If you’re limited on space but don’t want to sacrifice a quality night of sleep, then an expertly made twin mattress is the best way to go. According to Armeen D. Poor, M.D., a board-certified pulmonologist and intensivist who trained in sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, “Twin mattresses are the smallest standard size, making them perfect for children's rooms, small bedrooms, or guest rooms where space is limited.” And when it comes to deciding on whether or not to invest in a new mattress, he tells us that “a good mattress can significantly impact the quality of your sleep and overall well-being, so investing time in finding the right one is worth it.”
We’ve tested over 40 mattresses of different sizes, focusing on factors like comfort, support, sleep quality, and overall value. To help you find the best twin mattress for your personal needs, we sifted through all of our testing insights and searched for models with specific features that are important for smaller mattresses, including edge support. In addition to the testing, we conducted additional research and consulted Dr. Poor for expert input on what to consider when shopping for a mattress. Whether you’re looking for the best twin mattress for kids or the best option for adults, a standard twin or a twin XL, there’s something firm, plush, or in-between on this list for you.
Best Overall
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress
Great for all sleeping positions, based on our tests
Excellent edge support
No noticeable off-gassing odors
White glove delivery
Doesn’t eliminate motion transfer
For a high-quality mattress that offers excellent contouring support without sinking in—all from a brand that offers excellent customer service—our pick is Saatva’s Memory Foam Hybrid. What impressed us when we tested this option was that the reinforced edges allowed us an extra moment of peace in the morning to comfortably sit up before taking on the day. Additionally, we found the claim of a medium firmness to be completely accurate, with this mattress providing us with a firmer feel without sacrificing a bit of plush comfort. The result is a mattress that can be accurately described as feeling like a big hug.
Other features that we found to be particularly appealing about this mattress include that there was no adjustment period, it was comfortable for us right from the start. Also, unlike other mattresses that have memory foam, we didn’t notice any off-gassing. We also tested it in every sleeping position and found it to work for us on our sides, stomachs, and backs alike. As mentioned above, Saatva has excellent customer service and this mattress will be delivered via white glove delivery. It isn’t a compressed mattress in a box, so there’s no waiting time for it to expand.
Some things to be mindful of with this mattress include that because it’s not completely firm, there is a mild amount of motion transfer. Though it’s not particularly disruptive, if you are looking for something that eliminates motion transfer entirely, this may not be ideal for you.
Price at time of publish: $995
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 11.5 inches | Size Options: Twin, twin XL
Best Overall, Runner-Up
Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress
Good for all sleep positions
No noticeable off-gassing odors
Expands quickly
Good motion transfer elimination
No handles
Slightly more expensive than our Best Overall pick
While it didn’t win as our top pick overall after our extensive testing, Tuft and Needle’s T&N Mint Mattress was a very close second to our Best Overall mattress for a handful of reasons. For starters, while it doesn’t arrive via white glove delivery like the Saatva above, it comes compressed in a box and fully expanded within five minutes of the plastic being removed, with absolutely no off-gassing odor.
We were impressed that this mattress was a true medium firmness; we were able to enjoy the very mild sinking comfort of the memory foam, but we still got to feel the firm support underneath. We also found this mattress to enhance our sleep through its motion transfer elimination—without the bed shaking during our movements, we felt less disrupted throughout the night. Plus, we tested it in every position and found it to be just as comfortable in each one.
One thing to be mindful of with this mattress is that it doesn’t feature any handles to help move it or flip it. It also costs over $1,000, but we find it to be overall worth the money.
Price at time of publish: $1,095
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 11.5 inches | Size Options: Twin, twin XL
Best Budget
Linenspa 8-Inch Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress
Twin and twin XL sizes under $150
Contouring yet supportive
Different thickness options
Regains shape quickly
Mild odor after opening
No handles
You don’t need to break the bank when purchasing a well made twin mattress, and Linenspa’s Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress really demonstrates that. While the brand notes that this option will require up to 72 hours to expand, we found it to get to its full shape within about five minutes. In terms of comfort, it proved to have a medium firmness. We were able to feel the contouring of memory foam, without sinking in too deeply.
Also be aware that this option is available in 8-, 10-, and 12-inch thicknesses. While the extra inches come at extra costs, having multiple options can come in handy for customizing your optimal comfort or when purchasing a mattress for a bunk bed (which may require a thinner mattress). At under $150 for either the twin or twin XL, we found the 8-inch version of this mattress to be exceedingly comfortable without sacrificing any sort of quality, all at a price that you would really be hard pressed to beat.
Do be aware that there is a mild plastic smell with this option once it’s removed from the packaging, though we found it to quickly dissipate. Also, it doesn’t have handles for moving should you need to transport it to a different room.
