Best Twin XL Mattresses of 2021

Do you have a lanky teen or a child you’re sending off to college? If so, they’re probably going to need a twin XL mattress. Measuring 38 inches wide and 80 inches long, twin XL mattresses are a good fit for tall single sleepers and for tight guest rooms. 

Given that twin XL mattresses often serve as a transition mattress between teen years and adult years, you want something that is both comfortable and budget-friendly. Read on to discover our top 10 picks for the best twin XL mattresses, followed by our complete guide to finding the right twin XL mattress for you.

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Best Twin XL Mattresses

• Best Innerspring Mattress – Saatva
• Best for Side Sleepers – Puffy Lux
• Best Memory Foam Mattress – Nectar
• Best Twin XL for Adjustable Bed – Casper
• Best Budget Twin XL Mattress – Tuft & Needle
• Best Firm Twin XL Mattress – Brooklyn Signature
• Best for Hot Sleepers – Helix
• Best Hybrid Mattress – DreamCloud
• Best Twin XL Mattress for Back Pain – Amerisleep AS3
• Best for Combination Sleepers – Nolah Original

In the following section, we will take a look at how each of our top picks performed in our in-house testing process in the Mattress Lab. We’ve spent over 750 hours thoroughly trying out and inspecting more than 150 different mattresses. It’s with this data that we’ve chosen our 10 favorite twin XL mattresses.

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Saatva

The Saatva mattress is one of the best innerspring mattresses around. It’s customizable, with its plush soft, luxury firm, and firm options ideal for every sleep position. With exceptional lumbar support, the Saatva helps to combat back pain, providing optimal spine alignment. 

With eco-friendly materials, free white glove delivery, and a 120-night sleep trial, Saata is committed to both quality and customer satisfaction. Its durability and comfort are what make the Saatva mattress stand out amongst other coil mattresses. 

Read our full Saatva mattress review.

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Puffy Lux

The Puffy Lux is Puffy’s luxury mattress designed with the side sleepers in mind. Its layers of plush and cool gel-infused memory foam create a sleeping surface that cradles you. When you lie on the Puffy Lux, you’ll feel your pressure points melt in, relieving pain in your hips and shoulders.

Related: Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

But unlike some memory foam mattresses, the Puffy won’t leave you feeling like you’ve sunk into quicksand. The Puffy Lux scored exceptionally well in our in-house lab for responsiveness, a measure of how well a mattress moves with you. Its responsiveness also makes Puffy a great option for those who toss and turn.  

Read our full Puffy Lux mattress review.

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Nectar

The Nectar mattress is a memory foam mattress that offers exceptional quality and comfort at a competitive price point. Its three layers of memory foam work together to cushion problem areas while delivering reliable support. Thanks to its medium firmness, the Nectar works well for all sleepers who weigh more than 130 pounds.

What sets Nectar apart is their full-year trial period and limited lifetime warranty. When you buy a Nectar mattress, you have a whole year to test it out to ensure it’s the right one for you. And if you decide to keep it, the warranty lasts as long as you do!  

Read our full Nectar mattress review.

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Casper

The Casper mattress is a memory foam mattress designed for the average sleeper. With zoned support, the Casper does an exceptional job of keeping the body aligned. Average to heavy sleepers will feel adequately supported as their shoulders and hips gently sink into the bed. 

Thanks to the Casper’s impeccable edge support, it is easy to get in and out of bed. The sturdy edges combined with zoned support make it a good contender for use with adjustable bases. You will feel firm support when sitting up, and have a good grip when getting in and out of bed.

All foams used in the Casper mattress are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they have been tested for harmful chemicals and VOCs. This memory foam mattress should have minimal off-gassing effects when unwrapped.

Read our full Casper mattress review.

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Tuft & Needle

The Tuft & Needle is one of the most popular budget mattresses. What’s earned it this top spot in the mattress industry is its impressive quality at an affordable price. Additionally, the Tuft & Needle medium-firm feel suits the average sleeper, making it appeal to a wide variety of people.

