Best Mattress Under $200

Whether for a guest room, dorm room, child or growing teen, or anyone who doesn’t feel like spending upwards of $1,000 on a new mattress, it is possible to find a mattress under $200 that can give you a decent night’s sleep.

We’ve rounded up some of the best mattresses under $200. These models offer excellent value for the money in a variety of styles, from memory foam to hybrid. Keep reading for our top picks, as well as a detailed guide on how to choose the best mattress for your money.

How to Choose the Best Mattress Under $200

A mattress under $200 won’t come with all the bells and whistles, but that doesn’t mean you should need to sacrifice comfort and support. The advent of online mattress shopping has upended the mattress industry, cutting out the price of the middleman and making it easier for consumers to get their hands on quality mattresses at significantly lower prices than before.

We’ll discuss some of the most important aspects to focus on when buying a mattress, as well as some tips on how to get the best bang for your buck. If you have a little more to spend, check out our articles on the best budget mattresses or the best mattresses for your money.

What to Look for in a Mattress

Shopping for a mattress can be overwhelming. Not only are there multiple different models, but within each model, it seems like every brand has its own proprietary foam, or a better coil count than everybody else, or other claims that seem impossible to verify. Focusing on the following factors can help you cut through the marketing hype and figure out which mattress is best suited to your needs.

• Price: The price of a mattress usually reflects its quality, although the rise of online mattress companies has expanded the range of cheaper good-quality mattresses. It’s possible to find even better deals if you do your research and keep an eye out for discounts. You can save some money by buying a smaller size like a full, but most sizes under a queen mattress tend to be insufficient for those with a co-sleeper.
• Quality Materials: The average lifespan of a mattress is 6 to 7 years, but this can be significantly shorter in mattresses that are made with lower-quality materials. Low-density foams can lose their pressure-relieving capabilities and coils can start sagging, which can affect spinal alignment and cause aches and pains. This might not be a problem for a guest room or child’s bed, but it should be a consideration when choosing a mattress that’s meant for nightly use.
• Firmness Level: Comfort is subjective, and your optimal firmness level will depend on your body type, preferred sleeping position, and personal preference. Usually, people under 130 pounds and side sleepers benefit from a plusher mattress, while stomach sleepers and those over 230 pounds prefer a firmer, more supportive surface.
• Pressure Relief: Many sleepers experience sore spots where heavier body parts dig in or in areas that are unsupported by the mattress. Materials such as memory foam conform closely and distribute body weight to help reduce these pressure points.
• Edge Support: Edge support is important when getting in and out of bed, as well as for people who often sit on the edges of the mattress. Edges that compress considerably under pressure can cause feelings of roll-off when sleeping near the edge of the mattress, which can be problematic for couples who share a smaller bed. Innerspring and hybrid mattresses tend to have the best edge support, especially in models that feature reinforced coils around the perimeter.
• Contouring: Contouring refers to a mattress’s ability to adapt itself to the shape of your body. The best example of this is memory foam. Mattresses that contour more closely are usually able to provide better pressure relief and can help promote proper spinal alignment, particularly in side sleepers.
• Temperature Regulation: Mattresses that allow for airflow through coil layers, convoluted foams, or breathable materials like latex can help dissipate body heat and prevent the surface of the bed from getting uncomfortably warm. This is important for sleepers who tend to overheat and people who live in hot climates.
• Ease of Movement: People who frequently change sleeping positions or use their mattress for sex tend to prefer a responsive surface that doesn’t impede movement. Latex and hybrid mattresses have bouncy surfaces that lend themselves well to these activities, while foam mattresses are slower to respond and may cause some sleepers to feel trapped.

Mattress Types

Most mattresses available nowadays fit into one of the five categories listed below. While each mattress will have distinct features due to differences in quality, materials, and construction, the mattresses of a given category tend to share some similar characteristics.

Hybrid

Definition: Hybrid mattresses are defined by their significant comfort layer system, which sits atop an innerspring support core. The comfort layers are most commonly made of polyfoam, memory foam, or latex.

Highlight: Supportive Pressure Relief. The combination of coils and comfort layers means that hybrids are able to deliver the advantages of both materials. Most hybrids not only provide pressure relief and motion isolation, but also strong temperature neutrality, edge support, and responsiveness. Hybrids are usually quite expensive, but it is possible to find the odd hybrid under $200. These cheaper hybrids usually have connected coils instead of individually wrapped coils, which are not as desirable because they allow more motion transfer and don’t offer targeted support.

