Quick picks
This post is part of our budget mattress series. The main guide, Best Budget Mattress, has the full rankings; this one goes deeper on a specific slice.
| Pick | Mattress | Full price (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best budget full overall | Zinus Green Tea 10" | $200–$300 | Teens, solo adults, guest rooms |
| Best cheap full hybrid | Linenspa 10" Hybrid | $180–$260 | Kids, guests, firm-bed fans |
| Best full with a trial | Siena Memory Foam | ~$350 | Anyone who wants a return window |
| Best name-brand full | Nectar Original | ~$550–$650 on sale | Solo adults who want it to last |
| Best full for kids | Zinus Green Tea 8" | $150–$220 | Younger kids; low-profile bunk/loft beds |
Full-size prices are typically 15–25% below queen. Amazon pricing moves weekly; Nectar's sale price is stable.
Under $500 for a queen is genuinely cheap. $500–$800 is budget-friendly from a name brand. Above that you're in mid-range territory — our main mattress guide covers those.
Why a full size, and who it's for
A full (double) mattress is 54" × 75" — 16 inches wider than a twin and 6 inches narrower than a queen, and 5 inches shorter than a queen. It's the right size for:
- Kids and teens who've outgrown a twin and want room to sprawl.
- Solo adults under about 6 feet tall in a small bedroom or studio.
- Guest rooms where a queen won't fit but a twin feels stingy.
- Loft beds and daybeds, which are often built for full.
It's a poor fit for two adults — 27 inches of width per person is narrower than a crib. If you share the bed, spend the extra $80–$150 on a queen. And if you're over 6 feet, the 75-inch length is tight; a twin XL or queen at 80 inches is better.
The best budget full mattresses
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (10")
The best-selling budget mattress in the country, and full is one of its most popular sizes. Ten inches of green-tea-infused foam with a medium feel and a 10-year limited warranty. For a teen or a solo adult, this is the one to buy. The 12" version adds $50–$80 and is worth it for adults over 200 lbs; the 8" is fine for younger kids.
Linenspa 10" Hybrid
A firm-leaning coil mattress with a thin foam top. It's often the cheapest full-size mattress on Amazon that's still a real bed, and the coils keep it cool. Best for kids, guest rooms, and anyone who prefers a firm surface. The 8" version is a reasonable choice for a child's first big-kid bed.
Siena Memory Foam
Around $350 in full, with a 180-night trial and 10-year warranty from the company behind Nectar. Medium-firm, 10 inches. It's the cheapest full-size mattress you can actually try and return, which matters more for a full than a queen because it's usually going in a room you don't test-sleep in first.
Nectar Original
If the full is for you — not a kid or a guest — and you plan to keep it 7+ years, Nectar is the step up. Twelve inches, medium-firm, 365-night trial, lifetime warranty. Full is typically $550–$650 on Nectar's permanent sale.
Zinus Green Tea 10" Full
The bestseller in the right size. Medium feel, CertiPUR-US foam, 10-year warranty.
Linenspa 10" Hybrid Full
Firm, cool, and often the lowest price on the site for a real full-size bed.
Siena Memory Foam Full
180-night trial and 10-year warranty for around $350. Try it in the room it's going in.
Nectar Original Full
365-night trial, lifetime warranty, 12" of foam. For a full you'll sleep on for years.
Buying a full for a kid's room
- Height matters for bunk and loft beds. Most have a maximum mattress height of 8–9" so the guardrail still works. Check before you buy a 12" mattress.
- Firmer is better for younger kids. Growing spines do better on medium-firm; the Linenspa hybrid or an 8" Zinus are both appropriately firm.
- Get a waterproof protector. A $20–$30 protector is the difference between a mattress lasting 3 years and 8.
- CertiPUR-US minimum. Every pick here has it. Don't buy an uncertified foam mattress for a child.
Zinus Green Tea 8" Full
Low-profile for bunk and loft beds, appropriately firm for growing kids, CertiPUR-US certified.
Waterproof Mattress Protector (Full)
A must for kids' beds. Fitted-sheet style, machine washable, blocks spills and allergens.
Full-size frames and bases
A full mattress needs a full frame — twin frames won't fit and queen frames leave a gap. A metal platform frame with slats under 3" apart runs $70–$120 in full and needs no box spring. If it's a loft or bunk, use the manufacturer's slats or a bunkie board, not a box spring.
Looking at other sizes or the full budget rankings? See our best budget mattress guide and best cheap beds roundup.
Zinus Metal Platform Bed Frame (Full)
Steel frame, closely spaced slats, no box spring needed, sets up in minutes.