The 15 Best Mattress Under 500 Dollars: 2021’s Best Picks

Determining the correct mattress can make an impact on your ability to sleep at night. The appropriate amount of support can help you avoid pressure points and ensure you wake up feeling revitalized and ready to take on the day. 

A mattress will help you sleep better, it can also be costly. Most high-quality mattresses can set you back thousands. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a good night’s sleep on a comfy mattress. 

Looking for a new mattress but your bank account has seen better days? Here are the 15 best mattresses under $500 for 2021 with a rundown of each including recommendations, construction, materials, and more.

The Best Mattresses Under $500

• Allswell
• Signature Sleep 10-inch Memory Foam
• DreamFoam Chill
• ​​Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam
• Novilla Vitality Hybrid
• Sweet Night Breeze
• Zinus Mint Green Hybrid
• Linenspa 10-inch Hybrid
• Lucid 10-inch Hybrid Bamboo
• Classic Brands Cool Gel
• Vibe Gel Mem
• Serta Perfect Sleeper Elkins II
• Olee Sleep Aquarius 10-Inch Memory Foam Mattress
• Simmons Firm Mattress
• Sunkiss Cool Gel

1. Allswell

Price (Queen): $375

Mattress Type: hybrid

Trial Length: 100 nights

Warranty: 10 year limited

Allswell is an affordable brand that takes the aesthetic and quality of a higher priced brand and offers an equivalent product at a lower price point. The Allswell hybrid mattress uses individually wrapped coils for a supportive base and solid edge support.

This 10-inch mattress blends memory foam and individually wrapped coils for excellent support. The memory foam layer is made with cooling charcoal and copper gel to absorb and transmit heat away from the sleeper to prevent the typical heat retention common in memory foam mattresses. A pocketed coil design further regulates temperature by allowing optimal airflow.

Best For: hot sleepers, couples who want edge support, back and side sleepers.

2. Signature Sleep 10-inch Memory Foam

Price (Queen): $280 to $430

Mattress Type: memory foam

Trial Length: 30-day money back guarantee

Warranty: one year

The Signature Sleep Memory Foam allows for customizations to make the mattress more personalized and comfortable. Select a size, choose from regular memory foam filling or charcoal-infused gel-based memory foam, and desired thickness, ranging from six to twelve inches. 

Each mattress, regardless of size, is equipped with a layer of high-density foam to provide even more support. Signature Sleep’s memory foam conforms to the body's natural shape to distribute body weight, relieve pressure on joints, and minimize back pain. 

Best For: back pain, sleepers who want a customized mattress.

3. DreamFoam Chill

Price (Queen): $499

Mattress Type: foam

Trial Length: 90 days

Warranty: 10 year limited

Manufactured by Brooklyn Bedding, the DreamFoam Chill is the best budget mattress for hot sleepers. High-density polyfoam and memory foam provide both comfort and support. The DreamFoam Chill is available in five thickness levels with the six-inch model being the most affordable. Each thickness level is infused with a cooling gel that keeps even the hottest sleepers cool at night. 

With a 8/10 on the firmness scale, this mattress is ideal for back and stomach sleepers. 

Best For: hot sleepers who want a memory foam mattress, back sleepers, and couples who want motion isolation. 

4. ​​Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam

Price (Queen): $240

Mattress Type: foam

Trial Length: 100-night 

Warranty:  10-year limited warranty

One of the more unique mattresses available in any price range, this one is infused with ActivCharcoal and green tea. The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam provides pressure relief by a specialized memory foam layer. By trapping moisture and other elements that cause mattresses to smell foul over time, the ActivCharcoal technology helps to minimize odor. Green tea extract also aids in the freshening of your bed. This is a perfect mattress for hot and sweaty sleepers.

