There are a lot of notable differences between a student’s bedroom at home and their dorm room on-campus. Not only are the residence halls significantly smaller than you’re used to, but every piece of furniture is minimized to best conserve that reduced amount of space. As such, if you usually sleep on a larger bed at home, you might find that adjusting to a twin or twin XL mattress can be a bit difficult to comprehend. Still, depending on which one you get, there are ample ways to ensure you’re comfortable. These are the differences between a twin and twin XL bed and how to optimize either one for a great night’s sleep.
Twin Mattresses
To start off, twin mattresses are the smallest ones available for sale—not including crib or toddler models. Measuring 39 inches wide and 75 inches long, they’re typically the size of bed that kids use through their late child and teen years. However, it’s also common to see them in dorm rooms due to their compact dimensions. Twins can be easily moved to meet your design specifications and are compatible with bunks or lofts. Make sure to remember, though, that because these mattresses aren’t as long, they can be a bit uncomfortable for those over six feet and three inches tall.
So, to best prepare them for sleeping, it’s recommended that you get a mattress topper. You can also request a slightly larger model from your school if you’re just far too tall to use a twin properly.
Twin XL Mattresses
Twin XL mattresses, on the other hand, are slightly longer than twins—80 inches rather than the standard 75 inches. This is the primary difference between a twin and a twin XL bed. While it might not seem like much, the extra length makes these mattresses much more accommodating for students over six feet tall. As such, they make a great model to use in communal housing. Additionally, twin XLs are the same width as twins, making them still compact enough to rearrange in your dorm room. For these reasons, twin XL mattresses are the most common size found in the college dorm room; in fact, about 90 percent of colleges outright prefer them over standard twins.
For optimal comfort on these mattresses, it’s also highly encouraged that you acquire a specialized gel mattress topper for twin XL beds. These products are specifically designed to hug the entire surface area of your mattress and ensure you have the appropriate cushion, no matter how you lay. Mattress toppers can also help disperse your body heat as you sleep and even eliminate bacteria and allergens.
