The Best Places to Buy Affordable Mattresses
Does it take an eternity to fall asleep every night? Or do you wake up with that stubborn kink in your back that just never seems to go away?
If you’re waking up feeling tired and sore, it’s probably time to invest in a new mattress. But depending on the size, brand, and material you need to get a good night’s sleep, a new mattress can easily cost thousands of dollars.
However, the last thing you want to do is skimp on buying the right mattress for the sake of saving money. Thankfully, there are plenty of affordable mattress retailers where you can find the perfect mattress for your sleeping needs without spending a fortune.
Best Overall: Casper
Casper helped popularize mattress-in-a-box delivery, a mattress that fits into a box small enough for a person to carry by themselves. That reduces the hassle and delivery costs associated with traditional mattresses.
At Casper, you can find beds ranging from twins to California kings. There are four primary product lines to choose from:
- Element. Casper’s all-foam line is a budget-friendly option starting at $695 for a queen.
- Original. Choose between an all-foam or hybrid base that adds extra springs for more lift and support starting at $1,100 for a queen.
- Nova Hybrid. Casper’s softest mattress has seven support zones to help with spinal alignment and starts at $1,950 for a queen.
- Wave Hybrid. On the high end, this hybrid has the most support of any Casper mattress to help aches and pains. It starts at $2,460 for a queen.
Many consumers will get a better-quality mattress for the money than they could buying a traditional mattress of similar quality. And with its Element mattress, it’s possible to stay under $1,000 even if you buy a king, which isn’t the case for many mattress retailers.
Plus, there are a few ways to save even more risk-free thanks to various budget-friendly Casper features:
- Up to 20% in savings with bundle deals
- Casper referral program to get mattress discounts and free Amazon gift cards
- Free U.S. and Canadian shipping and free returns
- 100-night risk-free trial
- 10-year warranty
Best Mattress Sales: Leesa
Leesa is a predominantly online mattress-in-a-box retailer, though it does have two in Virginia and New York, and you can try before you buy at West Elm and Pottery Barn. Currently, Leesa offers four mattress lines:
- Studio. With three layers of foam, including a top layer of memory foam, this mattress provides comfort on a budget starting at $699 for a queen.
- Original. Three layers of premium foam provide additional cooling, contouring, and pressure relief starting at $1,199 for a queen.
- Hybrid. Three layers of premium foam plus a layer of pocket springs provide extra support and comfort starting at $1,899 for a queen.
- Legend. Three layers of foam plus two layers of pocket springs and microcoils provide hip and shoulder support starting at $2,399 for a queen.
But sale prices can save you roughly $100 to $300, so it’s worth waiting for a sale period to shop. Leesa also has a Bundles section where you can find mattresses for around 20% off.
But Leesa has plenty of positive features that make it a solid choice:
- A 15% discount for active military members, veterans, military spouses, and registered dependents
- Free regular shipping in the U.S. and Canada
- 10-year warranty
- 100-night risk-free trial
Best for Mattress Innovation: Tuft & Needle
With three models and plenty of accolades for best mattress of the year, Tuft & Needle is one of the most reputable mattress-in-a-box companies around.
Tuft & Needle keeps things simple with three mattress lines:
- Original. This mattress has two foam layers containing cooling gel starting at $895 for a queen.
- Mint. Get an additional layer of adaptive foam, which contours to your body to provide pressure relief and support, plus the regular cooling foam layers of the Original starting at $1,195 for a queen.
- Hybrid. Enjoy a five-layer combo of adaptive foam with cooling gel-infused foam and springs plus supporting foam to provide as much comfort and support as possible starting at $1,440 for a queen.
Tuft & Needle has slightly less selection than other mattress retailers, which is how Casper edged it out. But with its own adaptive foam technology, Tuft & Needle offers high-quality mattresses at reasonable prices.
In fact, it’s this proprietary foam technology and its commitment to creating new mattresses based on feedback from its customers that makes Tuft & Needle so innovative. It’s not the absolute cheapest option out there, but for a quality mattress that’s a step above regular memory foam, Tuft & Needle is an excellent choice.
