Finding the Best Cheap Mattress Without Hurting Your Budget
Our 6 budget mattress picks
After careful consideration and extensive tests, we have found the best cheap mattresses that you can get without having to break the bank. From memory foam to springs – it's all here! Let's meet our top 6 cheap mattresses in the UK!
Mattresses
1
Best Overall
Mattresses
2
Best Memory Foam
Mattresses
3
Best Pocket Spring
Mattresses
4
Best Value
Mattresses
5
Best Cooling
Mattresses
6
Best Orthopaedic:
Best Overall: Hypnia Essential Hybrid Mattress
If you want a mattress that can keep up with luxury brands while also being a fraction of the price, the Hypnia Essential Hybrid Mattress is perfect for you!
Best Overall
The Hypnia Essential Hybrid Mattress offers all of the features you'd expect from a high-end mattress. It has 2cm of premium memory foam for pressure relief and comfort, extra tall pocket springs, and even zoned support!
And these extra tall pocket springs ensure that your body is getting all of the support it needs. Plus, with a cooling, quilted cover, even hot sleepers should feel more than comfortable.
And with how all of these materials have been sectioned off, the mattress is suited for all sleeping position! Although it can't adapt as quickly as higher-end mattresses, so, combination sleepers might be a bit disappointed.
But most importantly, this mattress is already pretty affordable on top of frequently being on sale. And if that is still too expensive, you can even get a refurbished model that will knock the price down another 10-20%.
If you want to learn more about this top-tier, budget-friendly mattress, read our full Hypnia Essential Hybrid Mattress overview!
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Firmness: 7/10
- Thickness: 25cm
- Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Good motion isolation
The memory foam layer cuts down on any motion transfer.
Affordable
The mattress is cheap, frequently on sale, and available as a refurbished model.
Very good coverage
You get a 15-year warranty, a 200-night sleep trial, and free delivery.
Disadvantages
Tricky cover
The cover zip is on the bottom and quite small.
Not ideal for combination sleepers
The mattress can't bounce back as quickly as more expensive models.
Best Memory Foam: Emma Original Mattress
If a hybrid mattress seems a bit too pricey, or you just love foam mattresses, the Emma Original Mattress should be perfect for you!
Best Memory Foam
The Emma Original is comprised of three foam layers, with the high-density foam providing support, memory foam providing pressure relief, and the Airgocell foam boosting breathability.
And this combination of different foams is especially useful for side sleepers, as your hip and shoulder can properly sink into the top layers and spread our any built up pressure.
As you can see, the build quality is great and covers all areas of a good memory foam mattress. And the fact that it does so at a fraction of the usual price should grab your attention!
The Emma Original Mattress also has a nice, soft cover, for some added comfort. And as with any Emma mattress, you're also getting decent coverage – with a 10-year warranty and a 200-night trial.
Check our Emma Original mattress review to learn more!
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Memory foam
- Firmness: 6/10
- Thickness: 25cm
- Size: Single, Double, Small Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Great quality-price ratio
This is a very cheap mattress but it still boasts some high-quality materials.
Pressure relieving
Fantastic pressure relieving properties due to the memory foam.
Great for side sleepers
Side sleepers will benefit the most from this soft foam mattress.
Disadvantages
Some overheating
Hot sleepers might still experience overheating.
Off-gassing
Since the mattress only uses foam, some off-gassing will occur the first night.
Best Pocket Spring: Silentnight Just Breathe Eco Comfort Hybrid Mattress
While this mattress has the word “hybrid” in the name, it's very different from most hybrid models. And that's because it doesn't use any foam!
Best Pocket Spring
The Silentnight Just Breathe Eco Comfort Hybrid Mattress is our favourite pocket spring mattress for a few reasons. For one, it uses significantly larger springs than most pocket spring mattress – at a whopping 18cm!
An this makes for amazing, firm support. So, back and stomach sleepers, as well as slightly larger individuals, will all get the support their body needs.
This mattress is also exceptionally breathable. This is thanks to the eco fibre filling as well as the mesh sides that allow air to move freely. So, hot sleepers should also be rather happy with this mattress.
Lastly, for the price, you get some incredible perks. With a 365-night trial, it outclasses even some premium mattresses and a 10-year warranty is nothing to scoff at either.
