The best twin mattress is a comfortable, budget-conscious pick for various stages of life.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
The best twin mattress is a comfortable, budget-conscious pick for various stages of life.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
This affordable mattress comes in a wide range of heights and sizes, and delivers a contouring, supportive fel.
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If you’re searching for a cheap twin mattress that checks all the boxes, then consider it found with this memory foam mattress from Zinus. What sets this Zinus mattress apart from other options is that one of the four layers of memory foam is infused with green tea, which provides a fresh and clean feeling at all times. Not to mention the soft fabric itself contours to your body and relieves pressure points while aligning your spine. After three layers of dense foam, the mattress’s breathable knit cover helps regulate your temperature while you sleep to prevent overheating.
Although a twin mattress isn’t ideal for two people, the mattress does offer motion isolation, which might be nice for anyone sleeping with pets. Plus, it has an overall medium firmness that works for all sleeping positions.
Our senior shopping editor, Megan Mowery, tested this mattress for over a year, and writes, “I’ve been sleeping on the Zinus Green Tea memory foam mattress for one year. It’s survived a significant move, a new environment and changes in sleeping habits, and it’s still just as reliable as ever.”
Dimensions: 75″L x 39″W x 6″H |Â Sleep trial: 100 nights | Firmness: Medium firm | Warranty: 10-year
This all natural organic mattress is ergonomically designed to give you the sleep of your dreams.
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Similar to an organic pillow, a natural organic mattress, like this one from Avocado, allows you to sleep on a surface that’s free of toxic chemicals and pesticides, which is especially appreciated by someone with allergies or sensitive skin. This Avocado green mattress is made with certified organic latex, wool and cotton, and is needle-tufted by hand instead of using glue. The standard version has a medium-firm feel, but you have the option to upgrade to a pillow-top mattress for an additional cost if you prefer something softer.
This organic mattress uses coils to ensure it provides lots of support, as well as comfort. Each set of ergonomically placed coils accommodates people of all ages and sleep positions.
“With my last memory foam mattress, I usually slept on my side with a pillow between my knees for better alignment. It got to be such a habit I didn’t even realize I was doing it,” our tester writes. “With the Avocado Green mattress, I ditched the pillow. The interior of the mattress features 3,136 individually pocketed coils made from recycled steel. When combined with 21 layers of organic and natural latex, wool, mohair, silk, flax and cotton, you’ve got an extremely comfortable and supportive mattress.”
Dimensions: 75″L x 38″W x 11″H |Â Sleep trial: 1 year | Firmness: Firm | Warranty: 25-year
Nectar's Premier Copper Mattress is designed to keep you cool throughout the night while keeping you aligned and relieving pressure points.
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Sometimes a mattress with any sort of spring inside just doesn’t sound appealing, and that’s OK because there are plenty of memory foam mattresses on the market. The best, however, is the twin memory foam mattress from Nectar. The 14-inch profile is made with five layers of foam that are meant to mold to your body and relieve pressure on your joints. Meanwhile, the base layer provides additional support.
Not only is it incredibly comfortable for back and side sleepers, but it’s also ideal for hot sleepers, thanks to its triple-action cooling cover that wicks away heat and adapts to your temperature. Another perk is that it comes with a forever warranty, which means if you find any defects in the construction, materials or quality of the mattress, Nectar will replace or repair it for you.
Our deputy shopping editor, Reina Galhea, tested this cooling mattress and says, “The moment the mattress was free of wrapping, it was a beauty. Unlike other types of boxed beds, the Nectar mattress inflated in a matter of seconds. Sitting noticeably taller than my previous mattress, I could immediately see how plush and comfy it would be.”
Dimensions: 75″L x 38″W x 14″H |Â Sleep trial: 1 year | Firmness: Medium firm | Warranty: Limited lifetime
This hybrid mattress combines the contouring feel of memory foam with the support of innerspring coils and was designed to keep you cool while you sleep.
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Lots of cooling mattresses are accommodating to hot sleepers with cooling covers, but none of them compare to the DreamCloud Premier hybrid mattress. Its seven layers of comfort make up a 14-inch profile that includes a supportive base, individually wrapped coils, a dynamic transition layer, plush foam, memory foam, a breathable cashmere-blend cover and a shift-resistant cover with durable handles. The DreamCloud mattress also offers a lifetime warranty, so it’ll be easy to replace if anything happens to it.
