The Highest Rated Twin Beds – 2021 Review Guide

There was a time when the Twin was considered the ideal size of bed for a single person. However, these were times when bedrooms were small and mattress prices run high, so it would be unfair to compare with the actual situation when you can buy luxurious mattresses at affordable prices.

Still, Twin beds are a good choice for growing kids and for college dorm rooms where space must be optimized to the maximum. While they may not offer plenty of space, if you choose the correct materials and type of surface, you can still have plenty of relaxing nights on it. Not to mention, prices are extremely acceptable at Twin size!

Since comfort is very important, we did a bit of research and found the best beds that work well in a Twin size. You can read our opinion and experience in the reviews below, but there’s more to today’s guide. We’ll also discuss how to choose a proper Twin and how it compares to other measures on the market.

Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Twin Bed

Comfort & Support

These two features go hand in hand as you can’t have comfort without good back support, and no one would buy a mattress just for back support without good comfort. This is why most manufacturers today do their utmost to find new combinations of materials and textures, looking for the ideal design that will feature both support and comfort.

The cool thing is that most of them actually did it and nowadays the market is filled with amazing products. But before you simply point and choose, it’s best to know what comfort means for you.

This is such a subjective feature that it’s difficult to choose just by reading reviews and asking friends. It’s also one of the main reasons why so many online retailers offer 100+ days of home trial.

In most cases, a mattress that provides you both should be of medium firmness (never choose the extremes unless you know for sure you enjoy them), with a bit of bounce (unless you’re into the memory foam feeling) and good motion control.

The bed should also be well-ventilated and must have a good cover that feels nice to touch.

Longevity & Durability

These are again, two features that go well together. Longevity makes reference to the number of years the mattress will hold together and durability refers to how well the features and structure will resist in time. As you can see, you need both to have a good product see our in-depth bed guide.

Given that Twin beds are not too big, they don’t tend to fall apart too easily, but if the design isn’t durable, you will start to see body impressions in time. Superficial impressions after 7 years of constantly using a mattress are natural, but if they are deeper than one inch, you must consider using the warranty.

Regardless of its build and materials, a good mattress must pass the test of time, which is about 8 to 10 years for regular beds and about 15 years for natural latex mattresses.

For Kids

When you’re in the market looking for a bed for Junior, a Twin size is the best choice. The mattress is not too wide or too long and it will fit in a small bedroom. You can even fit two in the same room and you can even install the mattresses in a bunk bed system.

Given that the kids are still growing, it’s highly recommended to choose a medium-firm design with a bit of bounce in it so the spine will be well-supported. Also, most kids don’t have a favorite sleeping position so they move a lot during the night.

To avoid them waking up sore or with joint pain, you should select a design that has at least one layer of memory foam, latex foam, or similar at the top. These materials are contouring and provide your child with comfort and support regardless of sleeping position.

For Adults

The only situation where a Twin is good for an adult is when you’re sleeping alone. However, even in this scenario, it seems a bit too narrow for a full-grown adult to sleep comfortably.

Still, if this is your choice at least buy the Twin XL, which is 5 inches longer than the standard version. This way you’ll have room to stretch your feet!

A Twin can be used extremely well as a day bed or a mattress for guests (if you only have single friends). It also goes great in students’ rooms as it saves a lot of space and small bedrooms (for the same reason).

Are you a couple?

Read: Highest Rated Couple’s Beds – Buyer’s Guide

Reviewing the Materials

Memory Foam

Due to its unique characteristics, memory foam is considered the top-grade material for side sleepers, but everyone else can enjoy it. A Twin memory foam design is comfortable and supporting for both adults and children, even though some parents still consider the material too man-made for a kid.

While it’s true that some chemicals are used to make this special foam, if the bed is stamped CertiPUR US, you can trust no harmful substances were used, be sure to read our full buyer’s guide. Yes, there will be some off-gassing (the specific smell when you unpack the bed), but this goes away in 24 to 48 hours.

Memory foam is affordable and lightweight, but it’s also contouring and supporting, due to its viscoelastic nature. The shape of the bed adapts to the body of the sleeper and allows you to sink into the surface for a perfect good night’s sleep.

It’s also not too soft to allow heavier parts of the body to sink more than the rest, which maintains a correct horizontal position all night long.

Polyurethane Foam

This is another type of foam used by the manufacturers and it’s usually referred to as regular foam. Normally, you would find polyurethane foam as a base layer in all-foam mattresses because it is springier than memory foam and can be firmer. Still, you may also find it in an innerspring bed, as the top layer that sits over the coils.

Polyurethane foam is a petroleum based product, just like memory foam, but because it’s easier to obtain it, it is more affordable. Still, just like with the aforementioned foam, you will have to consider the density as the main characteristic of quality.

If the density is high, the foam will be durable and will provide good support.

Another aspect to consider with foams is heat retention. If the manufacturer doesn’t use an extra cooling system like gel infusion, the Twin you’re about to buy may sleep hot. However, if it’s an innerspring design, the coils are enough to ensure good mattress ventilation.

Innerspring

If you’re looking to buy a Twin size design for a kid, the innerspring bed may be a fantastic choice because it is bouncy and more resistant to jumping up and down. The springs inside the mattress are designed to withstand serious pressure and modern models come with amazing improvements.

For instance, an innerspring mattress nowadays features a pocketed system where each coil is wrapped around a durable cloth. This reduces the squeaks of the springs and increases their durability in time.

Furthermore, by wrapping each coil separately, manufacturers found an innovative way to keep motion under control, so modern mattresses are bouncy but without disturbing a sleeping partner.