To learn more, read our full review of the Silentnight Just Breathe Eco Comfort Hybrid Mattress.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Pocket spring
- Firmness: 8/10
- Thickness: 24 cm
- Size: Single, Double, King Size
Advantages
Great for back and front sleepers
As a firm mattress, it's best suited for back and front sleepers.
Very breathable
The filling and the mesh sides significantly boost breathability.
Side handles
Turning or flipping the mattress is made easier with side handles.
Disadvantages
Too firm for some
Side sleepers might need a softer mattress.
Some motion transfer
Since there is no foam layer, there is a tad of motion transfer.
Best Value: The Origin Hybrid Mattress
While all of the mattresses we've featured on this list offer extremely high value, we'd say that the Origin Hybrid Mattress gives the best bang for your buck.
Best Value
Simply put, the Origin Hybrid Mattress feels like it's too good for the price. After all, it has multiple industry awards, uses high-end bedding materials, and will only run you about 400 pounds. Often it's even less than this, as the mattress seems to be on sale quite frequently.
But how good can it possible be? Well, for one, it has 3000 steel springs, which is well above average even for luxury mattresses. And this means that both motion isolation and support are going to be fairy decent.
It also uses bamboo-infused wool for top-tier temperature regulation. And this is a feature you'd usually only see in higher-end Simba mattresses. Plus, this mattress has some of its own unique features, such as the Origin Hexagrid material for added pressure relief.
So, while it's not the cheapest per se, the Origin Hybrid Mattress definitely offers the best value!
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Firmness: 6.5/10
- Thickness: 26 cm
- Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Temperature regulation
Bamboo-infused wool leads to top-of-the-line temperature regulation.
Highly praised in the UK
The mattress has won multiple awards and has thousands of positive reviews in the UK.
Full body support
With 3000 steel springs, your entire body is getting proper support.
Disadvantages
Takes a bit to soften up
It takes a day or two to break in this mattress.
Best Cooling: Simbatex Essential Foam Mattress
While foam mattresses tend to struggle with temperature regulation, that doesn't always have to be the case. Exibit A, the Simbatex Essential Foam Mattress!
Best Cooling
The Simbatex Essential Foam Mattress is a memory foam mattress, meaning that it can adapt to your body and provide a hugging sensation that most people simply adore.
However, unlike most memory foam mattresses (even more expensive ones), this foam is infused with graphite. This means that you won't have the same breathability issues as you would with most low-to-mid-range models.
The mattress also provides zoned support – meaning that your joints will benefit from pressure relief and your spine will be supported and healthy.
And, to seal the deal, Simba also threw in a nice, knitted cover that feels soft to the touch and further amps up the breathability of the mattress. So, while the mattress isn't the cheapest, it's dirt cheap compared to what you're getting in return!
But if you do want a slightly better model, we recommend looking into the upgraded version, the Simbatex Foam Mattress.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Memory foam mattress
- Firmness: 6/10
- Thickness: 19 cm
- Size: Single, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic & anti-dust mite cover wicks away moisture.
Cooling
By infusing the memory foam with graphite, excess heat is drawn away from your body.
High-quality memory foam
The memory foam provides excellent pressure relief and motion isolation.
Disadvantages
Off-gassing
The foam will off-gass the first night or two.
Rather thin
At only 19cm, it can't offer as much support as a 30cm hybrid.
Best Luxury: Happy Beds – Signature 2000 Pocket Sprung Mattress
While it might seem odd to pick a luxury mattress for a best cheap mattress list, trust us, it belongs here!
Best Orthopaedic:
So, what's so special and luxurious about the Happy Beds Signature 2000 Pocket Sprung Mattress? Well, it uses surprisingly high-end natural materials!
Specifically, it uses lamb wool and silk to offer top-tier temperature regulation and comfort. On top of that, the mattress also features hand-stitching and tufting. And in case you didn't know, this is usually reserved for custom-made luxury mattresses!
On top of all of that, you also get small side vents for extra breathability, 2000 high-quality springs, and side handles for easy turning/flipping.
So, you're basically getting all of the luxury features while still paying a budget-friendly price. The only catch is that you won't have the same warranty or trial as when you buy directly from larger retailers.
