Best Twin XL Size Mattress (2023): Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

You’ve found the perfect mattress, and now you need to decide on the right size. With so many different mattress sizes, why choose a twin XL? Answer: Convenience. Twin XL size mattresses fit any living space, whether it’s for a child’s bedroom, guest room, or studio apartment.

Twin XL mattresses typically cost less than other bed sizes and are easier to move. We share our favorite models to help you find the best twin XL size mattress.

Best Twin XL Size Mattresses

The AS3 is Amerisleep’s most popular mattress model and for good reason. The AS3 has been featured in Allure as one of the best online mattresses. The medium feel of the AS3 mattress is the perfect choice for side and combination sleepers. Responsive foams feel just right—not too soft or too firm.

Bio-Pur® is plant-based memory foam. Manufacturers partially replace petroleum with castor oil partially, producing a responsive and breathable memory foam. We love how Bio-Pur® conforms to the body, relieving pressure points. Customers won’t feel stuck inside the mattress.

Affinity is a cloud-like transition foam that incorporates HIVE® technology. Hundreds of hexagonal-shaped segments form five zones of support. Areas under the shoulders and hips feel softer, while areas under the head, back, and legs feel firmer. HIVE® technology provides even pressure relief throughout the body.

The Amerisleep AS3’s base foam is Bio-Core®. This durable material distributes body weight across the surface and supports the body.

The Amerisleep AS3 mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

While more expensive, there’s a reason why the Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid is one of our favorites. The AS5 Hybrid is Amerisleep’s softest hybrid model. Most soft mattresses are more expensive because they contain more padding.

Responsive foams and zoned pocketed coils create a plush surface without sacrificing support. Similar models have higher price tags compared to the AS5 Hybrid.

Plant-based Bio-Pur® is more breathable than traditional memory foam. Customers will enjoy how Bio-Pur® contours to the body without trapping heat. Bio-Pur® emits less off-gassing odor, a chemical smell stronger in traditional memory foam.

Highly-responsive Active Flex instantly reacts to shifting weight, maintaining support without losing softness. Customers can rest easy without having to worry about feeling stuck inside the bed. Sinking too deep is a common problem with soft mattresses.

Sturdy zoned pocketed coils make up the support layer of the Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid. They ensure your spine stays aligned while you sleep but also prevent sagging over the years.

The Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

Potential shoppers who enjoy an active lifestyle will appreciate the Zoma Mattress. Athletes love the cooler feel of gel foam and zoned support technology. Both reduce inflammation and may also improve muscle recovery.

The comfort layer contains gel foam. Cooling gel absorbs and disperses body heat. Sleepers can enjoy body-contouring pressure relief without overheating. For enhanced cushioning, the comfort layer also uses Triangulex™ technology. Triangle-shaped segments form three zones of support. Areas under the head, shoulders, and legs feel softer and firmer under the back and hips.

Reactiv™ has a latex-like feel under the body. A responsive bounce encourages spinal alignment and may reduce back pain.

Support+ is a durable support foam. This base foam is built to withstand wear and tear for long-lasting support.

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

The Zoma Hybrid is an excellent choice for active people who want a bouncy mattress. The foams and supportive coils strike a comfortable balance that can help you sleep without disturbances.

We enjoy the cushiony support in the bed’s top gel foam layer. Unlike standard foam, gel-infused foam dissipates body heat so you never wake up feeling sweaty.

The next layer is Reactiv™ foam, a buoyant material that adapts to your movements. Reactiv™ prevents you from feeling stuck in a mattress that’s slow to respond.

The mattress’s support comes from pocketed coils on a durable foam base. The coils are individually wrapped to improve motion isolation. The packets around each coil also keep the coils from getting too noisy.

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

The Vaya Mattress is a budget-friendly option, containing high-quality materials for a low cost. Plush, responsive foam layers enveloped in soft, breathable material are a steal at $449 for a twin XL bed. The medium feel is soft in the shoulders and hips but gives needed support to the spine.

