Best Budget Mattress In Australia

It’s an agreed fact that splurging more money on an expensive mattress doesn’t ensure quality sleep. A steep price tag doesn’t mean it will live up to your expectations because even a cheap mattress with solid construction and quality materials can do the job. Buying a cheap one can be worth it if you pay attention to its components and structure. 

For instance, despite being cheap, the Zinus Hybrid Chiro features an innovative independent coil system. Also, brands like Noa and Emma are known for their durability, and they have an entire range of budget materials. In conclusion, yes, you can find a cheap mattress that will stick around for a long time; just be sure to look for the right parameters and quality checks.

There are a few factors that lead to heat retention in a mattress, and it doesn’t have much to do with the price. Here’s what you need to consider:

1. Top Cover

The top cover will be in direct contact with your skin while sleeping, and if it isn’t made of breathable material with bigger pores, it will retain a lot of heat. Budget mattresses like Noa Lite and Zinus Support have Tencel and Poly-knit covers that keep the temperature low, allowing your skin to breathe. 

2. Natural Latex

Quality mattresses usually have a natural latex layer with an open cell matrix. This construction allows a good air flow, eliminating the body heat and moisture from the mattress. Cheap options don’t have this layer, but the Onebed original 10’’ does, despite its affordable price. 

3. Temperature Regulation In Memory Foam

Foams are susceptible to heat, making the sleeper sweat profusely, and unfortunately, the majority of the low-cost mattresses have heavy-foam construction. But some of them, like Zinus Hybrid Chiro, have special cooling gel technology to keep the surface cool. 

In conclusion, not all cheap mattresses necessarily retain heat; a lot of them maintain a low temperature depending on their composition, so do look into the materials before buying. 

Along with several upsides, budget mattresses also have a few downsides, and here are a few of them:

1. Might Not Be Certified

One of the main reasons people hesitate while buying cheap mattresses is that they often don’t have certifications from REACH, Certi-PUR or other health organisations. This indicates that they may be made using some toxic materials that aren’t eco-friendly and are harmful to your health. 

However, if you find a budget mattress, which is also certified, it’s a win-win situation. 

2. Pose Health Risk

Low-grade mattresses can lead to serious health implications like slip-disc, bad spinal alignment, chronic joint pains, structural deformities, and bad posture. So, it’s best to shell out a few extra bucks and get a quality mattress certified by a reliable organization. 

Other than that, if you’re opting for a cheap one, read the customer reviews carefully and assess it well during the trial period.

3. High Maintenance Costs

There’s no point in saving money while buying a mattress but spending double the amount on its maintenance. Cheap ones with low-quality construction will break down often and demand frequent repairs. 

For buying quality and long-lasting mattresses at an affordable price, there are a few things that you need to consider. Even if it’s for your bedroom or a rental, take care of the following parameters and you’ll be good to go:

1. Type Of Mattress

There is a wide variety of choices on the market, but mainly, mattresses are of three types:

A. Foam Mattress

These mattresses are entirely made of polyurethane, latex, or memory foam. While the memory foam moulds according to the body shape, some other cheaper variants do not. In contrast, latex has a bouncy feel and excellent temperature regulation. 

To make things clearer, Emma Comfort and Onebed Original 10’’ lie in this category, so you can compare their features to get a better idea. 

B. Hybrid And Innerspring Mattress

Often infused with a gel or pillow top layer, the innerspring mattress has a traditional steel coil construction that makes it super-easy to move on without disturbing your partner. If the cushioning is appropriate, then shifting positions is even more comfortable and effortless. 

Add to it a foam layer, and you’ll have a typical hybrid mattress. Zinus Hybrid Chiro, Noa Lite, and Zinus Support Innerspring are a few examples.

C. Adjustable Air Mattress

As the name suggests, adjustable air mattresses can be inflated to a desired level of firmness using a pump or mobile app. They usually have additional foam layers for more comfort and support but are quite noisy. 

2. Green Certification

Some solvents used for manufacturing mattresses can release volatile organic compounds that are harmful to your health and create issues if inhaled. There are several organisations that check the non-toxicity of a mattress and certify if they are clean enough to be kept in your bedrooms. 

