10 Highest Rated Budget (Cheap) Beds for 2023

The Sleep Advisor team reviews each mattress in person so we have a genuine understanding of how the mattress feels and performs. To begin, we unbox the mattress and place it onto a bedframe. We first asses the cover, looking for features like cooling, softness, and cushioning. The next step is to evaluate how the bed performs under pressure, first by applying pressure with our hands and then in each sleep position. Lying in different positions lets us know how supportive the bed is and if it’s good at relieving pressure. After that, we’ll perform a series of tests for additional features, such as bounce, motion isolation, and edge support. The final testing portion is to determine if there are any new mattress smells present, which is known as off-gassing. These smells usually go away within a day or two, but it’s helpful to know if you can expect any right away, particularly if you’re sensitive to odors. We then take all the information we’ve gathered to rate the bed in individual categories as well as how it stacks up overall. This gives us a thorough idea of who we would recommend this product to, helping our readers find the right mattress for their needs.

The process of picking the right mattresses to include in our lists is a thorough one. We start by researching the market and cutting out the mattresses with poor customer reviews, warranties, and trial periods. Next, we check the price, comparing it with the mattress’s features, specs, pros, and cons. This way, we ensure that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and that the entire mattress is worth the price. Lastly, our team tests the beds to see how they perform in terms of comfort, support, motion isolation, pressure relief, and more. Below we detail specific qualities we look at for the beds on this list. 

• Price – The price of a mattress is the focal point here. Since we’re reviewing budget mattresses, we made sure all models have a Queen size option with a general average near or slightly above the 1,000-dollar mark. These beds reflect affordable prices within the mattress industry, while still offering technologies, features, and materials that make them worth the money. 
• Materials – We made sure all the budget mattresses we reviewed feature top-notch materials. This ensures that despite the lower price, you’re not missing out on quality. The most commonly used materials in affordable mattresses are memory foam, cotton, polyester, gel-infused foam, poly foam, and pocketed coils. 
• Durability – Durability is usually a major concern for most people shopping for an affordable mattress because they may fear that these beds won’t last as long as the most expensive models. The models we included come with long-lasting warranties, which is often an indicator of a durable mattress and shows the company backs up their products. 
• Sleeping Position – We tested these beds in all sleeping positions to make sure they fit a range of sleepers shopping on a budget. This way, we were able to tell which beds could be the best for side, back, and stomach sleeping. 
• Firmness – Without the right firmness, you may find even the most expensive mattress uncomfortable. Firmness reflects how soft or hard a bed feels. Many of the beds we include feature medium-firm feels that can work for most sleepers. However, we also include models that have softer or firmer feels, as well as those that come in multiple firmness levels. This allows the list to cater to all types of sleepers. 
• Pressure Relief – We tested each bed, especially those marketed as good for side sleepers, to see whether they relieve pressure in sensitive areas like the shoulders, knees, and hips.
• Sales – Who doesn’t love a good sale? The Sleep Advisor team looked for special brand sales to find the best deals on affordable mattresses, making it easier to get all the benefits without breaking the bank.

The price of your mattress will be somewhat dependent on what’s inside it. Certain materials and features are reliably cheaper than others, with the best budget-friendly beds boasting a marriage of high-quality components and affordable price points.

Innerspring mattresses are the oldest and likely the cheapest type of bed available. They consist of thinner comfort layers on top of a coil unit, which can have either interconnected or pocketed (independent) coils.

If you’re looking for a budget mattress without too many bells and whistles, a classic, no-frills innerspring is a good choice. Just be sure to monitor its feel for any sagging or poking from the coils.

Average Price: A few hundred dollars for especially basic models with a short lifespan, and around $1,000 for more reliable versions.

Memory foam is best known for its ability to mold to the contours of your body when you lie down, creating a responsive “cradle” as you sleep. It’s just one of many types of poly foams used in mattresses today.

Like innerspring mattresses, all-foam and memory foam beds are some of the most affordable mattresses out there. You’ll want to ensure the quality of the foam before you buy, so look for foams that have been CertiPUR-US® certified—this designation means that they’re free of certain harmful chemicals and pass emissions standards.

Average Price: Discounted and bare-bones models can go for around $500, but models with trustworthy and durable foams cost closer to $1,000 and up.

Latex mattresses incorporate latex foam, a poly foam alternative that’s derived from the sap of rubber trees. It’s a relative newcomer to the mattress scene and its advantages—heightened cooling, a comfortable-yet-springy feel, and impressive longevity, to name a few—mean it’s priced a bit higher than more traditional materials.

For many shoppers, the natural and eco-friendly origins of latex foam make it a desirable choice. But as with all mattress materials, latex can be processed and utilized in different ways. Be sure to look into how a mattress brand manufactures and certifies its latex before buying.

Average Price: You’ll typically pay more than $1,000 for a quality latex mattress, so keep an eye out for deals if you’re looking for a budget model.

Because they combine layers of foam with a supportive coil unit, hybrid mattresses can be tough to reconcile with a tight budget—they’re essentially two types of mattress in one package.

Finding a cheap hybrid mattress may mean timing your search around holiday sales, scoping the internet for deals, and just plain getting lucky. You don’t want to compromise too much on the quality of the foams or the springs in the bed, so bypass any tempting offers that don’t share a lot of information about the bed’s makeup.

Average Price: There are precious few hybrids available for less than $1,000. You’re more likely to pay $1,500 and up for these beds.

The term “airbed” can mean two different things: a portable inflatable air mattress, or a hyper-fancy modern mattress with air chambers inside that can inflate or deflate to adjust the bed’s feel.

