The 6 best cheap mattresses under $500

Pros: Firmness is great for back and stomach sleepers, I had the best sleep quality on this mattress, excellent edge support, good motion isolation, retains heat to keep cold sleepers warm

Cons: Too firm for side sleepers, too hot for hot sleepers, no white glove delivery or showroom availability

There aren't many hybrid mattresses under $500; we tested three for this guide, and this Walmart brand hybrid was the best. I had the best sleep quality on this bed, but it was too firm for side sleeping, my preferred position. So, I mainly slept on my stomach and back. If you're a side sleeper, you may want to check out the 12" Allswell Luxe. We often see it on sale for under $400. It's thicker, softer, and very comfortable for all sleeping positions. Read our Allswell Luxe review for more details on how it stacks up.

The base Allswell we recommend here has two layers: a top layer of charcoal and copper gel-infused, CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam to keep you cool, and a bottom layer of individually wrapped coils for support, durability, and airflow. The coils provided great edge support in our tests, and the motion isolation was also good, suggesting this is a smart choice for couples. 

The Allswell was among the hottest mattresses we tested and didn't dissipate heat well, which makes it great for people who tend to get too cold at night, but not ideal for hot sleepers. 

Read our full Allswell Mattress review.

Pros: Outstanding edge support and motion isolation, medium firmness is great for all sleeping styles, stays cool, four thickness options

Cons: Only available in four sizes, no white glove delivery or showroom availability

In addition to being our runner-up pick, the Zinus 12 Inch Cooling Green Tea Gel Memory Foam Mattress is our pick for couples. The main features to evaluate when assessing how well a mattress suits couples are edge support, motion isolation, and firmness. The Zinus checks all the boxes. 

The medium firmness of the Zinus is ideal for a broad range of sleepers, a plus for couples with different sleep styles. While sleeping on it, I was comfortable on my side, stomach, and back. The edge support and motion isolation were also among the best of the mattresses under $500 that we tested, so you can still feel comfortable laying on the edge when your partner hogs the bed, and their movements at night are less likely to disturb your sleep.

The Zinus Cooling Green Tea mattress features three layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam: cooling gel-infused memory foam, soft memory foam designed to offer pressure relief, and durable base foam. In my tests, the materials did a good job of keeping the mattress cool. 

It comes in four thicknesses, from 6 inches to 12 inches. I tested the 12-inch mattress, and from my experience, I wouldn't recommend going thinner than 10 inches. Otherwise, you sacrifice support.

Pros: Outstanding edge support, good motion isolation, soft feel is great for side sleepers, affordable

Cons: May not be supportive enough for stomach and back sleepers, no white glove delivery or showroom availability

At $320, the Novilla Bliss Memory Foam Mattress is the cheapest mattress we recommend. With rare exceptions, I've found that that 10 inches is the minimum thickness for a supportive bed. The Novilla meets the bare minimum with 10 inches of CertiPUR-US-certified foam.

The Novilla Bliss is softer than average, making it great for side sleepers. While testing it, my sleep quality was average. I gravitated toward my side but also slept on my stomach a little. However, I wouldn't recommend this mattress for stomach sleepers because it lacks the support needed to keep your spine aligned.

While the Novilla isn't our top pick for couples, it's still an excellent mattress under $500 for people who share a bed. It passed my bowling ball test but had a high vibration reading on my vibrometer. These results suggest you won't be jolted awake as your partner moves at night, but you may still feel it. The edge support was outstanding, with the edge only sinking minimally when I sat on it, and I didn't feel like falling off at all when lying on the periphery.

The setup was effortless. It only took about five minutes, and the initial foam odor dissipated by bedtime.

Pros: Great for side sleepers, good edge support and motion isolation, long trial period, stays cool and dissipates heat well 

Cons: Return shipping fees apply, may not be supportive enough for stomach or back sleepers, initial odor took a while to dissipate

The softer-than-average feel of the Siena Memory Foam Mattress makes it an ideal mattress under $500 for side sleepers. I was comfortable sleeping on my side, though my sleep quality was just average. I especially liked that the bed did well staying cool and dissipating heat, second only to our best cooling pick.

