The twin XL mattress is a standard size mattress that typically measures 38 inches wide by 80 inches long. These dimensions make it 5 inches longer than a twin but smaller than a full size mattress. Twin XL mattresses are a popular option for children and teenagers, as well as for those looking for a bed that will work in a smaller space. They aren’t wide enough to comfortably sleep more than one person, but they do work well for adults who sleep alone and for rooms that need to accommodate multiple beds.
We’ve selected our top picks for twin XL mattresses within certain sleep position and performance categories. We’ll review these mattresses, describing what they’re made of and how they performed during testing. Then we’ll take a closer look at who a twin XL mattress is best for, what the difference is between a twin XL and similarly sized mattresses, and what else you need to know before you buy.
Find Your Perfect Mattress
We know mattresses work differently for different types of sleepers. Use the filters below to help narrow down your options for your best bed.
Read on to see why the following five options made our top picks list of 2024’s best twin XL mattresses.
Sleep Doctor’s Picks
Best Overall Mattress
Helix Midnight
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Helix Midnight is a quintessential hybrid with a balanced medium firm (6) feel. Thick foam comfort layer greatly reduced pressure buildup in our testers’ hips, shoulders, and lower backs. Meanwhile, the pocketed coil system reduced midsection sagging and promoted healthy sleep posture.
Buy From Helix
Side Sleepers
Medium Firm (6)
Close-Conforming Foam
Good Value
Pros
- Good pressure relief
- Individually wrapped coils offer responsive support and reduce motion transfer
- Mid-range firmness works for most sleep positions and body types
Cons
- Sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds may find they sink too deeply into the mattress
- Combination sleepers may find the surface difficult to move across
A mix of memory foam and individually wrapped coils in the Helix Midnight creates the balance of comfort and support that is the signature of hybrid mattresses.
Why We Like It
Hundreds of 8-inch steel coils make up the Helix Midnight’s core. Our tests showed that the individually wrapped coils did a great job of reducing motion transfer and providing solid support. Extra reinforcement along the edges increases the usable surface area and makes getting into and out of bed easier. A final layer of foam creates a durable foundation. Overall, the mattress has a medium firm feel, or a 6 on the 10-point firmness scale.
During testing, the Helix Midnight’s contouring comfort and solid support were an excellent fit for our side sleeping testers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds. Back sleepers under 230 pounds and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds also reported that the mattress helped them maintain good spinal alignment.
Layers of memory foam and polyfoam work together with the pocketed coils in the Helix Midnight to create mid-level support and all-around good performance. This versatility makes the Helix Midnight a good fit for a wide range of sleepers.
How Does It Feel?
The Helix Midnight has a stretchy cover made from Soft Touch polyester, which is designed to stay cool. Underneath, a layer of Memory Plus Foam, Helix’s proprietary blend, contours the natural curves of the body and provides good pressure relief. High-grade polyfoam in the transition layer reinforces the conforming memory foam while preventing sinkage.
Best Value Mattress
Bear Original
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Bear Original is a firmer-than-average foam mattress with premium cooling technology at a competitive price-point. Hot sleepers enjoyed the cooling gel and graphite infusions, as well as the breathable Celliant fiber cover. Our heat guns detected minimal heat buildup on the surface.
Buy From Bear
Hot Sleepers
Firm (7)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Great Value
Pros
- Graphite-infused gel memory foam offers gentle contouring
- Celliant cover designed to promote circulation and muscle recovery
- CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certifications
Cons
- People who have a hard time getting in and out of bed may prefer a model with more edge support
- The foam layers may emit off-gassing odor for the first few days
The Bear Original’s all-foam design offers subtle contouring and superior support at a price that won’t break the bank.
Why We Like It
Our back sleepers over 130 pounds and stomach sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds responded well to the Bear Orignal’s firmer feel. They reported that the gentle hug of the graphite memory foam provided just enough contouring to promote spinal alignment. These testers also felt that the sturdy pushback from the polyfoam core kept their torso and hips from sinking too far into the sleep surface.
