The Best Affordable Mattresses, Tested by Bedding Experts

Allswell's mattresses are a favorite among GH analysts, testers and survey panelists who've been impressed by the level of quality available at such an affordable price. This Luxe Hybrid model has a medium-firm feel, and testers and panelists agree that it's comfy to sleep on from the very first night. The mattress is compressed in a box and shipped to your door for free, and Walmart offers a generous 90-day return policy, so there's little risk involved in trying it out if you're nervous about buying a mattress online.

The mattress combines both memory foam and coils for a 12-inch profile, which is loftier than most affordable beds we've evaluated. A base of individually wrapped metal coils is followed by two layers of foam for support and pressure relief. The bed is encased by a stretchy quilted topper that incorporates additional foam for a cozier feel and luxurious look.

User notes: Our panelists who own the Luxe Hybrid bed unanimously agreed that they were happy with their purchase. They say that delivery is a breeze and setup is simple. The bed does lack edge support, so it can be difficult to get in and out if you have mobility issues, but it still received high ratings from testers for comfort, overall support and sleep quality. Some testers even compared the mattress to higher-end beds including one who said, "It feels like sleeping on a real, plush hotel mattress but at a fraction of the price."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Allswell Mattress Review: The Best Budget Bed You Can Buy

Not only is this Linenspa mattress a total steal, but it has a 4.4-star average rating and over 95,000 five-star reviews on Amazon from users who say the bed is comfortable and supportive.

The hybrid mattress uses a base of durable steel coils for a more traditional, "bouncier" mattress feel. After the coils lies a thin layer of memory foam that cradles your body while you sleep for pressure relief. It's topped by a quilted cover that incorporates plush foam for even more comfort and cushion.

User notes: Dozens of our survey panelists own beds from Linenspa and say the brand's mattresses are worth the low price point. Panelists gave the brand high ratings for easy ordering, quick delivery and simple setup. "The company is awesome; the mattress arrived two days after I placed the order and was in perfect condition!" shared one user who also said, "Opening the mattress was easy and took less than five minutes until I had it on the bed frame."

Many respondents said the featured 8-inch model is more comfortable to sleep on than their previous mattresses, and it received top marks for feeling comfy to sleep on from night one. Know that the mattress isn't as durable as others we've evaluated, and some users say the mattress doesn't hold up well to long-term use, but we still think the hybrid bed is worth the incredible value.

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With many popular models priced at over $1,000 for a Queen size, it can be difficult for hot sleepers to find a cooling mattress that doesn't break the bank. This one from Tuft & Needle is great if you're looking for a cooling bed on a budget. While the mattress isn't as cooling as some of the luxury models we've tested, the all-foam bed contours your body as you sleep without leaving you feeling hot and sweaty.

The 9.5-inch mattress has a medium-firm feel. It's topped with 3 inches of graphite- and cooling gel-infused foam with an open-cell structure to help draw heat away from your body for more comfortable sleep. It's followed by 6.5 inches of a firmer foam for support and is encased in a cozy, breathable cover.

User notes: Our survey panelists gave Tuft & Needle's mattresses high marks for helping them maintain a comfortable temperature as they slept. A self-proclaimed sweaty sleeper shared, "I have insomnia, and I have slept better on this mattress than any other mattress." Amazon reviewers note that the mattress is cooler than other all-foam beds they've tried, and one said, " I have noticed no issues with overheating. If anything, the bed feels cool to the touch."

According to our panelists, this bed-in-a-box is simple to set up, and online reviewers agree. It can take up to 72 hours for the mattress to fully decompress, and the brand claims the bed needs two full weeks to fully air out and be broken in. The biggest drawback that our survey panelists and online reviewers have expressed is that the mattress lacks edge support, so you may find yourself sinking in when sitting on the side of the bed.

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This Serta mattress is both one of the most popular options online and one of the most commonly purchased beds by our survey panelists. You can choose from a variety of different options including four different firmness levels, three levels of foam and pillow top options. The more basic models start at just $599 for a Queen but are priced up to $1,299 for more luxurious models.

