There’s been a revolution in the mattress world over the past 20 years, with the advent of mattresses in a box and a multitude of companies producing cheaper options that still rival some of the best mattresses on the market. But when it comes to finding a decent mattress that costs under £500 (for a UK double), are you going to be out of luck? The happy answer to this question is no, and you’ll be pleased to hear that there are comfortable and supportive options available for a price that is, in mattress terms, a complete steal.
Budget mattresses have seriously upped their game in the last few years, and by combining them with comfortable duvets and pillows, you’ll be able to create a bedroom that’s comfortable and inviting to sleep in.
However, you do need to be realistic, as Tristine Hargreaves, executive director of the National Bed Federation (NBF) & Bed Advice UK, explains: “Cheap mattresses tend to have basic constructions such as containing open coil/open spring units, which are more affordable than their pocket spring counterparts. Don’t expect layers of cashmere, wool, deeper layers of memory foam or thousands of pocket springs in a double-size mattress that costs £300 or less. If you do see a mattress that is advertised as supposedly containing these more luxurious fillings, think twice. It may be too good to be true, and the product description may not match what is inside.”
I’ve been testing mattresses for the last six years, and I’ve tried out everything from mattresses costing £200 all the way up to mattresses costing over £4,000. From memory foam to hybrid and pocket sprung, there isn’t any type of mattress I haven’t tried out, so I’m confident that these mattresses are a real bargain. By the way, do note that prices are all for a UK double size. For context, I’m of a lightweight build and am 5ft 9in, while my husband is 5ft 11in and of a lightweight/average build. I tested 12 budget mattresses for this guide, and these are my top seven that I felt deserved inclusion.
Read more: 15 best mattresses that actually improved our sleep
The best cheap mattresses for 2026 are:
- Best overall – REM-Fit pocket 1000 hybrid mattress: £499.99, Rem-fit.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Dusk memory foam 2,000 pocket sprung hybrid mattress: £269, Dusk.com
- Best for aches and pains – DreamCloud hybrid mattress: £499, Dreamcloudsleep.co.uk
- Best for comfort – Emma original: £529, Emmasleep.co.uk
- Best for stomach sleepers – Origin hybrid mattress: £410, Originmattress.co.uk
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REM-Fit pocket 1000 hybrid mattress
Best: cheap mattress overall
Why we love it
- Excellent for back pain sufferers
- Supportive but with plenty of cushioning
- Decent edge support
Take note
- Small amount of motion transfer
The REM-Fit 1000 has recently been rejigged, taking its height up from 20cm to 25cm and adding a top comfort layer of open-cell memory foam for improved breathability. As the name suggests, you’ll find 1,000 full-height springs in the mattress, surrounded by zoned memory foam and high-density foam at the base to support the structure. It’s all wrapped up in the brand’s Re-Ax hypoallergenic cover, which is designed to help with allergen resistance and breathability. That’s all very well and good, but what made the REM-Fit my top choice?
I suffer with a bad back and I’ve praised REM-Fit mattresses in the past for their excellent lumbar support. The 1000 was no exception, keeping me well supported but still providing plenty of cushioning when I slept on my back. I found it a little firm for side sleeping but my husband rated it highly. I also asked a series of friends to lie on the mattress, and every single one loved the slight sink-in feeling they got, immediately rating it as highly comfortable.
Over testing, I noticed that the foam also started to soften up a bit, but I’d still suggest that lightweight side sleepers steer clear. There was a tiny touch of motion transfer and although the mattress was breathable, my hot-sleeping husband did find it trapped a little heat on very hot nights. However, for the price of this mattress I think these are acceptable trade-offs and overall I was hugely impressed by how supported I felt, with aches and pains being nicely soothed.
Key specifications
Buy now £499.99, Remfit.co.uk
Dusk memory foam 2,000 pocket sprung hybrid mattress
Best: budget buy
Why we love it
- Excellent edge support
- Particularly comfortable for side sleepers
- Looks more expensive than it is
Take note
- Retains heat in hotter weather
I’ll admit that I wasn’t expecting much from the Dusk mattress, as it’s just so cheap. But I was pleasantly surprised by how supportive it was for side sleeping, with both my husband and I finding it supportive, with plenty of cushioning at the shoulders and hips. We both found it a bit lacking in support when sleeping on our backs, probably due to the foam-sandwiched springs that keep costs down, but overall I was surprised by how firm the mattress was. Edge support is also impressive for a cheap mattress, and the cover looked like a far higher-quality option than the price would suggest.
IndyBest’s senior shopping editor, Lucy Smith has been sleeping on the Dusk mattress for two years and has been highly impressed by the lack of visible dipping or sagging after this time, which is hugely impressive for a sub £350 mattress. But both she and my hot-sleeping husband found that the Dusk traps body heat during warmer weather, so I wouldn’t recommend this if you struggle to stay cool overnight. But for the low price, this mattress is highly impressive.