We like how Vaya Comfort foam conforms to the body and relieves pressure points. Sleepers won’t feel stuck in the mattress. Plus, this responsive foam is more breathable than traditional memory foam. It won’t trap heat and disrupt sleep.

Vaya Support foam is designed to last for years, as reflected in its 10-year warranty. Customers won’t have to worry about premature sagging.

The Vaya Mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

The Nest Bedding Quail Love & Sleep mattress is available in two firmness options: medium or firm. Both come with the same $599 price tag. The medium produces deeper compression in the shoulders for side and combination sleepers. Back and stomach sleepers need heightened support along the spine to prevent sinking.

Energex Cooling Comfort is a unique gel memory foam infused with minerals. This comfort layer is designed to pull heat away from the body. Hot sleepers can rest comfortably without night sweats. The cushioning feel of gel memory foam also relieves pressure points.

SmartFlow Air Foam has a convoluted structure. This allows hot air to escape while pulling cooler air into the mattress.

Customers feel better supported by the Edge Support Base. This high-density foam layer includes reinforced edges. Sleepers won’t have to worry about falling off the bed at night.

The Nest Bedding Quail Love & Sleep mattress comes with a 365-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.

The medium-firm surface of the Live & Sleep Classic Mattress may provide comfort to a variety of sleepers. The bed is soft enough for side sleepers who need deep pressure relief in the hip and shoulder areas. Stomach and back sleepers may appreciate the extra support to the lower back.

The thick comfort layer is made from quality memory foam. It won’t break down quickly, unlike other low-density foams. Cool and responsive memory foam relieves pressure points with little risk of overheating. Sleepers won’t feel trapped inside the mattress.

The high-density base foam enhances the contouring properties of the top layer. It also supports the body without sagging.

The Live & Sleep Classic Mattress includes a 30-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

What is a Twin XL Mattress?

Twin XL mattresses are five inches longer than a standard twin mattress, about 38 inches by 80 inches. Twin XL beds are smaller and easier to move, perfect for single adults with limited living space.

This compact size is also standard in college dorm rooms, accommodating any height. Twin XL mattresses are perfect mattresses for taller sleepers—children, teens, and single adults.

Finding the Best Twin XL Size Mattress

When searching for the best mattress, have a set budget and know how much you’re willing to spend. Look at mattress type, your sleeping position and body weight, and available sleep trials, return policies, and warranties. These will help you score the best twin XL size mattress.

Budget

Customers can expect to pay as low as $500 to over $1500 for a high-quality twin XL size mattress. Cost of a mattress depends on materials and sleep technologies.

Beds with organic materials and cooling technologies will drive up the price, though shoppers can still find mattresses under $1000 with eco-friendly and cooling materials. Some customers feel it’s worth it to spend a little more for extra comfort and support.

Mattress Types

Memory foam, innerspring, latex, and hybrids are common mattress types. Each mattress has a unique feel. Some people like the conforming feel of memory foam. Others prefer the bounciness of an innerspring.

Each mattress type is available in different firmness levels. The right one for you depends on your sleeping position and body weight.

Memory Foam

Memory foam softens under heat and pressure, contouring close to the body. Memory foam has better pressure relief than other mattress types. It also has excellent motion isolation, keeping any movement from a sleep partner from waking you up.

A drawback to memory foam is its heat retention. Due to its dense structure, memory foam has limited air circulation. To fix this problem, many mattress manufacturers add cooling materials, like gel and plant oils, to regulate temperature and improve airflow.

A typical memory foam mattress has a memory foam comfort layer and a high-density foam support layer.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses rely on steel coils for comfort and support. Innersprings have exceptional bounce and edge support from steel coils. The open structure also encourages more airflow.

Drawbacks to an innerspring include very little pressure relief and motion transfer. The thin comfort layer is designed to protect the body from innerspring coils, not relieve pressure points, but adding a mattress topper may improve contouring.

An innerspring mattress contains a foam or fiberfill comfort layer (usually in a pillow-top form) and innerspring coils as a support layer.

Latex

Latex shares the same properties as memory foam—contouring, pressure relief, and motion isolation. Unlike memory foam, latex has more bounce and feels cooler.