Price at time of publish: $129
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches | Size Options: Twin, twin XL
Best Cooling
Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress
Works for all types of sleepers
Airflow technology
Contouring without sinking
Pricey
Heavy
There’s no reason to be waking up sweaty in the morning with great options like Casper’s Nova Hybrid on the market. In our testing, this option was able to alleviate sweaty nights, and we could actually feel the airflow when we first laid on it. We attribute this to perforations in the first two layers of memory foam—plus, as a hybrid, the springs in the bottom also work to promote airflow.
This mattress impressed us with its comfort, offering a small amount of sinking comfort but not at the expense of support. We found it to be a great mattress for stomach sleepers, rising up to meet our stomachs instead of sinking in too deeply. Importantly, it also worked just as well for us when we slept on our back and side.
Still, it’s worth noting how pleasantly surprised we were by the Nova Hybrid’s cooling abilities. Of course, nothing is perfect, so it’s worth noting that this option is actually not available in a standard twin size, but rather a twin XL. Also, it is one of the pricier options on our list for twin mattresses, and it is a bit heavier than others.
Price at time of publish: $1,795
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 12 inches | Size Options: Twin XL
Best Foam
Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress
Comes in relaxed firm and firm versions
White glove delivery
Handles for moving
Odor after opening lasts longer than others we’ve tested
If you’re someone who prefers the feel of a totally foam mattress, Saatva’s Loom and Leaf Mattress is our pick based on our tests. As with other Saatva mattresses, this comes with white glove delivery, meaning that it won’t arrive compressed, and you won’t have to lift a finger. It comes in both relaxed firm and firm options, though we tested the relaxed firm specifically. Despite its “relaxed” state, we found that it didn’t leave any indentations over time.
We found this option to be exceptionally comfortable, providing the plush feel that you would expect from foam while conforming to our bodies very well. The excellent contouring really helped us in every position that we slept in throughout the night. It also features handles to help you lift it should you want to move it, which is an added bonus, and Saatva offers a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty, both of which really make this even more worth the money.
It’s worth noting that this option did have a bit of a chemical smell on arrival (off-gassing isn’t uncommon for memory foam), and it took a few days to dissipate, which was longer than other options.
Price at time of publish: $1,295
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Relaxed firm, firm | Thickness: 12 inches | Size Options: Twin, twin XL
Best Firm
Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress
Good cooling features
Holds up well in adjustable base
Draws heat away from body
Shorter trial
Some people don’t like the feel of a more contouring mattress, and a firmer option like Purple’s Restore Mattress may be more suited to them. In testing, we appreciated many features of this mattress, including that it really feels like floating when we laid down on it. Don’t be fooled by the term firm, though—we still experienced a cradling sensation and a comfortable softness and conforming feeling, just without sinking into the material.
Other features that worked well for us were the brand’s proprietary Gelflex Grid for heat dissipation and the coils, which also draw away heat. Together, these kept us feeling cool throughout the night. We tested this option on an adjustable base from Purple, and this mattress has done a great job of holding its shape and not developing any sort of creases from being put into different recline positions. Finally, while firmer in nature, we do feel that it’s not overly firm, and we think medium firmness fans could appreciate the softer elements of it.
Do be aware that this option isn’t available in a true twin, but only a twin XL. Also, while Purple does offer a 100-night trial, that’s shorter than other options that are also in the same price range.
Price at time of publish: $1,845
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Firm | Thickness: 11.5 inches | Size Options: Twin XL
Best with Adjustable Firmness
Saatva Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress
50 adjustable settings
Features air chambers, plus latex and foam
Very supportive
Softest settings still on the firm side
Using air chambers and a remote that comes with it, Saatva’s Solaire Adjustable Mattress allows its users to choose between 50 different firmness settings and the option to save preferred settings. The result is a mattress that is designed to be able to accommodate every sleep position. In testing, we found that even the softest option still had a pleasant firmness to it that provided excellent support. Still, the 3-inch Euro pillow top gives a plush feel for comfort, so you don’t necessarily need to add a mattress topper.
Do be aware that while air is used to adjust the firmness, this isn’t an air mattress—it still features layers of latex and memory foam. As is the case with other Saatva mattresses, this one comes with white glove delivery, which means it will be set up for you. Also keep in mind that Saatva offers a free mattress removal of your old mattress.
Something to consider is that this option only comes in twin XL, not a standard twin option. Also, it is exorbitantly expensive compared to other options out there, but for a mattress that you can really tailor to your needs, we found it to be worth it. It is also 13 inches thick, which in and of itself is not that much thicker than other options, but if you have a higher bed frame, you might find it quite high to crawl into.
