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The Best Mattresses for Teens Are Comfortable Yet Affordable

Reviewed by: Dr. Kevin Lees, D.C.

The Joint’s Dr. Kevin Lees, D.C. is an expert resource in a Forbes article on the best mattresses for teenagers.

Original article published by Forbes on March 26th, 2024 on Forbes

By Jessica Timmons

Most teenagers experience a barrage of rapid changes and growth, which could mean the mattress that once offered plenty of support when they were younger is no longer doing the trick—or simply isn’t big enough. The best mattresses for teens aren’t necessarily made with certain materials or constructions, but rather meet their personal preferences for comfort and support while still fitting into your budget.

“We need to optimize quality and length of sleep,” says board-certified pediatrician Dr. David Berger. “Most people don’t realize teens need more sleep than middle-age children, yet rarely get enough.” Our pick for the best mattress overall for teens, the Awara Mattress, is made with natural and organic materials and has a supportive hybrid construction. Plus, the smaller sizes are priced under $750. Ahead, we share our thoughts on the Awara and nine more best mattresses for teens to suit different sleep styles, preferences and budgets.

Raven Hybrid (Twin XL) Best Mattress For Teens Overall

Natural And Organic Materials With A Luxury-Firm Feel

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Medium-Firmness
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 365 Nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime

For teens, Berger recommends a mattress made with natural materials and organic fibers like cotton and wool. You’ll find them both in the Awara, along with two inches of Rainforest Alliance certified Dunlop latex and a premium coil support core. Together, those materials deliver excellent support, breathability and a gentle buoyancy to accommodate back, stomach, combo and some side sleepers. The mattress has a medium-firm feel, so it should work well for most teens, unless they’re a petite side sleeper.

Just as important as what’s in the Awara is what isn’t. The mattress is made without ozone-depleting substances, chemical flame retardants, formaldehyde, lead, mercury and other potentially problematic materials. It also comes with a 365-night trial, which should be plenty of time to decide if it’s right for your teen.

Pros

  • Certified-organic materials
  • Long trial window
  • Supportive for all body types

Cons

  • Latex adds weight, making the mattress heavy to move
  • Too firm for petite side sleepers

What the reviews say: One reviewer, who says they purchased the mattress for their daughter, writes, “The material is high-quality and we love that it is non-toxic.” Another says, “My 16-year-old daughter loves her new mattress. She says it is very comfortable.”

Best Budget Mattress For Teens

An Inexpensive Hybrid With Cooling Gel Memory Foam

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Medium-Free
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 90 nights
  • Warranty: None offered

This hybrid mattress combines cooling gel-infused memory foam with durable pocketed coils for an elevated sleep experience—minus the premium price tag. The medium-firm Allswell is well constructed with a quilted cover, individually-wrapped coils and reinforced edges, so it’s a great choice for a growing teen. The foams on top promote a straight spinal alignment, while the springs below make it easy to shift from one position to another. Many parents appreciate the price, as both twin and twin XL mattresses are priced just over $200, and even a full is less than $260.

The Allswell is a Walmart brand with great reviews. There’s no trial window, but there is a 90-day return window.

Pros

  • Excellent price point for a hybrid bed
  • Supportive construction accommodates all body types

Cons

  • Too firm for some side sleepers

What the reviews say: One reviewer, who says she’s ordered three Allswell mattresses for her teenage children, writes: “They are simply the most comfortable mattresses. The hybrid system is perfect. It's just the right amount of coil and just the right amount of foam. My teenage kids love them. I think these mattresses are as good as mattresses that are two to three times as expensive.”

Best Cooling Mattress For Teens

Temperature-Regulating With A Moisture-Wicking Cover

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Medium
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 365 Nights
  • Warranty: 10 Years

The Emma Hybrid is a value-priced mattress that’s made for cooler, more comfortable sleep. That’s thanks to a breathable, moisture-wicking cover and the brand’s Airgocell foam, which is designed to absorb and release excess body heat. Seven support zones in the innerspring layer adapt, curve and contour to growing bodies, and the medium firmness strikes a “just-right” feel for most sleepers, unless you’re a heavy back or stomach sleeper.

