A high-quality mattress doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive or cost an arm and a leg. Looking for the best mattress under $500 is good exercise, and can possibly get you quality without blowing through your budget. Here’s our list with some amazing mattresses in the range. For the purpose of this list, I’m suggesting a selection of the best mattress under 500 on Amazon, while keeping the most popular mattress size (Queen) as the price point. Here we go!
- Nod by Tuft & Needle
- Sealy 8-Inch Bed in a Box, Adaptive Comfort Layers
- LUCID 12 Inch Queen Hybrid Mattress – Bamboo Charcoal and Aloe Vera
- Best Price Mattress 10-Inch Memory Foam Mattress and Bed Frame Set
- Signature Sleep 13-Inch Hybrid Coil Mattress
What Should I Know To Find The Best Mattress Under $500?
Mattresses can cost a lot of money and easily run into thousands of dollars. However, price is not directly proportional to quality. You can get decent, even good quality mattresses for a budget under $500. Here are a few questions you should ask, and know about.
What Type Of Mattress Do You Want?
Many people have a preference for the materials used in mattresses or the type. The amount you pay can depend on your preference for a certain type. For example, finding the best innerspring mattress under $500 can be easier, considering that innersprings are usually priced lower. Latex mattresses made from natural latex can be the most expensive. However, there is the whole world of innersprings, memory foam, and hybrids where you can find the mattress you would prefer within your budget.
It helps to know the characteristics of the mattress material of your choice, or to form an informed opinion of your own rather than depending on whatever the salesperson tells you. Read our detailed mattress buying guide to see what mattress type works best for your sleep position, preferences or necessities. Remember, selecting a mattress is a subjective decision based on your preferences and comfort, and not an exact science.
How Far Does $500 Go In Mattress Purchasing?
A limited budget requires a diligent shopper. A few years ago, a buyer would have walked into a store, tested some mattress for a few minutes, perhaps indulged in the bargaining game with a salesman and come back with whatever deal they managed to extract. Modern shoppers have a lot more at their disposal in terms of deals, variety, quality, and honest reviews.
Several manufacturers sell their products exclusively online in a bid to reduce costs and bring higher quality mattresses much closer to the budget shopper. Similarly, access to reviews — customer and professional — means the shopper has a better idea about the quality of the product, expectations, and even how well the manufacturer honors their warranty.
It’s also a good idea to subscribe to blogs, groups, and related newsletters. You may get your hands on a flash sale or coupon that helps you save more money.
5 Best Mattresses Under $500
1. Nod by Tuft & Needle
Nod by Tuft & Needle is the under-$500 iteration of their very well regarded mattress. While you could wait for a nice deal to see Tuft & Needle mattress priced under $500, Nod is made using the same high-quality materials, and always priced within our stated budget. A new launch and barely a month old, Nod has already made great strides and is winning applause if ratings and consumer reviews are anything to go by.
An Amazon exclusive for sales, Nod is made using the same adaptive foam that Tuft & Needle is famous for. In their words, their foam has the best of both latex and memory foam, and not much by way of their negatives. The foam is conforming, responsive, and does not sleep hot. The 8-inch high mattress is rated medium-firm and is available in only one firmness options, though all common size options are available.
| Free Trial | 100 Nights |
| Warranty | 10 Years |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold, OEKO-TEX (awaited) |
| Pros | Cons |
| Sleeps temperature neutral | Can take some time to adjust to |
| Minimal off-gassing | Some people may not be comfortable with the 8-inch height profile |
| Comfortable, conforming, and responsive foam | Only one firmness option |
2. Sealy 8-Inch Bed in a Box, Adaptive Comfort Layers
Sealy 8-inch Bed in a Box Adaptive Comfort Layers mattress falls within our budget, though the higher height profile versions are more expensive. The mattress has 2-inches of adaptive high-density memory foam, followed by 6-inches of high-grade conventional foam. This foam is also supposed to help with the cooling and ventilation of the mattress.
