Sleep is rarely top priority among college students, but the right mattress ensures the hours you do spend in bed provide better quality rest. And let's be honest, a standard-issue dorm bed rarely delivers — but between exams, mixers and new timetables, you probably don't have time to research the mattress market. That's where this guide comes in.
The typical college dorm mattress is a twin XL, a single-sleeper bed that can support an adult better than a standard twin. However, off-campus housing may accommodate full or queen-size beds.
We've done our homework and after thousands of hours testing the best mattresses for all sleep styles, we found our favorite mattresses for college students. They're supportive, cushioned and all available in dorm-friendly twin, twin XL and full sizes. And did we mention that in the regular mattress sales, they're easy on the budget?
A good night's sleep helps you stay alert from morning labs to late-night lectures, but if a new mattress is out of your price range, you can refresh your dorm bed for less with our guide to the best mattress toppers.
June 2025: We revised our list to include the DreamCloud (best hybrid), Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (best budget foam), CopperFlex Pro (best pillow top), and Bear Original (best for active students).
The best mattress for college students, chosen by experts
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The best mattress for college students
The Classic is Nectar's flagship mattress, and it provides a fantastic combo of comfort, quality and value for money. There's always a Nectar mattress sale going on, which means you can snag a twin XL for $549. Plus, every Nectar mattress comes with a full year's trial, allowing you to test the bed even as your body changes during your first year of college.
We slept on the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress and found it hits the sweet spot of sink-in pressure relief and ample support. It's one of the best medium-firm mattresses we've tested, and we found it comfortable for most sleep styles, although stomach sleepers should consider the firmer Siena.
The motion isolation is also excellent, and while the temperature regulation can't quite compare to the Cocoon by Sealy Chill (#4), it still sleeps surprisingly cool for an all-foam mattress.
The Nectar might not be the cheapest bed on this list, but it is one of the best values out there. No matter which life stage you're in, the Nectar Classic is a sound choice for restorative sleep at a price that won't wipe out your wallet.
- Read more: Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress review
The best cheap mattress for college students
If the Nectar above is out of your price range, check out its more affordable sibling, the Siena. (Both labels are a part of the Resident Home brand.) Siena runs a year-round sale, which drops its memory foam mattress to $269 for a twin XL. Better yet, it comes with a 180-night trial and a 10-year warranty, which are incredible perks for a budget mattress.
The Siena comprises 2.5" of gel-infused memory foam and an 8.25" foundational foam base, all topped by a breathable poly-blend cover. Siena says it has a medium-firm feel, but our testing panel thought it was decidedly firmer than that. We rate it a 9 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale and believe it's perfect for stomach and back sleepers who need higher levels of support across the lumbar region.
Edge support is excellent, too, so you won't have to worry about falling overboard if you're prone to sprawling out or hugging the edge. And if you share a bed, the Siena has outstanding motion isolation, so you're unlikely to disturb each other the night before a major exam.
Add to that above-average temperature regulation, and you have one of the best cheap mattresses you can buy for your dorm room or apartment. If you can upgrade to the Nectar, we predict it will deliver better durability, but the Siena should see you through four years of college in comfort.
- Read more: Siena Memory Foam mattress review
Best hybrid mattress for college
One of the best mattresses in a box we've tested, the DreamCloud is a hybrid with a supportive feel, quilted pressure relief and industry-best perks. While it's not the bargain price you'll find from other beds in this guide, $699 for a queen in the DreamCloud mattress sale is excellent value and the reliable build should provide comfort long after graduation.
(We think the DreamCloud is a cheaper alternative to our top rated mattress, the Saatva Classic, but the best Saatva mattresses transform your dorm room into a sleep sanctuary. If you have the budget for one.)
The DreamCloud mattress is supportive for all sleep styles with a breathable feel, cradling pressure relief and a high quality build. The side sleepers on our testing panel found it did take a few nights to break in the DreamCloud but after that they joined the rest of the team in praising the all-round comfort.
Whether you're approaching your final year and thinking about the future or a freshman who likes to plan ahead, the DreamCloud is a solid choice for anyone who wants a mattress to see them through undergrad and beyond — we think the DreamCloud mattress might even support you through your PhD.
- Read more: DreamCloud Mattress review
The best cooling mattress for college students
No need to break a sweat when it comes to the Cocoon Chill mattress — this all-foam cooling model is among the most affordable of its type. A year-round Sealy sale knocks 35% off the sticker price, making it possible to bring home a twin XL for $459. To further sweeten the deal, Sealy throws in a sheet set plus a pair of pillows with purchase, along with a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty.
Full-foam beds are notorious for trapping heat, but the 4-layer Cocoon Chill mattress bucks that trend with a layer of breathable memory foam and a knit phase-changing cover. Our testers gave it two thumbs up for temperature regulation, beating out other mid-range foam mattresses.
