The short answer: The Zinus Green Tea 12-inch is the best cheap mattress for back pain for back and stomach sleepers; the Avenco SyncDeep is the budget firm hybrid with lumbar zoning; the Novilla Hybrid is the cheapest coil bed; the EGOHOME 14-inch is the step up with a 100-night trial. All four are sold by Amazon.com.
Top budget mattresses
- 1Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (12 in)Best cheap mattress for back pain
- 2Avenco SyncDeep Firm Hybrid (12 in)Best budget firm hybrid
- 3Siena Signature Memory Foam (12 in)Best budget memory foam with a 180-night trial
- 4Novilla Hybrid (12 in pillow top)Best cheap hybrid
- 5EGOHOME 14 in Memory FoamBest budget foam with a trial
- 6DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (12 in)Best step-up: a brand hybrid for less
- 7Signature Design by Ashley 12 in Memory FoamBest for a guest room
- 8Casper Element (10 in foam)Best budget brand name
- 9Sweetnight CoolNest (14 in foam)Best budget zoned foam
- 10BedStory 14 in Medium-Firm HybridBest budget bed with a year-long trial
What you give up with a cheap mattress
Usually not first-night comfort. Budget beds often feel fine out of the box; the differences show up later. Cheaper foams can soften faster, edges can be weaker, and the paperwork is thinner: some of the listings below state no trial at all. Here is how to buy cheap without buying badly:
- Prefer Amazon.com or the maker as seller. Returns are simpler.
- Look for a stated warranty. Ten years is common even at budget prices.
- Do not go too soft. Cheap soft foam sags first. For back pain, medium-firm to firm is safer.
- Use a solid base. A cheap mattress on bad slats will fail sooner.
We do not print prices; the budget tag on each card means the bed sat in the lowest price band of our collection when we checked.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (12 in) (Queen)
The cheap memory-foam bed almost everyone has heard of, rated firmer than its 'medium firm' label suggests.
Why it is here: Rated 7–8 by Zinus, zoned pressure relief, 10-year warranty, sold by Amazon.com.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 10-year warranty
- Zoned support
- Fiberglass-free
Scale: maker's number.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Zoned support
- Build
- All-foam, 12 in, zoned pressure-relief foam, green-tea and charcoal infused
- Trial
- Not stated on listing
- Warranty
- 10 years (limited)
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Zoning
- Patented zoned pressure relief (maker's wording)
- Weight
- 500 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
Budget is tight, you sleep on your back, and you want a firm foam bed to test whether firmness helps.Look elsewhere if
You weigh well over 230 lb or sleep hot.Other versions: King; Queen, 10 in; Full
Avenco SyncDeep Firm Hybrid (12 in) (Queen)
A cheap firm hybrid with zoned lumbar support, sold by Amazon.com with a 100-night trial.
Why it is here: Firm, zoned lumbar springs, 100-night trial, Amazon.com seller.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- Zoned support
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Zoned support
- Build
- Hybrid, 12 in, pocket springs, zoned lumbar support, reinforced edge
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Zoning
- Zoned lumbar support (maker's wording)
- Weight
- 500 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
You need firm, lower-back support and coils, and the budget will not stretch past the low hundreds.Look elsewhere if
You are a side sleeper with shoulder pain.Other versions: Queen, 14 in; King, 12 in
Siena Signature Memory Foam (12 in) (Queen)
Medium-firm foam with a 180-night trial and a 10-year warranty at a budget price.
Why it is here: Medium-firm, five foam layers, a 180-night trial and a 10-year warranty, sold by Amazon.com. Few beds this cheap state both terms this clearly.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 180-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 12 in, five layers of memory and support foam
- Trial
- 180 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Weight
- 800 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
You want to try medium-firm support on a tight budget without giving up a real trial or a stated warranty.Look elsewhere if
You weigh more than about 230 lb or sleep hot; dense foam with no coils is the weak spot for both.
Novilla Hybrid (12 in pillow top) (Queen)
A low-cost hybrid that gets you coils and a pillow top for the price of a basic foam bed.
Why it is here: 600 pocketed coils and a pillow top for the price of basic foam.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- Hybrid, 12 in, 600 pocketed coils (queen), comfort-foam pillow top
- Trial
- Not stated on listing
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
You want coils on a tight budget, or you are furnishing a second bedroom.Look elsewhere if
You need long-term durability guarantees beyond a basic warranty.Other versions: King; Queen, 14 in zoned hybrid
EGOHOME 14 in Memory Foam (Queen)
A thick, budget-friendly foam bed sold directly by Amazon.com with real trial terms.
Why it is here: 14-inch medium-firm foam with a stated 100-night trial and 10-year warranty.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- Fiberglass-free
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 14 in, copper-gel memory foam, graphite cool-touch cover
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You want more foam depth than the cheapest beds, plus a 100-night trial, for a mid-range budget.Look elsewhere if
You run hot and want coils.Other versions: King
DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (12 in) (Queen)
DreamCloud's lower-priced hybrid: the same coil count as the Premier in a slimmer build with a firmer, flatter surface.