Side sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds also felt that the Bear Original provided good pressure relief without making them feel as if they were stuck in the mattress.
The carefully chosen foams in the Bear Original Mattress offer exceptional support without sacrificing comfort. High-quality materials and cooling technologies create a winning combination of comfort and performance at an affordable price-point.
How Does It Feel?
The cover is made with Celliant fibers, which incorporate natural minerals intended to convert body heat into infrared energy for active recovery and more restful sleep.
Three layers of open-cell foam make up the Bear Original Mattress. The top layer features graphite gel-infused memory foam designed to wick away heat from the sleep surface. A transitional layer of polyfoam provides responsive support that keeps you from sinking too far into the high-density polyfoam core. Together, these layers give the mattress a firm (7) feel.
Most Comfortable Mattress
DreamCloud Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
A great balance of cushioning for sore spots and targeted support from pocketed coils make the DreamCloud Mattress highly comfortable for many sleepers. The medium firm (6) feel earned the mattress high marks from our testers across sleeping positions and body types.
Buy From DreamCloud
Combination Sleepers
Medium Firm (6)
Close-Conforming Foam
Good Value
Pros
- Gel memory foam hugs the body while also drawing away heat
- Soft quilted cover uses a blend of cashmere and foam
- 365-night sleep trial and limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- People who frequently change positions at night may prefer a mattress with a more responsive surface
- The mattress may have off-gassing odor after unboxing
The DreamCloud Mattress blends four layers of foam with a base of pocketed coils for a hybrid design that focuses on comfort and responsive support.
Why We Like It
The DreamCloud Mattress’s medium firm (6) feel and above-average pressure relief helped it earn high scores with our side sleeping testers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds. Side sleepers over 230 pounds, as well as back and stomach sleepers across weight categories, also found that the DreamCloud performed well for them.
While it’s available in a standard-sized twin XL, the DreamCloud mattress does have a slightly higher-than-average profile of 14 inches.
The multiple layers of foam in the DreamCloud Mattress create softness, contouring, and comfort, while the individually wrapped springs in its core provide focused support. The end result is a best-of-both-worlds mix that is likely to appeal to a wide variety of sleepers.
How Does It Feel?
The cashmere blend cover is quilted with foam to create an ultrasoft sleep surface. Below the cover, a layer of gel-infused memory foam is designed to provide responsive pressure relief while simultaneously wicking away heat. A transitional layer of polyfoam supports the other comfort layers, reducing sinkage.
Individually wrapped coils make up the DreamCloud Mattress’ core. These coils respond to shifting sleep positions, delivering targeted support. Below that, a foam base creates a durable foundation and helps keep the upper layers stationary.
Best Luxury Mattress
Saatva Classic
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Saatva Classic is a luxury innerspring with premium construction to match. A Euro-top gives the surface a plush initial feel, while a dual-coil design keeps your body on an even place. Three firmnesses and two profiles are available, which appealed to most people on our testing team.
Buy From Saatva
Back Sleepers
Soft (3), Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
Bouncy, Supportive Surface
Fair Value
Pros
- Dual-coil design and plush Euro-top
- Available in three firmness levels and two heights
- Free White Glove delivery
Cons
- Sleepers with sharp pressure points may prefer a mattress with more surface cushioning
- People who move a lot at night may find the coils generate more noise
The Saatva Classic capitalizes on the support and breathability of a standard innerspring mattress and adds to its performance with a dual coil design and premium comfort layers.
Why We Like It
Our side and back sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds preferred the luxury firm option, while our testers weighing under 130 pounds liked the plush soft version best. The firmest option worked well for those weighing over 230 pounds, particularly side and back sleepers.
The Classic comes in a standard size twin XL, but shoppers can choose from two heights: 11.5 inches or 14.5 inches.
Top-of-the-line design elements and quality construction give the Saatva Classic Mattress an elevated feel. It’s likely to be a good fit for sleepers who want plushness without sacrificing substantive support.
