Best Mattress for College Students

Going away to college is one of the most exciting periods of life. Meeting new friends, learning new things, and working towards your career goals are all exciting—and exhausting at the same time. That’s why you’ll need an amazing new mattress (if you’re planning to bring your own mattress, that is).

The good news is there are plenty of mattresses on the market that can offer you a quality night’s sleep in your college dorm room. Many of them are also online mattress brands that offer free delivery, allowing you to ship a mattress in a box directly to college. Let’s take a look at a few of the best mattresses for college students.

Best Mattresses for College Students

If you’re mattress shopping on a budget, as many college students are, the Vaya Mattress is a fantastic option. This memory foam mattress offers tons of quality comfort at a price that won’t break your budget. It does so by using a simple, two-layer design.

In the comfort layer, the open-cell Vaya Comfort Foam is highly contouring to relieve tired pressure points for side sleepers, while its thousands of air pockets keep cool air circulating around your body all night long.

Underneath, the Vaya Base Foam creates a supportive base layer that helps encourage proper spinal alignment and fights sagging for a full ten years. That means you can expect the same level of durability you’d get out of much more expensive mattresses for just $349 for a twin!

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

The Zoma Mattress is the best memory foam mattress on the market for student-athletes because it was designed to facilitate recovery through restorative sleep. This medium mattress combines a highly breathable ventilated cover with a layer of gel-infused memory foam to help you keep your temperature regulated while you sleep.

The Zoma also helps active sleepers get recuperative rest because of its responsive ReactivTM transition layer. This layer makes the cooling gel foam layer spring back into place as soon as you move. So you can toss and turn to your heart’s content.

On the bottom, the Support+ layer offers superior spinal support to help keep your spine in perfect alignment. This is especially important for athletes trying to avoid back pain or back problems. Best of all, you get all this comfort and support for a competitive price: less than $500 for a twin!

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

If you want a highly versatile mattress that can accommodate just about all sleeping positions and is built to last, you should take a look at the AS3 by Amerisleep. This mattress uses plant-based Bio-Pur® foam, which is much more responsive and cooling than a regular memory foam without sacrificing contouring.

Bio-Pur® foam also has the added benefit of creating less toxic waste than traditional memory foam. So it’s better for the environment. And it’s also great for sleepers with allergies because it creates a hostile environment for common allergens like dust mites and mildew.

Underneath this amazing plant-based foam sits the HIVE® transition layer. This memory foam layer adds five zones of pressure relief that target different areas of the body. This zoned transition foam offers the perfect balance of spinal support and pressure point cushioning.

Another great feature of this mattress is the ultra-high-density Bio-Core® support foam. This foam doesn’t just provide superior support for your spine. It also makes this a mattress that you can take with you far beyond your college years. Expect the AS3 to last at least two decades.

SEE ALSO: Amerisleep Mattress Review

If you have the budget for some luxury, consider the Saatva Classic Mattress. This innerspring and foam hybrid mattress uses a Euro top and individually pocketed coils to solve the biggest problems with innerspring mattresses: pressure and lack of contouring.

The thick Euro-style pillow top offers top-notch contouring to cradle your pressure points and follow the curve of your body. The Euro top works with the top layer of adaptable pocketed coils to keep your spine aligned.

Underneath the pocketed coil layer, you’ll find a layer of ultra-bouncy open coils. These coils are surrounded on all sides by firmer foam rails for enhanced edge support. All this means if you love the bounce of an innerspring but not the sagginess, the Classic could give you a good night’s sleep.

SEE ALSO: Best Luxury Mattresses: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide 

The Ghostbed Flex is possibly the best hybrid mattress for hot sleepers because of its combination of different sleep technologies that all work together. On top, the quilted cooling cover and cooling fiber layer keep air flowing around your body and through the mattress. Below that, two gel memory foam layers pull heat away from you.

The Ghostbed Flex also features their proprietary Ghost Bounce layer that springs back like latex but contours like gel memory foam. This layer adds even more bounce to the individually wrapped coils to create a responsive bed that’s great for active sleepers.

