Best Twin Size Mattress For Adults (2024): Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

A twin bed is an excellent choice for bedrooms and guest rooms. Its small size is bigger than a toddler bed, but it’s easy to maneuver and provides enough sleeping space for a growing body. Even though twin mattresses are the ideal choice for children, adults may feel more comfortable on a twin XL bed, since the longer size offers more legroom.

Amerisleep’s most popular mattress model is the AS3, with a medium feel perfect for side sleepers and combination sleepers. The AS3 has a newer hybrid counterpart, the AS3 Hybrid, but we’ll be focusing on the original memory foam mattress.

A full size AS3 is currently $899, with free shipping to anywhere in the continental USA. Every Amerisleep mattress includes a risk-free 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty. Amerisleep bears all costs for defective mattresses for the first 10 years, and then for the next 10 years, you pay a portion of the repair or replacement costs Read more about best mattresses made in the USA here).

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress in a Box

The Zoma Mattress is an excellent choice for side and back sleepers, particularly if you lead an active lifestyle. Layers of foam incorporate innovative design to keep you cool and evenly supported for a stress-free night.

Zoma gives you 100 nights to try out the mattress, and is also covered by a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

The Vaya Mattress is the perfect twin mattress if you’re on a tight budget. We like how this high-quality, long-lasting mattress costs only $349 for a twin size.

You’ll love the thick, cushioning feel of Vaya Comfort Foam. This layer molds to your body without causing you to feel stuck inside the mattress. The responsive feel also makes it easier to get in and out of bed.

Vaya Support Foam is another layer you’ll enjoy with its consistent support. You won’t have to worry about premature sagging and will wake refreshed and ready for the day the following morning.

The Vaya mattress has a 100-night guarantee—if you don’t love the mattress in that time, Vaya will give you a full refund. The mattress is also covered with a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for Heavy People

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

The Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid is our runner up and an excellent choice for side and combination sleepers. This soft mattress allows you to enjoy a plush surface without sagging too deeply. The responsive foams and supportive coils keep your body evenly supported for a good night’s sleep.

The Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial and 20-year warranty, one of the best in the mattress industry.

SEE ALSO: Softest Mattresses in a Box

Read Our Full Review of the Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid Mattress

If you want a cooling mattress that promotes more recovery, the Zoma Hybrid might be a perfect choice. The bed blends supportive coils with responsive and conforming comfort foams.

Zoma’s hybrid mattress shares some traits with the company’s foam model. The comfort layer is also made with gel-infused foam that absorbs heat and moisture so you sleep soundly.

Every Zoma Hybrid includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Best Casper Mattress Alternatives

Most of the time, you want to avoid innerspring mattresses if you are looking for a twin mattress. These mattresses are typically overly bouncy and exert too much pressure for comfort. However, with some improvements to the traditional innerspring design, the Saatva Classic turns the innerspring mattress from an overly firm trampoline into a much more stable and relaxing sleep experience.

SEE ALSO: Best Tempur-Pedic Mattress Alternatives

The Nolah Original 10” was designed for side sleepers—it’s shown to cause less pressure build-up in the shoulders and hips than traditional memory foam beds, a common issue for side sleepers. 

The original Nolah mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty. Shoppers can remove the sleep trial at checkout to save more money, just another thing that makes it one of the more affordable mattresses on the market.

SEE ALSO: Best Adjustable Bed for Back Pain

Bear set out to create mattresses to improve your sleep quality and physical health. Their flagship model, the Bear Original, is a memory foam bed that achieves just that, all at an affordable rate.

The Bear Original comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Its budget-friendly prices make the Bear Original one of the best mattresses under $1000, providing great value and comfort.

Bear’s other mattresses, the Bear Hybrid and Bear Pro, both help with your sleep quality and muscle recovery, but are on the pricier end of the things and are different firmnesses than the Bear Original.

SEE ALSO: Zoma vs. Bear: Side-by-Side Mattress Comparison

What sets the original Purple Mattress apart from other beds is its alternative to a memory foam comfort layer. The Purple Mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Purple Mattress Reviews

Best Twin Size Mattress Comparisons and Highlights

Why Choose a Twin Size?

A twin size mattress, sometimes called a single mattress, is small and compact—easy to move and available for affordable prices compared to other mattress sizes. Twin size beds are excellent choices for both young children and shorter adults.

A twin mattress is the next step up from a toddler bed. At 38 inches by 75 inches, twin mattresses provide plenty of room for a child’s growing body and fit nicely inside smaller rooms. If you have more than one child, you may want to consider a bunk bed. Bunk beds use less space and enable more room for play.

Single adults on their own for the first time can appreciate the compact size of a twin bed. Twin mattresses fit perfectly in a studio or one-bedroom apartment. They provide sleeping space where room is limited, such as a mattress for a guest room. While twin mattresses are smaller, they’re more versatile and cost the least.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress Under 2000 Dollars

Should I Choose a Twin XL Mattress?

