Mattress Sizes

What size of mattress you choose for yourself and your children matters. Mattress size impacts sleep quality and the ability to sleep soundly throughout the night. You do not want to sleep on a mattress that is too small or too narrow for your body.

When choosing a mattress, there are several factors you need to take into account. Your body size, room size, and whether you’ll be sharing your bed are all relevant factors. Larger and heavier sleepers need to make sure the mattress they choose has a high enough weight capacity.

Everyone choosing a new mattress needs to measure their bedroom or guest room. To avoid nighttime falls and mobility issues, you’ll want to have a minimum of 2-feet of open space around the outside of your bed. Those sleeping with a partner or co-sleeping with children will want a queen size mattress or larger.

In this article, we’ll explore a wide range of different mattress sizes. We’ll provide you with room size recommendations for each size mattress. To conclude, we’ll give you shopping factors to consider when picking out the right mattress size for your needs and answer some mattress size questions.

Available Mattresses Sizes

Crib

Crib mattresses are necessary for infants and small toddlers. A crib size mattress is specially made to fit into a crib and minimize the risk of infants sinking into their mattress. Placing your infant on a mattress that isn’t made for them can increase their risk of suffocation.

For safety reasons, do not try to sleep more than one infant or toddler in a crib. This poses safety issues and can lead to injury or even death. Your crib mattress should measure 28 inches by 52 inches. You’ll want to place crib size mattresses in a room measuring at least 7 feet by 10 feet.

Small Single

Small single mattresses are commonly found in compact bedrooms. These beds work well for transitioning your toddler from their crib to a bed. Young children can also sleep comfortably in a small single size mattress.

A small single bed measures 30 inches by 75 inches. Set this mattress up in a room measuring 7 feet by 10 feet. Taller or larger sleepers may feel cramped in a small single. If this is the case for your child, consider stepping up to a twin or twin XL size mattress.

Twin

Twin mattresses work well for college dorms, studio apartments, and smaller bedrooms. All ages of individuals can sleep on a twin size mattress. However, they are the preferred mattress of choice for kids, teens, and young adults. A twin mattress is 8 inches wider than a small single mattress.

Like small single mattresses, twin beds are meant to sleep only one person. Your twin mattress will measure 38 inches by 75 inches. For best results, place your twin bed in a room measuring at least 7 feet by 10 feet.

Twin XL

Twin XL mattresses are optimal for older or taller sleepers who need extra legroom. Compared to a twin mattress, a twin XL size mattress offers 5 additional inches of length. This longer twin mattress is often found in college dorm rooms and apartments.

Your twin XL bed should measure 38 inches by 80 inches. Set up a twin XL size bed in a room measuring at least 9.6 feet by 10.6 feet.

Full

Full mattresses work well for single sleepers who need ample space to toss and turn or alternate sleep positions throughout the night. A full-size mattress’s added width allows it to sleep either one adult or two small children.

Full size bed dimensions are 54 inches by 75 inches. This makes a full mattress 16 inches wider and 5 inches shorter than a twin XL mattress. We recommend that you put your full size bed in a room measuring 9.6 feet by 10.6 feet.

Full XL

For taller sleepers requiring additional legroom, full XL mattresses are the perfect solution. A full XL size mattress adds an extra 5 inches of length to your bed. This makes them suitable for growing teenagers and young adults.

You can sleep either one full size adult or two taller young children on this bed. Your full XL bed will measure 54 inches by 80 inches. Full XL size mattresses need to be placed in a room measuring 9.6 feet by 10.6 feet for maximal bedroom mobility.

Queen

Queen size mattresses are a popular choice amongst couples. A queen mattress can easily accommodate two average size adult sleepers without issue. Single sleepers who want extra space also find queen beds to be a suitable mattress size.

A queen bed measures 60 inches by 80 inches. This makes queen mattresses 6 inches wider than their full XL mattress counterparts. Bear in mind that queen size beds do require larger bedrooms. You’ll want to set up this bed in a room measuring 10 feet by 10 feet.

Olympic Queen

Stepping up to an Olympic queen mattress gives couples or single sleepers an extra 6 inches of width. If you’re worried about being cramped when sharing a bed with your partner, this is a great mattress for you.

Olympic queen size mattresses measure 66 inches by 80 inches. Similar to queen beds, Olympic queen beds need to be put in a room measuring at least 10 feet by 10 feet.

King

A standard king mattress is suitable for couples who are going to co-sleep with one or two small children. King beds offer even more width than what an Olympic queen size mattress features. When you opt for a king size mattress, you’ll be gaining an additional 10 inches of width.

Always measure your bedroom before purchasing a mattress of this size. King size beds measure 76 inches by 80 inches. Bedrooms need to measure 12 feet by 12 feet to be able to accommodate king mattresses.

Couples with differing firmness level needs should consider going with a split king mattress instead of a standard king mattress. Split king mattresses feature two twin XL size mattresses put together onto one king size bed frame. A split king bed pairs well with an adjustable bed base.

California King

California king beds are preferable for larger and taller couples. A California king mattress is 4 inches narrower and 4 inches of extra length compared to a standard king bed. With this size bed, couples have ample room to sleep soundly while sharing their bed with one or two of their kids.

Your California king size mattress will measure 72 inches by 80 inches. Place a California king size bed in a room measuring 12 feet by 12 feet. This allows for better bedroom mobility and room for bedroom furniture.

Factors that Influence Your Buying Decision

Numerous factors will influence your mattress buying decision. Budget is a big factor for most consumers. The larger your mattress size, the more expensive it is going to be in most cases. However, keep in mind that you need enough room in your bed to sleep comfortably without feeling cramped or trapped.

Larger and heavier sleepers who plan to co-sleep with a partner or children need to opt for larger bed sizes. For these sleepers, a queen through California king size mattress is the best mattress size. Smaller, lightweight sleepers can get by with smaller mattresses like twins through full XL size mattresses.

You need to address your room size as well when selecting a mattress. To prevent bedroom falls, you should have at least 2-feet of open space around the perimeter of your bed. This extra space also allows for bedroom furniture like nightstands, bookshelves, and TVs.

Conclusion

There is a mattress size out there for every need, budget, sleeper size, and bedroom configuration. Which size mattress you choose depends upon your personal preferences, available space, body size, and bed-sharing arrangement.

When selecting a mattress for your bedroom or guest bedroom, make sure you are keeping the room’s measurements in mind. You’ll want to have at least 2-feet of open space along the side(s) and foot of your bed for increased mobility.

Mattresses come in innerspring, latex, hybrid, and memory foam varieties. Which types of mattresses you should choose depend upon your budget, size, sleep position, and support needs.