6 Best Cheap Mattresses in Australia for 2023
Or how to have a good night’s sleep without worrying your wallet.
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A bed, and especially a mattress, is likely to be one of the biggest investments you ever make. Which makes sense, because you spend a huge amount of your non-waking hours in (and on) it. But that doesn’t mean you need to splash the cash to get some well-deserved rest.
Whether you’re furnishing a guest or child’s bedroom, temporarily moving somewhere, or on a tight budget, a good night’s sleep should be within your reach. That’s why we’ve found the best cheap mattress in Australia (well, 6 of them actually).
Hunting down the most affordable mattress can be a daunting task - which is going to last longer than a few months? Which isn’t going to sag and deflate like a soggy pavlova after a few weeks of sleep? Which is going to be comfortable and cloud-like? We’ve done all the hard work for you. Read on to discover the best budget mattresses to suit every sleeper (and wallet).
What is the best budget mattress in Australia?
We’ve rounded up 6 of the best budget mattresses in Australia and we think all of them are worth your consideration. To help you decide, you can think about the type of mattress you’re after (all foam or hybrid (foam and springs) - this guide has a mixture of both) and how much you’re able to spend.
If we were forced to choose the best mattress under $1,000 we’d go with the Ecosa Vital mattress because Ecosa is a proudly Aussie company that also happens to be Australia’s first carbon neutral mattress company. So, you’re getting a mattress that’s great for you and your sleep, and the planet too.
The best cheap mattresses in Australia
Eva Comfort Classic Mattress
Pros
- Hybrid construction that makes it oh-so-comfortable and supportive.
- Super-breathable and cool thanks to the pocket springs that allow air to circulate.
- Minimal partner disturbance.
- Longer than standard trial period and warranty.
- Transparency around their manufacturers.
Cons
- The metres and metres of soft plastic that Eva vacuum-seals mattresses in.
- Tendency to feel a little like you’re rolling into the middle.
- Heavy, with a queen weighing 55kg.
Specifications
With prices starting from $900, and the largest size (king) being smack on $1,300, the Eva mattress fully meets our budget requirements. Even though it’s a budget mattress in a box, it’s a great mattress. Why? Well, for starters it’s a hybrid mattress. Normally, hybrid mattresses are the most expensive mattresses so it’s refreshing to see a more wallet-friendly option.
As a hybrid, it’s packed with quality materials including layers of gel memory foam, latex foam, high density foam and 5 zone pocket springs. Cosier writer Elese got hands-on with the Eva mattress and she reckons “it’s delightfully plush, balancing softness with structure to cradle you like a baby”.
As well as being an affordable mattress, it’s also one of the coolest mattresses we’ve reviewed, making it ideal for hot sleepers. As Elese explains:
“I found it super cool and breathable. My partner runs hot, but we’ve slept comfortably on the Eva through the beginnings of Melbourne summers, even with a medium-weight doona.
I think this is thanks to the open structure of the gel memory foam, combined with latex and pocket springs. It makes it feel like an impressively well-ventilated mattress. The Eva is much cooler on warm nights than other mattresses I’ve used. I don’t get clammy, which is surprising given there’s no air con.”
Although Eva says the mattress is a medium-firm feel, Elese believes it’s softer than that and she sometimes feels like she’s rolling into the middle of the bed.
Choose this if…
You’d like a breathable hybrid mattress that sits around the $1,000 mark.
Further reading:
Ecosa Vital Mattress
Pros
- All night comfort and support thanks to 7 zone pocket springs.
- Removable and washable cover that’s made from recycled plastic bottles.
- Proudly Aussie company that’s certified carbon neutral.
Cons
- No handles (although the Ecosa mattress doesn’t need rotating or flipping).
- Some sleepers find it too firm and it can take a while to adjust to.
- Returns can be tricky and take a long time.
Specifications
Another hybrid offering, the Ecosa Vital mattress is a really good cheap mattress. Why? Well, it’s stuffed with quality materials including memory foam, 2 further types of foam and 7 zone pocket springs. Together, these provide a breathable, cool, pressure-relieving, medium firmness mattress that’s great at minimising partner disturbance while offering all-night support that responds to your movements. Plus, there’s a comfy plush top layer to give you that lovely feeling of being held and cushioned by your bed.
Most impressive is Ecosa’s commitment to being good to the planet. The mattress features a removable and washable OceanCycled cover made from 120 plastic bottles collected from the ocean, and other recycled materials, including felt. Also, Ecosa is a proudly Aussie company that’s certified carbon neutral and they’re quite transparent about their manufacturing and supply chain.
Choose this if…
You care about the planet and want your mattress to, too.
Further reading:
Emma Comfort Mattress
Pros
- The removable, washable cover which is the only one we’ve found.
- It’s pretty light for a mattress in a box so it's easy to move.
- The lack of partner disturbance.
Cons
- Some sleepers (including Daniel, our tester) found it very firm (and borderline hard).
- The buying process isn’t the most streamlined.
Specifications
The Emma Comfort all foam budget mattress has 2 layers of foam: Airgocell and HRX foam. Airgocell foam is intended to minimise partner disturbance and is also moisture wicking to keep you cool and dry all night long. While HRX foam helps your hips, shoulders and spine stay in their correct alignment. It’s also breathable to promote good airflow. Like the Calming Blankets Delta Sleep mattress, the Emma Comfort has a washable, removable cover.
Because the Emma Comfort mattress skips a top comfort layer and goes straight onto foam, a common sleeper concern is that it’s firm - very firm. In fact, our tester Daniel (a side sleeper) reckons it’s borderline uncomfortable.
