Do you know that the average person spends almost 230,000 hours of their life sleeping? That’s a lot of time! So, you want to make sure you have a comfortable mattress.
If you have a limited budget you still can get a soft and supportive mattress with memory or gel foam. To find the best mattresses under $500 we examined 40 products and selected only 10 with Tuft & Needle Mattress at the top. First, we considered the type of mattress as some people prefer memory foam while others want a more traditional innerspring mattress. Second, we looked at the size as you want a mattress that will fit your bed frame. And finally, we checked the firmness level as you want a mattress that is comfortable for you. We also included a cooling mattress in our selection for people who tend to sleep hot.
More features: fit all frames
The Tuft & Needle Mattress is far and away the best mattress currently on the market for under $500 for several reasons. First, the proprietary Adaptive Foam that fills the top layer of the mattress is one of the best sleeping layers we’ve seen. Since it’s foam, you get the sensation of sinking into the mattress – but the firmness and resiliency of the foam actually keep your body floating on top so that your back doesn’t arch. Plus, the foam is infused with graphite, and the mattress cover is made of wicking nylon and polyester so that the mattress pulls heat away from your body as you sleep. That cooling process can keep you from overheating, which is a common cause of poor sleep for many people.
Another great feature of this mattress is that the support foam, which makes up the lower half of the mattress, can eliminate the need for a box spring or bed frame. The support foam is strong enough to keep you comfortable even if the mattress is set out on the floor.
The other thing we loved about Tuft & Needle was their customer support. Not only do they offer a 100-day trial period (after which very few people reported returning the mattress), but customers rave about the support they’ve received when talking to the company before purchasing the mattress or when a return is needed.
More features: comes with two gel-infused memory foam pillows
This pillow top mattress from Classic Brands is a great mattress for those who prefer the feeling of sinking through the top of the mattress before resting on a firm base. The top 4” of the mattress are made of soft comfort foam, memory foam, and gel foam, so it can feel like the mattress is fully welcoming your body into its folds when you lie down in it.
However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a soft mattress – the underlying comfort foam and thick 8” support foam base provide a ton of firmness. In fact, most customers rank this among the firmer mattresses they’ve slept on. The benefit to this sink-into-firmness design is that it drastically reduces pressure points, and helps the mattress conform to your body’s natural curves. This is especially great for people with scoliosis, as many customers report tossing and turning less throughout the night.
The other great feature of this mattress is the gel-infused memory foam in the uppermost layer. This foam is specially designed for breathability and ventilation, so even as your body is being sucked into the mattress, it is able to move heat away from your body. This is a major difference from traditional memory foam mattress tops, which many people dislike because they cause heat build-up.
This mattress from Olee is a hybrid design, featuring an innerspring base with a series of high-density foam layers above. One of the things that set this mattress apart from competitors like the LinenSpa hybrid mattress is that the springs in the base are individually coiled rather than coiled in sets as for a traditional innerspring. This unique design allows the mattress to spread your weight more evenly across the coils and for individual coils to respond to increased pressure, for example from your shoulders and hips. The result is fewer pressure points. Another benefit of this design is that the mattress transfers almost no motion – perfect if you have a partner who frequently wakes up early and you don’t want to be disturbed.
Another welcome feature of this mattress is the thin gel foam layer just below the top of the mattress. This gel foam provides much needed ventilation, helping the mattress transfer heat away from your body so you stay cool throughout the night. Plus, since the gel foam layer is sandwiched in between two layers of high-density foam, this ventilation is accomplished without sacrificing the firmness of the mattress or causing your body to sink into the top layer.
Other features: hybrid construction, hypoallergenic, 13-gauge pocketed coils, 1.5″ high density super soft quilt foam
An affordable, high-quality mattress can be tricky to find. However, you can always find a gem like the Ashley Furniture Signature Design Chime Express Hybrid Innerspring Mattress. The bed ships in a relatively small box after compression. Nevertheless, it does expand over time after unpacking.
Remember, this is a hybrid mattress that has multiple layers. Most of them are made of foam, while an extra one is made of 13-gauge coils. You can thus expect the benefits of both foam and coil mattresses in this purchase.
