Your student just got accepted into their dream college and has finally been matched to their dorm. The only issue? Their new twin bed might not be as comfortable as the one they’re used to. But with one of the best Twin XL mattress toppers, which should fit most college dorm bed sizes, you can ensure they’ll sleep comfortably at night and feel energized enough to take on college.

As authorities on all things college living here at Grown and Flown, we used our personal experience with mattress toppers and researched each sleep-related corner of the internet to source the most reputable Twin XL mattress topper brands. We looked at quality, reviews, and user experiences to select your best options, and you can shop for the best Twin XL mattress toppers below. And, one final note-check to see if your school has any rules about what type of mattress topper is ok.

From its generous 3-inch thickness to its machine-washable cover and breathable knitted fabric, the ViscoSoft Select is an excellent option for any student. Its blend of polyester and rayon sourced from bamboo makes it a sustainable choice that’s both kind to an aching back and the planet. The medium-firm consistency is suitable for all sleeping types while preventing you from sinking in. 

Compared to other high-quality mattress toppers, it’s relatively affordable, which is always a win for us! Its slip-resistant mesh coating and adjustable elastic straps keep it securely fastened to your mattress for a disturbance-free sleep that’ll refresh them for classes the next day.

 

The ViscoSoft mattress topper has over 14,000 Amazon reviews with a 4.4-star rating. The Strategist named it the best budget mattress topper, Good Housekeeping named it the best cooling option, and Architectural Digest named it one of the best mattress toppers.

Memory foam is one of the best materials you can look for in a mattress topper, thanks to its ability to reduce motion transfer. This option from Tempur-Pedic is one of the best. There’s the option for 2- or 3-inch thickness for choice of comfort. Its machine-washable cover is breathable and moisture-wicking, so it’ll take care of any sweat, should it be a hot sleeper. It’s also hypoallergenic to keep it fresh and free of pesky dust mites, and the corner straps firmly cement it to your mattress to prevent slipping and sliding. 

It doesn’t have that new mattress smell when rolled out, so you can immediately put on sheets. It can be a little pricey, especially with the higher thickness, but it might be well worth it so they feel like they’re sleeping on an actual memory foam mattress.

This Tempur-Pedic mattress topper has 11,000 Amazon reviews and a 4.1-star rating. Wirecutter and the Strategist named it the best mattress topper. It also comes highly rated by Sleepopolis.

Look at one of the best cool mattress toppers, the Dormeo Twin XL, for a cozy yet cool night’s sleep. It’s made with the brand’s proprietary Octaspring technology that allows cool air to circulate and hot air to escape, making it an excellent choice for hot sleepers. It also uses ergonomic zoning, which features varying firmness levels to provide pressure relief where students need it most, like shoulders and hips. 

Its anti-slip backing also keeps it in place throughout the night, and the washable cover allows you to keep it in tip-top condition throughout the semester and beyond.

The Dormeo mattress topper has nearly 3,300 Amazon reviews and a 4.2-star rating. It has also been named the best cooling mattress by Consumer Reports.

If you’re looking to save a few bucks on your twin XL mattress topper (college shopping is expensive, after all!) while also getting plenty of value, consider this option from Serta. It’s made with gel-infused memory foam that’s simultaneously cooling, supportive, and adaptable to your student’s unique body type. It comes in 2 or 3 inches in thickness, is suitable for side, back, and stomach sleepers, and is designed to promote airflow while dissipating heat for year-round comfort. 

At only 9.5 pounds, it’s more lightweight than other mattress toppers, making dorm move-in day a breeze.

• Lightweight

• No washable cover
• Too soft for some sleepers

This Serta mattress topper has over 9,100 Amazon reviews and a 4.3-star rating. It was also named the best budget mattress topper by MindBodyGreen and the best cooling gel mattress by Woman’s World.

Cooling technology and provides great support. Adjustable, Eco-Friendly, Washable and ninety-three percent 4 and 5 star reviews.

Dimensions: 38 X 80,

Thickness: 3 inches

Material: Memory Foam

Great support

Pricey and needs some time to off-gas

Consider this list of five other bedding essentials as you and your college student think about how to make the dorm bed as comfortable and hygienic as possible. Here are our favorite brands in each category:

2. Bed Pillows: Beckham Hotel Collection 2 Pack have over 250,000 4.3 ratings and we love that they are machine washable. This is something that your teen can use for years to come.

