Folding mattresses are a versatile and portable alternative to traditional mattresses. A folding mattress is a mattress that folds up for easy storage and transport. Folding mattresses usually have three panels and fold in two places. Folding mattresses are perfect for an extra guest bed, or for kids to take to sleepovers. They’re also great for camping and travel, or just for lounging around in the living room. If you’re thinking of purchasing a folding mattress, you’ll want to know the best mattresses out there, what to look for, and how you might use your new folding mattress. In this guide, we explore all about folding mattresses.
Contents
Reviews of the Best Folding Mattresses
1. Milliard Tri-Fold Memory Foam Mattress – Best Overall
The Milliard Tri-Fold Memory Foam Mattress is our top pick for its premium comfort, durability, and versatility. This 6-inch thick mattress combines high-density memory foam with a supportive base layer, offering an optimal balance of softness and firmness. It contours to your body, making it ideal for guests, dorm rooms, and temporary sleeping arrangements.
The tri-fold design ensures compact storage, and its soft removable bamboo cover is machine-washable, making maintenance a breeze. Unlike many budget options, it retains its shape and support over time, preventing sagging or lumpiness.
Highlight:
- Thickness: 6 inches
- Material: High-density memory foam
- Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen
- Best For: Guests, daily use, and home setups
Why We Love It:
- Superior comfort with memory foam
- Durable, high-quality build
- Removable, machine-washable bamboo cover
- Great for long-term use
2. Cozzzi Tri-Fold Foam Folding Mattress – Best Budget Pick
If you’re looking for an affordable yet comfortable folding mattress, the Cozzzi Tri-Fold Mattress is a solid choice. This budget-friendly option provides firm support with its high-density foam, making it a great alternative to an air mattress.
Although it lacks memory foam, its firm structure prevents back pain, making it ideal for camping, dorms, or kids’ sleepovers. The lightweight design ensures easy transport and storage, but the cover isn’t removable, so spot-cleaning is necessary.
Highlight:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: High-density foam
- Sizes Available: Single, Twin, Full, Queen, Cot
- Best For: Budget-friendly option, occasional use
Why We Love It:
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Affordable without compromising support
- Compact design for easy storage
- Great for occasional use
3. Inofia Memory Foam Tri-Fold Mattress – Best for Comfort
The Inofia Memory Foam Tri-Fold Mattress is a top-tier choice for those who prioritize plush comfort. This 6-inch mattress combines a cooling gel-infused memory foam layer with a supportive base, ensuring a comfortable and cool night’s sleep.
The breathable cover prevents overheating, making it great for hot sleepers. The foam provides excellent pressure relief, making it a fantastic choice for side sleepers and guests. It folds neatly for compact storage, but due to its thicker design, it’s slightly bulkier than thinner options.
Highlight:
- Thickness: 6 inches
- Material: Gel-infused memory foam
- Sizes Available: Twin, Full, Queen
- Best For: Luxury comfort and daily use
Why We Love It:
- Gel-infused memory foam for cooling
- Exceptional comfort and support
- Soft, breathable cover
- Great for long-term use
4. Best Price Mattress Tri-Fold – Most Versatile
This mattress is not just for sleeping—it’s great for yoga, meditation, and floor seating too. The memory foam top layer adds comfort, while the high-density base foam provides stability and support.
Its lightweight and foldable nature makes it highly portable, perfect for RV trips, gaming rooms, or small apartments. However, it’s not as thick as some other models, so heavier users may prefer a thicker option.
Highlight:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: Memory foam with high-density base foam
- Sizes Available: X-small, Twin, Full, Queen, Short Queen
- Best For: Multi-purpose use (sleeping, yoga, car trips)
Why We Love It:
- Multi-purpose use (bed, yoga, floor seating, etc.)
- Supportive yet comfortable foam
- Compact and lightweight for travel
5. Cushy Form Tri-Fold Mattress – Best for Travel
The Cushy Form Tri-Fold Mattress is the best portable option, thanks to its compact design and included carrying case. This high-density foam mattress provides decent support but is best for short-term sleeping arrangements.
It’s lightweight and easy to transport, making it ideal for road trips and car camping. However, its 4-inch thickness may not be enough for heavier sleepers.
