The teenage years are a time of awkwardness, growing pains, and bad sleep. But it doesn’t have to be. If you notice that your teen is out growing their childhood bed, or it seems like they’re sleeping terribly, it may be time to invest in a new mattress. But where do you start? That’s where we come in.
In this guide, we’ll give you our top picks on the best mattresses for teenagers, tips on what to look for when you’re shopping, and ways for your teen to get better sleep.
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We’ve compiled this list of the mattresses that will work best for teenagers and what they are known for (because we know each teen’s needs are different). Keep scrolling for a deeper dive of each mattress.
As you comb through our list, keep an eye out for the key factors that will matter the most to your teen including how well the mattress fits to their sleeping style, body type, and lifestyle. Plus, consider pricing, warranty, and sleep trial periods. Each of the beds on our list comes with at least a 100-night trial period so your teen can test out the mattress risk-free for a few months.
This mattress saved my back. After a few nights when my back pain disappeared, I realized it was more than just comfort, it was a life saver."
N.R.
Medium-firm: 5.5-6/10
365 days
The Nectar mattress was consistently impressive in our mattress testing, especially in the areas of edge support, responsiveness, cooling, and pressure relief—something side sleepers need. Customers boast that the Nectar mattress has done wonders for their back pain with its contouring gel memory foam.
Nectar offers generous 365-night sleep trial, meaning teens’ growing bodies can try this mattress out for a year before they make a final decision; that’s two semesters of school and many sports practices.
Read our full Nectar mattress review.
I’ve owned quite a few different mattresses but the Casper has easily become my favorite. It’s a perfect night’s sleep, a great balance of firm and soft.”
Nikki G.
Medium-firm: 6/10
100 days
Casper is one of the most popular mattresses we’ve ever tested and for good reason: it’s one of those mattresses that works for every sleep position. Its zoned support system relieves pressure from sensitive areas like the hips and shoulders. Back sleepers get that relief for their lower back and stomach sleepers get it for their hips.
Additionally, Casper is very responsive, meaning it moves as you move throughout the night; your teen will no longer be woken by their own tossing and turning. The open-cell foam gives airflow to the mattress, so your teen’s body heat won’t get trapped.
Read our full Casper mattress review.
I love this mattress! It’s the perfect firmness and it doesn’t make me hot."
Ann F.
Soft side: 4-5/10; Firm side: 7/10
120 days
The Layla mattress is unique in that you can sleep on both sides of the mattress, but each offers something different. One side is soft, and the other is firm: great for all sleeping positions. Combination sleepers work well on both surfaces as the Layla surface scored well in our responsiveness test. It also did well in our edge support test, meaning your teen can sleep and get ready on the edge of the bed without fear of slipping or sliding.
Read our full Layla mattress review.
It feels so great sleeping on my cocoon mattress, as if it were molded for my body."
VSC
Medium-firm: 6/10
100 days
Cocoon offers you options for firmness: pick between Medium Soft and Extra firm depending on your sleep preferences. The cover absorbs body heat, so teens that sleep hot have some relief from the surface of their bed. But what really makes the Chill mattress great for active teens is the pressure point relief. As you rest, the mattress cradles your pressure points, helping you heal from a days work and sleep more soundly.
Read our full Cocoon Chill mattress review.
The Hybrid is my kind of mattress! Firm, even support under your entire body. Even sitting on the edge gives you solid support."
Joey M.
Medium: 5.5/10
100 days
The Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress takes various foam layers and high-quality pocketed coil springs to create a hybrid mattress that is both pressure relieving and responsive. The breathable foam is infused with graphite to keep your teen cool but also make the mattress last as long as possible.
The individually pocketed coils bring bounce, resilience, and responsiveness without making noise as springs usually do. If your teenager is a combination sleeper or tosses and turns, this mattress will move with them; they won’t get stuck.
Read our full Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress review.
I liked my Bear Mattress after the first night, but now I can say that I love it after one month."
Jill R.
Medium firm: 7.1/10
100 days
The Bear mattress is made with superior pressure relieving and cooling properties, making it a great choice for side sleepers, hot sleepers, and those who experience pain. Its muscle recovery technology improves blood circulation as your teen sleeps, helping athletes heal quicker and rest easier.
Bear is cool to the touch thanks to its celliant cover that reflects infrared light and absorbs body heat. It’s not typical for a memory foam mattress to be so cool, but it allows for all of the memory foam benefits with none of the heat.
Read our full Bear mattress review.
You may have noticed that your teen sleeps a lot. That’s because they need an average of 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Chances are, they’re not getting it, and it’s not because they aren’t trying. As teens go through puberty, their circadian rhythm is thrown out of whack. Teens don’t get tired until 11 o’clock, but they have to be up for school early in the morning.
The combination of this plus scholastic obligations, sports, extracurricular activities, and a social life leads to sleep deprivation. When teens are sleep deprived, their grades suffer, they have severe mood swings, and they’re more susceptible to depression.
A new mattress that accommodates their growth spurts and active lifestyle is just the first step to good sleep. The best thing teens can do to improve their sleep is to have a set sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time allows for consistency in the hours of sleep they get, and the body gets used to routine.
Try to get them to set a bedtime that allows for a minimum of 8 hours of rest each night. Limit electronics and large meals right before bed to make falling asleep easier.
Still unsure of what to look for in a mattress for your teen? Here are some things to consider as you are building that perfect mattress pick.
Many teenagers play a sport as an extracurricular activity, and their mattress should accommodate this. Athletes typically have aches and pains from playing and practicing. If they sleep on a bad mattress, it could exacerbate this pain. Mattresses for athletes should have cooling and pressure relieving properties as a focus. It should also be a supportive mattress to keep up their alignment.
As we’ve mentioned, teenagers grow and change rapidly, so their mattress should reflect that. You want your teen to be comfortable in their bed, and not feel too cramped. Take advantage of sleep trials as a size trial and error for your teen.
As you are mattress shopping, you will also notice varying mattress heights and thickness. The thickness of the mattress you choose will depend on the weight of your teen. Teen on the lighter side (less than 135 pounds) should sleep on a thinner mattress of 6 to 10 inches. Teens with average weight (135 to 235 pounds) should go a bit thicker between 8 to 12 inches. Heavier teens who weigh more than average should choose a thickness of 10 inches and up to prolong the life of the mattress.
Mattresses are an investment, no matter who you are buying for. Mattresses typically last anywhere from 5 years (lower quality) to 10 years (high quality). Innerspring mattresses are on the cheaper side, but they don’t last as long as the other mattress types. This will work if you are not planning on keeping the mattress after your teen moves out.
The rest of the mattress types could range anywhere from $600-$2,000. Memory foam and some hybrids are cheaper than luxury hybrids and latex mattresses. How much you want to spend depends on the quality of sleep your teen needs and how long you plan on keeping the bed in your home.
Here’s a quick recap on the best mattresses for teenagers:
Mattress | Best for | Our Rating |
Nectar | Best for Side Sleepers | 8.7 |
Casper | Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers | 9.1 |
Layla | Best for Combination Sleepers | 8.8 |
Cocoon Chill | Best for Active Teens | 8.7 |
Tuft & Needle Hybrid | Best Hybrid Mattress for Teens | 8.6 |
Bear | Best Cooling Mattress | 8.6 |
Teenagers go through a lot when it comes to sleep health and hygiene. Their circadian rhythm changes, they are bombarded with scholastic and extracurricular time commitments, and their hormones are going crazy. So, why not gift them with a new mattress? Which one you choose depends on their size, lifestyle, and sleep position. When your teen gets a new mattress, it is the first step in improving their hours of sleep.
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