So, look for the following certifications before purchasing a cheap mattress:

A. Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

REACH has established protocols to collect and check the nature and potential hazards of a new commodity. For starters, companies need to register their productions or materials used with the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) for evaluation. The ECHA evaluates these registrations, and the EU Member States assess them to clear environmental or human health concerns.

Furthermore, the authorities check if the risk posed by the substance can be managed; if not, they can subject it to prior authorisation or restrict its use. If your mattress is certified by REACH, then you need not worry about its impact on your health, as it will be low in VOCs and other harmful chemicals.

B. CertiPUR-US

CertiPUR-US ensures that the polyurethane foam of the mattress complies with the VOC emission, chemical ingredients, and durability standards. It requires the foam to be manufactured without flame retardants, phthalates, and heavy metals. 

C. Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS)

GOTS is another reliable certification that authorises the processing, distributing, manufacturing, labelling, packaging and trade of mattresses having a minimum of 70% natural fibres. 

It has two grades – grade one requires more than 95% organic fibres and grade two certifies mattresses with 70-95% organic content. So, do look for this certification and grade to get a clear idea of the mattress quality. 

3. Construction And Material

Next, the material and construction play a key role in determining the feel and comfort of the mattress. Check the number of layers present in the mattress, their exact composition, and design. A good mattress has a foam layer (preferably memory foam), a cooling or transitional layer, a sturdy base with pocket springs and robust edge support. 

Also, the top layer should be plush and breathable, ensuring proper air circulation and minimum heat retention. If you find a cheap mattress with a latex layer, then we suggest going for it, as not many companies offer it in a low price range.

4. Sleeper-Specific

A lot of mattresses are sleeper-specific, meaning, they are ideal for stomach sleepers, side sleepers or back sleepers. But some versatile ones work the best for all kinds of combination sleepers. 

For instance, mattresses with stronger support and firmer construction are usually well-suited for stomach and side sleepers. At the same time, pocket springs work well for all kinds of sleepers as they allow maximum ease of movement. 

5. Useful Features 

Apart from the construction, some affordable mattresses have several useful features that can simplify things for you greatly. For example, the Zinus Hybrid Chiro has green tea extracts that prevent it from smelling bad. 

Additionally, the Emma Comfort has a removable top cover that can be easily taken off and machine-washed. You can look for these little perks and specifications to make the most out of the deal.

6. Price

Price is a crucial factor while buying a mattress, as you wouldn’t want to spend more than your budget. Generally, foam mattresses like the Emma Comfort cost between $450 and $750 and are relatively cheaper than the other types.

The most affordable innerspring and hybrid mattresses lie in the $500-$700 price range. However, the Zinus Support Innerspring is currently available at prices well below this range.

7. Trial Period

People have their own doubts regarding cheap mattresses, such as – is it made using low-quality material or is it going to tear just after a few days? But to give the user a hands-on experience, brands often provide a trial period. So, you can use the mattress and see if it’s a suitable one by buying it from a company that offers a free trial. 

Usually, this period is for 100 nights, but some generous brands offer up to 125 nights. However, we suggest going through their policies to avoid unwanted surprises later. 

8. Warranty

Some mattresses also come with a warranty, which seems even more crucial for budget mattresses, given the scepticism around their quality. It generally covers cuts (longer than six inches), indentations, sagging, and other such minor damages over a certain period of time. 

The warranty period differs from brand to brand, as some offer five years while some extend it to a decade. Therefore, check the warranty period along with the damages it covers to make an informed decision. 

9. Delivery

Now, transporting a heavy mattress is no easy task, and you’ll have to arrange logistic services to get it delivered to your home if the company doesn’t provide shipping services. Hence, it’s essential to check beforehand if the brand offers shipping services; most of them do, but only some do it for free.

Generally speaking, May is the best month to buy a mattress if you’re looking for affordable deals and low price tags. That’s because retailers usually restock their showrooms after June, as the financial year ends, and they need to clear the old stock before that. 

As a result, you’ll find many clearance sales going on during this time on previously full-priced products. In addition to March, April, and May, you can find profitable deals during the holiday season, Black Friday, or Boxing Day.