Best Floor Mattress

Floor mattresses are a compact, portable, and often comparable to the best memory foam mattresses. These inexpensive beds can be used without a foundation, box spring, bed frame, or base and are ideal for accommodating additional guests in your space, camping, or temporary living spaces. They can even serve as a play space or yoga mat.

Floor mattresses fall into two subcategories, which are based on how they’re stored: folding and rollable. Folding floor mattresses have a bi-fold or tri-fold design and typically contain ties, buttons, or straps that secure the mattress in its rolled position. These types tend to be the thickest and can double yoga or play mats.

Rollable floor mattresses roll into compact cylinders, have built-in straps that fasten, and easily roll out for sleep. These take up less space than folding floor mattresses.

Beyond these two main categories, floor mattresses may be named and described by their materials, like memory foam, cotton, and polyfoam, or their origin, such as Thai, Japanese, or East Asia.

In this mattress review article, we’re sharing our choices for the best floor mattresses available from Amazon and other online retailers. You’ll learn details about each model’s construction, performance, and features. We also share a buyer’s guide to purchasing a floor mattress with tips on what to look for so that you can make your floor mattress purchase with confidence.

The Best Floor Mattresses of 2020

• Milliard Memory Foam Tri-Fold Mattress —Editor’s Pick
• Zinus Tri-Fold Comfort Mat —Best Value Floor Mattress
• Better Habitat CertiPUR- US SleepReady—Best for Children
• Simmons BeautySleep Siesta Memory Foam Mattress—Best Roll Up Floor Mattress
• Leewadee Roll-Up Thai Mattress —Best Thai Floor Mattress
• D&D Futon Furniture Cotton/Foam/Fiber Traditional Japanese—Best Japanese Futon Mattress
• EMOOR Japanese Traditional Futon Mattress —Best Lightweight Floor Mattress

Best Floor Mattress Buying Guide

Floor Mattress Use Cases

Floor mattresses can be a great purchase for homeowners and renters who host overnight guests frequently. Surprisingly, these mattresses can offer a good night’s sleep when well made and used on the proper surface. Lightweight and portable, they’re easy to store, and they’re cheaper than their standard mattress alternatives. Here are a few use cases for which floor mattresses are an appropriate option:

• Accommodating overnight guests without a guest bedroom
• Temporary living accommodations
• Alternative studio apartment bed
• Bed for camping trips
• Dorm room guest bed
• Backpacking bed
• Mobile home bed
• Sofa bed or futon topper
• Alternative stretching and physical therapy mat
• Alternative yoga mat
• Alternative children’s play mat

Pros and Cons of Sleeping on a Floor Mattress

While floor mattresses prove exceptionally handy in many situations, from camping to short-term living, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of floor mattresses. Here’s a list of their highlights and lowlights, which paints a picture of where this mattress type shines and where it delivers poor or fair performance.

Pros

• Price—Floor mattresses are almost always priced at less than $200, which is a fraction of the cost of a standard mattress.
• Portability—These lightweight mattresses can be easily transported and are great for camping, trains, air travel, and more. Some models even come with convenient travel bags or carrying straps.
• Storage—Floor mattresses are easy to store. If you don’t have room for a bed in your current living space, a floor mattress can be easily folded or rolled and placed in a closet.
• Temperature—Sleeping near the floor is often a breathable, cool option for naturally hot or heavyweight sleepers.Durability—Most floor mattresses last roughly five years on average with proper cleaning and storage.

Cons

• Feel and Firmness—Thinner and firmer than standard mattresses, floor mattresses typically don’t have thick memory foam layers and may be uncomfortable for side sleepers and lightweight sleepers. 
• Couples—Floor mattresses are typically too small for couples and not responsive enough for sex.
• Hygiene and Safety—Sleeping on the floor puts you into closer contact with dust mites, insects, mildew, and other potentially harmful elements that can negatively impact your sleep and overall health.
• Policies—Floor mattresses typically come with little to no warranty coverage, and no floor mattresses come with a sleep trial.
• Limited Sizing—Most floor mattresses are only available in kids or Twin sizes, so it can be difficult to find a model that will sleep two people comfortably.

Types of Floor Mattresses

Floor mattresses fall into two broad categories, and while similar in use case, they have variations in construction, thickness, and more, which you’ll want to consider prior to deciding which type is right for you.

Foldable Floor Mattresses are either bi-fold or tri-fold, with two or three creases, respectively. These can be folded and stacked for storing. Typically, foldable floor mattresses have multiple foam layers, include a conforming memory foam layer, have removable covers made from a variety of materials, are bi-fold or tri-fold in design, measure between 3” to 6” thick, weigh more than rollable floor mattresses, and can double as yoga or play mats. Foldable floor mattresses are generally more expensive than rollable floor mattresses.

Rollable floor mattresses are the thinner style and can be rolled into a cylindrical shape. Most have built-in straps that are tied to secure the bundle once it’s rolled, and some come with portable bags for storage. Typically, rollable floor mattresses have just one foam layer, have fabric covers, do not have non-slip bottoms, are between 2” to 4” thick, are lighter than foldable mattresses, and come with thin travel cases. Rolling beds are generally less expensive than foldable floor mattresses. 

