Best Cheap Mattress: 25 Year Industry Pro’s Affordable Mattress Reviews

Going with the best cheap mattress option doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality or the lifespan of your mattress. I designed and manufactured mattresses for 25 years Some of the most affordable “bed in a box” mattresses are priced right around $1,000, with many in the $400-600 range for a queen size mattress.

But, it turns out that you can spend far less than that and score a premium mattress. In fact, we found several companies that make really comfortable mattresses using high quality components, selling for considerably less. In many cases, it’s smarter to spend less on a mattress because there are fewer ingredients involved, making failure less likely to happen.

You can even get extended trial periods, free shipping, and in many cases, free sheet sets, free pillows and mattress protectors, and no questions asked trial periods. In fact, in many cases, mattresses costing more than $1,000 can be troublesome.

I’ve seen $1500, even $2000 mattresses develop problems such as sinking and indentations, separation of foam layers, fabric tearing, and uneven wear due to far too many layers being stacked and stuffed inside of a mattress.

The Best Cheap Mattress Options Can Be Well Made And Affordable

Memory foam, gel foam, and natural latex can be found in almost all inexpensive mattresses. These materials are the key ingredients in almost all models of the most popular brands. Because of the unique pressure relieving qualities provided by memory foam, and the bouncy and highly responsive qualities of latex, an 8-10” mattress will do the job for almost any body type, with maybe the exception of larger folks over 225 lbs.

A 2” layer of reasonably dense memory foam or natural latex on top of a 6-7” layer of underlying high density support, the two materials are used in the construction of the web’s most popular brands. The average price for a mattress in this category runs around $1000-1200 for a queen, though we found several brands offering better deals, in the $500-600 range.

If you run across a cheap mattres

 

1. THE NOVILLA BLISS GEL/MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS: $339 IN QUEEN

Incredibly, the Novella Bliss 12” Gel/Memory Foam Mattress is in fact, a well crafted bed using high grade materials, and the company focuses on selling in high volume (to get better deals on materials, thus lowering the wholesale cost) rather than a boutique mattress shop approach. Also, they ship directly from their factory to you, instead of funneling them through a middleman, which raises the price substantially.

You can buy the Novilla Bliss Mattress on Amazon, but with our link directly to their site, you actually save a little bit more, too, along with a solid 10 year warranty, a 30 day no questions asked trial period, free shipping, and 24/7 online support. That’s right, it checks off all of the boxes that we require before we recommend it to your readers.

The Novilla Bliss Gel/Memory Foam Mattress is just $339 in Queen size when you purchase it through our exclusive link.

Also, all of the foam layers used in the Novilla Bliss 12” Mattress are CertiPUR-US certified, made with foams that are low VOC so they don’t pollute your air with any harmful off-gassing, and are made without harmful poisons like formaldehyde, mercury, and other heavy metals.

We dug through many customer reviews of the Novella Bliss Mattress and found a common theme: owners loved the pain relieving benefits they received, and also observed that when you moved during the night, you were less likely to disturb your partner. 

These foams eliminate your exposure to PBDE’s, too, poisonous compounds that should be no where near a surface that your body is in close contact with 8 hours a day. 

At just $339 for a queen size, this mattress is probably one of the hottest deals on the web. It’s built with a four layer, all foam recipe, beginning with a gel infused memory foam on top that keeps you cool even on the hottest nights.

Beneath the cooling gel foam layer is a layer of channeled egg crate foam which provides active and passive ventilation, moving air through the mattress, like the ducts of an air conditioning system in your home.

Beneath the top comfort layers are two separate layers of specialized high density foam that both cradle and support your body so that you don’t bottom into the mattress, having to dig your way out during the night.

This uplifting and buoyant quality keeps you asleep, allows for easy turning, and makes it easy to sit on the edge of your bed without sliding off. 