Other notable perks of buying your next mattress from Tuft & Needle include:
- A 15% discount for active military members and veterans, first responders, and health care professionals
- Free shipping and returns
- Regular mattress sales of around 15% off
- 10-year warranty
- 100-night trial
Best Sleep Trial Period: Nectar
If buying a new mattress is a struggle and you don’t want to lock yourself into a mattress you don’t end up loving, Nectar is for you.
This mattress-in-a-box company has a 365-night sleep trial period, which is significantly longer than most retailer’s 100-night sleep trials. That means you can try your mattress risk-free for an entire year to see if it’s right for you.
Nectar offers three different mattresses:
- The Nectar. Nectar’s original premium memory foam mattress starts at $899 for a queen.
- The Nectar Premium. Including thicker memory foam for more pressure relief, this mattress starts at $1,248 for a queen.
- The Nectar Premier Copper: Nectar’s most luxurious mattress comes with even thicker memory foam with minimal motion transfer and adaptive airflow starting at $1,548 for a queen.
Additional perks of doing business with Nectar include:
- Free shipping
- Free returns
- Deals like free included pillows, sheets, and mattress protectors with every mattress sale
- Lifetime warranty
- A 15% discount for active military members, military spouses, veterans, first responders, and health care professionals
Best Affordable Luxury Mattresses: Saatva
If you want to buy the cheapest mattress possible, Saatva isn’t the right choice. But if you want the best possible deal on a luxury mattress, Saatva could be what you’re looking for.
Saatva promotes its line of handcrafted organic cotton luxury mattresses that have adjustability options to suit any sleeper. The five primary mattress lines are:
- Modern Foam. Saatva’s five-layer memory foam mattress provides balanced body-contouring and responsive support, adapting to your body to suit various sleeping styles. It starts at $1,495 for a queen.
- Classic. A mattress with five alternating layers of foam, cotton, and support coils starts at $1,695 for a queen.
- Latex Hybrid. A hypoallergenic, breathable cotton and natural latex mattress with five layers starts at $1,949 for a queen.
- Loom & Leaf. Memory foam and gel-infused cooling foam provide enhanced support and pressure relief starting at $2,099 for a queen.
- Solaire Adjustable. This mattress includes 50 firmness settings so you can adjust each side of the bed separately, making it perfect for couples. It starts at $2,247 for a queen.
Saatva gives you more control over your mattress than the competition. For example, most Saatva mattresses let you pick a comfort level, like relaxed firm, firm, or plush soft, to suit your preferences.
Other perks of shopping with Saatva include:
- Free delivery and in-home setup
- Regular promos like getting $200 off purchases over $950
- 180-night trial period
- 15-year warranty
- $225 off orders over $1,000 for teachers, nurses, first responders, veterans, government employees, and military members and their immediate families.
Best Discount Online Mattresses: Wayfair
On Wayfair, you can find loads of products in categories like appliances, furniture, and outdoors. But Wayfair also carries several mattress brands, including:
- Beautyrest
- Casper
- Sealy
- Serta
- Stearns & Foster
You can find queen mattresses for under $200. These aren’t luxury mattresses, but even some of the more upscale queens from brands like Beautyrest and Sealy range from $300 to $500, significantly less than most mattress retailers.
Wayfair provides such affordable prices because of its business model and sheer scale. Wayfair lists products manufacturers want to move, then the manufacturer ships it directly to you.
Overall, Wayfair has more selection than most mattress retailers. And because of its business model, Wayfair often has more affordable prices than shopping directly from retailers. The catch is you may only be able to find the less popular models a retailer is looking to get rid of.
Additional features of Wayfair include:
- Free shipping on orders over $35
- 100-day return policy
- Under $40 for a 10-year protection plan with a mattress protector, accident coverage, and pet damage for many mattresses
Best Eco-Friendly Mattresses: Amerisleep
One difference between Amerisleep and cheaper mattresses is that Amerisleep uses plant-based Bio-Pu” foam that’s both more eco-friendly and cooler than traditional memory foam. If you’re a hot sleeper, the extra airflow and cooling in Amerisleep’s mattresses are selling points.
Amerisleep carries six main mattress lines:
- AS1. Amerisleep’s firmest mattress is meant for stomach and back sleepers and starts at $1,199 for a queen.
- AS2. A medium-firm mattress that helps sleepers with back pain relief starts at $1,299 for a queen.
- AS3. Amerisleep’s most popular mattress is excellent for couples because it works for most body types and sleep styles. It starts at $1,399 for a queen.
