Best twin mattress under $100 in 2024

Finding the best twin mattress under $100 is something of an undertaking, but if you're in need of a small, super-cheap bed then we can give you some options. Mattress prices in general have been creeping upwards over the past few years, so most of the best mattresses will cost you more today than they did a year ago, while finding a decent twin mattress for less than $100 is getting harder and harder.

It's not impossible, though, although you may have to choose your moment. At Amazon you can find some options for $100 or under; some seem suspiciously cheap to us, but there are a few models that would work as a bed for a younger child, or as a guest bed for occasional use. We've already picked out the top options to save you having to search.

Real talk: you're not going to get the best quality or top features in these beds, but they're all quite comfortable and supportive for the price, and there's an option whether you're after memory foam, hybrid, innerspring or simply the best mattress for college students. If you need more choice and don't mind upping your budget a bit, see our guide to the best cheap mattresses, and our best Amazon mattress guide is also worth a look. Mattress sales happen year-round, although super-cheap mattresses like the ones featured here don't tend to attract further discounts, for obvious reasons. All clear? Let’s take a look at the best twin mattresses under $100.

The best twin mattress under $100 in 2024 – as chosen by experts

Best innerspring

If you want maximum breathability from your mattress, this 6-inch innerspring model is one that's worth look and it comes in at just under $100. It's made with a 5-inch layer of Bonnell springs, topped off with an inch of memory foam and a quilted cover, so it's one that's unlikely to retain heat.

It's also one that's quite firm, which means it's probably best suited to small children. That inch of memory foam isn't going to provide a lot in the way of contouring comfort, and customer reviews suggest that because of the open-coil design, the edge support is really rather lacking, so while it could be a cheap option for furnishing a spare room, your guests might not thank you for it.

Linenspa recommends this mattress for back and stomach sleepers, and certainly it doesn't look like a great fit for side sleepers as it won't provide enough cushioning for hips and shoulders. However it's a lightweight and straightforward mattress that'd go well on a kid's bed or a bunk bed, for a great price.

Best memory foam

We like the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress as a cheap yet comfortable bed, but while it's cheap it's still more than $100 for a twin. To get below the $100 mark you'll instead need the Zinus 5 Inch Memory Foam Mattress, which has an MSRP of $109 but regularly comes in at just under $100 on Amazon.

At just five inches deep, this is another twin mattress that's best suited to kids. And it's one you won't mind your kids sleeping on, as this one's fiberglass-free (see our guide to the best mattress without fiberglass for more options). It's made with three foam layers: an inch of Zinus's usual green tea-infused memory foam, another inch of high density foam, and three inches of support foam.

Zinus rates this mattress as plush and suggests it's suitable for adults with a maximum weight of 250lbs. Customer reviews suggest that the feel's neither too soft nor too firm, but the general consensus is that this mattress would go best on a toddler's bed or in an RV, while a few complain that the mattress didn't inflate to the full five inches.

Best hybrid

PayLessHere isn't a brand we're familiar with, but a 10-inch hybrid twin size mattress for under $100 ($99.99 to be precise) is something that grabs our attention. We don't expect anything stunning from this mattress, but it appears to have the basics covered.

This mattress features a top layer of bamboo charcoal memory foam with a layer of high density foam underneath it, and they both sit on top of a thick layer of pocket springs. The brand suggests that it's suitable for all sleeping positions, but from the look of it we think it might not be the best fit for side sleepers; there are barely any customer reviews but the one that really stands out to us rates it has being extremely firm.

PayLessHere states that the mattress may feel a bit sturdy at normal temperatures but that the memory foam softens as it reacts to your body temperature; given that it's rare you'll find a hybrid at this price, this could well be an attractive, cheap option for a spare room.

Best for kids

IKEA's Ågotnes is a basic all-foam model with a very low profile - at just 3⅞ inches deep it's the thinnest bed listed here. It's also very firm, with a filling made of PU foam, and wadding in the top cover to take the edge of it.

This mattress appears to be a replacement for the IKEA Minnesund that was previously included in this roundup; it's largely identical, the big difference being that the cover on this one isn't removable or washable; IKEA recommends cleaning it with a vacuum or upholstery shampoo.

As with the Minnesund, this is such a thin and firm bed that it's only really suitable for young children to sleep on. As a cheap kids' mattress, though, it's a pretty solid option, and while it doesn't have many reviews as yet (only 13 on the IKEA site), impressions are generally favorable, with 4 out of 5 stars and the main complaints being, unsurprisingly, about its thinness and firmness.

Best folding mattress

If all you need is a mattress for occasional use, this folding mattress from Novilla could do the trick and it's super-cheap; its list price on Amazon is $71.99, but at the time of writing it's available for $63.51.

Thanks to its lightweight folding design you can easily pack it away when it's not needed, and when its laid out it'll provide your guests with a more comfortable sleep surface than crashing on your couch or on the floor; it would also make a great RV mattress and you could even take it with you on camping trips. It's made with 1.5" of memory foam on top of 2.5 inches of support foam, and Novilla reckons it's suitable for all sleeping positions; we doubt it's particularly suitable for side sleeping, though.

It has a washable jacquard cover and a non-slip bottom, and it even comes with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty. Basically it's a simple and versatile sleep surface that's there when you need it and easy to stash away when you don't, and for the low price it's hard to complain about this one.

How to choose the best twin mattress under $100

For under $100 it will be tricky to find the best materials and build-quality in a twin bed, however you will still find some options available that will be perfectly good enough for your needs.

If you’re looking for a spare mattress for occasional use on a guest bed or if you need a smaller bed that will soon be outgrown by a child or a teenager, then a cheaper mattress is the ideal solution.

There are three main things you should look out for, though. The first is a CertiPur-US certification; this means that the foams in your mattress meet certain minimum health and environmental standards. CertiPUR-US certified foams are made without ozone depleters, certain flame retardants, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, or formaldehyde, and they're also tested for low VOC emissions. All of the best memory foam mattresses will meet these standards, however when you're shopping for a twin mattress under $100 it's definitely worth checking that it comes up to spec.

The next is a good warranty or, even better, a long trial period. While a sleep trial of at least 90 nights is standard for most mattresses, when you're buying a cheap mattress you may not be so lucky, and that means you could get stuck with a mattress that doesn't suit your needs. So before you order, be sure to check what you get in the way of a warranty or trial, and think very hard before you take a punt on bed that comes up short in that regard.

Finally, as a rule we'd suggest that you look for a height of at least 10 inches; you'll have noticed, though, that the thickest mattress in our ranking is just eight inches deep. Kids and lighter individuals should just about get on with an eight-inch depth; thinner beds are better suited to very small children.

Should I buy a twin mattress for under $100?

Buying a twin mattress for under $100 is a good option if you are on a budget or need an extra mattress for your home for occasional use. However, it’s worth pointing out that a mattress at this price might not come with the same build quality as a more recognized brand, but you should still find enough comfort for your needs.

While a very cheap mattress is rarely discounted further, if you did want to spend a little more on a better-quality mattress, then many of the top brands have frequent sales including on their twin sizes.

However, bear in mind that while you are unlikely to find an option for under $100 with a top brand, you will get a mattress that will last you longer, offering better value for money in the long run.