When it comes to furniture shopping, finding the right mattress is probably one of the most difficult tasks, which is why we have put together this list of best mattresses under 500. Though many people still prefer to go to the furniture store where they can try out the mattress, you will get a lot more bang for your buck shopping online. Your first stop in finding the right mattress might still involve going to a mattress store, but instead of looking at a specific mattress what you should be finding out is the kind of mattress materials you like along with determining your preference for firmness.
Contents
Choosing mattress firmness
When considering firmness, new mattresses with memory foam, gel foam and other foam technologies often have a support layer that has a lot of support and could be described as firm, but also has layers that cradle and conform to the body. This has finally given most of us the balance between firm and soft that we have always wanted. In many cases these more body conforming foams can really help reduce tossing and turning as well as pressure points.
Getting a mattress on-line tips
Purchasing a mattress on-line is a new experience for most mattress buyers, but if you are looking for quality along with a reduced price tag, on-line is the way to go. Most of these mattresses are compressed and rolled, then boxed for shipping when you order your mattress. Most of the best mattresses we have on our list do recommend you remove your mattress from the packaging immediately for the best results.
We also recommend you take note of if your mattress needs to be flipped or not. Most modern mattresses no longer need to be flipped, though you can rotate the mattress to help prevent un-even wear on your mattress.
We highly recommend reading the reviews. Though most mattresses that have a large number of reviews there will almost always be a few bad reviews, you can usually find out the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to the mattress. Pay attention to the less than stellar reviews because sometimes what is a negative for one customer is the exact thing that you are looking for.
Stay away from any mattress that only has 5 star reviews, the truth is that when all of the reviews are good, those are usually not authentic reviews and you should proceed with caution.
Mattress materials
Inner-Spring Mattress
A spring mattress is a very traditional form of mattress which uses metal springs to both support and give. Some manufactures use individually pocketed springs while others might interlock the springs. The springs are then generally topped with foam and other materials to remove pressure points and provide for a mattress that is comfortable and provides good support.
These types of mattresses are less more traditional, but are quickly being replaced by newer materials that are easier to ship.
Memory Foam
This material was first created for use in space travel, but quickly the viscoelastic high density polyurethane foam found a use in mattresses and pillows. This material can be really great for side sleepers as it contours to your body and then will keep that shape until you move.
One of the other qualities of this material is you don’t get a lot of transfer of movement across the mattress, which can be great for couples who share a mattress.
Gel Mattress
This is a foam mattress that is infused with gel. The gel may be in just one layer, or it may be throughout the mattress. The gel can provide added comfort for some sleepers and is also used to help dissipate heat for those who tend to get too hot while sleeping.
Latex Mattress
Latex tends to retain less heat the memory foam and can be produced with a wide variety of firmness’s. Latex is a naturally occurring material whereas memory foam is synthetic.
Air Mattress
Most people think camping when you mention an air mattress, but many modern mattresses are using chambers within a mattress to adjust the level of firmness. In King and queen size mattresses you will often find that each side can adjust independently so that couples can have a mattress that matches the firmness needs of each person sleeping in the bed.
Specialty Foam
These mattresses combine multiple types of foam to provide for a level of comfort and support that you might not find with a single material foam mattress.
Hybrid Mattress
These mattresses use multiple materials and often add body conforming foams with a traditional spring mattress. Some of our favorite mattresses are they hybrids because they really do bring together the best of new and more traditional technologies.
See more: 7 standard bed sizes infographic
Best King Mattresses under 500
Olee Sleep 13 inch Galaxy Hybrid Mattress
This mattress offers you just about everything, pocketed coils, multiple kinds of foam including memory foam and heat dispersing gel. This bed gets great ratings by back sleepers and side sleepers alike.
The one downside is that there is not a hard edge around the sides, so if you are an edge clinger you might find that this bed has too soft of an edge, though many edge sleepers have found that they don’t have any problems with this mattress.
The other thing you must be aware of with this bed is you need to open the package immediately, some people who have purchased the mattress and then left the mattress rolled in the box for an extended period of time have found a dent where the coils were compressed for too long. Unlike some of the newer foam mattresses, this mattress does not seem to have the odor problem that some mattresses have.
This is our favorite mattress because we love how the new and old mattress technologies have been combined to make one beautiful, comfortable, durable and highly affordable mattress. We also love that this has two ways to help keep the mattress cooler, the gel infused memory foam and the individually pocketed coils which allow for greater air flow.