Its price is another perk for the Emma Hybrid. A twin XL is priced at $550 and a full is just $30 more. Emma offers a 365-day trial window and and a 10-year warranty.

Pros

  • Cooling materials and construction
  • Good value
  • Good for all body types

Cons

  • Some reviewers say edge support could be better
  • Might be too soft for heavier back and stomach sleepers

What the reviews say: “Finally I've been sleeping without waking up in the middle of the night covered in sweat,” writes one reviewer. Another says: “My son is enjoying his new bed. He is an athlete and now he mentioned backaches are gone. Awesome comfort for him.”

Best Mattress For Teen Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief Made To Accommodate Side Sleepers

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Medium
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 100 Nights
  • Warranty: 10 Years

Side sleepers need a mattress with enough softness to contour around the hips and shoulders without sacrificing support. The Helix Midnight is a medium-feel hybrid mattress specifically designed to meet those needs. Beneath the soft knit cover are certified Certipur-US and Greenguard Gold certified foam layers and individually wrapped coils to comfortably cushion pressure points. Reinforced sides make the edges of the Helix Midnight more supportive, a great fit for teens who sleep or sit on the edge of a mattress. In twin and full sizes, the mattress is priced under $1,000.

Pros

  • Pressure-relieving layers to contour hips and shoulders
  • Reinforced edges for a more supportive perimeter
  • Ideal for all body types

Cons

  • Cooling cover is available but an upgrade
  • May not be firm enough for heavy back or stomach sleepers

What the reviews say: One reviewer, who says she bought this mattress for her two teens, says it has a “perfect blend of softness and support. Well-made, high-quality product. I plan on them both taking their mattress with them to college and beyond. Long-term investment for an affordable price tag.”

Best Firm Mattress For Teens

Breathable And Supportive With No Sinking Sensation

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Medium, Free
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 100 Nights
  • Warranty: 10 Years

Latex is known for its relative firmness, in addition to its temperature-regulating, pressure-relieving benefits and high responsiveness. In the Earthfoam mattress, five layers of latex, wool and cotton are sufficient to deliver stability, structure, spinal support and contouring for sleepers of any age in any position. They give the mattress a slight bounce with no sinking sensation. While the Earthfoam mattress comes in medium and firm comfort levels, the brand cautions that both options are on the firmer side to ensure a neutral spine.

For all its benefits, the latex does make this a heavy mattress, which is worth keeping in mind if your teen plans to to take this mattress to college or rearrange furniture often.

Pros

  • Choice of two firmness levels
  • Organic materials
  • Impressive durability and support for all body types

Cons

  • Heavy and difficult to move

What the reviews say: One customer who purchased the bed for their preteen says, “My son is very happy with his new ‘big Boy mattress.’ The mattress itself is a medium firmness, but I put a pillow topper on it since my son likes it more squishy. There is no toxic smell, and the cover is very high quality and soft. I can tell this was manufactured very well.” Another happy customer says, “If you're looking for the perfect nontoxic mattress that won't break the bank, look no further. I can't begin to tell you how much better I'm sleeping after switching to Earthfoam. It's a little more firm compared to our other mattress, but it's so supportive and I cannot say enough good things about it.”

Best Innerspring Mattress For Teens

Comfortable, Supportive And Luxurious At A Fair Price

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Medium-firm
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 365 Nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime

The DreamCloud Hybrid is a popular mattress with a few luxury touches. It’s made with a soft, breathable cashmere-blend cover, which is quilted with gel-infused Certipur-US-certified foams for plush support. Below more foam layers, a coil innerspring system with reinforced edges and a stability base layer offer pressure relief, spinal support and durability. The mattress cover also includes four handles, making it easy to move. It all adds up to a well-constructed, medium-firm mattress that balances comfort and support for a great price—even a full size is priced under $600.

Another notable callout is the brand’s generous 365-night trial window. DreamCloud also offers a lifetime warranty on its hybrid mattress.

Pros

  • Durable, pressure-relieving construction
  • Good value
  • Good for petite, average and plus-sized sleepers

Cons

  • Might be too soft for side sleepers with petite frames

What the reviews say: “This is our second mattress from DreamCloud,” writes one customer. “We have one and now we bought one for our teen son. I'm not going overboard when I say these mattresses are the best things we've ever slept on. Nothing compares and we are customers for life.”

