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If you’ve started to have sleep problems and are thinking that it might be due to your mattress, you’re probably right. A good mattress is one of the most important items to have in your home, since you can spend up to a third of your life on it. You may think mattresses cost a small fortune, but we’ve done some research and scouted 12 of the best-rated mattresses on Amazon that are under $500.
Just because a mattress doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, doesn’t mean it’s not great. Cheaper options can still be durable, comfortable, and perfect for you. We’ve found the best of them to prove it. We’ve even got you covered if you’re looking for the best mattress in a box — when the mattress comes delivered to your door compressed in a neat little box, allowing you to easily place it in its designated room before opening it. No more lugging a full-size mattress up the stairs, and hitting every single corner on your way up! It’s worth noting, though, when purchasing a mattress in a box, you’ll have to wait a couple of days for it to fully expand out to its full size.
What is the Best Mattress for Me?
When looking for the best mattress for you, it’s good to take into consideration your sleeping style. Are you a side sleeper? Then maybe a memory foam mattress would be the best for you. If you sleep on your tummy, you need a mattress that doesn’t dip down in the middle, causing lower back pain. If you like to sleep on your back, the best mattress for you could be a hybrid mattress, combining springs and memory foam.
Best Mattresses Under $500
Whatever your sleeping style and mattress requirements, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best mattresses under $500 that you’ll be excited to sleep on at the end of every day. Keep scrolling to see FIRST’s top picks for the best mattress under $500.
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We have to admit – at under $150, the Home Life Harmony 8-inch mattress seemed too good to be true, so we had to investigate further. Can a mattress, at that extremely low price, have the same high-quality and back-supporting properties as other, much more expensive mattresses on the market? We were pleasantly surprised to find out that indeed it can! Its design supports the vertebrae and creates equal weight distribution to not put pressure on any one point. It’s an extremely comfortable mattress, and it’s (astonishingly) made to last.
With 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, one of the many positive reviews reads, “I don't even understand how [a mattress at this price] can be this comfortable, but somehow it is. After unwrapping it, it came to full size really quickly and had no odor. I have a [bad] back and have woken up with less pain than with my Beautyrest Black mattress. I bought this as a temporary mattress since I'm living out of state for six months and almost got a topper at the time of purchase, but now I'm glad I didn't. It doesn't need a topper. As someone that prefers a soft mattress, but needs good support, this is perfect.”
Its four-layer memory foam technology makes the Zinus Responsive foam 10-inch mattress one of the best for side sleepers. The latex-like foam creates a responsive sleep area to adapt and adjust with your body while continuously providing support, and it’s super-durable, too.
“This is the 2nd Zinus mattress I have bought,” says Valeria, a happy customer. “I have also in the past, bought a very expensive Tempurpedic mattress. This mattress is hands down my favorite thus far and the price can't be beat. I also prefer firmer beds, especially when it comes to memory foam mattresses. I hate that feeling of sinking down in and having to roll off to get up. This particular mattress is not too hard and not to soft. I have owned it for over 2 years and it is still in great condition… There was no funky smell, the cover is very easy to pull off, wash and actually put it back on. It seems to have firmer sides than the last one I bought, which was a huge plus. I literally have NO complaints about this mattress.”
If you get hot at night, you’d be wrong in thinking that it’s only your duvet or bedding that is making you sweat. A good mattress can do wonders for regulating your temperature as you sleep and keep you cool and dry. This is where the Better Mattress Company’s Swiss Ortho Sleep 12-inch mattress comes in. The design molds to the shape of your body and is sensitive to pressure and temperature.
Another great cooling mattress is this 12-inch, memory foam, gel-infused number by Milemont. The four layers of foam (firm foam, base support foam, air flow layer, and gel-infused memory foam) provide a cooling and pressure-relief technology, evenly distributing weight throughout the mattress, alleviating aches and pains from the back and joints.
One of the many 5-star reviews reads: “Before getting this mattress, we had visited several furniture stores. [A] similar mattress costs about $990, which kept us away from those overpriced mattresses. I really love this mattress. After a long day of work, I can’t wait to lay down on it. I feel so relaxed on this mattress and my body still gets enough support... For such a great mattress, the price is fantastic. Yes, it is less than $300, which is only a fraction of the cost of those store mattresses. I have no complaints. I highly recommend them!”
Need something firm, but not too firm? The medium-firm Marley 12-inch mattress from Sleep Innovations is for you. It has been been regularly named on many consumer reports’ best mattress of the year. It’s great for back-sleepers and side-sleepers, and its ventilated foam, plus 2-inch cooling gel memory foam, means it’ll keep you cool and comfortable all night.
“I can simply not overstate how much this bed has changed my life,” says Charlotte, an extremely satisfied Marley mattress owner. “The quality of sleep from this mattress is leaps and bounds above any other mattress I've tried. While normally I wake up and change position multiple times a night, this mattress lets me sleep through the night with no interruption. The moment I lie [down] on this mattress, I feel the tension in every joint and muscle relax and my spine seems to align perfectly. I fall asleep easier and feel so much more rested when I wake up... Both my husband and I are both 200lbs, and we are both fully supported on either side… There is no motion transfer, either… Overall, I'm thrilled with the purchase.”