Innerspring

Definition: Innerspring mattresses are almost entirely composed of metal coils, although some models may feature a thin comfort system. This is the traditional mattress type, with a characteristically firm and bouncy surface.

Highlight: Economical. Innersprings remain one of the most affordable mattress options. Many shoppers take advantage of the low price-tag and add a mattress topper for a plusher surface.

Latex

Definition: All-latex mattresses feature layers of latex in both the comfort section and the support core. This versatile material can have different properties depending on how it is processed. It can also be synthetic or natural, with natural options costing much more.

Highlight: Light cradle. Latex distributes body weight and relieves pressure points. However, it doesn’t conform nearly as much as memory foam, instead boasting a responsive surface that allows for ease of movement.

Airbed

Definition: Airbeds have a support core made with air chambers. Using a smartphone app or a remote control, users can inflate or deflate these air chambers and therefore change the firmness level of the bed. Most airbeds also have additional comfort layers on top of the air chambers.

Highlight: Precise Firmness Control. Airbeds are usually one of the most expensive models, with a price tag that starts around $2,000. However, it may be worth it for people who have trouble finding a bed that’s not too firm, not too soft, but just right. Since most airbeds feature a separate air chamber for each user, an airbed can also be a solution for a couple with vastly different firmness preferences.

Foam

Definition: All-foam mattresses have a coil-free construction and are usually made with layers of memory foam, polyfoam, or latex over a high-density polyfoam base. In addition to its many advantages, foam is easy to produce and you’ll see no shortage of cheap memory foam mattresses in a box.

Highlight: Pressure-Relieving Hug. Foam, especially memory foam, offers unbeatable conforming abilities. Most foam beds allow sleepers to sink in to a certain extent, which helps with spinal alignment and prevents pressure points from forming. The material’s ability to mold to your body also reduces noise and motion transfer.

What Can Affect the Price of a Mattress?

Virtually all mattresses have the same basic design, featuring one or more comfort layers over a supportive base. Yet prices start around $150 and go well into the thousands. What gives? Here are some of the reasons behind the wide range of prices:

Density: The quality of foam is usually tied to its density, with higher-density foams coming at a correspondingly higher price-point. Denser foam isn’t always more comfortable, but it almost always holds out longer before developing permanent indentations in the spots where you usually lie.

Quality and Type of Materials: In addition to foam density, other mattress components also vary in price depending on their quality. A mattress with thicker coils or a higher coil count costs more to make, which raises the price of the finished product. Natural and organic materials like organic latex tend to command the highest prices.

Durability: Denser foams, higher coil counts, and thicker springs all affect the lifespan of the mattress, which is why many people consider it a worthwhile investment to get a better-quality mattress.

Cooling Features: While latex and hybrid mattresses are naturally breathable, mattress manufacturers must use a variety of techniques to minimize heat retention in all-foam mattresses. Some mattresses are infused with materials like gel, copper, or graphite that whisk heat away from the sleeper, while others feature open-cell foams, perforated foams, or convoluted designs with cut-out channels to let the air circulate. Still others feature breathable covers, or covers that are made with phase-change material. The more sophisticated cooling elements tend to come with a higher price-tag.

Composition of Layers: From 2-layer mattresses to complex designs with multiple layers of proprietary foams and springs, mattresses come in every configuration under the sun. You’ll typically pay more for a bed with more layers, especially if this increases the overall thickness of the mattress. Some beds also have “zoning” that provides targeted support and pressure relief by varying the firmness of the foams under different body parts.

Manufacturing Location: You can expect to pay more for mattresses made in the U.S. Some manufacturers also charge higher prices because they use sustainable manufacturing processes or plant-based foams.

Shipping Rates, Returns, and Warranties

Online mattress companies have a fairly well-established protocol for shipping, returns, and warranty policies, but it pays to be aware of the options and check the fine print before buying your mattress.

Shipping

Is shipping free?
Most online mattress companies offer free ground shipping via FedEx or UPS Ground in the continental U.S., even for mattresses below $200. Customers in Hawaii, Alaska, or Canada may have to pay extra.

