Best Mattress Under $1,000

Update January 27, 2023

Buying a new mattress can be overwhelming, not to mention expensive. But purchasing a high-quality mattress at a price point that is convenient for you is an attainable goal. In this guide, we’ll discuss some of our top picks for the best mattresses under $1,000, the types of sleepers they’re suited for, and what to search for when shopping for a mattress on a budget.

All of the beds on our list belong to a mattress category called bed-in-a-box mattresses. Boxed mattresses are delivered right to your doorstep directly from the manufacturer, cutting out the middleman and keeping costs low—the perfect recipe for a good mattress under $1,000.

Related: How to find the best queen mattress

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Best Mattress Under $1,000 - Top Picks

• Nectar: Best for Side Sleepers
• Tuft & Needle: Best Value
• Casper: Best Memory Foam
• Layla: Best for Pain Relief
• Helix Midnight: Best for Couples

Nectar Mattress - Best for Side Sleepers

This 5-layer memory foam mattress is one of the best mattresses for side sleepers, thanks to a medium-firm level of support, two layers of high-density foam, and two layers of gel memory foam designed to contour your body. A good universal mattress for most types of sleepers, Nectar is responsive, cooling, and durable. The gel memory foam layer provides great motion isolation, making the Nectar mattress a good choice for couples.

Nectar offers a more generous trial period and warranty combination than most other bed-in-the-box mattress brands: you’ll get a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty. During the year-long sleep trial, you can rest on the Nectar mattress night after night and decide if you want to keep it next year. If not, contact customer service, and return it for a full refund.

Click here to read more about the best mattresses for side sleepers.

PROS	CONS
Provides optimal pressure relief for side sleepers A good option for budget shoppers 97% customer satisfaction	Not great for back sleepers

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Tuft & Needle Mattress - Best Value

The Tuft & Needle mattress is simply constructed using two layers of foam and has a mattress cover that promotes airflow. This easy construction works for all sleep positions as it is responsive, easily adjusting to your movements. Tuft & Needle’s Adaptive® foam provides pressure relief and spinal alignment, something side sleepers and those with back pain needs in a mattress.

This foam bed has a bottom layer made of thick foundation foam, making Tuft & Needle durable and offering good edge support. The warranty you get with purchase lasts for 10 years, and the sleep trial lasts 100 nights.

PROS	CONS
Budget friendly Good for side sleepers	Not great for hot sleepers Not great for co-sleepers

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Casper Mattress - Best Memory Foam

 

Casper is one of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattresses out there with its universal memory foam model that works for most types of sleepers. Unlike other memory foam beds, Casper offers a comfortable mattress that is also cooling thanks to its layers that promote airflow. Its zoned support layer contours to your most pressure-sensitive areas and provides relief.

All the foam layers used in Casper are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning it keeps VOC emissions low, leading to minimal off-gassing. You get a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty with purchase.

Click here to compare Casper mattress models.

PROS	CONS
Great for side and combination sleepers Provides airflow for hot sleepers	Not great for stomach sleepers

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Layla Mattress - Best for Pain Relief

Layla is a flippable memory foam mattress with two firmness levels—one on either side. The soft side is great for side sleepers or those who want a plush feel to their mattress. The firm side is great for back and stomach sleepers. Regardless which firmness option you choose, you’ll get the benefit of copper-infused foam, which helps with inflammation and joint pain.

Not only is Layla an affordable mattress with two mattresses in one model, but it is responsive and offers good spine alignment. Layla comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.

PROS	CONS
Great for pressure relief Two firmness options Ultra-responsive for combination sleepers	Not great for hot sleepers

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Helix Midnight Mattress - Best for Couples

Couples need a mattress that works for each partner’s sleep style as well as one that provides excellent motion isolation, so there are no disturbances. The Helix Midnight mattress does just that in two ways: by being responsive to movement and by having individually wrapped coils that limit motion transfer.

Helix is also super cool, so each partner’s body heat isn’t a problem. Made of polyurethane foam, the transition layer matches your body type and meets your needs through ergonomic support. It also comes with the typical 100-night trial and 10-year warranty.

