Best Cheap Mattress for 2024
Sleep better with a great mattress that won’t destroy your wallet. Here are our tested and reviewed choices for the best cheap mattress.
What to consider
Firmness
Sleeping position
Feel
Construction
Body type
Performance
Company policies
Our Picks
The best affordable mattresses will offer support and comfort without breaking the bank. Everyone deserves a good night's sleep, from side sleepers to stomach sleepers, there's a quality mattress out there for you. For those sleepers who need a softer mattress, memory foam mattress with great foam layers, or you’re looking for the best budget hybrid mattress around -- we’ve found something for everyone on a budget.
Our prices are based on queen size mattresses since it's the most common mattress. That doesn't mean going up or down a size will keep them from being inexpensive mattresses, it will likely still be a cheaper mattress for the size you need compared to others on the market.
What's the best cheap mattress overall?
Dreamfoam by Brooklyn Bedding makes comfortable bed-in-a-box mattresses with various feels and firmness levels to accommodate a wide range of people. The Dreamfoam Hybrid is a popular option in the brand's Dreamsync Collection that offers a medium firmness profile and a soft, neutral foam feel that most people will enjoy. You don't want to sacrifice quality when buying a cheap mattress, which is not a concern when you buy the Dreamfoam Hybrid.
Video: Best cheap mattresses for 2024
Watch CNET mattress expert Owen Poole review the best cheap mattresses for 2024.
The best cheap mattresses of 2024
Dreamfoam Hybrid
Best cheap mattress overall
Zinus Green Tea mattress
Best cheap bed-in-a-box mattress
Dreamfoam Doze
Best cheap mattress for guest rooms
Cocoon Chill
Best cheap mattress for hot sleepers
Tuft & Needle Nod
Best cheap mattress on Amazon
Lucid 10-inch Gel Memory Foam
Best cheap memory-foam mattress
Allswell
Best cheap mattress under $500
Other cheap mattresses we've tested
Much goes on behind the scenes to curate our best lists, including hundreds of mattress-testing hours to find out which beds are truly worth your money. Our CNET Sleep editors are the ones who curated this best affordable mattress list, as they chose their top favorite cheap beds from the 100+ they've tested. With that being said, they've also included another mattress option below that could also be up for consideration.
Bear Original mattress: The Bear Original mattress isn't the cheapest bed we've encountered, but it offers excellent value. It's made with graphite-gel memory foam, so it doesn't retain heat like older types of memory foam mattresses used to, and it provides that signature hugging feel memory foam has become known for. In my opinion, one of the best parts -- besides the budget mattress price -- is the optional Celliant-infused cover.
How we test cheap mattresses
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. For this list, we considered a "cheap mattress" to be between $300 and $800 (with discounts applied). Many cheap mattresses are low-quality, but the ones listed here were chosen because of their ability to stand out as quality beds at affordable prices.
It's impressive to have a cheap mattress with cooling tech, a thick, cheap mattress or a cheap mattress with targeted support and pressure relief. Other cheap beds listed don't have special qualities, but they're quite comfortable for the price they offer and are more durable than poor-quality cheap mattresses.
Read more on how we test mattresses.
What to consider when buying a cheap mattress
You get what you pay for, and that rings especially true with mattresses. That said, there are cheap mattresses out there that are both worth the money and comfy to sleep on each night. You can't expect any crazy bells and whistles, but that's not typically what you look for in a cheap mattress.
- Construction: Your body type should help determine the type of mattress construction you want. People over 230 pounds may want a cheap hybrid mattress because the steel coils inside of them help them provide more support. People under that weight can opt for a cheap foam mattress. You should also consider thickness; the thicker the mattress, the more supportive it is.
- Brand reputation: Do your research when you're looking to buy the best cheap mattress and look closely at retailers, especially on Amazon. Some companies try to sell dupes of popular cheap beds like Casper Element and Nod, so be vigilant.
- Firmness: What's best, a soft or firm mattress? It depends on your sleeping position. Side sleepers should consider a soft mattress, whereas back and stomach sleepers may want something on the firmer end for ample back support.
- Price: Remember, you get what you pay for. You likely won't find a bed under $100 or even $200 unless it's designed to fall apart in a year or is already used.
We also feel it's important to remind you of possible downsides of buying a cheap mattress:
- They typically aren't as thick or durable as an average foam or hybrid bed.
- Unless there's specific cooling tech, they can sleep hotter than a regular mattress.
- Cheap beds don't usually use organic or natural materials.
- Unless it's a hybrid, a cheap mattress likely isn't supportive enough for someone over 230 pounds.
- Cheap mattresses are made with cheaper or fewer materials to achieve a lower price.
What you can expect is a few layers of comfy foam or a layer of pocketed coils if you go for something like the Allswell mattress. You can typically get around three to five years out of a cheap bed, maybe a little longer if you take good care of it (rotate it every six months and deep clean it once a year).
Best cheap mattresses FAQs
Which mattress types are more expensive than others?
Foam mattresses tend to be cheaper than innerspring or hybrid mattresses because the materials are cheaper to make. Hybrid mattresses are made with steel coils, while foam beds are made from soft foam materials. Memory foam and polyurethane foam are among the most affordable types of foam, while latex foam tends to be the most expensive -- especially if it's natural or organic.
Are cheap mattresses worth it?
If you aren't looking for extreme durability and longevity, a cheap mattress may be a good option. Cheap mattresses may be ideal for young children or professionals looking to save money. They also work well for guest bedrooms, college dorm rooms and first-time apartments. If you want to invest in your sleep and keep your mattress for more than five years, you may want to save up a little more.
When is the best time to buy a mattress?
Online brands run discounts at all times of the year, but you'll usually walk away with the best deals around key holidays like Presidents Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Black Friday and Christmas.
What are the best budget mattress brands?
You'll find the best budget mattresses from Lucid, Zinus, Allswell, Tuft & Needle, Dreamfoam and Sealy.