Mattress Sizes and Bed Dimensions Guide

The size of your mattress is as important as its firmness and materials. The correct mattress offers comfort and support for the entire body, especially your spine.

Also, you need to know how much space your bed takes in your bedroom to build an aesthetically pleasing furniture layout.

Do you have a hard time figuring out what size of the mattress to purchase?

Look no further!

This mattress sizes chart and bed dimensions guide will kill two birds with one stone and give you all the answers you need, so get cozy and continue reading.

Key takeaways 

• There are many different mattress sizes in the US, including Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California king, Olympic Queen, Wyoming King, Alaskan King, Texas king, etc. Some on this list are more common, and some others less.
• To find the right bed size for yourself, you need to look for a mattress you’ll completely fit on and manage to spread out easily. I also pay attention to my partner’s conditions before making a final choice.

Mattress Sizes and Dimensions: Standard and Less Common Ones

So, the standard mattress sizes chart typically includes five sizes:

• Twin;
• Twin XL;
• Full;
• Queen;
• King;
• California King.

These are available in line-ups of most mattress brands.

However, there are also a couple of sizes that have lower market demand, such as:

• Crib mattresses;
• Full XL mattresses;
• Alaskan King
• Wyoming King
• Texas King
• Olympic Queen

I will cover the difference between all the sizes and will briefly explain who will benefit the most from each of them right below.

Crib

Crib mattresses measure 28” x 52” and are used, as the name implies, in cribs. A standardized mattress size makes it easier to select a bed frame design and a mattress itself because you know that they will fit anyway (2).

Twin

A Twin-size mattress is also known as Single, meaning it provides sufficient space to accommodate a single adult. Twin mattresses measure 38” x 75” and their surface area is 2,850 sq.in or 19.8 sq.ft.

Today, though, Twin beds are mostly used in kid’s bedrooms — particularly in bunk beds — or by individuals who sleep alone and have limited space.

Twin XL

A slightly longer cousin of the Twin bed, Twin XL, measures 38” x 80” and will suit best individuals who are taller than 5’5”. A Twin XL bed takes 21.1 sq.ft of space and its surface area is 3,040 sq.in.

The most common use of the Twin XL mattress is for dormitories around the world, but you can also get one for your rapidly growing kid.

Also, two Twin XL mattresses make a split King mattress.

Full

A Full-size mattress can accommodate two average adults, which is why it’s also called Double.

A Full bed measures 54” x 75”, which makes its surface equal to 4,050 sq.in. The area a Full bed will take in your bedroom is 28.1 sq.ft.

Today, Full beds have also moved to kids’ rooms, as they offer plenty of space for an average teenager. However, some hosts of big houses may use them for guest rooms.

Full XL

A slightly larger cousin of the standard Full bed, Full XL measures 54” x 80” and has a surface area of 4,320 sq.in. To place a Full XL mattress, you need to have 30 sq.ft of space. 

Those extra five inches may make a difference for individuals who love to sprawl on their bed. However, since these mattresses typically have lower market demand, they might be more challenging to find. Plus, if you’re six feet tall, a Full XL bed might still feel too small for you.

Queen

Queen is the most popular size on the market (1). It measures 60” x 80”, which makes its surface area 4,800 sq.in. A Queen-size bed will accommodate two average adults more comfortably than Full and won’t take too much space in your bedroom —  only 33.3 sq.ft, which is about one third if we speak about a standard 10 x 10 ft bedroom.

I’ve tested a variety of queen mattresses with different materials. I can say that it’s been a better choice for me, especially since it doesn’t occupy much room space. Plus, usually, it’s more affordable. My partner and I each get enough personal space on it as well, so because of its convenience, I’d prefer it to a king size.

“Since Queen is the most popular mattress size on the market, you’ll never have problems with finding bedding items or accessories.”

King

We’re moving to the larger size of the mattress chart: a King-sized mattress measures 76” x 80”, which makes it the widest option on the market. Its surface area is 6,080 sq.in, and the bed will eat 42.2 sq.ft of your bedroom space.

King mattresses are a good pick for a large couple, those who love to have more freedom to move, or people who let their kids or pets sleep with them.

California King

A California (or Western) King mattress is very similar to the standard King mattress, except that it’s 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer. Simply put, a Cal King mattress measures 72” x 84” and its surface area is 6,048 square inches. It also takes slightly less space than the standard King mattress — 42 sq. ft. But you still need a bigger master bedroom to fit it in.

A Western King mattress is a good pick for tall individuals (6 feet or taller) and taller couples. It also fits better into narrower bedrooms, thus creating a more pleasing layout.

Mattress Type

You might not know this, but the type of your mattress can also determine what size you might need. Why? Because all of them offer different levels of edge support. And if your mattress has weak edges, it can limit your sleeping space (which might be an especially serious issue if you share your bed with a significant other).

Allow me to give you a simple example. Let’s say you and your partner are currently sleeping on an old innerspring Queen mattress. If you decide to opt for a new one and choose memory foam, for example, you might want to invest in the King size. You see, memory foam, polyfoam, and latex typically have rather weak edges, so you won’t be likely to feel 100% comfortable when sleeping near the edge on such a mattress. Therefore, if you and your partner need all the mattress space you can get, it’s better to choose a larger size.

