The Best Twin Mattresses to Use for Smaller Bed Frames

Best Overall: Casper Original Mattress

4.8

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One of the first "bed-in-a-box" retailers, Casper is well-known for its convenient delivery and high-quality mattresses. The brand's Original Mattress is one of their more affordable options, offering zoned support, motion isolation, and a soft-to-medium firm feel. Its balance of price and performance easily makes it our best overall pick.

Made with four layers of breathable foam, this mattress is designed to offer customized support as your body moves throughout the night. One of our tester's favorite features is the washable cover—all you need to do is unzip, throw it in the wash, and put it back on to keep the mattress protected.

Best Budget: Zinus Memory Foam 12-Inch Green Tea Mattress

4.5

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This mattress delivers an amazing bang for your buck. For just over $200, you can get a comfortable mattress that offers a plush and supportive experience—no matter who sleeps on it. Zinus has four thickness options, although the Twin XL size is only available in the 8-inch mattress.

After testing this alongside her family for four weeks, our tester found this to be a welcome alternative to a typical innerspring mattress. She gave it a 5 out of 5 for both comfort and overall value, citing its four layers of foam (two of which are high-density) and affordability as standout features. We also appreciate its 10-year replacement warranty.

Best Cooling: Purple Mattress

4.3

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Purple mattresses stand out as one of the most supportive, adapting to the sleeper’s body using a proprietary gel grid system. When you lay on a Purple mattress, it immediately conforms to your body without being too soft or letting you sink into the mattress. The grid system also allows increased airflow, which keeps the temperature down as you sleep.

While Purple mattresses aren’t the cheapest option on the market, we'd say they're worth the investment. Our tester gave it a perfect score for both comfort and overall value, praising the zoned support and reduced motion transfer.

Best Firm: Linenspa 6-Inch Spring Mattress

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It can be difficult to find a truly firm mattress, but the 6-inch option from Linenspa fits the bill perfectly. The support comes from tempered steel coils with a felt pad and foam insulation layer on top. This is a lower-profile mattress, which you can use with a box spring or on a platform bed. You can also purchase it as a bundle with the platform base to take care of all of your sleeping needs in one purchase.

Best for Adults: Vibe Gel Memory Foam 12-Inch Mattress

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One of the biggest complaints we hear from adults when it comes to sleep is how difficult it is to sleep in a hot environment. The Vibe Gel Memory Foam mattress has two layers (a total of 5 inches) of gel-infused memory foam that will draw heat away as you sleep.

The bottom layer provides the support that many adult sleepers need to get good rest. This mattress also works with adjustable bases, making it ideal for those who need to prop up the head or foot of their mattress. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have handles, so it may need two people to unfurl and set up.

Best Twin XL: Sealy 6-Inch Memory Foam Mattress

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Twin XL mattresses are popular on college campuses and with those who need the extra length to accommodate their height as they sleep. The Sealy 6-Inch Memory Foam Mattress provides a good balance of support and softness, all at a very budget-friendly price.

This is the perfect Twin XL mattress to bring to college because the low profile works with many dorm room setups, and the price makes it easy for many college students to afford. There are other thickness options if you prefer something with a higher profile, too.

Best Air Mattress: Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Airbed

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For an on-demand twin mattress that is easier to store than a regular mattress, the Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Airbed is a great pick. The epitome of a luxurious air mattress, it has a built-in pump that allows you to fill the air mattress with just the touch of a button.

There are multiple thickness options so that you can choose the mattress that will work with your setup, comfort, and sheet sets. It also happens to be one of the most budget-friendly air mattresses on the market!

One thing to note: Just like any air mattress, the Intex Dura-Beam airbed can get cold. We recommend adding a twin mattress topper to keep things soft and cozy.