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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
A twin bed mattress—also known as a "single" mattress—is the smallest standard mattress size. This makes them perfect for small spaces and small people. If you're looking for a bed suitable for a narrow guest room or multi-use space, a twin mattress is an excellent choice. It's also the perfect pick for children, since it's a size versatile enough for younger kids and teens.
"If you don't already have a toddler bed, moving right to a twin bed will help you avoid spending extra or having more transitions," pediatrician Dr. Katy Gibson told The Spruce Pets. "Twin beds can even last until adulthood."
With expert advice from Dr. Gibson, we sought out the best twin mattresses for every space and budget. We've also tested dozens of mattresses, both in our New York lab and with at-home testers, for hundreds of hours of sleep experience. Our number one pick is the Casper Original Mattress, an exceptionally comfortable bed-in-a-box boasting a perfect balance of cushioning and support.
Here are the best twin mattresses.
Best Overall: Casper Original Mattress
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Courtesy of Wayfair
Zoned support
CertiPUR-US certified
Encourages air circulation
Takes up to 72 hours to expand
Slight odor out of the box
Our top choice is the Casper Original Mattress, which was a favorite of our home testers, who praised the brand's fuss-free delivery and easy setup instructions. Our tester further described the Casper Mattress as the perfect combination of firmness and plush cushioning.
The Casper twin mattress has a multi-zoned support system designed to align the spine and alleviate pressure points. The multi-layered construction features high-density foam at the base and a perforated foam on top to encourage air circulation and prevent overheating. The mattress also uses foam that is certified by CertiPUR-US, a non-profit that ensures mattress and furniture foam has no mercury, lead, formaldehyde, phthalates, or ozone-depleting chemicals.
The price is about what you'd expect for a high-quality mattress, but the Casper is on the expensive side of the twin mattress price spectrum. It also requires a little patience, since it can take up to three days to expand before it's ready for use. Many users also describe a mild odor after opening their mattress, but it vents off quickly.
Price at time of publish: $805
Best Budget: Linenspa 8-Inch Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Body-contouring foam
Supportive innerspring system
Relatively thin
Takes 48 hours to expand
Linenspa's 8 Inch Hybrid Mattress combines body-contouring memory foam with the durable support of a steel innerspring system. It's got a medium-firm feel, which makes it a good fit for any sleeping position. Hybrid design mattresses—which combine the responsiveness of innerspring coils with the form-fitting stability afforded by comfort foam—are typically more expensive, making the Linenspa Memory Foam Hybrid a fantastic value.
This bed-in-a-box arrives compressed and takes about 48 hours to expand. At 8-inches, the most affordable Linenspa offering is not the thickest mattress on our list, but should be supportive enough for kids. Linenspa also offers 10 and 12-inch thick versions of its Memory Foam Hybrid.
Price at time of publish: $120
Best for Kids: Saatva Youth Mattress
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Courtesy of Saatva
Double-sided
CertiPUR-US certified
Lifetime warranty
Pricey for kids' mattress
The best option for kids is the Saatva Youth Mattress. Designed to grow with your child, it's double-sided to meet the needs of younger and older kids at every stage. One side is for ages 3 through 7, with multi-zoned support foam toward the top. The other is for ages 8 to 12, with high-density comfort foam just below the surface.
Both sides have an organic cotton cover with a waterproof barrier for accident protection, and there's a steel innerspring core for lumbar support. Additionally, all foams are CertiPUR-US certified for chemical safety.
While the Saatva Youth Mattress is expensive, its adult equivalent is a favorite of our testers, who appreciated its handmade construction, organic materials, and luxurious comfort.
Price at time of publish: $749
Best for Adults: Leesa Original Twin Mattress
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Courtesy of Leesa
Easy to unpack
Cooling top layer
Removable/washable cover
Takes up to 72 hours to expand
No handles
For adults, we recommend the Leesa Original Mattress. It's made of GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US certified foam, but unlike many other foam mattresses, the Leesa has a multi-layer construction that makes it more akin to a hybrid mattress design.
Beneath the breathable cover, the Leesa mattress has a cooling top layer, followed by body-molding memory foam and then a core support layer. This design keeps the mattress cool while still providing the body contouring expected of a memory foam mattress. Our tester love the removable, machine-washable cover, which made the Leesa easy to clean between guests or when you want to freshen it up.