How Does It Feel?
The 3-inch organic cotton Euro-top is made with Lumbar Zone Quilting designed to focus support on the center of the mattress. Saatva offers three different pillow top thickness options, allowing shoppers to customize the firmness of the mattress for a soft (3), medium firm (6), or firm (8) feel. A high-density memory foam pad just below the Euro-top helps lift the lower back and hips, improving spinal alignment.
The core of the mattress includes two layers of coils. The upper layer consists of recycled steel pocketed coils for further back support. Extra-durable tempered steel coils make up the lower layer. A rail of high-density foam encircles the perimeter of the mattress to increase edge support.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Layla Memory Foam Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
Foam mattresses generally earn high marks from our side sleepers, and the Layla Memory Foam Mattress is no exception. The mattress has a flippable design with two distinct feels: medium soft (4) and firm (7). These two firmness levels ensured a comfortable and supportive surface for most side sleepers on our team.
Buy From Layla
Side Sleepers
Soft (4), Firm (7)
Close-Conforming Foam
Good Value
Pros
- Flippable mattress that gives sleepers the choice between a medium soft (4) and firm (7) feel
- Copper-infused gel memory foam designed for contouring and cooler sleep
- Zoned support in the transition layer provides targeted pressure relief
Cons
- Back and stomach sleepers may find the foam layers cause too much sinkage
- Those who have trouble getting in and out of bed may find the edges unsupportive
With its copper-infused gel memory foam and flippable design, the Layla Memory Foam Mattress offers a range of options for side sleepers who also sleep hot.
Why We Like It
During testing, we found that the significant contouring of the soft side was an excellent fit for our side sleepers under 130 pounds. Side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds also benefited from the significant pressure relief. Side sleepers over 230 pounds preferred the firm side, as did our back and stomach sleeping testers.
The double-sided Layla Memory Foam Mattress lets you choose between two firmness levels, which makes it a good fit for a variety of side sleepers. The Layla will also likely suit anyone who sleeps hot, as well as those looking for significant pressure relief.
How Does It Feel?
The Layla Memory Foam Mattress’ has a breathable polyester blend cover with a zipper for easy removal. The softer side of the mattress has an upper layer made with 3 inches of copper-infused gel memory foam. This layer is designed to respond to compression, becoming firmer under your weight while the surrounding mattress stays pliable. The result is a deep contour with a supportive base. A transitional layer of Max Airflow Support Foam has zoned support and channels for breathability. High-density polyfoam makes up the core of the mattress, and below that is a final 1-inch layer of copper-infused gel memory foam.
The firm side reverses this order so that the 1-inch layer of memory foam becomes the sleep surface, followed by the 4.5-inch layer of high-density polyfoam. Using this side gives the mattress a firmness of 7 on the 10-point scale. The softer side has a medium soft (4) feel.
Why You Should Trust Us
To select our top picks for the best twin XL mattresses, we personally researched and tested hundreds of options, leveraging our years of experience in the sleep product industry. These selections not only reflect our expertise, but also the viewpoints of our diverse team of testers, who have various body types and sleep position preferences. Our recommendations can help you make the best choice for your sleep needs.
Who Is a Twin XL Mattress Best For?
Twin XL mattresses are small enough to fit tight spaces but are also longer than a typical twin mattress. The extra 5 inches in length can accommodate taller teenagers and single adults, while the mattress’ smaller size means it’s perfect as a bed for guest rooms or children’s bedrooms that may have less square footage.
Measuring 5 inches longer than a standard twin, the twin XL mattress is ideal for single sleepers who need a little extra legroom. Growing children and teens may also prefer the twin XL, and some bunk beds are designed with this size in mind.
Many lofted beds, bunk beds, and wall beds are also compatible with twin XL mattresses, making them a good fit for dorms, studio apartments, and sleeping spaces shared with roommates.