Considerations

Type

Choosing between a foldable floor mattress and a rollable floor mattress should be one of your first steps when picking the best floor mattress for your situation or space. If you’re looking for a more durable, thicker mattress, we recommend a foldable version. If you’re looking for a space-saving, thin mattress, we recommend a rollable version. 

Anti-Slip Base

The main base feature to consider is whether the floor bed has a no-slip base. Some styles feature rubber and other materials on the bottom of the mattress that help prevent sliding on wood, tile, and other slippery surfaces. It’s more common to see no-slip bases incorporated in the designs of foldable floor mattresses. 

Thickness

Floor mattresses are thinner than standard mattresses, but thickness is still a factor to consider, especially if you suffer from back pain or painful pressure points. Foldable floor mattresses are thicker than rollable floor mattresses and usually contain layers of memory foam for conforming and high-density base materials for support. If you don’t suffer from major aches and pains or are okay sleeping on a very firm surface, a thinner, rolling model (2” to 3” thick) may work well for you.

Size

Floor mattresses are almost always designed to accommodate one person. However, larger sizes, like Full, Queen, King, and California King, may be available for couples. Here’s an overview of how floor mattresses are generally sized:

• Extra Small: 25” W x 75” L
• Small or Single: 30-33” W x 75-80” L
• Twin Size: 38-39” W x 75” L
• Extra Long or Twin XL: 38-39” W x 80” L
• Full Size: 53-54” W x 75” L 
• Queen Size: 60” W x 80” L
• King Size: 76” W x 80” L
• California King Size: 72” W x 84” L

Cleaning

Proper cleaning of floor mattresses is essential, as these models are exposed to dust mites, insects, and other elements that can cause health complications for sleepers. Washable covers will help make the cleaning process quick and painless.

Portability

Some floor mattresses are more travel-friendly than others. Most foldable floor mattresses will not fit into travel bags or suitcases but fit securely in the back of vehicles. These models are better-suited for road trips and camping. Rollable mattresses are thin and therefore almost always come with travel cases or bags. These lightweight and compact versions are ideal for travel by airplane or train, and backpacking. 

Firmness

Firmness for mattresses is calculated on a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm. Most floor mattresses fall somewhere in the middle of the firmness scale (between 5 and 8). If this level of firmness is too firm for you, you can soften the mattress by incorporating a mattress topper or mattress pad in a coordinating size.

Budget

Floor mattress pricing varies by brand, but floor mattresses are available at low price points when compared to standard mattresses. On average, floor mattresses cost between $50 and $200. 

Water-Resistance

Some floor mattresses are waterproof, water-resistant, or stain-resistant, which is especially helpful if the mattress is used for a child who’s prone to accidents or someone who sleeps hot and may sweat at night.

Shipping and Return Policies

Most floor mattresses sold by Amazon and other online retailers ship free and can be returned for free or for a nominal fee if not used. It’s important to note that most floor mattresses do not come with any sort of sleep trial, so if you unpackage and sleep on the floor mattress, you won’t have the option to return it outside of the retailer’s return window.

Warranty and Sleep Trial Policies

Most floor mattresses do not come with warranties or sleep trials. The few floor mattresses that do come with warranty coverage have policies that last five years or less. For comparison, standard mattresses almost always come with a warranty of at least 10 years.

How to Pick the Right Floor Mattress

Here’s a quick guide to how to pick the right floor mattress for your space.

Length of Guest’s Stay

Floor mattresses are a handy, space-saving sleeping surface for guests if you don’t have a dedicated guest bed. The length of your guest’s stay should be a factor in determining how thick the mattress is and how much money you plan to spend on it. In general, folding mattresses, like bi-fold and tri-fold versions, are thicker and more comfortable than rolling floor mattresses. 

This is because folding floor mattresses have more layers of foam and typically feature memory foam comfort layers in their design. If your guests are staying for more than two nights and have no chronic pain or back issues, a rollable floor mattress should be fine. If your guests have pain or health issues or are staying with you for more than 2 nights, we recommend a folding floor mattress.

Storage Mechanism

The type of floor mattress (foldable or rollable) will be the primary determinant in how it’s stored, but some manufacturers make the storage of the mattress easier with straps, built-in bags, deeper creases, and more. Read the fine print of the product’s design, dimensions, weight, and storage directions prior to purchase, all of which can impact how easy the product is to stow away in a closet, car, or travel bag.

Guest Body Type

Rollable floor mattresses with a thin foam layer are typically most appropriate for sleepers in the lightweight category. If you or your guests are average weight or heavyweight, or sleep exclusively on the side, a thicker mattress with more conforming and supportive layers is a better option. Some foldable mattresses can suit sleepers in all weight categories and sleeping positions. If this is of interest to you, look for floor mattresses with a thicker-than-average height (6” or more), a high-density foam base, and one or two layers of memory foam.

Conclusion 

Floor mattresses are a travel-friendly, budget-friendly alternative to standard mattresses, which can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Whether you host overnight guests often, want a simple sleeping setup for your apartment, or need a comfortable surface to practice yoga or allow your children to play, a floor mattress is a great solution.

To choose the best floor mattress, we recommend setting a budget, re-reading our buyer’s guide and shopping considerations, and then browsing our list of the best mattresses to see if there’s a pick that suits your preferences. From there, read the product’s reviews, check out shipping policies, and make the best choice with confidence.