- AS4. Amerisleep’s best mattress for side sleepers has increased hip and shoulder support and starts at $1,599 for a queen.
- AS5. The best choice if you want an extremely soft mattress and pressure-relieving memory foam starts at $1,999 for a queen.
- Organica. This mattress provides a balanced feel that’s ideal for back or side sleepers and starts at $2,149 for a queen.
But its eco-friendly mattresses aren’t the only reason to choose Amerisleep. Other benefits include:
- Free shipping
- 20-year warranty
- 100-night risk-free trial
- Occasional sales, such as $200 off any mattress or 30% off on Labor Day
Best Brand Selection: Overstock
If you want to furnish your home on a budget, Overstock is an excellent resource. This online retailer almost always has deals on appliances, furniture, and home goods, but you can also find plenty of affordable mattresses.
Overstock also has more brand selection than almost any mattress retailer, with brands including:
- Casper
- Crown Comfort
- Diamond Mattress
- GhostBed
- Kingsdown
- Lancaster Home
- Lucid Comfort Collection
- Sealy
- Sleep Zone
- Stearns & Foster
- Tempur-Pedic
- Wolf Mattress
- Zinus
Because of the extensive selection, you can find mattresses at quite a few price points. The cheapest mattresses start at around $100 to $150. You can also find queen mattresses in the $300 to $500 range.
Other reasons to choose Overstock include:
- Frequent mattress sales, with many having 10% to 30% discounts
- Cash-back rewards and price-matching through its $19.95-per-year loyalty program (perfect for expensive purchases like a mattress)
Just be mindful of the return policy. Unless the product page says otherwise, you can’t return mattresses and mattress sets unless they’re defective or damaged. You can return a mattress-in-a-box if it’s unopened, but that doesn’t let you test the mattress.
Best for Targeted Sleep Styles & Preferences: Helix
If you want a mattress that suits your specific needs, Helix has six primary mattress lines, each targeting a specific type of sleeper and mattress preference. Pricing is also straightforward, and each mattress starts at just over $1,000 for a queen.
- Helix Sunset: This soft memory foam mattress offers pressure point relief and is ideal for side sleepers.
- Helix Moonlight: This mattress is best for back and stomach sleeping and offers additional body contouring.
- Helix Midnight: With a slightly firmer mattress, the Midnight has a medium feel and is ideal for side sleepers.
- Helix Dusk: Like the Moonlight, the Dusk mattress is a firmer mattress that’s perfect for back and stomach sleepers who prefer a slightly firmer mattress.
- Helix Twilight: This firm mattress doesn’t have any sink or give and is perfect for side sleepers.
- Helix Dawn: Another firm mattress for back and stomach sleepers.
But the customization doesn’t end there. Helix also lets you upgrade any mattress to the Luxe model, which costs $1,949 for a queen. The Luxe adds an even thicker memory foam mattress, additional steel coil support, and a breathable cover with Helix’s cooling technology.
Helix also has kids and plus-size mattresses starting at $549 and $1,499, respectively, so there’s truly something for every sleeper.
Other benefits of shopping with Helix include:
- An online sleep quiz that helps you find the perfect mattress
- Free shipping and returns
- 15% discount for teachers, first responders, veterans, military members, and military family members
- 100-night sleep trial
- 10-year warranty for regular mattresses and a 15-year warranty for plus-size and Luxe mattresses
- Frequent promotions, such as up to $200 off mattresses and two free pillows
Best for Comparison-Shopping: Amazon
When it comes to product selection and low prices, it’s hard to beat Amazon. But Amazon also has a powerful search filter that makes comparison shopping a breeze.
It lets you filter by brand, preset or custom price range, average rating, mattress size, and free shipping. You can also search for different levels of mattress firmness or types, like gel or latex foam, to find exactly what you’re looking for.
If you’re brand-loyal, you can even limit your search to that brand. Amazon offers dozens of popular mattress brands, including:
- Amazon Basics
- Early Bird
- Leesa
- Olee Sleep
- Sealy
- Tuft & Needle
- Zinus
Shopping on Amazon also has other perks, including:
- Amazon Prime members get free two-day shipping on most products
- Amazon Rewards or Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature cardholders earn 3% cash back on Amazon purchases
- Many mattresses still come with 10-year warranties, or you can contact the manufacturer to get warranty information
Best for Trying Multiple Mattresses: Mattress Stores
If you’re the type of shopper who needs to try before you buy, local mattress stores are superior to online shopping since you can try multiple mattresses back to back in a short period.
