“It is nearly impossible to find a quality mattress for less than $1,000.”
We bet you heard this phrase from a consultant in a mattress store or from someone who heard it from a seller. The truth is you can buy a good mattress for only $500 or less. Yes, even a hybrid. Yes, even a luxury latex mattress. There is a wide selection of products on the market, and some of them were created for those who value quality but don’t want to pay more. Don’t believe us? Take a look at these options!
Looking for the best affordable mattress? Pick any of these options!
| Mattress | Type | Firmness | Cost (Twin) | Cost (Queen) | Basic Info |
| 12” Pressure Relief Green Tea Memory Foam Queen Mattress | Memory Foam | 5 out of 10 | $252 | $464 | All-foam, feels soft, pressure-relieving |
| 10” Linenspa Latex Hybrid Mattress | Hybrid | 6 out of 10 | $200 | $300 | Bouncy, cooling, good for active & combo sleepers |
| Dream Foam Elements Latex mattress | Latex | 3 levels available | $300+ | $500+ | Supportive, bouncy, responsive, very affordable as for the latex mattress |
| Hesstun Eurotop mattress | Innerspring | 3 levels available | $479 | $499 | Great motion isolation, ultra-supportive |
| 12” Lucid Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress | Gel Memory Foam | 8 out of 10 | $269 | $365 | Contours to a body, soft, perfect for side sleeper |
| 10” Tuft & Needle Original Mattress | All Foam | 6-7 out of 10 | $350 | $590 | Comfortable, feels soft, works for all types of sleepers |
| Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress | All Foam | 6 out of 10 | $223 | $359 | Pressure-relieving, responsive, cooling |
| 10” Zinus Extra Firm iCoil® Hybrid | Hybrid | 7-8 out of 10 | $217 | $349 | Very supportive, firm, no sagging |
| Perfect Cloud Atlas Memory Foam Mattress | Memory Foam | 5-6 out of 10 | $299 | $449 | Soft, pressure-relieving, provides good motion isolation |
| 10” Classic Brands Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress | Gel Foam | 6 out of 10 | $250 | $279.99 | Budget, low motion transfer, very cooling |
Please note that prices may vary, in particular, because manufacturers often make sales and provide discounts.
12” Zinus Green Tea Mattress — The Best Memory Foam Mattress
Zinus Green Tea Mattress is considered one of the best options for pressure relief and no wonder. It is an all-foam mattress containing 4 layers and covered with thin, breathable polyester fabric. Its 12” version (there are also 6”, 8”, and 10” versions) contain comfort 3” memory foam layer, transition 2” poly foam and support HD polyfoam layers, as well as 3,5” base polyfoam layer.
This makes 12” Zinus Green Tea the plushest, a genuinely soft memory foam mattress available for a very affordable price. So, is there a catch? Not really. This is just a budget, and a pretty quality mattress with its pros and cons.
Benefits & drawbacks of Zinus Green Tea Mattress
Benefits
- Perfect for side sleepers
- Isolates motion transfer perfectly
- Great for couples
- Very soft & conforming
- Great contouring
Drawbacks
- Traps body heat
- Does not work for active sleepers
- Not bouncy
- Does not work well for stomach sleepers
So, if you buy it, you will slowly sink into it. If you are a side sleeper and if you love this feeling, this is definitely one of the best affordable options. However, it is not as good for stomach sleepers as well as for combo and active sleepers. It is just too soft for them, and it doesn’t provide enough mobility, doesn’t let a sleeper move without fighting all those soft layers. The motion isolation is nearly perfect, though, it is really good for couples.
Are there any alternatives to Zinus Green Tea Mattress?
Here are some great similar options to choose from:
- 10” Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress: $254 for Twin, $366 for Queen
- 12” Chill Memory Foam: $279 for Twin, $399 for Queen
- 10” T&N Original Mattress: $350 for Twin, $595 for Queen
10” Linenspa Latex Hybrid Mattress — the best hybrid
This hybrid is considered one of the best mattresses for kids, teens, and students, but it can also work for a couple. It consists of two main layers: coil support layer and latex foam layer. The latter provides pressure relief, feels soft enough, and the high-quality coil system provides excellent support.