Finally, the ultra-dense base foam helps increase motion isolation and stability. Stomach sleepers usually need firm mattresses, but this base foam puts the GhostBed Flex among the best mattresses for stomach sleepers because it provides tons of lift.

The base foam also makes this one extremely durable gel memory foam mattress that will last a full 25 years. This durability is perfect for students looking for a mattress that can stand up to college life.

SEE ALSO: Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress: Buyer’s Guide

Considerations for Buying a Mattress for College Students

When shopping for mattresses for college students, there are several different considerations you’ll need to keep in mind. You’ll need to make sure it fits in your dorm room bed frame if you have one. You’ll probably want it to be pretty easy to move. And you’ll need it to be durable.

Size

Mattress size is one of the biggest things to think about when buying a college bed. Dorm rooms are typically tiny, so most college students likely aren’t going to be sleeping on a king size or even a queen size bed.

If your dorm room comes equipped with bunk beds or a bed frame, you’ll want to find out its dimensions before you purchase. Even if it doesn’t come with a frame, you’ll probably still be sleeping on a twin or twin XL size mattress. These are the most compact adult bed sizes and will give you enough space to sleep without taking up much space in your room.

That said, while twin XL mattresses are commonly chosen to accommodate most body types without taking up much space, some dorms may offer other options, like a full size mattress. Reaching out to the college’s housing department or student services can give you the chance to understand the expected dimensions of a dorm’s frame.

Material

Each common mattress material has advantages and disadvantages for college students. There are four main types of mattresses that a college student may want to consider to get a good night’s sleep.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are the cheapest mattress type. They’re also the lightest weight, making them easy to just pop in and out of your dorm. On the flip side, these mattresses are not durable at all. They may have a hard time standing up to college life.

Cheap innerspring beds may age so fast they sag before you even graduate. So keep in mind you may have to replace your innerspring mattress while you’re still in school. Some college kids may instead prefer to choose a mattress that won’t sag, such as a well-made all-foam one.

Hybrid

What is a hybrid mattress? A hybrid mattress swaps open coils for pocketed coils in the support layer. So a hybrid mattress is much more durable and adaptable than an innerspring mattress. But hybrids still offer the bounce and breathability of coils.

However, hybrid mattresses are very heavy and often quite expensive. That means they may be financially out of reach for many students. They may also be less compatible with the college lifestyle because they’re not going to be as easy to relocate. So changing dorms or bringing them home for the summer could be a pain.

Memory Foam

Memory foam beds could be the best mattresses for college life. Flexible polyurethane foam is comparatively durable. A memory foam mattress is lighter than hybrids and latex beds. It’s often affordable. And it’s highly flexible, so a memory foam mattress can offer quality sleep.

The one thing you may need to watch out for is temperature regulation. If you sleep hot and need a cooling mattress, memory foam mattresses may not be the best mattresses for you. This is especially true if you can’t control the temperature settings in your dorm room.

However, there are high-quality mattresses that rely on gel foam and other features to establish a cooling memory foam mattress. So, with a little bit of research, the mattress type still sleeps cool.

Natural Latex

Natural latex foam mattresses are delightfully springy, extremely durable, and tend to sleep cool. Latex mattresses will outlast pretty much every other mattress type by a long shot. A latex foam mattress is also typically the bed of choice for any college student seeking an eco-friendly mattress.

However, latex may not make the best foam mattress for college students because they’re very expensive and very heavy. Even a twin size latex foam mattress will probably need two people to move it, so keep that in mind even if you can afford a latex bed.

A latex foam mattress can feel particularly unwieldy if you try to pair it with a bunk bed or a lofted bed frame. See our mattress type and weight guide for more information.

And as we mentioned, latex beds and in particular an organic latex mattress, can also cost a significant amount. While their durability can make the price point worthwhile, a college student may still struggle with paying for one.

Durability

College life can be tough on mattresses:

• You move the mattress a lot.
• You have people in and out of your room all the time.
• You’ll probably be using the mattress to sit, study, and even eat.

So you’ll need one of the most durable mattresses that can stand up to a four-year beating.

Initial Price

Most college students can’t financially swing a mattress that costs several thousand dollars. However, you also don’t want to buy an uncomfortable mattress that breaks before you even graduate.