People who buy gel memory foam mattresses often buy them because they conform to the user’s body and offer excellent airflow. As such, buyers can expect these benefits as well from this product due to the inclusion of a gel memory foam layer. Nonetheless, don’t expect this bed to conform too much to your body since this layer is quite small.
Also, no matter the size of your bed, there is likely to be an option for you. After all, there are five size options to choose from that include twin, full, queen, king, and even California king beds. Noteworthy is that the price goes up for larger bed sizes. As such, the California king bed is the most expensive.
The foam layers also come with their downsides. The biggest one is that there is a factory smell to the mattress when it is new. It goes away after you aerate the mattress for a few days. This may make it impossible for some of you to sleep on the mattress for the first few days after receipt.
If allergens made it impossible to sleep with your previous mattress, then this one will solve your problems. It comes with a hypoallergenic cover that keeps anything that might have you sneezing and wheezing out of your mattress. You can, thus, rest easy every single night.
Additionally, for such a high-quality option, the 10-year warranty is to be expected. After all, it is the industry standard for some of the best mattresses available.
LinenSpa’s Hybrid mattress harnesses the power of comfort foam and memory foam to transform a traditional spring mattress into something entirely new. The mattress includes a 1.5”-thick layer of comfort foam on top of an innerspring frame to add comfort and reduce the firmness of the mattress. The result is that the mattress is seemingly immune to creating pressure points, and many customers reported that it solved back pain that other mattresses couldn’t seem to shake. However, depending on your weight the mattress may feel either too firm for comfort or too soft so that your body is resting on the top of the springs.
To top off the mattress, LinenSpa added a thin layer of memory foam into the quilted mattress cover. While this foam isn’t adding any support on its own, it’s enough to give the mattress a gentle sinking feeling that many people appreciate. Plus, it helps to reduce the transfer of motion across the bed in case you have a partner who wakes up early.
Other features: cooling foam, ActivCharcoal, poly Jacquard cover
The Zinus 12 Inch Gel-Infused Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress is as well a good option for the under $500 market. The size options are mentioned above. Some of you will have noticed that conspicuously missing from the list is the California King size option. As such, if you already have a California king size base, you may need to look elsewhere for a mattress.
Among the benefits is a 100-night trial. Consequently, sampling the item and returning it if it doesn’t meet your standards is allowed. Shipping in a box is as well normal for this kind of mattress. Unfortunately, this means that you can’t sleep on the mattress immediately it arrives. You have to wait a few days to allow the mattress to expand to its full size.
Additionally, all the layers of this bed are made of foam and may offer differing benefits. Some elements added to these layers are green tea and activCharcoal. The former is handy in getting rid of odors in your mattress.
Also, the activCharcoal element absorbs moisture while you sleep. By doing this, the mattress gets rid of some of the things that would cause it to smell. You thus have a fresh experience every time you get into bed.
Another element worth noting is the cooling foam. This, of course, is yet another aspect meant to enhance your sleeping experience.
More features: anti-microbial and hypoallergenic foam
This mattress may initially look to be just a smaller cousin of the 14-inch mattress from Classic Brands, but removing the secondary layers of memory foam and comfort foam between the top layer and support base gives it an entirely different feel. The sinking sensation is removed, replaced by firm support against the high-density foam base. However, even without the additional foam layers, this mattress is still excellent at reducing pressure points and many side sleepers report that it feels great against their hips and shoulders.
This mattress is also a great choice for people who sleep on the warm side thanks to the gel-infused memory foam layer on top. This specialized foam is perforated for ventilation, allowing heat to quickly move away from your body.
The one downside to this mattress is the warranty. Although the mattress comes with a 10-year warranty, some customers report difficulty in returning the mattress to Classic Brands if they did not mount the mattress on a Classic Brands box spring or bed frame.
The Signature Sleep Memoir is a great choice for those who prefer the comfort of memory foam to a traditional spring mattress, but don’t enjoy the feeling of sinking into the mattress that memory foam often causes. By using a higher-density foam layer than most competing mattresses, the Memoir provides a firm sleeping base that keeps your body afloat. However, that same firmness can result in pressure points for some sleepers, especially those who sleep on their sides.