There are two types of latex: synthetic and natural. Synthetic latex is made through a chemical process, while natural latex is derived from rubber tree sap. Natural latex may be more expensive, but it’s proven to be more durable than other mattress materials.

Generally, a latex mattress contains a latex comfort layer and either a high-density foam or latex as the support layer.

Hybrid

Manufacturers created the hybrid mattress to offer customers a bed with the best of both foam and innersprings. Hybrids combine pressure-relieving memory foam or latex with bouncy innerspring coils. A true hybrid will have a comfort layer at least 2 inches thick and a coiled support system.

Drawbacks to a hybrid mattress include overheating, less pressure relief, and motion transfer. They’re also heavy and expensive due to the combination of high-quality materials they contain.

Sleeping Position

One factor to consider when choosing the right firmness is sleeping position. How you sleep impacts how much cushioning your body needs. For example, side sleeping places more pressure on the shoulders and hips. A softer mattress reduces pressure buildup in those areas for a good night’s sleep.

Side Sleeping

Side sleeping is one of the healthiest sleeping positions. It reduces acid reflux, enables better breathing, and improves heart health. Side sleeping is also considered one of the most comfortable sleeping positions.

A drawback to side sleeping is pressure buildup in the shoulders and hips, however, placing a pillow between the knees reduces hip pressure. It can also prevent the lower back from twisting.

The best mattress for side sleepers has a soft to medium feel. The softer feel maximizes pressure relief in the shoulders and hips.

Stomach Sleeping

In contrast to side sleeping, stomach sleeping is the least healthy sleeping position. Lying on the stomach puts intense pressure on the spine, which could lead to neck strain (turning your head to the side to breathe) and back pain (gravity forces the spine’s natural curve to straighten).

A thin pillow under the hips can reduce spinal pressure for better comfort and less risk.

Stomach sleepers need a medium-firm to firm mattress to keep their body floating on top instead of inside the mattress. A bed softer than medium-firm may cause deep sinking and create more pressure points.

Back Sleeping

Back sleeping sets the body in a neutral position for natural alignment, but it may come with risks. Back sleepers may develop sleep apnea, a condition when gravity causes the tongue to fall back or soft tissue at the back of the throat to collapse, obstructing airways.

A medium to firm surface is the best mattress for back sleepers. This surface prevents the hips from sinking too deeply, which can misalign the spine.

Combination Sleeping

Combination sleepers, or restless sleepers, toss and turn each night, switching between different sleeping positions. Combination sleepers enjoy the benefits of each sleep position, including natural alignment and better heart health, but they also get all the risks, like neck strain and sleep apnea.

The best mattress for combination sleepers will have a medium to medium-firm feel. This maintains spinal alignment for each sleeping position for a balance of comfort and support.

Body Weight

Another factor to consider when choosing the right firmness is your body weight. Body weight affects how the mattress supports you. If you weigh less than 130 pounds, you need a softer bed for pressure relief. If you weigh more than 230 pounds, a firmer mattress is better for extra support. Those who weigh between 130 to 230 pounds will find a medium mattress is the perfect feel.

Lightweight

Lightweight sleepers weigh less than 130 pounds. A softer surface is better because it allows body weight to sink into the mattress for better contour and pressure relief.

Average Weight

Average weight sleepers weigh between 130 to 230 pounds. A medium mattress provides an even amount of comfort and support for a good night’s sleep.

Plus-Size

Plus-size sleepers weigh more than 230 pounds. They find the best comfort on a firmer surface to support their body weight without sagging.

Sleep Trials, Return Policies, and Warranties

Sleep trials, return policies, and warranties assure customers of a long-lasting mattress. Sleep trials and return policies let customers try and return a bed if it isn’t a good fit. Warranties cover damages that could shorten a bed’s lifespan. Avoid mattresses that don’t have a sleep trial or return policy and a warranty.

Sleep Trial

A sleep trial allows customers to try out a new mattress at home for an extended period, helpful with an online mattress you can’t try out. Most sleep trials last up to 100 nights or longer, depending on the brand.