Best Memory Foam Mattress For Teens

Layers Of Resilient Foam That Contour, Support And Breathe

  • Type: Foam
  • Firmness: Medium
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 120 Nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime

Parents in search of a memory foam mattress for their teen may want to consider the Nolah Original Mattress. This 10-inch foam bed is made with what the brand calls AirFoam. According to Nolah, this proprietary foam is completely temperature neutral, dissipates heat 20% faster than memory foam and results in less pressure on the hips, shoulders and back than memory foam. The brand says it’s more durable and resists sagging.

The medium-feel mattress has the signature softness of contouring memory foam but plenty of pushback support to support side and combo-sleeping teens. Additionally, it uses Greenguard and Certipur-US-certified foams, a fiberglass-free construction and breathable Tencel cover, which are green flags signifying it’s free of harmful chemicals and toxins.

Pros

  • Good for people who want a memory foam feel
  • Soft and pressure relieving for side sleepers

Cons

  • Too soft for back and stomach sleepers
  • Edge support could be better

What the reviews say: “I bought this for my daughter since she has outgrown her twin,” writes one reviewer. “It’s her first time sleeping on a Nolah and it is dreamy. The Nolah Original 10 is super comfortable—not too firm and not too soft. My daughter thinks it's the perfect balance.”

Best Twin Mattress For Teens

Ultra Supportive With Your Choice Of Firmness

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Plush soft, luxury-firm, firm
  • Delivery: Free white glove delivery
  • Trial: 365 Nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime

The Saatva Classic is a highly rated luxury hybrid innerspring mattress, and it’s our top pick for a It comes in a choice of firmness (plush soft, luxury-firm, firm) and height (11.5 inches, 14.5 inches) to suit a wide range of sleepers. The upgraded mattress has a Euro pillow top with an organic cotton cover, enhanced lumbar support and layers of memory foam and two layers of coils for a breathable and supportive sleep experience. High-density foam rails give it excellent edge support as well.

With a price tag exceeding $1,200 for the smallest size, this mattress is certainly a splurge for a teenager. On the plus side, it comes with white-glove delivery and set up and includes removal of your old mattress. Saatva also offers a generous trial window and a lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • Choice of firmness and mattress heigh
  • White glove delivery includes removal of old mattress
  • Dual-coil construction makes it ultra supportive

Cons

  • It may be too firm for strict side sleepers
  •  

What our testers say:Our testers consistently remark on how professional and easy Saatva’s white glove delivery is. Our reviewer also gives the Saatva Classic high marks for edge support and cooling. “The temperature regulation of the Saatva Classic is absolutely top notch. It’s next to none in this category,” writes former sleep editor Lindsey Vickers. “If you’re a hot sleeper, I think this mattress is a great choice.”

Best Organic Mattress For Teens

A Sustainable Pick With Your Choice Of Firmness

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Plush, medium-firm
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 120 Nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime

This certified organic mattress is made with sustainable, environmentally-friendly materials, an appealing selling point for eco-conscious parents. It doesn’t compromise on comfort, support or breathability either. Happsy manufactures its own pocketed springs, which the company describes as less bouncy and more supportive, and pairs them with organic wool batting and 2 inches of organic latex for buoyant pressure relief. An optional topper upgrade (an unattached feature) adds an additional 2 inches of latex, but adds several hundred dollars to the price tag.

The Happsy mattress is made without toxins, chemical fire retardants, adhesives or polyurethane foam, which means no off-gassing.

Pros

  • Choice of firmness
  • Certified organic materials
  • Accommodates petite, average and heavy sleepers

Cons

  • Topper is an additional upgrade

What the reviews say: “Teen son is very happy with his mattress and we’re happy there was no off-gassing or chemical smell,” writes one reviewer. Another says, “Finally, my daughter can sleep again. Our twin-sized Happsy replaced a very old uncomfortable mattress for our teen. We delayed getting her a new bed because we were worried how the fumes in a new mattress would impact her. I'm so happy to have found a new bed that is comfortable and completely fume-free.”

