The Best Twin Memory Foam Mattress - 2021

If you have children, you’ll likely have a twin mattress somewhere in your home. But twin mattresses can also come in handy for guest beds in rooms you use for other purposes or for setting up your child in a dorm at college.

Thanks to memory foam technology, you can enjoy premium comfort in a compact form. There are plenty of twin mattresses that incorporate the latest designs that you find in queen- and king-size mattresses. You don’t even have to leave the house to find the perfect mattress to fit your needs. You just have to know the features that will best help you.

Memory foam can be incorporated in a mattress in a variety of ways. You’ll find many are infused with gel, which can help keep airflow going through the mattress. This will give you a comfortable sleeping experience while also keeping temperatures at a minimum. If you find that you sweat while you sleep, this can be a huge plus.

Another type of mattress combines memory foam with the classic innerspring coil mattress design that has been used for decades. This design puts a layer of memory foam on top, with the coil beneath. The combined effect packs in plenty of support while also giving you the comfort you get from memory foam.

But often the comfort of memory foam mattresses lies more in the way the memory foam is incorporated into the overall design. You’ll find the foam is typically layered in a way that not only provides optimum comfort but also supports you as you shift around throughout the night. Some mattresses include ridged foam, also known as egg-crate foam, to encourage airflow while also cushioning you as you sleep.

The very top layer of the mattress — the cover — also plays a role in how well the mattress performs. You’ll want one with a cover that doesn’t get in the way of the features you’re getting from the memory foam, especially if it’s infused with gel.

• Memory foam does more than provide comfort. It should also build in shock absorbency, which means as you move around throughout the night, the mattress continues to conform to your shape.
• Allergens are a problem with mattresses. If you suffer from sensitivities to irritants like dust mites and mold, make sure you choose a mattress that promises hypoallergenic features.
• Twin mattresses come in varying profiles, which refers to their height. While the materials inside are more important than the height for comfort and support purposes, the difference between an 8-inch profile and a 12-inch profile can be pretty significant. You’ll also need to keep this metric in mind when you’re choosing bedding for your new mattress.
• You’ll sometimes see a mattress that advertises relief for certain “pressure points.” These points are the areas of your body that are most in contact with the mattress. When you’re sleeping on your side, those areas are your hip and shoulder, while stomach sleepers’ pressure points are the torso and shoulders. For back sleepers, those pressure points are the hips and lower back. Look for a design that will provide the most cushioning in the areas of your body that tend to press against the mattress.
• Even though sleeping on your stomach might seem like the most comfortable position, it can put quite a bit of strain on your neck and back. If you can’t break the habit, consider doing away with your pillow or maybe even moving the pillow to an area of your body that relieves pressure on your neck and back.
• There are two sizes of twin mattresses: standard and XL. Standard twins will simply be called “twin,” but XL will be labeled “twin XL.” A twin mattress is 39 inches by 74 inches, but it can sometimes be an inch longer, at 39 inches by 75 inches. Twin XL adds 4-5 more inches to the length, making it 39 inches by 80 inches. Twin XL mattresses are often popular with teens and young adults who need a narrower bed but are too tall for a standard twin.