Best Queen Mattress Under $1000: Complete Buyer's Guide
Last Updated: September, 2023
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Sometimes you don’t realize how important a good mattress is until you get a new one. Other times, you know fully and surely that your painful old mattress has got to go. Unfortunately, if you have a larger bed, like a Queen size, it can be difficult to find a quality mattress without spending a ton. That said, we’ve made a list of the best queen mattresses at an affordable price, so keep reading and know that it’s entirely possible!
According to our tests, by far, the best queen mattress under $1000 is the Nolah Original 10" mattress. It has next-level pressure relief and is incredibly durable for an all-foam mattress.
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7 Best Queen Mattresses Under $1000
Nolah Original 10"
This ultra soft, affordable mattress is ideal of back and side sleepers. It provides excellent contouring and pressure point relief.
Puffy Original Mattress
This affordable yet super comfortable mattress has been considered to be the best foam mattress on the market. It keeps you cool and comfortable throughout the night.
Casper Foam Mattress
This mattress is so comfy you'll have trouble leaving it! It's a great foam mattress for people suffering back pain.
Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress
This gel memory foam mattress is the perfect mix of firm and soft. It stays nice and cool, a bonus for hot sleepers.
Sealy Response 14-Inch Pillow Top Mattress
The best thing about this mattress is how well you can sleep. It is the best pillow top mattress we have tested to date. Its pillow top layer is a treat.
Muse Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
This mattress is ideal for side sleepers and back sleepers alike. You can sleep ache free.
Eco Terra 11-Inch Queen Hybrid Mattress
This latex mattress is among the best out there! You'll love the support it gives you.
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What We Like
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When it comes to value, Nolah is one of the best out there. The quality of their products is comparable to companies charging 2x or 3x as much. The Nolah Original 10" mattress is an all-foam mattress designed to provide next-level pressure relief while still giving you great support.
The mattress is made of 3 layers of foam. The top layer is a trademarked cooling "Nolah AirFoam". This is the layer that's responsible for most of the pressure relief and for keeping you cooler than traditional memory foam. The next layer is a 1" support and transition layer than makes you feel supported, especially in your sides, neck, and back. The final layer is a high density base foam that gives the mattress reinforced support and longevity.
If you're trying to stick to a strict budget but want the best thing money can buy at around the $1,000 price point, Nolah is a no brainer.
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Puffy has been touted as one of the best foam mattress companies out there. This mattress has won a ton of awards, and has even been featured on Ellen! It's a reasonably priced mattress that uses a cooling gel foam to actively cool you down while you sleep. The mattress doesn't absorb your heat and reflect it back throughout the night, instead it disperses.
Puffy is also great with spinal support and pressure relief, although heavyset sleepers weighting over 250lbs will probably want to go with a hybrid mattress instead, or increase their budget a bit for thicker mattress. However, with that being said, this mattress still does a great job with overall spinal alignment, and is a great pick for singles, or couples looking for a cooling gel mattress that won't break the bank.
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3. Casper Foam Mattress
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This memory foam mattress from Casper is an ideal balance of support and memory contouring. Unlike some memory foam mattresses, it doesn't feel like you're sinking into it. It just feels like soft support that's custom-designed for you.
Since it has a special multi-layered top, you get enough firmness that it isn't a struggle for sore joints to move out of bed in the morning. It's a hybrid mattress – its top layer is latex foam, which adds to the support.
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4. Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress
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Even users with the worst insomnia and back pain will swear by this memory foam mattress. It's not very heavy, so if you're setting it up yourself, you shouldn't have too much of a struggle. It has a nice, medium-firm feel that complements the foam material.
You don't feel like you're sinking or sleeping on board. In fact, you're unlikely to think much about it, since you'll be asleep sooner than ever. It's one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers too.
5. Sealy Response 14-Inch Pillow Top Mattress
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It’s no secret that Sealy has a reputation for making awesome mattresses. But what makes this Response mattress so great? It's technically a firm mattress, but don't let that throw you off. It also has a pillow top, which makes it delightfully soft.
For people that can't decide which type of mattress to get, this is the best option. The firm base gives you plenty of support with no sinking feeling and the pillow top makes you feel like you're sleeping on a cloud.
6. Muse Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
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You probably know that mattresses feel great for the first few nights, and then those aches start resurfacing. That's something you don't have to worry about with this Muse mattress. You'll feel balanced after sleeping on it. It gives ample support to your hips, back, and shoulders which is ideal if you're a side sleeper.
It doesn’t skimp on one area to support another. You can count on this mattress to deliver comfortable, cool sleep for years to come.
7. Eco Terra 11-Inch Queen Hybrid Mattress
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If you haven't used a latex mattress before, this is a must try. This Eco Terra mattress will make you a convert. It does also contain cotton and wool, so it's not 100% latex, but it is 100% natural. This makes it a nice bonus for people concerned about chemicals.
It creates a perfect fit for your body, but won't keep lasting indentations which is a problem often plaguing memory mattress users. Even better, there's virtually no movement transfer.
