Twin size mattresses

The size of twin size beds makes them one of the most versatile mattresses. They can fit in a bunk bed, trundle bed, guest room, small apartment, dorm room, and more. Some of the more popular foundations used with a twin size bed are:

• Box spring:

  You can use a box spring with an innerspring mattress and some hybrids, although we do not recommend using one with a foam bed. The wooden and/or metal in a box spring can cause the foam to droop and sag prematurely.

• Slatted base:

  Slats connected with fabric or attached to the bed frame are another popular option, and they do not require a box spring. Simply place your mattress directly on top of the slats (make sure they are aligned and stabilized first). Amerisleep specifically recommends using our mattresses on slats no more than 3 inches apart to avoid any sagging.

• Platform Bed

  A platform bed is a sleek, minimal option that works well with most mattress types. Keep in mind that if the base has no slats, airflow and breathability through the mattress might be an issue.

• Adjustable bed:

  An adjustable bed may seem it’s only meant for those with chronic pain or sleep-disordered breathing issues such as snoring or sleep apnea. While adjustable beds can help with these problems, they’re also a great choice for anyone who just wants to sleep better. With an adjustable bed, you can elevate your head or legs for improved breathing, circulation, and posture. An adjustable base puts less pressure and stress on your back. Currently, Amerisleep offers an adjustable base for Twin XL, full, queen, and split king mattresses.

• Metal frame:

  You can use your twin size bed on a metal frame as long as it has built-in support in the form of slats or a platform. If you want a headboard, most can be attached to a basic metal frame, but always check the manufacturer instructions for best compatibility.

Maybe you’re not sure which type of base will mesh with your home decor and you’d rather put your mattress directly on the floor— we recommend against this because it impedes airflow through the bottom of the mattress. To ensure you get a good night’s sleep, choose a strong, supportive bed foundation to go with your new twin size mattress.

Thinking about an adjustable bed? Check our adjustable bed package here

The best twin mattress for you largely depends on your sleeping position, as well as your budget, comfort preferences, and how much you plan to maintain it.

• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers:

  Side sleepers are already in a relatively healthy position for minimal back pain and snoring, but they are prone to numbness or tingling in their limbs, especially if their mattress is too firm. That’s why most brands, including Amerisleep, recommend side sleepers choose a medium to soft mattress. Your body type can affect the feel of a mattress as well, so always choose one with plenty of pressure relief and sturdy support.

• Best Mattress for Back Sleepers:

  Back sleepers aren’t at risk for misaligning their spines, but they can suffer from snoring or sleep apnea because of the way gravity presses down on the soft tissues of the throat. To maintain even support for their whole body, including their heads and necks, back sleepers need a firm or medium-firm mattress.

• Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers:

  Overall, we do not recommend stomach sleeping because of the strain it puts on the back and neck. However, if you’re set on sleeping this way, choose a firm or medium-firm mattress to keep your spine in a neutral position. If you’re ready to switch to the healthier side-sleeping position, you can use a body pillow to keep comfortable while you adjust.

While memory foam is certainly one of the more popular options, there are other choices for those who aren’t quite ready to take the memory foam plunge.

Memory Foam Mattresses

How is memory foam made? It all starts with polyurethane foam, and then other materials are added to give it a soft, viscoelastic feel (hence the name “viscoelastic foam”). Memory foam has an open-cell structure meant to give it a responsive, springy feel.

No memory foam mattress is made with 100% memory foam— that would be a very unsupportive bed indeed. Most often, the memory foam appears in the top comfort foam layer(s) and is then supported by a firmer foam, usually poly-foam. Additional layers are added depending on how soft the company wants the mattress to be.

Memory foam is largely popular because To offset the fact that high-density foam traps heat, many brands infuse their foams with cooling gels or other materials, boosting breathability and responsiveness.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring beds use steel coils for their base and thin layers of poly-foam or memory foam in the comfort layers, also known as the pillow top or Euro-top. Innerspring mattresses are not known for their pressure relief or motion isolation (like memory foam), and they start to sag after only a few years.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses are a combination of memory foam and innerspring beds. They contain more foam in the top layers than a typical innerspring, and the steel coils are often wrapped in fabric to reduce motion transfer.

