3 Best Affordable Mattresses in 2026: Tested and Approved

Pros and cons

Pros

• Strong edges
• Foam construction cradles the body and provides support
• Works well with adjustable bases 

Cons

• Midrange pressure relief 
• Average cooling performance

Features

• Retail price: $1,332
• Materials: Memory foam or hybrid
• Firmness: Medium
• Pressure relief: 3 out of 5
• Spinal alignment: 3 out of 5

Key takeaways from our testing

Stable edges and good mix of comfort and support. Memory foam beds, which don’t have coils for support, tend to have weaker edges compared to hybrid mattresses. But the Leesa Original’s memory foam model bucked that expectation, delivering above-average edge support in our test. “The edges are really stable on this bed,” said Toni, a 50-year-old tester and side sleeper. Strong edge support can make it easier for older adults to sit at the edge of the bed and get in and out safely. 

Toni also said she liked how this bed’s memory foam cradled her pressure points while also supporting her spine. This mattress helps "avoid that trapped-in-memory-foam feeling," she said. “I feel my body sinking into the foam, but it also feels supported.” 

Compatible with adjustable bases. An adjustable base — a type of electronic bed frame — allows you to raise or lower a mattress and can make it easier to get in and out of bed. These bases also can make it easier to sit up in bed and may offer symptom relief for certain health conditions like acid reflux and sleep apnea. The Leesa Original conformed well to adjustable bases in our compatibility test, which involves evaluating the mattress on three of these bed frames. Toni reported the bed "fit snugly on the base and didn't have much gapping." For older adults who have an existing adjustable base or are considering one, this mattress is a strong option at a wallet-friendly price.

Average pressure relief, spinal alignment and cooling. This bed earned only middling scores for pressure relief and spinal alignment in all tested sleeping positions. "On my side, I feel a little pressure on my hip because there is a little too much sinkage there," Toni said. When lying on her back, she said "my lower back feels good but I could use more support." In the  stomach-sleeping position, she said she noticed "some slight pressure." In addition, this mattress earned only passable cooling scores. So if you’d prefer an affordable mattress that has top-notch cooling capabilities, you may want to consider the Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam instead.

Best for Couples: Bear Original

Score: 9.3 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Near-perfect motion isolation
• Satisfactory cooling performance
• Very good edge support

Cons

• Mediocre support for back sleepers
• So-so responsiveness

Features

• Retail price: $998
• Materials: Memory foam
• Firmness: Medium firm
• Pressure relief: 3 out of 5
• Spinal alignment: 3 out of 5

Key takeaways from our testing

High-scoring motion isolation. For couples who often are disturbed by a partner's movements at night, the Bear Original offers a low-priced option with strong motion dampening. It received a near-perfect score in our ripple test, which involves monitoring the movement of liquid in a beaker as a tester switches positions and gets in and out of bed. Jennifer, a 45-year-old tester, said the mattress had "excellent motion isolation." It also garnered a near-perfect score in our couples’ motion isolation test. "I could barely feel it when [my partner] was tossing and turning,” she said. For older adults who have a sleeping partner and are awoken easily by movement, this bed may help you stay asleep longer. Fittingly, it also earned a spot on our list of the best mattresses for couples.

Decent cooling for a memory foam mattress. Along with its strong motion isolation, the Bear Original — a memory foam mattress — earned a satisfactory score in our cooling gun test. In general, memory foam mattresses tend to trap heat. So while this bed doesn't lead this list in cooling performance, it still earned a decent score for heat regulation at a wallet-friendly price. 

Below-average support for some back sleepers. For side and stomach sleeping, Karin, a 50-year-old tester, gave this mattress average marks for pressure relief and spinal alignment. But for back sleeping, she wasn’t a fan and awarded it only a mediocre rating for spinal alignment in that position. She said she felt as if she was resting more “on top” of the mattress, instead of sinking in, and that she needed “more sinkage” to have comfort and support when lying on her back.

How we tested the best affordable mattresses

We started our process of finding the best affordable mattresses for adults ages 50-plus by researching the market. Which queen beds retail for less than $1,500 but still provide good value? Which companies have the best customer reviews — and are the reviews legitimate? After talking with medical experts, we narrowed our overall list from 50 mattresses to the more than 30 that we tested in our lab.

To identify each bed’s strengths and weaknesses, we used controlled lab tests that measured performance metrics such as pressure relief, spinal support, temperature regulation, motion isolation and edge support. Then we recruited more than 15 testers, ages 45 and older, to give us their unbiased feedback.

Testers answered questions like: Did the mattresses ease pressure in all tested sleeping positions? Did they provide good performance at a lower price? Are the edges strong and stable? 

Beds that excelled in our tests made our list of the best affordable mattresses. For more details on our testing process, see our mattress testing methodology.

How to choose the best affordable mattress

Price is an important factor when choosing a mattress, but it’s not the only thing to consider when shopping around, according to the medical experts we spoke with, a focus group we convened of adults aged 50 and older, and our survey and testing results. So consider the following features as you shop. 

