Our Highest Quality Beds For Under $500 – 2021 Edition

Not so long ago, investing in the right bed used to be tedious, difficult, tiring and most of all expensive. Some of you might remember scouring the various mattress stores in search of the finest only to return home disheartened and angry that you got nothing in the end.

You dreaded repeating the process the following weekend.

Nowadays, that’s all over. Shopping for bed stuff has never been easier, and if you search right and come across the right brands, you can get the best mattresses for under $500. And no, we are not referring to inferior products. On the contrary, we would never do that. We know how important sleep is to our overall health and wellbeing.

The mattress plays an integral part in getting the right amount of quality ZZZ’s.

But let’s get back to the point of discussion. When you probably once thought that you could never get a quality bed for $1,000, you can now. This is thanks to the creative disruption in the sleeping surface market as a result of the advent of the internet and the possibility of direct-sales to consumers. This was a development that has reduced costs for manufacturers thus lowering prices for you.

Continue reading for some of our top reviews of mattresses under $500 and some information on what you must keep in mind to make the perfect choice.

Is a $500 or Less Mattress Worth It?

You might have answered a definite ‘no’ to that question a few years ago. But today? Many of us have been lured by the ease, access, comfort, and information we find when we use the internet. It’s a shopper’s nirvana. The online world is like a living organism that continually grows and develops as the years go by.

People want to share and engage and are consequently leaving reviews to help others. Reviews help you make your buying decision!

Fear of being cheated or product failure is becoming a thing of the past. The modern consumer trusts what his or her peers are saying – this development has built credibility and made it perfectly sustainable.

Thanks to that development and some amazing online bed guides, shopping online has become easier. But haven’t we forgotten something? Yes, we still have to answer the question of whether a $500 mattress is worth it. In short, yes it is.

Online sleep product retailers can now offer their customers the best of all worlds. Top mattress and bed sites provide a plethora of information, allowing for seamless decision-making. Also, the swift delivery, packaging, and trial periods build trust among the client base.

Gradually, everyone knows that they can order a mattress online without worrying. If you don’t like it, there’s a free trial that can last up to one hundred days.

Also, the shift to digital has reduced costs for manufacturers. Instead of having to invest in point of sale infrastructure, they can put all of their energy and money into R&D and customer satisfaction, providing you with the high-end all-around shopping and sleeping experience.

Under $500 Available Sizes

Twin

It’s easy to get your hands on a twin mattress way under that prize. The costs tend to increase the larger the bed and far surpassing $500. But not with the beds we reviewed. You have excellent value for money.

A twin is the smallest sleeping surface and only suitable for individual use. You can get them in XL size as well if you require a little extra space.

For our purposes, let’s focus on the twin XL. It measures 38’’ x 80’’. That’s is a small size. Also, you can get them in all the different mattress types. Even luxury mattress producers offer them for under $500.

As there are less material and production costs, the price of this type of sleeping surface never really gets out of hand.

Full

At 53’’ x 80’’ for the XL full, it is only slightly larger than the twin. Many people who sleep alone will go for this type of bed because it offers more comfort and space.

It is large enough to have the occasional visitor. But if you like this person and the situation becomes permanent, we suggest you upgrade your bed size to the next level or more.

No one wants to have the other occupant’s entire weight slapped on them when they have to get up early the following morning.

Again, due to the size, the price is still below the $500 mark for most suppliers. However, depending on the material and brand, this size mattress can surpass $500 and climb even higher into the Dollar stratosphere. We are thinking of latex as a material or very high-end innersprings.

Queen

The next one up and along with it the $500 cap. We are gradually entering the realms of higher prices. As the sleeping surface grows in size so does the cost. If you go to Casper for example, you are already paying way more than your budget cap.

At 54’’ x 75’’ you have enough space to sleep with your partner. And in many parts of Southern Europe, the Queen size bed is still the preferred choice for married couples. The French even have a special term for it: ‘Le lit matrimonial’ – ‘the marriage bed.’ They say that the larger the bed, the lower the intimacy between you and your partner. We will leave that one up to you.

Can you still get a decent Queen size mattress for under $500?

We hope you are shouting yes as an answer to that question. We say that because, at the start of this article, we presented you with the most recommended option for below that price.

King

Now we are at the peak of Mattress products regarding size and comfort for two people. At 6 foot 6’’, you get 38’’ of sleeping space per partner. If your significant other does not move much at night, you will hardly notice another occupant is sharing your bed with you.

This is where you got to say that you love America. Nowhere else in the world does the word superlative mean the best. But unfortunately, with size also comes expense. With most bedding brands, you will be paying way more than for our recommendations.

Here as well, our selection of beds hits the mark in terms of size, quality, price, and comfort. If the King beds we recommended pass the sleeping test, look no farther and be happy you spent a lot less than $500.

