Adding a daybed to a bedroom can be an efficient way to make use of a smaller sleeping space and add both style and function at the same time. They are great for use in smaller apartments and teenage bedrooms, but they do still need to offer the support and comfort needed for a good night’s sleep. Which begs the question of what is the best mattress for daybeds?
The simple answer to the question of what is the best mattress for daybeds is that you should choose one that fits properly and offers the kind of comfort you personally prefer. It will also need to be thin enough so that it does not impede the unique function of the bed, and durable too, as a daybed mattress is usually subject to more wear and tear than a mattress on a standard bed.
However, that still leaves a huge number of mattresses to choose from, so here we are going to take a closer look at the question, as well as just why you might want to opt for a daybed in the first place.
Best Daybed Mattress Comparison Table
What is a Daybed?
Usually, a daybed serves as a couch or a bed on an as needed basis, with the transition between the two usually being quite seamless. A daybed has a bed frame with three sides, with two sides that function as a headboard and foot board, and an additional side that serves as a couch backrest. Daybeds are generally composed of a sturdy wood or metal frame that supports a suitably sized mattress.
While most daybeds are designed to accommodate a twin sized mattress you can now find some that make use of a larger mattress, although that may defeat the object of opting for one, as usually most people choose a daybed because the bedroom they plan to use it in lacks the space to fit a full size bed comfortably.
You can also find daybeds that can be used to accommodate two people, thanks to an extra mattress stored on a trundle underneath the bed. These are a great way for a couple to use when they are living in a smaller space, or for kids to make use of during sleepovers. These trundle beds do call for a thinner mattress, though, as we will discuss at greater length in a moment.
Why Choose a Daybed?
If you are furnishing a small bedroom, or an open living space like a small studio, a daybed can be the ideal choice.
They are also an excellent choice for a smaller teen bedroom, as they can offer a sofa functionality during the day, when kids just might just want to hang out in their room versus with the rest of the household and a comfortable bed at night.
Daybeds make the perfect Junior bed or a couch in a playroom since some of them are quite stylish.
Daybeds are not just for use in the bedroom, either. Many people choose to add them to a living room as an alternative to offering guests an uncomfortable air mattress to sleep on, and for those who live in studio apartments they are often the only way they can enjoy the functions of both a couch and a bed in their limited living space at all.
A daybed, as it makes use of a traditional mattress, is often more comfortable – and durable – than a futon and is easier to ‘convert’ as well, as many futons can be heavy and hard to maneuver, and a futon mattress rarely offers as much comfort and support as a standard mattress alternative.
What Type of Mattress Is Best For Daybed?
As we mentioned earlier, most daybeds make use of a twin size mattress, and it should not be one that is very thick. This is especially true for the kind of daybed that features a second mattress on a trundle underneath.
A pillow top mattress is also not always a great choice as these tend to flatten out more easily than other options, and as a daybed may be in use for many more hours a day than a standard bed is.
You should also take durability into consideration. Not only is a daybed mattress often used more than a standard mattress, it is also often moved around and handled more, so needs to be up to this kind of extra wear and tear.
Best Mattress for Daybeds
1. Best Twin Mattress for a Daybed: Linenspa Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress
Why You’ll Like It: A hybrid mattress offers the benefits of memory foam and innerspring technology, offering a very supportive night’s sleep.
This mattress – which is offered in lower profile 8 and 10 inch heights, perfect for daybed use – makes use of supportive coils covered by a layer of memory foam that offers a medium firm support that is great for supporting the spine – essential for still growing teens.
Specs:
- Firmness: Medium-firm 8-inch, Medium 10-inch or Plush 12-inch with edge support.
- Build: Memory foam and Innersprings
- Styles: 8 and 10 inch
- Warranty: 10 year limited
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Short Queen, King and Cal King.
- Packaging: Vacuumed packed and rolled in a box.
Pros:
- Offers excellent support for the spine
- Available in a lower height profile
- Features a memory foam layer for sleeping stability
Cons:
- Memory foam can sleep hot, so may prove uncomfortable for daily use for those who also sleep hot!
- May be too thick for use on a trundle bed
- Not the most inexpensive choice on our list.
2. Best Memory Foam Mattress for a Daybed: Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Why You’ll Like It: This very affordable low profile mattress is CertiPUR-US certified and won’t offgas as much as many memory foam mattresses do.
Why would a mattress feature green tea? It’s likely something you might be used to drinking before bed, not sleeping on. The green tea is actually included here to help keep this memory foam mattress fresher over time, so it does not develop the slightly unpleasant smell some memory foam mattresses can.