Learn more in our Helix Midnight mattress review.

PROS	CONS
Provides excellent motion isolation for co-sleepers Removable cover for easy cleaning	Pricier option on our list

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Comparing the Best Mattresses Under $1,000

Mattress Name	Quick Overview	Special Offer
Nectar	Material: Gel memory foam Firmness: Medium-firm; 6/10 Customer Rating: 4.8/5 MA Score: 8.7/10 Delivery: Free shipping Trial Period: 365 nights Warranty: Lifetime warranty Price: $	Check Price
Tuft & Needle	Material: Foam combo Firmness: Medium-firm; 6/10 Customer Rating: 4.9/5 MA Score: 8.7/10 Delivery: Free shipping Trial Period: 100 days Warranty: 10-year warranty Price: $	Check Price
Casper	Material: Memory foam Firmness: Medium-firm; 6/10 Customer Rating: 4.5/5 MA Score: 9.1/10 Delivery: Free shipping Trial Period: 100 days Warranty: 10-year warranty Price: $$	Check Price
Layla	Material: Copper-infused memory foam Firmness: Dual-sided Customer Rating: 4.5/5 MA Score: 8.8/10 Delivery: Free shipping Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: Lifetime warranty Price: $	Check Price
Helix Midnight	Material: Hybrid Firmness: Customizable Customer Rating: 4.6/5 MA Score: 8.9/10 Delivery: Free shipping Trial Period: 100 days Warranty: 10-year warranty Price: $$	Check Price

MA Score: The Mattress Advisor Score is a weighted score that takes into account 14 different factors related to the mattress’ performance, function, convenience, and the brand’s social responsibility.

Compare Features and Materials

Nectar	Tuft & Needle
What’s inside: Cooling cover: A dust-mite and bed-bug resistant cover that provides air circulation Quilted gel foam: A soft and airy comfort layer Gel memory foam: Distributes your weight evenly Adaptive hi-core memory foam: Supportive layer that keeps you from sinking into the mattress Breathing base layer: Adds reinforced support   Scored best in: Edge support Motion transfer Responsiveness	What’s inside: Top layer: Tuft & Needle’s Adaptive® foam that bounces back Bottom layer: High-density foam layer that adds durability Cover: Breathable and soft mattress cover   Scored best in: Edge support Pressure relief Spine alignment

Casper	Layla
What’s inside: Open-cell foam: Breathable open-cell foam for a cool sleep Responsive memory foam: A pressure-relieving foam that balances the body weight Zoned support foam layer: Contouring foam that supports hips and shoulders Durable support foam: Base layer of foam that adds durability   Scored best in: Responsiveness Edge support Spine alignment	What’s inside: Soft side: Comforting and cooling copper-infused memory foam Convoluted airflow layer: Heat-dissipating layer of memory foam Base support foam: High-density firm foam that works as a supportive layer Firm side: Copper-infused foam that turns Layla into a firm mattress   Scored best in: Responsiveness Edge support Pressure relief

	Helix Midnight
	What’s inside: Helix soft-touch design: Super soft stretchy mattress cover Memory Plus foam: Medium-feel, pressure-relieving foam High-Grade Polyfoam: A transition layer that provides ergonomic support Wrapped Coils: The body shape layer that provides motion isolation DuraDense Foam: The base layer of the mattress   Scored best in: Motion transfer Edge support Cooling

What to Consider While Mattress Shopping on a Budget

When you are shopping for a mattress on a tight budget, your considerations shouldn’t change too much when it comes to your needs. You can often find the perfect mattress for your needs that is a fraction of the cost of a high-end bed. We’ll walk you through the most crucial features and considerations as you look for your perfect value mattress.

Mattress Type

Mattresses come in a variety of materials. We’ll let you know which types of mattresses have an affordable price tag and which would be best for you based on your sleep preferences.

Memory foam mattress

Memory foam mattresses are completely constructed from layers of foam. This foam is warmed by your body heat, and the result is contouring comfort that hugs your shape and relieves pressure points. Memory foam is also known for its motion isolation properties, making it a great choice for couples or people who sleep with their pets. However, memory foam is a material that tends to trap heat, so mattresses comprised of it can sleep hot.