Best For: hot sleepers and side sleepers

5. Novilla Vitality Hybrid

Price (Queen): $409

Mattress Type: hybrid

Trial Length: 30 nights

Warranty: 10-year limited warranty

The Novilla Vitality Hybrid combines the comfort of foam with the support of springs. Unlike traditional hybrid mattresses that cost hundreds of dollars, The Novilla Vitality Hybrid is equal in quality to similar mattresses but at a much lower price. The top layer of gel-infused memory foam is designed to distribute heat and adapt to the body. The comfort foam provides a more responsive transitional layer beneath the pocketed coil support core, preventing sleepers from the sinking feeling common with memory foam mattresses. 

This medium-firm mattress is CertiPUR-US certified and measures 6/10 on the firmness scale. 

Best For: those who want a cool sleep surface, side sleepers, and those who want a quality product at a cheap price.

6. Sweet Night Breeze

Price (Queen): $398 (8-inch model)

Mattress Type: Foam

Trial Length: 100 nights 

Warranty: 10 year

The Sweet Night Breeze Mattress is a good option for those who don't want to sacrifice comfort for price. This model offers above-average pressure relief and multiple layers of polyfoam and memory foam. The Breeze has a gel-infused comfort layer, as well as transitional and support layers of dense polyfoam for superior body contouring. With the Sweet Night Breeze, you’ll feel supported even on a budget.

Best For: back sleepers, those who want extra support, and heavier sleepers. 

7. Zinus Mint Green Hybrid 

Price (Queen): $176.38 (6-inch model)

Mattress Type: Hybrid

Trial Length: 100 nights 

Warranty: 10 year

The Zinus Mint Green Hybrid mattress offers the comfort and support of a hybrid mattress at a more than reasonable price. Available in three thicknesses: 6, 8, and 10 inches, this mattress has a layer of contouring memory foam, followed by a transitional layer of ViscoLatex foam, to provide the cushioning support of foam with the responsiveness of latex. A bottom layer of coils helps improve air circulation to keep the mattress, and the sleeper cool. 

Best For: hot sleepers, those who want both contour and support, and those wanting to save big bucks on a mattress. 

8. Linenspa 10-inch Hybrid

Price (Queen): $249.99

Mattress Type: Hybrid

Trial Length: 30 day

Warranty: 10 year

The Goldilocks of mattresses under $500, the Linenspa 10” Hybrid mattress is the just right medium-firm mattress. A thick layer of memory foam keeps you supported while relieving pressure while a base layer of coils helps the mattress keep its shape and adds additional support. At 10” thick, this mattress is much thicker than similarly priced mattresses. Despite the thicker profile, the Linenspa 10” comes in a small package that's easy to transport up the stairs of an apartment or dorm room.

Best For: side sleepers, dorm rooms/apartments, and sleepers who want a medium-firm mattress.

9. Lucid 10-inch Hybrid Bamboo

Price (Queen): $399.99

Mattress Type: Hybrid

Trial Length: 30 day

Warranty: 10 year

The Lucid 10 Inch Bamboo Charcoal and Aloe Vera Hybrid Mattress includes a 1.5-inch layer of conforming memory foam above four layers of foam and individually wrapped steel coils for a supportive base. They support your curves with exactly the proper amount of give when used together. Bamboo charcoal is naturally odor-reducing and moisture-wicking. This keeps the memory foam cooler while also eliminating odors. 

Best For: side and back sleepers, couples who want low motion transfer, and hot sleepers. 

10. Classic Brands Cool Gel

Price (Queen): $415 (10.5 inch model)

Mattress Type: memory foam 

Trial Length: 100 nights 

Warranty: 10 year

Because of the additional materials required for production, mattresses designed to keep sleepers cool are often more expensive. The Classic Brands Cool Gel, one of the top cooling mattresses under $500, is equipped with features available in more expensive mattresses at a much lower price. 

This mattress is designed for maximum comfort and breathability for those who sleep hot. The top layer of gel memory foam disperses body heat and creates a cooler sleeping surface while maintaining the bed's pressure-relief. Underneath this comfort layer, the transitional and base layers give bounce and support. 

A medium-firm memory foam reduces pressure points between the shoulders. An antimicrobial cover protects from mold, dust mites, bacteria, and allergens.

Best For: hot sleepers, those who want a medium-firm mattress, and those who suffer from allergies.

