Best Mattress Under $500

January 27, 2023

Looking for a good night’s sleep, without breaking the bank? Believe it or not, you can get a high-quality, durable, comfortable, and supportive bed-in-a-box mattress for less than $500.

In this article, we’ve rounded up several of the leading mattress companies, all of which offer their Twin XL mattress products for under $500. Note that these companies also offer queen size mattresses for only slightly more; and, many of them are currently providing discounts and promos, keeping the price point even lower without skipping on quality.

By clicking on the product links in this article, US-Mattress and Mattress Advisor may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Read the full disclosure statement.

Compare the Best Mattresses Under $500

As you seek a high-quality mattress for a modest price point, it’s important to compare materials, firmness levels, and overall value. Use this chart to help locate a great mattress that meets your needs and your budget.

Mattress Name	Quick Overview	Special Offer
Casper Element	Material: Memory foam Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.6/5 MA Score: 8.4/10 Delivery: 2-7 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Price: $	Check Price
Brooklyn Bowery	Material: Foam Firmness: Medium Customer Rating: 4.8/5 MA Score: 8.5/10 Delivery: 4-8 business days Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: 10 years Price: $	Check Price
Helix Midnight	Material: Hybrid Firmness: Customizable Customer Rating: 4.6/5 MA Score: 8.9/10 Delivery: 3-7 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Price: $	Check Price
Nectar	Material: Gel memory foam Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.8/5 MA Score: 8.7/10 Delivery: 2-5 business days Trial Period: 365 nights Warranty: Lifetime warranty Price: $	Check Price
Layla	Material: Copper-infused memory foam Firmness: Dual-sided Customer Rating: 4.5/5 MA Score: 8.8/10 Delivery: 4-7 business days Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: Lifetime warranty Price: $	Check Price
Puffy	Material: Memory foam Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.6/5 MA Score: 9/10 Delivery: 2-5 business days Trial Period: 101 nights Warranty: Lifetime warranty Price: $	Check Price
Tuft & Needle	Material: Foam Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.6/5 MA Score: 8.7/10 Delivery: 1-5 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Price: $	Check Price
Allswell	Material: Hybrid Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.8/5 MA Score: 8.2/10 Delivery: 3-9 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years 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.

Casper Element - Best Memory Foam Mattress

Casper has long been known as a top provider of memory foam mattresses, and the Casper Element is their most budget-friendly option. It’s a good option for kids, and also for grown-ups who love that contouring, memory foam feel.

Related: Compare Casper Mattresses to find the best mattress for you.

Pros	Cons
Excellent edge support Excellent spine alignment	Not recommended for couples Not recommended for heavyweight sleepers

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Brooklyn Bowery - Best for Couples

The Brooklyn Bowery mattress provides a high-quality memory foam experience for a low price point. Thanks to some solid motion transfer numbers, we consider this to be one of the best mattresses for couples.

Read more in our Brooklyn Bowery Mattress Review.

Pros	Cons
Scores well in spine alignment and responsiveness Made with high-quality materials	Not recommended for hot sleepers

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Helix Midnight - Best for Customization

With Helix, the name of the game is customization. When you visit the Helix website, you’ll get to fill out a sleep quiz, helping to determine exactly the kind of mattress that’s best suited for you. This allows you to get just the firmness level required for your comfort, and all at a modest price point.

Learn more in our Helix Midnight Mattress Review.

Pros	Cons
Tons of customization Great for couples Sleeps cool Works well for all sleep position	Doesn’t work well for heavyweight individuals

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Nectar - Best for Value

The Nectar mattress sets the standard for value. Not only does it work well for pretty much all sleepers while having a low price point, but it also offers a lifetime warranty and a generous year-long sleep trial. There’s no better way to maximize your bang for buck.

Read more about Nectar in our Nectar Mattress Review.