Hybrids are sought after because they seem to have all the pros of innersprings and memory foam mattresses without their cons; however, the average lifespan of a hybrid mattress is only 1-2 years longer than an innerspring, so they may not be worth the extra cost.

Latex Mattresses

Like memory foam beds, latex mattresses are pressure-relieving, silent, and hypoallergenic. However, they have a bouncier, firmer feel to some and they typically cost more. Latex beds are not as readily available as the other mattress types, but if you can find one, you’ll probably like them for their durability— some latex beds can last for up to 15 years.

Before you choose your perfect twin size bed, consider the pros and cons of each mattress type.

Queen and king size mattresses come in a few different variations, but twin size mattresses are only available in two types: twin and twin XL. A twin XL is a good option for a growing child, especially if you’re not planning on transitioning them out of that mattress until they leave for college. However, if you’re just using the twin for a guest room, a bunk bed, or a shared bedroom, a twin is a perfectly suitable choice.

Size Comparison:

Maybe you’ve been sleeping on the same mattress your whole life and you’re still not sure which “firmness” will be most comfortable for you. We recommend referring to your sleeping position (discussed above) as well as your body weight. If you’re buying a twin, you’re probably not sharing your mattress with a partner, so you don’t need to worry about their weight or sleeping style affecting the firmness or feel.

Many mattress brands differentiate firmness using the firmness scale, which goes from 1-10, with 1 being plush and 10 being extra firm. In general, most mattresses don’t rate on the extreme ends of the scale— they fall between 3-8, with a little variance depending on the brand.

Firm (firmness scale: 8-9, AS1)

• Best for back sleepers and stomach sleepers who like a firm mattress with very little give

Medium-Firm (firmness scale: 6-8, AS2)

• Best for those with back pain
• Best for back and stomach sleepers who need extra pressure relief
• Best for heavyweight sleepers who prefer a firm feel

Medium (firmness scale: 5-7, AS3)

• Best for side sleepers and combo sleepers who prefer an even balance of softness and firm support
• Best for average weight sleepers

Medium-Soft (firmness scale: 4-5, AS4)

• Best for side and combo sleepers who need extra pressure-relief and softness

Soft (firmness scale 2-3, AS5)

• Best for heavyweight sleepers who prefer a soft bed
• Best for petite sleepers who prefer a soft bed
• Best for the dedicated side sleeper who needs extra pressure relief

A high-quality mattress will last at least as long as its warranty, never lose support, and leave you waking up refreshed and well-rested every night. To maintain the quality of your new twin bed, always use a mattress protector or encasement; these will deter bed bugs, dust mites, and spills.

You can tell a lot about how long a mattress will last by checking out the warranty. The mattress industry’s standard length warranty is 10 years, since most experts recommend switching out your mattress after about that long. However, many mattress types begin to show signs of sagging and deterioration before that point because the foams are poorly made, the base layer is not dense or thick enough, or the mattress is poorly protected from allergens, bed bugs, dust mites, or spills and stains.

If you’re planning on using your twin mattress in a guest room, you can expect it to last longer than average.

The typical mattress warranty lasts about 10 years and it usually covers sagging below a certain depth as well as manufacturing defects. If the twin mattress you’re considering doesn’t come with a warranty, we suggest going elsewhere. Twin size beds need to withstand a lot of wear and tear, especially if they’re for a kid’s room or a daybed used for everyday lounging.

Most new mattresses require an adjustment period lasting around 20-30 days, and the sleep trial most often covers that and more. However, if you’ve passed the 100-night trial period and your mattress still feels too soft or firm, you can adjust it with a mattress topper. A couple of the most popular toppers include:

• Gel memory foam mattress topper:

  infused with gel or gel beads, these toppers are meant to dissipate body heat while adding an extra layer of softness to your mattress.

• Convoluted foam mattress topper:

  Also known as “egg-crate foam” because of its shape, this topper type is meant to add more support and contouring.

Amerisleep makes two different toppers: one for added softness and one for added support, depending on your needs. Both toppers are made with HIVE® technology, the ergonomic sleep system that simultaneously supports and eases pressure points.

Yes, a twin size and a single bed are the same size. The word “twin” in “twin size” simply refers to two single beds side by side, like you would find in a shared bedroom or dorm room.