To learn more, read our full review of the Happy Beds Signature 2000 Pocket Sprung Mattress.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Pocket sprung
- Firmness: 6.5/10
- Thickness: 25 cm
- Size: Small Single, Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
High-quality materials
The mattress uses natural materials like silk and wool.
Easy flipping
Thanks to side handles, you can flip it on your own.
High quality springs system
Pocket springs move independently and ensure a high level of comfort & support
Disadvantages
Some durability issues
Some customers have complained about the durability of the mattress.
What to consider when buying the best cheap mattress
Whenever you are shopping for a new mattress, you need to know which features define the mattress. That way, you'll be able to recognise what works best for you, solely by looking at the spec sheet. To help you with that, we've crafted a mini-guide to help you out!
Your sleeping position
First things first, you need to choose a mattress based on your sleeping position. Some mattresses are great for stomach sleepers, but at the same time, they're too firm for side sleepers and so on.
In general, side sleepers should look for a medium-firm mattress, preferably a memory foam one, to allow for better full-body alignment and less pressure build-up around core areas like hips and shoulders.
Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, would benefit the most from a firmer sleeping surface – regardless of the type of mattress.
In the end, back sleepers have it the easiest, as they could pretty much sleep on any kind of mattress, although we would still advise looking for something firmer, rather than softer.
Type of mattress
As you know, there are several types of mattresses.
Memory foam mattresses are the most popular of all. They're very comfortable, offer solid support, great pressure relief, but they do tend to get a little hot.
Pocket sprung mattresses are usually a bit on the firmer side. They're great at offering full-body support, excellent durability and are also quite comfortable to sleep on.
Hybrid mattresses bring the best of both world to the table and are often thought of as the “ultimate” mattress type, bringing forth both excellent support and comfort.
Latex mattresses aren't as popular as the ones we've just mentioned, mostly because they're usually more expensive, but they are also a great option for those who prefer a firmer, durable mattress.
Finally, innerspring mattresses are the most affordable of all, but they're also often the ones that are least supportive, comfortable and durable. They're mostly obsolete nowadays, but can still be found in stores.
And if we plug our top three picks into our Mattress Comparison Tool, we can see that the Emma Original comes out on top in terms of usability due to the memory foam. However, the Hypnia Essential Hybrid proved to be a bit more comfortable. While the spring-focused Just Breathe mattress boasts solid numbers in both categories.
Foundation and bed frame
Your foundation and the bed frame on which you will place your mattress will also play a major role in how will your mattress feel.
Generally speaking, you'd want your bed (foundation + mattress) to be exactly at knee height, so you'd have no issues getting up from the bed, especially if you're a senior citizen. We HIGHLY recommend you checking some of the high quality bed frames we've tested if you are considering getting one for yourself.
Also, keep in mind that not all foundations work with every mattress. For instance, you'd want to avoid plank foundations and pocket sprung mattresses, as in that case, most springs won't be properly supported.
Finally, your mattress has to fit, so make sure you measure your bed frame before getting a new mattress.
Disposal of your old mattress
You can't just toss your old mattress in the trash with the rest of your garbage.
For instance, memory foam mattresses or pocket sprung mattresses can be recycled, so it would be irresponsible to just throw them away. However, that can be tricky to do on your own. Fortunately, many companies deal in this line of work, so you should be able to dispose of your mattress this way.
Furthermore, some companies will take your old mattress from you once you get a new one, completely free of charge, and they will later dispose of it on their own. So, that's another possibility you can look into.
Contouring
Some people prefer to “lie on top of the mattress”, while others prefer to “sink in”. Those that like to “sink in”, can really benefit from mattresses that are great at contouring around your body.
In general, those would be memory foam mattresses and hybrid mattresses. Memory foam is known to be great at mimicking the hugging feeling, which basically means it will contour around your body's curves, making you feel properly supported by the bed.
This is especially important for those that sleep on their side or those that may be suffering from sleep-related pains, as contouring usually translates to great pressure and pain relief.
Among cheaper models, memory foam mattresses are usually your best bed in this category. For example, if we compare the Simbatex Essential and the Octasmart Classic mattress, we will see that even though the Octasmart is a hybrid and has more layers, it focuses less on contouring and support than the all-foam Simbatex mattress.
