Best Mattress for Teenagers (2023): Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

The consequences of inadequate sleep for teenagers are rather severe. The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports insufficient sleep affects a teen’s ability to concentrate and focus, and can also increase the risk of illnesses and accidents. Furthermore, the Nationwide Children’s hospital reports teenagers receiving an average of 7 hours of sleep per night— teenagers should be receiving between 9 to 10 hours each night.

If you’re concerned about your teenager’s sleep patterns, one of the things you may want to look into is their mattress. An old, uncomfortable bed could make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep.

In this mattress review, our editors have compiled some of the best mattresses for teenagers. After reading this article, you should have a much better understanding of which is the right mattress for your growing teen.

Best Mattresses for Teenagers

The Zoma Mattress is another great option for your growing teenager. The 12-inch tall,  foam mattress features 2 inches of Triangulex™, 2 inches of Reactiv™, and 7 inches of Support+. The polyester blend cover offers a soft, plush sleep surface.

Triangulex™ foam includes hundreds of triangle-shaped segments, forming a 3-zone support system. Deeper compression is applied to heavier sections of the body, like the shoulders and hips, while the firmer section aligns the back.

The latex-like feel of Reactiv™ provides a responsive bounce to teenagers, making it easier to switch sleep positions and to get in and out of bed. Reactiv™ also aligns the spine and cushions the body.

Support+ is a high-density foam, designed to reinforce the top comfort layers and strengthen the bed’s overall structure. Support+ prevents sagging and keeps the body on the surface of the bed, instead of inside it.

The Zoma Mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

If you’re looking for a comfortable mattress for your teen, but don’t want to spend too much, then the Vaya Mattress is right for you. We love this mattress because it contains innovative, sleep-promoting foams but only costs $599 for a queen. Plus, it comes with a 10-year warranty—and 10-year warranties are pretty uncommon for budget beds, so you can feel confident you’re getting a good deal when shopping with Vaya Sleep.

The Vaya Mattress is an excellent option for teenagers not only because of its price but because of its unique feel, as well. Teenagers may tend to toss and turn as their sleep needs change and they develop their sleep style, and the Vaya is perfect to accommodate changing sleeping habits.

The Vaya contains responsive yet contouring foams, so it’ll mold to your body without causing you to sink. Due to its cushioning bounciness, it suits side, back, stomach, and combo sleepers comfortably. The Vaya can adapt with your child’s sleep needs to ensure healthy, comfortable sleep for a long time to come.

A medium in firmness, the Vaya contains two layers: a 3-inch top layer of Vaya Comfort Foam and a 9-inch sturdy base layer. Vaya’s foams offer a unique blend of comfort and support while promoting a cooler night’s sleep, so we recommend this mattress for hot sleepers, as well.

Vaya Sleep sells their mattresses online-only and offer free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial, and if needed, free returns with every mattress purchase.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for the Money: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

The Amerisleep AS2 is an excellent option for teenagers for several reasons, the first being the soft, breathable cover. This cover is designed to keep air flowing throughout the mattress, so your teen never sleeps hot. It is also removable and washable, so it is easy to keep the mattress in good condition for many years for use.

Next is Bio-Pur®, a plant-based memory foam designed to be more breathable than traditional memory foam to keep teenagers cool at night. Castor oil partially replaces petroleum during the manufacturing process, resulting in little to no off-gassing odor. Unlike traditional memory foam, Bio-Pur® does not break down and instead holds its shape to provide consistent pressure relief.

Below the Bio-Pur® layer is the Affinity layer incorporating HIVE® technology. HIVE® (Harnessing Intelligent Ventilation and Energy) contains hundreds of hexagon-shaped cutouts grouped into five comfort zones— the head, shoulders, back, hips, and feet.

The Amerisleep AS2 mattress also stands out because of the 20-year warranty. The first 10 years of the warranty provide full coverage against manufacturer defects. If there are any defects in structure or workmanship, the company will replace your bed for free. The next 10 years are prorated— if any manufacturer defects arise during this time, you can buy a new mattress at a discounted cost.

