Bunk beds are great space savers, but finding the right mattress can be a challenge. Some bunk bed frames come in unconventional sizes, and others have a maximum mattress height.
In the guide below, we’ll share tips on how to find a suitable mattress and our favorite models this year.
Zinus Memory Foam 8 Inch Green Tea Mattress
|
Our favorite twin bunk bed mattress for 2020
|
Zinus Sleep Master Ultima Comfort Memory Foam 10 Inch Mattress
|
Comfortable and supportive with a three-layer design
|
LinenSpa 8″ Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress
|
Offers both innersprings and memory foam
|
Contents
What to Look for When Choosing a Twin-Size Bunk Bed Mattress
While there are exceptions, bunk beds are typically used by children who have different sleeping needs than adults. What works for you may not work for your child who is still growing and changing.
When choosing a bunk bed mattress, keep the following points in mind:
Support Level
A growing child needs extra support while sleeping. Spinal support, according to Kidspot, is the most important thing. The neck and spine should be kept in a neutral position during sleep, so the spine can grow without restrictions.
You may want to steer clear of mattresses that are too soft, as they may do more harm than good to a growing child’s spine.
If older children are going to be using the bunk bed, support should still be a consideration. Many kids continue growing well into their teenage years and still need support.
Mattress Type
When choosing a mattress, one of the first things you’ll consider is its type and construction. There are a few different types of mattresses that come in twin size, including:
- Memory Foam: Conforming memory foam hugs the body’s natural curves while providing support and relief from pressure points.
- Innerspring: The classic innerspring mattress includes metal coils, or springs, that provide bounce and support.
- Hybrid: Some mattresses contain both memory foam and innersprings to give you the best of both worlds.
- Latex: Made with natural latex. This type of mattress provides spine support and good airflow, but does not offer even weight distribution or pressure point relief.
Weigh the pros and cons of each material to determine which one will suit your needs best.
Mattress Thickness
Twin mattresses come in a variety of thicknesses, from 6″ to 10″ or more. The thinner the mattress, the less support it provides – in most cases.
When choosing a mattress thickness, you will first need to consider the bunk bed frame. A really thick mattress may not fit properly in the frame. If the top bunk is high up, a 10″ mattress may put the sleeper uncomfortably close to the ceiling.
The bed frame is one consideration – the user’s personal preference is another. Some people prefer the extra support a thicker mattress provides.
Find a balance between what will work well with the bunk bed frame and the user’s personal comfort preferences.
Weight Support
While most mattresses can support a lot of weight, the user’s size is still something that needs to be considered. It may not be that the user is too heavy – it may be that they’re too light to get enough support from the bed.
Children are often too light to really enjoy the conforming benefits of a memory foam or pillow top mattress. In fact, some find these mattresses to be too stiff or firm.
Find a mattress style, material and thickness that will comfortably support the user’s weight.
Shipping Options
How is the mattress shipped? Will you have to be there for delivery?
Traditional mattress deliveries require you to take time out of your schedule to make sure someone is home to meet the delivery person. You may be waiting an hour or you may be waiting all day for the delivery.
Some mattresses are delivered in a compressed and rolled format. In this format, the mattress is compact enough to fit and ship in a regular box that can be delivered to your doorstep.
If you value convenience, you may want to consider buying a mattress that is shipped in compressed format.
Just keep in mind that even though the mattress is delivered to your doorstep, the box will still be heavy. In many cases, the boxes can weigh 100 pounds or more, so you may need help getting it into your home or upstairs.
Quality and Durability
The quality and durability of the mattress is obviously important, and there are some features that can help you gauge the quality of the mattress you’re considering.
If the mattress is made of memory foam, consider looking for models that are made with CertiPUR-US certified foam. This certification, according to CertiPUR-US, means that the mattress is:
- Made without phthalates
- Low VOC for better indoor air quality
- Made without ozone depleters
- Made without certain harmful flame retardants
- Made without formaldehyde
- Made without lead, mercury and heavy metals
Memory foam that is not CertiPUR-US certified may contain harmful chemicals and may not provide a high level of durability.