Pros	Cons
Great for couples Works well for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and side sleepers Best-in-industry warranty and sleep trial	Not recommended for hot sleepers Not recommended for heavyweight sleepers

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Layla - Best Flippable Mattress

Not sure of the firmness level you need? With the Layla, you get both a firm side and a soft side. If you don’t like the side you’re sleeping on, just flip it over. Also note that the Layla mattress is infused with copper, which helps alleviate inflammation and soothe joint and back pain.

Learn more in our Layla Mattress Review.

Pros	Cons
Two firmness options to choose from Copper infusion to help soothe joint pain Lifetime warranty	Some off-gassing can be anticipated

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Puffy - Best for Side Sleepers

If you prefer sleeping on your side, the Puffy mattress may be just the bed you need. Its three layers of memory foam will give you all the cushioning and support you need. Plus, it also works well for pain relief.

Read more about why the Puffy is one of the best mattresses for side sleepers in our Puffy Mattress Review.

Pros	Cons
Excellent for side sleepers, those in pain, and fans of the classic memory foam feel Works well for couples	Not recommended for those who want something a little more plush Not recommended for those who prefer the classic innerspring feel

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Tuft & Needle - Best for Combination Sleepers

The Tuft & Needle mattress works well for pretty much all sleeping positions, including those who tend to toss and turn in the night. That makes it our pick for best mattress for combination sleepers. This firm mattress also offers breathability, bounce, and pressure relief.

Learn more in our Tuft & Needle Mattress Review.

Pros	Cons
Excellent edge support Works well for combination sleepers and all other sleep positions	Not recommended for couples Not recommended for hot sleepers

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Allswell - Best for Back Sleepers

If you tend to lay on your back at night, the Allswell is a mattress we can heartily recommend. This medium-firm hybrid mattress offers ample support through a combination of foam and coils. And, it has one of the most disruptive price points of any mattress on the market. (You can get any size for under $500.)

Read more in our Allswell Mattress Review.

Pros	Cons
Get any size for under $500 Works well for back sleepers Works well for couples	Some off-gassing can happen Takes some time to break in

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Compare Features and Materials

Which mattress type is right for you? And what about key perks and features? Use this buying guide to inform your decision, and to help you pick the best product within your price range.

Casper Element	Brooklyn Bowery
What’s inside: Memory foam layers: Two layers of Casper’s premium memory foam promote pressure relief, comfort, and responsiveness Base layer: The bottom layer of foam lends the mattress structure and durability	What’s inside: Top foam layer: The top layers offer the bounce of latex, the pressure relief of memory foam Transitional comfort foam: Provides additional support for the body Base support foam: Additional foam layer keeps the mattress sturdy and stable
Scored best in: Edge support Spine alignment Motion transfer	Scored best in: Spine alignment Responsiveness Motion transfer

Helix	Nectar
What’s inside: Soft-touch cover: Promotes air flow and helps mediate body heat Memory foam comfort layer: Supple, supportive, and cushioning memory foam layers Polyfoam transition layer: Additional comfort and support Body-shape layer: 600 individually wrapped coils contour to the shape of your body Dense foam base layer: Gives the mattress structural integrity	What’s inside: Memory foam quilted cover: The hypoallergenic mattress cover is soft to the touch Gel memory foam layer: Helps to evenly distribute body weight and relieve pressure points Adaptive memory foam: Prevents needless sinking Base layer: Strong, steady, stabilizing foam Bottom cover: A bottom cover stops the mattress from slipping off of its foundation
Scored best in: Motion transfer Edge support Cooling	Scored best in: Edge support Motion transfer Pressure relief

Layla	Puffy
What’s inside: Soft side: Copper-infused memory foam is soft, cool, and supportive Convoluted air flow layer: Helps keep body temperature regulated Base support foam: High-density foam keeps the mattress stable Firm side: Another copper-infused memory foam layer, this one firmer	What’s inside: Cool gel memory foam: The top layer of memory foam comes with cooling gel, keeping body temperature in check Temperature regulating memory foam: Supportive memory foam that never contracts or expands, even as the temperature fluctuates Firm core support layer: A super-firm layer of foam, holding the mattress steady
Scored best in: Responsiveness Edge support Pressure relief	Scored best in: Motion transfer Responsiveness Edge support