Amerisleep offers a 100-night sleep trial with the purchase of the AS2 mattress. If your teenager is not satisfied with the bed after an adjustment period, you can return it for a full refund. The company will arrange to donate the mattress or recycle it. Amerisleep asks customers to try the mattress for at least 30 days before determining whether to keep it.

If your teenager is particularly active, there are mattresses available to aid in their nightly recovery. One such option is the Bear Original mattress. The Bear mattress is medium-firm, ranking as a 7.1 on the 1-10 scale, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. The Bear mattress is designed for athletes, so it’s equipped to support your child’s growing body.

The first layer is 2 inches of graphite-infused gel memory foam. Graphite and gel effectively pull heat away from the body, providing a cooler, more comfortable sleep for your teen.

Beneath the gel foam is a 3-inch responsive transition foam, offering pressure relief and balanced support. Finally, there is a 5-inch layer of high-density support foam, making the mattress more durable and reinforcing the top layers. The multi-layer foam system provides edge support, meaning your teenager will be comfortable no matter where they sleep on the bed. Your teen also won’t have to worry about the mattress sagging or collapsing.

Bear offers a 10-year warranty on this bed. The warranty protects against any visible and lasting indentations greater than 1 inch, along with physical flaws in the mattress, which would cause the foam to split or crack. All warranties are contingent on the customer using a proper support base with the bed. The warranty does not cover any decrease in the recovery features of the mattress, such as those offered by the Celliant® cover.

The company also offers a 100-night sleep trial with this bed. If your teen is not satisfied with the bed, Bear will pick it up for free and donate it to a local charity.

If your teenager doesn’t like the feeling of foam, then you may want to consider a hybrid option instead, as they contain innerspring support systems. Tuft & Needle recently introduced a Hybrid Mattress to its product line. The pocket coils provide support, but the plush layer on this bed is soft, providing an overall medium firmness.

The top layer of the Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress has a 1-inch quilted poly-foam pillow top, which cradles the body without sagging. Next, is a 2-inch layer T&N Adaptive® foam to relieve pressure points and offer even support. A 1-inch layer of microcoils and 1-inch layer of polyfoam act as transitional layers to align the spine.

For support, 6 inches of pocketed coils provide even weight distribution and reduce motion transfer. Pocketed coils also reinforce the sides of the bed for excellent edge support. A 1-inch layer of high-density poly-foam maintains the shape of the mattress.

T&N offers a 10-year limited warranty with this mattress. The warranty is limited to material defects and workmanship. It covers visible indentations and sagging greater than three-quarters of an inch. This is noticeably less than the warranties offered by other companies, which only protect against sagging greater than 1 inch or more.

The company also offers a 100-night sleep trial with this bed. If your teenager is not satisfied within this timeframe, you can return it for a full refund and the company will donate the bed to a local charity.

The Luma Mattress stands out on our list because it contains latex, which many people find to be cooler and more comfortable than memory foam. You can also choose from three different firmness options— plush, medium, and firm.

The Luma Sleep Mattress starts with a 2-inch layer of natural latex to relieve pressure points. Latex naturally sleeps cool, preventing your teen from overheating at night.

Below the latex is an 8-inch QE Bolsa Coil support layer. This system of coils is designed to promote proper spinal alignment while also providing consistent support. Individually-wrapped coils reduce noise potential and improve motion isolation. Beneath the coils is a 1-inch high-density base foam layer that supports the coils and allows them to provide more targeted assistance.

Luma offers a 10-year warranty on this bed. The company guarantees its products will be free of defects in workmanship and materials. It also ensures the mattress will maintain functional integrity. The company will replace the entire mattress or any defective part if anything arises during the extent of the warranty.

There’s a 100-night trial period with this bed as well. If your teen isn’t satisfied with the bed, you can return it or exchange it for another model.

SEE ALSO: What Is an Organic Mattress?

If you’re particularly worried about your teen’s health, or your teen struggles with allergies, then you may want to consider the Avocado Green Mattress. Made of entirely natural and organic materials, the Avocado Mattress is hypoallergenic. Customers can purchase a standard medium-firm mattress, or for an additional charge, add a 2-inch Dunlop latex pillow-top to alter the feel to medium.

