Save Money, Sleep Well: Best Cheap Mattress Picks From Our Test Lab

The Nectar’s sticker price makes it a high-value mattress compared to other memory foam models. However, our testing found the mattress still performs at the same level as – if not better than – many pricier all-foam beds.

How It Performed

Our in-house testing found the Nectar has a much more balanced feel than many competing foam mattresses thanks to its higher-than-average firmness level. Side and back sleepers on our team enjoyed the generous cushioning for sore spots in their joints and lower back without sinking excessively. Stomach sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds may also feel comfortable, but those who weigh more will likely need a more supportive mattress.

We also recommend the Nectar for couples who value motion isolation. The foam layers absorbed most movement transfer and noise when we moved across the mattress or changed positions, so you should notice fewer disturbances if your partner tosses and turns at night.

What It’s Made of

The Nectar is constructed with a memory foam comfort layer over transitional and support layers of dense polyfoam. Though the mattress has a medium firm (6) feel, we found the mattress conformed evenly to distribute your weight and alleviate pressure along the spine. The top foam layer is infused with phase change material intended to release your body heat and maintain a cool sleep surface.

If you live in the contiguous U.S., you’re eligible for free shipping. Nectar also offers a 365-night sleep trial to test out the mattress and a lifetime warranty against structural defects, both of which are longer than average.

One of Layla Sleep’s newest mattresses, the Essential is a wallet-friendly all-foam model constructed with balanced comfort in mind. The medium firm (6) feel and gentle contouring should appeal to a wide range of people across different sleep positions and body types. An open-cell top layer also promotes breathability near the surface and helps you stay cool.

How It Performed

The Layla Essential earned favorable ratings from the vast majority of our testing team — a rare feat for a mattress this affordable. Side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds were particularly impressed, as were back and stomach sleepers below 130 pounds. Stomach sleepers over 230 pounds were the only testers who assigned negative ratings, complaining of inadequate support and too much sink. If this describes you, we recommend a firmer mattress with a sturdier support system.

Motion isolation was a performance area where the Layla Essential excelled. None of our testers felt any movement when lying side by side on the mattress, and our kettlebell drops resulted in minimal motion transfer. Our thermal body sensors also detected minimal heat on the surface during temperature control tests, and most of our testers agreed the mattress prevented excessive pressure buildup.

What It’s Made of

The Essential’s straightforward design consists of a memory foam comfort layer and high-density foam base. Measuring 9 inches thick, the mattress is considered a low-profile model and should be compatible with the vast majority of sheet sets. The cover is composed of poly-Lycra fabric styled with Layla’s signature hexagonal pattern. You may remove and machine wash the cover to keep your surface clean.

Layla offers free ground shipping to customers in the contiguous U.S. Your order comes with a 120-night sleep trial, during which you may return the Essential for a full refund if you aren’t satisfied. Should you decide to keep the mattress, you’ll receive a manufacturer’s warranty with 10 years of coverage against various defects.

The Leesa Studio is a memory foam mattress that is affordable and practical. An all-foam design and true medium firm (6) feel should appeal to many people regardless of weight or sleep position, making the mattress well-suited to guest rooms and combination sleepers.

How It Performed

A relatively firm all-foam design makes the Studio a good option for side and back sleepers, especially those weighing up to 230 pounds. Our testing shows these sleepers receive adequate contouring but won’t sink to an excessive degree.

During our tests, we found the mattress’ adaptive foam layers alleviated pressure quite well, so it’s a great choice if you wake up with aches and pains. The Studio is also well suited to couples. The three foam layers absorbed most movement transfer and noise when we moved across the mattress, so you and your partner shouldn’t experience any sleep disruptions when the other person changes positions.

What It’s Made of

The Studio begins with a memory foam comfort layer that offers moderate cushioning and relieves pressure points. Next is a polyfoam transitional layer that ensures your weight is evenly distributed across the mattress. The support core features high-density polyfoam that bolsters the sleep surface and prevents excessive sinkage. A cover made of polyester blend twill encases the foam layers. This fabric has a soft yet durable composition, and Leesa’s trademark stripes add signature styling. The Studio measures 10 inches thick, making it a medium-profile mattress.

In addition to its affordable pricing, the Leesa Studio qualifies for free shipping to customers in all 50 states. Each order includes a 100-night sleep trial, during which you can test the mattress and return it for a full refund anytime after the 30-night break-in period. If you choose to keep the mattress, you’ll also receive a 10-year warranty against structural defects.

