When first browsing daybeds, it isn’t always clear what type of mattress you should use. Can you use a futon mattress on your daybed or the twin mattress your tween outgrew when she upgraded to a full size bed? The short answer is no and yes. Because a futon mattress is designed to be folded in half, you should try to avoid using a futon mattress on your daybed, but, yes, a standard size twin mattress will fit a daybed. But if you want the ideal fit and look for your daybed, keep in mind that daybed mattresses are specifically designed for daybeds and to showoff daybed bedding to its best advantage.

Types of Daybed Mattresses

Daybed mattresses fall into three general categories: innersping, cotton/foam, or memory foam.

Mattresses made of a cotton/foam mix will allow the mattress to breathe, while the foam helps it to keep its shape. Support, comfort and durability depend on how the materials are layered, the quality of foam and cotton used, and the thickness.

The innerspring daybed mattress resembles a standard innerspring mattress. A coil system made up of 300 plus coils depending on the brand/manufacturer is cushioned between layers of cotton/foam padding. As with standard mattresses, the quality of mattress will depend on the configuration of the coils and the strength and thickness of the metal used to make them. An innerspring futon mattress will feel firmer than ones made with foam.

The all foam daybed mattress is considered to be the softest and most comfortable. The foam makes them durable, as well as lighter than a cotton/foam futon. They are constructed by layering different types of foam, and can include medium density, high density, flat and convoluted or egg carton foams. Convoluted foam is commonly used in the top and bottom layers (so that it is on top when the mattress is flipped) because it helps evenly distribute the weight applied to the mattress. Foam daybed mattresses are also known for providing maximum support.

Daybed Mattresses Size

While daybed mattresses are available only in twin size, they are typically thinner than standard twin size mattresses. Daybed mattresses are deliberately thinner to make allowances for the daybed’s distinctive back; you don’t want the back so high that the unique design is obstructed from view. There’s no law stating that you can’t use the standard twin mattress you already have on hand; just make sure that it won’t cover up the very features that attracted you to daybed in the first place. When using standard twin size mattresses instead of daybed mattresses, an individual mattress should be no higher than eight inches. Don’t forget that you will also need to leave room for daybed bedding.

Daybed Mattresses for Trundle Beds

A trundle unit is a bed frame specifically designed to hold and store an additional mattress underneath most types of daybeds. The most common types of trundles are pop-up and pull-out. When purchasing daybed mattresses for trundles, regardless of the type you have chosen to go with your daybed, it is important to remember that the twin size daybed mattress will be stored underneath the sleeping platform of the daybed. Make sure that the daybed mattress fits comfortably on the frame and that it isn’t so thick that it will become snagged on the daybed frame or the underside of the link spring.