It’s spring cleaning time and you might be thinking about getting a fresh start with a new mattress. It can be hard to know where to begin, and you’re likely questioning how much should you spend on a new mattress. There are many factors that affect the price—materials, size, features, add-ons, warranties and shipping. Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for everyone, we’re breaking it down to reveal how much you should budget for this new expense based on your specific needs.
The Saatva Classic Mattress is an affordable luxury bed with a dual-coil construction and fluffy ... [+]
Mattresses are an important health item in your home and most people spend a third of their lives sleeping in bed on their mattress. As such, it’s important to find a mattress that properly accommodates your needs, sleeping habits and of course, price range. Luckily, there are a wide range of mattress options to fit almost any price point.
Price Point Range
Mattresses come in a wide range of prices, anywhere from $300 up to $3,000 or more. Budget mattresses can run you less than $1,000, and luxury mattresses tend to be more than $2,000. The average mattress price is around $1,300 to $2,000.
Budget Mattresses
Most budget mattresses are made with all-foam constructions using memory foam or poly foam, but some innerspring mattresses like the Allswell also boast budget price tags. Tuft and Needle Nod Mattress is a little under $500 for a queen size. It’s a simple, 8-inch memory foam mattress — a decent mattress for this price.
The Tuft & Needle Nod is an Amazon exclusive and boasts a wallet-friendly price tag.
Other budget beds include:
- Allswell Mattress: $317
- Lucid Mattress: $423
- Nectar Original Mattress: $649
Average Mattresses
Foam, innerspring or spring-like coils, or a hybrid combination of those materials are used to make average priced mattresses. An average bed, like the Casper One Mattress, for example, packs a bit more within its layers, including a flex foam, contouring memory foam and a dense foam base layer.
Casper is one of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattress brands, and its flagship bed is averagely ... [+]
Other averagely priced beds include:
- Brooklyn Bedding Mattress: $1,332
- Bear Original Mattress: $998
- DreamCloud Mattress: $1,532
Luxury Mattresses
A luxury mattress is an investment in your sleep and, like with the Purple Restore Premier Mattress. Premium mattress brands like Purple tend to have high-quality materials, like Purple’s GelFlex Grid, pocketed steel coils and come loaded with extra features. It has a 3-inch grid, layer of foam and a base of cool flex coils. As a result, it has a $3,249 price tag to reflect its quality-made design.
The Purple Restore Premier Hybrid Mattress is among the creme-de-la-creme, but cost over $3,000 for ... [+]
Other luxury beds include:
- Saatva Classic: $1,845
- Helix Midnight Luxe: $1,899
- Nolah Evolution: $1,749
Mattress Pricing By Type
Mattress pricing largely depends on a bed’s construction and materials used. Is the mattress made with premium latex foam sourced from South America, or cheap synthetic latex foam? Does it contain pocketed coils? Are there added technologies or features like a cooling cover? All these factors play into a bed’s price.
Here’s a breakdown of different mattress pricing based on materials.
Foam
- Price: Around $300 to $1,300 and up for a queen size
- Materials: Polyurethane foam, memory foam and gel-infused foam
Hybrid
- Price: Around $600 to $1,800 and up for a queen size
- Materials: Blend of foams like memory, latex and poly, proprietary materials and pocketed coils
Luxury
- Price: Around $2,000 to $3,000 and up for a queen size
- Materials: Memory foam, organic latex foam, organic textiles, proprietary materials, cooling technology and pocketed coils
Smart Beds
- Price: $4,000 and up
- Materials: High-quality foams and/or latex, proprietary technology, adjustable bed frames and thermoregulatory systems for cooling/heating
Foam
A foam mattress, as the name implies, is entirely made out of foam. Budget mattresses are typically two to three layers thick, while average and luxury mattresses sandwich three or more slabs of foam together to achieve a more luxurious, durable build. The most common types of foam materials are polyurethane foam, also known as poly foam, memory foam, and latex foam.
Poly Foam
Poly foam is a common choice for budget mattresses because it’s a cheaper material. It has a responsive, but contouring feel, making it easier to switch positions on than memory foam. However, it’s less durable than other foams and doesn't last as long.
Memory Foam
Memory foam, formally known as viscoelastic foam, is a contouring, slow-moving material that molds around your curves as it softens under your body heat. It’s also superior at motion isolation. You may remember the commercials with the wine glass on a memory foam mattress and someone jumping on the other side. Manufacturers use this material on budget, average and luxury-priced mattresses. Look for memory foam infused with materials like graphite, copper or gel for better temperature regulation.
Gel-Infused Memory Foam
Gel-infused foam is a good option for hot sleepers because it’s able to regulate temperature better than typical memory or poly foam. It still molds to the sleeper like you can expect from memory foam, but the gel helps wick away moisture and draw heat away from your body. You can find this material in budget, average and luxury beds.
Latex
Latex foam comes in natural, organic or synthetic form. Natural and organic latex foam is sourced from the sap of rubber trees, making it eco-friendly with hypoallergenic properties. Latex foam is more responsive than memory foam, durable and breathable. For example, when you press your hand into latex foam and release it, the material takes less time to return to its normal state than memory foam. Keep in mind that natural and organic latex mattresses are more expensive than the synthetic material because of its quality and green supply chain management, from sourcing to manufacturing.