How long does it take to arrive?
Shipping can take anywhere from 1-2 days up to 2 weeks or more depending on where the mattress ships from and what method the company uses. Most companies ship out the mattress from their manufacturing facility, so if you know where the bed is made then you can get an estimate of how long it will take to arrive. Some companies offer expedited shipping for an extra fee.

How is the mattress shipped?
The majority of mattresses available for purchase online are shipped as a “mattress-in-a-box.” This means that the mattress is compressed, shrink-wrapped, and delivered in a cardboard box. Setting up the mattress is as easy as placing it on the bed frame, carefully removing the box and plastic, and letting the bed unfurl. The mattress will expand immediately but may take a few days to reach its full size.

What if I need help setting up the mattress?
For an extra charge, many companies also offer White Glove delivery. This means a third-party delivery team will come set up the mattress for you and remove the packaging. Some companies also include the option to haul away your old mattress. If you order White Glove delivery, you can expect the third-party provider to get in touch with you once the mattress arrives at their warehouse to organize a delivery window.

Returns

What’s a sleep trial?
To compensate for not being able to try out the mattress in a store, almost all online mattress companies offer trial periods during which you can sleep on the mattress at home and return it for a full refund if you don’t like it. The standard sleep trial is at least 90 nights, although some cheaper mattresses only give 30 nights. In some cases, companies require you to sleep on the mattress for a few weeks before initiating a return.

How do I return my mattress?
Returns are normally free, although they are sometimes subject to a nominal recycling or handling charge. In most cases, customers contact the company, who arranges to have the mattress picked up and then looks for a place to donate or recycle it. Some companies ask customers to donate the mattress themselves and send in the proof in order to receive a refund.

What if I bought from a third-party retailer?
Mattresses purchased through Amazon or other third-party retailers may fall under the umbrella of those companies’ return policies, which are not necessarily adapted to mattresses. Be on the lookout for policies that require products to be sent back in the original box, as it’s usually impossible to get a mattress back into the box it came in.

Can I exchange my mattress for another one?
In lieu of a refund, some companies offer the option to exchange a mattress for another model from the same company. The new mattress may or may not come with its own sleep trial.

Warranties

How long should a mattress warranty be?
While mattress companies go to great pains to ensure the quality of their products, it sometimes happens that foams can deflate or coils bases can sag just a few years after purchasing the mattress. To protect customers against excessive workmanship and manufacturing defects, mattress companies offer warranties that cover the mattress for a set period of time. This is usually at least 10 years, but may be 5 years in mattresses made with lower-quality materials. Every mattress should come with a warranty and it should not cost extra.

What does the warranty cover?
In addition to tears in the cover, split foam, broken zippers, and other minor defects, the most important coverage your warranty provides is against sagging in the surface of the bed. This affects its pressure-relieving and supportive capabilities. A company will usually replace or repair your mattress if it shows visible indentations of more than 1 or 1.5 inches. Since it’s possible for foams to soften and lose their supportive capabilities without a visible indentation, a warranty isn’t necessarily a guarantee that your mattress will stay in perfect condition for the entire length of the warranty.

What will void my warranty?
To qualify for warranty coverage, a mattress must be in good condition and must always have been used with a proper support system such as a bed frame or foundation. Warranties generally extend to the original purchaser of the mattress who bought it through an authorized retailer.

What’s a prorated warranty?
When reading through the mattress warranty, pay attention to whether it’s pro-rated or non prorated. Non prorated warranties cover the entire replacement or repair for the full length of the warranty, but prorated warranties gradually decrease coverage and make customers pay a portion of the repair or replacement after the first few years. You should also take note of whether you’ll be responsible for return shipping, or whether the company will absorb this cost.

Additional Mattress Costs

Buying a new mattress can come with other hidden costs that you might not have considered. These are some of the main ones:

Bed Frames and Foundations: Mattress manufacturers usually recommend which type of support to use with the mattress. This may be a bed frame, box spring, adjustable base, or platform with a certain number of slats and legs. The support system is an important component of your bedroom that helps keep your mattress properly supported and is usually necessary to avoid voiding your warranty. If you don’t have an appropriate bed frame or foundation, you can expect to pay around $200 for a basic platform model or up to $1,000 or more for fancier canopy and four-poster models.