Of course, there’s another option, which would work if you don’t have enough space for a larger mattress. You can simply buy a model that has sturdy edges. This way, a smaller size would be appropriate. Innerspring and hybrid mattresses usually have the sturdiest edges and can offer some extra sleeping space.

I’ve tested lots of mattresses from different models and types, including memory foam, hybrid, and innerspring. Among them all, what worked for me best was a hybrid queen-size mattress. It significantly improved the sleep quality of me and my partner thanks to the extra edge space, we get to use and spread out.

Which Bed Size Is The Best For Me?

The best bed size for you depends on several factors such as height, body type, sleeping position, budget, and more! 

However, it is safe to say that smaller mattresses are better suited for petite and lightweight people since they tend to be narrower and provide sufficient headroom.

Similarly, big mattresses are preferred by tall people who require extra room to stretch out. 

Remember that bigger sizes also mean more weight and thus extra strain on your back and shoulders.

So if you are looking for a larger bed size, make sure that the mattress you choose can accommodate all of your requirements. 

With a wide range of options available, there's no shortage of ways to create the ultimate bed!

Things You Should Consider to Choose the Right Mattress Size

Choosing the right bed dimensions involves considering a lot of things, and simply knowing what you get from each mattress size isn’t enough. You also need to keep in mind your surroundings, way of life, and even your plans for the nearest future.

So, let’s take a more detailed look at all of this.

Room Size

Your mattress isn’t the only item in your bedroom, but it’s likely that it’s the largest one and that other pieces of furniture will be centered around it.

That’s why the room size should be the first thing to consider when you’re choosing a mattress size.

See for yourself:

A Twin-size mattress takes slightly more than 20 square feet, whereas a California King bed will eat 42 square feet of your room!

A drastic difference!

Also, you need to ensure at least a 2-feet walkway around the bed in order to be able to change the bedding easily and get in and out of bed without bumping your fingers.

“The minimum comfortable space for a Queen-size bed is a 10 x 10 feet bedroom. If you want a King-size bed, make sure that the wall you’ll be placing your bed’s headboard at is at least 13 feet long.”

Who Will Sleep in It

Your partner’s and your sleeping style will also influence the choice of the mattress size. For example, if you’re a devoted fan of the starfish position, you may consider going for at least King to leave some space for your bedmate. The same applies if one of you or you both are large sleepers, as in this case, you will need more space per person to easily move around without squashing each other.

My partner and I have been using queen mattresses for a long while now, and I think each of us gets a considerable space for ourselves to move around (3). It might not provide us with enough space to spread out completely, but we get to sleep quite comfortably without having to sacrifice our room space. Therefore, I think queen size is definitely a good mattress size for couples (4).

“You may consider purchasing a split configuration if you and your partner have different firmness preferences. Split mattresses allow you to choose two independent halves and place them on the same bed frame. Note that this option is available only for King and Cal King mattresses.”

Moving Situation

Here comes the ‘future’ part.

If you plan to switch homes soon, you’ll probably be leaving your mattress in the current dwelling instead of dragging it across the city — or country.

That’s why it’s better to optimize the process and measure your future bedroom beforehand, so you can order the mattress to be delivered to your new home.

Budget

Finally, think about how much money you are willing to spend on a mattress. I’m listing it as the last point of this mattress size guide because I believe that there are a lot of more important things than a price tag.

However, to ease your search, here are the general guidelines:

• Twin and Full mattresses are on the budget side because they come with certain limitations, such as the limited space per person or inability to properly fit a heavy user.
• Queen mattresses typically have the best value for money, which is another reason behind their popularity, so if you want to find the most cost-efficient option for two sleepers, go for this size.
• King and California King typically are the most expensive options because they require more resources to be manufactured and you literally pay for comfort (especially in the case of the split option).

So, have you determined the right bed size for you? Which is it and why? I’d love to see your thoughts in the comments below.

Bed Frame and Foundation 

Unless you want to place the mattress directly on the ground and potentially void the warranty, you should get a proper bed frame for your mattress that actually manages to support you and keep your mattress secure.

Bed frames for the less common mattress sizes are also as hard to come by, so you might want to check for the availability of the bed frames or mattress foundation before choosing the mattress size.

Generally, crib, twin, full, queen, and king-size bed frames are quite common and easier to find, but Alaskan king, Olympic queen, Texas king, and Wyoming king bed frames are only available by certain manufacturers that produce them. Remember that even so, you might only be able to find simple frames for these mattresses and not adjustable beds or other types of bases. 

Bedding and Mattress Toppers

The same issue you might have with bed frames, you might find yourself with when choosing sheets or mattress toppers. Mattress toppers for queen or king-size mattresses are already not as common as twin or full-size mattress toppers, so the less common mattress sizes are going to be hard to match with a mattress topper. As a matter of fact, Alaskan king mattress toppers are almost impossible to find.

Besides matter toppers, bedding like sheets and mattress protectors or pads are also harder to come by for the less common mattress types. Even king-size mattress owners might struggle to find themselves suitable sheets or bedding. 

You might just have to order custom bedding sizes, but just keep in mind that in case you need to buy bedding for your mattress again, they should be available. You don’t want to find yourself sleeping on the mattress’s surface.

FAQs