Price at time of publish: $2,595
Type: Adjustable | Firmness: Adjustable | Thickness: 13 inches | Size Options: Twin XL
Best for Stomach Sleepers
Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress
Offers some give without sinking
Quick expansion time
Free delivery
Not ideal for hot sleepers
Odor after opening
Stomach sleepers can be a fickle bunch, and they may require something more tailored to their needs to get a proper night of shuteye. Fortunately, in testing, we found Casper’s Wave Hybrid to provide them with just what they need. The term that came to our minds in testing was buoyancy; while there is a little give, you don’t sink into it at all. It conformed to our bodies well, while still offering the support that leaves stomach sleepers feeling comfortable.
The Wave Hybrid also has excellent edge support, and while it does come in a box, it expands much quicker than other box mattresses; it was inflated and ready to be used within two hours of opening.
Do be aware that this hybrid does have an odor after arrival. It was mild, but still present—and it took about 36 hours to dissipate. Additionally, we found that this option isn’t as suited to hot sleepers, which is worth considering if you are looking for something cooling. (In that case, we recommend the Casper Nova Hybrid as our Best Cooling pick!)
Lastly, this mattress is also a bit heavy and cumbersome to move.
Price at time of publish: $2,395
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 13 inches | Size Options: Twin XL
Best Organic
Saatva Zenhaven Natural Latex Mattress
Certified organic materials
Excellent motion transfer elimination
White glove delivery
Expensive for flip option (which we don’t find necessary)
If snagging an organic mattress is of utmost importance for you, our pick is Saatva’s Zenhaven Natural Latex Mattress. It’s double-sided, with one side providing a luxury plush feel and the other offering a gentle firm feel. We tested both sides, but felt that the luxury plush option was too plush, creating a sinking feeling and not eliminating motion transfer. The firmer side proved to be just the ticket for us, offering excellent comfort and support. While the website says that the gentle firm side is more suited to back and stomach sleepers and the luxury plush side is better for side, back, and combination sleepers, we found that the gentle firm side worked great for side sleeping, as well.
As the category implies, this is our pick for the best organic mattress, and with good reasoning because every step of this mattress has you covered. The top layer features hypoallergenic organic cotton, and beneath that is a layer that features organic wool that’s certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Lastly, the latex used is certified by Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS). The result is a mattress that’s produced with environmental impact in mind.
Overall, this mattress is a hit with us. Though we do feel that having a flipping option is unnecessary as we don’t think that too many people will need such drastically different options. As a result, it is a bit disappointing that this feature drives the price up—but any mattress with certified organic materials is likely to be pricier anyways.
Price at time of publish: $1,895
Type: Latex | Firmness: Luxury plush/gentle firm (flippable) | Thickness: 10 inches | Size Options: Twin, twin XL
Best Air Mattress
Intex Dura-Beam Standard Series Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Airbed
Adjustable firmness
Easy to deflate with pump
Duffel bag for portability
Not too stable if not resting in center
It’s hard to beat the convenience of an air mattress, but there is a large disparity between the quality ones on the market and the cheap ones that will leave you disappointed. Pound for pound, our pick for the best twin air mattress is the Intex Dura-Beam Standard Series Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Airbed.
A high-powered electric pump makes this option particularly easy to inflate, taking less than two minutes to achieve your preferred firmness. What really stood out to us, though, was how easy deflating it is, as the pump will also handle that too. Other features that make this a great choice is the included duffel bag that enables you to take this on the go with you, which is why it scored so highly in portability for us.
We were also impressed by the durability of this air mattress, a result of the high strength polyester fibers that don’t stretch over time. However, we felt that it left something to be desired in terms of stability. Be mindful to try and sleep in the center of this air mattress as it won’t necessarily offer the best edge support.
Price at time of publish: $60
Type: Air mattress | Firmness: Adjustable | Thickness: 16.5 inches | Size Options: Twin
Compare
Comfort | Support | Sleep Quality | Value | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall:
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress
|
Saatva | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Best Overall, Runner-Up:
Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.9 |
Best Budget:
Linenspa Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress
|
Amazon | 4.3 | 4.5 | 5 | |
Best Cooling:
Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Best Foam:
Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress
|
Saatva | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Best Firm:
Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Best with Adjustable Firmness:
Saatva Solaire Adjustable Mattress
|
Saatva | 5 | 4.8 | ||
Best for Stomach Sleepers:
Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.8 |
Best Organic:
Saatva Zenhaven Latex Mattress
|
Saatva | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.3 |
Best Air Mattress:
Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Air Mattress
|
Amazon | 5 |
Our pick for the best overall twin mattress is the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid for its excellent edge support, white glove delivery, and no off-gassing odor when we received it. If you’re in the market for something more budget friendly, the best affordable twin mattress that we tested was Linenspa’s Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress which comes in three different thicknesses, provides contouring support, and costs a fraction of the competitors’ prices.