There are thousands of retail locations that carry Serta beds across the U.S. if you want to try this one out before buying. Know that the brand's 120-day trial period is only available if you buy the mattress online, but you can always test the bed in-store and then make your purchase on the brand's website. Plus, instead of being shipped to your home compressed in a box, the mattress is delivered ready-to-go through a delivery partner service.

The hybrid mattress combines memory foam and coils, but the specific types and amounts of foam vary depending on which model you pick. The standard firm option is the most basic and affordable. It starts with a thin base of foam followed by metal coils for support and a more traditional mattress feel. Next is a layer of gel foam and another layer of foam for both support and cradling cushion. It's topped by a final layer of even softer foam for the ultimate comfortable feel.

User notes: Over 1,000 Serta owners responded to our most recent mattress survey. This particular bed received high ratings from users for support and comfort. One highlighted, "I love the comfort. It supports my body and pressure points, giving a peaceful rest." Some longer-term users shared that the bed hasn't held up as well as they had hoped, but most respondents were happy with their mattress, even after sleeping on it for 10 years like one user who said, "Buying this mattress was one of the best investments of my life."

*A note from our experts: In February 2022, Serta recalled select models from this line for failing to meet federal flammability standards. You can find out more details from the CPSC recall announcement.

One of the most popular mattress brands on the market, Casper is known for its memory foam beds, which are a favorite of our survey panelists, testers and Amazon reviewers. The Original model is an all-foam mattress with a loftier profile of 11 inches, but it comes compressed in a box and shipped straight to your door for easy setup.

Casper recently updated its entire mattress assortment and we are currently testing the The One model, which is similar to the Original but doesn't have zoned support. However, you can still buy the Original (which we've extensively tested) on Amazon.

From top to bottom, the mattress starts with a layer of perforated foam that cushions and lends breathability. It's followed by another layer of foam with three sections of support: softer foam around the shoulders and feet for pressure-relieving comfort and firmer foam around the core to provide spinal alignment. Beneath that is a base layer of durable foam for long-lasting support.

User notes: The mattress has earned top marks from our testers and survey panelists who said it holds up well to years of nightly use. One panelist said, "It is extremely comfy — so comfy that we bought two more for other beds." An Amazon reviewer who suffers from chronic back pain commented, "It's an absolute game changer if you struggle with pain or sleep in general. The top layer is extra soft... but is still extremely supportive. I've never experienced this much comfort in a bed before." Other users were impressed by the bed's motion isolation and shared that they couldn't feel their partners or pets moving around at night.

While the brand claims the mattress has a medium-firm feel, some reviewers said the bed is much softer than expected, and they noted that it lacks edge support — a common drawback of all-foam mattresses.

While some cheaper mattress models may be too firm for side sleepers, this model is designed with memory foam materials that relieve pressure around the shoulders and hips for better spinal alignment, and it's loved by more than 20,000 five-star reviewers on Amazon. For sleepers who do prefer a firmer bed, we recommend the brand's 8-inch model, which uses a thinner layer of gel memory foam than the 10- and 12-inch options.

This all-foam mattress consists of four layers of foam for comfortable and supportive sleep. At the bottom of the mattress is a base layer of high-density foam to lend stability. Next, there are two layers of foam that relieve pressure and are designed to provide airflow for a more comfortable feel. It's topped with a layer of gel-infused memory foam for added pressure relief and cushion.

User notes: One tester gave the bed high ratings for comfort and described the medium firmness mattress as "right in the Goldilocks zone," explaining that it's neither too firm nor too soft. Online reviewers and testers were also impressed that they could sleep soundly all night long without being disturbed by their pets or partners, thanks to the foam's impressive motion isolation.

Some users reported that the bed is on the thinner side, and that the mattress didn't fully expand to its advertised 12-inch profile, but they still found it to be comfy and said they achieved restful sleep. Amazon reviewers also highlighted that the mattress is long-lasting and holds up well to years of use, including one who said, "This is the best mattress I’ve ever had. This is the second one I’ve purchased," and added, "I work on my feet all day and coming home to this is a dream."