The eco-friendly Avocado Green Mattress, made with certified organic cotton, wool and latex foam, is ... [+]
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses have a combination of coils and foam, whether it be some kind of memory, poly and/or latex foam. The materials are usually of higher quality, which is why you can find most hybrid mattresses in the average to luxury categories. Hybrid beds also tend to be taller and longer-lasting than all-foam constructions.
Innersprings And Coils
Innersprings are found in box springs and more traditional mattresses. Traditional innersprings are a system of steel coils that provide bi-directional support and work together as one unit. If you sit on the right side of a classic innerspring bed, the left side moves as well. While this was a popular style of mattress 10 years ago, brands have revamped their beds to be a little more comfortable and accommodating.
Pocketed coils
Enter pocketed coils. These are innersprings individually wrapped in fabric that move independently from one another. This way, you get the same support and durability as traditional coils, but they’re much better at isolating motion.
Micro-coils
Some ultra supportive mattresses like the Saatva Classic and Leesa Legend are constructed with a pocketed coil base layer and additional micro-coil layer among its comfort foams. Micro-coils provide even more targeted support, and can benefit sleepers who live with back pain as it helps prevent sagging.
Smart Beds
High-Quality Foams And/Or Latex
Smart beds, like the Sleep Number mattresses, offer a whole new sleep experience. Some features are temperature control that can be different for each side of the bed, a base that adjusts when it senses snoring and different firmness settings for the left and right side of the bed.
These smart beds use high-quality foams and latex in addition to controls with an app or remote. Our detailed Sleep Number Climate360 Mattress review summarizes mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon’s experience with the bed after testing it for more than 30 days.
Factors That Contribute To Mattress Pricing
We briefly touched on this above, but there are a few factors that affect the price of a mattress.
Size
The most obvious factor is the mattress size. The larger the mattress is, the more expensive it is. Sizes, from smallest to largest, are twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, and oversized (Wyoming, Texas or Alaskan kings).
Materials
Materials in another determining factor of a bed’s price. Premium materials like organic latex, 8-inch pocketed coils and infused memory foam can make a bed’s cost higher, while beds without springs made with polyurethane foam are among the budget tier.
Features
Feature-rich mattresses designed to target specific problems, such as cooling relief, back pain and allergies cost more than simple mattresses with low-cost constructions.
Shipping
Many online mattress companies offer free shipping and a risk-free trial, but there might be a fee if you purchase it from a physical store. Unless you’re bringing it home with you, they often charge you a shipping fee to have it delivered to your home.
Online vs In Store
Traditional retail stores acquire mattresses from manufacturers and then sell them to customers, resulting in higher prices. When you buy online, it’s more affordable because you’re cutting out the middleman and purchasing the mattress directly from the manufacturer. While you don’t have the opportunity to physically test the mattress online before you try it, online mattress companies always offer a sleep trial from 9o days to a full year.
Warranties
If you decide to keep your mattress, many online beds come backed by 10-20 year warranties—some even extend a lifetime offer. These warranties protect your mattress against manufacturer defects and can vary in coverage based on the brand.
Money Saving Tips When Buying A Mattress
There are always ways to save money on anything you need to buy. Here are five ways you can save money on your mattress.
- Budget: Determine how much you can spend on a mattress, and stick to that budget. As we’ve mentioned, there are plenty of options to fit each price range, whether it’s under $500 or over $2,000.
- Be patient: Wait for sales. Retailers often have sales and you just need to watch for them, especially online. You can also shop during holiday weekends to get discounts (think Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Black Friday). Some of the most significant mattress and bedding savings fall around major retail holidays.
- Bundle: Many sellers offer discounts when you bundle. So, if you also need new pillows, sheets, mattress covers, mattress protectors or a base, you can save some money by purchasing those add-ons when you buy the mattress.
- Coupons: Use browser extensions to help you add coupon codes automatically like Capital One Shopping or Honey. There are extensions to help you get cash back, too, like Rakuten to save you coin.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
We stay updated on the latest mattress trends and information to bring you the best data so you can shop with confidence. Our Senior mattress editor Bridget Chapman and mattress editor McKenzie Dillon have extensive knowledge testing mattresses, with over 100 beds tested and five years in the industry between the two. They provided insight on the best mattresses in each price point, what you can expect from them and the factors that go into mattress pricing.
What Is A Reasonable Price For A Good Quality Mattress?
Sure, many feature-rich $3,000 luxury mattresses feel like a dream, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a good mattress for a reasonable price. Since the price range for mattresses is $400 to $3,000 or more, a reasonable price for a good mattress is probably in the $1,000 to $1,500 range. But there are pros and cons to how much you can spend on a mattress. Buying mattresses with better quality materials means they last longer than beds made with cheaper materials. Determine your budget, research some good mattresses, wait for sales, use extensions for coupon codes and cash back, and you can get a good quality mattress for a reasonable price.
How Much Should You Budget For A Mattress?
Your budget depends on how much you can afford. Set that limit well in advance so you know what you can’t go over. If you’re a side sleeper, opt for a foam or hybrid mattress. Hot sleeper? You may need some cooling materials like those found in the GhostBed Luxe or Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, including phase change material and cool-to-the-touch covers. Do you live with back or shoulder pain? It may be worth investing in a premium mattress that properly accommodates your specific needs.
Is It Worth It To Buy A More Expensive Mattress?
There are budget mattresses and luxury mattresses with raving customer reviews, so it doesn’t always come down to price. There are many factors that go into making a quality mattress. There are a list of luxury mattresses that are worth every penny, but if you’re in the market for a budget mattress, the Bear Original is highly recommended by our editors.