Bed shopping on a budget: How to get the best deals
A new bed doesn’t have to cost you thousands, and there are ways to drive costs down without sacrificing quality and comfort.
A perfect example is looking at mattresses from brands that don’t spend big money on advertising. For instance, British mattress maker Rely on makes pocket spring mattresses that are better and cheaper than those you see on TV.
Another way to save money is to buy a divan bed and a mattress together—a dual deal that can save you around 40% versus buying separately.
Join us below to discover the best ways to shop for a mattress on a budget.
Know your budget-friendly technologies
The cheapest sprung mattresses are open coil mattresses. These have an interconnected spring support system that functions as a single component. They provide good support but are very bouncy and lack motion isolation.
The best spring-based technology is pocket springs – while these are more expensive, mattresses with 1,000 to 1,500 springs are available for less than £400.
Check out these models under £400 for a double:
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Chatsworth 4FT 6 Double Mattress. Priced £391 with next day delivery. Available from Bedstar.
Hybrid mattresses also use pocket springs but have thick foam comfort layers to mimic the initial feel of a pure foam mattress. They are more expensive due to having more layers and the heavy advertising they receive from manufacturers.
You can also get pure foam mattresses. They are as cheap as open coil mattresses and have no bounce. They are great for motion isolation but not for mobility.
So, in summary:
- Open coil and pure foam mattresses are the cheapest
- Pocket spring mattresses sit in the middle
- Hybrid mattresses are the most expensive you can buy (usually)
Combine your mattress and bed frame
The best deals on beds come from combining a bed and a mattress.
Popular brands like Silentnight, Giltedge, and Sleepeezee offer divans and mattresses that can be combined into one purchase.
A few examples under £600 for a double:
You can also play the same trick for children’s beds – some kid’s beds come with a mattress, or the retailer will let you add one with 10-20% off.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Luxury Pocket 1000 4FT 6 Double Divan Bed. Priced £480 with next day delivery. Available from Bedstar.
Save with divan bases
If money is tight then a divan base is your best bet.
Divan bases don’t have a headboard, although you can add one later when your budget allows. You’ll pay as little as £250 for a double divan base with a solid mattress platform – compatible with all mattress technologies.
Get a metal bed frame
Metal bed frames are the cheapest, with double prices starting from around £200 for something simple. £300 will give you more choices, such as Victorian styles and 4-poster bed frames perfect for tall ceilings.
Wait for the sales
You’ll typically save anywhere from 10% to 30% on a mattress on important sales days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Some retailers also run seasonal sales on the calendar during Easter, Halloween, and other eventful dates.
Of course, if you need a new bed now and there aren’t any seasonal sales, Google ‘mattress sale’ and something should pop up.
Delivery and recycling
Free delivery is always worth it, and most bed purchases will automatically qualify you for free delivery due to your total basket value (e.g., over £299).
You could also save money using an old bed and mattress recycling service offered by the retailer from which you buy your new bed. These services usually cost £40 to £60, which could be less than your local council charges for their recycling service.