The Memoir is available in four different mattress thicknesses, and it is important to consider how firm you prefer your mattress in choosing the thickness for you. Thinner mattresses have less memory foam, and so your body will be supported in greater proportion by the high-density foam beneath and the box spring or bed frame. The 12” mattress, the thickest offered, has 3.5” of memory foam on top, which provides much more support.
One interesting feature of this mattress is the way it is shipped. It comes compressed and rolled up in a single box, which is great for moving it throughout your house to where you need it. However, this also means that it can take three days or more for the mattress to fully inflate once you open the packaging – so plan to spend a few days waiting before you can try out the mattress.
Unfortunately, the mattress comes with only a one-year limited warranty. Returning the mattress is also difficult once it is inflated, since it is too large to ship easily.
More features: eco-friendly gel materials
This mattress from Olee Sleep is one of the softest mattresses on our list, thanks in large part to the egg-crate style foam used in the base. Whereas most of the mattresses with foam bases we’ve discussed used high-density foam, egg-crate style foam leaves air space between the base layer and the foam layer above that can be compressed when you lie down. The result is an exceedingly plush mattress that achieves softness without having you sink into the top.
That sinking is further reduced by having only a thin layer of memory foam, overlying a thin layer of high-density foam. Many customers found that this gave just the right amount of sinking sensation and comfort without overdoing it. Meanwhile, a layer of gel foam in the top of the mattress helps to provide ventilation and cooling – few reviewers had an issue with overheating on this mattress thanks to this layer.
One potential downside to this mattress is its lack of longevity. Many reviewers report that the mattress will sink permanently under where you sleep after about one year of use, and cannot be recovered. In addition, while the mattress can be rotated to prevent this from occurring, it cannot be flipped. However, the 10-year warranty shall prevent any troubles with returning the mattress in case you encounter such issues.
This mattress from Zinus uses only a small layer of memory foam, but that doesn’t take away from its comfort. The real key to this mattress is the 2”-thick layer of viscolatex foam on the top of the mattress. Like memory foam, this foam is soft and comfortable against your body. Unlike memory foam, it is highly breathable and won’t allow your body to sink into the mattress. This is great for people who enjoy the feeling of foam but want a firmer mattress, as well as for people who find themselves waking up at night from overheating. However, some side sleepers find that the viscolatex layer is too firm, particularly against the hips and shoulders.
Fully half of the mattress is high-density support foam, which effectively serves as a built-in box spring. Most people under 200 pounds won’t ever compress the upper foam layers enough to feel this support layer, but for heavier people, the support foam is plenty comfortable and doesn’t create uncomfortable pressure points like a traditional innerspring.
One other plus to this mattress is the customer service from Zinus. Many customers report excellent experiences when reaching out to Zinus before buying the mattress or when trying to return a mattress simply because it felt too firm rather than any manufacturer defect.
Now that we’ve covered our 10 favorite mattresses for under $500, let’s take a step back and look at the broader questions you need to ask before purchasing a new mattress.
One of the major things to think about is what type of mattress you’re interested in – foam or innerspring.
Memory foam is often considered to be a great option for people with back pain or who suffer from pressure points in their normal sleeping position, since the foam conforms to your body shape within a few minutes of lying down. Memory foam often causes a sinking sensation, which may be a turn-off for some people and also can result in overheating issues, since your body is effectively surrounded by the mattress. Gel foam layers, which are incorporated into some foam mattresses, offer better ventilation and can help prevent this overheating issue. Memory foam typically rebounds after you get out of bed, and most mattresses will retain their bounce for years of use, but some will lose their rebound over time.
Innerspring mattresses are the traditional design for mattresses, using metal spring coils in a variety of configurations to provide support. They tend to be firmer than foam mattresses, although for some people – especially heavy people and side sleepers – the coils can cause unwanted pressure points. An advantage to innerspring mattresses is that they are typically less expensive than foam mattresses.
One of the most asked questions about every mattress is how firm it is. For better or worse, this is a largely subjective measure that is difficult to translate from person to person. Heavyset people will generally find that mattresses are more firm than lighter people find them to be, since they are more likely to sink down to the dense base material.