Material
There are many different materials used in mattress manufacturing. When it comes to budget mattresses, that's something you want to pay special attention to. In some instances, budget mattresses will be made from low-quality, harshly chemically treated materials and fabrics, and that's something you'd want to avoid.
On the other hand, the top notch mattresses will be CertiPUR certified, as well as OEKO-TEX certified, ensuring that all of the materials and fabrics used in the manufacturing process are free of toxic and harmful chemicals and are perfectly safe to be used by humans.
Level of firmness
The firmness of a mattress is rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest. In general, a mattress that should fit all would be anywhere between 6 and 7 on the firmness scale and that is what we would call a medium-firm mattress.
In reality, the firmness of a mattress is very subjective and will be greatly influenced by your body weight and sleeping position, and, of course, your personal preference for the mattress feel. As we've said earlier, side sleepers should look for something a little bit softer, stomach sleepers for something a bit firmer and the back sleepers can do a little bit of both.
Level of pressure relief
As you know, many wake up with back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain etc. Those people need a mattress with pressure-relieving properties.
Now, pressure-relieving properties are usually associated with softer mattresses, but rest assured, they are not exclusive to them.
While it is true that firmness will greatly impact the level of pressure relief you'd get from a mattress, that is not all you should be looking at. The type is also a contributing factor and in general, memory foam, hybrid and latex mattresses do a better job at it than a pocket sprung mattress.
As a general rule of thumb, mattresses with better contouring will be better at relieving pressure from core areas and joints.
Edge support
Edge support is a feature that is often overlooked when shopping for a mattress, however, it is quite important.
A mattress with lousy edge support will be very hard to get out of, as it will sink quite deeply as you sit on the edge of it. Furthermore, if you sleep with a partner or close to the edge of the mattress, you might feel like you're slipping from it if there's no adequate edge support.
In general, hybrid, pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses are the ones with good edge support, but it all varies from model to model.
Cooling
As you know, your body temperature drops a little bit when you go to sleep and we need it to stay down there if we want to have a good night's sleep. Therefore, if you're sleeping on a mattress that does a lousy job of dissipating heat or regulating temperature, you're going to have a hard time sleeping.
Memory foam mattresses are known for being bad at keeping things cool, but in recent years, there have been some major improvements in this area.
However, if you want to be certain you'll feel cool during the night, you should probably look for a latex mattress or a pocket sprung one.
Alternatively, if you don't mind paying a higher price, you could get a cooling hybrid mattress. After all, while the Simbatex Mattress is our favourite in terms of cooling, when compared to the Emma Luxe Cooling mattress, it can seem a bit mediocre. However, the jump in price is quite noticeable as well.
Noise
A noisy mattress can be a real pain. If you can hear your every turn, you should probably look for a new one.
As you might've guessed, the ones that make the most noise are the ones with springs. That means innerspring, pocket sprung and hybrid mattresses can get a little noisy, especially if we're talking about cheap mattresses. On the other hand, a memory foam mattress or a latex one is completely silent.
Now, we're not saying every spring mattress is noisy, but if you prefer silence in the bedroom – you should probably steer clear of any “moving parts” inside your mattress.
Trial period
Some companies will try to convince you that it is fine not to have a trial period because you are buying a budget mattress. But you should insist that the mattress comes from the trial period. The reason is very obvious. If you can't try the mattress for at least a few weeks in a home environment, you won't be able to be sure if it's comfortable for you and if you need to keep it. It is not a duvet but something that should support your whole body in the years to come.
Warranty
The situation is similar when we talk about the warranty. You certainly can't expect Forever Warranty like when you buy Nectar Memory Foam mattress for example, but a budget mattress must also have a warranty. Make sure the warranty lasts at least 2 years. Also, check the warranty conditions. Limited warranty differs significantly from full warranty, so to avoid an unpleasant surprise in a year or two, check all the details immediately. Then you will be sure what your rights are and what you can get in case of mattress damage for which you are not responsible.
The average lifespan of a budget mattresses
On average, a mattress will last you anywhere from 5 to 8 years. Now, those number can take a little dip if we're talking about a budget mattress, but it doesn't have to be so.
