With the growth of the bed-in-a-box industry, there are more options than ever when it comes to finding the best mattress for your money. However, finding the best bed for the money isn’t just about how much you can save. It’s also important to consider several other factors, including the quality of materials used and whether the mattress suits your preferences and sleeping habits.
In this guide, we’ve outlined five of the best beds for the money, including coil, foam, and organic options. Keep reading to find the best mattress deals available today.
Top 5 Best Mattresses for the Money
- Best Bundle Deal Mattress :NectarStarting at $399 Shop Now
- Best Cheap Mattress for the Money :Bear MattressStarting at $748 Shop Now
- Best Value Coil Mattress :Brooklyn Bedding SignatureStarting at $599 Shop Now
- Best Value Foam Mattress :LaylaStarting at $749 Shop Now
- Best Luxury Innerspring Mattress for the Price :Saatva ClassicStarting at $935 Shop Now
- Best Natural and Organic Mattress for Your Money :Avocado Green MattressStarting at $1399 Shop Now
Compare the Best Mattresses for the Money
Best Bundle Deal Mattress
Why Nectar wins as the best bundle deal mattress
Nectar is known for its affordability. In addition to Nectar’s constant deals, they often offer free pillows, mattress protectors, and sheets with your purchase. This mattress-in-a-box is perfect for memory foam lovers of any sleeper type.
Nectar’s best features
- The three-layered mattress is composed of 12” of dense foam.
- We rated Nectar to be around a medium to medium-firm on our firmness scale, which is a great balance between pressure relief and support.
- Unlike most beds-in-a-box, Nectar has a machine-washable cover! We are very excited about this. The material in the cover even helps to keep the mattress temperature-neutral, while most memory foam mattresses tend to heat you up.
Why we picked this bed
One of the best aspects of Nectar is the price tag. A queen will cost you about $1,300, but with Nectar’s constant discounts, you can normally get their queen mattress for about $800. Not only is the Nectar mattress comfortable and affordable, but Nectar always throws in free sheets, protectors and pillows with your purchase. If you are a memory foam lover looking for a great value and an exceptional mattress, Nectar may be for you.
Best Cheap Mattress for the Money
Why Bear Mattress wins as best cheap mattress for the money
Bear Mattress is a value mattress that’s made right here in the USA. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s hard to find a better mattress for the money, particularly if you just want a comfy bed with a special feature — a Celliant-infused cover. It checks a ton of boxes since it accommodates all sleeping positions and has a pleasant, familiar memory foam feel.
Bear Mattress’s best features
- 10” thick, all-foam construction with a comfortable memory foam feel.
- Works well for all sleeper styles, including side, back, and stomach sleepers.
- Firmness level falls in between a medium and medium-firm.
- Has a Celliant-infused mattress cover which is recognized by the FDA as a medical device. It’s meant to improve circulation and promote the natural recovery process.
Why we picked this bed
For a bed that you can often find below the $950 mark for the king-size mattress, it’s hard to find many negatives, which is quite rare considering its competition. For the record, the queen mattress is below $800, post-discounts, making it one of the best mattresses under $1,000. It’s comfortable, accommodating, and includes a unique cover not found on many mattresses.
Best Value Coil Mattress
Why Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid wins as best value coil mattress
Brooklyn Bedding’s Signature Hybrid mattress takes our spot for best coil option under $1,300 (king-size mattress). Although it’s available in multiple firmness levels, the Medium is their best seller — and the model we tested and love. It has an ultra-soft, neutral-foam feel that we think the majority of people out there will really like and it won’t cost an arm and a leg.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid’s best features
- Suitable for heavy body types due to its 6” layer of pocketed coils
- Made in three firmness options (Soft, Medium, and Firm) for all sleeping positions
- Made in the USA in Brooklyn Bedding’s own factories, which cuts out the middleman and makes their beds more affordable
Why we picked this bed
We are big fans of the Signature bed. We think it’s a durable mattress that sort of sits perfectly at the intersection between comfort and support. Plus, Brooklyn Bedding is fairly liberal when it comes to discounts. In fact, you can often snag a queen size below the $800 threshold.
