by Jane |
Last Updated: June 16, 2017 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
Jane here, guys! We recently changed the mattress in our master bedroom. I hate spending money needlessly but it was getting pretty clear that we needed a brand new one. A huge red flag is when you’re waking up sore from sleeping even if you weren’t sore in the first place!
As you can imagine, I scoured the Internet and home furniture shops looking for the best foam mattress ever. I’ve shared in multiple articles about my bad back and our love affair with memory foam so it’s not entirely surprising that we ended up with such a mattress.
And before you ask, nope, your memory foam mattress won’t remember that you don’t like Mondays, that you like to be woken by the gentle sound of birdsong at a reasonable hour, and you take your coffee with milk and two sugars.
But, with a memory foam mattress, you can benefit from the comfort, support, and improved relaxation that comes from a mattress which “remembers” how your body naturally positions in sleep. It contours itself to that position and displaces pressure along the length of the body.
Because of this, memory foam mattresses are particularly good for people who suffer from hip and back pain (me!), which can be aggravated by trying to adjust your position, night after night, on either a relatively inflexible box spring mattress or a too-soft cushion.
Just a quick reminder though that if you’re buying “memory” anything, there will most likely be off-gassing (that strange ‘new car’ smell) at first. Just read our tips for getting rid of the smell faster.
Your mattress is the most important part of your bed – and the most expensive. Have a look at our handy reviews and make sure you make the right choice for a good night’s sleep.
Top 5 Best Budget Foam Mattress
#5: Best Price 12” Memory Foam Mattress
Featuring a body conforming pressure relief system, this Best Price mattress is both soft and firm being that the top comfort layer is soft and thin but the rest of the mattress is firm.
It is comparable to a soft pillow top mattress. In the beginning, after it has first puffed up, the mattress will be very soft but it will eventually firm up more after a few days.
Pros:
- Body conforming pressure relief system
- Customers describe their sleep experience as “sleeping on a cloud”
- Great for back sleepers
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Difficult to change position
- If you’re a side sleeper, you should maybe add a mattress topper
- Regarding packaging, the foam is enclosed in a thin fiberglass mesh
- Smelled bad at first but dissipated quickly
Value For Money?
This is a good mattress for its price. However, if you find that you don’t like it after you’ve take it out of its packaging and it has puffed up, you won’t be able to return it and you’ll be out a couple of hundred bucks.
- [Experience Blissful Comfort] - Drift into a world of luxurious comfort on our memory foam mattress. The memory foam molds to your body,...
- [Revitalize with Green Tea] - Infused with calming green tea, our memory foam layer rejuvenates your senses while keeping your mattress...
- [Harmonious Layers, Divine Sleep] - The perfect symphony of memory foam, support foam, and high-density layers orchestrates balanced support...
Last update on 2025-04-29 at 07:43 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
#4: Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam Mattress
With gel technology cooling and a moisture-wicking system to absorb night time perspiration, this memory foam mattress regulates your body temperature for a cool, comfortable night’s sleep.
The mattress comes compressed flat for ease of shipping, and is designed to slowly rise to its normal level. It usually behaves as intended but there are a number of cases where the decompression is uneven – even after a few days.
Pros:
- Cooling
- Responsive customer support
Cons:
- Doesn’t fully expand for some
- Slight odor but dissipated quickly
Value For Money?
Depending on the sale price, this Lucid mattress is an even more affordable mattress than the Best Price one above.
- This dual-layer mattress combines 2.5 inch gel infused, ventilated memory foam surface + 7.5 inch high density foam base for a MEDIUM-FIRM...
- Gel infused memory foam regulates temperature while conforming to the body to ease pressure points
- Temperature-regulating, moisture-controlling TENCEL blend fabric cover creates a comfortable air layer
Last update on 2025-04-29 at 07:43 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
#3: Signature Sleep Memoir 8” Mattress
A basic memory foam mattress at a crazy cheap price that’s just a fraction of the cost of the other mattresses on this list. The Sleep Memoir features a dense foam core for durability topped with memory foam for added comfort.
It is a firm yet comfy mattress although it does tend to get quite hot.
Pros:
- Durable comfort
- Affordable
Cons:
- Gets quite hot
- Slight odor but dissipated quickly
Value For Money?
If you’re looking for a cheap, comfy, basic mattress, maybe for a vacation home or the spare room, this is definitely the one you want.
- General Note: Please allow 24 - 72 hours for your Mattress to regain its full shape. Any memory foam will expand faster in a warmer room. In...
- One 2" layer of Memory Foam on top followed by a 6" layer of high density foam, the Memory Foam molds to the body's natural shape.
- Relieves pressure points, distributes body weight and eliminates motion transfer.
Last update on 2025-04-29 at 07:43 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
#2: Zinus Sleep Master Ultima 8″
]
An averagely priced conforming memory foam mattress, the Zinus is comfortable but could do with being a little firmer.
Pros:
- Reasonable price
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Some people found that they had difficulty sleeping on the Zinus after a few months
- Smell is stronger compared to the others on this list
Value For Money?
This is a good budget mattress for when you’re in a period of your life that you can’t shell out big bucks for a Tempur one.
- INSPIRED BY NATURE - Wholesome and natural ingredients, like green tea and moisture-absorbing charcoal work wonders in a mattress, and...
- PRESSURE-RELIEVING FOAMS - Layers of conforming green tea memory foam, soft Z:Comfort foam and high-density Z:Base foam hug your shape to...
- AFFORDABLE REST, CERTIFIED QUALITY - Experience the luxury of high-quality CertiPUR-certified foams without breaking the bank. This...
Last update on 2025-04-29 at 07:43 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
#1: Zinus 12” Green Tea Mattress
While you can’t drink this mattress it does have green tea extract and castor oil added to it, to help keep it fresh, and combat bacteria, without causing the strong chemical odor that many people associate with memory foam.
It offers conforming pressure relief, and is medium-firm, which will suit most people’s comfort needs.
This is America’s number 1 bestseller for mattresses and I believe this is because of the unbeatable price (have you seen the price tags on Tempur-pedics??) and the high satisfaction ratings from buyers.
Pros:
- Conforming pressure relief
- Medium-firm
- Natural freshness and antibacterial protection
- No smell unlike the other items on our list
Cons:
- None that we could find
Value For Money?
A reasonably priced mattress with several benefits. Definitely worth buying if you’re looking for the master bedroom.
- THE RIGHT COMBINATION - Refreshing green tea and moisture-absorbing charcoal infused into three layers of top-notch foam. This mattress...
- PATENTED CUSTOM CONTOUR SUPPORT - No more waking up feeling like you've been swallowed by your mattress. Zinus' patented Custom Contour...
- AFFORDABLE REST, CERTIFIED QUALITY - Experience the luxury of high-quality CertiPUR-certified foams without breaking the bank. This...
Last update on 2025-04-29 at 09:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
Author: Jane Neu
Jane is the creator of Complete Home Spa – “It’s a good idea,” she said. But even she has been taken aback by its success. She lives with a cranky Englishman in a quiet countryside retreat. And in the past year, has become mom cat to a spunky rescue named Mina. Connect with her on Twitter @completehomespa.