Apart from mattress types, you also need to consider available mattress sizes. Six of them are the most common, and of course, it’s better when there is a full range of sizes available for the item you pick, so you can choose the one suitable for you. The smallest size is twin, which is approximately 39’’ wide by 74’’ long. It is suitable for one child or adult. If you are taller and sleep alone, you might prefer twin XL, which is 39’’ wide by 80’’ long, giving you more space. Larger mattress types are optimized for two sleepers, with available full bed (54’’ wide by 74’’ long), queen bed (60’’ wide by 80’’ long), king bed (76’’ wide by 80’’ long), and California king bed (72’’ wide by 84’’ long) dimensions.
One of the most important steps in the mattress buying process is to try out the mattress you’re interested in – no amount of reading reviews can substitute for actually lying on the mattress. If you’re buying online, however, trying before you buy can be difficult – which is where trial phases come in. Some, but not all, companies offer 30-day trials after which you can return the mattress with no questions asked. Look for these trials when buying online, and talk to the company beforehand about the process of returning the mattress.
Almost every mattress comes with some form of manufacturer’s warranty, but they differ widely in the number of years for which they apply and what kind of mattress issues they cover. Be sure to read the warranty before buying, and consider how long you are likely to use the mattress for and whether the warranty covers at least that duration.
Often a minor concern, how significantly a mattress dampens vibration can be a consideration when trying to decide between two candidate mattresses. It can also be important if you have a partner who frequently shifts during the night or wakes up early – both of which can wake you up if the bed shakes beneath you. Foam mattresses tend to be better at dampening motion than innerspring mattresses, but testing specific mattresses is the best way to determine the degree of motion dampening.
Having the right mattress can make all the difference in getting a good night’s sleep and waking up feeling refreshed and pain-free the next morning. And while mattresses can be an expensive investment, they don’t need to break the bank – in fact, $500 is the most you should need to spend to get a great mattress that will fit your body. Our guide to our top 10 favorite mattresses for under $500 should jumpstart your search, but if you just can’t narrow it down to one bed, our favorite is the Tuft & Needle Mattress.
If you still feel like you need to consider more options, look at our reviews of luxury mattresses, mattresses under 1000 and under 300 dollars.
Yumi, the reason why we haven’t included an innerspring mattress is because there’re not many on the market today. Even if you come across some description like ‘best innerspring/spring mattress under 500’, it doesn’t mean that this model is all innerspring. They’re practically all hybrid, so coils are usually covered with a layer (or several layers) of foam. It’s much more practical and comfy. Read the descriptions for the LinenSpa and Zinus, which is currently under $200!
My current mattress is all innerspring but I don’t remember the manufacturer, sorry! However I do agree with Adam, coils feel too hard after years of use, so a layer of foam would be the best decision
Another proof that all of the products above are selected for a reason lol. To be honest I’ve come across this model while reading other ‘mattress for under $500’ reviews, and it seems like a very decent one, many people who’ve been having it for a while have almost no complaints
How do you measure all that plushness/softness/firmness whatever?
I’ve seen several videos on youtube where they put a bowling ball on each mattress and measure how deep it would sag. All memory foam are the plushest as far as I remember
What is gel infused foam, does anyone happen to know? Have never heard of this…
Thanks for your question! Usually mattresses contain just one gel-infused layer which has a thermoregulation effect. It allows the heat to escape making you feel cool throughout the night.
if I want to sleep on a mattress all by myself, which size to choose? preferably with memory foam, whether under 500 or not, I just need the best one available
I guess a twin mattress or a twin XL one will be the best option for you. You can check any of the above models, most of then are available in these sizes, and will definitely be under 500.
Is it true that memory foam mattresses have some initial odor? I guess it’s so true for those under 500 dollars
Memory foam has practically no odor unlike latex mattresses. If you happen to buy a latex one (it would be hard to find one for under 500 though) keep in mind that it’ll need at least several days to dissipate.
I like to sleep on my stomach, which firmness to choose?
Medium, I assume might fit all sleep positions
Soft because your stomach should be lower than the rest of your body for your spine to be properly aligned. I guess it also depends on your weight. I would just try a mattress myself before making a purchase.
Has anyone tried the LinenSpa Hybrid mattress? Is it that plush as described?
I haven’t tried this particular one, but i wouldn’t believe all that firmness descriptions. They are subjective if you ask me.
I’m looking for a reversible mattress, the one that I can flip over after several years of use. Came across so many “best mattress under 500 reviews” articles and found completely nothing.