Emily Alexander
Considering how important sleep is and the time you spend snoozing, owning a great mattress is the key to your overall comfort. With the wide range of choices offered by a multitude of mattress companies today, buying a new mattress can often be confusing particularly if you’re on a tight budget. Plus, waiting for a big sale when you are already itching to buy a new bed-in-a-box can be a bit frustrating. As it turns out, there are actually some great options that can be purchased at a reasonable price range. That is if you know where to look.
That’s why we compiled this list to help you find the best mattress under $500. All of our ten top mattresses are selected for different reasons, to suit every individual’s varying preferences.
Top 10 Best Mattresses Under $500
1. The Puffy Original (Editor’s Choice)
Overview
- Firmness: 7-8 on a firmness scale of 1-10 with 10 being the firmest
- Trial Period: 101 nights
- Warranty: Lifetime
The Puffy mattress is our #1 pick and Editor’s Choice for the best mattress under $500. This high-quality mattress is available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, or Queen size. Aside from the 101-night sleep trial, the company also offers a lifetime warranty. This generous guarantee only signifies that the product will stand the test of time.
Features
With a rating of 7-8 on the firmness scale, the Puffy is not considered soft, but it is designed to be comfortable in any sleeping style. The top layer of cooling cloud foam is soft enough to cradle and adapt to your shape, with the right amount of support to allow proper spine alignment. Its pressure-relieving qualities make this bed the best firm mattress under $500. Puffy’s universal feel is ideal, too, if you share your bed with another person who doesn’t have the same sleep needs.
Another reason why we love the Puffy mattress is because of its superior ability to prevent overheating and remain temperature neutral throughout the night. Thanks to Puffy’s breathable and machine washable cover plus the top layer of gel-infused cooling Cloud foam. Additionally, the transition layer of ClimateComfort foam improves its breathability by resisting temperature fluctuation.
Lastly, Puffy manufactures the foam for their mattresses using the Variable Pressure Foaming (VPF) process which is favorable to the environment. It’s devoid of harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your health, and of course, CertiPUR-US Certified.
- Lifetime warranty
- Sleeps cool
- Designed for all sleeper types
- Stain-resistant, zip and wash cover
- Advanced support and pressure point relief
- Eco-friendly manufacturing process
- No enhanced edge support
- No bounce or spring
2. Allswell King (Best Hybrid)
Overview
- Firmness: 4.5-6.5
- Trial Period: 100-night duration
- Warranty: 10 years
The Allswell mattress is our top pick for the best hybrid mattress under $500. Featuring a fantastic medium-firm feel, it comes in all sizes including California King. Also considered as the best King size mattress in this rundown, the Allswell mattress is worth checking out.
Features
Each Allswell mattress features a base layer of individually wrapped coils to help prevent motion transfer, regardless of the slight bounce of the material. A layer of charcoal and copper gel-infused memory foam lays on top of the coils giving you additional support, contour, and pressure relief. This gel memory foam mattress actively works to wick away moisture and keep you cool while you sleep – contrary to a traditional memory foam which has a reputation for retaining a lot of body heat.
The impressive construction of the Allswell makes it a great choice for anyone looking for the best hybrid mattress with the right amount of firmness. However, even with the 10-year warranty, you should not expect lifelong durability from this bed.
- Excellent medium-firm feel
- Cooling charcoal and copper gel memory foam mattress
- Individually wrapped coils
- Designed for all sleeping positions
- Wheels on box facilitate easy set-up
- Not for all body types – may be too soft for heavier individuals
- Less durable
- Poor edge support
3. Brooklyn Bowery (Best Memory Foam)
Overview
- Firmness: 5
- Trial Period: 120 nights
- Warranty: 10 years
For the best memory foam mattress under $500, we present the Brooklyn Bowery by Brooklyn Bedding. This memory foam mattress provides you with a universal medium firmness that is suitable for any type of sleeper. Aside from the Queen size mattress, the Twin XL and the Full-sized mattresses are also available.
Features
Each Brooklyn Bowery mattress is custom made in the USA and features their patented Energex foam which feels like a combination of Visco and latex foam. The Energex foam responds quickly when you shift positions, similar to latex mattresses. It can also provide relief to your pressure points, as a Visco foam does. If you prefer a balance of responsiveness and pressure relief but without the bounce, the Brooklyn Bowery could be a great choice.