The Cocoon Chill is a medium-firm mattress with a subtle cradling sensation courtesy of its memory foam top layer. Based on our experience, this one's a winner for lightweight and average sleepers, regardless of their preferred sleep position.
College can take you all over the place and if you're moving somewhere particularly warm, the Cocoon Chill Hybrid has even better cooling (at a higher price.) However, if you want a cooling mattress for less, the Cocoon Chill memory foam mattress is tough to beat.
- Read more: Cocoon Chill mattress review
The best budget hybrid mattress for college students
Allswell is Walmart's bed-in-a-box brand, and it's one of the best-priced hybrids on the market. As it's already so cheap, we rarely see discounts on the Allswell. But you might get lucky from time to time and score a saving. Even if you don't, you can expect to pay under $250 for a twin or twin XL.
It's not often that we see a highly-rated hybrid mattress priced so low — as a rule, mattresses with springs cost more than all-foam models — and we went into the testing process with relatively low expectations... and the Allswell blew them out of the water.
Labelled as medium, we found it has a medium-firm feel with almost no sink. It's a bed you lie on top of, making it an excellent mattress for stomach sleepers and back sleepers — but the side sleepers on our team struggled to get comfortable. With that said, we doubt it will provide enough support for people weighing over 200lbs.
The spring-heavy build gives the Allswell a bouncy feel. That's great for anyone who likes to change position in the night, and despite the buoyant surface, the motion isolation impressed us. If you share a bed, your restless partner shouldn't cause an issue
However, we suspect the Allswell lacks the durability of other mattresses in this guide; reviews indicate it loses support at the edges with regular use. You also sacrifice a trial for this budget price, but you might consider that a worthwhile trade-off.
- Read more: Allswell Mattress review
The best cheap memory foam mattress for college students
One of the most popular mattresses on Amazon, the Zinus Green Tea uses dense foams to create a 'body-hugging' feel. As you press into the bed, the memory foam gives way beneath you, contouring to the touch points to relieve pressure build-up. This coziness is similar to the cushioning we expect from the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Aching joints can also benefit from body-hugging pressure relief, so if you're feeling the stresses of a busy college schedule in your shoulders and knees, the Zinus Green Tea is worth considering.
However, back and stomach sleepers are likely to find the Zinus too soft (we suggest the Allswell in this price bracket, if you favor these sleep positions). Our testing team also found the Zinus could sleep warm — the Siena has a similar build to the Zinus, but thanks to its firmer feel, it disperses heat better. And the Siena also has better edge support. Stray too close to the sides of the Zinus and you might find yourself sliding off.
But the Zinus Green Tea is one of the most affordable mattresses in this guide and a leader when it comes to pressure relief. For the lowest price, we recommend checking out the Zinus Amazon store, where you can often find a queen for under $240. Although for this bargain, you do skip the sleep trial.
- Read more: Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress review
Best pillow top mattress for college students
Dorm rooms aren't known as a place of luxury, but with the CopperFlex Pro Hybrid Mattress, you can give your college bed an indulgent upgrade if you have a little extra money to play with. And at just $999 for a queen in the year-round Brooklyn Bedding mattress sale, you can do so without totally blowing the budget.
The CopperFlex Pro isn't quite the premium sleep experience of the best luxury mattresses, but our testers agreed it delivers comfort above its mid-range price tag. The plush pillow top provides cushioned pressure relief while the zoned springs ensure your body is supported right where you need it. At 14" tall, the luxuriously thick build contributes to the cozy finish.
Brooklyn Bedding describes the mattress as medium-firm, and we found that pretty much spot on. It should suit most sleep needs, although dedicated stomach sleepers should consider the firmer support of the Siena or the DreamCloud. We liked it best for side and back sleeping.
The CopperFlex Pro impressed us all around, but the temperature regulation stood out. Featuring a GlacioTex cover, the CopperFlex is cool to the touch and stays neutral throughout the night. We tested the hybrid version; the cheaper memory foam model might have more heat retention.
Best mattress for college for active students
Whether you're a student athlete or simply making the most of extracurricular groups, no student wants their work to suffer because an active lifestyle is leaving them aching. A good night's sleep is one of the best ways to overcome body fatigue and choosing the right mattress can supercharge the effect.
That brings us to the Bear Original, an all-foam mattress that's designed to promote recovery via a Celliant cover. This optional upgrade uses thermo-reactive technology to disperse excess heat and reflect energy back to the body, speeding up muscle recovery. However, adding the Celliant cover also adds a significant chunk to the cost. In the regular Bear Mattress sale a queen sized Bear Original costs $599 without the cover. With the cover, that jumps to $809.
