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What Are The Best Mattresses for the Money

Candace Osmond

There are times when you want the best possible mattress on the market regardless of price and then there are other times when money actually figures into your decision-making process when you weigh the pros and cons of a mattress versus the price. Then there are other times when you want the best mattress for your money, period. A few decades ago buying the cheapest mattress meant you got a mattress that felt more like a bag of rocks wrapped in burlap, but that’s not the case anymore. Inexpensive doesn’t have to mean ”cheap” anymore.

With today’s bed-in-a-box sensation, there’s an option for everyone. Whether you are in the market for an affordable guest bed, a spare bed, a bunk bed, a bed for the cabin, or simply the best mattress deals, cheap can still be comfortable, and here we present our best affordable mattresses.

RankProductHighlightsTrial/Warranty
#1

LUCID 5 Inch Memory Foam Bed

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  • Layers: 2 – 4″ Bamboo charcoal infused high density base foam and 1″ gel-infused top layer
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Short Queen
  • Firmness Options:  Firm
10-year warranty
#2Nectar

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  • Layers: 5, Quilted Gel Memory Foam + Cooling Cover, Gel Memory Foam, Adaptive Hi Core Memory Foam, Breathable Base Layer, Bottom Mattress Cover
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Firmness options: 1 option standard
Lifetime warranty, 365-night trial risk-free
#3Loom & Leaf

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  • Layers: 4, Quilted Organic Cotton Coverage, Cooling Layer, Eco-Friendly 5 lb. Premium Foam, Multi-layer Breathable Support
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Firmness levels: Relaxed firm, Firm
15 years, 120 risk-free night trial
#4image-of-avocado-mattress-resizedAvocado

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  • Layers: Innerspring layer (1414 coils with 5 distinct ergonomics zones) Organic latex, organic wool, and organic cotton layers
  • sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full
  • Firmness options: one standard option
25-year warranty, one-year trial risk-free
#5Helix

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  • Layers: Depends on the model type
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full Queen, King, California King
  • Firmness options: Soft, Medium, and Firm
10-year warranty, 100-night sleep trial
#6Brentwood Bamboo

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  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Layers: Removable bamboo zipper cover, Natural New Zealand wool, Gel memory foam, Ventilated airflow zone, Support base foundation
  • Firmness options: 1 standard option
1-year free trial, 25-year warranty

LUCID 5 Inch Memory Foam Bed

Specs:

  • Warranty: 10-year warranty
  • Layers: 2 – 4″ Bamboo charcoal infused high density base foam and 1″ gel-infused top layer
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Short Queen
  • Firmness Options: Firm

Best Affordable Luxury Mattress

You need a new mattress, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money, we can recommend the LUCID 5-inch memory foam bed. It comes in a variety of sizes and you can choose between 5-8” of memory foam that is to your liking.   It can be used in bunk beds, trundle beds, or twin beds. With that said, it’s a perfect bed for a child, because they can jump on it and the bed will still maintain its form.

The LUCID is a firm memory foam bed making it perfect for people who “don’t want to sink in when they sleep”. On the exterior, you get the nice gel foam texture that you can expect with memory foam beds. On the interior, you get the bamboo charcoal infused high density base foam which is good if you’re hypoallergenic. LUCID also provides a polyester cover to go on the bed as well.

Pros

  • Good value for money
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Extremely comfortable
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • Maybe too firm for some people who expect a soft bed

Who Should Purchase This?

People who are looking for a memory foam bed for a lower price for themselves or their children.

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Nectar

Specs:

  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty with a 365-night trial risk-free
  • Layers: 5, Quilted Gel Memory Foam + Cooling Cover, Gel Memory Foam, Adaptive Hi Core Memory Foam, Breathable Base Layer, Bottom Mattress Cover
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Firmness options: 1 option standard

Best Value Mattress for Side Sleepers

This is a memory foam mattress made to help improve your daily sleep. It comes for a 365-night trial and forever warranty that will last a lifetime. The Nectar mattress has 5 different layers each made to enhance comfort and support throughout the night. When sent to your home, the mattress is rolled in packaging for easy transportation. With regulated airflow, you can sleep cool and comfortable throughout the entire night with no buildup of heat. This mattress can also support any sleep position by contouring to your body shape while you rest.

Pros

  • 5 layers of foam
  • Capable of contouring to an ideal sleep position
  • Air regulation ensures cooler sleep
  • Easy to open the compact bag when delivered

Cons

  • Memory foam can heat up rapidly after continuous use

Who Should Purchase This?

If you’ve experienced trouble sleeping lately, then the Nectar mattress is an ideal transition to make. This mattress can help you sleep in a more comfortable situation in any position that you feel fit. The five layers ensure there is constant airflow as well as a support underneath you throughout the entire night.