Considering the premium quality you can expect from a company like Brooklyn Bedding, you can’t go wrong with this product. What’s more, the brand is also giving you a chance to try this bed for 120 nights. Plus, you get a 10-year warranty should you decide to buy one. It’s perfectly suitable for a student, a child, or anyone looking for the best memory foam mattress at an affordable price range.
- Open-cell foam promotes breathability
- Highly responsive
- Relieves discomfort and inhibits neck or back pain
- Suitable for any sleep position
- Budget mattress with great value
- Edge support could be improved
- Retains some heat
- May be too soft for heavier side and back sleepers
4. Casper Element (Best Cooling)
Overview
- Firmness: 6.5
- Trial Period: 100-night duration
- Warranty: 10 yrs
The Casper’s new Element mattress is made for all types of sleepers who want a marvelous combination of support and cool comfort.
Features
Considerably the best Queen mattress under $500 on this list, this Casper Element provides you with comfort, contour, support, pressure relief, and is backed by the brand’s well-known reputation for making quality bedding. In addition, this cooling mattress resists heat retention, thanks to the breathable cover and the top comfort layer of perforated AirScape foam.
Its patented AirScape foam draws heat away from your body and allows air to flow throughout the entire mattress. Hence, the temperature doesn’t build up within the inner layers and radiates to the surface. However, even with these employed techniques, the Element does still heat up a bit at night while you sleep.
Still, you can expect to get the same high-quality construction and premium mattress materials that you would with their other beds. This one though has a simpler design, slightly less durable, and may too firm for a side sleeper. Available in Twin, Twin XL, or Queen size, you can also purchase a King mattress if you need more space.
- High quality with an affordable price tag
- Backed by Casper’s stellar reputation
- Superior breathability and support
- Eco-friendly knit cover
- Comfort foam relieves pressure points
- Not for those who sleep hot
- Lower durability
- May be too firm for smaller side sleepers
5. The Layla Double-Sided Twin
Overview
- Firmness: Soft side – 4, Firm side – 7
- Trial Period: 120 nights
- Warranty: Lifetime
If you want a mattress best for different types of sleeping positions, take a look at this fantastic bed-in-a-box from Layla.
Features
The Layla memory foam mattress features a dual-sided design that provides you with both soft and firm sides. You can flip this bed however you want. This makes it ideal for anyone who is unsure of what firmness they prefer or for a more customizable guest bedroom. Aside from the two firmness options, Layla mattresses also include varied support to target heavier regions of your body. Such areas are prone to deep compression during sleep. Additionally, each Layla mattress has a removable fabric cover for seasonal dry cleaning.
Our favorite trait of the Layla mattress is its advanced cooling capabilities. The cover incorporates a reactive cooling infusion followed by a copper gel memory foam layer below on either side. Additionally, the soft side has a layer of Max Airflow support foam with deep channeling to disperse heat to the edges and out of the mattress.
What’s more, copper has antimicrobial properties. Hence, you can expect better odor control with your new mattress. The Layla comes in different sizes including Twin, Twin XL, and Queen. And, each gel memory foam mattress entails a lifetime warranty and a 120-night money-back guarantee.
- Flippable design provides two firmness options
- High quality with extended durability
- Cover can be dry cleaned
- Advanced cooling
- Support foam for deep compression areas and heat dispersal
- Soft or firm, no true medium
- Not ideal for heavier individuals
6. Brentwood Home Cypress
Overview
- Firmness: 6
- Trial Period: 1 year
- Warranty: 25 yrs
Our next pick for memory foam mattress best for hot sleepers is the Brentwood Home Cypress.
Features
The Cypress mattress can be purchased in Twin, Twin XL, or Full size. Whichever size you choose, you get an incredible 25-year warranty plus a year of sleep trial. If you desire added height, support, or plushness from your new bed, this might be a perfect choice.
Additionally, the Cypress memory foam mattress excels in temperature regulation, thanks to its charcoal-infused top layer foam which actively pulls heat and moisture away from your skin. To further enhance this effect, the Cypress mattress also features a breathable cover and a thick layer of contour-cut foam. These materials increase airflow throughout the entire structure.
The materials used on this mattress include plant-based BioFoam. Brentwood Home utilizes BioFoam as an alternative to traditional memory foam in an effort to minimize the environmental impact of their products. With this component, you can still have the cushiony memory foam feel that many of us have grown to love in this mattress type.
Furthermore, the all-foam construction of the Cypress mattress provides superb motion control to help you sleep soundly regardless of a fidgety bed partner.