How We Tested the Mattresses
We’ve tested upwards of 40 different mattresses, including models from popular brands like Casper, Leesa, Nectar, Purple, Tuft & Needle, and Saatva. When testing mattresses, we take them home with us and sleep on them regularly, assessing each mattress on the basis of its comfort, support, quality, and overall value. We dug through all of our testing insights to find options that scored well in our testing and offered comfortable edge support, a necessary component in a high-quality twin mattress. We used our testing insights and conducted independent research to create this list of the best twin mattresses on the market.
What to Look For in a Twin Mattress
Size
Twin-sized beds are generally designed with the intention of one person sleeping on them, and the standard dimensions measure 39 inches in width and 75 inches in length. As mentioned by Dr. Poor, there are a handful of benefits to having a twin or a twin XL, including that they are cost effective, can be easier to move, and save space in rooms that are limited in area.
A twin XL is longer than a standard twin. Twin XL mattresses like the Casper Nova Hybrid (our Best Cooling choice) typically have a similar width as a standard twin, but they have an extra 5 inches or so added to the length, for a total of about 80 inches. According to Dr. Poor, this added length makes them a “suitable option for taller individuals who need extra legroom.”
Another factor that plays a role in the overall size of your twin mattress is the thickness of it, and we highly recommend measuring your current bed frame to see just how high off the ground the mattress would be when combined with your bed frame. But beyond the logistics and functionality within your space, Dr. Poor notes that thinner mattresses can sometimes be too thin and result in less support, while thicker options like the Saatva Solaire Adjustable Mattress (our Best with Adjustable Firmness pick) can provide cushioning and feel more luxurious.
Firmness
Dr. Poor tells us that the firmness of your mattress will suit different preferences. Generally, mattresses will fall into three categories—plush, medium, and firm—though there is some space between these that they can also fall into. Dr. Poor illustrates the benefits of each, telling us that a plush mattress “conforms closely to the body's contours, providing a cozy and 'hugging' sensation,” adding that “[s]ide sleepers often benefit from plush mattresses as they can relieve pressure points on the hips and shoulders.” One side of the Saatva Zenhaven Natural Latex Mattress (our Best Organic pick) proved to be quite plush in our testing.
Dr. Poor tells us that a firmer option, like the Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress, “offers more support and tends to keep the spine in a neutral alignment, making it suitable for back and stomach sleepers.” He also adds that firmer mattresses can prevent sinking and sometimes help people with discomfort or back pain.
Edge Support
According to Dr. Poor, edge support is highly important for twin mattresses. “Since a twin mattress is generally used for single sleepers, people may move around more during sleep, leading to potential edge sagging over time,” he tells us. “A robust edge support system ensures that the mattress remains supportive and prevents excessive compression near the edges.”
There is also a safety element involved with having edge support, with Dr. Poor acknowledging that edge support is “especially crucial for individuals who tend to sleep near the edge of the bed, providing a stable and secure sleeping surface.” We found that all the mattresses on this list offered suitable edge support, one reason why we recommend them in twin sizes.
-
Is twin the same as single?
Yes, twin sized beds are the same as singles. The terms are synonymous and interchangeable when it comes to beds.
-
How often should you replace a twin mattress?
Deciding when to replace your mattress is less a matter of the size, but more a byproduct of the material that the mattress is made from and the quality of the build. For example, memory foam mattresses can last between 10 to 15 years, while latex mattresses will often last 15 years and sometimes even longer. Aside from these guidelines, paying attention to the mattress and how it looks, feels, and leaves you feeling in the morning are equally as important
-
How much does a twin mattress cost?
Twin mattresses fall within a wide price spectrum, depending on factors like quality, features, and brand. On our list, you can find an option as affordable as $129, with the Linenspa Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress (our Best Budget option), or one that’s more luxurious and costs as much as $2,895 with the Casper Wave Hybrid (our Best for Stomach Sleepers choice).
Why Trust The Spruce?
Jack Byram is a freelance writer who covers all things sleep related. He has written numerous articles about beds, mattresses, and pillows, consulting with experts for all of them. For this article, he supplemented The Spruce’s extensive testing by speaking with Armeen D. Poor, M.D., a board-certified pulmonologist and intensivist who trained in sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, to better understand what to seek out from mattresses and why twin mattresses are a good choice for some people.