When it comes to regulating your body heat, the strategically placed coils and gel memory foam work together to create a breathable bed that allows ample amounts of airflow and disperses body heat. Right now, this best twin mattress also comes with a cooling pillow, sheet set and mattress protector at no additional cost.
“Each night when I got into bed, I noticed how much cooler the sheets felt against my skin and absolutely loved the sensation. And even though I still ended up feeling warm some nights, I no longer woke up overheated and drenched in sweat,” our tester writes in her review.
Dimensions: 75″L x 38″W x 14″H |Â Sleep trial: 1 year | Firmness: Medium firm | Warranty: Limited lifetime
This twin mattress was made specifically with kids and mind, and its flippable design ensures it will grow with your child.
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Shopping for a mattress for children and toddlers can be more difficult, because they might not necessarily know what their body needs or, frankly, they might not care what type of mattress they have. When in doubt, the Saatva youth mattress is a safe bet with its dual-sided design that’s meant for kids ages 3 to 12. The side for kids up to 7 years old has a thick layer between the cover and coils that provide support for adequate spinal alignment. Plus, it has a breathable, water-resistant cover that makes accidents less of a hassle.
On the flip side, kids will feel additional comfort with the same organic cotton cover and high-density foam underneath. It has a more plush feel that’ll help them stay cool and comfortable snuggled in their bed sheets all night long as they continue to grow.
Dimensions: 75″L x 38″W x 10″H |Â Sleep trial: 1 year | Firmness: Medium firm | Warranty: Limited lifetime
Before committing to the first twin mattress that catches your eye, there are various factors to keep in mind, including “your budget, your sleeping style, your desired firmness level, availability for delivery or pick-up, warranty, if you want a topper, etc.,” explains Purdy. “These are all important personal choices that will help you make the right buying decision, and also find the best fit to support a good night’s rest and proper support of your spine while sleeping.”
When it comes to firmness, choose a mattress that supports your spine and back, Purdy says. “A mattress that is too soft will not provide you with enough support and you may experience back pain. A firm mattress is best for those who experience back pain,” she says. “If you are a back or stomach sleeper, you absolutely want to invest in a firm or medium-firm mattress that supports your back and spine.”
Here at Reader’s Digest, we don’t just heavily research our product recommendations; we personally test them. Four of the six best twin mattresses we endorse here have been tested by our editors and writers, so we can say from personal experience that they’re top-tier picks. Carly Kulzer, the author of this piece, has over five years of experience in writing shopping content, and she has reviewed more than 50 products and conducted interviews with multiple field professionals. For this article, she talked with Laura Purdy, MD, MBA, a board-certified family medicine physician.
Nina Derwin is a commerce updates editor for Reader’s Digest, Taste of Home and Family Handyman, with experience researching and reviewing various items to help shoppers find the best products on the market. She researched and updated this piece.
Our team has tested dozens of mattresses, so we pulled the twin models that received high marks. We ensured other real-life customers sang the same praises and considered firmness, features, budget and overall quality to ensure there are picks for all types of sleepers. We paid close attention to materials, craftsmanship and additional features like cooling technology. Considering all of those factors, we dwindled the options down to the best six twin mattresses you see here.
While every mattress dimension might differ depending on its material and manufacturer, a typical twin mattress measures 38 inches wide and 75 inches long. Since the length is equivalent to a little over 6 feet, it isn’t ideal for taller people.
As you can probably guess, the main difference between a regular twin mattress and a twin XL mattress is the size. The XL version is still typically 38 inches wide, but it’s a whole 5 inches longer, bringing the overall length to 80 inches instead of 75 inches. This mattress size is a good option for adults and older kids, because it provides a little more room to grow. If you’re leaning toward a twin XL mattress, make sure to buy the proper bedding, because a regular twin bedding set probably won’t fit properly.
To choose between the two, Purdy says, “Measure the room and see what is the best fit! Also, measure the person who will be sleeping in the bed. If they are taller, then a twin XL may be a better fit.”
Similar to size, a twin mattress’s weight can also vary slightly. However, you can usually expect them to weigh anywhere from 40 to 45 pounds. A twin XL will likely be about three pounds heavier. Remember when choosing a bed frame to ensure it’ll hold the proper amount of weight for the mattress, bedding and person.