Consider This Before Buying

Comfort

When you are on the cusp of shelling out something to the tune of $500 for all manner of bedding accessories, you have to make sure that you are getting value for money. And judging by the way those words read, you for sure are getting exactly that.

Thanks to our suggestions, you have some extra cash to buy, sheets and pillows.

But before you take the plunge, we want to make sure that you are aware of how important comfort is. We spend about one-third of our lives in bed, so being happy with what you sleep on is the number one criteria up there. Okay, you are still excited about the $500 – we get it.

Go back and read the reviews on body contour shaping and support and sinkage. No matter which position you sleep in, they are all important for you to decrease pressure on joints and muscles. It’s the recipe to way more comfort in bed.

Lifespan & Durability

When you have a budget, lifespan and durability are another two fundamental attributes you have to take into consideration when you are thinking of buying a new mattress. Specific materials last longer than others.

Out of all the bed types, latex is the one that lasts the longest. But don’t’ expect to lay your hands on one for $500. Expect to pay something to the tune of $1,000 and more. However, having said that, memory foam mattresses can have long lives and durability if they are treated right.

Of course quality matters. But we are all set there with the selection up above. Then if you have pets, try and minimize their contact.

Rotating and vacuuming are king to even out pressure points and keep clean. Use a mattress protector and buy a sturdy bed frame. If you are lucky, you will not have to spend more than $500 either.

Quality of Materials

Anyone who claims that quality is not important is lying to you. However, high quality does not have to cost more than $500. On the contrary, you can get good beds for far less. All you have to do is conduct your research, and you are doing that by reading this article.

But what is meant by good quality? For our purposes, we are going to limit our analysis to memory foam sleeping surfaces. With this type of product, you will quickly be able to wheedle out the best-rated from the worst.

A good memory foam mattress shapes once it comes into contact with your body and adapts quickly if you shift your weight during the night. Also, edging comes to play. If you find yourself sinking to the floor when you are putting on your slippers, you’ve been duped into buying something sup-par. In the next part, you’ll learn more about another indicator of quality.

Off-Gassing

Unfortunately, off-gassing comes with the territory when you are snooping around and purchasing memory foam mattresses. And it doesn’t matter what you spend, the material’s properties cannot avoid it.

Off-gassing is when the volatile organic compounds VOC’S in the memory foam mattress break apart, releasing an unpleasant odor that most of us find offensive. Don’t worry – this is not toxic. Only a small amount of people report symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and eye itching.

Just open the window and wait a few days and the smell will go away. Your mind is going, ‘I know of a brand that handles with off-gassing very well.’

Yes, you do. You are referring to the Zinus mattress and the charcoal and natural oils they use to combat the gassy smell. And guess what, you got the sleeping surface for less than $500.

Top 3 Queen and King Mattress Sizes Under $500

Once you have unpacked your new mattress from the box within the required timeframe of 48 hours, you have to wait 72 hours for it to unfurl and adopt its ideal shape. With that done, you are good to try it out.

Thanks to the 12-inch memory foam material, you have the top-rated body shaping properties that relieve pressure and support you just where you need it. This eco-friendly model has excellent motion transfer so that you will not disturb your partner during the night. What’s also great is that you can clean the surface easily.

However, due to the pure memory foam makeup without any cooling gel, it tends to get quite hot. If you are someone who suffers from sweating in bed, this may not be the ideal choice for you. Also, the product, although from a Canadian company, is made in China. It’s generally not a problem as all US regulations are stringently adhered to.

For less than $500, you get the Zinus mattress, which according to Amazon’s whopping six thousand reviews, is well worth the buy. How did this bed become so popular? We wanted to try it out to find out why.

Like the Signature Sleep, the Zinus is ordered online and delivered rolled and boxed right to your front door. What we noticed first was that the natural charcoals and plant oils in the bed reduced any off-gassing that might have been prevalent. It was a great way to start the trial.

We soon found out that the four memory foam layers in the mattress provided excellent support in any sleeping position. Every body part is well covered, allowing for a good night’s sleep. Also, this sleeping surface relieves joints and muscles, offering optimum relaxation.

Motion transfer is not as smooth as you might wish for. But shipping is for free; there are a ten-year warranty and a one hundred-night trial.

Our Final Thoughts

So our final say is if you are trying to save, see our mattresses shopping on a budget and we hope this will help. However, thanks to the internet, we have so many possibilities at our disposal to facilitate making the right choice for the right price. Also, it does not have to be a strain anymore. Less money no longer means inferior quality.   

Hand in glove with technological advancement, you can go along way with limited spending capabilities when changing things around in the bedroom. This was never the case before. Now many bedding brands offer great products at the best prices – shopping for bedding has never been easier and more fun on a budget.