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You’ve probably noticed that the world of mattresses is both crowded and expensive. Whether on your Instagram feed or a subway advertisement, every day someone is selling a new, “life-changing” mattress that’ll revolutionize the way you sleep. But, don’t let fancy marketing campaigns or pricey mattresses in a box sway you — you don’t have to shell out a lot of money to upgrade your sleep experience. The best cheap mattresses come in all materials and sizes, and don’t have to cost more than $550.
Before you buy a mattress, it’s important to consider its material. For example, a traditional coil mattress can be cheaper than a lot of other options, but coil mattresses with lower price points tend to have a lower coil count, which means less support. While both memory foam and latex mattresses will contour to your body’s shape to relieve pressure, they can be a bit more expensive. Keep your eyes peeled for hybrid mattresses that combine materials and strike a great balance between affordability and support.
Not to complicate matters further, but you’ll want to keep your sleep style top of mind. If you tend to run warm when you’re sleeping, you’ll need an option with proper ventilation or a mattress infused with gel, which will keep you cool even when you’re overheating.
Here’s a round-up of some of the best cheap mattresses out there that won’t break the bank. Pro-tip: These are sorted by price, low to high.
1
The Best Mattress Under $250
What makes it great: This super plush mattress is pretty much like sleeping on a cloud. Made with 8 inches of foam (2 inches of memory foam and 6 inches of high-density memory foam), this mattress allows you to literally sink into it to relieve pain and pressure. That makes this a great mid-priced option if you experience any sleep-related back pain. On top of that, it’s made with eco-friendly materials and doesn’t include any mercury, heavy metals, or flame retardants in the foam.
Available sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king
Available depths: 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches
One reviewer wrote: “One of the best investment I made. Very convenient to sleep. Super comfortable. I have been using this for 2 years and the mattress is still super comfortable to use. I recommended them to a couple of friends and they also said the same thing. Definitely worth buying.”
2
The Mattress That Comes In The Most Sizes
What makes it great: Like many popular memory foam mattresses, this triple-layer mattress features a top layer of ventilated gel memory foam that regulates body temperature, a middle layer of transition foam, and a bottom layer of dense bamboo charcoal-infused foam that provides amazing support. If both budget and back pain are a concern, this mattress is definitely the pick for you. This option is pretty squarely in the medium-firm category and one of its biggest drawers is that it comes in so many size and density options. You can choose among nine mattress sizes, as well as firm, medium, or plush densities. This pick has a 4.5-star rating and more than 14,200 reviews.
Available sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, full XL, short queen, queen, king, California king, split king
Available depth: 10 inches
One reviewer wrote: “I know the low price might fool you, but this mattress is amazing and I’m super picky. I was nervous it would be too plush since it’s all foam but it’s actually pretty firm! I sleep like a baby on this thing.”
3
The Fan-Favorite Mattress
- Also available on Overstock, $410
What makes it great: This latex-memory foam hybrid mattress is designed with three layers: At the top there’s 2 inches of super soft comfort foam, followed by almost 4 inches of ventilated foam, and then a supportive base made of high-density foam. This is one of the best mattresses if you tend to overheat at night. Plus, the entire mattress is infused with green tea extract, which is a naturally antimicrobial, to keep it clean and odor-free. But, don’t take my word for it — it has more than 120,000 ratings.
Available sizes: Narrow twin, twin, twin XL, full, short queen, queen, king, California queen
Available depths: 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches
One reviewer wrote: “I’ve now owned this bed for over a year now. I love it. It’s so comfortable, I find myself longing for my own bed when staying in hotels which in the past was never something I’d felt with previous beds.”
4
This Flippable Mattress With Soft & Medium-Firm Sides
- Also available on Walmart, $384, and Sweetnight, $440
What makes it great: This memory foam mattress features four layers of foam and an ingenious flippable design — the manufacturer describes one side as soft and the other as medium-firm — so that you can get the right fit for you. The more plush side has a 2-inch layer of cooling gel foam to help regulate your body temperature and keep you comfortable at night. The firmer side has three inches of high-density base foam. And sandwiched between the two types of foam are two layers of comfort foam, which measure 5 inches in total depth. Choose from a 10-inch mattress (featured above) and a slightly thicker 12-inch one. Best of all, it comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Available sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
Available depths: 10 inches, 12 inches
One reviewer wrote: “This mattress is a best buy! High quality and great comfort. This mattress can be flipped. Not just rotated. It has a softer feel on one side and a firmer feel on the other. It feels great and supportive. It is also relatively cool. It comes in a box. I was skeptical at first but it actually does spring back into shape. The instructions say give it 72 hours to reshape but mine was fine in 36. Since it’s only 10 [inches] in height it accepts standard sheets and not the deep pocket only.”
5
The Best Firm Mattress
What makes it great: For the most support, this firm hybrid mattress is composed of tightly wrapped coils and high-density foam, and the top 1.5 inches are layered with a softer foam topper. The best part? Even if you toss and turn in your sleep, this mattress cradles your body without any motion transfer whatsoever. Some reviewers were skeptical that this mattress would truly be “extra firm” with the memory foam topper, but they were pleasantly surprised. So if you’re a stomach sleeper or just prefer a truly firm mattress, this is a solid pick.
Available sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
Available depths: 10 inches, 12 inches, 14 inches
One reviewer wrote: “Best firm mattress for the best price. [...] This bed has made such a big difference for my sleep since I got it. I have major back issues including a herniated disc and I’ve been looking for a firm mattress and when I got this one I knew I found the right one. I absolutely love it.”
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