Highlight:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: High-density foam
- Sizes Available: Twin
- Best For: Travel, car camping, and portability
Why We Love It:
- Perfect for travel and car camping
- Comes with a carrying case
- Lightweight and easy to transport
6. Olee Sleep Tri-Fold Memory Foam Mattress – Best for Durability
The Olee Sleep Tri-Fold Memory Foam Mattress is a high-quality, long-lasting option that maintains its shape even after extended use. The 4-inch thick foam provides a good balance of firm support and pressure relief, making it a great choice for guests, dorms, and small apartments.
One of its standout features is its dense, durable foam construction, which prevents sagging and ensures longevity. The cover is soft and breathable, but unfortunately, it’s not removable, so spot-cleaning is necessary. While it’s not as thick as some premium options, it still offers decent comfort for temporary sleeping arrangements.
Highlight:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: High-density memory foam
- Sizes Available: Single, Twin, Full, Cot
- Best For: Long-term durability and support
Why We Love It:
- Durable high-density foam resists sagging
- Supportive and maintains its shape
- Lightweight and easy to store
- Great for guests and dorms
7. Sweetnight Folding Mattress – Best for Adjustable Comfort
The Sweetnight Folding Mattress is one of the most unique options on this list because of its dual-sided design. One side features soft memory foam for plush comfort, while the other side has firmer high-density foam for better support. This makes it an excellent choice for people who like to customize their sleeping experience.
The breathable, removable cover is machine-washable, which makes cleaning easy. Its tri-fold design allows for quick storage, making it perfect for small apartments, guests, and road trips. However, some users might find the 4-inch thickness a bit thin for extended use.
Highlight:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: Dual-layer foam (memory foam + high-density support foam)
- Sizes Available: Twin, Full, Queen
- Best For: Adjustable comfort and versatile sleeping options
Why We Love It:
- Dual-sided firmness for customizable comfort
- Supportive yet soft for all sleeping positions
- Machine-washable removable cover
- Great for guests, travel, and compact storage
8. Best Choice Products Folding Mattress – Best for Versatility
The Best Choice Products Folding Mattress is a highly versatile option that works well for guest beds, dorms, and camping trips. It features 4 inches of supportive foam, ensuring a comfortable sleep experience while remaining lightweight and easy to move.
Its tri-fold design makes it easy to store, and the removable, machine-washable cover ensures simple maintenance. While it offers decent comfort, it may be too firm for those who prefer plush memory foam.
Highlights:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: High-density foam with a soft cover
- Sizes Available: Twin, Full, Queen
- Best For: Guests, travel, and multi-purpose use
Why We Love It:
- Lightweight and portable for travel or guests
- Tri-fold design allows for easy storage
- Durable and supportive foam construction
- Removable, washable cover for easy maintenance
9. MLILY Folding Mattress – Best for Premium Comfort
The MLILY Folding Mattress is a top-tier choice if you’re looking for premium comfort in a portable design. With dual-layer memory foam, it provides exceptional support and pressure relief, making it feel like a real bed.
The high-density foam base prevents sagging, while the breathable, hypoallergenic cover keeps you cool at night. While it’s slightly more expensive than budget options, its long-lasting durability and plush comfort make it worth the investment.
Highlights:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: Dual-layer memory foam
- Sizes Available: Single, Twin, Full, Queen, King
- Best For: Everyday comfort and long-term durability
Why We Love It:
- Memory foam construction for superior comfort
- Supportive high-density base prevents sagging
- Tri-folding design for easy storage and portability
- Hypoallergenic, breathable cover for a cool sleep experience
10. Sinweek Tri-Folding Mattress – Best for Budget Comfort
The Sinweek Folding Mattress is an excellent budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on comfort. It features 4 inches of supportive memory foam, making it great for temporary sleeping arrangements such as guest beds, camping trips, or dorm rooms.
Its tri-fold design ensures easy storage, and the breathable fabric cover adds extra comfort. However, the foam may soften over time, making it less durable than higher-end models. Despite this, it remains a solid choice for those needing an affordable, portable mattress.