Best Value Foam Mattress
Why Layla wins as best value foam mattress
Besides its affordable price point, there are plenty of things to love about the Layla mattress. However, one of the unique aspects about it is that it’s flippable, and each side has a different firmness level. It’s almost like getting two beds in one, which is why it earned a spot on this list.
Layla’s best features
- Double-sided mattress allows you to choose between a medium-soft and a medium/medium-firm bed, so it’s suitable for all sleeping positions
- Traditional memory foam feel that conforms to your body’s shape
- Works best for petite to average-weighted individuals under 230 lbs. because of its all-foam construction
Why we picked this bed
It’s safe to say the Layla mattress is a crowd pleaser and the best mattress for your money if you love memory foam. Most notably, it’s one of the few online beds that is double-sided and flippable, giving you two chances to get your perfect firmness level right.
Best Luxury Innerspring Mattress for the Price
Why Saatva Classic wins as best luxury innerspring mattress for the price
Saatva is a well-known, luxury online mattress brand. They’re known for producing durable and comfortable beds that are built to last, and the Saatva Classic mattress is no exception. With two layers of coils for additional support, this bed easily takes our spot for the best coil (or innerspring) option for under $1,600.
Saatva Classic’s best features
- Offers a traditional innerspring feel (firm support with bounce and a soft, comfortable topper)
- It has an extra durable construction designed with back-to-back coil layers, making it suitable for all body types
- You can choose between three models (Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm) so it’s comfortable for all sleeper styles
Why we picked this bed
Perhaps the best part about the Saatva mattress besides its premium construction is that it’s relatively affordable. You can snag a queen size for around $1,600 (before discounts). Bottom line, given the extra-durable construction of the bed (multiple layers of coils) and the different choices available, this mattress offers excellent value, although it’s slightly pricier than others on our list.
Best Natural And Organic Mattress for Your Money
Why Avocado wins best natural and organic mattress for your money
Avocado is the internet’s favorite natural/organic mattress. We think it’s hugely popular because it’s an incredibly nice, environmentally bed that walks the walk. The bed starts off with pocketed recycled steel coils, which offer a good deal of support and much better motion isolation — especially when compared to traditional innersprings with a perimeter rail. On top of the mattress, however, are organic, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic materials that make the bed extra comfy and supportive.
Avocado’s best features
- Responsive, resilient, and breathable thanks to the layers of organic latex foam
- Works best for stomach and back sleepers
- Optional topper allows you to choose between firm or medium-firm profiles
- Has many organic certifications to guarantee a safe, eco-friendly sleeping experience
- Utilizes organic cotton and organic wool which add plushness and coziness to the mattress.
Why we picked this bed
Avocado is one of the best mattresses for the money, not because it’s cheap, but because it has quality eco-friendly construction and offers numerous health benefits. There are almost no flaws in the mattress if you want a firm profile.
Why Trust Us
Get the kind of sleep you’ve only dreamed of with some help from our team of mattress experts. We personally test more than 175 of the best sleep solutions from over 60 leading brands on-site, so you can be sure you’re getting unbiased reviews, fair comparisons, and personalized recommendations.
The Review Team
How to Buy the Best Beds for the Money
When it comes to online mattress shopping, getting the most for your money doesn’t necessarily mean buying the cheapest product. Instead, you should evaluate several factors to understand how to get the most bang for your buck.
What you need to consider:
Mattress construction and materials
These days, there are several different mattress constructions, including foam, innerspring, and hybrid. The right one for you will depend on your personal preferences and body type, but typically, foam mattresses will offer the best value for your money.
Firmness profile
Similarly, you’ll need to think about how soft or firm you’d like your mattress to be. If you’re on the petite side, softer beds will likely suit you best. The same applies to heavier folks and firmer beds. You should also consider your personal preferences regarding feel, whether you like your bed on the softer or firmer side.
Your sleeper style
You might not realize this, but how you sleep impacts what type of mattress you should buy. For example, if you sleep mainly on your back or stomach, you need a slightly firmer bed that provides extra support underneath your trunk and lower back. Or, if you sleep on your side, you’ll need something softer that relieves pressure beneath your hips and shoulders.