3. Twin XL Sheets: Mellanni Sheet Set – 3 pieces is award winning and available in so many pretty colors.

4. Non-slip Mattress Gripper: Gorilla Grip keeps the mattress topper from sliding around on the mattress.

5. Backrest Pillow: ComfortSpa Reading Pillow is something your teen can use all four years, regardless the size of the bed they sleep in. Available in several classic colors.

Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper

This memory foam mattress topper with more than 100,000 Amazon reviews is a decent choice for its cushy gel-infused fill that both contours the body and regulates temperature. However, it takes up to 48 hours to air out, requires a separate washable cover, and neither anchor straps nor an anti-slip traction surface to hold it in place while you toss and turn throughout the night. However, it is a good budget buy. The Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper is available at Amazon for $44.99.

Lucid Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Lucid has been a popular brand and has almost 68,000 4.3 ratings on Amazon. The gel-infused mattress toppers are available in 2″, 3″ and 4″ thicknesses. The Lucid Memory Foam Topper is available at Amazon for $66.39 ( Save 11%)

Sleepyhead Copper Infused Memory Foam Topper

The Sleepyhead topper has cooling gel memory foam mattress topper—engineered to relieve pressure, reduce heat, and transform your college dorm bed. The Sleepyhead Topper is available at Amazon for $299 ($40 online coupon)

Tuft & Needle Twin XL Mattress Topper

The Tuft & Needle Twin XL mattress topper covers all the proper bases, keeping you cool throughout the night while supporting your joints from all angles. However, without anchor straps to hold it down, you run the risk of it slipping off the bed and needing to adjust it throughout the night. It’s also spot-clean only, making it difficult to maintain for college students particularly. The Tuft & Needle Twin XL Mattress Topper is available at Amazon for $150.

Layla Memory Foam Topper

Layla is a reputable direct-to-consumer brand known for manufacturing cooling sleep products, and its popular memory foam topper is no exception. It’s made with copper-infused memory foam that’s both cooling and antimicrobial. However, it doesn’t come with a machine-washable cover, so you’ll have to spot-clean any stains, and it might be too plush for those who require more support while they sleep. The Layla Memory Foam Topper is available on Amazon for $189.

There are a few considerations when choosing the right Twin XL mattress topper. 

Firstly, confirm the size of the mattress you’re working with. You don’t want your topper to be too long or wide and run the risk of gliding along the mattress. Most Twin XL mattress toppers should be around 80 inches long and 38 inches wide to fit the bed properly.

Next, think about the thickness of your mattress topper. Some folks prefer that sinking feeling when sleeping; a thicker mattress topper of at least two inches will offer that. The older the mattress, the wider you’ll want your mattress topper to be, and you can look for something upwards of four inches. 

 Plush memory foam can help contour the body and support proper spine alignment while your student sleeps, while latex provides a sense of bounce and firmness. Gel-infused materials also provide a cooling sensation, preferable if you sleep in warmer climates with a (potentially) unreliable A/C. 

Accessories: Additional features to look for include a machine-washable cover for easier cleaning — because you cannot toss the whole topper in a washing machine. Some mattress toppers have straps to help fasten them to your mattress so it doesn’t budge.

A Twin XL bed measures 80 inches (6.67 feet) long and 38 inches (3.17 feet) wide. They’re the most common in dorm rooms and are best suited for sleepers over six feet tall — which can be common for young adults. While they do not offer any extra width than a standard twin-sized bed, they help account for extra height.

Because a Twin XL mattress is 5 inches longer than a twin, you’ll want to invest in the right-sized mattress topper when college dorm shopping. A Twin XL mattress topper can stretch over the entire mattress without leaving any gaps for the best comfort and fit with your bedsheets.

You can save on a Twin XL mattress topper by shopping sales or exploring quality budget options like the Serta ThermaGel Memory Foam Mattress Topper.

You can also sign up for alerts or newsletters associated with your favorite mattress topper brands to stay in the loop about deals. 

Prices were accurate at the time of publication. 

We are three moms who have raised 8 young adults and have been working on products lists for over 12 years now, making us experts. When selecting products we survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of nearly 300,000 parents of teens, tweens and young adults. We do opinion polls, surveys and ask open ended questions. We search for products that combine reasonable price with high quality and are recommended by our large following.

When selecting the top Twin XL mattress toppers, we relied on Grown and Flown’s shopping expertise to identify top brands in the college living space.

More Great Reading:

Dorm Room Shopping: 50 Questions to Answer First

College Move-In Day: 17 Things That Will Save Your Life! (2025)