Mattress Removal: Most cities have strict laws surrounding old mattress disposal, not to mention the hassle that is disposing of a heavy, bulky mattress. For around $50, many mattress companies will pick up your old mattress when they deliver the new one and save you the trouble. If your mattress company doesn’t offer this option, you may be able to find a similar option with a local haul-away company. Some companies may only offer old mattress removal as an added service with White Glove delivery, which will raise the price.

Expert Assembly: Those who don’t feel confident about setting up their bed can opt for White Glove delivery, which includes a team that sets up the mattress in your room of choice and disposes of the packaging. This service usually costs around $100 and is not available with all mattresses, but it can come in handy if you’re unable to lift heavy objects.

Get The Best Deal on a Mattress

Some may say it’s rare to pay full price on a mattress, especially one that’s purchased online. Here are some tips to make sure you don’t miss out on any deals.

Mattress Sales

Major holidays often bring significant discounts on mattress prices, so it pays to be strategic about when you buy your mattress. If you can afford to wait a bit, you may be rewarded with slashed prices and/or bundled accessories. Following are some of the main sales to look out for:

In-Store Sales

• Black Friday: Black Friday occurs the day after Thanksgiving and sees massive discounts in all sectors, mattresses included.

Online Sales

• Cyber Monday: Cyber Monday is the Internet’s answer to Black Friday. Occurring the first Monday after Thanksgiving, it’s a chance for online companies to offer their own deals.
• Prime Day: Every July, Amazon offers exclusive deals for Amazon Prime members. The deals cover a wide range of products and usually last 48 hours.

Holiday Sales: Holidays like President’s Day (February), Labor Day (September), Memorial Day (May), and the Fourth of July also traditionally herald sales in the mattress world. Veterans Day (November) may bring additional discounts for veterans.

While these are the major holidays, deals and sale periods will vary from company to company. It’s a good idea to start checking websites and flyers about a week beforehand. Sales and bundles are usually heavily advertised. If the timing isn’t right, you can always try asking the company to honor the deal after the sale period is over.

Coupons, Discounts, and Other Ways to Save

Savvy shoppers can save even more money on their mattress by taking advantage of the following:

• Coupon Codes: Often granting discounts upwards of $100, coupon codes may be available through third-party websites or listed right on the manufacturer’s website.
• Online-Only Promotions: Some mattress companies offer additional internet deals to encourage customers to buy online.
• Referrals: It’s not uncommon for mattress companies to hand out incentives to past customers who successfully convince a friend to buy a mattress from the same company. These are often listed in small print or hidden on another page on the website, so try checking the FAQ section or asking in the chat.
• Bundles: Along with mattresses, many manufacturers sell bed frames, pillows, and other bedding accessories. If you’re looking to complete your bedroom, bundled deals are a good way to get some free products thrown in.
• Negotiate the Price: It never hurts to phone an online mattress company or approach a salesperson in a brick-and-mortar store to see if you can’t knock a few bucks off the final asking price. You may have more success by quoting lower prices from a competing brand, or mentioning a recent sale that you missed out on.
• Store Closing Sales: Blowout sales are somewhat common in the mattress world as brick-and-mortar stores go out of business. This means they need to sell most of their stock at clearance prices that are often much less than the regular price. These sales may be advertised in the newspaper, on the radio, or via huge banners on the store itself.

How We Test: Your Comfort Is Our Science

Our industry-leading product testing team cares deeply about improving your sleep. Having a holistic understanding of a mattress’s role as part of a sleep system is paramount to our testing process. Since a bed’s comfort and feel depend largely on body weight and sleeping position, our testing team represents a wide range of body types, sleep positions, and comfort preferences.

In our Seattle-based Test Lab, we use an objective, hands-on process to evaluate mattresses across performance categories. The following are the key guidelines that inform our performance ratings. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase decision for you.

How We Determine Our Overall Scores

To determine a mattress’s overall score, we assign weighted percentages to performance categories based on how important they are to the individual sleep experience. For instance, areas like pressure relief and temperature control tend to matter more to people than something like off-gassing, and because more people sleep on their side and back than on their stomach, we weigh those positions more heavily

Dive Deeper – Mattress Guides by Price

If you still feel like you’re not sure which mattress is right for you, take a look at our recommendations broken down by mattress price.