The 3 Best Affordable Mattresses Of 2025 So Far, According To Consumer Reports

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When shopping for a mattress, it can be a challenge to determine what you want, what you need, and what you are willing to spend. Especially when you are shopping exclusively online, it doesn't take long to become overwhelmed with options and reviews, most of which will have some claims that it is comfier than a cloud as well as those that say it's worse than sleeping on concrete. Unfortunately there will always be some contradictory opinions found in reviews, but taking a look at both customer reviews and expert sources can help you get a better idea, especially if you are hoping to order without trying it out in person first. One of the best places to look, though, is Consumer Reports reviews. We looked to their most recent roundup of affordable mattresses and chose a foam, hybrid, and innerspring model to consider — all that are highly rated and won't break the bank. 

We did a deep dive on these models to figure out just what made them worthy of such praise — and areas they may be lacking that could cause you to reconsider if that particular mattress is right for your needs. These come from three different brands, Siena, Serta, and Best Price Mattresses. (With that said, if none of these mattresses fit the bill for you, here's a guide to navigating the best and worst mattress brands on the market.)

Hybrid mattresses are often favored for their ability to provide the benefits of both a spring and foam mattress — which can also make them better options for supporting all types of sleepers (especially when sharing the bed with someone that has a different sleeping position than you). This hybrid mattress received an overall score of 82/100 from CR, and it was noted as performing "exceptionally well" on a number of the tests. They found it to be durable and supportive, and be ideally suited for back sleepers, but it also provided the proper support to make it a good option for side sleepers as well. 

Since this is a newer model, Consumer Reports was not yet able to provide a comfort score or owner satisfaction score, but they did give it a 5-10 firmness score. To get a bit of insight, we looked to customer reviews left on the Siena website. One review read, "This mattress is amazing. I'm a little heavy set so I went with the hybrid because it's perfect for people who are heavy and like to move in their sleep. I have zero complaints!!!! This bed is soft and sturdy. I used to have back pain with my old memory foam mattress and that isn't the case anymore." That said, there were also a number of reviews that complained that it was too firm or at least firmer than they expected. Regardless, spending $424 for a queen mattress is a steal, so it may be worth a shot to see if it works for you. 

Though many people are drawn to the plushness of a foam mattress, it's not going to be the best choice for everyone. This is particularly true for people that are on the larger and heavier side and hot sleepers, because foam is more prone to sinking and breaking in than springs, and it is notorious for trapping heat. If any of the criteria apply to you — or you just prefer the feeling of a spring bed — the Serta Classic Alden Medium Mattress may be a good option for you. CR gave it an overall score of 79/100, and it is currently listed at only $450 for a queen. They claimed that the mattress performed excellently in a number of areas including durability, stability, and comfort, and they found it to be a good option for people of all sleep styles, sizes, and weights, and they gave it a four on their firmness test which makes it particularly soft for a spring mattress. 

In surveys, CR found that it got acceptable marks as far as comfort and customer satisfaction. To back that up, we scoured the reviews ourselves and noted that a good deal of them specifically called out the mattress as being comfortable and of good value. When it came to firmness, things get a bit dicier. Some comments claimed that it was the firmness that made it comfortable, while others disagreed completely. Though there's no way to tell if a mattress will be 100% for you without testing it out, it's a safer buy for back sleepers looking for pain relief and support over plush cushioning. 

Mattresses can easily cost upwards of $1,000, and the bigger you go, the more expensive they get. But you can currently find this 12-inch foam mattress listed at just $284 for a queen size (though if you are ok going up in price a bit, there are also some great mattresses that still come in under the $1,500 mark). If soft, plush, and cushy is the feeling you are after, then this could be the right fit for you. CR rated it a 76/100 overall, and noted that while it scored well on most of their testing, it is particularly suited for back sleepers. Since it is on the softer side and it is an all-foam mattress, it is going to work better for smaller, more petite people, though it is lacking in stabilization, meaning if you are sleeping with a partner, you may get jostled around a bit if and when they move during the night. 

CR claimed that they didn't have enough data to give a comfort and consumer satisfaction score, but luckily this is a super popular buy on Amazon, so there are quite a few customer reviews to look to for advice — over 31,000 ratings, to be exact. Many customers mentioned that it was incredibly soft, didn't have a strong chemical smell, and was, as the product name suggests, a great value for the price. Though being worried that the mattress is not supportive enough for a larger adult is valid, customers found that it was an excellent choice when choosing the best mattress for their children.