Highlights:
- Thickness: 4 inches
- Material: Memory foam with a soft cover
- Sizes Available: Twin, Full, Queen
- Best For: Affordable guest and travel bedding
Why We Love It:
- Budget-friendly without sacrificing comfort
- Folds easily for storage and travel
- Memory foam construction provides decent support
- Lightweight and easy to carry
Benefits of Folding Mattresses
Easy to store
Folding mattresses are great because they’re easy to store. Most folding mattresses are tri-fold and can easily slide into a closet for safekeeping. Folding mattresses don’t take up a lot of space in your closet. If you’re looking for a guest bed that won’t sit unused when no guests are around, a folding mattress is a perfect solution. Take it out when you need it and fold it up and store it when you don’t.
Great for travel
If you travel a lot, a good folding mattress can save you from the pain of sleeping on someone’s couch. A nice folding memory foam mattress is much more comfortable than the average futon, and it definitely beats a saggy couch.
Folding mattresses are also great for camping, as they provide a good alternative to sleeping bags. A folding mattress won’t take up too much space in the car, and many models have convenient carrying handles for easy travel.
Inexpensive
Folding mattresses are much less expensive than traditional mattresses. Even the most expensive folding mattresses are still under $200. Traditional mattresses cost hundreds of dollars, and even air mattresses can set you back a few hundred bucks. There are many cheap options when looking for a folding mattress that will save you tons of money.
Versatile
A foldable mattress can be used for more than just sleep. Fold it up all the way to make an ottoman or footrest. Some models can be folded up into a chair. Keep a folding mattress in the living room for lounging on while watching TV.
Perfect for kids
Kids will love using folding mattresses as play mats. They can roll around and play without hitting the hard ground. Most folding mattresses come with removable covers for easy washing, and many are even machine-washable. Kids can also take folding mattresses to sleepovers as a more comfortable alternative to a sleeping bag.
Great guest bed
A folding mattress is the ideal guest bed, especially if you live in a small space. Guests will be much more comfortable on a folding mattress than they would be on the couch. A folding mattress allows sleepers more room to move around than a couch, and the material is designed for sleeping, unlike a couch.
For those who don’t have room for a guest bed, a folding mattress is perfect because it can be stored in a closet until you need it. When guests arrive, just unfold the mattress. Even if you have a guest bedroom, using a folding mattress allows you to have extra storage space when guests are gone.
Comfortable
Folding mattresses tend to be more comfortable than other portable options. A good folding mattress will provide plenty of support and allow you to sleep through the night comfortably. Folding mattresses are far superior to sleeping bags for camping or travel.
A folding mattress is also much more comfortable for guests than a futon or couch. Folding mattresses provide the full comfort of sleeping in a real bed.
What to Look For When Choosing a Folding Mattress
Type of foam
When you’re buying a folding mattress, you want to make sure you pick one made of high-quality materials. Most folding mattresses are made of foam. The best folding mattresses are made with memory foam, which conforms to your shape for improved comfort. Less expensive folding foam mattresses are made of polyurethane or latex foam. This is good if you’re buying a mattress for kids to play on, but it’s not as dense and supportive as memory foam.
A folding memory foam mattress is much more comfortable for sleeping, especially for adults. Memory foam is denser than polyurethane foam and will provide better support. A folding mattress with dense foam will also last longer and won’t sink to the floor when a lot of weight is put on it.
Often, memory foam mattresses are made with memory foam and other types of foam. Make sure you check the specifications before buying a mattress to see how much memory foam you’re actually getting.
Type of cover
A folding mattress will have a cover to protect the foam from damage. There are different types of covers to choose from. Some folding mattresses have removable covers, so you can take the cover off of the foam part of the mattress. Others are sewn on and cannot be removed. If you’re worried about keeping your mattress clean, look for a folding mattress with a removable cover
Before you take the cover off and throw it in the washing machine, be sure to check whether your folding mattress cover is machine washable. A machine-washable cover can be put in the washing machine without shrinking or losing its shape, so it’s easy to wash and put right back on. This is ideal for a kid’s mattress or a mattress that you will take camping, as it may get dirty.
