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Teen mattresses
A teenager usually needs more support than a younger child and sometimes more length: a standard 190 cm single suits sleepers up to about 175 to 180 cm tall. Taller teens need a 200 cm mattress, such as a European single.
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What size mattress is best for a teenager?
The best mattress size for a teenager is usually a single (90 x 190 cm) or, where the room allows, a small double (120 x 190 cm). A tall teenager needs a 200 cm long mattress, such as a European single (90 x 200 cm).
| Size | Width x length | Suits a sleeper up to about |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 x 190 cm (3ft x 6ft3) | 175 to 180 cm tall |
| Small double | 120 x 190 cm (4ft x 6ft3) | 175 to 180 cm tall |
| European single | 90 x 200 cm (3ft x 6ft6) | 185 to 190 cm tall |
| European small double | 120 x 200 cm (4ft x 6ft6) | 185 to 190 cm tall |
Those heights follow a simple rule: a mattress should be about 10 to 15 cm longer than the person sleeping on it. A small double adds 30 cm of width but no length, so it won't help a teenager whose feet already reach the end of a single. A European single adds 10 cm of length, but it only fits a frame made for it, so a longer mattress usually means a new bed. Before moving up to a wider bed, check the room: leave around 60 to 70 cm around the bed to walk past it comfortably.
Do teenagers need a firmer mattress?
Teenagers often need firmer support than younger children because they're heavier, but the right firmness depends on how they sleep and how much they weigh, not on their age.
- Side sleepers: medium-soft to medium, 3 to 6 on our 1 to 10 scale, so shoulders and hips can sink in.
- Back sleepers: medium to medium-firm, 5 to 8.
- Front sleepers: medium-firm to firm, 7 to 10, so the hips don't sink.
- Heavier teenagers: firmer support, a deeper mattress, a strong spring unit and firm edges, which usually points to pocket springs or a hybrid.
Firmer isn't automatically better: a 2003 trial published in The Lancet found people with chronic lower back pain did better on a medium-firm mattress than a firm one. A teenager with ongoing pain should see a GP or physiotherapist, because a mattress won't treat it.
Which mattress suits a teenager who sleeps hot?
For a teenager who sleeps hot, pocket springs or a hybrid usually feel cooler than memory foam, because air can move between the springs. Breathable covers and wool fillings, which regulate temperature, help too.
The mattress is only part of it. Bedding and the room matter too, and The Sleep Charity suggests a bedroom of around 16 to 18°C. Our cooling mattresses page explains what helps a mattress sleep cooler, and where the limits are.
Can a teenager use a high sleeper mattress?
A teenager can use a high sleeper as long as the mattress is no deeper than the maximum mattress line marked on the bed and the bed's weight limit allows for them. On many raised beds the limit is 15 to 16 cm.
The depth limit doesn't relax as a teenager gets heavier, so choose a slim mattress that's properly supportive, such as a slim pocket sprung or firm foam mattress, rather than a soft one. A topper only works if the total stays at or below the line. Our high sleeper and cabin bed mattresses page covers sizes and depths in detail.
When should a teenager get a new mattress?
A teenager needs a new mattress when the old one sags, has lumps or the springs can be felt, when they wake stiff, or when they've outgrown its length.
A mattress bought for a younger child was often chosen to be light and slim, and it may not support a heavier teenager as well. As a guide, an adult mattress typically lasts around 7 to 10 years, so one bought in the early school years may be near the end of its life anyway. Think ahead when you replace it: a teenager who's still growing may get more years from a 200 cm mattress than from another 190 cm one.
For younger children, our kids mattresses guide covers children's bed sizes from cot beds up. If you're weighing up a single against a small double, or a UK size against a European one, send us the measurements of the room and bed and we'll help you decide.
Teen mattresses: your questions answered
Can't see your question? Ask us and we'll get back to you.
Is a single bed big enough for a teenager?
A single bed, 90 x 190 cm, gives a teenager the same width as an adult single, and its length suits a sleeper up to about 175 to 180 cm tall. Once a teenager is taller than that, they need a 200 cm long mattress, such as a 90 x 200 cm European single, on a frame made for that size.
What's the best mattress for a teenage boy?
The best mattress for a teenage boy is chosen the same way as for any teenager: by height, weight, sleep position and how warm he sleeps. A tall teenager needs a 200 cm long mattress, a heavier one needs firmer support and more depth, and one who sleeps hot is usually cooler on pocket springs or a hybrid than on memory foam.
Is a small double a good size for a teenager?
A small double is a good size for a teenager who wants room to spread out: at 120 x 190 cm, it's 30 cm wider than a single. It's no longer than a single, though, so it won't help a teenager who's outgrowing a single's length. Check the room first, allowing around 60 to 70 cm of space around the bed.
Will a European single fit a UK single bed?
No. A European single mattress is 90 x 200 cm, 10 cm longer than a UK single bed frame, so it won't lie flat inside one. The other way round, a UK single in a European single frame leaves a 10 cm gap at the foot. For extra length, a teenager needs both the mattress and a frame made for 200 cm.
How deep should a teenager's mattress be?
On an ordinary bed frame, a teenager's mattress is usually a standard depth of about 18 to 25 cm, and heavier teenagers usually need the deeper end. On a high sleeper or bunk bed, the maximum mattress line sets the limit, often 15 to 16 cm, so choose a slim mattress with firm support.
Is memory foam good for teenagers?
Memory foam can be good for teenagers who sleep on their side, because it moulds around shoulders and hips and gives pressure relief there. Memory foam can feel warmer than springs, though, so a teenager who sleeps hot may prefer pocket springs or a hybrid, which has springs underneath and a foam comfort layer on top.
Can a teenager keep using the mattress they had as a child?
A teenager can keep using a childhood mattress if it still supports them, shows no sagging or lumps, and is about 10 to 15 cm longer than they are. Children's mattresses are often chosen to be light and slim, so a teenager who has grown heavier may find their old one no longer supportive enough.
Can a topper fix a teenager's old mattress?
No. A mattress topper changes how a mattress feels, usually making it softer, but it can't fix a mattress that sags or has lumps. If the mattress underneath has worn out, replace it. On a high sleeper, the topper's depth adds to the mattress's, and the total has to stay at or below the maximum mattress line.
Not sure which mattress?
Tell us about your bed and how you sleep, and we'll suggest a few that fit.