Best adjustable bed on a budget: the cheapest adjustable bases worth buying
Hi, we’re John and Mimi. You don’t need the most expensive adjustable bed to get the part most people actually use: sitting up to read or watch TV, raising your feet, and one-touch zero gravity. Here is every adjustable base we sell, sorted by today’s queen price, what each step up in price adds, where the money is easy to save, and what a complete adjustable bed costs on a budget. Every base ships free and carries a 10-year limited warranty.
The short answer
- Best budget adjustable base for most people: the e3 (queen $499, Twin XL $449). Head and foot lift, one-touch flat and zero gravity, 3 memory buttons on a wireless remote, and it works on legs or with zero clearance inside your own frame. It’s our most popular base.
- Worth the step up if you want massage: the e4 Premium (queen $699) adds head and foot massage, an anti-snore preset, USB charging and an LED under-bed light for $200 more in a queen today.
- The simplest base isn’t the cheapest right now. The head-only SBKDH (queen $679) has a wired 2-button remote and no foot lift. In Twin XL and queen, the e3 costs less today and does more, so we’d pick the e3 unless you only ever want the head to rise. (In a split king set the SBKDH is the lower price; the table below shows both.)
- Save on the extras, not the basics. Keep your own bed frame and headboard, skip the box spring, and pick the size you really need. Prices on this page update automatically.
Every adjustable base we sell, cheapest first (today’s prices)
Sorted by today’s in-stock queen price, read live from our catalog. The split king column is the price of the split king set (two halves that move on their own). A dash means that size is sold out or not made. Features come from each base’s listing; the full side-by-side is in our adjustable base comparison chart.
| Base | What you get | Twin XL | Queen | Split king |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e3 (SBKD3) | Head and foot, zero gravity, 3 memory buttons, wireless remote, legs or zero clearance | $449 | $499 | $1,169 |
| SBKDH | Head lift only, wired 2-button remote, 12" legs | $639 | $679 | $959 |
| e4 Premium | Everything in the e3 plus massage, anti-snore, USB charging and an LED under-bed light | $599 | $699 | $1,389 |
| SBKDT2 | Adds pillow tilt to massage, night light and USB | $859 | $929 | $1,399 |
| Glide | Wall glide keeps the nightstand in reach; massage and voice control | $939 | $1,039 | $1,559 |
| Sam (with headboard) | Upholstered headboard included, head and foot, zero gravity | $1,009 | $1,099 | — |
| Alex (with headboard) | Upholstered headboard included, head and foot, zero gravity | — | $1,099 | — |
| e7 Lumbar | Adds lumbar lift and pillow tilt, USB-A and USB-C | $999 | $1,119 | $1,739 |
| Taylor (with headboard) | Upholstered headboard included, head and foot, zero gravity | $1,039 | $1,169 | — |
| e8 High-Low Lift | Raises the whole bed up to 10" and tilts forward | $1,469 | $1,599 | — |
What each step up in price adds
- e3: the basics, done right. Head and foot up and down, one-touch flat, a zero gravity preset, 3 programmable positions (hold a button for 5 seconds to save one), a wireless 9-button remote, a backup battery strip, a foot retainer bar, screw-in legs at 3", 6", 9" or 12" or zero clearance, no tools required, and 750 lbs listed including the mattress and the people on it. Our zero gravity guide explains what that position does.
- e4 Premium: comfort extras. Adds dual massage at the head and foot (3 intensity levels, 10, 20 or 30 minute timer), an anti-snore preset, USB charging ports, LED under-bed lighting and a 14-button remote. Our adjustable bed with massage guide helps you decide if massage is worth it to you.
- SBKDT2: pillow tilt. Adds a pillow tilt that angles your head forward for reading or TV, with massage, night light and USB. See our adjustable bed for reading and watching TV guide.
- Glide: the nightstand stays in reach. The base glides toward the wall as it rises, plus massage, night light, USB and voice control (app download required).
- Headboard bases (Sam, Alex, Taylor): an upholstered headboard included. Only worth it if you need a headboard anyway; see adjustable base with a headboard for cheaper routes.
- e7 Lumbar and e8 High-Low Lift: specialty bases. The e7 adds a lumbar lift and pillow tilt; the e8 raises the whole bed up to 10" and tilts forward to make getting in and out easier. Our adjustable base vs. hospital bed guide covers when the e8 fits.
Five ways to spend less on an adjustable bed
- Keep your bed frame and headboard. The e3 and e4 Premium list zero clearance with hook and loop straps, so they can sit inside a frame or on a platform bed without legs. Their listings also say head and footboard brackets are available as an add-on; text John before you order, since brackets aren’t a shop item.
- Skip the box spring. An adjustable base replaces the box spring or foundation, so there’s nothing else to buy underneath it. Our do you need a box spring guide explains why.
- Buy the size you really need. A Twin XL e3 is $449 today, against $499 for a queen. Sleeping alone in a guest room, a dorm or a smaller bedroom? A Twin XL may be all you need; see twin vs Twin XL.
- Only go split king if you want two sides that move on their own. A split king set costs more than a one-piece bed (an e3 split king is $1,169 today, against $749 for a one-piece e3 king), and you need two Twin XL mattresses or a split king mattress. Our split king guide helps couples decide.