Read More: Best Cheap Mattress for Your Budget

Unlike most all-foam mattresses, the Tuft & Needle top layer feels more like a combination of latex and memory foam. The result is a breathable, slightly springy foam that quickly adjusts to movements. These attributes benefit hot sleepers and those who toss and turn at night. 

Read our full Tuft & Needle mattress review.

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Brooklyn Signature

The Brooklyn Signature mattress is a customizable hybrid mattress. Because the Brooklyn signature comes in soft, medium, and firm, you can choose the best feel for your needs. 

The firm option is one of the best firm mattresses we’ve tested. Its gel memory foam topper and lower TitaniumGel comfort layer create a cool sleeping surface with just the right amount of contouring for those who like a firm bed. With a high-density support layer above 6” of wrapped pocket coils, even heavy sleepers are adequately supported. 

Read our full Brooklyn Signature mattress review.

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Helix

Helix offers six standard hybrid mattresses that allow customers to find the right fit for their needs. Body type, sleep position, and firmness preferences are all considered before Helix pairs you with your ideal fit. 

Each of Helix’s mattresses are hybrid beds, with an inner layer of individually wrapped coils topped with comfort layers of varying materials. For side sleepers and those who like a softer feel, contouring memory foam delivers a soft, pressure relieving surface. For those who need a firmer mattress, the upper layers are made from Helix’s Dynamic Foam. 

Helix offers further customizations for heavyweight folks and features to make their beds a good mattress with cooling technology. With the optional Ultra-Cool knit cover and the natural breathability of innerspring coils, you can enjoy a cool night’s sleep. 

Read our full Helix mattress review.

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DreamCloud

The DreamCloud is an 4-layer luxury hybrid mattress. The quilted cashmere top and two layers of plush memory foam create a cloudlike feel. Paired with layers of responsive latex, high-density memory foam, and zoned coils, the DreamCloud delivers a wonderfully plush but supportive medium-firm feel. 

With a 5-zoned coil system and multiple support layers, the DreamCloud is incredibly durable and supportive, even for heavier sleepers. And with a 365-night trial period with a full refund and lifetime warranty, DreamCloud keeps your mattress from sagging for as long as you own it. 

Read our full DreamCloud mattress review.

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Amerisleep AS3

Amerisleep AS3 is an all-foam mattress that excels at relieving aches and pains. Below a plush memory foam layer is a transition layer that offers zoned support. The result is a bed that allows hips and shoulders to sink in while the back, legs, and head are supported. This added cushion and support where you need it makes the Amerisleep a top mattress for back pain and joint pain.

The high-performance Celliant cover is one of our favorite mattress covers. The Celliant within encourages blood flow and regulates temperature. When combined with AS3’s plush feel and zoned support, athletes will find themselves feeling rejuvenated in the morning. 

Read our full Amerisleep AS3 mattress review.

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Nolah Original

The Nolah Original 10” memory foam mattress excels at relieving pressure and sleeping cool. The Nolah’s upper comfort layer AirFoamTM has an impressive ability to cushion pressure points like the shoulders, hips, and back. And with an open-cell design, it sleeps cool for a 100% foam bed. 

During our in-house testing, the Nolah performed incredibly well at responsiveness, a measure of how well a mattress adjusts to your movements. Combinations sleepers will enjoy the seamless transition from one position to the next.  

Read our full Nolah Original mattress review.

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Best Twin XL Mattress Buyer’s Guide

With so many options available, shopping for a new mattress can feel overwhelming. In our twin XL mattress buyer’s guide, we have sought to make the process simple. 

In this guide, we’ll go over:

• What is a Twin XL Size Mattress?
• Benefits of a Twin XL
• Mattress Type
• Twin XL Mattress Accessories

What is a Twin XL Size Mattress?

A twin XL mattress is the second-smallest mattress size for older children and adults. At 38” wide and 80” long, twin XL mattresses are the same width as twin mattresses and the same length as queen-size and king-size mattresses. With a narrow width and long length, extra-long twin mattresses are designed for single, tall sleepers.

Related: Twin XL vs Full

Twin Bed vs Twin XL Bed

After a crib mattress, most children graduate to the twin-size bed. Twin mattresses measure 38” wide by 75” long. Twin XL mattresses are the same width as the standard twin, but 5” longer. This added length makes twin XL mattresses suitable for people taller than 6”. 