The Avocado Mattress is covered with a 100% organic cotton cover. The company uses GOTS certified cotton, which is soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking. Next is a 2-inch layer of Dunlop latex to conform to the body and relieve pressure points. Dunlop latex also sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam, so your teenager will keep cool at night.

8 inches of individually-wrapped recycled steel coils feature three different gauges, organized into five distinct ergonomic zones to provide pressure relief. These coils reduce motion transfer and distribute weight more evenly across the entire mattress.

Avocado offers a 25-year warranty on the mattress. The first 10 years include full, non-prorated coverage against manufacturer defects. The remaining years offer limited prorated coverage. Additionally, there is a 365-night sleep trial with this mattress. If your teen is not satisfied at any point during the trial, you can arrange for the mattress to be picked up and donated for a full refund.

SEE ALSO: Mattress Size and Dimensions Guide

What to Look for in a Mattress for a Teenager

Teenagers need an average of 9 hours of sleep each night. This is not as much sleep as what younger children need, but it’s still more sleep than what an adult needs. See our guide on how much sleep children need to better understand how sleep needs change as we grow up.

The right mattress is key for that. The best mattress improves sleep quality and encourages spinal growth. Mattress type, sleeping position, mattress size, price, and possible sleep trials, warranties, and return policies are all vital factors in finding the best mattress.

Mattress Type

Each mattress type offers its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks— the type of mattress you choose depends on your teen’s personal preferences. For example, memory foam is an excellent choice for pressure relief, but some teenagers may not like the hug-like sensation of the material.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses contain a comfort layer of memory foam and a layer of high-density foam. Memory foam is a popular mattress choice because of its excellent body-contouring abilities in relieving pressure points and reducing pain. A memory foam mattress does run the risk of overheating due to heat retention, but choosing a memory foam bed with cooling properties, like gel, copper, and graphite can alleviate this problem.

Latex Mattresses

Latex comes in two different forms— natural and synthetic. Synthetic latex is created through a chemical process, while natural latex is made from the sap of rubber trees.

Latex has similar properties to memory foam— soft feel and body-contouring pressure relief. Unlike memory foam, latex sleeps cooler and has a responsive bounce, making it easier to move around at night. A latex mattress has a comfort layer of latex foam and either a high-density foam or latex as a support layer.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are also known as the “traditional” mattresses. Innerspring beds contain a thin layer of foam or fiber padding for a comfort layer and a layer of steel coils for a support layer. Innerspring mattresses are more responsive and have better cooling due to the open structure of coiled springs. A drawback to an innerspring mattress is its lack of pressure relief compared to memory foam and latex beds.

Hybrid Mattresses

The idea behind the hybrid mattress was to create the perfect bed. The hybrid mattress contains both the comforting feel of memory foam and the support an innerspring. A true hybrid must have a 2-inch thick comfort layer and a coiled support. Hybrid mattresses offer the benefits of pressure relief and better cooling, but they also provide drawbacks, like risk of overheating and pressure buildup.

Price

Set a budget in place before shopping for a new mattress for your teenager. Expect to pay about $1500 for a good-quality mattress, depending on mattress type. Some types are more expensive, like latex and hybrids, while others vary between low to average costs, like innerspring and memory foam beds.

You may also want to consider other accessories, like an adjustable bed, when considering your budget.

To maximize savings, we suggest hitting up the year’s big mattress sales days.

• Presidents Day Mattress Sales
• Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• Fourth of July Mattress Sales
• Columbus Day Mattress Sales
• Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

Sleeping Position

Your teenager’s preferred sleep position impacts the firmness level they choose. Side, back, and stomach sleeping each require a specific firmness level. For instance, a side sleeper has larger gaps between the sleep surface and the spine— a mattress soft enough to fill those gaps keeps the spine in neutral alignment and ensures a good night’s sleep.

