3/4 mattress: What is it, Buyer's Guide and Best Options on the market

What is a 3/4 Mattress?

A 3/4 mattress, also called a three quarter size mattress or a short full mattress, is one that fits a 3/4 or three quarter size bed, and a 3/4 bed is a hangover from the 18th century when shorter and narrower beds were more widespread. That is why this mattress is sometimes called an antique mattress, because it fits antique beds with the peculiar measurements of 48 inches wide and 75 inches long. 

But people in the 18th century were pretty bad at bed size standardizations, which is why the sizes of antique 3/4 beds even vary, with some being 74 or 72 inches long and some being 49 inches wide.

In the 20th century, manufacturers and consumers sensibly agreed on standardizing bed sizes to limit the chaos of shopping for beds and mattresses, but many people are understandably attached to their beautiful antique beds, so the 3/4 bed and mattress survive until today.

In fact, in the second half of the 20th century when motor homes, camper vans, and prefabricated trailer homes increased in popularity, the 3/4 mattress gained a new following among people who needed to fit smaller-than-standard beds into their various types of recreational vehicle.

Furthermore, as our cities are becoming increasingly densely populated and the apartments in which we live become smaller, some people may even be attracted to the 3/4 bed because it takes up less floor space in bedrooms that are already too small.

So, the 3/4 bed is here to stay for good. Because three-quarter mattresses are narrower than standard Full, they can typically accommodate solo sleepers. A three-quarter mattress may also work for couples if they are relatively petite and don’t mind sleeping close to each other.

How to Choose the Best 3/4 Mattress

Choosing a three quarter size mattress is a bit more complicated than picking a normal mattress for home use; the most complicating factor being the lack of standardization in the three quarter bed size.

Consider the following when buying a 3/4 mattress:

• Shape. Because we are dealing here with uniquely made antique beds or beds that are made specifically to fit into tiny spaces, it sometimes happens that notches or corners need to be cut out of the mattress to fit the headboard, bed posts, or rounded corners of the bed. That is why at least one of our favorite 3/4 mattresses is produced by a manufacturer that is willing and able to customize mattresses.
• Location of use. You need to ask yourself whether you will use your three quarter size mattress at home or in an RV. Thicker, heavier, and larger mattresses are better for home use because the spaces in which you will move them are larger. Moving a monstrous 14-inch king-size mattress in and out of an RV is difficult and often completely impossible, which is why some of our favorite RV 3/4 mattresses are 10 inches or thinner.
• Frequency of use. A six-inch thin mattress is good for occasional use in an RV, but it is unlikely to last long if you use it at home every night, because your weight will wear it out quickly. In fact, it probably won't be hugely comfortable for regular use either. Therefore, we like mattresses that are six or eight inches thin for occasional RV use, mattresses of 10 inches thick for dual use, and thicker mattresses for frequent use, either in a brick-and-mortar home, or in a prefab trailer home. Most of the best RV mattresses are slightly thinner, as you can see here.
• Firmness. When a research team asked their 313 participants to sleep on various beds and rate their experiences, those who slept on medium or medium firm mattresses reported less overall pain, less pain on rising, less disability, less pain while lying in bed, and less daytime back pain than those did who slept on firm or soft mattresses.(1) That is why we tend to go for medium or medium firm, but include some outliers for stomach sleepers and heavy-weight sleepers who need firmer mattresses. As for side sleepers and petite individuals, it’s better to go with a slightly softer mattress to prevent developing painful pressure points.
• Construction materials. Latex, memory foam, and hybrid mattresses are all attractive options. There is a study that shows that thicker diameter coils and a larger number of coils distinguish a comfortable medium firm spring mattress from a bad one.(2) that's why our favorite is a hybrid with a large number of thick coils for good support. Research also shows that latex is good at reducing peak pressure points, such as on the shoulders of side sleepers.(3) Memory foam has also been found to be better than normal foam at reducing pressure between your body and the mattress.(4) thus, you cannot go wrong with any of these materials.
• Cool sleeping. Cotton and celliant covers get a good shake from the available studies, as both these materials are good at drawing heat away from your body.(5)(6) Latex also cannot absorb your body's heat, and hybrid mattresses with their springs below their foam layer can also let through some air. But if you don't have a specific problem with hot sleeping, you can pick a memory foam mattress with no concerns. Some foam mattresses also use gel infusion (to aid thermoregulation) or have an open-cell structure (for enhanced breathability), making them suited for hot sleepers too.
• Hypoallergenic features. All the foam mattresses on our list have been CertiPUR-US certified, which means that they all exclude Mercury, lead, other potentially harmful heavy metals, formaldehyde, and harmful phthalates. But unfortunately, foam does attract more dust mites and dust mite feces than other construction materials do.(7) Cotton covers have proved to be quite effective at preventing dust mites from passing, so we like them a lot.(8) A GreenGuard Gold certification is the highest third-party verification of the mattress' hypoallergenic character, as it confirms it to be free of more than 10,000 metals and chemicals, low on gas emissions, and suitable for use in hospitals.(9) 
• Motion transfer. If you want to buy a normal-size 48x75-inch three quarter size mattress to fit your three quarter bed size, you and your partner will sleep in fairly close quarters and a foam mattress will help to prevent movements from traveling to the other side of the mattress. As you can see from a list of the best full mattresses here, a 3/4 mattress is five inches narrower than a normal full mattress.
• Price and perks. Free delivery, a sleep trial period of at least 100 nights, and a warranty of at least 10 years are our minimum requirements. You can expect to pay more for the short king and queen sizes, but most of the normal 3/4 size mattresses hover around the $500 to $600 mark, which seems more than reasonable for a quality mattress.

Types of ¾ Mattresses and How to Choose One

It’s obvious that mattress types perform differently and may significantly affect one’s comfort. The trick is picking the right ¾ mattress type based on one’s needs and particular preferences.

To help readers make the right choice, here are the most common types of modern ¾ mattresses:

• Memory foam. These mattresses are famous for their pressure-relieving properties (4). Memory foam has an adaptive feel and works to spread the body tension evenly, allowing it to dissipate. Now, foam is also notorious for sleeping hot. With that in mind, shoppers might want to consider models that use gel infusion or have an open-cell design for cooling. 
• Hybrid. Hybrid mattresses tend to be taller than other types, so they don’t work in all RVs and with all antique beds. That being said, hybrid mattresses are famous for their balanced feel and can deliver unparalleled comfort. They combine coils with foam and achieve both reliable support and gentle pressure relief. Additionally, hybrid mattresses don’t sleep hot and have sturdy edges, offering extra sleeping space. To pick a durable model, shoppers need to consider hybrids with thicker coils (2).
• Latex. Latex mattresses can effectively reduce peak pressure points (3), but this mattress type isn’t as hugging as memory foam. As a result, latex ¾ mattresses don’t feel restricting. This type also tends to sleep cool, making it perfect for summer trips in RVs. It’s also worth mentioning that latex is among the most durable materials on the mattress market. At the same time, latex ¾ mattresses are typically pricier than average. They can also be quite heavy, which might be an issue for some RV owners.