However, thousands (literally) of Aussie sleepers reckon the Emma Comfort mattress is a very good mattress. Even CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, named it as their top scoring mattress for 2021. From our personal experience, we feel the Emma Comfort mattress is one of the best value buys on the market, just bear in mind it suits sleepers who like it firm.
Choose this if…
You like a firm all-foam mattress.
Further reading:
Onebed Essential
Pros
- Has everything you need, without any unnecessary extras.
- Great mix of comfort and support, including a 7cm top layer.
- Hundreds of happy Aussie sleepers.
Cons
- The firmness can take some adjusting to.
- It’s quite thin at 20cm high so it doesn’t feel as plush as other mattresses.
Specifications
OneBed believes that you can get a great night’s sleep, without spending a fortune. This all foam mattress has 2 layers. A top 7cm comfort layer of cooling gel-infused memory foam which contours to your body and gently holds you all night long. Plus a 13cm support layer that provides a supportive base and ensures correct spinal alignment.
Aussie sleepers love the OneBed Essential, with rave reviews making it seem like it’s the best affordable mattress on the Australian market. Aussies love how cool the mattress is and how it doesn’t sag over time - a common complaint with foam mattresses. Even OneBed admits that the Essential leans more towards the firmer side and Aussies back this up, with some sleepers saying it takes a while to adjust to.
Choose this if…
You want a cheap mattress that’s loved by Aussies and is on the firmer side.
The Noa Lite
Pros
- The firm support for back and stomach sleepers.
- Good entry level mattress, especially for guests and older kids.
- Sturdy handles for easily moving the mattress.
Cons
- Quite thin especially compared to other mattresses in a box.
- No focus on ethical or sustainable manufacturing.
- Delivery problems.
Specifications
Noa has 3 mattress offerings, with the Noa Lite being their most affordable option. Prices start at $749, with a king coming in at just over $1,000. Like the Eva mattress, the Noa Lite is a hybrid and it boasts 4 layers of materials including cooling gel memory foam, adaptive transition foam and steel pocket springs.
It’s good to understand that the Noa Lite is a firm mattress - that’s how Noa markets it. Noa recommends the Lite for back and stomach sleepers. Side sleepers, who need extra cushioning and pressure relief on their hips, shoulders and knees, might not enjoy it. Most Aussie sleepers agree that it’s firm, although they do adjust to it fairly quickly. Although there’s some cooling tech in the Noa Lite, like a breathable Tencel cover and gel-infused memory foam, some sleepers find it to be a hot mattress.
Choose this if…
You want a firm budget hybrid mattress.
Further reading:
Deep Dream Comfort Mattress
Pros
- It’s a hybrid mattress, which is usually the most expensive offering.
- The use of memory foam for all-night support and pressure relief.
- Certified free of harmful chemicals.
Cons
- Middling consumer reviews with some Aussie sleepers saying it feels cheap.
- No trial period.
Specifications
Given that memory foam was designed by NASA to cushion astronauts when they rocket into space, you might think the price of memory foam mattresses is out of this world. The Deep Dream Premium mattress proves this isn’t true - it’s the best value mattress in a box on the Australian market, with prices starting from $349.
The Deep Dream Premium mattress is a hybrid mattress, so it combines both foam and springs. It has 6 layers of materials, including memory foam which provides pressure relieving support throughout the night, especially for your shoulders, hips and joints. Because it’s infused with cooling gel, you’ll stay cool overnight too. It’s got additional foam layers that contour to your body, supporting you as you move, plus support foam to avoid that sagging feeling. Finally, it has a layer of 5-zone pocket springs that help to minimise partner movement. It’s got a breathable organic cotton cover and all the materials are OEKO-TEX and CERTIPUR-US certified to guarantee they’re free of harmful chemicals and other nasties.
Unlike all the other mattresses we’ve reviewed, eliving furniture don’t offer a free trial.
Choose this if…
You want the most affordable mattress in a box currently available in Australia.
How we picked the best value mattresses
To pick the best value mattress in Australia, we looked for the following features:
- Price: all the mattresses had to be $1,000 or less for a queen size.
- Personal experience: we’ve got hands-on experience with a few mattresses which gave us great insights into their feel and quality.
- Consumer reviews: the mattresses had to be well reviewed by hundreds of happy Aussie sleepers.
- Type of mattress: we wanted to ensure we featured a range of mattress types, including all foam and hybrid.
- Certified free of chemicals: just because it’s a budget mattress, it shouldn’t skimp on the essentials, like health and safety of the materials.
Is it worth buying a cheap mattress?
Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep, not just people who can afford mattresses that run into the thousands. A cheap mattress doesn’t mean a bad mattress, especially when it comes to mattresses in a box. These tend to be more affordable anyway because:
- They’re sold directly online to you, not through a middleman.
- There are no expenses, like a showroom or salespeople’s salaries.
A cheap mattress basically means that it’s not packing the features of higher end mattresses. So, rather than getting customisable firmness, you’re just getting one firmness level. Or you might not get the top end breathable and cooling cover material or contoured foam. Or you might only get 2 layers of material, rather than 5 or 6.
A budget mattress doesn’t cut out anything essential: we believe you still have everything you need for a good night’s sleep.
Whether a cheap mattress is worth it for you will come down to what you really need (a guest bedroom is prime for a more affordable mattress for example), what you’re happy to put up with (do you really need a removable cover?), and what you can afford. The best thing about a mattress in a box is that pretty much all of them (with the exception of eliving furniture) come with a trial period so you can try it for yourself in the comfort of your own home for weeks before deciding to keep it.
How much is a cheap mattress?
A cheap mattress can start from around $350 and go up to just over $1,000 for a king size.