Plus, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of shipping a mattress-in-a-box back to the retailer if you find out you don’t like it.
The catch is that return policies for brick-and-mortar retailers can have hidden costs. Top online mattress retailers almost always have a 100-night risk-free sleep trial period or longer. Brick-and-mortar retailers may give you a similar amount of time to return it for a refund, but you can incur some steep fees.
For example, Mattress Firm has a 120-night sleep trial, but you pay a $99 return fee and up to $250 in restocking costs. Similarly, The Original Mattress Factory has a 365-night trial period where you can exchange your current mattress for a different model. But you pay a fee of 25% of the price of the cheapest mattress, which could be hundreds of dollars.
Methodology: How We Select the Best Places to Buy Affordable Mattresses
Finding the perfect mattress for your sleeping style isn’t always easy. That’s because you have to consider numerous factors like pricing, material, and mattress features.
To create our list of the best budget mattresses, we considered four criteria to help our readers find the best mattress possible. Generally, more features, price range variety, and a generous store return policy mean a higher ranking.
Price Range
Naturally, cost is an important factor to consider. That’s why the best mattress retailers offer various price points to suit different shoppers.
Retailers with affordable entry-level prices also rank more highly in our mattress review guide. Overall, we want our readers to get the best prices possible for the mattress that’s right for them, whether it’s a student mattress or luxury king.
Mattress Variety
Everyone has a different sleeping style. Therefore, the best mattress retailers offer numerous mattress types and features to accommodate every sleeper.
Having more control over firmness level, cushioning, motion isolation, and materials is advantageous. Extra perks like mattress edge support or cooling technology are also something to look for from your mattress retailer.
Sleep Trial Period
Buying a new mattress is a serious upfront expense. But the last thing you want to do is ditch your old mattress only to find your new one doesn’t feel quite right after the first week or two.
Having a long sleep trial period is crucial if you don’t already know what you’re looking for. It takes time to settle into a new bed, and even seasonal changes can impact how you sleep. So the longer your sleep trial period, the better.
Sales & Promotions
Low everyday pricing is one advantage to look for from a mattress retailer. But in a perfect world, you should stack low prices with sales and promotions to get the most value for your money.
Pricing discounts are your best bet for immediate savings. But even promotions like getting a free mattress topper or extra pillows and sheets can make one retailer superior to others, depending on your needs.
Best Places to Buy Affordable Mattresses FAQs
With so much variety, it can be challenging to find the right mattress for your budget. To help with the buying process, these are the answers to some of the most common questions consumers ask when it’s time to shop for a new mattress.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a New Mattress?
To save the most, shop at the right time. The best time to buy a mattress coincides with various sale periods throughout the year, such as:
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Memorial Day
- New Year’s Day
- President’s Day
- Spring sales
Is It Worth Buying a Cheap Mattress?
You shouldn’t buy an expensive mattress for the sake of it. But you shouldn’t skimp on a quality mattress to save money if it means nights of restless sleep.
Ultimately, you should create a monthly budget and decide how much you can afford to spend on your new mattress. For a large upfront payment like a mattress, that might mean putting aside $50 to $100 per month so you can buy a new mattress later.
And remember: a mattress impacts your sleep quality and life for years to come. Even if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, it’s worth saving up a small amount of money every month to buy a mattress that suits your sleeping needs rather than buying the cheapest option.
But if you need a cheap mattress urgently, you can find inexpensive ones on websites like Amazon, Overstock, and Wayfair. Those sites just don’t give you as much opportunity to ensure the new mattress works for you.
When Should You Replace Your Mattress?
The general wisdom is that you should replace your mattress every seven to 10 years.
However, the main factor you should consider is your sleep quality. If you’re suffering through endless restless nights because of an uncomfortable mattress, it’s probably time to upgrade.
That said, materials can impact your mattress’s lifespan. For example, latex mattresses generally have a longer lifespan than regular cotton or memory foam mattresses. Additionally, you can rotate memory foam mattresses every three to six months to let the memory foam bounce back, extending the life of the mattress.