Some companies may require customers to keep the mattress for at least 30 days to allow the body to adjust. If the customer doesn’t like the mattress, most companies issue a full refund. If a sleep trial isn’t offered, take a look at the return policy.

Return Policy

Return policies are a good substitute for a sleep trial, though they usually won’t last as long. Return policies often last no more than 30 days—about the amount of time it may take to adjust to a new bed. Should the customer not like the mattress, they can return it for a full refund.

Warranty

A warranty protects the mattress from sagging greater than 1 inch (depends on brand) and manufacturing defects that could damage the bed. Most new mattresses come with a standard 10-year warranty.

Other Mattress Sizes

If a twin XL size mattress isn’t what you’re looking for, other mattress sizes, including twin, full, queen, king, and California king, might be better options for your living space. Other sizes may accommodate more than one person.

Plus, a different mattress size may better fit a specific area, like a guest room. Some hosts may want a larger full or queen mattress for guests, for example.

Twin Size

Twin size mattresses are the next step up from a crib mattress. Twin beds are small, measuring 38 inches by 75 inches, and more convenient to transport, making them perfect for children. For families with more than one child, bunk beds are a great way to utilize space. Twin mattresses are also an excellent option for studio apartments.

Full Size

Full size mattresses, or double beds, are 54 inches by 75 inches—16 inches wider than a twin. Full beds have more room for sleepers to sprawl out, an excellent option for combination sleepers who toss and turn at night. Full mattresses are best for teenagers and single adults. Couples may find a full size too small for their tastes.

Queen Size

At 60 inches by 80 inches, the queen mattress is most popular among single sleepers. The extra room provides luxurious space to stretch out.

Queen size beds are also good choices for couples, but some couples may find this size too small and prefer a king or California king mattress instead. If you have the space for one, a queen bed is also a highly versatile mattress for a guest room.

King Size

A king size mattress is the largest standard size at 76 inches by 80 inches. King size beds are perfect for couples, offering 38 inches of personal space for each person. King mattresses fit most large master bedrooms.

This size is also available as a split option. Split king mattresses are essentially two twin XL beds put together. Split king beds offer customized comfort and support to each sleeper without compromising.

California King Size

California king size mattresses are longer and narrower than a standard king size, at 72 inches by 84 inches. Cal king beds are excellent for taller couples who need more legroom. While not as widely available, California king mattresses often come in a split option for personalized comfort and support.

FAQs

Can twin size sheets fit on a twin XL size mattress?

While twin and twin XL size mattresses have the same width, they don’t share the same length. Twin XL beds are five inches longer than a twin—an excellent option for taller sleepers. Because of their longer length, twin size sheets will fall short and not fit a twin XL bed.

What is a double bed?

A double bed is the same size as a full mattress. Double beds are 54 inches wide and 75 inches long. Double beds were considered excellent sleeping options for couples until the queen size mattress became popular in the 1950s. Today, double beds are best for single adults and too small for couples, compared to the more spacious queen, king, and California king sizes.

Do two twin beds make up a king size mattress?

No. A twin bed is only 75 inches long, five inches shorter than the 80-inch length of a king size. It’s actually two twin XLs that make up a split king. Split king mattresses are excellent options for couples with differing sleep preferences. They’re also perfect for adjustable beds—each person can elevate their body without disturbing their sleep partner.

What is the best twin XL mattress?

To put it simply, the best twin XL mattress is one that feels comfortable for you and delivers better sleep. The “best” mattress option will differ from person-to-person, but you can find a high-quality bed by merely considering how you sleep, your body type, and your preference for firmness.

How much do twin XL mattresses cost?

Twin XL mattresses cost anywhere between $500 and $1,500 depending on their materials and features. Some twin XL mattresses will cost less than $500, but we suggest avoiding any beds priced below $350 since they’re likely made of cheaper materials.

Conclusion

A twin XL size mattress is a convenient option, fitting most living spaces at a lower cost than other bed sizes. The best twin XL size mattress is the Amerisleep AS3—customers will love the breathable, yet responsive foam layers and zoned sleep technology for even pressure relief and support.