Some manufacturers of memory foam mattresses may also include materials that enhance performance, like green tea extract and activated charcoal. These types of materials can help keep bacteria and odors at bay.
With these points in mind, let’s take a closer look at our favorite twin mattresses for 2020.
Our Favorite Twin Mattresses for Bunk Beds in 2020
Zinus Memory Foam 8″ Green Tea Mattress
Zinus’ 8″ twin-size mattress features green tea extract and castor seed oil to fight odors and bacteria. Offering three layers of comfortable and supportive memory foam, this mattress may be a good fit for anyone who wants medium-firmness.
Features
- 3 Layers: 2″ memory foam, 2″ pressure-relieving comfort foam, 4″ high-density, airflow base support
- Made with CertiPUR foam
- Infused with castor seed oil and green tea extract
- Knitted jacquard cover
The Zinus 8″ mattress offers three layers of foam: a 4″ base support of high-density, airflow foam; a 2″ layer of pressure-relieving foam; and a 2″ layer of conventional memory foam.
All foam is CertiPUR- US certified for quality and durability.
Along with green tea extract and caster seed oil, this mattress is also infused with activated charcoal to further eliminate odors and bacteria. Plus, the company replaces some of the petroleum used in memory foam with natural plant oil to make their mattresses a little eco-friendlier.
The mattress is protected by a jacquard knit cover, and is shipped in a compressed fashion for easy door-to-door shipping.
Watch the video below to see how the mattress expands after unrolling:
Pros
- Medium-firmness
- 3 layers of foam add comfort and support
- Caster seed oil, green tea extract and activated charcoal help keep the mattress clean
- Ships rolled and compressed for convenience
- Quality foam is CertiPUR – US certified
Cons
- Strong smell when first unpacking
The only complaint with this mattress is that it has a strong odor when you first unpack it. This is a common issue with all memory foam mattresses. The smell should dissipate within a few days of expanding it.
If you’re looking for a medium-firm mattress with odor- and bacteria-fighting properties, the Zinus 8″ mattress may be a good fit for your bunk beds.
Zinus Sleep Master Ultima Comfort
Offering a higher 10″ profile, the Zinus Sleep Master Ultima Comfort mattress has three layers of high quality memory foam. Conforming to your body’s natural curves, this mattress may be a good fit for kids who need a little extra support from their mattress.
Features
- 10″ profile
- 3 layers: 5″ high-density foam base; 2″ pressure-relieving foam; 3″ memory foam
- CertiPUR – US certified foam
- Constructed with BioFoam, which replaces some petroleum with natural plant oils
- Ships compressed and rolled
The Sleep Master Ultima Comfort features three layers of CertiPUR – US certified foam: a 5″ high-density base foam layer; a 2″ layer of pressure-relieving foam; and 3″ layer of memory foam. These three layers work together to provide comfort and support.
Zinus constructed this mattress with BioFoam, which uses natural plant oils in place of some of the petroleum used to make memory foam.
A knitted jacquard cover protects the mattress, which is shipped compressed and rolled for convenience.
Pros
- 10″ profile provides a little extra support
- Made with quality, CertiPUR – US certified foam
- Has three layers of foam
- Delivered compressed and rolled
Cons
- Firmer than expected
The Sleep Master Ultima Comfort is a little firmer than you might expect, but that may be a good fit for some people.
If you’re looking for a firmer mattress, this ZInus mattress may be a good fit for you.
LinenSpa 8″ Innerspring and Memory Foam Mattress
The LinenSpa 8″ mattress features a hybrid construction, with both memory foam and innersprings. Despite having innersprings, this mattress is still shipped in compressed form for convenience.
Features
- Memory foam and innerspring construction
- Medium firmness level
- Quilted top layer and 1.5 layer of foam
- Dimensions: 39″ x 75″ x 8″
- Shipped compressed for convenience
LinenSpa’s mattress features a bottom layer of tempered steel coils to provide just the right amount of support. Three other layers sit on top of the coil layer, which include:
- Felt Pad: Provides insulation for the coils for more durability and comfort.