- Advanced temperature regulation
- Optional hybrid upgrade for added support
- Optional height upgrade to increase plushness and comfort level
- Use of environment-friendly and higher quality materials
- Lengthy 25-year warranty
- Slow responsiveness
- Mattress may lack edge support
- Not firm enough for heavier stomach sleepers
7. Robin by Nest Bedding
Overview
- Firmness: Medium side – 5.5, Firm side – 7.5
- Trial Period: 30 nights
- Warranty: 10 yrs
Taking the seventh spot in our rundown for mattresses under 500 dollars is the Flip by Nest Bedding.
Features
With the amazing combination of luxury comfort and support, this dual-sided bed is truly an Amazon exclusive and the first flippable hybrid mattress featured online. The Flip offers both medium and firm sides to accommodate sleeping in all three positions, just not on the same side generally.
Moreover, the Flip mattress does a great job of resisting heat retention with its breathable cover, the top layer of cooling Visco gel foam, and the Caliber coil system below. The latter prevents heat from getting trapped inside, which usually occurs in a memory foam mattress during sleep. However, unlike other innerspring mattresses, the Flip does not have the best edge support.
It comes in Twin, Twin XL, and Full-sized Flip mattresses which fall within our featured range.
- Fantastic comfort system due to the dual firmness options
- Reputable Nest Bedding brand
- Enhanced cooling gel foam
- Excellent hybrid construction
- First online mattress with flippable hybrid design
- Brief 30-day sleep trial
- Poor edge support
- Reports of uneven wear
8. Zinus Cloud Memory Foam
Overview
- Firmness: 6
- Trial Period: None
- Warranty: 10 yrs
The Zinus Cloud memory foam mattress is available in Twin, Full, Queen size, as well as King size. It has three different height options: 8, 10, and 12 inches. All Zinus mattresses are OEKO TEX and CertiPUR US certified, guaranteeing that its products are chemical-free and environment-friendly.
Features
The most unique factor of the Zinus mattress is its use of bio memory foam in the construction. This type of memory foam is infused with green tea, purified charcoal, and natural plant oil to facilitate long-lasting freshness and odor control. You can expect comfort and refreshment after a night’s sleep on this Zinus green tea-infused mattress.
We also like the Zinus Cloud bed because of its super plush feel which, as the name suggests, is almost comparable to sleeping on a cloud. Moreover, the Zinus green tea mattress enables advanced contour and responsive support through its comfort layer. However, even with a significant firmness rating, it feels a bit softer than most memory foam mattresses due to the plush, quilted microfiber cover on top.
- 8″, 10″, and 12″ height options
- Bio memory foam combats odor
- Superb contour
- Super plush and soft
- Safe and environment-friendly
- Decompression period may take more than 48 hours
- No in-home sleep trial
- Retains some heat
9. Chime Express Memory Foam
Overview:
- Firmness: 6
- Trial Period: None
- Warranty: 10 yrs
Coming down to the ninth spot in this list of mattresses under the price range of $500, we have the Asley Chime Express memory foam from Signature Design.
Features
This memory foam mattress is available in Twin, Full, Queen, King, and California King sizes. Each size also offers varying height options including 8, 10, and 12 inches. Plus, all are compatible with any type of bed frame and base, including adjustable ones.
Unlike other memory foam mattresses, the Chime Express memory foam facilitates a pretty firm feeling bed. Surely it still contours to your shape, provides comfort and relieves pressure. But not similar to other memory foam mattresses which do so with a softer feel. We consider this additional firmness and support as an advantage. However, if you are a smaller, lighter individual who sleeps primarily on their side, you may find this mattress is a bit too firm.
Additionally, this high-quality mattress offers superior motion control, thanks to its memory foam construction. Furthermore, the Chime Express memory foam mattress comes with a breathable, hypoallergenic cover, and minimal off-gassing period.
- 3 different height options
- Firmer feeling memory foam
- Minimal off-gassing
- Advanced comfort and motion absorption
- Compatible with any bed frame and base
- No mattress in-home trial
- Lengthy 72-hour decompression time
- Retains some heat
- May be too firm for smaller side sleepers
10. Sweetnight Hybrid
Overview
- Firmness: 5-6.5
- Trial Period: Contact seller for returns, not specified but most likely within 30 days
- Warranty: 10 yrs
Finally, the Sweetnight Hybrid mattress is our final pick for the best mattress options under $500. This hybrid mattress is available in Full, Queen, and King sizes, all offering fantastic pressure relief and cool comfort.