Air mattresses, like the kind that you can store in a closet and bring out for guests, are extremely affordable compared to traditional mattresses. You can find robust models out there for a couple hundred dollars, and basic ones for even less than that. However, they aren’t typically meant for long-term use, and don’t have the right kind of support to function well as “regular” beds.

Airbeds, on the other hand, are the peak of customizability and luxury. They often have separate controls for each side of the bed so you and a partner can change the firmness to suit your individual preferences. They’re high-tech and high-comfort, so they’re one of the most expensive kinds of mattresses on the market.

Average Price: Adjustable airbeds typically cost $2,000 or more. The most budget-friendly options will probably still be $1,000 and up.

Holiday sales are an excellent opportunity to save even more money on premium mattresses. Most brands offer extra discounts during holidays, so you can find many models at reduced prices. However, one thing to keep in mind is that you may have to be quick. These sales are often so affordable that you have little time before all the mattresses are sold out. For this reason, it’s best to do your research before the sale so that you know what you want.

Coupons are another great way to get a discount on a certain mattress you’re interested in. Shopping with coupons is easy since all you need to do is enter one at checkout. Most brands offer this way of shopping, so you’ll probably find your favorite mattress in no time, getting a lot off the original price.

You have a better chance of finding an affordable mattress when shopping online rather than in a store. Beds that are only available online are often cheaper because there are no middlemen between you and the brand. Buying directly from the brand allows them to cut costs, which then results in cheaper prices. 

Read More: How to Buy a Mattress Online

If you’re searching for a mattress under $1000, you have considerable options, especially if you’re buying online. We’ve found that online mattress companies are often able to offer premium quality at about half the cost of brick-and-mortar retailers because they cut out the middleman. In fact, many online mattress stores carry premium options at just under 1,000 dollars.

With this budget, you’re not limited to just memory foam mattresses, either. For people who love memory foam beds, you can get a top-of-the-line bed in this price range. When you’re buying a foam mattress, it’s important to remember that not all foams are created equal.

They come in varying levels of density, and higher densities generally perform better than lower ones. While evaluating different brands, you’ll see numbers ranging from 2.5 to 7.0 pounds per cubic foot.

Low-density foams are not inherently awful; however, they usually contain less material, which is one of the reasons they’re cheaper. There’s less material, so these cheaper mattresses are also liable to soften quickly and lose support, shortening the life of the mattress. Low-density foam beds tend to last five years (or less), while medium to high-density foam could serve you comfortably for up to 10 years.

If you come across a cheap bed with low-density foam, don’t discount it as low-quality right away. Many higher-quality mattresses have multiple layers of foam of varying density.

They work together offering a combination of support and comfort to give you a superior night of sleep. For example, you may see a high-density foam for the base layer and a very low-density number for the top layer.

There are some genuine mattress deals under $500 out there, but you’re going to have to look a little harder and give up on a few of the luxury features.

At this inexpensive price point, you may be limited mostly to pure foam mattresses, though there are a few notable hybrid exceptions. Overall, the materials won’t be high-end, and you’ll sacrifice some durability.

For example, the coils you might find in beds less than 500 dollars may not maintain the same buoyancy and support as the years go by. The foam can also be a lower grade. Again, as we mentioned above, lower-density foams tend to degrade more quickly.

Something else that should be a major consideration is how much support a lower-priced mattress might provide. In addition to breaking down faster, low-density foams tend to provide less support.

For some people, this isn’t a deal breaker. People who like the feeling of sinking into their mattress may find this beneficial, provided they don’t develop any back pain. However, back and stomach sleepers, as well as combination sleepers who switch positions throughout the night shouldn’t compromise on support.

Still, if you’re on a tight budget, but you don’t want to sacrifice too much quality, you can find a gem or two that won’t break your wallet or your back.

Your options are going to be limited, but there should be a couple of choices. Again, you’ll be sacrificing durability and support by getting a mattress at this cheaper price, but if it’s genuinely a short-term buy, then it might make more sense than splurging on something pricier.

Like the 300-dollar range, you should find mostly memory foam beds at this price, along with a few hybrids with lower-quality materials.

One trick we should mention is that if you’re particularly budget-conscious, consider sizing down from a Queen to a Full. You may be able to save anywhere from 30 to 100 dollars by scaling down.

Our recommended Queen mattress choice is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Full mattresses are 54 inches wide by 75 inches long. 

If you're looking for more options, check out our King Size Mattresses pages.

If you’re buying the bed for a kid or teen or if you sleep alone and don’t need much space, you can save money without losing out on quality just by downsizing.

View Our Full Guide: Best Mattresses Under $200 and if you're looking for more products, make sure to see which Affordable Pillow will fit into your budget.

When looking for a mattress under 100 dollars your options will likely be more narrow, but you still have some choices including a blow-up air mattress. The best chance you have of finding something decent that isn’t an airbed is to check Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

If you choose this route, it's crucial to inspect the condition of the product before committing and be careful about who you're talking to. While most transactions tend to be positive, it's still critical to be cautious when meeting someone from the internet.

While buying a used mattress is not for everyone, it's not uncommon to find a mattress from a barely used guest bedroom that's still in excellent condition, so don't lose hope.

We also advise cleaning the bed thoroughly before sleeping on it and possibly letting it air out before putting it on your bed frame. Throw one some fresh sheets and you could enjoy a mattress that feels good as new.

While it's fun to find inexpensive treasures online, we do recommend purchasing a new mattress for the best sleep, if your budget permits it. A quality product with fewer years on it could last you much longer and offer more bang for your buck in the long run.