- Keep your mattress if it bends. Most memory foam and many hybrid mattresses work on an adjustable base; an innerspring with a stiff border usually doesn’t. Check with our best mattress for an adjustable bed guide before you buy a new one.
A complete adjustable bed on a budget
If you need the mattress too, here is the lowest-cost pairing we’d actually put together: the e3 base with the 10" Gel Comfort Reactive (medium firm, made for back and side sleepers), whose setup instructions list an adjustable base as a proper surface. Today’s prices, read live:
| Item | Twin XL | Queen | Split king |
|---|---|---|---|
| e3 adjustable base | $449 | $499 | $1,169 |
| 10" Gel Comfort Reactive mattress (medium firm) | $319 | $449 | $759 |
| Total, free shipping | $768 | $948 | $1,928 |
The split king column uses each item’s split king size. Prefer one order with the whole bed? Our mattress and adjustable base packages guide compares Bronze, Silver and Gold with buying the pieces separately. And if the mattress is where you want to save most, see our best affordable mattress guide.
What you don’t give up with a budget base
- The warranty. Every base we sell lists a 10-year limited warranty, with full coverage in year 1. The details are on each product page and our Purchase Policy & Warranty page.
- Free shipping. Every price on this page already includes nationwide shipping.
- Easy setup. The SBKDH, e3 and e4 Premium fold in half for small-parcel shipping and list no tools required; our how to set up an adjustable base guide walks through it.
- Zero gravity. Every base except the head-only SBKDH has a head and foot lift and a zero gravity preset.
Still deciding whether you want one at all? Read is an adjustable bed worth it, or work through our 10-step checklist for choosing a base.
e3 Adjustable Bed Base with Wireless Remote, Memory Positions & Zero Clearance
Our pick when every dollar counts: the motions most people use every night, at our lowest queen price for a base.
- Head and foot lift, one-touch flat and zero gravity
- 3 programmable memory positions on a wireless 9-button remote
- Zero clearance, or screw-in legs at 3", 6", 9" or 12"
- No tools required; folds in half for shipping
- Weight limit 750 lbs, including the mattress and users
From $449 (Twin XL) · Queen $499 · See sizes & details
e4 Premium Adjustable Bed Base with Massage, USB Ports, Wireless Remote & Zero Clearance
The best step up: the e3’s motions plus the comfort extras people ask about most.
- Head and foot massage, 3 levels, 10/20/30 minute timer
- Anti-snore and zero gravity presets
- USB charging ports and LED under-bed lighting
- Wireless 14-button remote
- 750 lbs weight capacity
From $599 (Twin XL) · Queen $699 · See sizes & details
Shop this guide
For most budgets, the e3 is the answer. Step up to the e4 for massage and USB, and pair either with a mattress that bends.
- e3 Adjustable Bed Base with Wireless Remote, Memory Positions & Zero Clearance, from $449. Head and foot, zero gravity, memory presets, legs or zero clearance at our lowest queen base price.
- e4 Premium Adjustable Bed Base with Massage, USB Ports, Wireless Remote & Zero Clearance, from $599. Everything in the e3 plus massage, anti-snore, USB and an under-bed light.
- 10" Gel Infused Comfort Reactive Memory Foam Mattress - Medium Firm, Back & Side Sleepers, from $319. A medium firm 10" mattress at a budget price that works on an adjustable base.
Questions we hear a lot
What is the best adjustable bed on a budget?
For most people, our e3 base. It has head and foot lift, one-touch flat and zero gravity, 3 memory positions on a wireless remote, and it works on legs or with zero clearance inside your own frame. It is also our lowest-priced base in a queen today. Every base we sell is on this page, sorted by today’s price.
What is the cheapest adjustable base worth buying?
Look for head and foot lift and a wireless remote at minimum; those cover sitting up, raising your feet and zero gravity. In our lineup the e3 has all of that, and in Twin XL and queen it costs less today than our head-only SBKDH.
Is it worth paying more for massage?
Only if you will use it. Our e4 Premium adds head and foot massage with 3 levels and a timer, an anti-snore preset, USB charging and an under-bed light. The price difference with the e3 is shown on this page and updates automatically.
Can I put a budget adjustable base in my existing bed frame?
Often, yes. The e3 and e4 Premium list zero clearance with hook and loop straps, so they can sit inside a frame or on a platform bed without legs, and their listings say head and footboard brackets are available as an add-on. Text John at 818-924-3744 with your frame measurements before you order.
Is a split king more expensive?
Yes. A split king set costs more than a one-piece queen or king and needs two Twin XL mattresses or a split king mattress. If you don’t need two sides that move separately, a one-piece bed costs less. Today’s split king prices are in the table on this page.
Tell us your budget
Tell John your budget, your bed size and what you want the bed to do, and he’ll tell you honestly which base he’d buy for that money, even if it’s the cheapest one we sell. Text or call 818-924-3744, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific, or use Help me choose.
Written by John & Mimi Venti, MimiJohn. Features from each base’s product listing; prices, sort order and totals update automatically. General shopping guidance, not medical advice.