If you’re looking for the best mattress on Amazon, this 12-inch memory foam by Signature Sleep is for sure one of them. With over 9,500 Amazon reviews, this mattress is a safe bet for a good night’s sleep. If you’re fed up of being woken up by your partner tossing and turning throughout the night, this mattress will make that nothing but a memory. This is the best mattress for side sleepers with hip pain or shoulder pain, because it evenly distributes body weight to relieve pressure on the shoulders, back, and hips. So you can continue to comfortably sleep on your side without any issues, and you won’t feel your partner’s movements, either.
Just one of the 7,690 positive reviews for this mattress on Amazon reads, “If you are looking for a firm comfortable mattress, look no further. I am a side sleeper. Throughout the night I often awake and switch sides. This is the first time in my life (I'm 67 years old) that I have gone to bed on my right side and never woke up with the need to flip. This mattress is by far the best buy and quality for the money.”
Some memory foam mattresses tend to be a bit on the firmer side, but if you’re a fan of plush, soft mattresses, try the 8-inch gel memory foam mattress by Sweetnight. The suppleness of this mattress makes it a great option for stomach sleepers, but just because it’s soft, doesn’t mean it’s not supportive. In contrast, the body-hugging support conforms to your body, as does the temperature control gel foam layer, keeping you cool all night.
“Like sleeping on a cloud,” was the title of one review. “I didn't realize I was sleeping poorly until I slept well… What a difference! The first night sleeping on it was the first night in years that I haven't woken up sore. I noticed an immediate difference after the first night... Now it's been several nights and I actually wake up refreshed and pain-free. I highly recommend this mattress... Unboxing was easy, there was no smell, and the whole experience was a delight.”
Spring mattresses get a bit of a bad rap for being a bit too, well, springy. But that’s not the case with this 10-inch hybrid mattress from Sweetnight. The hybrid technology means that, with its three layers of high-grade foam on top of individual pocketed springs, you really get the best of both worlds: quality spring structure, cooling, and morphing memory foam for ultimate comfort.
“Suspiciously affordable - and yet, it's great!” says Jacqueline. “My boyfriend did a ton of research before selecting this mattress, and then I went with the same choice - we both LOVE the purchase. I don't even notice when he gets up - it's remarkable. Don't bother dropping thousands - this one is great!”
This is a fantastic 2-in1, 10-inch, gel memory foam mattress by Sweetnight. On the one side, it’s medium firm. But if you’d like a bit of a change, flip it over for a plushy soft sleeping experience. It has motion isolation which means you can’t feel anyone else getting in or out of bed next to you, and it has a breathable, cool-sleep technology so that you don’t get too hot or sweaty during the night. The company is so certain that you’ll love this mattress, it’s giving you a 10-year, no-risk warranty.
It has 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and one customer with fibromyalgia writes: “Most comfortable bed I have ever owned. I struggled with a spring mattress digging into all of my pressure points every night for the last 2 years. All night long on a spring mattress I felt like I was on fire from the pressure… For the most part I’m a side sleeper but move all over. After one night in this bed, I am looking forward to sleeping at night and even taking naps. Zero pressure on ANY spots on my body! I love this mattress.”
The Shiloh 12-inch mattress by Sleep Innovations has medium-firmness memory foam specially made for average to bigger body types. The 9.5” heavy-set support foam at the bottom relieves pressure points and makes sure that you are supported and properly aligned all night, while the top 2.5” “Sure Temp” memory foam layer keeps your body temperature regulated.
“We've been using this mattress for 3 years now,” says Daniel. “My partner and I both sleep exceptionally well on it. I think this mattress might be especially good for people with a lot of weight on their frames. My partner is 5'10" 125lbs, I'm 5'10 250lbs. I always tend to get back pain after sleeping on more 'formfitting' foams like Temperpedic or exceptionally soft spring mattresses. I get zero back pain from this mattress and have also found that for the first time, I am comfortable sleeping on my back occasionally. After three years I can't say anything has changed with our mattress - still just as comfortable as ever.”
This is a gorgeous and comfortable high-quality mattress from Zinus with five internal layers. Combining pocketed springs and comfort foam, the 12-inch Sleep Master iCoil mattress gives you stable support and pressure-relief, with minimal motion transfer. As with all mattresses that come in a box, you have to open the package and allow 48 hours for the mattress to fully fill out before sleeping on it.
“My husband and I have had this bed for a few years now,” writes Briana in her Amazon review. “Let me tell you. we LOVE IT. It’s so comfy! When one person gets up or moves it doesn’t disturb the other person. We have recommended this bed to everyone we have come across wanting a mattress. We will be buying a twin for our son in the future for his room.”
At just under the $500 mark, this mattress is still much cheaper than other mattresses of the same caliber. The 12-inch plush pillow hybrid mattress from Sweetnight is made of high-quality materials for proper support and alignment. Wrapped pocketed steel coils, gel memory foam in between two layers of air-flow high-density foam, and a luxurious, hypoallergenic, breathable knitted fabric cover will make sure you’re sleeping like a baby in no time, especially if you’re a back sleeper.
“Excellent,” says one happy customer. “Our last mattress cost almost $3,000 and after 11 years was ready for the trash. Tired of waking up in pain, we decided to try a mattress in a box. We researched all of the different ones and picked this one because of the reviews... It is so comfortable and we sleep so much better… I never want to sleep on anything else.”
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