I’ve tested America's most luxurious mattresses but these 3 budget beds impressed me more (from $270)

(Image credit: Future) My life as a mattress tester means I'm sleeping on a cheap memory foam bed one month and then a luxury hybrid mattress the next — and this experience has made me realize that price isn't always a good indicator of comfort. For example, the CoolNest Memory Foam Mattress, now down to $360 (was $599) in a queen at SweetNight, is a budget mattress whose cooling comfort has impressed me more than some of the luxury hybrids I've slept on.Yes, most of the beds that grace this year's best mattress guide are luxury hybrids. But I've tested plenty of mattresses that offer exceptional support and comfort for under $500 in a queen. For instance, I'm currently testing the CopperFlex Essential, now $489.30 (was $699) in a queen at Brooklyn Bedding, and it's great for lighter weight side sleepers like me.So, now that the Labor Day mattress sales are well and truly upon us, I've rounded up the my favorite mattresses under $500 in a queen. Here's why I loved testing them and why you should buy them before Labor Day weekend is up...7 best Labor Day mattress sales I'd shop this weekend — from $179Labor Day mattress sales: At a glanceSaatva Classic – best overall: From $1,049 (was $1,449) at SaatvaZinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress – dorm room savior: From $173 at AmazonHelix Midnight Luxe – best for side sleepers: From $1,119 (was $1,492) at HelixDreamCloud Classic – best value: From $429 (was $1,346) at DreamCloudBear Elite Hybrid – best cooling: From $1,298 (was $1,998.80) with TOMS40 code at BearBrooklyn Bedding Copperflex Pro – best value cooling: From $652 (was $932) at Brooklyn BeddingTempur-Pedic Tempur Cloud and smart base – best bundle deal: From $1,718.40 (was $2,598) at Tempur-PedicAvocado Green – best organic: From $1,279 (was $1,599) at AvocadoPurple Plus - best for joint pain relief: From $1,280 (was $1,599) at PurpleLabor Day sales: 3 budget mattress deals to shop now Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Frances Daniels is a PPA-accredited journalist and Sleep Staff Writer at Tom's Guide with an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University. Her role includes covering mattress and sleep news and writing sleep product reviews and buyer's guides, including our Best Hybrid Mattress 2025 guide. She is interested in the relationship between sleep and health, interviewing an array of experts to create in-depth articles about topics such as nutrition, sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, and mattress care. She is also our specialist on mattress toppers — producing bed topper reviews and taking care of our Best Mattress Toppers 2025 guide — and leads content relating to fiberglass-free beds for a non-toxic sleep. Outside of Tom's Guide, she has written for Ideal Home and Marie Claire.