Also, a mattress type will also affect its longevity. In general, latex mattresses tend to last the longest, but in the reality, it all comes down to quality, maintenance and level of usage.
Either way, in most cases, the mattress will have a warranty period, so even if it breaks too early – most of the expenses will be covered.
Springs VS Memory Foam VS Hybrid
Mattress type and material certainly have the biggest impact on average lifespan. Although we should not forget craftsmanship, body weight of sleeper and maintenance as also very important factors.
It is a bit complicated to say that memory foam for example has a longer service life than a hybrid mattress until we know the type of springs and the density of memory foam. But in general, memory foam mattresses have longer service life than innerspring mattresses. High density memory foam mattresses can last a very long time even over 10 years.
Innerspring mattresses have a shorter service life on average, about 5 years. Of course, it can be the other way around, when the mattress has high quality individually wrapped pocket springs. While a thin low density memory foam mattress will certainly not last 10 years.
Latex mattresses have the longest service life of all. When we talk about hybrid mattresses, the situation depends on the type of hybrid mattress and its parts. A hybrid mattress can last a very long time without losing its characteristics if it contains high density foam and durable springs. As we have already mentioned, we cannot ignore the body weight of a person sleeping on a mattress.
A person who weighs 90 kg will certainly damage the mattress faster than a person who weighs 50 kg, so people with a higher BMI must go with high density foam and generally high quality mattresses if they do not want to change the mattress after 2 or 3 years. Even though you are buying a budget mattress it should last longer than that.
What about bed-in-a-box mattress?
Bed in a box has become the most popular concept in the sleep industry all over the world so you are probably wondering how it affects the service life of your mattress. Whether you are buying a premium or budget mattress, it is likely to be delivered to you in a box, vacuumed and rolled. We can confirm that this does not affect the service life of the product.
The whole process of vacuuming and packing is fully automated and one thing that is important is to leave the mattress until it expands to its full size. After that you can use it and it will last same a mattress that is not a bed in a box.
Are cheap mattresses good for treatment of back pain?
The price of a mattress certainly cannot tell you whether a mattress is good for the treatment of back pain or not. You need to check its characteristics to know if it will ease your pain or make your problems worse. Some of the best mattress for back pain will provide you with support, firmness and pressure relief at the same time.
It is wrong to think that a back pain mattress should be as firm as a rock. Choose the one that suits your sleep position, and pressure relief is just as important as support. So if you find a cheap mattress that suits your needs, go ahead and buy it, regardless of the price you can have a good night's sleep.
Should I flip my cheap mattress?
You can flip your cheap mattress just in case if the mattress is double-sided. If the mattress is single-sided then the other side is not suitable for sleeping and you can't flip it. If it is double-sided, then you definitely need to flip it because it will significantly extend the service life. It’s almost like having two mattresses that you use alternately.
Flip your mattress every three months or so. If the mattress is single-sided, there is also a way to prolong its service life. You need to rotate it. It is not as effective as when you flip it, but it is certainly useful to avoid the appearance of dents.
Best Cheap Mattress – Conclusion
There you have it! Hopefully, we have managed to point you towards the best cheap mattress so you can finally sleep well, without spending too much money.
As you could see, just because you're looking at a budget mattress, does not mean you're looking at the bad one. We hope we've made you realise that you could find a mattress that fits your budget and your body at the same time.
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FAQs about your new cheap mattresses
In the end, we wanted to wrap things up by answering some frequently asked questions. When we're talking about the best budget mattress, there will always be some questions regarding its quality or something similar, therefore, we wanted to clear some things up and provide you with some straightforward answers.
What type of mattress is the least expensive?
In general, the least expensive would be an innerspring mattress, but if you factor in the quality, the best budget mattress would be a memory foam one.
What type of mattress gives the best cost-effectiveness ratio?
It all depends on your needs, but generally speaking, a budget-friendly hybrid mattress would bring most to the table.
What is considered to be an old mattress?
Any mattress that is broken or damaged, regardless of age, is considered to be an old mattress.
How often should I replace my mattress?
You should replace your mattress when it becomes uncomfortable to sleep on or it becomes damaged. On average, that would be around every 7 years.
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