Temperature regulation
If you’re a hot sleeper or experience night sweats, you might be interested in a mattress that has cooling technology. At minimum, you should seek out a bed that sleeps temperature neutral.
Motion isolation and edge support
In addition to the factors above, couples should also evaluate how a mattress performs in terms of motion isolation and edge support. If a bed has decent motion isolation, you won’t be woken up when your partner tosses and turns. Separately, mattresses with good edge support will allow you to spread out on both sides of the bed without feeling like you might roll off the edge.
Common Foam Types
Each type of construction offers slightly different benefits depending on the type of mattress you buy and the materials they use.
Memory foam
Memory foam is either dense or airy (depending on what you get) and highly energy absorbent. This means it molds to your body in response to heat and weight. It also is known to distribute body weight evenly and slowly return to its natural state once the weight is removed. With most memory foam, you can turn without disturbing your partner. Overall, it is a great choice for people who love that conforming, hugging feel you get from memory foam. However, memory foam can be heavy and is known to sleep a bit hotter than other types of mattresses.
Polyurethane foam
Polyurethane foam, or poly foam, is a neutral-feeling type of foam, and it’s incredibly common. Polyurethane is commonly used as the base layer for many foam mattresses, mainly because it is inexpensive and is more durable in higher densities. However, although it can add a layer of softness, it is still much less dense than memory or latex foam, and it does not add as much pinpointed support as the other two foams.
Latex foam
Natural and/or certified organic latex foam is derived from the tropical rubber tree and baked to create a soft but supportive mattress material. There is also a synthetic version. Both offer qualities that people love in a mattress, including durability, resilience, elasticity, and more. Natural latex foam is also hypoallergenic and antimicrobial.
Both natural and synthetic latex foams are durable and less prone to breakdown. They’re also less likely to show lasting, premature indents from the body — even in softer versions. It is not uncommon for latex foam to be a bit more expensive than polyurethane or memory foam, as it does allow for easy movement throughout the night and can sleep a bit cooler than either of the other foams. It is an especially good choice for side sleepers who need the additional support.
Consider Your Primary Sleeping Position
The position in which you sleep (back, side, or stomach) is a huge consideration when choosing a mattress.
- Generally, back sleepers will want a mattress that is a little on the firmer side and provides a good amount of support.
- Stomach sleepers also seem to prefer their mattress to be a bit firmer so that their back and neck are supported and their midsection doesn’t sink into the mattress.
- Side sleepers will want a mattress that is on the softer side and provides more pressure relief for their hips and shoulders.
- Combination sleepers (people who rotate between all three positions) will want something in between soft and added firmness.
Temperature Regulation — Does the Bed Sleep Cool?
No one wants to wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortably hot and drenched in sweat. That can lead to some restless nights of sleep. That’s why we pay special attention to how well each mattress deals with airflow and temperature regulation. You’ll want to find a bed that is at the very minimum considered temperature neutral. This is part of getting the best value mattress for the money. Generally, foams (especially MF) are known for retaining heat, but more and more companies have been trying to combat this by infusing special cooling properties like gel, graphite, and phase change material. See our list of the best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers.
Mattress Sizes
In the United States, there are a few core mattress size options. The most popular is the queen mattress, but the king-size mattress is the best way to go if you have a partner. Let’s go through each size bed.
Twin — This is the smallest size you will typically find in the United States. It’s usually 38″ x 75” in terms of its dimensions.
Twin XL — This has the same width, but it’s a longer bed for taller people. It’s about 38″ x 80” which makes it the same length as the queen-size mattress.
Full — This is the next step up in width and is still targeting younger people. The exact dimensions are 54 x 75” making it less wide and less long than the queen size.
Queen — By far, the queen-size mattress is the most popular. And if you’re talking about the best mattress for the money, the queen is the way to go since it’s wide and long enough for two people. It’s a way to save money compared to a king-size mattress, but still remain comfortable. The typical size is 60″ x 80”.
King —Our favorite size is the king because it offers a ton of space to stretch out. The king-size mattress measures about 76″ x 80″, making it the same length as the queen but significantly wider. If money is not an issue and you’re under 6’3″, the king size is the way to go.