There are a few reasons why an adult might choose a twin XL mattress over a regular twin:

• Extra Length: A twin XL mattress is 5 inches longer than a standard twin mattress, making it a better fit for taller adults. This extra length can provide additional legroom and ensure that the sleeper’s feet don’t hang off the end of the bed.
• Space Constraints: While a twin mattress is great for saving space, a twin XL mattress provides a little extra width and length, while still fitting in smaller rooms. This makes it a good choice for adults who have limited space but want a little more room to stretch out.
• Couples Compatibility: If two adults are sharing a bed and have limited space, two twin XL mattresses pushed together can create a similar sleeping surface to a king-size bed. This is a good option for couples who want to sleep close to each other but don’t have room for a larger bed.

Overview of Standard Mattress Sizes

How to Find the Best Twin Mattress For An Adult

To find the best twin size mattress, take a look at mattress type, mattress thickness, firmness, and available sleep trials and warranties. By researching these parameters, you’ll be able to pinpoint the best mattress to fit your needs for the best comfort.

Mattress Type

Each mattress type has a different feel. For example, memory foam molds around the body, minimizing motion transfer, while innerspring coils create a bouncy surface. Memory foam, latex, hybrids, and innersprings are excellent choices for the best sleep.

Memory Foam

Memory foam conforms to the body. Heat and pressure from your body weight soften the foam and cause the body to sink into the mattress slightly. Softened foam forms to your natural shape and relieves pressure points. You’re less likely to feel less pressure points after sleeping on a memory foam bed compared to an innerspring mattress.

Memory foam mattresses are quite popular because of their conforming ability. Parents of active children may prefer memory foam over other mattress types because memory foam offers optimal pressure point relief to reduce soreness.

Memory foam also has excellent motion isolation. The dense foam prevents movement from traveling across the sleep surface. There’s less risk of disturbing a sleep partner if you get up or switch sleeping positions at night.

Despite its benefits, memory foam can retain heat. Its dense structure doesn’t circulate air very well. Mattress manufacturers add cooling materials to make the material more breathable. A classic example is gel memory foam. The gel is added to memory foam during the production process, and effectively absorbs and dissipates body heat for a cool night’s sleep.

Also, something for parents to keep in mind: memory foam is not recommended for children under the age of 8. Memory foam may pose a suffocation risk to babies and small children. Instead, wait until they turn 10 years old before purchasing a memory foam mattress.

SEE ALSO: Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers

Latex

Latex shares similar traits with memory foam, including conforming to your body for pressure relief and restricting motion transfer to prevent sleep disruptions. However, latex foam is more responsive than memory foam, making it easier to switch sleeping positions. Latex is also cooler than memory foam—latex feels firmer than memory foam and has a more breathable structure.

Latex mattresses are an excellent choice for children prone to allergies or night sweats because they’re naturally cooling and hypoallergenic.

Latex comes in two forms—natural and synthetic. Natural latex is derived from rubber tree sap and is more durable than synthetic latex. It also costs more. Synthetic latex is made through a chemical process. While it costs less than natural latex, it may give off a stronger chemical smell (off-gassing) than natural latex.

Hybrid

Different mattress brands may claim their model is a hybrid. A true hybrid mattress has a comfort layer of either memory foam or latex that’s at least 2 inches thick and a coiled support layer. Hybrids combine pressure relief and coiled support to form the perfect bed by bringing together the benefits of two different mattresses. But they may also retain heat and lack motion isolation.

Kids may enjoy a hybrid because it has a bouncier surface than a memory foam or latex mattress.

Hybrids are considered a luxury option due to the number of materials they contain. Compared to other mattresses, hybrids are more expensive and can be difficult to move because they are heavy.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are the least expensive mattress type, but they’re also the least durable. Innersprings contain steel coils and a pillow top comfort layer. They’re bouncy and cool compared to memory foam mattresses. Innerspring coils are highly responsive, and the open structure allows more for more airflow.

The problem with innersprings is that they provide little to no pressure relief. The thin comfort layer is meant to protect your body from the steel coils, not relieve pressure points. Also, innerspring beds have the most motion transfer—you’re more likely to wake from sleep partner movement.

Mattress Thickness

For optimal stability and adequate support, a 10-inch twin size mattress is the minimum height. This height makes it easier to climb in and out of and contains thick layers to adequately support the body.

Thinner mattresses may be cheaper, but they won’t last as long as a 10-inch bed. Thinner mattresses also wear out faster because the layers aren’t thick enough to properly support your weight for a long period of time.

This is especially true for plus-size sleepers. Thin twin mattresses will sag and may cause pressure to build up in heavier areas of your body, like the shoulders and hips. This is another reason why 10 to 12 inch mattresses are the best option.

SEE ALSO: How Thick Should Your Mattress Be?

