Fully Furnished

Sofas, beds, mattresses, dining tables, rugs and dressers carry real prices read at the shop that sells them, with the date on every row. Every other category is still sample data.

How much should you spend on a mattress for a first apartment, and is a topper enough?

Summary

A queen on this site's mattress list starts at $455 (Zinus, checked 2026-09-07), and seven of its 13 queens fall between $699 and $1,479. A topper can change surface comfort, but it is not a repair for a sagging mattress: Saatva's guidance distinguishes those uses. If an otherwise sound bed feels too firm, compare a compatible topper with replacement. For a dip or uneven support, contact the mattress maker about the cause and warranty first. Check the topper's own return terms separately.

What a queen costs on this site's list

The 13 queen mattresses below were priced on their sellers' product pages on 2026-09-07. Use those dated prices to set a budget, then confirm the price and return terms before ordering.

Mattress (queen)Price at seller, 2026-09-07TrialWarrantyBuild as the maker describes it
Zinus Original Green Tea$455 at Zinus100 nights10 yearsFoam, 10 in, medium-firm
Nectar Classic Memory Foam$699 at Nectar365 nightsForeverMemory foam, 12 in, firm
Tuft & Needle Original$709 at Tuft & Needle100 nights10 yearsFoam, 10 in, medium-firm
Casper The One$899 at Casper100 nights10 yearsFoam, 11 in, medium-firm
Leesa Original$929 at Leesa120 nightsLimited lifetimeFoam, 10 in, medium
Nectar Premier Memory Foam$999 at Nectar365 nightsForeverMemory foam, 13 in, medium-firm
Avocado Eco Organic$1,439 at Avocado100 nights10 yearsLatex over wrapped coils, 10 in, medium
Helix Midnight$1,479 at Helix100 nights10 yearsFoam over wrapped coils, 11.5 in, 6 of 10
Saatva Classic$1,904 at Saatva365 nightsLifetimeCoil on coil, 11.5 or 14.5 in, 3 firmness choices
Avocado Green Organic$1,919 at Avocado1 year25 yearsLatex over zoned coils, firm, medium or plush
Saatva HD$3,124 at Saatva365 nightsLifetimeCoils, latex and foam, rated to 500 lb a sleeper
Saatva Solaire Adjustable$4,074 at Saatva365 nightsLifetimeAir chambers, 50 settings a side

The top of the list is the Avocado Grand Luxe at $8,499 at Avocado on the same date. It is a hand-tufted latex-and-coil queen made in Los Angeles.

Above $1,500, the listed models include builds such as coil-on-coil and adjustable air chambers, or a higher weight rating. Compare those features with what you need rather than treating price alone as a reason to upgrade. For a renter who wants a foam queen, the comparison at the bottom of the list is more useful: the Zinus Original Green Tea is the lowest price on the list, and the Nectar Classic is the lowest-priced queen with a 365-night trial. There, the Nectar Classic at $699 minus the Zinus at $455 = $244.

Household size changes how many beds you need. This site's cost page counts one mattress for one or two people, two for three people and three for four or more. It adds a smaller bed for each extra person, so the second and third beds are not priced as queens.

Trial nights and what a return costs

The two mattresses differ in both price and trial length. The dated list prices are $244 apart; Nectar gives 365 nights and Zinus gives 100, so 365 − 100 = 265 more nights to decide. A longer trial matters most when the purchase is a guess, which it often is in a first apartment. You may be choosing online without lying on the model, or the bed may be shared with someone whose preferences you do not yet know.

The return terms differ even among mattresses with similar trial lengths:

  • The product listings above give Casper a 100-night trial and Saatva and Nectar 365 nights each, based on the 2026-09-07 readings. Casper's returns page was read on 2026-10-23; its trial page describes a free return within the 100-night trial, "after the 30-night adjustment period." Confirm the earliest accepted return date before relying on that trial.
  • Saatva's trial page lists a $99 return fee (checked 2026-10-23), so changing your mind about a $1,904 Saatva Classic costs $99 under that page's terms.
  • IKEA's mattress policy describes a 90-day "Love it or exchange it" trial (checked 2026-10-23). It allows one exchange within 90 days, and the page describes an exchange, not a refund. The mattress "must not be dirty, marked or damaged."

Before you order, ask the seller three questions. Is there a minimum number of nights before a return is accepted? Is a return refunded or only exchanged? Is there a fee, and who arranges the pickup? The answers give you the cost of an unwanted mattress, which can be larger than the price gap between two models on the list.

Before buying a topper

A topper is a possible comfort adjustment for an otherwise sound mattress, rather than a repair for worn support. Saatva's manufacturer guide, checked 2026-11-01, describes toppers as a way to change how a mattress feels and advises replacing an old, sagging mattress rather than relying on a topper to fix it. Temporary cushioning over a dip does not establish that the underlying problem has been repaired.

For a bed that simply feels too firm, look for a topper intended to soften the surface and compare its return terms with replacement. Saatva describes its Micro-Coil topper as compatible with its own mattresses and other brands, but describes its feel as firmer and responsive. Consider that model only if that is the change you want; it is not the softening option for this example. Confirm the dimensions and any conditions attached to your mattress warranty before ordering.

For sagging or uneven wear, describe the problem to the mattress maker and check the warranty terms before choosing between a claim, a topper and a replacement. The listed warranties run from 10 years to lifetime, but those durations do not establish that a particular dip is covered. Compare the maker's response with the cost and return terms of the purchase you are considering rather than assuming a long warranty settles the problem.

For a priced example, Saatva listed the queen Micro-Coil topper at $315, checked 2026-11-01. Its product description emphasizes a firmer, responsive feel; that is not a reason to choose it to soften a bed that already feels too firm. Saatva's trial policy gives mattress toppers 180 nights, a full refund with free return shipping and no mandatory minimum trial period.

Its manufacturer comparison, dated 2026-05-14 and read 2026-11-01, lists a one-year limited warranty for this topper. Saatva's bedding warranty page, checked 2026-11-01, covers workmanship defects through repair or replacement during the first year. A replacement continues the original warranty period; stains, discoloration and abuse are excluded.

Keep the two warranties separate: Saatva's terms cover the topper, while the maker of your existing mattress sets the conditions for that mattress. Check those terms when choosing the combination, particularly if you are already considering a claim for a dip.

A topper needs its own return check too. IKEA's mattress exchange policy excludes "bed bases, bed slats or mattress toppers." Confirm the topper's policy separately; a mattress trial should not be treated as permission to return everything bought for the bed.

Match the frame to the mattress you keep

Settling on the mattress first avoids choosing a frame for a size you may exchange during the trial. The frame needs to fit the mattress you keep, and its return terms are a separate question.

IKEA's mattress trial does not extend to bed bases or slats; a frame bought at the same time may follow the store's general return rules instead. The bedroom pages and bed-frame list explain the support underneath the mattress, while the cost page combines it with the rest of the apartment budget for one to four people.

Sources

Published 4 November 2026.