How to Shop for A Queen Mattress Online
There are so many types for different budgets on the mattress market today. The truth is, there’s really no need to splurge thousands of dollars on a premium mattress. For under $1000, you can still expect decent quality, comfort and durability. This budget is reasonable for smaller beds, and not large sizes like a California king mattress.
At this price point, you can still get a queen mattress with high quality stitching and a large amount of springs still. If springs aren’t your preference, you can still find brands with high quality memory foam.
Overall, there’s not too much of a difference between a $1000 bed to a bed priced at $6000 and above. Often times, one of the big difference is the lifetime warranty. The more expensive beds obviously offer a longer warranty but it might not be something you’d need.
Queen Mattress Under $1000 Buying Guide
Whether it's a traditional spring mattress you're looking for, a memory foam mattress, or a combination of both, there is something out there for everyone looking to buy on a budget. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your new mattress.
Firmness
If you are waking up with soreness on your pressure points, a memory foam mattress may be something you want to look into. Memory foam or even a mattress with foam layers will help support your weight with a more even distribution.
Edge Support
If you live in a small apartment or room, you might want to prioritize edge support. You might find yourself sitting on the edge of your bed often as an additional seat in your room. If that’s the case, go for a bed with strong, firm edges. Try to avoid memory foam or latex mattresses as they’re not known to have the strongest edge support. The winner for the toughest edge support would be coil mattresses.
Sleep Trials
Sometimes, you have to try something to see if it’s the right fit for you. Mattresses are no different in this matter. Whether it’s a mattress you order online, or buy in a store, check and see if the company provides a sleep trial with your mattress. This way, if you don’t like it, you’re not stuck with it.
Some companies offer a sleep trial of as long as 120 nights. This is slightly longer than the average trials of 90 to 100 days.
Hypoallergenic
A hypoallergenic mattress is crucial, especially if you suffer from skin conditions or asthma. Keep an eye out for the CertiPUR-US symbol – this means that the mattress has low chemical emissions. If a hypoallergenic mattress is important to you, try to go for latex.
Sleep Positions
Believe it or not, how you sleep will play a big role in the type of mattress you buy. When you buy a mattress, you need to make sure that it is going to provide the ultimate comfort for you. This will be different for the side, back, or stomach sleeper so pay attention to these things when you make the final decision.
Types of Mattresses
There are several different types of mattresses to choose from. Most people are already familiar with the innerspring system and the foam mattresses but latex mattresses and hybrid mattresses are also available as well.
The best latex mattress will be one that is all-natural. All-natural latex is hypoallergenic and safe for adults as well as kids. Hybrid mattresses are a combination of foam layers on top of an innerspring system. This provides cushion along with a springy bounce but as with a traditional innerspring mattress, there tends to be more motion transfer.
A foam mattress prevents motion disturbance which can give you a better sleep because there is less tossing and turning.
Warranties
Another key to a successful purchase of your mattress is the type of warranty it carries. Heavy people notice that their mattresses tend to break down in support after prolonged use. Choose a mattress with a 10 year or lifetime warranty. That way, you can get your mattress replaced at little to no cost to you.
Cooling Properties
If you perspire easily, make sure you get a cooling mattress. Avoid memory foam as it’s not good with cooling properties due to its density, which means heat can’t escape as easily.
To help with cooling, you might want to look into getting a breathable cover. There are covers out there that help to take heat away.
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Durability
You want your mattress to last as long as possible. How long it will serve you depends on how often you use it, your weight, the materials used, the design and so on. If it’s a bed that you’ll just keep in your spare room, it will quite easily last past a decade. However, if you’re using it nightly, expect a lifespan of around 6 to 10 years.
Types of Queen-Sized Mattresses Under $1000
Coil Spring
At this price range, coil spring mattresses are the most common. You might even be able to find a mattress with more than 200 coils or S-shaped coils that are known to last a lot longer.
Memory Foam
At $1000, you will be able to find a high quality memory foam. Shop for a queen bed with multiple layers that incorporate comfort, memory and support foam or even gel based foam.
Latex
A latex mattress is more expensive so you might struggle to find a good one under $1000. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible though. Latex mattresses are well loved for how they adapt to the body and how breathable the material is.
Hybrid
As the name suggests, a hybrid mattress brings together memory foam and inner coils to deliver the best of both worlds. Hybrid mattresses are common under the $1000 price point so you’d be able to find a good one easily.
Conclusion
Buying a queen mattress for under $1000 doesn't mean you aren't getting a good quality mattress. You no longer have to sacrifice your comfort for the price. Be picky, try it before you commit to it and make sure you find one with a great warranty.
Courtney is the reason The Sleep Shop exists. She’s a Seattle native with a passion for healthy sleep. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a major in marketing. She started The Sleep Shop to help friends and family choose a good mattress, and helped grow the site to what it is today. She does most of the product testing and reviews.
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Best bed for a 275 pound side sleeper with lower back problems