The Bear Original still has plenty of benefits even if you go without the Celliant cover. Our testers found the medium-firm feel comfortable for most sleep positions, making this a good all-rounder. And the stellar motion isolation will appeal to any bed sharers.
The edge support also impressed, earning a perfect 5/5 from our testing team. That means you can sit comfortably on the side of the mattress without losing support and, in a typically cramped dorm room, extra seating options are always useful.
- Read more: Bear Original Mattress review
How we test the best mattresses for college students
The Tom's Guide mattress review process is editorially independent and not influenced by third parties. We spend at least three weeks sleeping on every mattress we test before writing our reviews. Only the best performers earn a place in our guides.
This thorough testing process consists of both subjective and objective tests, conducted both at home and in our sleep studio. We consider every part of the experience, from the delivery and set-up of the mattress through to our expert predictions for future longevity.
Alongside our lead tester, who takes the mattress home to use, we ask a testing panel to try the bed and give their honest opinion. This testing panel consists of a diverse line-up of sleep styles and body types to provide a well-rounded view of the mattress. Beyond comfort and support, we also test performance aspects such as edge support, motion isolation and temperature regulation.
You can learn more by reading our mattress testing methodology.
How we choose mattresses for this guide
When finding the best mattresses for college students, we prioritize budget and size options. Twin XL remains the most common bed size for college dorms, but off-campus housing and apartments may be able to fit a full or queen-size bed.
Of course, budget isn't everything and this isn't just a guide to cheap mattresses. Support is essential for a good night's sleep, particularly as our bodies tend to change during college. The mattresses above impressed with their head-to-toe support.
When choosing a budget bed, you sometimes have to sacrifice some performance aspects. However, if any of these beds are weak in one area, they're strong in another — just consider what features you prioritize in your dorm bed.
Some of our options are beyond what we'd consider budget ($500 or less for a queen). However, the pricier options impressed us with their value for money and should appeal to sleepers who want a mattress they can take with them post-graduation.
Also Tested
We test a wide range of mattresses here at Tom's Guide. The choices below might not be our top picks, but they're still worth your consideration.
Best mattress for college: Buying advice
What mattress is best for college?
The best kind of mattress for college will largely depend on where you'll be living. Dorms are usually tight on space so twin XL is the most common mattress size for on-campus housing. (It's five inches longer than a standard twin, so it's better suited to older teens and adults.) However, if you're going to be living off-campus, you may have more room to play with so consider a full size or queen size mattress instead.
One caveat is that twin XL is among the hardest sizes to shop for when it comes to bedding and accessories. If your dorm or apartment can't accommodate anything larger, try to take advantage of a mattress sale with free or discounted bedding included.
Beyond that, you're best opting for a bed-in-a-box model, which arrives compressed and rolled, making it nice and easy to get into place. In a battle of bed in a box vs traditional mattress, boxed models win out on convenience and are often better value for money, too. (If you're wondering if boxed mattresses are any good, the answer is yes – many of our top-rated models fall into this category.)
When is the best time to save on a mattress for college students?
Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Memorial Day are typically the best times to save on a mattress, and of the three, Memorial Day in May is most convenient for college students. (Shopping the Black Friday sales in November might mean your mattress stays in its box until move-in day the next summer, which can compromise the materials.)
If you missed Memorial Day, the 4th of July sales often deliver some bargains, while the Labor Day sales in September are an opportunity for last-minute deals.
And keep an eye out for Amazon Prime Day over the summer, usually in July. Many of the mattresses in this guide are sold via Amazon and you might be able to spot a good saving.
However, savvy shoppers can find mattress sales year-round and many of the beds in this guide have been chosen thanks to their consistently low prices. That said, proposed tariffs in the US are expected to increase costs for both mattress manufacturers and consumers.
How much should you spend on a student mattress?
We've tested every bed in this guide following our mattress methodology, to ensure you're getting comfort and support. However, budget mattresses can sometimes struggle with durability, so keep that in mind when making your choice.
Most of the choices on our list fall into the budget or lower mid-range brackets, which is $800 or less for a queen. If you only need something to get you by for a year or two, you don’t have to go all-out. A decent no-frills mattress should do just fine.
On the other hand, if you want a mattress to accompany you post-graduation, it’s worth investing more in something that’ll last for the long haul. Just know that as the years roll on your sleep needs will change, whether it’s due to injuries or agreeing to share a bed with a partner. You could turn your college mattress into a guest bed, or learn how to dispose of a mattress responsibly and legally.
If your dorm or apartment comes with a mattress but you find it uncomfortable, look for a mattress topper deal to make your bed softer, firmer, or more cooling. Not only will going this route cost much less than buying a full-fledged mattress, but it'll also be easier to transport whenever you move out.
