12 Best Mattresses Under $1,000 That Provide High-Quality Sleep

Sleeping Style: If you comb through any online mattress reviews, you’ll likely see a range of contradicting opinions on the same mattress (too soft! too firm!). The key to navigating this is to know what your sleep looks like: side, back, stomach, or combination? Do you toss and turn? Then you’ll need something with more bounce, less plush. Do you wake up your partner every night getting in and out of bed? Motion control should be your priority. The best mattress for your sleep is likely designed in sharp contrast to other sleeper types.

Materials: If you’re new to the world of mattress materials, welcome. What you need to know up front is that memory foam—the classic, softest stuff—traps heat. That’s why, first, so many of these mattresses have a combination of materials, and it’s also why those textile innovations are so important. Latex, aerated, or otherwise cool-promoting memory foams are smart choices. And if you don’t want to sink into a bed at all, make sure your materials include a layer of springs.

Longevity: The hard part about mattress shopping—and the great part of the internet—is that mattresses wear much differently. How it feels on the first few nights might, for better or worse, not be how it wears over time. Although we test as many of these mattresses as we can, sometimes sinking and sagging doesn’t show up until a few years in. These tend to be the most useful reviewer comments—how long it lasts, rather than how soft or firm it feels.