Twin vs. Twin XL Mattress

Shopping for a new mattress for yourself or a loved one can be tough due to the many factors that must be considered. There’s mattress material, mattress price, convenience, and, perhaps most importantly, size. The standard mattress sizes are Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King.   

Out of all these sizes, none share as many similarities as the Twin and Twin XL. In fact, these two sizes are so similar that you may be a little confused as to why you should pick one over the other. Read on to get a better understanding of the subtle differences between Twin size mattresses and Twin XL size mattresses.

	Twin	Twin XL
Height	11”	11”
Width	38”	38”
Length	75”	80”
Surface Area	2,850”	3,040”
Average Cost	$699	$799
Who it’s best for	Single sleepers under 6’ tall	Single sleepers over 6’ tall

Twin and Twin XL Similarities

As mentioned previously, standard Twin and Twin XL mattresses share many similarities. They both have the same overall height at 11 inches, and they’re generally the same width at 38 inches. 

The narrow sizing makes them both great for placement in smaller children’s bedrooms, college dorm rooms, and guest bedrooms, and they can fit most bunk bed frames. Finally, they are both very affordable in terms of mattress pricing.

Twin and Twin XL Differences

The primary difference between Twin and Twin XL beds is in the length and overall surface area. A Twin mattress will measure approximately 75 inches long, while a Twin XL will measure up to 80 inches long, which is roughly the same length as a standard queen mattress. 

Due to the extra materials needed for a Twin XL’s construction, it will usually be around $100 more than a regular Twin. In addition, a Twin XL mattress isn’t a very popular mattress size, so it can be a little challenging to find bedding accessories to fit a Twin XL. However, those extra inches that come with a Twin XL allow them to accommodate taller sleepers because of the extra legroom.

Considerations When Mattress Shopping

You need to ensure that you’re taking into account all of the most important factors while mattress shopping so that you’re getting the best option available to you. Below are a few of the factors you should think about as you shop around.

Age

Although there is no age restriction on mattress sizes, there are certain ages that best fit with each mattress. A twin size mattress is a great starter bed for children who are leaving the crib mattress behind. A twin XL is also fine for younger children as well as teenagers due to the extra length. Our best mattress for kids page will have more info for you on this subject.

For older teenagers who have hit their growth spurt, or smaller adults, a full size mattress might be best for them because of the extra width. If you’re shopping for a teenage, head over to our best mattress for teens page. A queen size mattress, king size mattress, or California king size mattress would accommodate adolescents, adults, and couples who share a bed.

Cost

The larger the mattress, the more materials it will use in its construction, which means a higher overall cost. In addition to this, you need to also look at the types of materials used, such as memory foam, latex, innerspring, etc. 

All of these factors will figure into the overall cost of a new mattress, along with the actual size. For example, a twin mattress will be the cheapest sleep option, while a king and California king will be the most costly. If you want a larger mattress at a budget-friendly price, take a look at our best affordable mattress page.

Room Size

When picking out the best mattress for yourself or a loved one, you also need to look at the size of your room. A small children’s room, a guest bedroom, or a college student’s dorm room might have minimal space, so you should look at a twin or twin XL mattress. 

For a medium-sized bedroom, guest room, or studio apartment, you can incorporate a full size bed. For master bedrooms, you can use a queen size, king size, or California king size mattress and still have plenty of space for other belongings.

Size of Sleeper

Your top priority when searching for a new mattress is finding one that will keep the sleeper comfortable, and in order to achieve that, you need to consider the size of the sleeper. It’s difficult to have a good night’s sleep in a bed that is too small for you, so you’ll want to look at the mattress dimensions to ensure that it’s large enough. 

Twin mattresses measure approximately 38 inches wide and 75 inches long and have a surface area of roughly 2,850 square inches, making them great for younger children. Twin XL mattresses are 38 inches wide as well, but they are 80 inches long, and they have 3,040 square inches of surface area, allowing teenagers to remain comfortable with extra legroom.

Couples vs. Single Sleepers

Are you going to be sleeping alone in your bed, or are you sharing it with your significant other? Do you think your child or pets will also be sleeping on the bed with you? Unless you’re planning to sleep alone, then you’re going to want a bed that will easily accommodate additional sleepers without feeling confined or cramped. 

A twin bed, twin XL bed, and full size bed will be too small for more than one sleeper. For sleepers who share their bed with someone else, or if they like to have their children or pets occasionally sleep with them, it’s recommended that you choose a mattress with a wider surface area, such as a queen, king, or California king. For some recommendations, check out our list of the best mattresses for couples.

Bed Height

Along with mattress length and width, you also want to look at mattress height while you’re shopping. Getting in and out of bed can have a significant impact on our back and joint health, so you want a mattress that doesn’t require a lot of effort when climbing into bed each night or leaving the bed each morning. 

Twin, twin XL, and full size mattresses and bed frames are usually smaller and lower to the ground, making getting in and out of bed easier for the sleeper. Queen, king, and California king beds are higher up from the ground, and for shorter people, it can make getting in and out of bed a real hassle.

Which One is Right for You?

There is no single bed that is a one-size-fits-all solution. Everyone has a unique sleep personality, so it’s up to you to carefully research each and every mattress option to determine which one is right for you. As you’re shopping, make sure you take the aforementioned factors into consideration so that you can get the good night’s sleep you deserve in the right sized bed.

Head over to our best Twin mattresses page to learn more about that bed size.