The $400 Siena has three layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam. It had impressive motion isolation, passing my bowling ball test and showing low vibrometer readings. The edge support wasn't as impressive but was still pretty good. The side sank significantly as I sat on it, but I felt supported as I lay on the edge. These factors suggest the Siena would serve couples well.

The setup was effortless, though the initial odor took a few days to dissipate. Another negative is you have to pay for shipping if you decide to return the mattress during the 180-night trial period.

Pros: Stays cool, dissipates heat well, plush feel is optimal for side sleepers, impressive motion isolation

Cons: Short trial period, may not be supportive enough for stomach and back sleepers, poor edge support, long-lasting new bed odor

To test how cool a mattress stays, I use a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature before I sleep on it and compare it to the temp right after I get up. Then, I measure it again 2 minutes later to assess how well it dissipates heat. Only two mattresses stayed cool and dissipated heat well: the Siena above and the Lucid 10 Inch Memory Foam Plush Mattress. The Lucid did the best overall.

The $350 Lucid Plush mattress gets its cool feel from the top layer of gel-infused memory foam. Below is a layer of transition foam, then a bamboo charcoal-infused base foam for durability. All foams are CertiPUR-US-certified.

You can pick from three firmness options: firm, medium, and plush. I chose plush because softer mattresses help keep my spine better aligned when on my side. Stomach and back sleepers may want a firmer option.

The Lucid mattress passed my bowling ball test for motion isolation. However, the edge support was awful. The edge sank significantly and felt uncomfortable as I sat or lay on it, like I was going to fall off.

While the mattress was easy to set up, the initial odor stuck around after I unboxed it. Another negative is the short trial period: only 30 nights.

Pros: 365-night home trial, excellent edge support and motion dampening, good for all sleep styles, lifetime warranty, great heat dissipation

Cons: You pay for shipping if you return the mattress, not the best for people picky about comfort

Having slept on cheap mattresses for several months, I can tell you $500 usually isn't enough to buy a mattress that can provide a consistent good night's sleep for most people (though experts may disagree.) If you can spend just $200 more, you can get a much better night's sleep with the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, the best mattress I've tested for under $1,000.

The Nectar is featured in our guides to the best memory foam mattresses and best mattresses for back pain because it provides outstanding pressure relief and has a medium firmness that will appeal to most sleeping styles. I primarily slept on my side while testing it, and my back remained pain-free, despite my history of back pain.

The Nectar mattress features three CertiPUR-US-certified foam layers: a cooling top layer of gel memory foam, a middle transition layer for pressure relief, and a supportive foam base layer. Even when my bedroom was hot, I stayed cool while sleeping on the Nectar. When I got up, the heat dissipated quickly.

The motion isolation was excellent in our tests, and the edge support was good but not great. Still, this is a good choice for couples. 

Read our full Nectar Mattress review.

Return policy: Only one mattress I tested was available in showrooms, and I don't recommend it. Since you can't try most cheap mattresses before you buy them, a long, risk-free home trial is crucial. Ensure there aren't any catches in the return policy, such as restocking or shipping fees.

Warranty: Look for a warranty of at least 10 years. Your mattress should remain free from major defects for at least that long. And, if it doesn't, you should be able to replace it free of charge. All of the mattresses in our guide have warranties of at least 10 years.

Firmness: Side sleepers, petite individuals, and older people tend to prefer softer mattresses. Firm beds are better for stomach sleepers and heavier folks, and back sleepers fall in between. The key is finding a mattress that keeps your spine neutral while you sleep. 

Motion isolation and edge support: If you plan on sharing a bed with someone, motion isolation and edge support are necessary. A mattress with good motion isolation will keep you from being disturbed when your partner moves around. Good edge support gives you more usable space on your bed since you'll feel comfortable and supported even when lying on the periphery.