11. Vibe Gel Mem

Price (Queen): $320

Mattress Type: foam

Trial Length: 100 night

Warranty: 10 year

Manufactured from high-quality materials and provides outstanding comfort, The Vibe Gel Memory Foam Mattress is less expensive than similar alternatives. The Vibe Gel Memory Foam Mattress is made with 7 inches of body-conforming memory foam. The breathable foam is topped with a 3-inch layer of cooling gel to lower body temperature for a cool sleep. This mattress also supports and contours the body for extra pressure and pain relief. 

Best For: hot sleepers who need extra support. 

12. Serta Perfect Sleeper Elkins II

Price (Queen): $499

Mattress Type: hybrid 

Trial Length: 120 nights 

Warranty: 10 year

This 11-inch plush euro-top mattress is top-rated among reviewers online. Serta's Perfect Sleeper Elkins Plush II is an excellent option for couples who toss and turn and need extra motion isolation. The plush euro-top is made with Serta's patented HyperTouch Comfort material. This material includes specialized foam and fibers to support the body, provide pressure relief, and aid in motion isolation.  

Underneath is Cool Gel Twist Foam that creates a breathable surface for even more cooling and 825 coils to support the mattress and prevent sagging.

Best For: couples and those who want to try out a hybrid mattress on a budget.

13. Olee Sleep Aquarius 10-Inch Memory Foam Mattress

Price (Queen): $298

Mattress Type: memory foam 

Trial Length: 100 night

Warranty: 10 year

Another highly reviewed mattress, the Olee Sleep Aquarius is one of the best budget mattresses available online. This medium-firm mattress offers the ideal level of comfort and support for most sleepers. The firmness helps relieve pressure while the breathable cover and a cooling gel foam layer regulates temperature. The gel is made with eco-friendly materials to help lessen the environmental impact. The 10 inches of foam provides plush support and doesn’t give a sinking feeling. 

Best For: hot sleepers, those who want a medium-firm mattress, and sleeper who prefer memory foam over other materials to prevent sinking.

14. Simmons Firm Mattress

Price (Queen): $300 to $400

Mattress Type: memory foam or hybrid 

Trial Length: 100 nights 

Warranty: 10 year

Available in both memory foam and hybrid options, the Simmons Firm mattress offers variety and quality on a budget. This supportive foam mattress is CertiPUR-US certified, meaning it does not contain harmful chemicals or heavy metals. The memory foam version of the Simmons Firm features a supportive base for motion isolation and soothing, cooling gel. The hybrid version features that on top of Individually wrapped coils that provide support, ventilation, and movement isolation. 

Best For: couples who want extra motion isolation and those who want variety in a mattress on a budget. 

15. Sunkiss Cool Gel

Price (Queen): $500

Mattress Type: memory foam 

Trial Length: 100 nights 

Warranty: 10 year

This flippable memory foam mattress was voted the 2021 best mattress for back pain under $500 by The Sleep Foundation. A great option for those who don’t want to sacrifice comfort for price, the Sunkiss Cool Gel by Sweetnight offers above-average pressure relief and multiple layers of support polyfoam and gel-infused memory foam. 

A medium-firm firmness level provides support and prevents sinking. The combination of support and pressure relief make this mattress a great option for back sleepers. The Breeze has a gel-infused memory foam comfort layer, as well as transitional and support layers of dense polyfoam.  

The foam layers absorb movement and prevent motion transfer across the surface so those who share their bed have less sleep interruptions. Topped with an extra soft knit cotton-blend cover, the Sunkiss Cool Gel combines softness and support.

Best For: couples, back sleepers

With today's large range of products and readily available online, finding a mattress on a budget is easier than ever. By researching mattresses in your price range, narrowing them down, and then comparing, you'll be sure to find the perfect mattress. 

Regardless of your budget and preferences of materials, SleePare can help you find the mattress of your dreams. 

Need some extra guidance while mattress shopping? We can help! Use our mattress comparison guide, read our blogs and sleep guides, or visit one of our stores to learn more.