Cal King — Picture the king size, but slightly narrower and longer. The exact dimensions are 72″ x 84” most of the time.
Explanation of Shipping, Returns, Trial Periods and Warranties
As we mentioned above, pretty much all bed-in-a-box mattress companies offer free shipping. The mattress will either arrive compressed in a box, in a protective covering, or via white glove delivery (i.e., an actual person delivers the mattress and helps you set it up). From there, the majority of online mattress companies offer a risk-free trial period. The industry average is 100 nights, but we’ve seen a few companies go above and beyond that.
For example, Nectar offers a 365-night risk-free trial period, which is just an absurd value proposition. If you decide you don’t like the mattress you purchased at any point during the trial period, just give the company a call. Once you provide some feedback for them to chew on, they’ll schedule a third-party company to come pick up the mattress from your house or apartment. Once that happens, just email the company a picture of your pickup receipt and they’ll issue you a full refund. It’s that simple. The whole return process shouldn’t take more than 2-3 weeks total. Most online mattress companies also back their products with a 10-year limited warranty. However, like with the trial period, there are few companies that take it a step further. For example, Layla offers a lifetime warranty on each mattress.
Mattress Price: What to Expect
How much does a mattress cost? There are several reasons why one mattress is over $1,500 and another one costs as little as $500.
- Quality of materials. Companies use a variety of materials to make mattresses — latex or memory foam, organic and natural materials, steel coils, and polyurethane foam.
- Cosmetic details. Although we cover our mattresses with sheets and quilts, the more expensive mattresses have fancy details, more luxurious looking covers, fancier trims and fabrics, and tufting.
- Workmanship. Some of the more expensive mattresses have hand stitching and hand-made coils, or are made-to-order to your specifications.
- Innovation. Mattresses, it seems, have been made the same for centuries. But today, manufacturers are pushing the envelope in sleep innovation in response to consumers’ needs.
- Social responsibility. Many companies are supporting the environment by using organic cottons, all-natural latex, wools, and other natural materials that add to the price of a mattress.
- Size. A twin-size mattress usually costs a lot less than a king-sized mattress.
- Where it’s made. In general, mattresses made in the United States will cost more than those produced abroad.
- Additional features. If your mattress has special features like cooling technology or extra coils, you should expect to pay a higher price.
Finding the Best Mattress Deals
In almost all situations, you’ll be able to find a deal or discount on your bed-in-a-box mattress. At the Slumber Yard, we keep an up-to-date listing of mattress coupon codes on our deals page. Alternatively, you can also check a mattress company’s site for their current promotions.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?
Not sure when to buy a mattress? There are several key times during the year that can save you some hard earned cash.
- Key holidays. Memorial Day, Presidents Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are all good times to buy a mattress. Those are the prime days manufacturers usually offer sales and discounts.
- Early spring or late winter. In March and April, manufacturers ship new models to stores across the nation. That means that last year’s models are now on sale.
- Anytime online. Probably the best time to buy a mattress is when yours is more than seven years old. Most mattress experts agree, anything older than seven is too old. Many online mattresses are consistent with their promotions, which many companies run basically year-round (like Casper).
Definitely. If you live in the contiguous United States, you should expect free shipping with your new mattress.
The good news is most of the mattress brands that sell online offer completely free returns. You don’t really need to do anything but call customer service and wait for them to come pick up the mattress.
How firm or how soft a mattress feels varies by person. It really depends on your weight and preferred sleeping position. Generally, heavier folks will think most mattresses are on the softer side, while more petite people will think most mattresses are on the firmer side.
If you’re talking strictly about value, there are a few brands that we absolutely love. Those include Brooklyn Bedding, Bear Mattress, Saatva, Helix, and others.
Although you probably wouldn’t want to, you can get a mattress for as low as $150. You can also pay as much as $3,000 or more. However, the average price for a great mattress that should last for years is about $1,500.
No. Some innerspring mattresses require a box spring for longer life and comfort. Foam mattresses and many hybrid beds, on the other hand, do not require a box spring for comfort or durability.