You won't find a perfect mattress at the under $500 price point. You need to be ready to compromise on comfort and quality. This may work for guest rooms and younger folks, but if you are older and suffer from aches and pains, we recommend spending more for a higher-quality mattress if you're able. Fortunately, many brands offer payment plans.

I tested all the mattresses in this guide, sleeping on each for at least 14 nights. I tried the queen size of each mattress, the most popular bed size. Each mattress was subjected to a battery of tests to determine its comfort, motion isolation, edge support, and more.

Here are some of the test results for the main attributes we tested:

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

Comfort: I assessed a mattress's firmness based on my experience testing dozens of mattresses. I paid attention to which positions I was most comfortable in: my side, stomach, or back. Also, I wore a Garmin Forerunner 945 watch to track my sleep quality.

Trial and warranty: Besides noting the home trial period and warranty length, I combed through the small print to find any catches, such as return shipping and restocking charges. Generally, you should expect a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. 

Motion Isolation: This aspect is important if you share a bed. A mattress with good motion isolation will keep you undisturbed as your partner shifts at night. I have two tests for this. First, I dropped a bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress, landing one foot from a soda can placed on the mattress. The bed didn't have very good motion isolation if the can fell over. If it stayed upright, the motion dampening was excellent. I also placed a vibrometer across the bed from where the bowling ball landed and compared the intensity of the vibrations. The Novaform had the lowest vibration value at 6.1 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. The Sleepy's Basic Innerspring Mattress was the worst at 8.5.

Edge support: I tested this in two ways. First, I sat on the edge of the mattress and measured how much it sank. If it sank less than 4 inches, the edge support was pretty good. My other test was to lay on the edge and roll closer to the edge until I fell. If my body got beyond a 45-degree angle before falling, then the bed had good edge support.

Setup: I timed how long it took to set up the mattresses without help in the morning. At bedtime, I checked whether the "new bed smell" had dissipated or lingered. I also moved the mattress around several times and noted how much it flopped around, if it had handles, and other aspects that made it hard or easy to move.

Are budget mattresses worth it?

While I've found you get what you pay for with mattresses, if you can only afford a budget mattress, it may be worth it. "There are budget-friendly mattresses that can be supportive and friendly to your wallet," said Tamara Huff, MD, a Georgia-based board-certified orthopedic surgeon. "I recommend looking for a medium to firm mattress with a good warranty."

Are cheap mattresses comfortable?

After 5 months of testing, I found some cheap mattresses that are comfortable. Yet, none offered the zoned support I craved. "Inexpensive mattresses can be comfortable," said Huff. "Ideally, look for a mattress with a return policy in case you notice discomfort 1 to 2 months in."

Should I consider a more expensive mattress?

If you can, yes. Unless you're looking for a mattress for a guest room or aren't picky about comfort, you'll be better off with a more expensive mattress. Based on my experience testing over 70 mattresses, you should count on spending at least $1,000 on a mattress you plan on sleeping on every night for the next 10 years.

When is the best time to buy a mattress?

Mattress retailers are always looking for reasons to have sales. Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Prime Day, Black Friday/Cyber Monday: these are great times for buying a mattress because manufacturers offer great sales. Since new lines are usually launched in June, spring is a smart time to get good deals on older models.

What mattress types are less expensive than others?

All the mattresses I recommend in this guide are made primarily of foam except one. All-foam mattresses tend to be cheaper than the hybrid, latex, adjustable air, and innerspring models. I found no latex or adjustable air models for under $500. There were three hybrid or innerspring models I tested for consideration, and I only recommend one, the Allswell.

Are spring or foam mattresses better?

It depends and comes down to personal preference. Hybrid and spring mattresses tend to be more durable, supportive, and breathable. Foam mattresses are usually more affordable and often do a good job of cradling your body, offering the "sinking in" feeling that some sleepers enjoy.