We Tested 250+ Mattresses—These Are the Best Affordable Ones Under $500

You can definitely find mattresses that perform well for a great value. These are some things you can expect when shopping for a more affordable bed:

✔️ Shorter profile and fewer comfort layers: One of the most noticeable differences in an affordable mattress is the height. Cheaper mattresses tend to have fewer layers of material inside, which can lead to a less comfortable feel, especially if you deal with back pain. An easy fix to add more height and improve comfort is to add a mattress topper.

✔️ Firmer feel: Because there are fewer layers, cheaper beds tend to have a firmer feel. Firmer beds are ideal for stomach sleepers, while side sleepers need a softer surface and back/combo sleepers can choose a bed somewhere in between.

✔️ Questionable brands: It's best to choose a mattress from a reputable company because some low-priced beds from lesser-known brands are too good to be true. Besides buying from a well-known brand, both Amazon and Walmart offer affordable mattresses with supportive customer service and generous return policies.

✔️ Low-cost materials: Mattresses are made with metal coils, foam, or a combination of the two (known as a hybrid). A cheap spring mattress may be less comfortable than a hybrid model, so we recommend sticking with hybrids or adding a topper. If you're worried about the safety of foams in cheaper mattresses, look to see if the bed is CertiPUR-US or GreenGuard certified, which indicates that there are low levels of VOCs.

Although there are plenty of cheap mattresses available all year long, we recommend keeping an eye out for holiday-specific sales to find an even better deal! Many mattress brands discount their beds during major holidays including July 4th, Labor Day, President's Day, and Memorial Day.

You can also shop for a discounted price during major sale events on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. It's normal for brands to offer competitive discounts starting around 10% off and running upwards of 40% off for specific models.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've reviewed hundreds of mattresses over the years. We first consider product information and construction and vet the mattress brands to ensure they're trustworthy before checking out many of the models in person. We also share mattresses with our consumer testers who sleep on the beds in their own homes and provide us with real-world feedback.

Along with testing mattresses, we survey our GH+ panelists about the mattresses they currently sleep on or have purchased. Our surveys have been completed by over 10,000 mattress owners, leaving us with over 170,000 data points for analysis that cover everything from overall comfort and sleep temperature to delivery and setup. We combine our expert analysis, consumer testing and survey responses to decide which mattresses are worth it.

Here's what we consider when picking the best mattress for you:

After years of evaluating mattresses of all kinds, we've put together some helpful tips for mattress shopping:

✔️ Sleep position: While you're sleeping, it's important to achieve neutral spinal alignment to prevent aches and pains. Depending on your sleep position, you may require a mattress that's firm, medium or soft.

• Stomach sleepers should choose a firmer mattress.
• Side sleepers should opt for softer beds for pressure relief around the shoulders and hips.
• Back sleepers and combination sleepers should opt for a medium firmness mattress that's stable enough to sleep on your back, but plush enough that your hips and shoulders will be able to sink into the mattress slightly as you change positions.

✔️ Body type: A soft, plush mattress may not be the ideal mattress for heavier people or those with larger frames who need more supportive beds. Instead of a plush mattress, try a firmer foam mattress or a hybrid option that combines foam with structured metal coils. Lighter-weight people tend to prefer softer mattresses and don't find as much comfort in firmer beds. Consider both your weight and your sleep position when choosing your mattress firmness level.

✔️ Pain sufferers: If you suffer from back pain, look for a mattress with pressure-relieving foams or one that combines plush foam and coils. According to medical experts, pain sufferers should sleep on medium-firmness level mattresses because they provide a balance of cushion and support.

✔️ Temperature: Sweaty sleepers should keep an eye out for temperature-regulating or cooling claims. Know that memory foam materials are often dense and absorb and trap body heat, but there are some foams like those infused with copper particles, gel and phase-change technology that can help to regulate your temperature at night. We recommend hot sleepers choose a mattress that uses coils for improved airflow, whether it's a hybrid or innerspring model.

✔️ Trial period: When you're shopping for an affordable mattress online, it can be hard to decide if it's right for you. All of the affordable mattresses featured have generous trial policies, so you're able to sleep on your new bed from between 30 to 100 nights before committing to your purchase. Review the brand and retailers' specific policies to determine if there are any associated fees for things like return shipping or pick-up.

Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine joined the Textiles Lab in 2022 and has tested and reviewed other mattresses, including Puffy's beds, Saatva's Classic Mattress, and Tempur-Pedic's collection. She has also worked with mattress brands and toured a mattress factory to learn more about mattresses, the materials involved and their manufacturing processes. Constantine used her categorical expertise and reviewed testing and survey data when researching and choosing picks for the best mattresses under $500.