Tuft & Needle	Allswell
What’s inside: Top layer: Adaptive memory foam adjusts to your body’s movements and dissipates body heat Base layer: Provides durability and structure Cover: Cool fabric cover promotes air flow and breathability	What’s inside: Porous foam: Designed to improve air circulation Pocket coil base layer: Two gauges of pocket coils provide motion isolation and adapt to your sleep position
Scored best in: Edge support Pressure relief Spine alignment	Scored best in: Spine alignment Pressure relief Cooling

How to Find the Best Mattress Under $500

Just because you’re on a tight budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a comfortable and durable mattress. This is especially true if you’re shopping for a smaller size, or if you’re willing to time your purchase to align with special discounts or mattress sales.

Shopping Considerations

There are a number of factors to think about as you shop for a great mattress at an affordable price. Here are a few considerations.

Type of Mattress

Memory foam: Memory foam tends to be one of the most affordable mattress types. Memory foam is especially great for motion transfer and pressure relief, though there can sometimes be problems with heat retention.

Innerspring: Many classic brands come with innerspring coils, which respond to the movements of your body and provide maximum support. Innerspring also tends to sleep cooler than memory foam.

Latex: Latex mattresses are usually at the upper end of the price range, though they can certainly be worth the investment: They have just the right level of bounce, they sleep cool, and many latex mattresses are made from 100 percent natural materials.

Hybrid: A lot of mattresses are made with some combination of the above materials (plus other materials, like pillow top fabric). These hybrids have the best of what innerspring and memory foam have to offer.

Performance Factors

Set-up: Once you order your new mattress, how hard will it be to unbox and set it up? And how long will it take for you to break it in?

Pressure relief: Look for a new mattress that evenly distributes body weight and keeps the pressure off your joints.

Spine alignment: Spine alignment refers to the way a mattress supports a healthy, natural posture, preventing you from waking up sore or creaky.

Durability: Even at the lower end of the price range, you can find mattresses that will stand up to the test of time; strong base foam layers can be helpful here.

Motion transfer: For couples, it’s important to find a mattress that minimizes disruptions and limits motion.

Temperature regulation: A breathable mattress will help mediate body heat and keep you cool, all through the night.

Related: Learn more about the best cooling mattresses.

Responsiveness: Responsiveness refers to a mattress’ ability to adapt to your movements. An innerspring mattress is especially strong in this category.

Edge support: Look for a mattress that won’t sink or sag at the edges.

Shipping and Delivery

Most of the mattresses on this list offer free, fast delivery, as well as free returns (assuming you make your return before the sleep trial ends).

FAQ About the Best Mattresses Under $500

1. Can I finance my $500 mattress?

   Many online mattress companies allow for you to finance your purchase, typically with little or no interest. You can select a payment option such as Affirm or Klarna at checkout, allowing you to split your payment over a few months.

2. How do sleep trials work?

   Most mattresses will give you a specified number of days to “test drive” your mattress and make sure you like it. Within that trial period, you can return the mattress and receive a refund. Usually, the mattress company will dispatch someone to come pick up, remove, and donate the unwanted mattress.

3. Can I get a king size mattress for under $500?

   Some companies, including Allswell, do offer larger mattresses for under $500. Also keep your eye out for special sales and promotions, as most mattress companies provide significant discounts at various points throughout the year.

Summary of Our Top Picks for the Best Mattress Under $500

• Casper Element - Best Memory Foam Mattress
• Brooklyn Bowery - Best for Couples
• Helix Midnight - Best for Customization
• Nectar - Best for Value
• Layla - Best Flippable Mattress
• Puffy - Best for Side Sleepers
• Tuft & Needle - Best for Combination Sleepers
• Allswell - Best for Back Sleepers

About the Author Josh Hurst

Josh Hurst lives and writes in Knoxville, TN. A recovering insomniac, he has a long-standing appreciation for the power of a good night's sleep.