The time has come to buy a new bed, but perhaps you aren’t sure how much you should shell out for one. Mattresses can range from a couple hundred bucks to tens of thousands of dollars. It can be confusing to know where your budget should fit within that giant price range, so I’m here to help.
I recommend prioritizing your bed as an investment in your home since you *hopefully* spend seven to eight hours sleeping on it a day. The right mattress for you will help bring a good night’s sleep, which also trickles into your day-to-day functioning. Does that mean you need to spend every last penny on one? Definitely not. It’s possible to find a good mattress at an affordable price.
Mattress Cost
At Sleepopolis, we refer to the following pricing categories (for a queen size mattress):
- Cheap: <$1,000
- Budget: $1,000 to $1,500
- Average: $1,500 to $2,000
- Luxury: >$2,000
I’ll do a deeper dive into each price category in this guide, but here are some key points when it comes to mattress prices:
- If you’re looking for high-quality materials or an eco-friendly product with all-natural materials, then you’re likely going to spend more. Synthetic materials typically cost less.
- Don’t get tunnel vision for name brands/retailers only. There are a lot of great mattress companies and mattress brands out there that make incredible beds despite being less known.
- Always be on the lookout for sales and use our coupons when buying. You can usually find sales around holidays (some stellar ones being Black Friday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day) and seasonal changes.
- The amount you spend on a bed comes down to your personal sleep needs and preferences.
- Not everyone is going to need (or want) the features that come in more expensive mattresses. Whether or not a mattress feels luxurious can be subjective and doesn’t always need to come with a higher price tag. A perfect mattress for you may not be the perfect mattress for someone else — and vice versa.
Getting Started
Knowing your sleeping position and snooze preferences is essential before starting your shopping. If you sleep on your side, you’ll likely need a different type of mattress than someone who sleeps on their back or stomach. Some people may also prefer a firm mattress over a memory foam mattress over a natural latex mattress, etc. Check out our mattress buying guide to see what kind of bed would work best for you.
With all this in mind, let’s go through the different mattress price options. I’m going to reference prices as being for a queen-size bed in this article, since that’s the most popular size. But keep in mind, the bigger the mattress, the higher the cost.
Cheap Mattresses
I’d consider most “cheap” mattresses to be under $1,000 for a queen size. Although there are mattresses out there for a couple hundred dollars, such as the Linenspa on Amazon (and several air mattresses), most adults are going to want to splurge for something a little more expensive for their main bedroom. This is to guarantee the mattress will not only be comfortable, but that it will also last for a while.
There are many great options for all-foam, innerspring, and hybrid mattresses that fall into the cheap category. You can find some of our favorites in our roundup of quality mattresses for under $1,000.
However, a lot of mattresses under $1,000 may have less high-quality materials, less materials overall, and be less durable. Ideally, mattresses should last between eight and 10 years, but a lower-quality bed might last less than five years.
For this reason, when looking at mattresses, it’s important to research the materials and what they do. For instance, innersprings are likely to be cheaper than pocketed coils, but they also tend to offer less pressure relief and responsiveness. And classic memory foam is going to be less expensive than copper-infused foam, but also more likely to trap body heat.
Read more on the different types of foams and different types of springs.
If you’re set on a bed with high-quality materials – or perhaps looking for a durable innerspring mattress – then you may want to go up in price a bit.
Budget Priced Mattresses
A touch above “cheap,” but still budget-friendly, would be mattresses in the $1,000 to $1,500 range for a queen size. Many mattresses you can buy online (which is extremely popular these days!) fall within this price point.
A lot of our favorite mattresses are within this budget as well. Helix, for example, has several beds that fit into this category and is one of the most notable names in the industry with its customization. Customers can take a sleep quiz on the company’s website and have the brand recommend the best mattress for them.
Similarly, you can shop for a Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress in this price range and choose whether you want it to be the soft, medium, or firm model.
Note: If you’re not ready to invest in a new mattress quite yet, it could be worth checking out our favorite mattress toppers instead to enhance your sleep situation for less.
