Best Mattress Under $1000: 2020 Buyer’s Guide

Ashley Doyle is a Certified Sleep Coach and the editor-in-chief of SavvySleeper. She focuses her writing on sleep health, sleep science, and the mattress industry. In her time with Savvy Sleeper, Ashley has written over 110 articles on sleep health and sleep products—amounting to more than 200,000+ words on sleep hygiene, product reviews, and mattress industry trends.

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There are few things more stressful than staying within the confines of a budget. It’s even more taxing when you’re trying to select a good mattress. Thankfully, mattress engineers make technologies and materials more effective and cheaper than ever. The best examples of advanced technology and high-quality materials are in bed-in-a-box mattresses. The compressed beds aren’t just affordable and convenient, they are also longer lasting and more comfortable than store-front mattresses you would get for a similar price.

Online shopping resources make shopping for a good mattress under $1000 achievable. How? They cut out the middle man. Now, a luxury mattress can be sold at face value.

In this article, we’ll go over our top recommendations for mattresses under $1000, as well as. We’ll explore qualities you might like in your mattress (bounce, edge support, motion isolation, cooling technology, hypoallergenic material, and mattress thickness) and what kind of mattress you’ll need based on your sleeping preferences. We’ll also discuss why lifetime warranties and dual sided mattresses may not be the best investments.

Quick Summary: Best Mattresses Under $1000

Best Mattress: Amerisleep AS1
Best Memory Foam Mattress: Zoma Sleep
Best Mattress on Amazon: Vaya Sleep

1. Amerisleep AS1

FEATURES

Best firm mattress

Features plant-based memory foam

Ideal for back and stomach sleepers

Amerisleep’s top-of-the-line mattresses are budget-friendly as well as luxurious. The AS1 is the company’s firmest model— fantastic for back support and pain relief. While their AS1 is our favorite model for less than $1,000, their medium Amerisleep AS3 is our vote for the best mattress of 2020 due to its adaptability and enhanced comfort.

Amerisleep’s cover features a lightweight, breathable fabric designed to move air throughout the bed so you never sleep too hot.

Below the cover, the Bio-Pur® comfort layer promotes airflow and moisture-wicking thanks to its open-cell construction. It’s five times more breathable than traditional memory foam and bounces back ten times faster.

The transitional layer consists of hundreds of hexagon-shaped cutouts grouped together to provide customized comfort to the head, shoulders, back, hips, and feet.

The bottom layer, known as Bio-Core®, provides durability and support to the above layers. This high-density foam is manufactured in an enclosed, eco-friendly facility.

Warranty and Sleep Trial

20-Year Warranty

Amerisleep offers a 20-year warranty on all its mattresses. This warranty is separated into two parts. The first part covers all mattress defects in the material and manufacturing during the first ten years. The second half of the warranty offers a discount on a second mattress from the Amerisleep collection determined by the amount of time you’ve owned your original Amerisleep bed.

100-Night Sleep Trial

On top of the 20-year warranty, Amerisleep extends a 100-night sleep trial with the purchase of any mattress, allowing the customer to try out the bed risk-free. If you don’t like the mattress you can send the product back and receive a full refund in return.

2. Zoma Sports Mattress

FEATURES

Designed to aid in quicker recovery

Features cooling gels to promote a more comfortable sleep

Contains Triangulex™ technology to offer dynamic full-body support

Next on our list is the Zoma Sports Mattress, a memory foam mattress built to help athletes recover faster, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling more refreshed. Though this bed is marketed towards athletes, it’s also one of the best mattresses for back pain relief due to the inclusion of Triangulex™ support technology.

The first layer of Zoma is gel memory foam with Triangulex™ technology. The gel in this layer fights body heat to prevent night sweats, while the layer itself molds to your body to relieve pressure and offer cushioning comfort. This soft top layer is 2 inches thick, and many reviews of the mattress mention it feeling medium to medium-soft. Considering this, the Zoma Sports Mattress is suitable for side and back sleepers, but not so much for stomach sleepers who need a firm bed.