When buying your next mattress, consider the impact material has on lifespan. It’s possible spending slightly more on a higher-quality mattress means you get a few more years out of it, saving you money in the long run versus constantly replacing cheaper mattresses.
It’s also essential to clean your mattress regularly.
How Does Mattress Material Affect the Price?
Mattresses have come a long way in the last few decades, and innovation continues. But these inventive new materials can have a massive impact on pricing.
Typically, hybrid beds that use foam and innerspring coils are the most expensive. Latex beds or beds made with special material like hypoallergenic cotton are also more expensive than basic foam beds. But different kinds of foams, like memory foam versus polyfoam, also influence the price.
And the amount of material that goes into your mattress also matters. For example, a seven-layer mattress with complex layers of memory foam and innerspring coils is naturally more expensive than a three-layer, basic polyfoam mattress.
What Mattress Features Might Be Worth the Extra Cost?
One tricky aspect of buying a new mattress is the amount of jargon you have to sift through. It’s important to know what features are available to find the right bed for your sleeping style. But you also want to avoid overpaying for features that don’t provide much benefit.
Some popular mattress features include:
- Adjustability. Some mattresses let you adjust different sides of the bed to accommodate how you and your partner sleep. If one or both of you are particular about your mattress’s positioning, this feature provides a solution. These mattresses can be very expensive.
- Cooling Foam. If you overheat at night with your current mattress, you can buy a new mattress with cooling-infused gel and more breathable foam to lessen heat-trapping. You can get cooling foam mattresses at a variety of price points.
- Edge Support. Mattresses with good edge support don’t sag around the edges as much as mattresses with weak support. That helps the mattress maintain its shape and sturdiness longer so you don’t slide off the bed or feel uncomfortable dips along the perimeter. Good edge support doesn’t have to be expensive.
- Extra Layers. Taller mattresses are generally more expensive, but more layers can increase comfort and provide better quality sleep if you have a lot of aches or chronic pain.
- Motion Isolation. If you sleep with a partner, it’s irritating to wake up when they shift. But mattresses with extra motion isolation help prevent movement on one part of the bed from rippling through to other parts of the bed. Most motion-isolation beds are in the midrange or higher.
Even if you don’t need these features, it’s good to familiarize yourself with them. That way, any mattress jargon you encounter online or when talking to a salesperson isn’t confusing.
What’s the Difference Between Mattress-in-a-Box Retailers & Traditional Mattress Retailers?
Mattress-in-a-box companies usually save you money compared to shopping in-store. You also save time since you’re not trying dozens of beds at your local mattress store.
The trade-off is that you can’t test a mattress before buying. Mattress-in-a-box companies alleviate this risk by offering 100-night or longer trial periods plus free returns. But if you don’t like your mattress, that means repacking it in its original box (which you need to hold on to) and then shipping it back to the retailer.
Does How I Sleep Matter?
Yes. Look for mattresses that clearly state what type of sleeper they’re designed for. If you only sleep on your side, search for that exact type of mattress and the materials that are best for it and then compare prices to find a deal.
For example, memory foam mattresses are usually ideal for side sleepers since you get pressure relief and the foam contours to your body. In contrast, hybrid mattresses are more expensive but generally work for any sleeping style.
Additionally, different firmness levels suit different sleeping styles better than others:
- Extra Soft to Medium Soft: Side sleepers.
- Medium: Can work for lighter-weight side and back sleepers, depending on how the mattress is made
- Firm: Heavier side sleepers and back and stomach sleepers
- Extra Firm: Heavier back and stomach sleepers
Of course, you might find you like a firmer mattress even if you’re a side sleeper. That’s why it’s still a good idea to test mattresses in-store even if you plan to shop online.
How to Choose the Best Place to Buy an Affordable Mattress
When shopping, write down the features you need in a mattress, your typical sleeping positions, and your general price range. From there, you can compare several online and in-store retailers to find a mattress that checks every box.
Once you find a mattress you like, compare prices from several different retailers to find the exact mattress you want for the lowest price.
Just be careful of flashy financing deals that many mattress retailers offer. It can make sense to pay monthly for your mattress if you can’t afford to buy it outright. However, financing is also a recipe for overspending since it can encourage shoppers to buy a more expensive mattress than they can afford since monthly payments appear so low.