- Children and Bunk Beds: The extra length of the twin XL can accommodate all but the tallest kids, meaning the mattress should still work even after a growth spurt. Twin XL mattresses are often suitable for use on bunk beds as well. This can make them a good choice for kids’ rooms and other multi-sleeper setups.
- Those With Guest Rooms, Roommates, or Small Spaces: The twin XL can fit better in places where space is at a premium, while the extra length keeps sleepers from feeling too cramped.
- Teenagers: The longer length of the twin XL means taller teens won’t need to worry about their feet hanging off the end of the bed.
- Single Adults: For adults who sleep by themselves, the twin XL can save on space while offering a roomier alternative to a twin size mattress.
Twin XL Mattress Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
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What's the Difference Between a Twin XL, Twin, and a Full?
Most twin XL mattresses measure 38 inches wide by 80 inches long. A twin mattress has the same width, but at 75 inches long, it’s 5 inches shorter. Full mattresses measure 54 inches wide by 75 inches long, making them the same length as a twin but 16 inches wider.
As the smallest option, twin mattresses are most commonly found in children’s bedrooms or where there’s less space. The longer length of the twin XL means it can accommodate taller sleepers but remains compact and space efficient. Full mattresses are generally considered the smallest mattress that can comfortably accommodate two sleepers, although their shorter length may not fully support you if you’re over 6 feet tall.
Twin XL vs. Twin vs. Full
Features | Description |
|---|---|
Leg Room | Twin XL mattresses have the most leg room, sporting an extra 5 inches of length compared to twin and full mattresses. |
Availability of Bedding | Twin and full mattresses are more often included as standard sizes and have a wide range of bedding options. The twin XL is slightly less common and has fewer bedding options. |
Price | Mattress prices usually increase as their size increases. Accordingly, full mattresses are the most expensive of these three options. Twin XL mattresses may cost slightly more than twin mattresses, but they usually have a similar price-point. |
Mattress Weight | As mattresses get bigger, they use more materials and weigh more. Twin mattresses weigh the least, and full mattresses weigh the most. Twin XLs usually fall somewhere in the middle. |
What Should You Know About Buying a Twin XL Mattress?
Other factors such as frame size, room layout, and movability can affect your purchase of a twin XL mattress.
Bedding and Bed Frame Sizes
Because twin XL mattresses are slightly less common than other standard sizes, there are fewer bedding options designed to fit them. Prints and patterns geared toward children are usually the easiest to find. If you’re looking for adult options, late summer and early fall are often the best times to look, since that’s when bedding compatible with college dorm beds tends to go on sale.
While there are limited bed frames built specifically for the twin XL mattress size, you can still find options to suit most styles and budgets.
Doorways, Hallways, and Room Size
It’s important to carefully measure the space where you plan to use your twin XL mattress to ensure it will fit through doorways, hallways, and stairways. Selecting a mattress that comes rolled and compressed in a box can make it easier to maneuver a mattress through tight spaces. Keep in mind, though, that once it’s removed and fully expanded, the mattress may be difficult to remove.
Mattress Weight, Mattress Type, and Movability
Twin XL mattresses can weigh anywhere from about 44 to 65 pounds. While it’s possible to move a twin XL mattress on your own, it’s generally a good idea to enlist another person to help. Boxed mattresses are easier to maneuver, as are innerspring mattresses, which are lighter and hold their shape better. All-foam and all-latex mattresses can be floppy and heavy, making them trickier to handle. If you choose one of these mattress types, you may need several other people to help you move it once it’s unboxed.
About The Author
Staff Writer, Product Testing Team
Garen is a health and lifestyle content creator. She realized the importance of sleep when her children made getting a good night’s rest more challenging. Garen is always learning something new about the wide world of sleep and sleep products. Married with two girls, ages 7 and 11, she is a book nerd and a lover of pop music, travel, and the Pacific Northwest.
- POSITION: Side Sleeper
- TEMPERATURE: Neutral Sleeper
- CHRONOTYPE: Wolf
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