Brooklyn Bedding offers an impressive lineup of beds that cater to different sleep preferences and budgets. The Essential is a foam hybrid model that cushions your body while delivering ample support — at a considerably lower price-point than other hybrids we’ve tested.

How It Performed

The foam layers in the Essential’s comfort system are thinner than some other foam hybrids you’ll find on the market, which results in slightly less cushioning. This earned the bed higher marks during our ease of movement tests, compared with plusher foam beds that inhibit movement across the surface.

Side sleepers under 130 pounds and back sleepers up to 230 pounds enjoyed the combination of light contouring and sturdy support. These testers reported adequate cushioning for the shoulders, hips, and spine while receiving enough pushback to prevent the lower back from sinking too deep. The mattress also performed well with hot sleepers due to the cooling airflow through the coils.

What It’s Made of

The Essential begins with a cotton and polyester cover quilted with 1.5 inches of polyfoam. This is followed by a thin transition layer of high-density polyfoam that lightly contours to your figure while acting as a barrier between your body and the thick base. The support core contains pocketed coils that are responsive and sturdy. A polyfoam base layer stabilizes the mattress and helps promote durability.

Brooklyn Bedding offers a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Shipping is free to addresses in the contiguous U.S.

One of Casper’s newest mattresses, this all-foam model — known simply as “The Casper” — delivers exceptional comfort for hot sleepers. The topmost layer consists of open-cell foam that circulates air and reduces heat buildup. A breathable, moisture-wicking cover also adds to The Casper’s above-average temperature control. This mattress is a great option for anyone who’s felt overly warm or sweaty sleeping on foam models in the past.

How It Performed

A true medium firm (6) mattress, The Casper earned its most positive ratings from side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, and back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. You may need a softer, more adaptive mattress if you sleep on your side and weigh less than 130 pounds. Conversely, many back and stomach sleepers on our team weighing more than 230 pounds claimed the mattress did not provide sufficient support.

As is often the case with all-foam models, The Casper earned high marks for motion isolation and pressure relief. Strong performance during our temperature control tests was more of a surprise, and we’ve attributed this to the AirScape comfort layer and breathable cover fabric.

What It’s Made of

The Casper begins with a comfort layer of AirScape open-cell polyfoam. This proprietary material is perforated to promote airflow and minimize heat retention, allowing the surface to remain cool and comfortable throughout the night. A memory foam transitional layer adds extra cushioning while creating a buffer between your body and the support core, which is made of high-density polyfoam.

The blended cover contains upcycled cotton, recycled polyester, rayon, and a hint of Lycra spandex to make the fabric stretchy. At 10 inches thick, The Casper is considered a medium-profile mattress and won’t necessitate a deep-pocket fitted sheet.

Casper offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. and provincial Canada. You’ll receive a 100-night sleep trial with The Casper, and a 10-year warranty against structural and material defects if you decide to keep your mattress.

The Silk & Snow Hybrid is a medium firm (6) bed sold at a reasonable price-point compared to other hybrid models we’ve tested of similar quality and construction. While the mid-range firmness level performed well across weight categories, our testers who weigh more than 130 pounds greatly benefited from the bed’s excellent support.

How It Performed

Our testing found the foam comfort system and coil support core create a balance of cushioning and support that is well-suited for side sleepers. Our testers who frequently use this position require pressure relief in the shoulders and hips but enough support to prevent excessive sinkage in other areas of the body. We noticed the coil system ventilated the bed’s interior quite well, and cooling gel infusions in the foam are meant to reduce heat retention, making this an appealing option if you tend to overheat.

What It’s Made of

The mattress begins with a quilted polyfoam layer followed by a thicker layer of memory foam. This comfort system conforms closely to your body and cushions areas where pressure buildup may occur. Beneath is a pocketed coil system that is zoned to provide extra support to heavier parts of your body and help you maintain healthy sleep posture. We found the firm foam encasement around the mattress’ perimeter provided excellent edge support, which is helpful if you have trouble getting in and out of bed or tend to sleep close to the edges.

Silk & Snow ships free within the contiguous U.S. and Canadian provinces. The mattress is backed by a 15-year warranty and comes with a 100-night sleep trial for you to test out the mattress. A 30-night break-in period is required, after which you may return the bed for a full refund.

The Dreamfoam Essential from Brooklyn Bedding is a quintessential memory foam mattress with an extremely attractive price-point. The bed has more profile options than most foam beds we’ve tested, with thicker models costing more. However, even the highest profile is reasonably priced, making this an excellent option for budget shoppers seeking a foam bed.

