We all have to sleep, and the quality of this time of rejuvenation can have a direct impact on your overall quality of life. However, we don’t always have the money readily available to make a significant investment in a mattress when the time comes to purchase a new one. Here at The Sleep Judge, it’s our goal to help you understand your solutions when it comes to finding the best product to meet your needs, and budget is certainly a factor that must be considered.

There’s no reason to accept a bad mattress simply because you can only afford a cheap mattress. Obviously, having a little extra scratch to throw around will ensure that you end up with a luxurious sleep surface. But that doesn’t mean that bargain mattresses are automatically awful. There are plenty of wonderful mattresses out there at a lower price point. You don’t have to be rich to own a mattress that will provide a deep and satisfying sleep; you just need to be savvy and put in a little leg work. Like say, visiting the best mattress review site on the internet and seeking their advice. Fortunately, you’ve already taken that step. Now it’s time for the next one.

As you seek out the best mattress under $200, it’s worth pointing out that while you can find a product that will offer you the various aspects you’re looking for, you can typically expect the overall durability to be low. Therefore, I’d only recommend seeking out a mattress in this price range if you need a temporary solution that you can replace later with a more sizeable investment. You won’t find a mattress for under $200 that will last a lifetime. But, you can certainly find one that will give you plenty of sound nights of sleep. With all that being said, let’s jump right in! Read on to discover the five finest mattresses available for under $200 according to our Sleep Judge experts.

The Best Mattresses Under $200

An Expensive Price Tag Doesn’t Always Equal a Superior Product

For the most part, you get what you pay for in life. However, you don’t have to focus on the most expensive price tag as you shop for the best budget king mattress. For starters, some mattress companies ship direct to the consumer from the factory, and this cuts out the costs involved with a middle man. Simply going straight to the mattress source will make a huge impact on cutting down the price tag to meet your budget. There’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t be able to afford an excellent night’s sleep, which is why many mattress manufacturers provide well-constructed and satisfying products for every budget. As long as you do the research and are willing to hunt, you’ll find your dream mattress – regardless of your price range. High quality cheap mattresses are out there, you just have to find them.

Furthermore, even the most expensive mattresses may have features that aren’t suitable for everyone’s needs and preferences. Therefore, by doing a little bit of research, you can become better acquainted with your sleep needs and how you can translate that into finding a mattress that will fulfill your needs. A little effort goes a long way in the hunt for a mattress.

How to Get the Firmness Level Just Right

You have likely experienced various mattresses in your lifetime. Even if you’ve had the same one for many years, you’ve likely slept over at a friend or family member’s house or in a hotel. We’ve all been on mattresses that we love and mattresses that we hate. It happens! Not every mattress is suitable for every sleeper and vice versa. It’s likely that you have an idea of whether you prefer a soft, medium or firm product. However, as you shop online, how do you gauge your firmness preferences? The number you need to be on the lookout for is indentation load deflection. This is the amount of pressure measured in pounds it takes a 50 square inch circular indenter to compress the material a total of 25 percent of its total thickness.

An ILD of 12 pounds is very soft, and 50 pounds is very firm. This gives you a good idea of what will be best for you. Now, if you’re not sure, there’s a good chance you may fall into the majority as most people are well accommodated by a medium product, and this would be an ILD of anywhere between 25 and 31 pounds. Wrapping your head around ILD ratings isn’t as hard as it seems and will make a huge difference in ensuring you’ll end up with the mattress you deserve.

Consider Firmness Layer by Layer

While the product you may be considering may provide an overall ILD measurement, it’s also a good idea to check and see if they list the ILDs you can find in the various layers. It’s typically lower near the top, often between 12-16. However, they do typically increase as you approach the foundational layer. This is because the top layer is the comfort layer. If you carry a lot of weight, you may want to try and find a product that features a higher ILD in these upper layers as this is where the majority of compression takes place.

A Look At Foam Types

You’re going to be exposed to various types of foam, and it pays to understand the pros and cons of each. When shopping for best budget mattresses, you want to ensure you get the right combination of quality and personal comfort, and this is best achieved when you know what you’re looking for. Before you decide on a particular product, I’d strongly recommend you read our full foam types article. For now, let’s take a look at the main aspects of each:

1. Polyurethane

The Good

• Low price
• Good motion transfer reduction ability

The Bad

• Low durability depending on density

2. Convoluted Foam

The Good

• Great heat transfer capability
• Good price

The Bad

• Low durability depending on density

3. Best Budget Memory Foam Mattress

The Good

• Great motion transfer isolation
• Can find at a reasonable cost
• Durable

The Bad

• Retains heat

4. Reflex Foam

The Good

• Good durability
• Good motion transfer isolation
• Good heat transfer capabilities

The Bad

• Can be expensive

5. Latex

The Good

• Highly durable
• Good ability to breathe
• Good motion transfer reduction

The Bad

• Can be costly, but there are often inexpensive options available

Coil Count

You may very well come across products containing an innerspring layer, and this can prove to be a breathable product with good responsiveness and edge support. If these are important qualities for you, this may be something to look for.

If you do go for innerspring, there are a few suggestions I’d make as you weigh your options. For starters, there are a few things coil count will tell you. While you may assume that more is better, that’s not necessarily the case. It all depends on your personal preference. If you like a firmer mattress, then the previous statement about high coil count is true. However, if you like a more plush bed, you may want to skim down a bit on the coil count.

Attachment and Alignment

Another aspect that’s important to analyze is the attachment and alignment of the coil springs. Not only does this impact the response you’ll experience, but it also helps determine the level of motion isolation of the mattress. You should also be on the lookout for products that feature twice tempered steel.

Should You Pay Attention to the Brand?

There can be value to evaluating the brand before you make a purchase. Those with good reputations have them for a reason. They’ve often taken the time necessary to establish their mattresses and respond to feedback effectively to satisfy their customers. Furthermore, they often feature budget mattress reviews as a way to show potential customers what they can expect with their products.

Conclusion

Let’s face it. Money can be tight, and sometimes you just need a temporary fix until you can afford a product that will offer higher quality and durability. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a product that will offer you quality sleep for the time being. It’s worth noting that you can typically expect lower quality when you’re limited to this budget range, and you should have an action plan for a replacement in the near future. You won’t end up with a dream mattress that will last for the rest of your life for under $200, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy satisfying sleeps on an affordable mattress while you save up for something better.

All things considered, the LinenSpa 8-inch Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress is the best bargain. Not only do you get to take advantage of increased durability, but you can also enjoy it’s breathability and overall support and comfort. However, if you carry a lot of weight, you can expect it to wear more quickly.

I hope you’ve found this best mattress buying guide helpful. If you have any questions or comments about the products featured here or how to shop for a quality product on a low budget, feel free to comment below!

Additional Resources

• Mattress Size Chart
• Ultimate Mattress Buyer’s Guide
• Mattress Sizes and What Size Room You Should Have Them In
• 15 Mattress Types On the Market