Read our full review here

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Loom & Leaf

Specs:

  • Warranty: 15 years and 120 risk-free night trial
  • Layers: 4, Quilted Organic Cotton Coverage, Cooling Layer, Eco-Friendly 5 lb. Premium Foam, Multi-layer Breathable Support
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Firmness levels: Relaxed firm, Firm

Best Value Mattress for Back Pain

The Loom and Leaf mattress offers a great solution to anyone with back pain while sleeping. This mattress has 4 layers which help you sleep during the night comfortably and cool. The fact that this mattress is so soft and well supported ensures that your back will be positioned properly throughout the entire night

You can customize the firmness level of your mattress to your own preference. A huge selling point of this mattress is its price, which tends to be around 70% cheaper than most other mattresses. This mattress will never be delivered in a box, but instead delivered right to your home open and ready for use.

Pros

  • Price is 70% less than regular retailers
  • Comfortable and cool rest with greater support
  • Complementary adjustable base from Loom and Leaf
  • Delivery straight to your door
  • Allergy and antimicrobial-resistant

Cons

  • The tendency to start sinking quickly
  • Heats up during the night

Who Should Purchase This?

This mattress should be purchased by those who experience back pain frequently. It’s better and recommended not to give this mattress to children but instead adolescents and adults.

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Avocado

Specs:

  • Warranty: 25-year warranty with a one-year trial risk-free
  • Layers: Innerspring layer (1414 coils with 5 distinct ergonomics zones) Organic latex, organic wool, and organic cotton layers
  • sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full
  • Firmness options: one standard option

Best Innerspring Value Mattress

This is an innerspring mattress. Avocado’s specialty is to create completely natural mattresses that are environmentally friendly and safe to use. These mattresses have natural foam layers and are manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner. Avocado’s certifications include 100% natural wool, organic cotton, organic latex, and handmade button tufted mattresses.

Unfortunately, this mattress has limited size options coming in only twin, twin XL, and full. This mattress is a combination of certified organic latex, organic wool, and organic cotton.

Pros

  • 100% organic construction
  • Innerspring mattress
  • Optional pillow top cover
  • Needle tufted mattress by hand

Cons

  • A limited number of size options
  • Considerably shorter lifespan

Who Should Purchase This?

People who don’t enjoy foam mattress is can take advantage of this luxury option innerspring mattress. It’s also a great option for those who are very cautious of the environmental impact created by the products they purchase. With multiple certifications, you can rest assured that this mattress causes no damage to the environment during manufacturing.

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Helix

Specs:

  • Warranty: 10-year warranty with a 100-night sleep trial
  • Layers: Depends on the model type
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full Queen, King, California King
  • Firmness options: Soft, Medium, and Firm

Best Value Hybrid Mattress

Helix is best known for its great combination of memory foam and innerspring.  Their hybrid mattresses come in 2 different series; Helix and Helix Lux. Helix also has another series which is the Birch series, an organic collection of mattresses that are more environmentally friendly than other options.

There is a wide variety of Helix mattress is to choose from, each with their own special features that make them individual. Helix mattresses are available in soft, firm, and medium firmness levels. They also come in a variety of sizes fit for any frame type. To get an idea of which mattress is right for you, Helix.com has a survey that can analyze your preferences and requirements.

Pros

  • The hybrid mattress includes foam and innerspring
  • Wide variety of mattresses to choose from
  • Organic options available
  • Pressure relief, position support, body contouring, and regulated airflow

Cons

  • Inaccurate test results can lead to inefficient mattress choice

Who Should Purchase This?

Some people are constantly stuck between innerspring and memory foam benefits. When it comes to Helix mattresses, you get the best of both situations, plus added advantages provided by Helix. If you feel that a hybrid mattress is what you need then Helix is the right place to go to.

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Brentwood Bamboo

Specs:

  • Warranty: 1-year free trial and 25-year warranty
  • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
  • Layers: Removable bamboo zipper cover, Natural New Zealand wool, Gel memory foam, Ventilated airflow zone, Support base foundation
  • Firmness options: 1 standard option

Best Mattress Under $500

Not everyone’s looking for a $1000 mattress. Some people want an affordable mattress that can last longer as well as stay under a budget. A great mattress that you can buy under $500 is the Brentwood Cypress Bamboo Gel Mattress. This mattress is comfortable, long lasting, and affordable. The gel inside ensures that the mattress stays cool instead of retaining heat.

There are a number of size options you can choose from which all remain under the $500 limit. You don’t have to pay the entire price all at once but can instead pay in installations while enjoying your new mattress. This mattress comes with a one-year night trial risk-free and a 25-year warranty.

Pros

  • Affordable budget sizes come under $500
  • Soft viscose bamboo coverage
  • Pressure-relieving and motion isolation
  • Nontoxic materials

Cons

  • Deliveries from sites other than Brentwood may not support the 25-year warranty

Who Should Purchase This?

it’s OK to be picky about your budget. Just rest assured that you can always find something worth the money inside of $500, like the Brentwood Bamboo option. This mattress has all the benefits of a $1000 luxury mattress while still remaining affordable for those who don’t have that kind of money on hand.

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