Key specifications
Buy now £269, Dusk.com
DreamCloud hybrid mattress
Best: cheap mattress for aches and pains
Why we love it
- Relieves aches and pains
- Particularly comfortable for side sleepers and back sleepers
- Beautifully finished with a high-end feel
Take note
- Not supportive enough for heavier sleepers
DreamCloud’s hybrid mattress comes with an astonishing 365-night sleep trial along with a forever warranty. That says a lot about the brand’s confidence in the mattress and, to be fair, it’s not misplaced. Coming in at just a pound shy of our £500 cap, the DreamCloud looks like a hotel mattress, with a sumptuous, quilted cover and neat piping around the edges. While the brand rates the mattress as a medium firmness, everyone who has tried it for me agrees that it’s a medium-firm. That firmer feel makes this the best cheap mattress you can buy if you suffer from aches and pains – it did a marvellous job of relieving my back pain from day one.
Despite being slightly firmer than advertised, I found the DreamCloud surprisingly comfortable for side sleeping, as the foams softened up after a few days. The mattress excels for back sleepers, but I wouldn’t recommend it for heavier bodies or all but the lightest of stomach sleepers. Edge support, motion isolation and temperature regulation are also impressive, although as with the REM-Fit above, very light sleepers might notice a fraction of motion transfer if they share the bed with a restless partner. This is a beautifully designed mattress though and, with the incredibly generous sleep trial, you’ve got plenty of time to decide if it’s the right fit for you.
Key specifications
Buy now £499, Dreamcloudsleep.co.uk
Emma original
Best: cheap mattress for comfort
Why we love it
- Soft and comfortable squidgy top
- Supportive coils that are ideal for side and back sleepers
- Excellent motion isolation
Take note
- Edge support is still lacking when sitting on the bed
Emma mattresses relaunched in September 2026 with small changes to improve mattress quality. In the case of the Original, that means a thicker memory foam layer for more comfort and support, along with reinforced edges to improve stability around the mattress. What hasn’t changed is the overall feel of the mattress, which Emma rates as medium-firm. I’d argue that it’s softer than this, with more of a medium firmness even for me as a lightweight sleeper. The Emma is a bit of a trick pony – when you initially feel the top of the mattress, it feels pretty squishy but, after lying on it, you’ll soon realise that the spring layer underneath provides a lot of support.
As someone who generally prefers firmer mattresses, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Emma Original, finding it supportive and comfortable enough for both side and back sleeping. Motion isolation is excellent and, although I wouldn’t recommend this mattress to very hot sleepers, I think the vast majority of people will be pleased with the temperature regulation on the Original. Although edge support did feel better than before when lying on the mattress, I still felt that you had to sit a long way back on the bed to avoid excessive sinking and lack of support. But overall, the Emma impressed me with high levels of comfort.
Key specifications
Buy now £529, Emmasleep.co.uk
Origin hybrid mattress
Best: cheap mattress for stomach sleepers
Why we love it
- Ideal for stomach and back sleepers looking for a firmer feel
- Impressive motion isolation
- Good lumbar support
Take note
- Edge support is very hit and miss
If you’re a stomach sleeper, you’ll know how hard it is to find a mattress that offers enough support to keep the hips lifted and spine aligned. Enter the Origin, which really impressed me with its ability to keep the spine supported. Although the brand rates this mattress as medium firm (6.5/10), I found it much firmer, rating it as firm (8/10). And it’s this firmness that makes it such a good fit for stomach sleepers. It’s also a great fit for back sleepers, although some lightweight people might find it a little too firm.
Avoid the Origin if you’re a side sleeper and do be aware that edge support is somewhat hit and miss around the mattress. On the other hand, motion isolation is excellent and you won’t feel your partner moving at all, while the Origin also did a good job of keeping my husband comfortable overnight. The mattress has recently been redesigned and now has a removable pillow top and upgraded comfort layer, which does give a little more contouring around the pressure points, although you’ll still lie on top of this mattress rather than sinking in.
Key specifications
Buy now £410, Originmattress.co.uk
Nectar classic memory foam mattress
Best: cheap mattress for side sleepers
Why we love it
- Ideal for side sleepers looking for cushioning and support
- Impressive motion isolation
- Soft quilted cover
Take note
- Not supportive enough for those with back issues
I’ve always been a bit wary of foam mattresses, suspecting they’ll be too soft and unsupportive. But the Nectar Classic was a surprising revelation, with supportive foams that felt far firmer than I expected. Sleeping on my side was extremely comfortable, and I’d recommend this mattress to side sleepers of any weight, thanks to the cushioning provided at the pressure points of the shoulders, hips and knees. As you sleep on the mattress, the foams will also begin to soften up a little and, while you won’t get the sink-in feeling of a Tempur mattress, for example, you will feel supported and comfortable.
I did think the Nectar was a little too soft for back and stomach sleepers with back issues. As a lightweight sleeper, I didn’t find it soft, but I did notice a little sinkage around the lumbar region. Motion isolation is excellent, as you’d expect from an all-foam construction, and the cover provided good breathability, although I wouldn’t recommend all-foam mattresses to very hot sleepers. Made by the same parent company as the DreamCloud above, the Nectar also comes with a 365-night trial, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide if it’s right for you (just make sure to keep a mattress protector on at all times).