Benefits & drawbacks of Linenspa Latex Hybrid Mattress
Benefits
- Bouncy
- Good for active sleepers
- Good airflow, perfect for hot sleepers
- Good for stomach sleepers
- Cooling
- 10-year warranty
Drawbacks
- A bit noisy
- Not too good for side sleepers
- Not too good motion isolation
- Latex layer is pretty thin
Generally speaking, this is one of the best supportive and at the same time relatively soft mattress (it is medium-firm, actually, but it still feels softer than a lot of firmer innerspring mattresses) that also provides great edge support. It is not luxurious, but it is good enough, especially for a single sleeper who doesn’t need motion isolation as much as couples do. The price is low, and the shipping is free, so that is a good option if you are on budget.
Are there any alternatives to Linenspa Latex Hybrid Mattress?
- Zinus Pressure Relief Gel Memory Foam Hybride Mattress: $294 for Twin, $335 for Queen
- PlushBeds Latex Mattress: $349 for Twin, $449 for Queen
- Lucid 12 Inch Latex Hybrid: $280 for Twin, $430 for Queen
Dream Foam Elements Latex Mattress — the best latex mattress
This is the first but not the last mattress from this manufacturer in our ranking. This is an American brand aimed at providing the highest quality and setting the lowest prices, even when it comes to such expensive material as latex. Some may say that a latex mattress that costs $300-$500 dollars is nonsense, but we have Elements Latex in this price range.
It consists of the softest top foam layer, 3” layer of Talalay latex that makes the mattress bouncy, and the quality base foam that makes it supportive. The best thing is it comes in 3 different firmness levels, so you can choose one depending on what type of sleeper you are.
Benefits & drawbacks of Dream Foam Elements Latex mattress
Benefits
- Bouncy and supportive
- Does not trap heat
- Great for couples
- Good for all types of sleepers
- 120-night trial
- Incredibly affordable latex mattress
Drawbacks
- Durability issues
- It could be firmer
Overall, if you are looking for a budget latex mattress, it is not just the best, it is actually the only option available for such a low price. And it is a pretty good and even outstanding offer on the market. It doesn’t last for 20 years as some high-end latex mattresses and hybrids, but it improves the quality of sleep significantly.
Are there any alternatives to Dream Foam Elements Latex mattress?
As we noted above, it is extremely difficult to find a cheap latex mattress. Here are some budget options that are made of not so expensive materials.
- Lucid 10 inch Plush Memory Foam Mattress: $190 for Twin, $299 for Queen
- Sweetnight Ocean Blue: $248 for Twin, $358 for Queen
- Mellow LAGOM Hybrid 10″: $300 for Twin, $456 for Queen
Hesstun Eurotop Mattress — best affordable innerspring mattress
Sweden has something great to offer to an American customer. The truth is it is quite difficult to find a really high-quality innerspring mattress that would cost less than $700, especially when it comes to pocketed coil systems, but Hesstun Eurotop mattress is definitely a great option to consider. It is not perfect, though. So, let us take a look at its pros & cons in more detail.
Benefits & drawbacks of Hesstun Eurotop mattress
Benefits
- Pocketed coils which can be usually found in expensive mattresses
- Good motion isolation
- Provides great support for proper spinal alignment
- Good edge support
- Perfect for couples
- More affordable than other options on the market
Drawbacks
- Not really durable
- You may need to use topper to customize the feel
Why focus on the American market only? As you can see, there are some great things you can buy from Swedish manufacturer, too! If you are looking for a quite firm and super supportive option, check out this innerspring mattress that can boast of a perfect combination of traditional style and contemporary approach to manufacturing.
Are there any alternatives to Hesstun Eurotop mattress?
