How Thick Is A Twin Mattress? (Size Guide + Measurement)

Do you know how thick is a twin mattress or what is the twin size bed dimensions? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

Twin mattresses are the cheapest size of mattress out there, but if you’re looking for a mattress to fit a specific bed like a bunk bed or daybed, you may be curious about not just the length and width, but the thickness of a twin mattress.

So, how thick is a twin mattress? Twin mattresses come in a variety of different thicknesses, however, they will generally range from 5 inches thick to 20 inches thick. Some mattress manufacturers will give the choice on what thickness you want, whereas others will just have pre-set sizes.

In this article, we will discuss how the thickness of twin mattresses varies, the other measurements of twin mattresses, the benefits of twin beds, and how twin beds compare to other bed sizes.

Table of Contents

What Is The Average Thickness Of A Twin Mattress?

As we stated, twin mattresses can come from anywhere between 5 inches thick and 20 inches thick, although the lower and higher ends of that spectrum are less common. Most mattresses for adults would be somewhere in the 8 inches to 12 inches range.

Generally, thinner mattresses are more suitable for children’s beds in cribs or toddler beds.

Many trundle beds and daybeds also have a mattress thickness of no more than 8 inches. The only downside to such a thin mattress is that it isn’t very durable.

Once you get to 8 inches to 12 inches, these will hold up for a longer period of time and are suitable for grown adults.

A thick mattress would be between 12 inches and 20 inches. However, the max that most mattress companies will make is a 14 inch mattress, so these are harder to come by.

And, when you do find them, they will cost quite a bit more than a standard mattress.

What Determines The Thickness Of A Mattress?

Mattress thickness will depend somewhat on the materials used to make them. For instance, foam mattresses are generally thinner than coil mattresses.

Most mattresses will have anywhere from 2-5 layers of different materials, which could include materials like memory foam, latex, pocketed coils, and polyfoam.

While the exact amount of layers in every mattress will depend, you can count on all mattress to have a comfort layer and support layer at the very least.

The comfort layer is on the top of the mattress and is the cushiony part that encompasses your body. Generally this layer is between 2-3 inches, although some beds may have more than one comfort layer. A softer bed will also have a thicker comfort layer and a firmer bed will have a thinner comfort layer.

The support layer makes up the majority of the mattress and generally should make up at least 50% of the total thickness. If the mattress doesn’t have enough support this will affect its ability to function well in the long-term.

Generally, the support layer(s) will be made from either poly-foam, latex, or coils, and this will depend on what mattress model you choose.

What Are The Other Measurements For Twin Mattresses?

Twin beds almost always measure 38 inches by 75 inches, the only real variation you’ll find is in a twin XL which has the same width but measures 80 inches long.

It is rare to find a twin mattress in any other size, and if you did, it likely wouldn’t really be considered a twin.

What Are The Benefits Of A Twin Bed?

While twin beds likely aren’t the best choice for couples, they can be a great budget-friendly option for solo-sleepers with limited space.

Twin mattresses are also great for growing kids. Once a kid outgrows their crib a twin bed is a great choice.

This won’t take up too much space in the room where they might play. And, if you have two kids sharing a room, twin beds might be the only option, plus they can always be turned into bunk beds, which frees up even more space.

As your kid grows, they may prefer a twin XL, or eventually, they may graduate to a full size bed. But, if you’re limited on space, a twin XL will do the trick for a growing teen.

However, twin beds aren’t just good for kids. They work great for single adults in a small space as well. Whether you live in a studio or a smaller one-bedroom, a twin bed may be the best choice to preserve the living area.

They are also the most affordable bed option. Whether for a guest room, kids room, or yourself, these beds are much cheaper than any of the larger sizes.

In some cases, it may even be cheaper to purchase two twin beds for a guest room instead of a queen.

Twin beds are much more easy to move than larger beds as well. They can fit in most trucks and vans and are much more lightweight. Even a thicker twin bed won’t pose too much of a hassle to move.

How Do Twin Beds Compare To Larger Beds?

The thickness of all mattresses remains standard, no matter the dimensions of the bed. Of course, with larger California king beds or other less common varieties, you may find a mattress thicker than 20 inches, but this isn’t common.

However, as for the dimensions, this chart does a good job illustrating the difference:

Mattress Size	Dimensions
Twin	38 inches by 75 inches
Twin XL	38 inches by 80 inches
Full	54 inches by 75 inches
Queen	60 inches by 80 inches
King	76 inches by 80 inches

As you can see, a full is wider than a twin but the same length, a queen is wider and the same length as a twin XL, and a king is the size of two twin XLs.

Conclusion

Although the dimensions of a twin mattress remain the same, the thickness of each kind will vary depending on the material, quality, and if there are any mattress toppers for added comfort.

While they will come between 5 inches and 20 inches, it is much more common to find twin mattresses between 8 inches to 12 inches thick as these are considered standard.

References

https://eachnight.com/mattress-guides/twin-size-bed-dimensions/

https://www.costco.com/twin-mattresses.html