Twin XL Mattress Toppers, 38 x 80, Made in the USA

Twin XL vs Twin: the 5 inches that matter

Twin and Twin XL share the same width, 38 inches, but a Twin XL is 80 inches long instead of 75. That extra length is why it is the standard for college housing, why it pairs up into a split king, and why anyone over about 6 feet tall sleeps better on one. The catch is that the two sizes are not interchangeable: a Twin topper on a Twin XL bed leaves a bare 5 inch strip at the foot, and a Twin XL topper on a Twin bed hangs off the end.

Measure the mattress, not the frame. If it is 80 inches long, order Twin XL. If you are shopping for a dorm, our dorm mattress topper guide covers school-specific widths, campus delivery, and summer storage.

Which Twin XL topper is right for you

Every LOUNJ topper comes in Twin XL, so the choice is about feel and features rather than fit:

• Gel Mattress Topper, 2, 3, or 4 inch: bare gel memory foam, the simplest and most affordable way to soften a firm bed.
• Gel Mattress Topper 2.0, 2 or 3 inch: the same foam inside a washable cover with corner straps that fit 6 to 16 inch mattresses. Best for bunks, lofts, and adjustable bases.
• Firm Mattress Topper, 3 inch: two layers built to add support, not sink, for a bed that has gone soft.
• 3 inch Tri-Zone Topper: 1.5 inches of gel memory foam over a zoned high-density base, with a bamboo cover. Firmer under the hips, softer at the shoulders.
• Talalay latex, 2 or 3 inch: buoyant, cool, and springy, available in 24 or 28 ILD through our custom quote form.

Thickness by body weight and sleep position

On a narrow bed you cannot spread out, so the topper has to carry your hips and shoulders in one spot all night. A rough guide: sleepers under 130 pounds get plenty of contour from 2 inches; 130 to 230 pounds is the sweet spot for 3 inches; and side sleepers above 230 pounds, or anyone on a mattress that has bottomed out, should look at 4 inches. Back and stomach sleepers can usually go one step thinner than side sleepers at the same weight, because they need less give at the shoulder.

If you are torn between two thicknesses on a firm mattress, go thicker. On a mattress that is already soft, go thinner or choose the Firm topper.

Sheets, headboards, and adjustable bases

A 2 or 3 inch Twin XL topper on a standard 8 to 12 inch mattress fits under most Twin XL fitted sheets with 14 inch pockets. Add 4 inches to a 12 inch or thicker mattress and you will want a deep-pocket sheet or a topper cover. The topper adds height at the headboard too; on beds with a low headboard or a slatted footboard, a 2 inch topper keeps the proportions closer to what they were.

Twin XL is the size used on each side of a split king adjustable base. Bare memory foam and Talalay latex both flex with the base; the Gel Mattress Topper 2.0’s straps keep it from creeping when the head raises. See our split king page if you need a matched pair.