You’ll also want to check the material of the cover. If you’re going to take your folding mattress on camping trips, you’ll want a cover made of sturdy material that can withstand the elements. Some folding mattresses have waterproof covers, which is also excellent for camping or kids. If you’re going to be sleeping right on top of the folding mattress, make sure the cover is made of a soft, comfortable material. If the cover is not soft enough to sleep directly on, you will want to make sure the mattress is a standard size so you can easily purchase sheets to fit it.
Thickness
Folding mattresses come in a variety of thicknesses. A thicker folding mattress contains more foam, making it bigger. Thicker folding mattresses are more comfortable for sleeping and provide better support. For larger adults, a thicker mattress may be necessary to prevent the mattress from sagging to the floor. The most common sizes for folding mattresses are 4-inch, 6-inch, or 8-inch.
Thicker mattresses often cost more than thinner folding mattresses. Weigh the cost of a thicker mattress against its benefits, and consider what the mattress will be used for and how often it will be used. An 8-inch folding mattress will likely be of higher quality and last longer than a 4-inch folding mattress.
Size
In addition to different thicknesses, folding mattresses also come in different sizes. Most folding mattresses follow the same sizing guidelines as traditional mattresses.
A twin mattress measures 38 inches wide by 75 inches long and is ideal for children. A full mattress is 53 inches wide by 75 inches long and is ideal for adults sleeping alone. A queen-size mattress is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long and is a good fit for most couples or adults who like to have a lot of space. A king-size mattress is 76 inches wide by 80 inches long. Most folding mattresses come in twin, full, or queen sizes. Some come in king size, but this is less common.
Not all folding mattresses follow traditional mattress size guidelines. Some folding mattresses are intended for children and may be smaller than a twin. Others simply come in irregular sizes. Check the measurements before purchasing a mattress if you’re not sure.
Portability
Folding mattresses are intended to be easy to transport. You can fold your mattress up and take it wherever you go. Some folding mattresses are easier to carry around than others. You’ll have to balance factors like comfort and size against how easy the mattress is to transport.
Look for the way the mattress folds up. Most folding mattresses fold in two places, making three panels. Remember to think about the size of your mattress and the thickness of the mattress, too. An 8-inch queen-size mattress will fold up, but it will still be fairly large when folded.
Some folding mattresses have handles attached to the mattress. This makes the mattress very easy to carry. Other folding mattresses come with a bag designed to transport the mattress easily. This is convenient since it can be hard to find a bag that your folding mattress fits in without a struggle.
You’ll also want to see how much a folding mattress weighs. If you’re going to be carrying your mattress around a lot, look for one made of lightweight foam. However, keep in mind that lighter mattresses may contain less dense and lower-quality foam.
Best Uses for Folding Mattresses
Folding mattresses are great because they can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Since you can take a folding mattress anywhere you go, you’ll find yourself using it for many different purposes.
Camping
Folding mattresses are ideal for camping trips. Instead of bringing along a sleeping bag, take your folding mattress on your next camping trip. A folding mattress keeps you from having to sleep on the hard, bumpy ground. It will save you from pain and soreness when you wake up and ensure you’re comfortable on your camping trip. You can also fold up your folding mattress and use it as a seat by the campfire when you’re not sleeping.
Sleepovers
Kids will love taking a folding mattress with them for sleepovers at friends’ houses. They will be much more comfortable sleeping on a folding mattress instead of in a sleeping bag or on the floor. Folding mattresses are easy to transport, so you can pack them up and send them off with the kids wherever they go. You’ll have other parents asking where you got such a great, portable mattress!
Guest bed
If you’re short on space but still want to invite guests to spend the night at your home, a folding mattress is a perfect solution. You can be sure guests will be comfortable sleeping on a nice folding mattress, and they won’t have to suffer through the night on an uncomfortable couch or futon. When you don’t have any guests staying over, you can easily store a folding mattress, so you don’t have to give up any space in your house for a guest bed you’ll hardly use.
Lounging around
Many people purchase folding mattresses just for lounging around, snuggling with pets, or watching TV. You can get a full or queen-size folding mattress and lay it down in your living room to create a fun lounge area. A folding mattress will allow you and many guests to sit on the floor without discomfort or back pain. Kids especially will love playing and tumbling around on a folding mattress, and you won’t have to worry about them falling onto the hard floor.
