Mattress Sizes

One of the biggest mistakes new bed-buyers make is buying a mattress that is too small for their needs. Couples who have been sleeping on a full size bed since they got married may think that's all they need, until they learn that each person has only as much sleeping space as a baby's crib! Below are the various mattress sizes, and some guidelines that should help you choose the perfect fit.

TWIN (SINGLE) - 38"x75"
Also known as "singles," twin mattresses are the smallest mattresses available. Measured 38"W x 75"L, twin mattresses are typically purchased for small children and in some cases, guest rooms. These may be too short for some adults, especially men.

TWIN XL(Extra Long) - 38"x80"
Twin XLs are exactly 1/2 the size of a standard King size mattress.

FULL (DOUBLE)- 53"x75"
Also known as "doubles, full mattresses are 15" wider than twin. Measured 53"W x 75"L, full mattresses are typically purchased as an upgrade for a full mattress, with space saving benefits over a Queen size mattress. When two people sleep on a full size mattress, each person is left with only 27 inches of personal space - this is the width of a baby crib!

FULL XL(Extra Long) - 53"x80"
Full XLs are the same length, and six inches shorter than a queen.

Recommendations: Full size is only enough space for a single sleeper and only if under 5 feet 5 inches tall. Parents are increasingly choosing full size over twin for teenage bedrooms, and even for younger children in order to give parents a more comfortable place to rest when reading together at tuck-in time.

QUEEN - 60"x80"
Queen beds are 60 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – 6 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full size mattress. These added inches can make all the difference in comfort, especially for couples, and have made the queen today's most popular mattress size. However, with 30 inches of personal space, each adult still has 9 inches less width than if they slept alone in a twin bed.

Recommendations: Queen size is a good choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples who prefer close quarters. It's also a great choice for single sleepers who are also "sprawlers."

KING - 76"x80"
King beds are 76 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – about 18 inches wider than a queen. This is the closest a couple can come to having as much personal space (38 inches) as each would have on a twin bed. In fact, two twin extra-long beds pushed together are about the same size, an option that can offer a flexible arrangement for a guest room.

CALIFORNIA KING (CAL KING) - 72"x84"
The "California King" is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long – 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than a regular king. The California King is not widely purchased, and may not be available on all mattress lines you may be considering.

Recommendations: King size is the best choice for couples that want maximum personal sleeping space. It's also the best bet to accommodate that time on Sunday morning when children may pop into bed – or if the pets in your house have mattress privileges! However, size can be a problem. Even with a "split box spring" – two twin-size foundations to support it – to make a king set more manageable, it may be too big for some bedrooms or too bulky to navigate through some corridors, doors and stairwells. It's a good idea to break out the tape measure if there is any doubt.