Best Mattress Under $300: Expert-Tested And Recommended

The AmazonBasics collection includes a handful of affordably priced all-foam mattresses ideal for guest rooms, kids, and shoppers with limited budgets. One of the most popular entries in this series is the Memory Foam Mattress – Plush, which consists of three individual layers built onto an 8-inch profile. A medium soft (4) feel with close contouring makes this model well suited to side sleepers, particularly those weighing up to 230 pounds.

Why We Like It

The mattress feels quite plush and contours deeply to the body. As such, we’re recommending it for side sleepers who weigh 230 pounds or less and back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. People who use these positions and weigh more did not receive enough support from the mattress — a firmer, thicker model should be a better fit.

Motion isolation is a major strength of this mattress. Since the foam layers absorb movement so well, neither you nor your sleep partner should notice much motion transfer when the other person changes positions or gets up during the night. We also noticed above-average temperature control during our tests. We’ve attributed this to steady circulation through the convoluted base layer.

How Does It Feel?

The mattress feels quite plush and contours deeply to the body. As such, we’re recommending it for side sleepers who weigh 230 pounds or less and back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. People who use these positions and weigh more did not receive enough support from the mattress — a firmer, thicker model should be a better fit.

The topmost layer is composed of adaptive memory foam that softens when it comes into contact with body heat and forms a close mold around your figure’s unique curves. This cloud-like cradling effect can help align your spine and alleviate painful pressure points in the shoulders, lower back, and hips. Dense transitional foam provides additional cushioning.

The high-density base foam layer features a convoluted design similar to that of egg-crate foam toppers. This allows air to pass through the mattress interior and offset heat retention in the upper foam layers. A breathable cover made from a cotton-polyester blend encases the mattress. You can also select this mattress in 6-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch profiles.

The Ashley Chime Signature Design Mattress has an exceptionally comfortable feel, especially considering its low price-point. The hybrid mattress has a medium (5) firmness level that successfully blends responsive coils and pressure-relieving foam.

Why We Like It

The back and stomach sleepers on our testing team who weigh up to 230 pounds particularly enjoyed this model’s support level. Our testers found that the foam layers were particularly helpful for side sleepers who were prone to aches around their hips and shoulders. The coils are individually wrapped to reduce motion transfer, which ensures that you can switch sleeping positions without disturbing your bed partner. Hot sleepers in particular will likely appreciate this mattress, as the gel-infused foam and pocketed coil core work in tandem to control temperature. The coils allow air to flow freely throughout the mattress, while the gel infusion is engineered to keep the foam layers cool.

You can purchase the Ashley Chime Signature Design Mattress in five sizes, including California king.

How Does It Feel?

High-density polyfoam is quilted directly into the mattress’ polyester cover, and the surface has a plush feel that cushions joints and relieves pressure. The gel-infused memory foam transitional layer further alleviates pressure buildup by hugging your body’s shape and absorbing impact.

The pocketed coil support core offers a slight bounce and strong support. The coils around the perimeter are higher-gauge than the center coils, which our testers found increased the mattress’ overall edge support. In total, this model measures 10 inches tall.

The Linenspa Innerspring Mattress has a compact and lightweight design, making it a practical choice for kids. At 6 inches tall, it fits easily within bunk beds, RVs, boats, and other tight spaces. This innerspring model ranks as a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, giving it a traditional firm feel that especially suits stomach sleepers.

Why We Like It

Though this model’s construction isn’t as complex as other designs, our testing team found it to be quite durable, which is unusual for mattresses at this price-point. Our tests showed that the low-profile design and excellent edge support make the mattress a good option for stomach sleepers who sleep hot. The robust support extends around the mattress’ perimeter, allowing kids to sleep at the edge of the bed without sinking. Hot sleepers also enjoyed this model during our testing. Our tests showed that air moves easily through the mattress’ coils, allowing for very good temperature control.

How Does It Feel?

The Linenspa Innerspring has a simple design that incorporates two layers. The first is a layer of polyfoam quilted into a polyester cover. The material has a cushioning effect that keeps the surface from feeling too firm despite the bed’s strong support system. This is followed by the support core, which consists of Bonnell coils that offer consistent support across the bed’s surface.