When trying to find the best mattress, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by prices. It seems that all of the top models are going to set you back a lot more than you’d like, which can be frustrating. Fortunately, you don’t have to take out a small loan to get a high-quality mattress that will help you sleep better at night.
Today we’re going to be looking at the best queen mattress under 500. These beds are designed with your comfort in mind, and they won’t hurt your wallet in the process. We’ve not only compiled a list of our top picks, but we’ll also go over the various elements to pay attention to when making a final decision.
Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial, and most of us are not getting as much as we deserve. With the right and the best queen mattress under 500, you can start sleeping the right way.
3 Best Queen Mattress Under 500 (Quick Chart)
- 3 Best Queen Mattress Under 500 (Quick Chart)
- How to Choose Best Queen Mattress
- Mattress Type
- Recommended Queen Mattresses Under 500
- Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress, Queen
- Live and Sleep Resort Sleep Classic, Queen
- Classic Brands Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid 12-Inch Mattress, Queen
- Final Ve​rdict
How to Choose Best Queen Mattress
Mattress Type
As a rule, beds are pretty simple. It’s just a giant cushion that you lay on at night, so there aren’t many features and components to look at when making a final decision. However, the most critical element is what the mattress is made of. More than anything else, finding the right material can make all the difference. If what you’re currently sleeping on isn’t cutting it, we suggest trying out one of the other elements we’re about to discuss.
Foam
n recent years, foam mattresses have become much more mainstream. For a long time, spring beds were the gold standard, but once memory foam came out, it changed the entire industry. Now, many of the top mattresses in the world are made of some type of foam, which means that it could transform the way you sleep.
When looking at foam beds, there are three primary variations from which to choose. Let’s look at them more in-depth.
Memory Foam
When most people think of foam, they imagine this material. NASA first developed memory foam as a means of creating soft and absorbent cushioning for space suits. However, because it was so comfortable, it didn’t take long for someone to realize that it would make a great bed.
The primary advantage of memory foam is that it adapts to your body’s shape. One prevalent issue that people face when trying to get better sleep is that their mattress can create pressure points. Depending on the position you’re in, these pressure points can be exacerbated by different materials, meaning that you can usually wake up with sore joints.
Memory foam cradles your body and alleviates this pressure. When you sleep on this material, you’ll notice a difference immediately. However, just because it’s comfortable doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best choice for you.
One significant drawback to memory foam is that it can sleep hot. While you can minimize this problem by getting foam with larger cells (to allow for more airflow), that can reduce the rigidity of the material. As a result, you’ll feel like you’re sinking into the mattress, which can be uncomfortable for some people.
Another issue is that the foam can compress over time. Thus, after a few years of sleeping on memory foam, it will be much thinner than it was when you first got it. While these beds can usually last about 10-12 years, you may have to replace it sooner if you compress the material too much. As you can imagine, heavier people have this problem more often.
Gel Foam
If you want to reduce the problem of a hot bed, then gel foam can be an excellent replacement. This material has the same pain relief properties of memory foam, but it absorbs and dissipates body heat more efficiently. In many cases, beds that utilize gel foam have a thin layer on top with memory foam on the bottom, meaning that you get the best of both worlds.
High-Density Foam
When looking at foam mattresses, you’ll notice that almost all of them use different layers to achieve various effects. As we mentioned, one issue with memory foam is that it can compress over time, making the bed less effective at relieving pressure. To help combat this issue, you can find a model that has high-density foam on the bottom. This material helps the bed retain its rigidity and ensure that you can use it for longer periods. However, the downside is that the higher density means less airflow, so you can experience a hot bed, especially during the warmer months of the year.
Need a king size mattress? Check our guide on best king mattresses below $500.
Latex
At first, you may think that latex mattresses would be highly uncomfortable. Latex is notoriously not breathable, meaning that you’ll be cooking yourself every time you go to sleep. However, the way that these beds are made alleviates this issue, and many people love the feeling of latex mattresses.
One of the best reasons to get a latex bed is because it’s more supportive than foam and it won’t compress as much over time. While it doesn’t cradle your body the same way, it’s still much softer than innerspring mattresses, making it a viable in-between solution.
As far as heat goes, these beds are manufactured with holes throughout the material. These holes ensure that air can flow through the mattress while you sleep. Although it’s not 100% cool, it’s much more reliable than you may have imagined.
Typically speaking, latex mattresses are a blend of natural and synthetic materials. While it’s possible to get a 100% natural bed, it’s going to cost a lot more than $500. Overall, these beds can be on the higher end of the price scale, but if you want support and pain relief, it can be an excellent way to go.
Inner Spring
For the most part, people still rely on mattresses that use coils and springs inside to stay rigid. Part of the reason that innerspring beds are still so ubiquitous is that they are cost-effective and they last forever. Unlike latex or foam that can compress and break down over time, innerspring mattresses can last for decades with minimal compression. Usually, the only thing that you have to worry about is how dirty the bed is from years of use.
Fortunately, modern innerspring mattresses are much better than those made in the old days. These beds have much better technological advancements that allow the coils and springs to mold to your body more efficiently. This way, you don’t have to worry as much about creating pressure points while you sleep.
Since you’ve probably slept on one of these mattresses before, we won’t go into too much detail about how they feel. They are perfect for those who like a firm bed, but they can cause a lot of problems if you wake up with sore joints or aches and pains. Overall, though, these beds are going to be the most cost-efficient models you can find.