- Serta SleepTrue Malloy: $399 for Twin, $499 for Queen
- Zinus Pressure Relief iCoil Full Mattress: $249 for Twin, $336 for Queen
12” Lucid Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress — best twin size mattress
So, what is this mattress made of? It consists of 3” gel-infused memory foam layer, 1” bamboo charcoal foam, and the supportive 8” foam. All these layers are covered with breathable, eco-friendly fabric that, however, cannot be removed. This gel mattress is not only cooling and supportive enough (especially for a memory foam mattress) but it also goes with any type of bed that makes it stand out.
Benefits & drawbacks of 12” Lucid Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Benefits
- Eco-friendly cover
- Conform to a sleeper’s body
- Plush feel
- Perfect for those who like sinking into a mattress
- Very breathable
- Very affordable
- 10-year warranty
Drawbacks
- You may feel a specific smell until it disappears over time
- Is not supportive enough for heavier people
- Not the most long-lasting option
- May sag over time
It is bed-in-a-box, so you have it delivered to your doorstep, unwrap it, and let it inflate. This is not the most lasting item on the market, but it works well enough, especially for teens, students, and single sleepers who are looking for a great cooling foam mattress but cannot afford to spend a fortune on it.
Are there any alternatives to Lucid Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress?
- Classic Brands Cool Gel 9-Inch Memory Foam Mattress: $200 for Twin, $360 for Queen
- Marshmallow 12″ Memory Foam Mattress: $276 for Twin, $425 for Queen
- Sweetnight Ocean Blue: $248 for Twin, $358 for Queen
10” Tuft & Needle Original Mattress — best queen size
This is a unique mattress. Why? Because this is perfectly agreeable. It is a kind of a compromise between firmness and softness. It just feels comfy, nothing more, nothing less. It is not special at all, but this makes it a perfect standard bed. This is its most important benefit and its worst downside.
But what are characteristics? It consists of two layers: the adaptive gel-infused cooling gel and the base foam. The cover is breathable. Well, that really sounds quite common. So let us take a look at the pros & cons.
Benefits & drawbacks of 10” Tuft & Needle Original Mattress
Benefits
- Very affordable, not cheap though
- Comfortable and soft enough
- Works for all types of sleepers
- Great for single sleepers, as well as for couples
- It might work well for most people
- 10-year warranty
Drawbacks
- Is not soft but it is not firm, too
- Is not supportive enough for heavier people
The shipping is free, returns are free, there is a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty — these are other benefits of choosing this mattress. Yes, it is a bit more expensive than $500, at least for a queen size, but there are seasonal discounts, so you can save a few dozens of dollars and buy this comfortable mattress for 5 hundred dollars or even less.
Are there any alternatives to Tuft & Needle Original Mattress?
- Sweetnight Sunkiss: $318 for Twin, $438 for Queen
- Mellow LAGOM Hybrid with Foam Encasing Pocket Spring: $348 for Twin, $552 for Queen
- SweetNight Breeze: $288 for Twin, $478 for Queen
Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress — best king size
Why would someone, in particular, the Dream Foam company, sell a quality king size mattress for less than $500. The answer is simple — they have their own factory, and they don’t have to pay for materials more. Simply put, they save a lot of money and provide the customers with an opportunity to do the same.
So what are the characteristics? It is the all-foam mattress. It is a medium-firm mattress. It is supportive enough but feels plush due to the cotton breathable cover and Energex (as conforming as memory foam but also pretty bouncy, like latex).
Benefits & drawbacks of Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress
Benefits
- Even the king size costs less than $500
- Comfortable and soft enough
- Bouncier than other budget foam mattresses
- Pressure relieving
- Very responsive foam
- Great motion isolation
- Air channels and gel allow it remain cooling
- Suits most body types
- Perfect for hot sleepers & side sleepers
- 10-year warranty
Drawbacks
- Dips may appear over time
- May become less supportive over time
Generally speaking, it is an affordable foam mattress made in the USA and certified in the USA. It is cooling, supportive, the motion isolation is good enough that makes it nearly perfect for couples looking for a budget and at the same time a quality option.