The good news is you can get a high-quality mattress for just a few hundred dollars, with many of the best mattresses costing under $500. For a good combination of affordability and durability, look for a memory foam mattress or a value hybrid mattress.

College students can also take advantage of the best times to buy a mattress throughout the year:

• Best Presidents Day Mattress Sales
• Best Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• Best 4th of July Mattress Sales
• Best Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Best Columbus Day Mattress Sales
• Best Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Best Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

Quality

Two measures of a quality mattress are warranty and sleep trial, so you’ll want to make sure you’re taking a look at these when you shop for your mattress.

Warranty

A standard warranty with a mattress will cover manufacturer defects and premature aging. The length of a warranty is a good indicator of how long the manufacturer expects the mattress to last.

Look for a 10-year warranty or more to ensure your mattress was built to last. This is the expected warranty length for a quality bed in the mattress industry, although some budget mattresses may offer shorter protection.

It’s also essential to look at a warranty’s sagging protection, as these can vary widely. One online mattress brand will replace or repair a sagging mattress once it reaches a certain depth, while another may not do so until the sagging is even deeper and more uncomfortable.

Sleep Trial

The sleep trial allows you to try the mattress for a certain period of time and return it for a full refund if you don’t like it. A generous free sleep trial with a mattress not only allows you to decide whether you’ve bought the right mattress but is also a good indicator that the manufacturer stands behind their product and thinks you will love it. That’s why you should look for a 100-night sleep trial or more.

FAQs

What’s the best bed base for a college dorm room mattress?

If your dorm room doesn’t come with a bed frame or bunk beds, a platform bed is likely the best one for the college lifestyle. Platform beds are compatible with all mattress types. They offer sturdy and rigid support. And they don’t require a mattress foundation or box spring set.

One of the best things about platform beds is many of them are easy to take apart and move. It’s super easy to find a lightweight platform bed that comes apart and goes back together in just a few simple steps. And most of these platform beds are extremely affordable to boot.

Do I need a mattress protector for my college mattress?

Absolutely. Mattress protectors shield your mattress from stains, sweat, mold, moisture buildup, and a host of other threats. They can protect you from a mattress full of dust mites and bacteria. And they can also preserve your warranty coverage by protecting your mattress from stains.

A new mattress purchase may even include a free mattress protector, or at least the chance to buy one at a discount. So make sure you’re using a protector on your mattress at all times. If you have a mattress topper, place it under the protector.

Which mattress size is best for a dorm room?

Twin and twin XL size mattresses are best for tiny dorm rooms. The 38 by 75-inch twin size bed is a perfect mattress for college students under six feet tall. Students over six feet tall may need to upgrade to the 38 by 80-inch twin xl mattress. These mattresses are still compact enough to go in a dorm room, but they won’t let your feet dangle.

How much should I pay for a college mattress?

Generally speaking, you’ll probably want to pay less for a school mattress than you would a mattress for later life stages. The good news is twin and twin XL mattress sizes make finding an affordable mattress a whole lot easier. Expect to pay at least $300 for a twin size mattress of sufficient quality.

If you can’t afford to replace your mattress, a mattress topper may help you get a little more use out of your existing one, as long as it isn’t sagging. A mattress topper may also help if you can’t bring your own mattress.

What’s the best bunk bed mattress?

Bunk beds need lighter mattresses so you can get them up and down. This is especially true for college kids in the top bunk. Innerspring mattresses are the lightest choice, making them ideal for bunk beds. A bunk bed mattress should also be relatively slim to ensure a sleeper won’t roll over the guard rail as they sleep.

If you want a more durable and contouring mattress than an innerspring bed, go with memory foam. This foam is heavier than open coil innerspring mattresses, but it’s lighter than latex and hybrid mattresses. That will make it relatively easier to move your mattress into the bunk.

Bottom Line

The best mattresses for college aren’t hard to find. Just remember, you’ll likely need a lighter-weight mattress that’s durable enough to withstand some rough treatment without breaking. You’ll also need one that’s affordable enough to fit your budget and comfortable enough to give you a long night of quality sleep.