​​Hei​ght
Although the material of your new queen mattress will dictate how well it suits your sleeping habits, one other consideration to think about is how high it is. Mattress height can be a significant issue, particularly if you have a bed frame and a box spring underneath it. Some people like having a tall bed that allows them to sleep a couple of feet off the floor. Others prefer to be more down to Earth. Also, consider how large your sheets are and whether a taller bed will create problems when trying to keep them on for many nights in a row.
Recommended Queen Mattresses Under 500
Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress, Queen
As we mentioned, foam has quickly taken over the mattress world, meaning that most new models are either made entirely of the stuff or have it integrated with other materials (i.e., coils). In this case, we have the Green Tea Foam Mattress from Zinus.
The first thing that we like about this bed is that it’s extra plush and thick. While you can choose from a variety of thicknesses (ranging from eight to 13 inches), the 12-inch model is suitable for most people. Whether you sleep on your back, your side, or your stomach, you will appreciate the feeling of this bed.
The secret to this mattress is that it has four layers of foam. On top, you have standard memory foam, which cradles your body and alleviates pressure points. Best of all, this is next-generation foam that doesn’t insulate you and create pockets of heat. Overall, you shouldn’t have any issues with waking up in a pool of sweat because of this bed.
The reason that this bed sleeps cool is that the second layer is specifically designed to dissipate heat and allow for more air to flow through. This cooling foam will ensure that you are always as comfortable as possible while you’re drifting off to sleep.
The bottom two layers are both high-density foam. These materials provide rigidity to the bed and ensure that you don’t have to worry about compression. Best of all, even the sides are immune to this problem, so even if you sleep on one side of the mattress at all times, you shouldn’t notice any significant depressions over time.
As the name suggests, this mattress is infused with Green Tea. While the benefits of this are relatively dubious, it’s supposed to help prevent the foam fibers from breaking down too fast. This bed is also infused with active charcoal to absorb odors, and the whole thing is CertiPUR certified.
For those who aren’t familiar with this rating, CertiPUR means that it doesn’t have too many harsh chemicals, nor does it pose any danger to you from breathing in fumes. In fact, you shouldn’t notice any strong odor coming from the mattress at any time, even when it first arrives.
Overall, if you’re looking for comfort, support, and a more organic bed, you will love this model from Zinus and it is one of the best queen mattress under 500.
Pros
Cons
Features
Price
Durability
Return Policty
Live and Sleep Resort Sleep Classic, Queen
Now we’ll be talking about another best queen mattress under 500. If you’re looking for a foam mattress that cradles your body in comfort, then you might like this model from Live and Sleep. Unlike the model above, this bed is softer and less rigid. Thus, that does mean that you may experience more compression, but you will feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud.
When it comes to the internal structure, this mattress has two layers of foam. The top is Pure memory foam, which is a more organic variety of the material. We like this version better because it not only contains as many harsh chemicals, but it’s also hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. Thus, if you suffer from allergies, you shouldn’t have to worry about your condition when sleeping on this bed.
Underneath the Pure memory foam is a high-density layer that provides support for your body. Also, these foam layers are designed to allow air to flow through, so sleeping hot is not really an issue with this bed. Overall, you get 10 inches of comfort, which is more than enough for most people.
What’s really nice about this bed is that it comes with a 20-year limited warranty. While this won’t cover things like compression, you can rest easy knowing that if the material ever breaks down or gets damaged that you might be able to get a replacement ASAP. It also comes with a 30-day guarantee, so feel free to try it out and see what you think.
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Return Policty
Classic Brands Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid 12-Inch Mattress, Queen
As we’ve already discussed, memory foam can compress over time, meaning that you lose a lot of the support and pressure relief you get when first sleeping on it. Comparatively speaking, innerspring mattresses stay firm for much longer, but they can create pressure points, leading to more soreness and pain. So, why not combine the two materials for maximum comfort?
That’s the idea behind this bed from Classic Brands, and for the most part, this pairing works. This is a 12-inch mattress, and it comes with both individually wrapped coils and two layers of foam on top. Thus, you get extra comfort without losing the support and firmness offered by springs.
Overall, we like this mattress as intended, but that doesn’t mean that it’s ideal for everyone. If you tend to sleep on your side, you still have to contend with the coils, which can still create some pressure points, especially if you’re on the heavy side of the spectrum. For back sleepers, however, this bed is a dream.
We like that the top layer is gel memory foam, meaning that it dissipates heat while cradling your body. To make it even more comfortable, the whole thing is covered in a quilted pillowtop casing that makes the bed feel soft and inviting, even without sheets. The sides are also textured to help keep your bedding in place.
Another thing we appreciate about the foam is that it’s hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant. Also, it’s CertiPUR certified so that you don’t have to worry about breathing in harsh chemicals at night. Finally, it comes with a remarkable 10-year limited warranty.
Pros
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Features
Price
Durability
Return Policty
Final Ve​rdict
That is all of our compact guideline and review on the best queen mattress under 500. If you want comfort, support, and a mattress that’s built to last, we highly recommend the Zinus Memory Foam Mattress. At 12-inches, it’s one of the softest and most supportive beds we’ve seen, and even though it’s all foam, it won’t compress or break down as quickly as other models on the market. We appreciate the dual-layers of high-density foams, as well as the heat-dissipated top layer. Overall, you will love the way that this mattress sleeps, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