Note: These suggestions are not intended as medical advice. If you're experiencing chronic pain or looking to address an existing health condition, consult your health care provider.

Firmness and spinal alignment

If you’re bed shopping, take note of a model’s firmness level before you buy. Mattress firmness is typically measured on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most firm. Research suggests medium-firm mattresses (6.5 out of 10) are associated with better sleep quality. But firmness may feel different depending on the person because of factors such as body weight and preferred sleeping positions. Higher-weight sleepers may sink into a mattress more, causing it to feel less firm to them compared to lighter-weight sleepers. Some people may find they sink or sit atop a mattress differently depending on if they’re lying on their backs, sides or stomachs.

Dr. Alison Kole, founding medical director of the Oak Health Concierge Sleep Telemedicine program in Los Angeles and host of the Sleep is My Waking Passion podcast, says the most important goal for older adults choosing an affordable — or any mattress —  is maintaining spinal alignment. 

"As we age, our sleep becomes lighter and more interrupted, with more time spent in the lighter stages of sleep,” adds Dr. Jacob Collen, a sleep medicine specialist at Frederick Health in Frederick, Maryland. To encourage the possibility of higher-quality sleep, he recommends prioritizing a mattress “that’s comfortable and supports your spine.”

Mattress type 

The type of mattress you choose also can affect your sleep quality, depending on your preference. For example, memory foam beds tend to offer cradling pressure relief but lack movement-assisting bounce, while hybrid beds tend to offer higher bounce but fare worse in motion isolation due to their springy coils. 

Ease of getting in and out of bed

If you’re looking for a new, affordable mattress, Kole recommends planning ahead for potential mobility changes. "What if I had knee surgery or I was having a back issue?" she says. These kinds of situations can make getting in and out of bed a challenge.

When it comes to being able to safely get in and out of bed as you age, your bed's total height —  which includes the mattress and bed frame — is an important factor to consider. If bed height is too low, people may do a rocking back-and-forth motion to gain momentum, or bend over and lean forward to be able to stand up, and those actions can cause falls, according to this AARP article on fall prevention. So you may need a higher bed frame, mattress or box spring if your bed height is not sufficiently above the crease of your knee. If you have a sleeping partner who has a different stature, or different mobility concerns, you may decide to compromise on bed height.

In addition to height, firmness and bounce play a role. For example, a bed that has too much sinkage for you may eventually make it more difficult to get out of bed if you don't have the strength or ability to push yourself up from that softer surface. 

There are many factors to consider. So if you have questions about which kind of mattress is best for potential mobility changes, you may want to consult with your health care provider. 

Return policy and warranty

Many online and in-store mattress retailers offer trial periods and warranties. However, some charge costly restocking fees or have no-refund policies that may offset the savings on your initial purchase, even if you get a good deal upfront.

Before you order a new mattress, ideally you can confirm the return policy. If returns are permitted, also confirm whether you are liable for any costs if you decide not to keep the mattress. 

In addition, if your purchase allows for a free trial period, note the end date on your calendar so you can return it in time if needed.

Every bed on this list comes with a 120-night free trial period and a limited lifetime warranty. You must allow for a 30-day break-in period for all of the beds on this list before initiating a return. The Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam has a $99 return fee and the Leesa Original charges a $100 transportation fee on returns from Hawaii, Alaska and Canada. Returns for the Bear Original are free within the noted time parameters.

How much do the best affordable mattresses cost?

The best affordable beds on our list retail for between $865 and $1,332 for queen sizes. See the table below for a breakdown.

*Prices may fluctuate. You can visit each company’s website for the latest pricing.

FAQs

Are affordable mattresses made with quality materials?

In general, quality materials for mattresses include high-quality or certified foams, thick and durable coils or cotton covers. Affordable mattresses — which we define as queen beds that retail for less than $1,500 — also can be made with these materials. In fact, some memory foam beds (like those featured on this list) use thick, high-quality foams but still tend to cost less than hybrid constructions that combine memory foam and innerspring coils. 

Do affordable mattresses come in common material types?

All three of the best affordable mattresses on this list are memory foam beds. But affordable mattresses, in general, can be made of various materials. That means memory foam, latex, innerspring and hybrid options are available if you’re looking for an affordable bed. That said, while various materials are available in general for this category, remember that the value of and performance among these beds may differ. 

Can affordable mattresses help with back and neck pain?

Some wallet-friendly beds may help people with back or neck pain, but the results can depend on a person’s unique needs. The Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam — one of our choices for the best affordable mattresses — received near-perfect scores averaged across both pressure relief and spinal alignment. Pressure relief and spinal alignment tend to be indicators of a mattress that may be good for back or neck pain, because these metrics contribute to cradling and supporting the neck or spine in ways that could relieve pain.  That said, if you have questions about whether a mattress can help with your pain, or if you’re experiencing severe or persistent pain, consider talking with your health care provider to get a personalized recommendation.

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.