No matter what your budget or space requirements are, there is most likely a futon mattress that will fit your needs. Futons are great for furnishing a new apartment economically. They provide a space saving alternative to traditional furniture and are much easier to move than something like a sleeper sofa. For extra bedrooms that you use as office space, a futon can provide some space to sit and think as well as someplace for visitors to sleep when you do have company staying over. When purchasing a new futon mattress, consider the type of mattress that you will need first and find the right one for your budget. If a futon mattress is still out of reach for you, consider an air mattress for now.

Futon Mattress Types

Futon mattresses come in a variety of styles and sizes. You can find anything from a chair sized single futon bed up to a queen futon mattress and even occasionally a king futon mattress. Generally most people buy the futon frame and mattress together initially, but you can always upgrade your mattress later so long as you choose a standard style of frame.

Layered futon mattresses are the cheapest variety available.  They tend to be firm to very firm.  Although many futon frames come standard with a layered mattress, they are probably best used only for occasional use.  A layered futon mattress is constructed of several layers of foam that are wrapped with layers of batting.  They tend to compress rather quickly in general, giving them their firm or extra firm feeling.  Depending on how many layers your futon mattress has, the weight can start to add up quickly.

Some of the newer versions of the layerd futon mattress include foam that is the newer memory foam, sometimes called viscoelastic foam, or even a latex blend.  A layered futon mattress that includes these newer types of foam will be exponentially more comfortable than a mattress constructed of standard foam and batting.  You may wish to try one of these newer types out in a store before buying.  Then tend to be only slightly more in price than the standard layered foam but are way more comfortable for someone looking for a futon mattress for everyday use.

Coiled spring futon mattresses are thicker in appearance than their layered cousins.  An inner-springs futon mattress will sleep more like a normal mattress as the construction is very similar.  Inside of the mattress are layers of foam and batting as well as coiled springs which help provide support as well as different levels of firmness from soft to firm.  In order to fold nicely on the futon frame, inner-springs mattresses will have splits in the areas where the mattress needs to bend over the frame as the springs simply can not be twisted around these areas and still maintain their comfort.  Spring mattresses also tend to be more expensive than layered mattresses.

How Much Do Futon Mattresses Cost?

The cost of a futon mattress will depend upon a few things - the size and the quality of the mattress as well as they type of mattress construction.  If you are looking for a cheap futon mattress, the lowest priced ones tend to go for around $70 for a single chair style futon.  Not bad if you are just starting out and need some simple furniture for your place or for a spare bedroom that doesn't get used very often.  However if you are looking for a better quality futon mattress, they will generally range in price from just over $100 to around $700 for the top of the line coiled spring model.  

Cheap futon mattresses generally tend to be constructed of layered foam and filling material.  Most are either six or eight layers in depth.  If you are looking for a long term sleeping arrangement, the layered style futon mattress is not the best choice.  The more you use them, the more they will tend to compact and become really hard on your back and neck.  For long term use you will be better off spending a little more cash and going for a futon frame and mattress set that includes a spring style construction.  If you simply don't like the look of the spring style mattresses, there are some great memory foam versions starting at around $100-$120.