Best Mattresses Under $300

Buying a mattress is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of options on the market for affordable mattresses under $300.

A cheap mattress might lack some of the special features of the more expensive models, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a great degree of variation in the quality of mattresses in this price range.

Whether you’re looking to save money or just want to get a sleep surface for an extra bedroom, spending less on a mattress is a perfectly viable option. To make the search easier, we’ve analyzed some of the best mattresses under $300.

How to Choose the Best Mattress Under $300

While buying a mattress on a tight budget is perfectly doable, you’ll want to make sure you’re not conceding more quality than is absolutely necessary. Just as with the more premium mattresses, mattresses under $300 aren’t all equal.

What to Look for in a Mattress

The market for more affordable mattresses is large and difficult to maneuver, with many variables in play. To make the search easier, we have compiled a list of traits that will ultimately decide whether or not a mattress is suited to your specific needs.

Price
Naturally, price is a major factor when looking for a budget mattress. It’s important to remember that a more expensive mattress doesn’t necessarily make it better, so you should weigh price and quality to assess the overall value.

Sleeping Position
Knowing your typical sleeping position is vital to choosing a mattress, as not all mattresses are conducive to all positions. The most important factor for sleep position is firmness. For example, side sleepers will generally be most comfortable with a medium feel, while stomach sleepers usually require a firm mattress.

Quality Materials
The materials that go into a mattress directly contribute to its performance. Certain materials can improve breathability, pressure relief, bounce, and many other aspects. Common affordable materials, like polyfoam, are often a large factor in keeping a mattress budget-friendly without sacrificing overall quality.

Firmness Level
Firmness is an entirely subjective element of a mattress but is particularly important for sleepers who prefer a particular position. Firmness is traditionally rated on a 1-10 scale with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest, which makes it easier to gauge based on preference.

In addition to sleep position, body weight is another important factor to consider when determining what firmness is best for you. Individuals who weigh under 130 pounds usually need a mattress on the softer end of the spectrum for contouring, while those who weigh over 230 may need a firmer build for more support.

Pressure Relief
Pressure relief can help prevent nighttime aches and pains. Different parts of the body vary in the force they apply to a mattress depending on their weight and width, and this can lead to pressure points and spinal misalignment. A pressure-relieving mattress spreads out the sleeper’s weight more evenly across the surface to reduce the likelihood of discomfort. Finding a mattress with the correct firmness for your body type and preferred sleep position is key to optimal pressure relief.

Motion Isolation
Motion isolation is how movement on one side of the mattress affects the other side. This won’t be a deciding factor for most individuals who sleep alone, but it is often critical for couples. If one of you has to wake up early or tends to toss and turn, strong motion isolation can prevent the other from noticing and having their sleep disrupted.

Temperature Regulation
One of the most common nighttime annoyances is getting too hot. This occurs largely as a result of your body heat being absorbed into the mattress. Certain mattresses, however, take precautions to prevent overheating. Memory foam has a reputation for trapping heat since it contours around the body and hinders airflow, but many models that use the material have special cooling features designed to counteract this effect.

Edge Support
Edge support is just what it sounds like: how sturdy the mattress is around the perimeter. Foam mattresses are often prone to edge sagging, while innerspring and hybrid models are often more supportive. Edge support comes into play when looking at a mattress’ usable area and the ability to sit on the edge.

Contouring
Contouring is how the mattress hugs and conforms to your body. Softer mattresses, especially those that contain memory foam and/or polyfoam, will generally contour more than firmer mattresses. This can increase pressure relief to prevent joint pain, but it can also hinder cooling by preventing surface airflow. For the best balance of contouring and support, customers should typically select a firmness that corresponds to their body type.

Mattress Types

Each type of mattress has some common features you’re likely to encounter across models. For instance, memory foam mattresses are known for providing greater pressure relief but also for absorbing and retaining more heat.

However, there are also other variables within the categories. Depending on the specific materials in play, one spring mattress might be more suited to your specifications than another.

Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses typically contain a pocketed coil support core and foam or latex comfort system. By combining two different types, a mattress takes on the benefits of both. For example, memory foam mattresses will often trap heat, but a hybrid model with foam comfort layers will provide more cooling as a result of its breathable coil core.

Not every hybrid mattress successfully blends the best of both worlds. The success of a hybrid mattress will depend on the quality of its build. A poorly made hybrid could showcase the downsides of both innerspring and all-foam models.

Innerspring
The innerspring mattress is the most traditional option on the market. Its support core is made with coils, which allow for more airflow than all-foam mattresses, resulting in a cooler surface. An innerspring mattress has many attributes that appeal to couples, such as edge support and bounciness.

Depending on the type of coils used for the support core, an innerspring mattress can take on different attributes. Most modern mattresses use pocketed coils, which balance bounciness and motion isolation. Bonnell coils, which are common in lower-priced mattresses, are durable but often prone to motion transfer.

Foam
Memory foam excels at providing pressure relief and reducing nighttime pain due to how it contours around the body. On the downside, this contouring can also result in heat retention from restricted airflow, but many manufacturers use specially designed memory foam to combat this tendency. Gel-infused and copper-infused foam are both intended to transfer heat away from the body, and open-cell foam has cavities within it to encourage airflow.

While foam typically provides exceptional motion isolation, it can be difficult to move on due to its close hug. The slow response time of memory foam can add to this effect.

Latex
In many ways, latex mattresses offer a middle ground between the cradling of memory foam and the responsiveness of innerspring models. Latex will contour around the body and provide pressure relief but not to the extent of memory foam, which means there’s more overall airflow. Many latex models use aerated latex that’s designed to increase air circulation even more. Latex is also a bouncier material than memory foam but doesn’t isolate motion as well.

