Best mattresses under £500 in the UK (2026)
Under £500 is where most of the UK buys a mattress, and it is also where the range in quality is widest. The best budget mattresses give up a little edge support and longevity against premium models; the worst sag within two years.
These are the mattresses under £500 that scored highest in our testing, ranked by overall score with value weighted heavily.
Our picks
Luxe Mattresses
Majestic 11000 Extra Firm
from Luxe Mattresses
Luxe Mattresses
Majestic 9000 Extra Firm
from Luxe Mattresses
The Foam People
Superior Cashmere
from The Foam People
The Foam People
Comfort CoolMax Intelligent
from The Foam People
The Foam People
The Saffron Comfort Deep
from The Foam People
The Foam People
Comfort Ortho Firm
from The Foam People
The Foam People
The Aerotac Superior Bubble
from The Foam People
Best under £500: at a glance
| # | Mattress | Type | Firmness | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emma OriginalEmma | Memory foam | Medium | £469 | 8.8/10 |
| 2 | Majestic 11000 Extra FirmLuxe Mattresses | Memory foam | Firm | £318£449 | 8.5/10 |
| 3 | Majestic 9000 Extra FirmLuxe Mattresses | Memory foam | Firm | £273£399 | 8.5/10 |
| 4 | Superior CashmereThe Foam People | Memory foam | Medium | £198 | 8.5/10 |
| 5 | Comfort CoolMax IntelligentThe Foam People | Memory foam | Medium | £192 | 8.5/10 |
| 6 | The Saffron Comfort DeepThe Foam People | Memory foam | Medium | £174 | 8.5/10 |
| 7 | Comfort Ortho FirmThe Foam People | Memory foam | Firm | £157 | 8.4/10 |
| 8 | The Aerotac Superior BubbleThe Foam People | Memory foam | Medium | £195 | 8.4/10 |
How we picked
Every mattress in our catalogue with a list price under £500, ranked by overall score. Value score carries extra weight here: the question at this budget is not whether a mattress is the best available, but whether it is the best thing you can buy for the money.
Scores are set by Alexander Bowman using the criteria on our how we score page. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links; this never affects a score or a ranking.
Not sure this is your category?
Four questions about how you sleep and your budget, and we rank every mattress we have scored against your answers.
Take the quizBest under £500: frequently asked questions
Can you get a good mattress for under £500?
Yes, particularly in a double. The compromise is usually in edge support, cover quality and how long the comfort layer holds its shape, not in the basic support. Expect five to seven years rather than ten.
Is a cheap mattress a false economy?
Below about £250 for a double, often yes: thin foam and low spring counts sag fast and you end up replacing it. Between £300 and £500 there are mattresses that genuinely compete with models twice the price, especially from bed-in-a-box brands during sales.
When is the best time to buy a cheap mattress?
Black Friday and the January sales produce the deepest genuine discounts. Most bed-in-a-box brands run a permanent discount of some kind, so the list price is rarely what anyone pays; compare the sale price, not the saving.
Read more
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