Average Priced Mattresses
I’d say the most average price range for a queen size is between $1,500 and $2,000. This is where you’ll start to notice more high-quality materials and more options with mattress type.
For instance, if you’re a hot sleeper, you can find mattresses that have gel-infused or copper-infused foam to help keep you cool. Some of our favorites, like the Saatva and Helix Midnight Luxe, are in this price range.
Eco-friendly and natural materials will start appearing more in mattresses in this range as well. In fact, most of our favorite organic beds are within the average mattress price range.
Beds in this price category also usually have longer trial periods and warranties, which can help add confidence when making such a big purchase.
Buying tip: Always make sure you understand the mattress warranty and the return policy before checking out.
Luxury Priced Mattresses
I’d consider any mattress over $2,000 in a queen size to be luxury priced and high-end. However, they can be much more than that depending on their materials and whether there are any “smart” features.
Latex mattresses, for example, can lean on the more expensive side. The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss falls into this category and has features like breathable organic cotton, Talalay latex, and Dunlop latex. Talalay and Dunlop are considered to be more luxurious materials, as they’re eco-friendly, soft, and bouncy. The Botanical Bliss is also customizable in the sense that you can swap the layers inside of it for a firmer or less firm feel.
Read more about Dunlop & Talalay latex.
Mattresses in the luxury category aim to take the sleeping experience further with materials that alleviate back pain, provide ultimate plushness, and give optimal support.
They also tend to have more comfort layers and materials in them, rather than just a handful. Take the Casper Wave Hybrid mattress, for instance – it has a whopping seven layers.
More expensive beds can also be better for heavier people, weighing 250 pounds or more, since they typically bring more support and durability. The Saatva HD, for example, is designed specifically with heavier people in mind. Along with supportive traditional innersprings, it has memory foam and a plush pillow top made of latex to offer pressure relief and comfort.
Read more about some of our favorite luxury mattresses.
There are also smart beds on the market that fall into luxury pricing, like the Ghost SmartBed or ReST Bed. They have high-tech features where you can control the mattress settings using an app on your smartphone. This allows for a personalized experience for both you and your partner. Although cool, most people probably don’t need this – especially if it’s not in your budget.
However, just because a bed has a higher price tag doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you. I’ve reviewed plenty of “luxury” beds that I don’t think are worth the money. This is why it’s always important to research factors like the materials and trial/warranty information.
Are Expensive Mattresses Worth It? Here’s What our Data Reveals
Our team wanted to see how the price of a mattress compared to its overall review. So, we put together an analysis of 195 mattresses to help answer this question. When we averaged our score for each mattress with its average customer review and compared this rating to its price, we noticed a slight upward trend in the average rating of mattress models with a higher price tag.
The average price of mattresses with a 4.5 star combined rating and above was $1,781.30, while those below 4.5 stars averaged $1,436.01. That said, the mattress models with the 2 highest combined ratings were both under the $1,000 price point! It’s important to note that there were plenty of budget mattresses that earned well above a 4-star rating and several luxury mattresses that fell below the average rating.
A Final Word
Your mattress buying experience should be unique to your own needs. Now that you know the typical price ranges for beds, decide what works with your budget. Then, figure out what kind of mattress you need for your sleeping style and preferences. After that, do your research and read our reviews to determine if a bed is the right fit for you.
Along with the price of a mattress, it’s also helpful to keep in mind:
- Whether the mattress requires a box spring or specific bed frame
- Shipping costs and whether you want to opt for white glove delivery (this goes for both shopping online or in a mattress store)
Below are some more options to get you started before you kiss your old mattress goodbye.
- Our favorite mattresses for side sleepers
- Our favorite mattresses for back sleepers
- Our favorite mattresses for stomach sleepers
- Our favorite mattresses for combination sleepers
While searching for a mattress online, be sure to keep browsing Sleepopolis.com for in-depth mattress reviews and comparisons. Happy shopping!
