Buying Guide – How to Shop for a Mattress under $1,000
Price is one indicator of quality in a mattress, which is why more expensive mattresses often offer added features and a longer lifespan. However, there are plenty of options that offer excellent value for money.
Buying Guide – How to Shop for a Mattress under $1,000
Choosing a Mattress Type
The majority of mattresses priced under $1,000 will either be hybrid, latex, memory foam, or innerspring models. If you’re not sure what kind of mattress you like, here’s a quick guide on what to look for when shopping on a budget.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses incorporate at least 2 inches of memory foam, polyfoam, or latex comfort layers over a pocketed coil support core. This usually rests on a high-density polyfoam base. Because of their more sophisticated construction, hybrid mattresses tend to come with a higher price tag.
Thanks to their construction, hybrid mattresses provide an even balance of pressure relief and support. Hybrid mattresses also tend to have strong edges, a responsive surface, decent motion isolation, and better-than-average temperature regulation. While they are usually suitable for every type of sleeper, they are particularly appreciated by heavyweight individuals who need the extra support from the pocketed coils.
Average price (Queen): $2,076.70
Expected lifespan: 6 to 7 years
Latex
The term “latex mattress” can refer to any mattress that includes latex in the comfort layers, including hybrid mattresses, latex-foam mattresses, or all-latex models. Naturally breathable and very resilient, latex’s high point elasticity gives it a bouncy feel with moderate contouring.
Latex can be natural, synthetic, or a blend of both. Since it’s possible for the material to be almost 100% organic, natural latex mattresses are also very popular with eco-conscious shoppers and those who suffer from allergies. They don’t tend to be cheap, but natural latex mattresses are among the most durable type of mattress
Like other types of foam mattresses, latex mattresses make hardly any noise when bearing weight, and keep motion transfer to a minimum. These attributes make latex a good option for couples.
Average price (Queen): $1,970.51
Expected lifespan: 7 to 8 years
Memory Foam
Memory foam responds to heat and pressure, contouring closely to form a pressure-relieving cradle. Lightweight sleepers, average weight sleepers, and side sleepers in all weight categories find that the material allows just the right amount of sink to keep the spine aligned. Memory foam mattresses typically have a firmer support core made of high-density polyfoam to prevent excessive sagging.
As with most foam mattresses, memory foam mattresses are virtually silent when bearing weight. Memory foam’s high point elasticity and slow response to pressure help to absorb motion, preventing it from transferring it across the bed. Traditional memory foam has a reputation for trapping heat, but many manufacturers attempt to reduce this effect with gel beads, copper, or graphite infusions.
Memory foam mattresses are available in almost every budget, with higher prices for proprietary foams and higher-density foams.
Average price (Queen): $1,044.16
Expected lifespan: 5 to 6 years
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are defined by their coil support core, usually made of tempered steel for a supportive and sturdy base. They provide the firm sleep surface that is most comfortable for stomach sleepers, and they provide adequate support for heavyweight individuals who sink too far into foam mattresses.
Other advantages include excellent edge support and a very bouncy surface conducive to sex, as well as excellent temperature neutrality thanks to the airflow that passes through the coils.
Innerspring mattresses are typically some of the cheapest mattresses available, and they are still very popular because most people grew up with them. While there are luxury innerspring mattresses that retail for thousands of dollars, there is also a wide selection of innerspring models for well under $1,000.
Average price (Queen): $1,037.97
Expected lifespan: 4 to 6 years