- Foam Comfort: Adds softness while conforming to the body’s natural curves.
- Quilted Memory Foam: Allows for even weight distribution to relieve aches and pains.
Although this mattress features a layer of steel springs, it does ship rolled and compressed. Like with other memory foam mattresses, this one expands to its full size after opening and unrolling.
Pros
- Features both memory foam and innersprings to avoid that “sinking” feeling
- Shipped compressed for added convenience
- Springs are quiet
Cons
- May be too firm
Some people may find this mattress to be too firm.
If you prefer a firmer mattress and don’t like the “sinking” feeling some memory foam mattresses cause, the LinenSpa 8″ mattress may be a good choice for you.
Olee Sleep 10″ Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress
Olee Sleep’s 10″ mattress is designed to be comfortable, durable and supportive. Olee includes three layers in the construction of the mattress, which includes a cooling gel layer.
Features
- 3 layers: I Gel layer for cooling; 25 ILD HD foam; 8 ILD memory foam
- 10″ profile
- Backed by a 10-year limited warranty
The Olee Sleep mattress is simple in design, but offers the comfort and support most people look for in a memory foam mattress.
The mattress features three layers, and one has I Gel to make the mattress cooler. The other two layers feature 25 ILD HD and 8 ILD soft foam. Indentation Load Deflection, or ILD, is a measurement of how hard or soft the foam is.
Like other memory foam mattresses, this one comes compressed and rolled for easy shipping and convenient doorstep delivery.
Pros
- Gel layer helps keep you cool at night
- 10″ profile provides plenty of support
- Comes compressed and rolled for easy doorstep delivery
- Features three layers of memory foam for conforming comfort
Cons
- Very soft
The Olee Sleep mattress is on the softer side, so if you prefer a firm mattress, this may not be a good fit for you.
That said, if you find other memory foam mattresses to be too firm or stiff, the Olee Sleep 10″ model may be a great choice for you.
Olee Sleep 8″ Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress
Olee Sleep’s 8″ mattress features ventilated memory foam to keep you cool throughout the night. With a smaller profile than the previous mattress from Olee Sleep, this model may be a good fit for smaller bunk bed frames.
Features
- Three layers: 8 ILD memory foam; 25 ILD memory foam; dura flex foam
- Comes in Twin and Twin XL for larger bunk beds
- Plush firmness
- Dimensions: 39″ x 75″ x 8″
This 8″ mattress features three foam layers, including a dura flex foam base that provides a little extra support. The lower profile of this mattress makes it a good fit for most bunk beds, and this particular model is available in both twin and twin XL sizes.
Pressure-relieving memory foam provides support and contouring comfort.
Compressed and rolled for easy delivery, this mattress expands and is ready for use in hours.
Pros
- Supportive and comfortable
- Also available in twin XL size
- Offers three layers of memory foam
- Compressed and rolled for easy delivery
Cons
- Plush firmness
Depending on your personal preference, the plush firmness of this mattress may be too soft for your liking.
If you prefer a softer memory foam mattress and lower profile, the Olee Sleep 8″ mattress may be a good fit for you.
Conclusion
While all of these mattresses are high quality and comfortable, the Zinus 8″ Green Tea mattress is our favorite. The 8″ profile is a good fit for most bunk beds, and the three-layer construction provides supportive comfort.
Zinus also infuses green tea extract, activated charcoal and caster seed oil into the mattress to fight bacteria and odors.
If you prefer a mattress with a thicker profile, the Zinus Sleep Master Ultima Comfort may be the better option for you. This model also has a three-layer construction and odor/bacteria-fighting properties.
For those who want a hybrid mattress, the LinenSpa may be good fit. This 8″ mattress has innersprings and memory foam to provide extra support and comfort.
All of these mattresses are comfortable, supportive and ship right to your doorstep for convenience.