Key specifications
Buy now £449, Nectarsleep.co.uk
Bensons for Beds simply support pocket sprung mattress
Best: cheap mattress for under £250
Why we love it
- Ideal for guest rooms, teenagers or lighter adults
- Under £250 for a double
- Suitable for back and front sleepers
Take note
- There is a fair amount of motion transfer
Drop your budget to less than £250, and there aren’t many mattresses that will offer enough support for a comfortable night’s sleep. The Bensons for Beds Simply Support is a pleasing exception, even coming in a choice of medium or firm. I’d personally plump for the firm – this mattress is best suited to back and front sleepers, as it just doesn’t really have enough cushioning for side sleeping and you’ll want the firmer feel to keep your spine aligned. Lying on his side, my husband said he could feel the springs, but as a lighter-weight person, I didn’t have the same problem, although I didn’t feel there was enough cushioning here. But on my back, I felt more supported.
Don’t buy this mattress if you share your bed with a restless sleeper, as motion transfer is quite high. But perhaps because it’s a thinner mattress, I found that heat didn’t get trapped inside the foams, with my husband finding it comfortable overnight. I think this mattress’ niche is probably as either a guest room mattress or a bed for a younger teenager or lightweight adult who doesn’t need as much padding.
Key specifications
Buy now £229.99, Bensonsforbeds.co.uk
What is the best cheap mattress?
The REM-Fit Pocket 1000 Hybrid mattress was my overall winner, thanks to its support and comfort that did a fantastic job of easing aches and pains overnight. For those on a budget, the Dusk Memory Foam 2,000 Pocket Sprung Hybrid mattress looked far more expensive than it actually is and was particularly suited to side sleepers. I also highly rated the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress for those suffering with back pain.
How I tested cheap mattresses
My husband and I slept on each mattress, and I also asked friends of various shapes and sizes to come and lie on the mattress to give me their opinions. I rated each mattress on the following:
Your questions about cheap mattresses answered
What are the pros and cons of buying a cheap mattress?
“Pros: it’s purse-friendly,” says Tristine Hargreaves. “But what is ‘cheap’ to one person isn’t to another. Generally, a double-size mattress that costs under £300 will be made of a very basic construction, such as an open coil or open spring unit. We slept on these types of mattresses for decades before pocket springs came along and survived, so while there is nothing necessarily wrong with them, they may not offer the same comfort as a pocket sprung mattress or a mattress with deep layers of fillings such as wool, cotton, memory foam, etc.”
“Additionally, if you buy a mattress that costs less than £300 but advertises as containing these fillings, please be wary as it is probably too good to be true. If they are potentially untruthful about the fillings and construction, can you trust that the mattress meets the UK’s strict health and safety regulations?”
Is buying a cheap mattress a good idea?
“Obviously, everyone’s financial circumstances are different, and not everyone can afford to spend £1,000 on a new mattress,” says Hargreaves. “Mattresses range from under £100 to several thousand, so spend as much as you can afford. We always encourage consumers to choose the best value mattress, not the lowest price. Of course, there are some perfectly acceptable, budget mattresses available (better than an unhygienic second-hand bed). However, the better the construction and quality of fillings, the better the support and comfort and the longer the bed will last.”
“Never buy from the back of a van and avoid online/social media marketplaces if you can. There is pretty much no traceability and no real way of knowing the mattress is everything the seller claims it is. Always buy from a genuine, reputable bed retailer or e-tailer.”
What should you look for in a cheap mattress to ensure you’ll get a good night’s sleep?
“Every mattress sold in the UK, no matter its cost, must display a blue BS 7177 fire safety label that demonstrates it complies with the BS 7177 standard (British Standard which specifies requirements for the resistance to ignition of mattresses, mattress pads, divans and bed bases),” explains Hargreaves. “Ideally, buy from a National Bed Federation-approved brand. These UK and Irish brands are members of the National Bed Federation (NBF) and have chosen to be rigorously and independently audited to check that they comply with the UK’s strict regulations around fire-safety, cleanliness of mattress fillings and genuine product descriptions.”
“Be wary of unusual brands and ‘too good to be true’ deals. We’re not saying every brand you’ve never heard of is bad, but there’s a reason why some names only ever crop up in a sale or deal. Bargain or not, you still want a bed that’s safe, clean and is what it claims it is.
Save money by avoiding luxurious features such as hand-stitched side panels, decorative tufting, or special technologies such as moisture-wicking or temperature-controlling fabrics. They’re nice additions but not essential.”
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest is The Independent’s product reviews section, where a team of experts tests sleep-related items over weeks, months or even years. IndyBest pros have tested everything from the best mattresses to the best duvets, and from top-rated silk pillowcases to the best mattress toppers. Their wealth of information and expert insights guide the product selection and testing process.
Jo Plumridge is an expert product tester with more than 20 years of experience, and has tested sleep products like the best goose down duvet covers and best anti-allergy and hypoallergenic pillows, as well as other home products like the best cylinder vacuums to the best shower heads for IndyBest. Her interests centre on interior design, sleep and photography, as well as home and tech products.
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