For everything this mattress offers along with the really low price we are having a hard time not falling in love with this mattress.
Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam 12-Inch Mattress
This is a specialty foam mattress with multiple layers of foam including a gel foam that helps keep this mattress cool and comfortable as well as high density foam to provide support.
This mattress is very firm and larger sized purchasers of this mattress have noted that it provides the support they need along with providing a bed that is cool and comfortable even on hot nights.
This is a mattress that will provide the support needed for stomach sleepers, but both back and side sleepers have found a good night’s sleep on this bed.
This mattress meets CertiPUR-US program standards for performance, emissions, and durability and is naturally resistant to molds, bacteria and dust mites, which can be a great relief for those who suffer from allergies.
This mattress also has the only 25 year warranty on this list, but we always recommend that you read the fine print so that you know exactly what your warranty will cover and what it won’t.
Zinus Ultima Comfort Memory Foam 12 Inch Mattress
This mattress is a specialty foam mattress that uses three layers of foam to make a supportive and comfortable mattress. Instead of using memory foam that is a derivate of petroleum, this foam is a bio-foam made of plant oils. Like other of the mattresses that have made our best mattresses for under 500 list, this mattress has a stamp of approval from CertiPUR-US.
This mattress is one of the best mattresses we have found in this price range that is also environmentally conscious. Like with many of the newer mattress technologies, you don’t have as stiff of an edge which can be less comfortable for those who like to sleep while clinging to the edge of the bed.
Many of the people who love this bed do note that they toss and turn less and some of those who have purchased this bed have tracked their sleep to find they fall asleep faster and wake less throughout the night.
LUCID 12 Inch King Hybrid Mattress
This is our favorite mattress under 500 for allergy sufferers. One of the foam layers incorporates bamboo charcoal while another layer is infused with Aloe, these botanicals are used to help keep the mattress fresh.
This mattress does meet the CertiPUR-US requirements and is odor resistant as well as moisture wicking.
This mattress is a plush and will cradle your body while also being highly supportive. Most of the mattresses on our best mattress lists now tend to have very supportive layers, in this case a pocketed spring, making this a hybrid mattress, but also having memory foam to cradle the body which helps reduce tossing and turning as well as reduces pressure points.
This mattress also has an edge support, so if you are an edge hugger, this might just be the right mattress for you.
Though this mattress does not have a gel layer to help keep the bed cool, the individually pocketed coils are designed to help with air flow helping to keep this mattress nice and cool.
Zinus 14 Inch Gel-Infused Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress
This is the second Zinus mattress to make our Best King Mattresses list. Normally we stay away from listing the same company’s products multiple times in one list, but this is an exception because of how different these two mattresses are. This is another Hybrid mattress with pocketed coils and multiple types of foam, including a cooling gel foam layer.
This is another mattress that has made an effort to solve the soft edge problem many mattresses with foam layers have and the manufacturer has added a high density foam around the outer edge of the coils to help create a firmer edge for those side who love to hug the edge of the bed.
CertiPUR-US certified, this mattress is a bit softer than the other hybrids we have mentioned so far, but even though this is considered a plush mattress there are plenty of people who have found this mattress to also be firm. This may be one of the best mattresses for someone with back problems and many of the users who sing its praises are people who have back problems and found that this mattress finally gave them relief.
Best Queen Mattresses under 500
Perfect Cloud UltraPlush Gel-Max Memory Foam Mattress
If you sleep hot, or are someone who has nightly hot flashes, this mattress might just help you keep your cool while you sleep. This mattress uses a new Visco Cool Gel foam along with a high air flow memory foam to help you have a cool nights sleep while getting the benefits of a foam mattress.
This mattress gives you both the support you need while conforming to your body to help reduce tossing and turning along with pressure points. This mattress really does do a good job of being an all-around good mattress no matter if you are a back sleeper, side sleeper or stomach sleeper and accommodates those who are feather weights as well as heavy weights.
This mattress has the seal of approval from CertiPUR-US and offers a standard ten year warranty.
Many users of this bed have noted it is very firm and there are reports of significant relief for those who have back pain and have had problems with tossing and turning on other mattresses.