How It Performed

The mattress is available in five different profiles, ranging from 6 to 14 inches. All models conform closely to your body so you’ll receive some pressure relief no matter which thickness you pick, but our testers found that thinner models were noticeably firmer than thicker models. The firmness levels range from medium soft (4) for the 14-inch model to firm (8) for the 6-inch model.

During tests, side sleepers felt the most comfortable on the 12- and 14-inch models. This sleep position benefits from soft beds with deep contouring to cradle shoulders and hips. Back sleepers under 130 pounds also enjoyed the balance of pressure relief and support in these thicker models. We don’t recommend the higher profiles for sleepers over 230 pounds, since the plush layers may not provide sufficient support. The 14-inch model is especially plush, so it caters mostly to sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds and those who seek strong pressure relief.

Due to their thinner and firmer construction, the 6- and 8-inch models felt most comfortable for stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds. However these models were too firm for side and back sleepers on our team.

What It’s Made of

The Dreamfoam Essential is composed entirely of foam. The 6- and 8-inch models contain a 2-inch comfort layer of memory foam and a support core made of high-density polyfoam. The 10-inch model has a similar composition, except the memory foam layer is slightly thicker to enhance plushness. The 12- and 14-inch models both feature a third polyfoam layer to maximize contouring and softness.

Dreamfoam mattresses come with a 120-night sleep trial so that you can test the mattress at home. You’ll also receive a 10-year warranty. Shipping is free to addresses in the contiguous U.S.

Finding a mattress for your spare bedroom can be challenging because everyone has different needs regarding firmness and support. You may not find a mattress that feels comfortable for all of your overnight guests, but our tests show that the Siena Memory Foam Mattress is a safe bet for most. This medium firm (6), all-foam model gently contours to your body but shouldn’t sink excessively if you weigh up to 230 pounds. Our testing results also show the mattress isolates motion, alleviates pressure, and feels reasonably stable along the perimeter.

How It Performed

Throughout our tests, the Siena performed well in areas where memory foam mattresses tend to fall short. The medium firm feel and mid-range profile give the mattress above-average support, so the testers on our team who weigh up to 230 pounds didn’t sink too much as they might on a softer, thicker all-foam model. The Siena also excelled during our motion isolation tests, and very few of our testers experienced painful pressure buildup while lying on the mattress.

Among our different types of testers, the Siena was most comfortable for side sleepers weighing 130 to 230 pounds and back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. However, testers across most weight and position groups gave the mattress a rating of “good” or better.

What It’s Made of

The Siena begins with a comfort layer of adaptive memory foam, followed by a polyfoam transitional layer. These materials cushion and conform to the body while keeping you on an even plane. The top layer is infused with cooling gel intended to dissipate body heat and help you sleep cool. We also found the surface relatively easy to move across during our tests, which can be attributed to the firmer feel of this mattress.

The Siena’s support core is composed of high-density polyfoam. This layer is designed to stabilize the entire mattress. We noticed minimal sinkage along the perimeter – especially compared to other memory foam beds. A cover made of knit polyester encases the entire mattress. The Siena measures 10 inches thick, making it a medium-profile model.

In addition to its affordable pricing, the Siena Memory Foam Mattress qualifies for free ground delivery throughout the contiguous U.S. Your purchase will include a sleep trial that spans 180 nights, giving you plenty of time to test the mattress and decide whether it’s right for you. If you decide to keep it, you’ll also receive a manufacturer’s warranty that covers structural defects for up to 10 years.

The Allswell Mattress — also known as simply The Allswell — is a budget-friendly hybrid model designed for exceptional support. A firm (7) feel ensures the mattress should be comfortable for most sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds, especially those who sleep on their backs or stomachs.

How It Performed

The comfort layer is made with cooling materials, so this surface may retain less heat than other foam hybrids. Our testers report that the quilted cover prevented the surface from feeling overly stiff, while the memory foam in the comfort layer cushioned the surface. The coil support core provided excellent overall stability during tests, and thicker coils along the perimeter helped us feel more secure when sleeping near the edges or getting in and out of bed. The coils also promote steady air circulation to help the mattress core maintain a comfortable temperature. The balance of cushioning and support felt comfortable for a wide swath of testers on our team, though it seemed to perform slightly better with back sleepers overall.

What It’s Made of

The Allswell begins with a cover quilted with soft polyfoam. Beneath is a memory foam comfort layer infused with copper and graphite meant to reduce heat retention, followed by a thick coil base composed of pocketed coils. The edges are reinforced, which made it easier for our testers to lie close to the edges without sagging. The Allswell stands out from competing hybrids due to its highly affordable price-point.

Customers in the contiguous U.S. qualify for free ground delivery. The mattress is backed by a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.