Since the Leesa mattress doesn't have handles, it can be difficult to move, but the twin size weighs only 50 pounds.
Price at time of publish: $750
Best XL: Serta Perfect Sleeper Charlotte 11.5" Medium Plush Mattress
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Temperature-regulating
Motion isolation
Suitable for all sleeping positions
Hard to find bedding size
Need a twin XL size? Go with the Serta Perfect Sleeper Charlotte. This hybrid mattress features pocketed coils, plus a top layer of gel-infused foam. The innerspring system provides support and pressure-point relief, while the gel has a temperature-regulating effect.
We also like that the Perfect Sleeper isolates movement and has edge support to prevent you from sinking in or rolling off. This versatile mattress is designed to be suitable for all sleeping positions. The only thing to keep in mind is that it can be harder to find properly sized twin XL bedding.
Price at time of publish: $600
Best Memory Foam: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
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Courtesy of Nectar
Temperature-regulating
Body-conforming design
CertiPUR-US certified
Takes 24 hours to expand
We also like Nectar's Memory Foam Mattress. It's got a high-density foam base, support foam in the middle, and body-conforming memory foam on top. The upper layer is infused with gel to offer a nice cooling effect and help keep night sweats at bay.
Each layer is CertiPUR-US certified, so you can rest assured your mattress is made without harmful substances and won't emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds). You'll have to wait about 24 hours for it to fully expand, but this is to be expected for a bed-in-a-box.
Price at time of publish: $399
Best Foam: Tuft & Needle Original Adaptive Foam Mattress
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Courtesy of Amazon
Bounce-back support
Temperature-regulating
CertiPUR-US certified
No edge support
If you like the feel of foam but not necessarily memory foam, go with Tuft & Needle. The brand's Original Mattress features a base layer of perforated foam for maximum breathability, followed by body-contouring adaptive foam. The result is a buoyant sleeping surface with bounce-back support.
And that's not all. Cooling gel and heat-conducting graphite promise to draw heat away from your body while you catch your Zs. Bear in mind this mattress doesn't have edge support. Also, it has a slight odor out of the box, but it'll dissipate in a day or two.
Price at time of publish: $745
Best Soft: Purple Mattress
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Courtesy of Purple
Body-conforming
Excellent breathability
Motion isolation
Poor edge support
No handles
Our home tester loved how the Purple Mattress's GelFlex Grid worked to conform to the body while cradling your pressure points. Although it lacks edge support, the responsive sinking-in sensation doesn't feel like it'll swallow you.
This mattress is made of hyper-elastic polymer and foam, but it's surprisingly breathable, encouraging optimal airflow while you sleep. Our tester also said it doesn't make any noise and has minimal motion transfer, though this may not matter as much for a twin.
The twin size weighs 65 pounds, and since it doesn't have handles, it can be a little cumbersome to move.
Price at time of publish: $695
Best Bed-in-a-Box: Iyee Nature Gel Memory Foam Mattress in a Box
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Easy to unpack
CertiPUR-US certified
No twin XL
Takes 72 hours to expand
If you want something that arrives compressed in a box on your doorstep, Iyee Nature might be your best bet. This all-foam mattress features a high-density support base, followed by a soft comfort layer, then pressure-relieving memory foam on top.
The top layer is also infused with cooling gel to prevent overheating. Each material is CertiPUR-US certified, and the skin-friendly fabric cover carries Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label, ensuring it's free of over 100 potentially toxic chemicals. This is one of the most affordable twin mattresses we found, but it'll take up to three days to expand once you unbox it.
Price at time of publish: $145
Best Organic: Avocado Eco Organic Mattress
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GOLS- and GOTS-certified
Edge support
Naturally moisture-wicking
Pricey for a twin
The Avocado Eco Mattress features 8 inches of pocketed coils at the base. On top is GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified organic latex sourced from sustainably run farms. The upper layer is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) organic cotton and wool.
As a whole, this hybrid mattress offers body-contouring support, a medium-firm feel, and breathable, naturally moisture-wicking comfort. It's kind of pricey for a twin, but with Avocado, you can always count on quality.
Price at time of publish: $799
Type: Hybrid | Material: Organic latex, organic wool, organic cotton, pocket coils | Thickness: 10 inches | Warranty: 10 years
Our number one pick is the Casper Original Mattress. The all-foam, bed-in-a-box design is the perfect balance of support and cushioning, making it ideal for most sleeping styles. For a more affordable option that still includes a lot of advanced hybrid mattress features, check out the Linenspa 8 Inch Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress instead.