Firmness

Sleeping position and body type are important factors to consider in choosing the right firmness level. Parents can get this information by talking to their children about their sleeping preferences. Because children under the age of 13 need at least nine hours of sleep, finding the right firmness ensures a good night’s rest for optimal growth.

Sleeping Position

Side sleeping is one of the most comfortable sleep positions. Over 70 percent of Americans prefer to sleep on their side over any other sleeping position. For side sleepers, more pressure builds up in the shoulders and hips, areas where weight presses into the mattress.

To reduce pressure build-up, a soft to medium twin mattress is recommended for side sleepers. The softer surface is better able to provide the greatest pressure relief in the shoulders and hips.

In contrast, only 16 percent of Americans prefer sleeping on their stomachs. This is because gravity puts excessive pressure on the spine in the stomach sleeping position and could lead to back pain.

A softer surface may cause the body to sink too deeply and create more pressure points. But a medium-firm to firm mattress is more comfortable for stomach sleepers. A firmer feel keeps the body resting on top of the bed. It may also prevent spinal misalignment from deep sinkage.

Lying on your back naturally aligns your spine and places your body in a neutral position. Less pressure builds up in the back. A medium to firm twin size mattress will feel the most comfortable for back sleepers. This surface cushions the shoulders and hips and lower back support.

Combination sleepers shift between two to three sleeping positions during the night. Combination sleepers need a firmness to maintain spinal alignment, no matter the sleep position. That’s why a medium to medium-firm mattress for combination sleepers is an excellent choice. The medium feel provides a healthy balance of cushion and support without feeling too soft or too hard.

Keep in mind that a twin size mattress may feel too small to a combination sleeper. A twin bed may not provide enough room for regular movement from combination sleepers.

Body Type

Since twin beds are best for children, parents need to consider how a potential mattress will support a growing body. The right mattress encourages spinal alignment, something that may strengthen a growing spine and reduce growing pains.

Because adults have already reached their majority, they need to consider their weight, or for couples, combined weight. Each weight, whether light, average, or plus-size needs a specific level of comfort and support to keep the spine aligned and provide the best comfort possible.

Sleep Trial and Warranty

Sleep trials and mattress warranties serve to reassure customers of a sound buy. For parents, warranties will give you an idea how long a mattress will last. You want the bed to withstand continuous wear and tear so your children can enjoy the mattress up to their teen years. Sleep trials reduce stress for parents trying to find a quality mattress for their child.

Sleep Trial

A sleep trial allows you to try out a new mattress at home and was popularized by online mattresses. Most sleep trials last 90 to 120 nights, giving you plenty of time to decide if a new bed is right for you. If you don’t like the bed, most companies will issue a full refund.

Warranty

Mattress warranties protect you from paying for mattress damages. These include sagging greater than 1 inch and manufacturing defects. Most mattress warranties come with a standard 10-year warranty and can’t be transferred to third parties.

FAQs

How much should a twin mattress cost?

The average price for a twin size mattress costs between $300 to $600. Cost depends on what materials the bed contains and any sleep technologies. Sleep technology may include a zoned support system incorporated in one of the mattress layers. This technology uses either foam segments or different gauge coils to provide a different firmness under certain areas of the body.

Is a twin bed good for adults?

Twin beds are good mattress sizes for adults. They may seem small, but if you’re living on your own and space is limited, a twin size mattress could be a perfect choice. Another alternative is a twin XL mattress. Twin XL beds provide five extra inches of legroom, a better option for taller adults who need more space.

Do two twin beds make a queen?

Two twin beds do not make a queen—a twin size mattress is 38 inches by 75 inches, while a queen size is 30 inches by 60 inches. If two twin beds were placed side by side, they would measure 56 inches by 75 inches. But, two twin XL mattresses make a king size bed.

What’s the difference between a toddler bed and a twin bed?

A toddler bed or crib mattress measures 28 inches by 52 inches, while a twin bed is 38 inches by 75 inches. Twin mattresses are the next step from a toddler bed, providing more room to stretch out. Twin beds also support a developing body better than a toddler bed.

Toddler beds usually consist of thin mattresses meant for a crib frame to support babies and toddlers. They may feel too small or not provide enough support for a child.

Is a split king the same as two twins?

No, a split king is the same as two twin XL mattresses placed side by side. Split king mattresses are the best options for couples with differing sleep preferences. Each person can have customized comfort and support without having to compromise.

Split king beds are also perfect for adjustable beds. You can elevate your upper or lower body without disturbing your sleep partner. Plus, elevating your body may alleviate medical symptoms, including snoring, sleep apnea, and acid reflux.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a comfortable mattress that won’t take up too much space, then a twin size bed may be the right choice for you. Twin mattresses are small and compact, perfect for small bedrooms and studio apartments.

Dr. Burns tests each mattress at eachnight’s facility to make sure the recommendations are based on real, expert reviews.