On the outside, the Novella Bliss Mattress is covered with a highly breathable and elastic material that is made using bamboo and rayon fiber, and it can be removed for cleaning, as well. We always suggest using a waterproof mattress protector, too, to prevent accidents resulting in liquid damage. It’s a solid best cheap mattress option that we recommend.


2. nolah original 10” gel/memory foam mattress: $899 in queen

The Nolah Certipur-US® certified mattress is scientifically proven to provide 4x less peak pressure on hips, shoulders, and back compared to high-end memory foam.

I’ve reviewed a lot of memory foam mattresses and prefer a slightly softer initial feel, which is more conducive to sleep and catnapping for many people.

The Nolah Original 10” Mattress delivers on performance, and their specialized “Nolah AirFoam™” keeps your body temperature at optimal levels for sleep, so it’s great for hot sleepers.

They describe their unique blend of memory foam as being “100% temperature neutral” and made without heat-trapping foam chemicals which often collect in memory foam because they tend to be pretty dense. You’ll get a cool and comfortable sleep using this mattress.

Order using my link and you’ll get two free pillows with your mattress. Included with every Nolah Original 10” Mattress is a no questions asked 100 night trial period, a lifetime warranty on the mattress, and free shipping.

In a strikingly simplistic design, The Nolah Original 10” Memory Foam Mattress uses a proprietary material called AirFoam which actively moves hot air away from the body contact area of the mattress.

Simple Design, Reliable Performance, At Just $899 in Queen

On top: 2” AirFoam™ provides superior pressure relief, keeps you cool and contours perfectly to your body without trapping you “in the mattress” like memory foam. Right below, you’ll enjoy a 1” support layer that is stronger and more durable than latex, but delivers a responsive bounce to keep you floating on top, and sound asleep all night.

Supportive High-Density Base Foam

You’ll get the support you need with 7” of the best U.S. made high-density breathable base foam that reinforce the support and contouring of the toper layers. It’s durable and guaranteed to last for years. Nolah’s newly redesigned snow-white Tencel™ cellulosic cover of botanic origin defines a new standard of sustainability and natural sleep comfort. 


Key Considerations When Shopping For A Cheap Mattress

Whether you’re likely to buy online or you are headed out to a retail mattress store near you, here are a few tips when shopping for a cheap mattress. Keep in mind that you might save money in the long run if you buy a mattress that serves your sleeping needs first and your wallet second.

Otherwise, you may find yourself searching for a replacement after your trial period is over. Here are some mattress basics to arm yourself with when shopping on the cheap- if you are a little bit more educated about mattresses from the get go, you can definitely find an inexpensive mattress that will last for decades without wiping out your bank account:

  1. Firmness Considerations: The main firmness levels that were coined by the mattress industry are soft, medium, and firm. There are various degrees of firmness along this sliding scale, and keep in mind that the comfort of a mattress is subjective. Trying out a range of levels in person is one of the best ways to pinpoint your preferred firmness level. For extra comfort, some brands offer an optional pillow top layer at an additional cost. Online, retailers will use a number reference scale with 10 being rock hard, and 1 being so soft, you may feel like you are immersed in the mattress.

    Start with 5, and think of a mattress that supports a 135 lb. person without sinking, is moderately firm but has some yielding and give to it, and it’s got enough support that you can sit on the edge of your mattress to put on your shoes.  
  2. Mattress Type: There are essentially four types of mattresses: all foam, hybrid (which usually consists of both coils and various foam layers), latex, and air (like the number style beds, with pumps, air chambers, and layers of support foam). In our reviews on our Trusted Dealer page, you will find a good selection of reasonably priced inexpensive mattresses in every category. 

  3. Sleeping position: Side sleepers (the majority of people) have a lot of options available at any price point, but stomach sleepers have more specific needs when it comes to support and should plan on spending around $1,000 or more for a comfortable mattress. We go into more detail on the right mattress for other sleeping positions in our guide on our Best Sleeping Positions page. 