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The Spruce / Nusha Ashjaee
What to Look For in a Twin Mattress
Firmness
Most mattresses are designated as firm, medium, or plush. Some companies also add in-between firmness categories, such as medium-firm. You can find twin mattresses in any of these firmness options.
Most mattress companies include a medium option, with some specializing in firmer mattresses or plush pillow tops. The best options have multiple firmnesses available within the same height profile. When shopping for a child's bed, Dr. Gibson says, "A medium-firm surface is right for proper support."
Material
When selecting a mattress, you can choose between memory foam, traditional innerspring, or hybrid options that combine the two. Memory foam tends to be heavier but can be compressed and delivered right to your home. Another advantage of a memory foam mattress is that it often lasts longer than innerspring or hybrid options, but it will depend on how much the mattress gets used. Innerspring mattresses are bulkier to ship but may be lighter and easier to move around.
"The best materials to look for are organic cotton, natural latex, or wool instead of memory foam, polyurethane foam and other synthetic materials," Dr. Gibson told The Spruce.
To help keep you comfortable throughout the night, consider the breathability of materials as well. Foam mattresses tend to be hot for some sleepers, so you may want one made with ventilated foam to allow airflow. Choosing a mattress with a breathable cover, such as one made from 100 percent cotton, can also help you stay cool.
Certifications
Because you spend a third of your life in bed, you may want a mattress that's been third-party tested for consumer safety. Certifications can validate that safe and sustainable materials and practices were used throughout the manufacturing process and supply chain. For example, a foam mattress with CertiPUR-US certification is free of heavy metals, ozone depleters, and other potentially harmful chemicals. Similarly, mattresses with OEKO-TEX Standard certification have also been tested for potentially harmful substances.
"Looking for certifications like GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US can help you find low-VOC mattresses as well as those free from mercury, lead, formaldehyde, and other chemicals," Dr. Gibson said, using an acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds.
She also recommends looking for a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification, which maintains high standards for manufacturers describing their products as containing organic textiles and materials.
Thickness
Mattresses come in a variety of thicknesses, usually ranging from 6 to 12 inches. Firmer mattresses tend to have a lower profile, while plush mattresses have more layers and a higher overall thickness. This isn’t always the case, so be sure to look at the specifications of a mattress you like. When buying a new mattress and selecting the best thickness, also consider if you will need a box spring. This can add to the overall height.
To help keep you comfortable throughout the night, consider the breathability. Foam mattresses tend to be hot for some sleepers, so you may want one made with ventilated foam to allow airflow. Choosing a mattress with a breathable cover, such as one made from 100 percent cotton, can also help you stay cool.
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What is the difference between a twin and a twin XL mattress?
A standard twin mattress is 38 inches wide and 75 inches long. Twin XL mattresses are extra-long, giving you an additional 5 inches for a total length of 80 inches. This is a plus for anyone over 5 feet 9 inches tall and anyone who prefers to have extra legroom or space for additional pillows.
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How long should a twin mattress last?
As a rule of thumb, most modern mattresses should last seven to 10 years. That said, thinner mattresses made with low-quality materials will likely start to sag or become uneven in as little as four years. A good memory foam mattress pad can help extend the life of an older mattress.
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Who are twin mattresses best for?
As the smallest and often most affordable of the six most common mattress sizes, a twin is generally best for kids. Since it takes up minimal space, it's also a good option for bunk beds, college dorms, and other small spaces.
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Is a king mattress the size of two twins?
A standard king mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. Standard twin mattresses measure 38 inches by 75 inches. Two twin XL mattresses will equal the size of a king mattress because twin XL mattresses are five inches longer than standard twins.
Why Trust The Spruce?
For this roundup, Theresa Holland interviewed Dr. Katy Gibson, a pediatrician and the creator of the online community Unfolding Motherhood, who offered insight into what to look for in a twin mattress. She considered several models our home testers tried first-hand, then researched today's best options. The featured mattresses are supportive, comfortable, durable, and backed by manufacturer warranties. Theresa has been covering mattresses, bedding, decor, and other home goods at The Spruce since 2019. You can find more of her bylines on People, MyDomaine, and Byrdie.
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