The two layers of foam are wrapped in a removable, soft, knit cover to make the mattress excellent to the touch. It’s a fairly average configuration, but it kind of works, and with Sealy’s name on it, the brand lends a bit of credence to the product as well.
| Free trial | Retailer policy (Amazon 30 day returns) |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US |
| Pros | Cons |
| Conforming support with pressure point relief | Poor edge support |
| Minimal off-gassing | May not work for side-sleeper |
| Not suitable for overweight sleepers |
3. LUCID 12 Inch Queen Hybrid Mattress – Bamboo Charcoal and Aloe Vera
Lucid hybrid mattress is quite a trove of features, and an eclectic mix of materials! Well, if a mattress can be eclectic, that is. But then we do love mattresses around here. The Lucid hybrid mattress has its base in individually wrapped high-quality steel coils, topped with a layer of high-quality transition foam treated with aloe vera. This layer is supposed to provide “calming and relaxing sleep environment.” Aloe vera apparently also helps to kill off some off-gassing odors, although that’s more a questionable claim since the hybrid mattress would have plenty of ventilation.
The top layer is bamboo charcoal infused memory foam. Partnering with bamboo charcoal allows the foam to be more comfortable, since bamboo fibers are adept at picking up and shipping off sweat. The role of bamboo is to ensure that the mattress sleeps temperature neutral. This is a great contender for being the best hybrid mattress under 500.
| Free Trial | Retailer policy (Amazon 30 day returns) |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US |
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent pressure relief | Some customers say the mattress is much firmer than the advertised “medium plush” |
| Relieves pressure and helps align spine | Takes some time getting used to |
| Minimal off-gassing | Can sleep hot |
4. Best Price Mattress 10-Inch Memory Foam Mattress and Bed Frame Set
An unusual sight on our list is the bed frame set that comes bundled with the Best Price Mattress. The frame offers 14-inch of under-bed storage and is made entirely of steel. But enough about the frame… let’s get talking about the mattress!
The mattress is 10-inches high, starting with 5-inch high-density foam, 2-inches of pressure relief foam, and finally 3-inch of charcoal-infused memory foam. Charcoal infused foam is better ventilated, and while preventing smells, also helps keep the mattress temperature neutral. Best Price Mattress is an excellent choice for when you need a full set, and can’t be bothered with purchasing box springs or frame separately. On the other hand, it’s a pain if you just need the mattress.
| Free Trial | Retailer policy (Amazon 30 day returns) |
| Warranty | Mattress 10 years, Frame 5 years |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US Certified |
| Pros | Cons |
| Comfortable and well priced | Only available as mattress + frame combo |
| Excellent pressure relief | The frame can be unreliable |
| Can sleep hot |
5. Signature Sleep 13-Inch Hybrid Coil Mattress
Innersprings are an amazing option for those on a budget. The Signature Sleep Hybrid Coil Mattress is a great example of a good quality mattress available at a lower price. At the base of the queen mattress are 630 coils measuring 10-inch and independently encased. These coils provide excellent bounce, while minimizing motion transfer.
Topping the layer of coils is a 3-inch layer of zone foam, and finally, a layer of memory foam as pillowtop layer. Take note that this is a “hybrid coil” mattress, not a hybrid mattress. This is more of an innerspring mattress with a layer of memory foam placed on top. Especially so, since the memory foam layer is placed as a pillowtop rather than a full comfort layer. In any case, this mattress has glowing customer reviews and seems to have things well under control.
| Free Trial | Retailer policy (Amazon 30 day returns) |
| Warranty | 10-years |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US |
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent bounce and edge support | Suspect longevity, many customers say the mattress deteriorates significantly after a couple of years |
| Little to no off-gassing | Springs/coils can get noisy |
| Great value for money | Some motion transfer |
Best Mattress Under $500 — Parting Words
Being on a budget does not mean that you have to compromise on quality or accept lower value in terms of “good for the price”. Plenty of manufacturers offer quality, and you can get the best mattress under $500 with not just a decent price tag, but decent service and quality as well.