Features
The Sweetnight made it to our top 10 list because of its super plush and soft pillow top. The material provides added comfort and allows you to luxuriously sink into the surface when you lie down. Additionally, the Island is infused with gel memory foam to help you sleep cool all night.
What’s more, all of the coils in this bed are individually wrapped. As a result, this bed has better motion absorption than other hybrid or innerspring mattresses. The coils also slightly counteract the extreme softness of the pillow top to ensure proper support and prevent back pain.
- Plush top layer
- Gel memory foam sleeps cool
- Pocketed coils for effective motion control
- Supportive and responsive
- Great for any sleeping position
- Requires 72-hours to fully decompress
- Heavy, needs more than one person to set up
- Too soft for some
A Guide to Buying a New Mattress
Now that you know what mattresses we recommend for under $500, let’s discuss the factors we’ve considered. The following sections will briefly go over what traits to look for when buying a mattress. Plus, the type of individuals that each bed would serve best, so you can determine which is the right one for you.
1. Firmness and Support
The mattress firmness is often the most important trait because it affects your overall level of comfort while you sleep. You may already have an idea of whether you prefer a soft or a firm bed. But, for the most part, the firmness and support your body needs are largely determined by your sleeping position.
Side sleepers generally need a softer bed that can easily compress beneath their shoulders and hips. It’s typically where a large amount of weight is concentrated. Stomach and back sleepers are mostly better suited to a medium-firm or a firm bed because it keeps their hips elevated and aligned with their backs and shoulders.
The ultimate goal is to have proper spinal alignment and even support provided by the appropriate firmness level during sleep.
2. Temperature Regulation
Overheating at night can disrupt your sleep. And, with the addition of memory foam and other foams into the mattresses, temperature regulation has become a priority. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent heat retention, to wick away moisture, and to promote air flow. These features are necessary to enable temperature neutralization or cooling effect on a mattress.
We highly recommend gel or graphite-infused foams and breathable materials in mattresses to enhance comfort. If you tend to sleep hot, as many people do, it’s wise to look for special cooling properties in your new bed. This way, you can rest undisturbed.
3. Motion Isolation
Motion isolation refers to reducing energy and movement felt across the surface of your bed from one side to the other. If you sleep with a restless partner or a fidgety pet, minimizing motion transfer is important so you can sleep peacefully throughout the night. It will also come in handy if you share your bed with someone who has a different sleep schedule or you tend to be a light sleeper overall.
Most foam beds do a superior job of nearly eliminating motion transfer. Hybrid beds tend to do slightly worse. However, if the coils are individually wrapped, most of the motion transfer can be controlled before it reaches the surface.
4. In-Home Trial and Warranty Period
Purchasing a bed-in-a-box without testing it out first can be stressful. That’s why sleep trials have rapidly become the new normal when you buy a mattress online. If you wind up with a product you don’t like, we initially recommend sleeping on it for 2-4 weeks before making your final decision. It can take about 30 days for your body to adjust to the new bed. This is particularly true if you’ve become accustomed to your old lumpy one that has provided poor spinal alignment for a long time.
We recommend a 10-year warranty or more because it is a good indicator of durability. If you’re after a mattress that entails a higher price point, you probably want to make sure it’s going to stand the test of time. The bed’s warranty will give you an idea of how long the mattress will last.
What Mattress Will You Choose?
Now that you know what our top picks are, the best mattress under $500 that’s ideal for you will ultimately depend on the level of comfort and support you need. We have given you a lot to keep in mind. Hence, before you make your final decision, let’s quickly review our #1 Editor’s Choice, the Puffy Original foam mattress, one last time.
Puffy’s stand out traits include:
- Lifetime warranty
- Sleeps cool
- Designed for all sleeper types
- Stain-resistant, zip and wash cover
- Advanced support
- Accurate pressure relief
- Cleaner VPF process employed to make the foam
- CertiPUR-US certified
- Minimal motion transfer
The Puffy Original mattress would make an excellent choice for anyone looking to buy a highly durable mattress that doesn’t sacrifice quality. Of course, the other mattresses on our list also make great options depending on your personal preferences.
Which will be the best mattress for your needs? Good luck with your mattress shopping!
Additional Resources
Emily Melynn Alexander was born on the east coast of the USA but has called Colorado home since 2000. She has a degree in English and Political Science from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She enjoys sleeping in locations all around the world.