There are memory foam mattresses for pretty much every price range, but the more expensive models will target that elusive cooling by having special layers that allow for airflow or are infused with cooling gel.

Learn more about two of the top memory foam mattresses in our Casper vs Nectar Mattress Review.

Innerspring mattress

Innerspring beds are constructed with a core layer of coil springs and are padded on either side with foam layers, which often allows them to be flippable. The steel coils give innerspring beds their bounce and responsiveness, which is great for combination sleepers. Innerspring mattresses are the beds most people grew up sleeping on, so they are a traditional and comforting mattress for most. However, the coils often cause movement throughout the bed, so this is not the type of mattress recommended for couples.

Spring mattresses are the most affordable and popular type of mattress on the market, but they are prone to sagging and breaking down more quickly than any other type.

Latex mattress

Mattresses made with latex foam are known as latex mattresses. Latex foam is naturally cooling, pressure-relieving, and responsive. If made with natural latex, they are also an organic, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly option.

The biggest issue with latex beds is that they are more expensive than other types of mattresses. There are two latex foam production processes: Dunlop and Talalay. Dunlop is a less expensive process than making Talalay latex. Synthetic latex is also a less expensive option as opposed to natural.

Hybrid mattress

Hybrid mattresses are made with any combination of foam, latex foam, and coil layers. The exact construction of a hybrid mattress varies depending on what issue they want to target, but this mattress type pretty much works for every type of sleeper.

Hybrids tend to come at a higher price point when compared to other types of mattresses because of the cost of high-quality materials, but they have some of the longest lifespans.

Sleeping Position

Side Sleeper

Side sleepers need a mattress that gives them a straight spine but hugs their hips and shoulders as they push into the mattress. A mattress with medium firmness should do the trick for alignment. If it comes with a pillow top or a plush top layer, the pressure points on those hips and shoulders should be cradled. Memory foam and latex mattresses do the best in these areas.

Back Sleeper

Back sleepers need a mattress that contours to their body so the natural curve of their spine is maintained, but the rest of their body is supported. A bed on the medium-firm to the firm side offers great support for your body and lower back. Back sleepers can work with just about any type of mattress as long as the top layer offers the spinal contour.

Stomach Sleeper

Stomach sleepers have the hardest time getting the proper alignment because it is considered the worst position to sleep in for pressure relief. To combat this, stomach sleepers should opt for a mattress on the firmer side for spinal alignment but with a plush pillow top for the hips and shoulders to sink into.

Memory foam mattresses work the best for stomach sleepers, but other types can work too as long as they have that plush top layer.

Mattress Size

• Twin and Full Mattress: If you are looking for a mattress for your child or guest room, a twin or full bed may be the way to go; they are pretty much guaranteed to be in your price range.
• Queen Mattress: Queen-size mattresses offer the sweet spot of having a range of options under $1,000 and still being large enough for a couple.
• King Mattress: King-size mattresses are the perfect size for a master bedroom, but the choices become more limited for a king bed under $1,000.
• California King Mattress: For sleepers who want the most space, California king beds offer the perfect length and width. For most bed-in-a-box brands, king and Cal king mattresses are the same price.

Sleep Trial and Warranty

When it comes to mattresses in a box, you can’t try them out in the store first before you buy, but you can sleep on them for months before making a final commitment. How? With a sleep trial period!

Most boxed mattress brands offer at least a 100-night trial period with the purchase of their mattress. During this time frame, you get to break in your new mattress for months and see if you love it. If not, you can make a hassle-free return for a full refund. If you decide to keep it, you get a warranty that can range anywhere from 10 years to a lifetime.

Summary of Our Top Mattresses Under $1,000

• Nectar: Best for Side Sleepers
• Tuft & Needle: Best Value
• Casper: Best Memory Foam
• Layla: Best for Pain Relief
• Helix Midnight: Best for Couples

About the Author Loren Bullock

Loren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and Associate Editor at Mattress Advisor. She spends her days helping others get their best sleep ever through in-depth product reviews and sleep education.