Latex can be natural, synthetic, or blended. Natural latex tends to be higher quality, more expensive, and popular with eco-conscious shoppers. Synthetic and blended latex options are typically more affordable but often less durable.

What Can Affect the Price of a Mattress?

As with any product, a wide variety of factors go into establishing the final price for a mattress. When looking for the best mattress under $300, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting.

Materials
Mattress materials affect pricing. Affordably priced models often use materials like bonnell coils and polyfoam that balance cost and performance. While these components may be less expensive than proprietary memory foam or carefully engineered pocketed coils, they can feel just as comfortable to some sleepers.

Technology and Comfort
The price of a mattress can increase based on its supplementary technology. More expensive mattresses often have more extensive features, including cooling, zoned coils, or proprietary materials designed to boost comfort. An especially thick comfort layer also typically drives the price up.

Durability
Durability is a major factor in a mattress’ value since a low-priced model you have to replace regularly may ultimately cost more than an expensive but durable option that can last for years.

Shipping Rates, Returns, and Warranties

One of the quirks of shopping online is figuring out how the product will make its way to your front door. With products as large as mattresses, there can be some extra steps to the process that are worth considering.

Shipping
Though most online mattress companies ship a compressed and shrink-wrapped mattress in a box, some offer premier delivery services. The most common is White Glove delivery, in which the carriers bring the mattress into your home and set it up for you. This service often costs extra and will take longer than usual delivery.

Whether or not shipping is free is also worth noting, especially when looking for a mattress under a particular price point. You’ll want to read the fine print on the free shipping claims, as certain companies may only offer free shipping to the contiguous United States. Expedited shipping is also sometimes available for an additional charge.

Returns
Anytime you’re shopping online, returns are always a possibility no matter how confident you are in your selection.

Since mattress comfort is highly subjective, many models come with a sleep trial during which you can try the bed in your home. Within the eligible window, you can generally choose to either keep the mattress, trade it in, or return it for a refund. Trial lengths vary between manufacturers, and some have a required break-in period to give your body time to adjust.

You should read the terms and conditions of a trial policy before completing your purchase to better understand the process. While many offer free returns, some may charge processing fees or ask the customer to pay for return shipping. Most trial policies are limited to mattresses still in good condition, and many permit a limited number of returns per household.

Instead of shipping back a used mattress, many companies will have you donate the mattress locally. The company will often coordinate with a charity to pick up the mattress from your home at no charge to you.

Warranties
A warranty protects the customer in the case of eligible mattress defects. Most mattresses come with a warranty to give customers a greater sense of security in their purchase. While a few companies offer lifetime warranties, most span 5 to 25 years.

What constitutes a defect will depend on the company’s policy. Warranties most often include problems with the mattress that are direct results of manufacturing or craftsmanship defects, such as cracking foam or indentations greater than a specified depth. Any problem caused as a result of the owner is not covered under a warranty.

Another component to watch for in a warranty is whether or not it’s prorated. If a warranty is prorated, it means that you’re expected to pay for a portion of the replacement mattress or the mattress repair. A non-prorated warranty means you don’t have to pay directly for the repair or replacement, but shipping charges may apply.

Additional Mattress Costs

While most shoppers focus on the sticker price of a new mattress, other expenses may also apply.

Bed Frames and Bedding: Many customers purchase a new bed frame and bedding to accompany their new mattress. Some companies offer bundles that can save shoppers money over purchasing each component separately. If you don’t want the added expense, you’ll want to make sure that your existing frame and bedding will fit your new mattress.

Mattress Removal: If you’d like the delivery team to take away your old mattress, you’ll usually have to pay extra. This service is often included in White Glove delivery or as an add-on. Many mattress companies do not offer old mattress removal, so you may want to research donation and recycling options near you.

Expert Assembly: Expert assembly is the primary function of White Glove delivery. This service varies in cost depending on the vendor, but it may range from free to around $150. Many companies do not offer the service at all. The value of expert assembly will depend on your circumstances. For instance, individuals with mobility issues and those who do not have a friend or family member willing to help them move the mattress may find more value in White Glove delivery.

How to Get the Best Deal on a Mattress

When shopping on a budget, finding the best deal can make a big difference. If you know where and when to look, there are several ways to save money on a new mattress.

Shop During Mattress Sales

Mattress sales come and go frequently and are most commonly tied to a holiday. President’s Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day all have coinciding mattress sales. In fact, there are even holidays specifically made for finding deals, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day.

Buy Online

Not only does buying online provide a greater number of options than physical stores, but online mattresses are often more affordable since the retailers have lower overhead without brick-and-mortar retail locations.

Comparison shopping is another major benefit to making online purchases, as you can quickly jump back and forth between mattresses. You also have access to more information, such as professional reviews and customer testimonials.

Coupon Codes, Referrals, and Discounts

Many online companies frequently offer discount codes that can be applied at checkout. Some of these codes may cut the price by a specific dollar amount, others take a percentage off, and some add free accessories, like pillows.

Comparison Shop

Before making a final purchase, it’s a good idea to compare the mattress with those at other vendors. Not only will this help you make a more informed decision, but competing retailers may sell the same mattress or a similar model at a reduced price.

There are even vendors that will price match a competitor. For online retailers, this is most common during holiday sales. Physical stores are more likely to employ price-matching year-round.

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 want to expand your search for a new bed beyond mattresses under $300, you can read through our recommendations broken down by mattress price.