Next, is a layer of Reactiv™, a latex-like poly-foam. Reactiv™ is more responsive than traditional memory foam, so it gives the bed some bounce and prevents you from sinking uncomfortably far. Reactiv™ works in tandem with Triangulex™ technology above to promote healthy sleeping positions.

The third and final layer of the Zoma Sports Mattress is durable Support+, a poly-foam in place to reinforce the layers above and prevent premature wear and tear.

Warranty and Sleep Trial

10-Year Warranty

If you ever find a defect in the materials or workmanship, Zoma will replace or repair your mattress at their discretion. The warranty covers indentations greater than 3/4 inch deep.

100-Night Sleep Trial

Once you receive your Zoma Sports Mattress, you have 100 nights to test it out and decide if it’s a fit. If not, Zoma will arrange for your mattress to be picked up from your home free of charge and then issue you a full refund.

3. Tuft & Needle Original

The original Tuft and Needle Mattress has a 95% customer approval rate. Even though this mattress is only made with two layers, its combination of high-quality foam, infused cooling graphite and gel beads, and open-cell technology makes it a cozy and comfy mattress.

The foam comfort layer is infused with a combination of graphite and ceramic gel. Graphite absorbs heat and moves it throughout the mattress away from the sleepers. This ensures the mattress doesn’t overheat the sleeper.

The ceramic gel beads wick away heat and moisture to keep you comfortable. The beads draw heat away from the body and support the spine so you don’t wake up with sore joints.

The core is made from an adaptable support foam known for its durability. Its open cell construction allows air to circulate through the mattress, which provides more cooling properties to the user.

Warranty and Sleep Trial

10-Year Warranty

This 10-year limited warranty cannot be transferred to another person and does not protect the mattress against normal wear and tear. It does protect the purchaser against faulty materials and workmanship.

100-Night Sleep Trial

Within the 100-night sleep trial period, you can return the mattress for any reason for a refund. For those who live in Alaska and Hawaii, shipping charges will not be included in the refund.

4. Bear Mattress

FEATURES

Engineered to facilitate deeper sleep and faster recovery for active individuals

Contains graphite-infused memory foam to prevent night sweats

Features a Celliant® cover to regulate your temperature

The Bear Mattress is marketed toward the athletic demographic; however, plenty of other people value the performance and quality sleep they get out of this bed.

Bear uses Celliant® fabric in their mattress cover. Celliant® fabric aids your body in tissue regeneration through the use of recycled body heat. The breathable fabric improves overall performance by keeping temperatures neutral for comfortable, disrupted sleep.

The comfort layer is responsive, graphite-infused memory foam. The graphite works by pulling the heat from the body, which allows the individual to sleep cooler.

Below the graphite-infused foam, a transitional layer offers a blend of support and pressure relief. It works flawlessly with the comfort layer to aid in proper spinal alignment. Those suffering from painful pressure who need a supportive mattress will love this layer.

The core layer provides long-lasting support and durability. It’s made from high-density foam, which takes the brunt of the weight.

Warranty and Sleep Trial

10-Year Warranty

This mattress is covered by a 10-year warranty. It covers any visible and lasting indentation greater than an inch or physical flaw caused by defective material and manufacturing processes.

Be aware, the mattress must be well cared for and placed on a warranty-approved foundation to qualify for a claim.

100-Night Sleep Trial

Out of the 100-night sleep trial, the customer is required to sleep on the mattress for 30 nights, allowing the body to adapt to the change in support and mattress firmness. After that, if the bed still isn’t to your liking, you may return the mattress for a refund or exchange it for another Bear Mattress model.

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Mattress

Did you notice most mattresses we recommended were made of foam? Some people think foam mattresses are expensive due to the mattress’s luxury comfort and support. But the truth is, foam mattresses can be bought at a decent price through bed in a box brands.

If you want to buy a quality mattress under your $1000 dollar budget, there are many options with quality materials for that price-point.

Plenty of mattresses cost between $500-1000 and come with features catering to all your needs.

Lifetime Warranties

While lifetime warranties may lead to the thought you’ll have a good mattress for life, but the fact is everything wears down with time. Warranties only cover defects, not regular wear and tear.