Mattress Size	Width	Length
Twin	38”	75”
Twin XL	38”	80”

Read More: Twin vs Twin XL Mattress

Benefits of a Twin XL

Twin XL mattresses are thin and long. As such, they fit easily into small rooms, like dorm rooms, studio apartments, or guest rooms. Their narrow width is best suited for children or light-to-average weight adults who do not need much shoulder room. 

College Dorm Room

Twin XL is the standard size for college dorm beds, ensuring that even tall sleepers have adequate foot space. Because dorm rooms are notoriously small, a twin XL provides a good balance between sleeping room and floor space. 

Height

Twin XL beds are longer than either twin-size or full-size beds. Only queen size beds and larger are as long as a twin XL. Because queen and king mattresses are much larger and more expensive than twin XL mattresses, the extra-long twin is a popular choice for tall people who sleep on their own. 

Guest Room

In most homes, the smallest room is saved for the guest bedroom. And for some families, the guest bedroom doubles as a space to store large items, like suitcases or winter clothing. As such, guest beds often need to fit into small spaces. 

Because twin XL mattresses are narrow and tall, they are a good space saver. Their length makes them long enough for adult visitors, while their width allows them to fit into small spaces. 

Mattress Type

Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses are made using a plush foam that responds to body heat. Memory foam beds offer great pressure relief, making them a good choice for side sleepers and adults with aches and pains. 

Another benefit to foam beds is that there are plenty of high-quality, low-cost bed-in-a-box options. These mattresses can be shipped directly to a college student’s dorm, making the moving process easier.  

Innerspring Mattress

Innerspring mattresses are those made using an inner-core of coils that deliver a bouncy, supportive feel. Most spring mattresses are medium-firm or firmer, delivering the right support for back and stomach sleepers. Because coil mattresses are incredibly breathable, they help hot sleepers sleep cool. 

Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattresses are created using a combination of innersprings and foam or latex layers. With one or more comfort layers above the innerspring coils, hybrid mattresses cushion pressure points better than traditional innerspring mattresses. Their firm yet plush support makes hybrid beds a good option for every sleeping position. 

Hybrid mattresses are usually more expensive than all-foam or spring mattresses. As such, they are best for those planning to keep their mattress for years to come. 

Twin XL Mattress Accessories

There are certain mattress accessories that help to boost comfort and longevity of twin XL mattresses. 

Twin XL Mattress Topper

Mattress toppers are an affordable way to make an extra-long twin mattress more comfortable. If you already have a twin XL mattress that could use a bit more cushion, a simple memory foam topper can completely change the feel of the bed. Mattress toppers are often purchased for existing dorm beds to cheaply add comfort and support for those who need it. 

Twin XL Mattress Pad

Mattress pads are a thinner version of a mattress topper. While mattress pads can offer minimal cushion, their primary purpose is to protect a mattress. 

Waterproof toppers, in particular, are a great addition for twin XL beds. They can protect a mattress from accidental spills or other damage that are common in dorm rooms and guest bedrooms.

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Recap: Our Top Picks for the Best Twin XL Mattresses

Mattress	Superlative	MA Score
Saatva	Best Innerspring Mattress	8.7/10
Puffy Lux	Best for Side Sleepers	9.3/10
Nectar	Best Memory Foam Mattress	8.7/10
Casper	Best for Adjustable Bed	9.1/10
Tuft & Needle	Best Budget Mattress	8.7/10
Brooklyn Signature	Best Firm Mattress	9.1/10
Helix	Best for Hot Sleepers	8.9/10
DreamCloud	Best Hybrid Mattress	8.8/10
Amerisleep AS3	Best for Back Pain	8.4/10
Nolah Original	Best for Combination Sleepers	8.9/10

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Summary

Twin XL mattresses are popular for tall teens, college students, and guest bedrooms. Their slight size is a great space saver for tight spaces like dorm rooms, guest rooms, and studio apartments. After combing through our list and buyer’s guide, we hope you’ve found the twin XL bed of your dreams—or at least, you have a better idea of what to look for.