Still, if you want to buy a Twin, this last feature doesn’t really make sense because this is a bed for just one person. It is however a good choice because the coils ensure fantastic ventilation and keep the layers on top (usually a type of foam or a combination) dry and comfy.

Latex

Twin size beds are usually bought for kids, which is why a natural latex mattress makes a lot of sense. First of all, the surface is hypoallergenic; meaning most fungi or bacteria won’t find this sleeping surface a good growth environment.

This feature makes the natural latex design perfect for growing children and for adults with mild allergies. Of course, natural latex is healthier overall so it’s not only recommended for people with allergies, see our top latex beds for better understanding.

Second of all, a Twin mattress is less expensive than a Queen or a King, which is why latex will be more affordable. In general, a natural latex mattress is a bit more expensive than the rest but this is due to the method of processing and the fact that the material (sap from the rubber tree) is a bit more difficult to obtain.

Besides being hypoallergenic, latex foam is also naturally buoyant and has more firmness than other types of foam. This makes it a favorite for stomach and back sleepers and specialists recommend it for growing children as it keeps the spine in almost perfect alignment.

Other Sizes You May Be Interested In

Full

The Full size is next on the list of sizes after Twin XL and can accommodate two regular-sized adults without offering too much personal space. With 53 inches in width and 75 inches in length, you can see how two adults would have to spend most of their night close to each other, so it’s a fantastic fit for new couples who can’t get enough of each other.

Still, given the length, you may not want to consider this bed for adults. Actually, many parents skip the Twin size and go directly to Full for their kids, even if they’re not adolescents yet. They take it as a preventive measure, in case the kid goes through a growth spurt, and the extra space is great for when they want to sit on the bed and read a bedtime story or have a chat with their kid.

Overall, this type of bed is a tight fit for two adults, but goes great for a single person that’s not too tall. The good news is that it fits most small bedrooms and can be used as a guest bed.

Queen

This is the most popular choice right now in the US, as people have bigger bedrooms and like to enjoy their personal space.

Even as a new couple, after a while you feel the need to have some space, which is why a Queen-size bed is perfect! Not to mention, this is the ideal size for a single person who likes to sleep like a starfish and enjoy the complete freedom of having the entire bed for themselves.

Measuring 60 inches in width and 80 inches in length, the Queen may be a bit of a problem for a small bedroom, but it fits great in medium and large ones. It’s also important to make sure the mattress will fit through the doors and corridors leading to your bedroom, even if you buy it in a box – this in case you want to move it after you unpack it.

Regular & Cal King

Finally, the king of the mattress sizes, the King (76 x 80 inches) and the California King (72 x 84 inches)! These beds offer the maximum of space for each person (when you’re sharing the bed with a partner). Actually, if you think about it, each partner has a Twin at their disposal as each will have 38 inches for themselves. Not to mention, there’s more space in length as well!

Of course, if you really want to spoil yourself, there’s no one stopping you to get a King for just you. But it may be a waste of space since the surface is pretty wide. Actually, the King is the favorite choice for heavier persons or couples as it provides space and is more durable.

Now, the California King is a variation designed for tall people as there is more room in length than in width. Of course, it’s not a fairly popular choice, but there are athletes and other types of buyers who enjoy the option of a longer bed.

Our Top Twin Mattress Reviews

With four different layers of foam that create the high-grade surface for a good night’s sleep, the Nectar is a fantastic purchase! And because all the foams used to make this product are CertiPUR US Certified, you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals if you’re buying the product as a mattress for your child.

Not to mention, the design is supportive, which makes it great for a developing child or teenager. Nectar features both the standard (39 x 75 x 11 inches) and the extra-long (38 x 80 x 11 inches) Twin versions, so you can also get this mattress for an adult or for use in the guest room.

During our review, we learned this is a durable mattress and the fact that it comes with a whopping 365-night trial and forever warranty, makes it even more interesting.

Puffy is one of the best beds for both adults and children because it promotes breathability and fantastic back support (we actually enjoyed reviewing it!). The construction of this mattress is rather simple (only two layers), but the layer on top is infused with a special cooling gel that wicks the heat and humidity away from the sleeper.

Also, the top layer which is soft and contouring, and the bottom layer which is firm and supportive combine into a medium-firm formula that will accommodate most types of sleepers.

Puffy offers both Twin sizes and lifetime warranty after you have 101 nights to test it out in the comfort of your home. This shows trust in the bed’s features and shows the company is open to communicate and help with all your needs.

See how well Puffy performed when we reviewed it.

If you or your kids can’t decide between medium-firm and firm, Layla solved this problem for you: when you don’t feel like a firm, you simply turn it over and you get the medium-firm design! Both faces are covered with a layer of foam infused with copper for optimum cooling effect (copper conducts heat away from the sleeper) and maximum durability.

Furthermore, the copper makes the surface hypoallergenic so you can use the Twin size bed for a child with mild allergies. There is also the Twin XL available, if you want to use the mattress in a smaller bedroom or as a mattress for guests (we only reviewed the Twin).

Overall, the mattress is good for support and keeps everything in correct alignment. It also comes with 120-night trial and lifetime warranty, and the price is extremely affordable even if your budget is not generous.

Want more information about Layla? Click here to read a full review.

Our Final Thoughts

As you can see, the Twin is ideal for kids and can go well in college dorm rooms or in a bunk bed system, but we wouldn’t recommend it for a full-grown adult. Still, if you don’t have the budget or the room space for a bigger design, it works for a regular sized person.

In this guide we offered several good options that will keep you comfy even if space is not exactly generous.

Also, you have the possibility to understand which material is best for a twin mattress and we even offered a guide for the other sizes available on the market (in case you change your mind).