Linenspa 8″ Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress
This mattress is a hybrid that uses an interlocking spring along with memory foam to create a mattress with a medium firmness. If you are looking for a mattress for a guest bedroom or a child’s or teen room this may just be the right mattress for you.
This mattress does meet the CertiPUR-US requirements, but might not be the best choice for regular use by people of size, meaning someone who is more than 200lbs.
One other feature of note with this mattress, you get the traditional bounce, so if you have monkeys who like to jump on the bed, absolutely chose this mattress.
Mattress America Frost 13 Inch Hybrid Mattress
This hybrid mattress has individually pocketed coils topped with multiple layers of foam including a gel foam layer. Combining the airflow in the pocketed coils along with the gel infused memory foam, this is a mattress designed to stay cool while providing for a high level of support.
This is considered a firm mattress, though the comfort layer of foam will help to cradle your body reducing the amount of tossing and turning that can occur with a traditional spring mattress. Mattress America has been in business for more than 40 years, so this is not a company that has only come onto the mattress scene recently. They offer a 25 year warranty on this mattress, though we always recommend reading the fine print on any warranty so you know what is and isn’t covered.
This mattress hasn’t been on the market for as long as many of the other mattresses on our Best Mattresses for under 500 list, but because of the reputation of the manufacturer as well as the longer than industry standard warranty, we are willing to take the chance that this mattress will stand the test of time. With low price this mattress is simply amazing for a hybrid mattress.
Signature Sleep 13-Inch Mattress
This is one of the most traditional mattresses to make our list, but for those who want a traditional pillow top with an inner spring mattress this is the a fantastic mattress. Though we are in love with some of the new mattress technologies we also know that some people have allergies and sensitivities that make some of the new foam based and hybrid mattresses unbearable.
This mattress will sleep a bit cooler than many of the foam mattresses, but do keep in mind the pillow top layer is made of memory foam. This is a great value and you won’t find anything comparable at this price in your local furniture store. Some users of this mattress have reported that you do need to give the mattress a few days after unboxing to let the mattress fluff up.
This is another of the CertiPUR-US certified mattresses boasting that it is low VOC, and is free of PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants, ozone depleters, mercury, formaldehyde, lead and heavy metals.
DynastyMattress NEW! 14-Inch Memory Foam Mattress
This is a mattress we love because it is the first mattress one of our contributors ever bought on-line and converted us from mattress stores to the on-line mattress market. This mattress has a 20 year warranty which is much longer than the industry standard is CertiPUR-US certified and uses both a gel foam layer and two air-flow layers to help keep this bed cool. This mattress usually sleeps cool and has held up well even with years of use.
This mattress is considered to be a medium soft mattress, but our own experiences and that of other users is that this is a supportive mattress with a layer that cradles the body, which means some will consider this a soft mattress while others consider it a firm mattress.
This is one of the more expensive of our Best Queen Mattresses for under 500. For the quality of the mattress along with the features this is a great value for one of our favorite mattresses.
Related post: 10 Best Mattresses Under 1000 – A Complete Review and Guide
A Few On-Line Mattress Shopping
Make sure you know the return policies for your mattress. Though getting the mattress back to the size of the original shipping box you will find most reputable mattress companies will help you with a return of mattress that did not meet your expectations. If a return policy states you must get the mattress back into the original shipping carton that may be a mattress you want to pass on.
Be ready to open the box for your mattress up within 48 hours of its delivery. If your delivery is delayed due to weather or other shipping problems make sure you contact the company you purchased from and let them know that your shipment was delayed and make sure if there are any problems due to the delayed unboxing of your mattress you will be able to get a replacement.
Remember even a great mattress manufacturer can sometimes have a problem, so if something is off or wrong, ask for a replacement. Though manufacturing defects are rare, they do happen and if you make 1000’s of something you are bound to occasionally have something go wrong. If there are odd dips or puckers this is probably a rare manufacturing defect and the manufacturer is usually very willing to help correct this problem.
Manufactures, especially of items sold on-line, really care about their reputation and are often very willing to work with customers when there is a problem.
Review your mattress. The best way to ensure a wonderful on-line marketplace that provides great guidance on making a purchase is for you to review your purchase. If you remember, update your review; let people know how the product you purchased is holding up after six months, a year and two years. Reviews really do make an impact and letting people know what your experience was, especially on a high dollar item, is part of how we build a vibrant, honest marketplace.
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