pain sufferers: If you suffer from back pain, look for a mattress with pressure-relieving foams or one that combines plush foam and coils. According to medical experts, pain sufferers should sleep on medium-firmness level mattresses because they provide a balance of cushion and support.

✔️ Temperature: Sweaty sleepers should keep an eye out for temperature-regulating or cooling claims. Know that memory foam materials are often dense and absorb and trap body heat, but there are some foams like those infused with copper particles, gel and phase-change technology that can help to regulate your temperature at night. We recommend hot sleepers choose a mattress that uses coils for improved airflow, whether it's a hybrid or innerspring model.

✔️ Trial period: When you're shopping for an affordable mattress online, it can be hard to decide if it's right for you. All of the affordable mattresses featured have generous trial policies, so you're able to sleep on your new bed from between 90 to 100 nights before committing to your purchase. Review the brand and retailers' specific policies to determine if there are any associated fees for things like return shipping or pick-up.

You can definitely find mattresses that perform well for a great value, but these are some things you can expect when shopping for a more affordable bed:

✔️ Shorter profile and fewer comfort layers : One of the most noticeable differences in an affordable mattress is the height. Cheaper mattresses tend to have fewer layers of material inside, which can lead to a less comfortable feel, especially if you deal with back pain. An easy fix to add more height and improve comfort is to add a mattress topper.

✔️ Firmer feel: Because there are fewer layers, cheaper beds tend to have a firmer feel. Firmer beds are ideal for stomach sleepers, while side sleepers need a softer surface and back/combo sleepers can choose a bed somewhere in between.

✔️ Questionable brands : It's best to choose a mattress from a reputable company because some low-priced beds from lesser-known brands are too good to be true. Besides buying from a well-known brand, both Amazon and Walmart offer affordable mattresses with supportive customer service and generous return policies.

✔️ Low-cost materials : Mattresses are made with metal coils, foam or a combination of the two (known as hybrid). A cheap spring mattress may be less comfortable than a hybrid model, so we recommend sticking with hybrids or adding a topper. If you're worried about the safety of foams in cheaper mattresses, look to see if the bed is CertiPUR-US or GreenGuard certified, which indicates that there are low levels of VOCs.

Although there are plenty of cheap mattresses available all year long, we recommend keeping an eye out for holiday-specific sales to find an even better deal! Many mattress brands discount their beds during major holidays including July 4th, Labor Day, President's Day and Memorial Day. You can also shop for a discounted price during major sale events on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day. It's normal for brands to offer competitive discounts starting around 10% off and running upwards of 40% off for specific models.

Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine joined the Textiles Lab in 2022 and has tested and reviewed other mattresses, including Saatva's Classic Mattress and Tempur-Pedic's collection. She has also worked with mattress brands to learn more about their beds, the materials involved and their manufacturing processes. Amanda used her categorical expertise and reviewed testing and survey data when researching and choosing picks for the best mattresses under $500.

Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.

10 Best Velvet Sofas of 2023

14 Best Drop Leaf Tables of 2023

8 Best Lawn Sprinklers for the Greenest Grass

The Best Organic Mattress Toppers 2023

6 Best Gutter Guards 2023

The Best Mattress Toppers of 2023

14 Best Mattresses

8 Best Outdoor Home Projectors You Can Buy

7 Best Smart Blinds and Smart Shades

The Best Toilet Paper of 2023

7 Best Latex Pillows of 2023

10 Best Water Filter Pitchers of 2023