Queen Size Bed Dimensions: How Big is a Queen Bed?
The most popular bed size on the market, queen beds are the perfect balance between roominess and compactness. They’re small enough to fit not just in master bedrooms but in guest rooms and kids’ rooms, yet they’re big enough to fill out all but the largest master bedrooms.
Queens are also a great choice for couples who either don’t have the budget for a king size bed or don’t have space in their bedrooms. But did you know there are multiple variations of queen size beds? Or that you have the option to do a split queen? Below, we’ll talk about the different dimensions of a queen bed and how to measure your room to pick the right size.
Dimensions of a Standard Queen
Standard queen beds are 60 by 80 inches. This makes them great for couples and sleepers who like to spread out. There are a lot of advantages to this size that make it the most popular choice of bed.
For one thing, queen beds are easier to move than kings. King size beds take a lot of effort and usually several people to move (not to mention getting them up stairs or around corners). Queens are a lot less trouble to relocate because they’re a foot narrower than a king.
Queen mattresses’ smaller size is also advantageous for smaller rooms. For example, if you don’t have a huge master or guest room, a queen is compact enough to leave plenty of space for you to walk around or add extra furniture.
Despite its small size, a queen is still big enough to accommodate most couples. Queen size beds offer 30 inches of sleeping space per partner, which is enough to keep most adults comfortable at a lower price point than a king bed.
Non-Standard Queen Bed Dimensions
The standard queen is the most common queen mattress size, but other variations offer their takes on a standard queen’s dimensions.
California Queen
Like its counterpart, the California king, the California queen is longer than the standard queen. However, unlike the California king (which is 4 inches narrower than a standard king), the 60 by 84-inch California queen doesn’t sacrifice any width, making this mattress size great for couples with an extra-tall partner who lacks the space for a California king.
Olympic Queen
An Olympic queen offers more width than a standard queen but not as much as a king. At 66 by 80 inches, the Olympic queen size mattress offers couples an extra 3 inches of width apiece without taking up as much space as a California king or standard king bed. This makes it a good choice for couples who need a little extra wiggle room.
Short Queen
As their name suggests, short queens are shorter than the regular queen bed while being wider than a full size bed. They’re still 60 inches wide but only 75 inches long.
This queen is also called the RV queen because it’s designed to go in an RV. However, it’s also great for couples who want more width than that offered by a full size mattress but don’t have a room that can accommodate 80 inches of length.
Other Bed Sizes
Aside from the queen, five other mattress sizes make up the standard adult bed size range. These sizes are all made with different room dimensions, sleeper heights, and numbers of sleepers in mind.
Twin
The twin size mattress comes in at the smallest end of the spectrum at 38 by 75 inches. You won’t have a ton of wiggle room at this size, but you will be able to put your bed in an extra-small space like a dorm room, studio apartment, or multi-purpose spare room.
Twin XL
The twin XL retains the width of the twin while adding 5 inches of length for a bed that comes in at 38 by 80 inches. Thus, the twin XL mattress offers the compactness of a twin while also featuring some extra legroom for taller sleepers who want a bed that can both fit in their compact space and keeps their feet from dangling over the edge.
Full/Double
The full or double bed is 54 by 75 inches, making it the perfect size for average-height single adults who want some extra space to spread out. However, contrary to what the name suggests, the double bed is not comfortable for two people.
Full size mattresses only offer 27 inches of sleeping surface per partner, which is the same amount of width as a crib mattress. So unless you and your partner are comfortable sleeping in an elongated toddler bed, a full size bed probably won’t be comfortable for you long term.
King
A standard or Eastern king is the largest bed size by total surface area. The king size mattress is usually the best choice for couples who like to spread out because it offers a full 76 inches of width and 80 inches of length. This means each partner gets the same space they would if they were sleeping on their own twin XL mattress.
Depending on the size of your bedroom, a king bed may be the best option. Large rooms can often look empty with a queen bed. Even if you don’t technically need the extra wiggle room a king offers, you may need a king size bed to fill out a big master bedroom.
California King
While it’s technically a few square inches smaller, the California king mattress is often the best fit (or only fit) for extra-tall sleepers. If you’re well over 6 feet tall, the California king offers a full 7 feet of length by 6 feet of width to ensure you can spread out without your feet dangling.
Bottom Line
Queen size beds are the most popular mattress size for good reason. They can accommodate your average couple or even the most active single sleeper without sucking up the entire bedroom. They’re easy to move. And maybe best of all, they won’t break the bank. That means just about anyone can enjoy all the benefits a queen bed has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
If each partner has specific needs for their firmness or materials but they have limited space in the bedroom, a split queen may be a good option. However, you can’t just purchase any old pair of standard size mattresses and toss them on a queen size bed frame.
Instead, you’ll have to buy two 30 by 80-inch mattresses specifically designed to make up a split queen bed. You can then place these inside your queen frame to create a split queen.
Generally speaking, you need about 2 feet of space around three sides of your bed to ensure enough room to walk around your bedroom. That means the minimum amount of space that can accommodate a queen bed is 9 by 8 feet (72 square feet).
However, this will leave you with almost no space for bedroom furniture. That means you’ll likely need a room that’s more like 8 by 10 or even 10 by 10 feet (80 square feet and 100 square feet, respectively).
That really depends on your personal preferences and your individual sleep styles. Most couples do find the 30 inches per person offered by the queen mattress size adequate. However, if one or both partners is an active sleeper or likes to spread out, then that couple might need to upgrade to an Olympic queen or even a king size bed.
Durability depends more on the material a bed is made of than its size. As a general rule, innerspring mattresses are the least durable mattress type because their open coil support cores are vulnerable to sagging and break down easily.
Hybrid mattresses tend to last longer than innerspring mattresses because they have a pocketed coil support core and a thicker foam support layer. However, the most durable mattresses are pure foam. Memory foam can last well over a decade, while you can expect natural latex foam to last up to two decades.
Again, this depends on the material the bed is made of more than its size. Box springs are the best option for innerspring mattresses because they were specifically designed to complement the innerspring’s construction. However, box springs cannot take a lot of weight.
If you have a foam mattress or a hybrid mattress, you will need to place either a mattress foundation or a platform bed underneath it. Adjustable bases are also compatible with foam and hybrid mattresses because the adjustable base is strong enough to take the weight of the mattress, while the mattress is flexible enough to move with the base.