Side Sleeping

Side sleeping is one of the most common and most popular sleep positions. Side sleeping enables better oxygen intake and reduces acid reflux and pressure off of vital organs, like the heart and liver. Side sleepers need a soft to medium-firm mattress with excellent contouring properties to relieve pressure in the shoulders and hips.

Back Sleeping

Back sleeping is another healthy sleep position; however, back sleepers run the risk of snoring and developing sleep apnea. A combination of gravity and weakened muscles at the back of the throat causes soft tissue to collapse, obstructing airways. A back sleeper should look for a medium to firm mattress to support the body with a slight sinking of the hips to align the spine.

Stomach Sleeping

Stomach sleeping is the least common sleep position with the most health risks. Stomach sleepers have a higher risk of neck strain and back pain— neck strain by twisting the head at an unnatural angle to breathe, and back pain from the combination of gravity and body weight, pulling the natural curve of the spine down. Stomach sleepers need a medium-firm to firm mattress to keep the body on top of the mattress and avoid deep sinking that could misalign the spine.

Read More: Best Mattresses for Back Pain

Sleep Trials, Warranties, and Return Policies

Features like sleep trials, warranties, and return policies are offered by manufacturers to assure customers of a quality purchase. Always read through the fine print and know the guidelines.

Sleep Trial

A sleep trial is a period of time given to the customer to try out a new mattress within the comfort of their own home. Particularly helpful for any parents buying online mattresses they can’t have a teenager try out before buying.

Sleep trials last between 90 to 120 nights. If the customer is unsatisfied with the mattress, the company will usually issue a full refund.

Warranty

A warranty protects a new mattress from damage caused by manufacturing defects and sagging greater than 1-inch. Sagging depth may vary, depending on the brand. Potential shoppers should always read the fine print to know what the manufacturer expects of the customer, and what the customer should expect from the manufacturer. Most mattresses come with a standard 10-year warranty.

Return Policy

If no sleep trial is offered, look at the return policy. Return policies last up to 30 days—about the same time it takes for the body to adjust to a new mattress. If the mattress is not to the customer’s liking, they can contact the company for a full refund.

Other Things to Consider

Is a memory foam mattress good for teenagers?

Yes. Choosing a medium to medium-firm memory foam mattress is the best choice for teenagers, because the foam prevents teenagers from sinking too deeply into the mattress, allowing teenagers to feel like they’re sleeping on top of the bed instead of inside it.

What is the best size bed for a teenager?

Twin, twin xl, full or queen size mattresses can work for teenagers, depending on the available bedroom space and height of the sleeper. Larger-sized beds give teenagers more room to sprawl out on the bed and encourage healthy growth.

At what age should my child move on from their twin bed?

The answer to this varies on a case-by-case basis. It depends on when your child got their twin bed, and how comfortable their twin mattress still feels for them. If their feet are dangling over the edge of the bed, it’s time to move up a mattress size. If your child has been sleeping on their twin mattress for almost a decade, it’s safe to say it’s time for a replacement.

You’ll know when it’s time to upgrade your child’s bed, as they’ll either outgrow it or you’ll notice the bed begin to wear and sag with age.

Who are full size mattresses best for?

Full size mattresses are a great choice for teenagers, but they also work well for adults who don’t have to share their mattress. Fulls work nicely for those who have the occasional pet or child crawl into bed with them, but they’re a tight squeeze for couples. You can also buy a full size mattress for your child after they graduate from their crib so they have a large bed to grow into, but this ultimately depends on bedroom space and budget.

Are twin beds too small for teenagers?

Twin beds can work for shorter adults and teens, but most teenagers will want a twin XL mattress because it offers 5 inches of extra legroom. Twin XL mattresses are commonly found in dorms because they can accommodate taller sleepers and adults. Plus, should your teenager ever want to upgrade to a larger size bed, they can choose to buy another twin XL and place their two beds side-by-side to create one king size mattress.

Conclusion

Investing in a comfortable mattress with excellent support can help your teenager get a good night’s sleep as they deal with the growing pains associated with adolescence. And when you choose the right one, it can last them throughout their teenage years.