Are there any alternatives to Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress?
- Zinus Memory Foam Mattress: $151 for Twin, $205 for Queen
- Best Price 10 inch Memory Foam: $224 for Twin, $343 for Queen
- 8” Ashley Furniture Chime Memory Foam: $180 for Twin, 239 for Queen
Zinus Extra Firm iCoil® Hybrid — the best firm mattress
Zinus is known for two things: the relatively low prices and pretty quality materials. It also offers a wide selection of products, and Zinus Extra Firm Hybrid is one of them. The name of this mattress speaks for itself — if you are looking for a softer mattress, this is probably not the best option for you. It consists of 3 layers which are the comfort foam, high-density foam, and pocket springs. This construction makes your bed not only ultimately supportive but also very durable.
Benefits & drawbacks of Zinus Extra Firm iCoil® Hybrid
Benefits
- Pocketed coils provide good motion isolation
- Low price considering complex production technology
- Good for couples
- 10% more coils
- No sagging, no dips over time
- 10-year warranty
Drawbacks
- Does not work well for side sleepers
- Too firm for people who love to sink into a mattress
- May be not firm enough for people looking for something ultimately firm though
So, this mattress is firm, cooling, and at the same time, it conforms to your body and even helps with back pain in some cases. It is not perfect, though. Still, if you analyse the market, you will hardly find anything more quality and cheaper. This is definitely the No. 1 firm mattress in our top-10 best mattresses under $500.
Are there any alternatives to Zinus Extra Firm iCoil® Hybrid?
- Shiloh 12″ Memory Foam: for $303 for Twin, $413 for Queen
- Marley 12″ Cooling Gel Memory Foam: for $248, $399 for Queen
Perfect Cloud Atlas Memory Foam Mattress — the best soft mattress
We say that it’s the best soft mattress, but there is another important thing to note — it is a rare mattress that is soft and firm at the same time. Hence, it is one of the rare perfect options for heavier people, for those who need to buy a firmer mattress because of the health issues but still want to sleep on a plush mattress. Atlas mattress consists of 3 layers: gel memory foam (the cooling layer), air flow comfort foam, and air flow support foam.
Benefits & drawbacks of Perfect Cloud Atlas Memory Foam Mattress
Benefits
- Isolates motion perfectly
- One of the best cooling mattresses
- Feels soft and remains supportive
- Perfect for couples
- Cradles body
- Has no smell
- Provides great muscle relief
- Has a great price
Drawbacks
- Sag over time
- Is not very good for stomach sleepers
Simply put, if you need something firm and supportive enough and something really plush for a reasonable price, you will hardly find a better option.
Are there any alternatives to Perfect Cloud Atlas Memory Foam Mattress?
- Sweetnight Ocean Blue: $248 for Twin, $358 for Queen
- Marshmallow 12″ Memory Foam Mattress: $276 for Twin, $425 for Queen
- LUCID 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress: $349 for Twin, $549 for Queen
10” Classic Brands Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress — the best cooling mattress
It costs only $200, but it is the best when it comes to cooling. We have already described a few cooling mattresses, but this stands out due to the unique gel-infused memory foam that draws heat away. What else is special or, by contrast, bad about this option? Let us take a look.
Benefits & drawbacks of 10” Classic Brands Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Benefits
- Does not trap heat
- Super low motion transfer
- Antimicrobial
- Perfect for couples
- Conforms to body perfectly
- Great price
Drawbacks
- Plastic smell (that, however, will disappear over the time)
- Is not very good for stomach sleepers or heavy people
So, it is affordable, cooling, but you still need to keep in mind that this is a memory foam mattress, so you are likely to sink into it a bit. In general, if you are not too heavy or if you are not a stomach sleeper, it might work for you.
Are there any alternatives to Perfect Cloud 10” Classic Brands Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress?
- Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Twin Mattress: $198 for Twin, $298 for Queen
- Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam 8″: $200 for Twin, $320 for Queen
- Mellow EIRA Quilted Top Hybrid: $179 for Twin, $263 for Queen
What to consider when choosing the best budget mattress
As you can see, there are plenty of affordable options to choose from. How to understand which one is the best one for you? How to distinguish a quality product from a cheap poor-quality mattress that will not last 2 years? Here are the essential things to consider:
- Firmness. Some people love it when they are slowly sinking into a mattress, and some prefer being on top of the mattress. All this is determined by the level of firmness, i.e., depends on what mattress (softer, firmer, medium-soft, or medium-firm) you will choose.
- Favorite sleeping position. Side sleepers need softer mattresses, and stomach sleepers need firmer mattresses. Back sleepers often prefer to sleep on firmer and medium-firm beds. If you are an active combo sleeper, you may need a firmer mattress, too.
- Lifespan. Consider the lifespan — a good mattress usually remains supportive enough during 7-10 years. Latex mattresses can last even longer if you care about it properly.
- Warranty. Manufacturers usually provide long-term limited warranties. They usually last even longer than mattresses themselves. In general, you can expect to get 10-year, 20-year, or even a lifetime warranty.
- Mattress type and/or subtype. Memory foam mattresses are soft and conform to contours of your body, innerspring mattresses provide great support, hybrids are often soft & supportive, and latex mattresses are bouncy and conforming. Decide what type of mattress is better for you.
- Thickness. 6”, 8”, 10”, 12” or 14”, how thick your perfect mattress is? Thicker mattresses provide better support and are usually firmer, which makes them perfect for heavier people.
- Size. Do you need a bed for one or a bed for a couple? Choose the right size. Twin is the most popular size for a single sleeper, and the queen is the most popular size for two.
- Noise. Innerspring mattresses are considered to be some of the noisiest mattresses, and memory foam and latex products are the so-called quiet mattresses. Some people don’t care about it, but a lot of sleepers, especially couples consider it one of the most important criteria.
- Motion isolation. This is another criterion that is very important for couples. Ideally, if someone is rolling over on one side of the bed, another person lying on another side of the bed will not feel anything. That is called good motion isolation, and this is another feature of a quality mattress for couples.
- Trial & return policy. A lot of manufacturers provide free trials and allow them to return mattresses if something is wrong without even paying for shipping. Generally speaking, it is a good sign when it comes to mattresses.
Final thoughts on affordable mattresses
Mattresses under 500 — are they perfect options or just money waste? It depends on how carefully you choose them. Even a picky customer can find a foam, innerspring, hybrid, latex mattress that will cost less than $500. Frankly, a lot of sellers prefer to say it is not true, but the offers on the market, in particular, the great option we have already described, prove otherwise.
FAQ
What is the best mattress for back pain on a budget under 500?
It’s complicated. We recommend seeing a doctor at least to find out if you need a firmer or a softer bed. If you need a softer option, consider buying Perfect Cloud Atlas Memory Foam Mattress. If firmer mattress may work well, try Zinus Extra Firm iCoil® Hybrid.
What is the best gel foam mattress under 500?
We recommend Classic Brands Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress. It costs only $200+ for twin size.
How to choose a cheap good quality mattress right for me?
Determine your priorities. Do you need a mattress that isolates motion, a firmer mattress, a plush mattress, cooling item, or anything else? Consider the most important criteria, find the options that might work, read the reviews, compare the options and make your choice.
What if I get a cheap mattress with a high-quality mattress topper?
No one can stop you from doing it, but a good topper may cost $300. As you can see from this article, you can buy a new mattress for this price. And toppers can only make a good mattress better, but they don’t actually solve the problem.
What’s the best full mattress under 500?
We’d recommend Zinus Pressure Relief Pillow Top Hybrid — it is affordable, comfortable, and at the same time, pretty supportive.