Lifetime warranties are intended to cover the life of the mattress, but once that mattress has been worn down in 10 to 15 years, that warranty becomes invalid and you’ll have to get a new mattress anyway. This is the reason why more mattress warranties are around 10 years long.

Make sure to look at the warranty details before you make a purchase. It’ll stop you from making assumptions about your coverage and help you to be more informed if you ever need to file a claim.

Sleeping Position

To learn about your sleeping habits is to learn your sleeping style. The position you sleep in can contribute to future medical concerns like acid reflux. Your sleeping position can also determine what mattress firmness you need to sleep better.

Stomach Sleeper

Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended due to the stress this position places on the spine, potentially causing sciatica, lower back pain, and arthritis. If you’re in the habit of sleeping this way, we suggest sleeping on a firm mattress to minimize any chronic pain risks.

Back Sleeper

Back sleepers need a firm mattress. Firm mattresses will stop the sleeper’s hips from sinking below the shoulders and feet, causing severe misalignment.

Pressure points aren’t a big issue for back sleepers because they weight is spread equally across the mattress; therefore, they don’t need a soft mattress to relieve pressure.

Side Sleeper

Side sleeping is the most common, and it’s the healthiest for pregnant women. This sleeping position requires a medium-soft or soft bed because the softer material provides support and comfort. The soft firmness will also help side sleepers avoid achy joints and sore muscles‚ which is a common problem for sleeping on one side of the body.

Combo Sleeper

Combination sleepers switch between two or more sleeping positions throughout the night. For these sleepers, a medium firmness is recommended as it is soft enough to cradle pressure points and firm enough for stomach and side sleeping.

Bounce

While there are some people who prefer a bounce when they jump onto the bed, it can damage your quality of sleep as it increases motion transfer.

If you enjoy a bounce in your bed, latex and innerspring mattresses are good options. Memory foam beds absorb motion impacts, making them a good option for couples or anyone wanting to avoid motion transfer.

Edge Support

Let’s set the record straight. Unless the mattress’s edge has been reinforced with high-density foam, a foam mattress won’t have the greatest edge support compared to innerspring mattresses.

Coil beds typically have the best edge support of any mattress type on the market. Springs provide constant support, even along the edges, which are normally reinforced with large gauges (thickness of a coil).

Foam relies on the material around it to be supportive. This is why foam mattresses are softer around the edges and innerspring mattresses are firmer and sturdier around the edges.

Dual-Sided Mattresses

Dual-sided mattresses allow the user to choose their desired firmness by flipping the bed. This extends the bed’s lifespan by distributing wear evenly. Sadly, one-sided mattresses still maintain longer longevity than two-sided mattresses because of their solid construction.

While it is true flipping your mattress every couple of months will extend the life of your mattress, this doesn’t necessarily mean a dual-sided mattress is the best option. Because a dual-sided base isn’t centered square on the foundation it cannot be as supportive as a mattress built from the base up. The comfort layers below the core will cause the mattress to slide off the box spring and may compromise the flat sleeping surface the core is supposed to offer the sleeper.

Since the public has become more health-conscious, the mattress industry has switched to one-sided mattresses. This allows manufacturers to construct their mattresses starting from the core, adding layers on top for comfort, pressure point relief, and conformability.

One-sided mattresses maximize the potential comfort of a mattress.

Dual-sided mattresses may be good for someone who experiences frequently evolving preferences, but most of us stick to one, so a dual-sided mattress isn’t the most effective option.

Here is a quick comparison between dual and one-sided mattresses.

Motion Isolation

Anyone who has slept in the same bed as a sibling or partner knows the importance of limited motion transfer. It’s critical to achieving a restful night. The transfer of motion from someone in the bed shifting is the cause of most couples’ sleep deprivation.

To avoid motion transfer you’ll need a mattress that absorbs motion. In an innerspring mattress, when an individual switches sleeping positions, their partner can easily feel their movements.

Latex and memory foam mattresses isolate motion transfer, meaning they absorb motion upon impact. Hybrids are also a good choice, although they don’t compare to memory foam mattresses.

