Best Mattress Under $500

Let’s face it. We all want to get proper, restful sleep, but we don’t always have thousands of dollars to invest in a new mattress. While you typically get what you pay for, there are a number of products on the market you can take advantage of for under $500. This can help you get the recommended amount of sleep for your specific needs in the short-term, until you can afford a more high-quality product in the future. Our team at The Sleep Judge is here to help you determine the best mattress under $500 that will meet your needs. Take a look at the top mattress reviews in our buying guide to help narrow down which type of mattress will be best for your preferences and, most importantly, your budget!

The Top Mattresses Under $500

How to Choose a Quality Mattress

There are hundreds of quality mattresses on the market, and many of them feature attractive price tags. This can make it difficult to determine which will offer the qualities you’re specifically looking for. That’s why it’s important to understand a few key features to be on the lookout for.

Don’t Rely on Generalized Firmness Levels

While analyzing firmness levels, you’re likely going to come across terms such as soft, medium and firm. While this can give you a general idea of what to expect, there is a better way to determine how soft or firm your product will be upon arrival. Look for indentation load deflection. This will typically be listed as the product’s ILD, and this is an industry standard that can help you make the best decision.

In general terms, the higher the ILD, the firmer the mattress. This is because of the way it’s tested. Using a foam sample of material measuring 15 inches x 15 inches x 4 inches, a 50 square inch circular indenter is used to compress the material a total of 25 percent of its thickness. The amount of force necessary to accomplish this determines the ILD of the product.

It’s important to understand that there are a variety of variables to take into consideration, and you can read more about those on our comprehensive ILD breakdown. However, a general rule is that an ILD of 12 is very soft and 50 is very firm. This makes an ILD of around 30 a relatively happy medium. Keep in mind that ILD’s are not always listed, so it can be well worth your time to contact customer service to find out this valuable information.

Not Sure of Your Preferences?

Many people just aren’t sure what they prefer, and this can make things difficult. This is often the case when you haven’t shopped for a mattress in a while. When you go too firm, you risk the creation of uncomfortable pressure points that prevent you from enjoying comfortable sleep. However, when you go too soft, some sleeping types may experience discomfort. Here is a good guidelines to follow to help you make the choice a little easier to make:

• • Back sleeper – Soft or medium
  • Stomach sleeper – Firm or medium
  • Side sleeper – Soft, medium, or firm

Ultimately, this area is one of personal preference. Only you know what works best for you, and this guide can help lead you to the best choice for you.

Take Advantage of Reviews

What better way to guide your decision than to hear what actual customers have to say? Here at The Sleep Judge, we’ve tried out dozens of products and we make it our goal to provide you with an unbiased overview of just what we thought of the product. We offer in-depth coverage of just what you can expect backed with pictures and videos to help you visualize the various products in your home and how you can expect to enjoy them.

Comfort and Foam Types

Once you figure out the firmness level that works for you, you then get to examine the many types of material on the market. There are many different foam types and they each have their own features and advantages that may or may not appeal to you as an individual. Let’s walk you through some of these options to help you make the right choice.

Polyfoam

Since you’re shopping on a budget, you’re likely to come across polyfoam, and this is because of the way it’s manufactured. These products are often relatively soft, and many consumers complain that:

• • Sagging develops over time
  • The product lacks adequate support
  • Excessive offgassing

Only you know your goals when it comes to arriving at the right product. If you aren’t as concerned with durability, for example, you may be planning to buy something else in the near future, polyfoam can be a very cost-effective short-term solution. These products are often hypoallergenic and can offer proper spinal support to ensure overall good posture and body mechanics.

Convoluted Foam

Convoluted foam is commonly associated with egg cartons as they are similar in appearance, and these products feature low costs and good heat dispersion qualities, generally speaking. The manufacturing process is relatively simplistic, and this makes it another popular option on a budget. In the short-term, they offer good spinal alignment and are easy to pack up and move around. However, when it comes to durability, depending on the density, this isn’t going to be your best option.

Latex Foam

Latex can be an excellent option when you’re seeking an affordable option that is durable. While the previous options are not well-known for durability, you can typically expect latex products to last. Some of the features you can take advantage of with latex include:

• • Environmental benefits since latex is made using organic material
  • Great heat transfer capabilities
  • Options of Talalay and Dunlop manufacturing process

Memory Foam

While memory foam is typically more expensive, there are products available that are in-line with a $500 budget. These products are known for their “sinking-in” feeling, and they are great for those who enjoy to feel the hug these mattresses are known to provide. If you shop for these options, it’s worth noting that you should find out if the product features traditional memory foam as these products are known to sleep hot. Open-cell memory foam can help eliminate this problem.

While seeking the best memory foam mattress under $500, you may look for products featuring a layer near the top. These products provide the feel you’re looking for in memory foam often at a lower cost.

Consider Cost Differences in Sizes

It’s much easier to stay within your cost range when you’re seeking out a twin or full size product as these typically cost less. The smaller the size, the higher the quality you can invest in without going over your budget. Finding the best king mattress under 500 or queen size model becomes a little more difficult.

Conclusion

What’s the best mattress for under $500? All things considered, our pick is the Zinus 12″ Pressure Relief Mattress, and there are a few reasons why. For starters, the product features a high density base support foam, and this helps ensure that you’ll get the most for your money in the long-term as higher density means higher durability. As mattresses are expensive, yours isn’t a product you want to be replacing every few years or so – you want it to go the distance and be worthy of your hard-earned money. Memory foam is also known to be a durable product, so this is also helpful in stretching your dollar. Of course, everyone is unique and personal preference will be a large factor to consider as you shop for your mattress. We hope that our comprehensive buyer’s guide can serve to help you arrive at the decision that best suits your unique needs.

Recent Updates

June 3, 2021: Brentwood Bamboo Gel 13 Inch Mattress has been updated to Brentwood Home Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress as per Amazon listing. Our fourth product, DynastyMattress Memory Foam Mattress has been replaced by the Zinus 12 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress due to product unavailability and rising popularity of Zinus products. A fifth product, Classic Brands Cool Gel Chill Memory Foam 14 Inch Mattress has been added due to popularity.

July 6, 2021: Our former Editor’s Choice, the Brentwood Home Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress, has been replaced by our #3 pick, Zinus 12 Inch Ultima Pressure Relief Mattress, due to unavailability of the former product. A new mattress has been added to our list, the LUCID 12 Inch Hybrid Mattress, as a popular customer choice product.