  4. Back pain: If you have a bad back or other medical issues, it could be worth it for you to pay a little extra now. Individuals with back pain may want to skip the sub-$1,000 price range and move up to one of the moderately-priced mattresses that make our rating of the Best Mattresses for Back Pain.

  5. Shipping costs: Instead of taking charge of a cumbersome mattress at the store – loading it into your vehicle, getting it safely home, and hauling it inside – you may want to look for a company that has free delivery or free shipping. Nowadays especially, many mattress companies handle all their own distribution and often include free shipping. Some manufacturers offer other free perks as well, including free disposal of your old mattress and free pickup of the new mattress if you decide to return it. Other companies might charge for these services, but it could be worth the extra money.

  6. Free trials or warranties: There’s no substitute for a sleep trial in the comfort of your own home. The length of the trial period depends heavily on the brand; some are only a couple of weeks, while others are a full year, but about 140 nights is average. Warranties also vary drastically. Most mattress brands offer at least a 10-year warranty, while some come with a lifetime warranty.

  7. Add-ons: When putting your bed set together, consider what else you may need to buy. If you have a bed frame with wooden slats, you might need to also invest in a box spring, which can add comfort to innerspring mattresses. Do you need a new set of pillows, fresh linens to fit your new mattress thickness or a cooling mattress topper? Think about how much you want to spend on your whole sleeping area when calculating your ideal mattress price.

The firmness level you choose can affect the price. Generally, the most affordable mattresses in our ratings are medium-firm or firm, although some also have a soft option.

Don’t forget to add in the shipping costs, and be sure to ask about return costs if a mattress doesn’t work out for you. Many brick-and-mortar stores charge a delivery fee for innerspring mattresses. If you do choose to ship your mattress to your home, most brands featured on our site offer easy shipping for virtually any kind of mattress.

Some mattresses offer trial periods so you can test them for several weeks in the comfort of your own home. Most of the mattresses with the lowest price tags in our rating offer 100-night sleep trials.

Within the time frame listed in the return policy, if you decide the mattress isn’t the right fit, you can return it.

Most new mattresses come with a warranty that covers defects and other manufacturing problems for at least 10 years. The length of the warranty is not always reflected in the cost of the mattress. Mattress companies are producing mattresses at a wide range of price points, like the Element and the Wave, which are both from Casper but cost $595 and $2,595, respectively.

Because they’re from the same company, and warranties tend to be company-wide policies, both mattresses have a 10-year warranty. Other mattresses, like the DreamCloud, priced at $1,099 for a queen-sized mattress, have a lifetime warranty.

Get the most bang for your buck with a company that excels in two or more of these areas. For example, Purple, Birch, and Tuft & Needle all offer 100-night trials. Purple offers free shipping and free returns, Birch offers free shipping, and Tuft & Needle offers free returns.

Purple and Tuft & Needle also offer 10-year warranties on their mattresses, and Birch offers a 25-year warranty. Avocado offers free shipping, a one-year free trial, and a 25-year warranty.

Some companies offer monthly financing. For an especially good deal, look for 0% interest rates.

What Time Of Year Is Best For Finding A Cheap Mattress?

If you’re going to order online, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day are good times to find mattress sales or deals on shipping. You can also likely find deals shopping in person at brick-and-mortar stores on these dates. Sometimes you can find deals straight from the manufacturer on its website at random times. A good way to keep on top of these offers is to follow your favorite brands on social media or sign up for their e-newsletter.

Save money on your new mattress by buying at strategic times during sale seasons. Around Memorial Day in May is a common time for mattress sales, due to the need to make space for new inventory.

Lots of manufacturers also offer deals on pillows or mattress toppers when you buy a mattress. If these are on your shopping list, look to save money by ordering them together in a bundle instead of shopping at separate retailers.Some manufacturers offer free delivery, and many also offer trial periods. This reduces the pressure of finding the right mattress, as you can try one in the comfort of your own home over the course of a month or more.

Don’t forget to visit our Trusted Dealer page to get an outstanding mattress recommended by an industry expert at the right price.