Cooling Technology

If you are sweating night after night, you probably want to look into a bed with cooling technology. A cooling mattress allows for air circulation thanks to added materials such as gel, charcoal, or graphite. Here are a few of the most common cooling technologies you’ll see in a mattress:

  • Less dense, open-cell construction for greater air flow
  • Graphite, gel, and copper infused foam, which conduct heat away from the body
  • Pocketed springs and Mini-coils
  • Latex
  • Bamboo, Tencel®, or knit cotton covers

Hypoallergenic

If you wake up with a stuffy nose every morning, looking into getting a hypoallergenic mattress could help improve your symptoms. Some mattresses are made from materials that ward off dust and pollen to keep it from settling on the fabric’s surface, such as latex, memory foam, Tencel®, and bamboo.

Mattress Thickness

For $1000, you can get a mattress as thick as 10-15 inches. Thicker mattresses usually have more layers, which means they have greater support and comfort. These mattresses are usually pricier than the thinner options.

For those who are heavier, we suggest a thick mattress. A 12 to 14-inch mattress has enough material to help plus-sized individuals sink into the mattress for proper spinal alignment.

Mattress Type

As long as you are willing to do your research you can get any type of mattress for $1000. However, there are some materials that will help you sleep well and others that can hinder your sleep.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are conforming to the body and have the most motion absorption compared to other mattress types, and they are easily compressible, providing durable support. While older memory foam models were known as heat traps, companies have begun to infuse their mattresses with cooling materials to pull heat away from the body, thus avoiding this problem.

One of the better qualities of memory foam mattresses is their resistance to allergens. The density of memory foam doesn’t allow pollen to penetrate the surface. And it doesn’t support an environment where dust mites can easily live.

Innerspring

Innersprings are pretty sturdy and reliable because of the thickness of the gauge and their interconnecting design. Unlike pocketed coils that bare weight individually. Most are available in the under $1000 range, so you can still get performance quality materials for a good price.

Innerspring mattresses are typically made using pocketed coils in the base. These springs are designed to compress vertically which enables the coils to act individually. This means motion isolation is more controlled.

The springs provide a lot of air circulation, which keeps sleepers cool.

A clean sleeping environment may be hard to keep with this bed as the mattresses are prone to collecting body oils, dandruff, pollen, and dust mites. Coil mattresses are more susceptible to wear if not well cared for by the owners.

Hybrid

hybrid mattress is a combination of innerspring and memory foam or latex mattresses. The hybrid lifespan is much higher than the typical innersprings.

Hybrids have excellent motion isolation, sleep cool, and are noiseless. Despite this mattress offering the best of both worlds, it has problems with off-gassing and weighs more than most people like.

Latex

Generally biodegradable, latex mattresses are allergy free and extremely durable. Both memory foam mattresses and latex mattresses stand as equals in terms of reduced pressure points; however, latex mattresses are made using whipped foam from rubber tree sap.

Latex mattresses are usually made using one of two manufacturing processes— Dunlop and Talalay. Dunlop latex is dense and elastic and much less expensive. Meanwhile, Talalay is lighter and softer, and usually much more expensive.

This mattress type is best for back sleepers or plus-sized sleepers.

FAQs

Latex mattresses under $1000 won’t be made of the higher quality Talalay method. They’ll be made from the lower-quality, less conforming Dunlop manufacturing process. Memory foam materials don’t have large differences between the $1000 and $2000 mattresses. The only difference between the two price points is the thickness of the layers, the overall mattress profile, and comfort and cooling technologies used.

No. There are plenty of online mattresses that have been claimed are good, supportive mattresses. The low prices come from cutting out the middleman, which means you get to pay the face value of the mattress. You’re essentially getting a luxury mattress for hundreds of dollars less than the store price.

While we encourage the purchase of a one-sided mattress for the overall quality and support, dual-sided mattress would be a good purchase for guest rooms. That way you can switch the firmness of the bed depending on the preference of your guests.

Conclusion

As you can see, you have more than a few good options for good mattresses even on a restricted budget. Just be sure to give the mattress market a look over, make a list of your needs, and refer to our guide.

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