Specs:
- Firmness: Medium
- Build: Green-tea infused CertiPUR US Certified memory foam
- Styles: 6-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch
- Sizes: Twin, Narrow Twin, Full, Queen,Short Queen, King, Twin XL and Cal King
- Warranty: 10-year limited warranty.
Pros:
- Very affordable choice
- 6 inch mattress height makes it a great fit for all daybeds, including those that feature a mattress on an underbed trundle
- Is CertiPUR-US certified and won’t offgas as much as some other options
Cons:
- Some buyers complained that the mattress did not offer them enough support.
3. Best Cool Gel Memory Foam for a Daybed: Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam
Why You’ll Like This: If you tend to sleep hot, or want to make sure your overnight guests stay cool, the cooling gel layer should prove very effective.
Some people simply sleep hot, and some small apartments get a little too warm in the summer, and sleeping can become a challenge if a memory foam mattress that adds to the problem is added into the equation. This mattress features a layer of cooling gel that is especially designed to draw heat away from the body, helping you to sleep cooler.
Specs:
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Build: Gel memory foam
- Styles: 6-inch
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full and Queen.
Pros:
- Offers cooling technology for a more comfortable night’s sleep
- Very low profile should fit most daybeds well.
- Offers good medium to firm support
Cons:
- May be too firm for some people’s tastes.
- Some buyers complained about a strong offgassing smell when the mattress was initially unpacked
4. Customize Bed Gel Memory Foam with Bamboo Cover
Why You’ll Like This: If you will be using your daybed every night, and want a very durable, cooling mattress, this is a great choice.
As we mentioned, some people sleep on a daybed every night, and, if that’s the case, they need a more durable mattress. This firm memory foam mattress is not just durable but cooling, antibacterial and antimicrobial, all thanks to its very breathable – and washable – bamboo cover.
Specs:
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Build: Foam, Innerspring
- Styles: 6-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, COT, King and Cal King.
- Warranty: 5-years
Pros:
- The Twin size is great for daybeds, Folding Beds, Camp Beds, Guest Beds and trundles
- Offers excellent firm support
- Sleeps very cool
- Bamboo cover is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial
- A very durable mattress that will last for years even with heavy use.
Cons:
- The most expensive choice on our list
- May be too firm for some people’s tastes
5. Fortnight Bedding Foam Mattress
Why You’ll Like This: If your daybed is only used occasionally, and you want to spend less on a mattress for it without sacrificing too much comfort, this is an excellent option.
If you only plan on using a daybed very occasionally for guests, the chances are that you don’t want to pay too much for a mattress. This foam mattress is very affordable and offers good soft to medium support as well as a low profile suitable for most daybeds.
Specs:
Firmness: Firm
Build: CertiPUR-US certified foam
Styles: 4, 5 and 6-inches
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen and COT.
Pros:
- Very affordable choice
- Very thin mattress profile, great for trundle daybeds
- CertiPUR-US certified foam does not offgas much when unpacked
Cons:
- Not likely to be as durable as the other mattresses on this list.
- May be too thin for comfortable everyday sleeping.
Daybeds Q & As
Are daybeds comfortable to sleep on all the time?
Whether a daybed is comfortable to sleep on every night will very much depend on the mattress you choose for it. Most daybeds feature a nice, solid frame, but it is the mattress that determines the level of support your bed will provide.
Thinner mattresses will never be quite as supportive as their thicker counterparts. However, if you shop carefully, and are perhaps willing to spend a little more, a good mattress should allow you to sleep well on a daybed every night.
Can you use regular bedding on a daybed?
You can make use of standard bedsheets on a daybed as long as they are properly sized for the mattress, and on a standard, non trundle daybed you can usually make use of a standard comforter as well. For a trundle, you’ll need to leave off the comforter until the bed is set up for sleeping.
One thing you will need to keep in mind is that you will also be using your daybed as a sofa, so in terms of bedding look, you might want to go for a thinner comforter that won’t be too flattened if it is sat upon often.
You can buy very stylish daybed bedding sets that feature a fitted top cover that goes over the rest of the bedding to give your daybed a ‘daytime’ look that is cleaner, smoother and will help ‘disguise’ its true purpose very well.
View this quilt trundle bed bedding set on Amazon.
Can you use a memory foam mattress on a daybed?
Most of the mattresses featured on our best daybed mattresses list are crafted using memory foam and on the whole it’s a great choice for a daybed, as memory foam mattresses, even thinner options such as you’ll need for a daybed, offer good support and limit motion transfer, helping you get a better night’s sleep.
Can you put a regular mattress on a daybed?
Daybed mattresses do need to be lower profile (or thinner) in order to fit most of them properly, so many standard mattresses may be too thick for use on a daybed.