Best Mattress for Teenagers

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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Our Top 5 Picks for the Best Mattresses for Teenagers

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.

1. Best for Side Sleepers

Why We Love It

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.

2. Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers

Why We Love It

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.

3. Best for Combination Sleepers

Why We Love It

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.

4. Best for Active Teens

Why We Love It

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.

5. Best Hybrid Mattress for Teens

Why We Love It

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.

6. Best Cooling Mattress

Why We Love It

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.

7. Best Budget

Why We Love It

Buying a good mattress for your teen doesn’t have to break the bank. The Brooklyn Bowery mattress costs a fraction of the price of comparable mattresses (less than $500 for a twin size mattress) so it makes a perfect budget mattress for teens who will soon be leaving the nest.

Brooklyn Bowery is medium-firm; the perfect compromise for all sleep positions. The soft top is great for side sleepers because it hugs the body’s curves. It’s firm enough for back and stomach sleepers because it offers good spinal alignment.

Read our full Brooklyn Bowery mattress review.

Teenagers and Sleep

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.

How to Sleep Better

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.

Teen Mattress Shopping Considerations

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.

Active Teens

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.

Sleep Position and Firmness

• Side Sleepers: Chances are your teen sleeps on their side because it is the most common position. Side sleepers need to focus on proper spinal alignment and hip and shoulder pressure relief. When you sleep on your side, your spine should be in a straight line, your hips and shoulders should sink slightly into the mattress. To achieve this, your teen should pick a mattress with medium firmness with a top layer of memory foam for their pressure points to sink into.
• Back Sleepers: Back sleeping is the healthiest position for your spine, but back sleepers need a mattress that can support their entire body. When your teen sleeps on their back, the natural curve of their spine should be supported. They need a medium-firm mattress, and nearly any type of mattress material will work.
• Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleeping is not recommended because it puts a strain on the lower back and neck. Thus, stomach sleepers need a medium-firm to firm mattress to lift and support the belly and torso.

Bed Size

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.

• Twin (39” x 75”): Twin size beds are ideal for children and teens because they sleep one well, and they take up very little space in a bedroom. Twin beds will work for teens on the shorter side who aren’t projected to grow much taller. If they are, consider a twin XL.
• Twin XL (39” x 80”): If your teenager is over 6 feet tall, or you think they might get there, a twin XL is for them. It increases the length of a twin bed by a few inches to give them more room to stretch out.
• Full (54” x 75”): If your teen has a bigger build than they probably need more room than a twin can provide. This is also good for teens who are prone to tossing and turning in their sleep. But beware, a full size bed is not as long as a twin XL, so if your teen has a bigger build along with being tall, it may be time to look at bigger sizes.
• Queen (60” x 80”) and Up: Queen size beds are long and wide enough for most to all teens. They give them room to move around the bed and to stretch out. If you choose a queen, it will also make a great guest room bed as your child goes to college or moves out. King and Cal King beds will work, but aren’t necessary, unless you have plans for them later.

Mattress Type

• Innerspring: Most people grew up sleeping on innerspring mattresses, so they have a classic and traditional feel. They mainly consist of a series of coils and springs that add support and bounciness, and they have one or more layers of cushioning foam. These mattresses are affordable and great for teens who want to sleep on something that will bounce back. On the other hand they can become noisy as time goes on.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses are purely made out of foam layers. Denser foam helps add support while conforming foam provides pressure relief. A memory foam mattress will contour your body and makes it very easy to fall asleep, but it can trap body heat and radiate it back, so it is not the greatest option for teens who sleep hot.
• Latex: Latex mattresses can be made from natural latex or synthetic latex, but they have just about the same properties. A latex mattress is naturally cooling and hypoallergenic. It provides pressure relief like memory foam, too. Mattress made from latex are long-lasting and can be organic, making them a good option for an eco-conscious family. However, they are more expensive.
• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses consist of a combination of coil springs, layers of memory foam or latex, or all three. Hybrid mattress play around with these combinations so they can pull the strengths out of each mattress type and put them together. Thus, they can be pressure relieving like memory foam, responsive like innersprings, and cooling like latex. Hybrid mattresses are a good choice for almost any teen, but they are on the pricier side.

Thickness

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.

Cost

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.

Summary

Here’s a quick recap on the best mattresses for teenagers:

• Best for Side Sleepers – Nectar
• Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers – Casper
• Best for Combination Sleepers – Layla
• Best for Active Teens – Cocoon Chill
• Best Hybrid Mattress for Teens – Tuft & Needle Hybrid
• Best Cooling Mattress – Bear
• Best Affordable Mattress for Teens – Brooklyn Bowery

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.