Best Flippable Mattress For Teens

A Flippable Mattress With Two Firmness Options In One

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Firmness: Medium/firm
  • Delivery: Free
  • Trial: 365 Nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime

The beauty of a flippable mattress is in its dual firmness options. For a teen, especially one experiencing a growth spurt, the medium and firm sides of the Raven flippable mattress means it can singlehandedly accommodate changing sleep needs and comfort preferences. Layers of cooling gel-infused foam sandwich a durable coil system with reinforced edges, and the whole mattress is wrapped with a breathable quilted cover.

We also like that the Raven mattress has a 365-night home trial and a lifetime warranty. Smaller sizes, including twin and twin XL, are priced under $1,000.

Pros:

  • Two firmness options in one mattress
  • Breathable cover
  • Good for all body types

Cons:

  • Some side sleepers find both sides too firm

What the reviews say: One customer writes, “This mattress was exactly what I was looking for. It is firm but not too stiff.” Another says, “This is the best bed for my growing boys. They think it’s very comfortable. Plus it flips—a bonus.”

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted team has researched and written dozens of sleep and mattress stories and we have years of collective experience testing mattresses. Sleep and mattress editors Bridget Chapman and McKenzie Dillon are certified sleep coaches, while Forbes Vetted contributor and author of this article Jessica Timmons has written sleep content for almost a decade. All three have personal mattress testing experience, and Timmons is a mother of four. In other words, she knows firsthand the challenge of finding a quality mattress for growing teens at a great price.

We also turned to outside expertise for this piece. We interviewed David Berger, a board certified pediatrician with over 25 years of experience, and chiropractor Dr. Kevin Lees, director of chiropractic operations at The Joint Chiropractic, for their insight and recommendations.

How We Chose The Best Mattress For Teens

To assemble our recommendations of the best mattresses for teens, we started with reputable and highly-rated brands. We prioritized hybrid mattresses for their breathability and support, and we made a point of including affordable options that don’t skimp on quality materials and construction.

We also prioritized mattresses with reasonable sleep trials and return policies. Finally, we read through hundreds of customer reviews for an idea of how teens feel about their beds.

What To Look For In The Best Mattress For Teens

Teens are really no different than adults when it comes to a good mattress. They need a mattress that has sufficient support and comfort for their sleep style, personal presences and specific needs. Here’s what to keep in mind.

Mattress Size

Bed size should be a consideration, says Lees. While many children sleep on twin mattresses, growing teens benefit from a little extra space. Twin XL mattresses offer additional leg room (five extra inches compared to a standard twin), while full-size mattresses offer more space vertically and horizontally.

Firmness

“Just like adults, teens may have a sleeping preference,” says Lees, and it’s important to choose a mattress firmness that accommodates a teen’s preferred sleep style. “Side sleepers typically need more cushion so they do not develop pressure points that can be painful,” he adds. “Back sleepers tend to prefer a firmer mattress.” But he cautions that depending on a teen’s size, a firm mattress could be too firm. In that case, it’s important to take advantage of sleep trials.

Trial

It can take time to determine whether a particular mattress is a good fit, so look for a sleep trial of at least 100 days. That gives your teen sufficient time to decide whether a mattress is supportive and comfortable enough to suit their needs. Make sure you’re clear on the return policy during the trial window in the event a mattress doesn’t work out.

Price

Price is another important consideration for parents footing the bill on a new mattress for their teen. Still, the cheapest option—or sticking with their childhood bed—may not be the smartest choice. “Sleeping in a bed that doesn’t support their natural spinal curves could lead to long-term problems,” cautions Lees. “The bed they slept on as a child may not be large enough or may have lost support due to the age of the mattress.” The good news is that you can find well-made mattresses in twin, twin XL and even full sizes for well under $1,000, and often in the $400 to $800 range.

Specific Needs

Just like adults, teens may have special needs in a mattress. Features like pressure relief, cooling upgrades and an appropriate firmness for specific sleep styles may all make it easier for teens to fall and stay asleep. Being mindful of these needs can help steer you toward the most appropriate mattress for your teen.

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