Our Experts What to consider Firmness The right firmness level for you depends on your sleeping position and overall preference. A firm mattress offers more support for back and stomach sleepers, while a soft mattress is more pressure-relieving for side sleepers. Medium mattresses fall in the sweet spot right in between for those who switch positions.
Feel The feel of a mattress depends on the materials it is made of. Hybrid mattresses with coils with latex foam have more bounce, while memory foam and poly foam beds are cushiony and pressure-relieving. Construction There are essentially two mattress types: hybrid and all-foam.
Hybrid mattresses are constructed with steel coils and foam, but all-foam mattresses are just as their name implies. Body type Sleepers who are over 230 pounds should turn to hybrid mattresses since those beds tend to be extra supportive and durable. All-foam or softer mattresses are better for petite body types because they are more pressure-relieving.
Average body types can choose between either all-foam or hybrid. Remember that your body type will determine how firm a mattress will feel to you. Performance Motion isolation, edge support and temperature are important features for couples or people who sleep hot to consider.
Hot sleepers should consider a mattress that boasts special cooling features. Couples want minimal motion transfer and a strong, supportive bed perimeter. Company policies Most online mattress brands offer a free trial, free shipping and a warranty, but some brands are more generous with their policies than others.
With 5-plus years of mattress-testing experience, we use our different sleeping-position and body-type perspectives to offer well-rounded, honest reviews. Our Picks Sleep is a luxury that doesn't have to feel as distant with the right direction. The mattress on your bed plays a huge role in getting a good night's sleep.
You shouldn't have to break the bank to do so. Fortunately, a lot of affordable and great mattress options have come to market recently, making it easier to experience the best comfort and support without hurting your wallet. From side sleepers to stomach sleepers, there's a quality mattress out there for you.
Whether you are looking for a softer mattress , a memory foam mattress with great foam layers or the best budget hybrid mattress around, we’ve found something for everyone on a budget. The prices in this guide are based on queen-size mattresses , since it's the most common. That doesn't mean going up or down a mattress size will keep them from being inexpensive; it will likely still be a cheaper mattress for the size you need compared to others on the market.
Also, keep in mind that the MSRP prices below do not reflect current discounts and deals. These best cheap mattresses are often less expensive than they appear. Check out our Best Mattress Deals page for all up-to-date mattress discounts.
What's the best cheap mattress overall? Allswell is well-known for making comfortable, affordable mattresses. Its flagship model, the Allswell , not only is our pick for the best cheap mattress overall, but it also made our Best Mattress list. The bed is a great value — its hybrid model of pocketed coils and poly foam is similar to a lot of others on the market, yet it’s very affordable.
It offers a medium to medium-firm profile and a bouncy, neutral foam feel that should please most sleepers. If you don't want to sacrifice quality when buying a cheap mattress, the Allswell is your best bet. Video: Best cheap mattresses for 2024 Watch CNET mattress expert Owen Poole review the best cheap mattresses for 2024.
The best cheap mattresses of 2024 SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE Other cheap mattresses we tested Much goes on behind the scenes to curate our best lists, including countless hours of mattress testing to find out which beds are truly worth your money. Our CNET Sleep editors, including myself, curated this best affordable mattress list by choosing our top favorite cheap beds from the 300+ we’ve tested. With that being said, here are a few honorable mentions below that could also be up for your consideration.
Bear Original mattress: The Bear Original mattress isn't the cheapest bed we've encountered, but it offers excellent value. When it’s on sale, which it normally is, you can snag a queen size for under $700. The Bear Original is made with graphite-gel memory foam, so it doesn't retain heat like older types of memory foam mattresses used to, and it provides that signature hugging feel memory foam has become known for.
One of the best parts — besides the budget mattress price — is the optional Celliant-infused cover, however, this is an added charge. Dreamfoam Essential mattress: Dreamfoam offers affordable mattresses that we love — as you can see, two of its beds already made this list. The Dreamfoam Essential is also cheap, you can get a queen mattress around $525 and discounts usually knock off another $100.
It’s available in multiple thicknesses that will affect the firmness level. However, it didn’t make this list because it doesn’t feel like the Dreamfoam Hybrid or Doze. The mattress is firmer and denser than those two models, so it might not appeal to a wide range of sleepers.
How we test cheap mattresses My fellow CNET sleep editors and I chose mattresses based on firmness, feel, performance, durability, features and the brand’s policies. However, with this list specifically, price and value were two of the main metrics we examined. The mattresses we considered "cheap" are anywhere from $300 to $800 (after discounts are applied) and are very basic, often flagship models.
They don’t have to have any fancy bells and whistles, yet the chosen mattresses are still comfortable, quality beds at affordable prices. Read more on our sleep team, our mattress warehouse and how we test mattresses . What to consider when buying a cheap mattress With any cheap mattress, you get what you pay for.
That said, there are cheap mattresses out there that are both worth the money and comfortable to sleep on each night. You can't expect any crazy bells and whistles, but that's not typically what you look for in a cheap mattress, after all. It's important to also state possible downsides of buying a cheaper mattress: Best cheap mattresses FAQs A cheap mattress is not going to last as long as a more expensive mattress, especially an all-foam mattress, since more expensive hybrid mattresses are more durable.
A cheap mattress should last around three to five years , maybe a little longer if you take good care of it (rotate it every six months and deep clean it once a year). You can buy cheap mattresses online at a brand's website (such as Zinus ) or on Amazon. For your convenience, Amazon carries a lot of cheap and affordable brands such as Tuft & Needle, Zinus, Lucid and some Dreamfoam mattresses.
Hybrid mattresses tend to be more expensive than all-foam mattresses since foam is cheaper to make than coils. Memory foam and polyurethane foam are among the most affordable types of foam, while latex foam tends to be the most expensive, especially if it's natural or organic. Cheap mattresses are great for those who aren't concerned about long-term durability.
These beds may be ideal for young people looking to save money or those who need a bed for a guest room, a college dorm room or a first-time apartment. However, if you need a mattress to last more than five years, I recommend saving for a more expensive mattress that is built to last. We have tested a bunch of budget mattress brands over the years.
We have found the budget brands to be Lucid, Zinus, Allswell, Tuft & Needle, Dreamfoam and Sealy..
