Best Foam Mattresses for $500 or Less
Consumer Reports’ tests zero in on the best budget-friendly foam mattresses that provide the support you need for a good night’s sleep
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Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of mattresses at a broad range of prices. One thing we’ve found, time and time again, is you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good night’s sleep. Many mattresses for around $500 provide support equal to or better than mattresses that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars more. And you can save even more with smaller-sized mattresses, without sacrificing performance.
“The support level of the smaller mattresses should be in line with the queen-size mattresses,” says Chris Regan, the senior project leader overseeing CR’s mattress testing.
CR members can read on to find seven top-rated foam mattresses for $500 or less. If you don’t insist on foam, you can also check out our roundup of the best budget mattresses, which includes great innerspring options, too. Whatever your preference, follow the lead of the CR members who successfully haggled for lower-priced mattresses in-store and online to reap even more savings.
Best Foam Mattresses for $500 or Less
Here are seven of the best budget-friendly foam mattresses in our ratings, listed in order of Overall Score. In addition to performing well in our support and durability tests, many also minimize motion transfer, meaning you can shift positions on one side of the mattress without jostling a sleep partner on the other side.
How We Picked the Best Foam Mattresses for $500 or Less
The foam mattresses highlighted here rate highly in support tests for back and side sleepers. They also perform well on our durability test, which means that you should encounter minimal softening or sagging—even after owning the mattress for eight to 10 years. What’s more, most of these mattresses come from brands that earn high marks in comfort and owner satisfaction for foam mattresses, based on our member surveys.
For other highly-rated options, see our roundup of the best mattresses of the year.
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