Why it is here: Not a bargain-bin bed, but the cheapest way into a brand-name hybrid with 792 coils, a 365-night trial and a Forever Warranty, sold by Amazon.com.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 365-night home trial
- Forever warranty (as listed)
- Fiberglass-free
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- Hybrid, 12 in, 792 pocketed coils (queen), 2 in of memory foam, CloudQuilt top
- Trial
- 365 nights
- Warranty
- Listed as a Forever Warranty
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Weight
- 800 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You sleep on your back or stomach, want coil support and a brand-name trial, and would rather not pay Premier money.Look elsewhere if
You are a side sleeper with sore shoulders; the maker describes minimal contouring, the opposite of what you need.
Signature Design by Ashley 12 in Memory Foam (Queen)
A furniture-store brand's boxed foam bed with a lot of owner feedback behind it.
Why it is here: Medium-firm foam from a furniture brand, sold by Amazon.com. Trial and warranty not on the listing.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 12 in, thick memory-foam top layer
- Trial
- Not stated on listing
- Warranty
- Not stated on listing
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
You want a cheap, medium-firm foam bed for a guest room or a first test of firmness.Look elsewhere if
You want stated trial and warranty terms; the listing we read gave neither.
Casper Element (10 in foam) (Queen)
Casper's simplest bed: one medium foam feel, no zoning, a lot cheaper than the Original.
Why it is here: Casper's simplest foam bed with a 100-night trial and 10-year limited warranty.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 10 in, open-cell Flex Foam
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years (limited)
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You want a known brand and a 100-night trial without paying hybrid prices.Look elsewhere if
Lower back pain is your main complaint; the Original's zoning is the part that matters for that.
Sweetnight CoolNest (14 in foam) (Queen)
A zoned foam bed with a cooling cover, for people who want foam's quiet feel without the heat.
Why it is here: Five-zone foam and a cooling cover at a mid-budget price.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 10-year warranty
- Zoned support
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Zoned support
- Build
- All-foam, 14 in, PCM foam and gel memory foam in a 5-zone layout
- Trial
- Not stated on listing
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Zoning
- 5-zone design (maker's wording)
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You want zoning and foam at a mid-range price.Look elsewhere if
You want bounce; this is a slow, quiet foam feel.Other versions: King
BedStory 14 in Medium-Firm Hybrid (Queen)
A budget hybrid that prints a number (7/10) and a full-year trial on the listing.
Why it is here: 7/10 by the maker, 800 coils, 365-night trial. Sold by a third-party storefront.
- 365-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
- Rated to 800 lb
Scale: maker's number.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- Hybrid, 14 in, 800 reinforced pocket coils (queen), gel foam
- Trial
- 365 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- WARMNEST HOME (third-party seller)
- Weight
- 800 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
You want a long trial and a stated firmness at a budget price.Look elsewhere if
You prefer buying from the brand itself or Amazon.com; this listing ships from a third-party seller.
Budget mattresses: every pick in one table
| Model | Firmness | Build | Zoned | Trial | Warranty | Sold by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (12 in) | 7–8/10 | All-foam 12 in | Yes | Not stated on listing | 10 years (limited) | Amazon.com |
| Avenco SyncDeep Firm Hybrid (12 in) | 7–8/10 | Hybrid 12 in | Yes | 100 nights | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| Siena Signature Memory Foam (12 in) | 6–7/10 | All-foam 12 in | No | 180 nights | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| Novilla Hybrid (12 in pillow top) | 6–7/10 | Hybrid 12 in | No | Not stated on listing | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| EGOHOME 14 in Memory Foam | 6–7/10 | All-foam 14 in | No | 100 nights | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (12 in) | 6–8/10 | Hybrid 12 in | No | 365 nights | Listed as a Forever Warranty | Amazon.com |
| Signature Design by Ashley 12 in Memory Foam | 6–7/10 | All-foam 12 in | No | Not stated on listing | Not stated on listing | Amazon.com |
| Casper Element (10 in foam) | 5–6/10 | All-foam 10 in | No | 100 nights | 10 years (limited) | Amazon.com |
| Sweetnight CoolNest (14 in foam) | 5–6/10 | All-foam 14 in | Yes | Not stated on listing | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| BedStory 14 in Medium-Firm Hybrid | 7/10 | Hybrid 14 in | No | 365 nights | 10 years | WARMNEST HOME |
"Not stated on listing" means the Amazon page we read did not say. Ask the seller before you rely on it.
Cheaper still: a topper
If your mattress is less than about seven years old and has no visible dip, a topper is the cheapest fix of all. Firm toppers firm up a soft bed; soft ones ease a hard one. See toppers for back pain, and topper vs new mattress for how to decide.
Before you order: reader questions
What is the best cheap mattress for back pain?
For back and stomach sleepers, the Zinus Green Tea 12-inch (rated 7–8 by the maker). For a cheap firm hybrid with lumbar zoning, the Avenco SyncDeep. Both are sold by Amazon.com.
Are cheap mattresses bad for your back?
Not necessarily. The main risk is going too soft or buying a bed that sags early. Choose medium-firm or firm and a stated warranty.
Is the Zinus mattress good for back pain?
For many back and stomach sleepers, yes; Zinus rates it 7–8 out of 10. Heavier sleepers and side sleepers with shoulder pain may do better elsewhere. See our Zinus review.
This page is general shopping information, not medical advice. If your back pain is new, getting worse, or keeps you awake whatever you sleep on, talk to a clinician before you spend money on a bed. Full disclaimer.