Mattress Sizes And Dimensions (2022 Guide)

Buying a mattress is a significant investment.

Many people become overwhelmed from all the choices that are in the market place and trust me choices make it quite difficult to select which mattress size is most suitable for you.

In the mattress world, we have 6 general mattress sizes.

1. Twin Size Bed: 38 inch x 75 inch | 96.5 X 190.5cm
2. Twin XL Size Bed: 38 inch x 80 inch | 96.5 X 203cm
3. Full Size Bed: 54 inch x 75 inch | 134.5 X 190.5cm
4. Queen Size Bed: 60 inch x 80 inch | 152.5 X 203cm
5. King Size Bed: 76 inch x 80 inch | 193 X 203cm
6. California King Size Bed: 72 inch x 84 inch | 183 X 213cm

These are the sizes along with dimensions of the mattresses that are widely manufactured and sold by most of mattress companies all over United Sates. The sizes of the mattresses may vary from country to country.

Quick Overview: Different Sizes of Mattress in USA

Mattress Sizes in USA (Detailed Analysis)

Now let’s jump into the real deal, which mattress size is best for which individual? We will go through each of them one by one.

This guide will discuss the dimensions of 6 popular mattress sizes in the US (Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King.) also the pros and cons.

Twin Mattress Size

A twin mattress is 38 inches wide and 75 inches long or 96.5 centimeters wide and 190.5 centimeter long.

A twin mattress is the smallest mattress that the companies manufacture and sometimes referred to as a single bed mattress. Its small size makes it ideal for kids, single sleepers, and can be used with bunk beds.

However, if you are a tall and bulky guy we will not recommend a twin mattress at all. They are also not fit for active sleepers who tend to move a lot while sleeping.

Pros of  Twin Size Mattresses

• Small size.
• Suitable for rooms that are small.
• Suitable for kids and average size single sleepers.
• Ideal to be used with bunk beds.

Cons of Twin Size Mattresses

• Small size.
• Cannot accommodate couples.
• Not recommended for tall and bulky individuals.
• Not ideal for sleepers who like to move a lot while sleeping.

Twin XL Mattress Size

The dimensions of the twin XL bed are 38 inches wide and 80 inches long or 96.5 centimeters wide and 203.5 centimeters long.

Twin XL mattress is the taller sibling of twin-size mattresses. Twin XL mattresses are 5 inches longer than the standard twin mattress. The extra length makes them ideal for sleepers having a height above 6 feet.

The twin XL mattress can be considered as the ultimate single sleeper mattress that can accommodate tall, short, and medium height individuals. These beds are ideal for college dorms as they can give young aspiring students extra space to feel comfortable while sleeping.

But we don’t recommend twin mattresses for active sleepers and sleepers who have pets.

Most of the time people get confused while buying bed sheets or comforters for their twin or twin XL mattress. We highly recommend telling sales representatives that you need twin or twin XL bed sheets or comforters as most of the bedsheets and comforters’ manufacturers don’t produce sheets or comforters for twin XL mattresses.

Pros of Twin XL Size Mattresses

• 5 inch longer than twin size mattress.
• Suitable for rooms that are small.
• Perfect for tall sleepers.
• Ideal for college dorms.

Cons of Twin XL Size Beds

• Not recommended for active sleepers who tend to move a lot.
• Not for couples.
• Less availability of twin XL sized bed sheets and comforters.
• If you like to sleep with pets or love to keep your stuff on your bed don’t bother buying twin XL mattress.

Full Mattress Size

The dimensions of the full mattress are 54 inches wide and 75 inches long or 134.5 centimeters wide and 190.5 centimeter long.

The full-size mattress is the standard double bed mattress and is sometimes referred to as the standard couple’s mattress.

The full-size mattress is about the same length as a twin mattress, but it is 16 inches wider than a twin-size mattress. This extra 16 inch transforms a twin mattress bed into a full mattress bed.

The wider design makes it ideal for couples and for sleepers who love to move all over the bed. Likewise, its small length makes it suitable for rooms that are small, and they are the ideal pick for guest rooms, hotels, and Airbnb rooms.

However, the full mattress is not suitable for tall sleepers. We do not recommend a full mattress for couples with baby.

Pros of Full Size Mattresses

• Medium size bed.
• Ideal for couples that are living in a small room.
• Perfect for single sleeper if they have pets.
• Good for single sleepers who like to move all over the bed while sleeping.
• Best for guest rooms, hotels and Airbnb rooms.

Cons of Full Size Mattresses

• Medium size bed not suitable for tall sleepers.
• Not suitable for couples with a baby or pet.

Queen Mattress Size

Queen size bed measurements are 60 inches wide and 80 inches long or 152.5 centimeters wide and 203.5 centimeter long.

Queen mattresses are the ultimate value in the mattress world. They are the most sold mattress size in the United States as of now. It is the undisputed champion when it comes to size, price, and comfort.

Queen size bed measured to be 6 inches wider and 5 inches longer than the full mattress.

The additional size makes it a good fit for most of the buyer.

Queen mattresses are ideal for tall active sleepers. The mattress can easily accommodate couples that are tall and have a baby or pet that sleeps with them. However, if you are a couple and have a baby or pet, we highly recommend you king size bed over queen size bed just for the sake of extra space and comfort.

Queen size mattresses are also perfect for single sleepers who just put all their belongings like smartphones, laptops, or tablets on the bed while they sleep.

Pros of Queen Size Bed

• Ideal for tall couples.
• Perfect pick for active sleepers.
• Best for sleepers who like their laptop, smartphone, tablet and pets laying down on their bed.

Cons of Queen Size Bed

• Not suitable to fit inside small rooms.
• Are usually priced $100 to $150 more than a full size mattress.

King Mattress Size

The dimensions of the King mattress are 76 inches wide and 80 inches long or 193 centimeters wide and 203.5 centimeter long.

As the name itself claims, king size mattresses are truly the king of the mattress world. They are the widest mattress that one can buy. It is approximate twice the size of a twin XL mattress.

The king mattress has a majestic feel to it that comes from its massive size and its premium stature. In modern terms, we can also say that king mattresses are the flagship mattress that mattress manufacturers produce.

They usually have massive price tags attached to them thus, most people do not consider them while buying a mattress for their guest room and Airbnb room. The size of a king mattress is quite big which makes it a bad choice for small rooms.

King size mattresses are best for active sleepers as they have a huge space to toss and turn while they sleep. 

Moreover, the king mattresses are ideal for couples. We highly recommend going for a king mattress if you are a couple with kids.

For the sake of information, let me tell you that you can also use two twin XL mattresses on the frame of a king mattress. Yes! This quality of the king size mattress makes it perfect for the couple who like to achieve a different feel from their mattress. The husband can enjoy a firmer mattress while at the same time wife can get the comfort of a less firm but softer mattress.

Split king mattresses are a great deal to be used with adjustable bed frames.

Pros of King Size Mattresses

• Perfect bed size for couples having kids, baby or pets.
• Most suitable pick for active sleepers.
• Split King Mattresses are the best option for couple who have different mattress preferences.
• Ideal for sleepers who are looking for premium level mattress.

Cons of King Size Bed

• King size mattresses are massive in size.
• Not practical to be used in a small room.
• Very Expensive as compare to queen size mattresses.

California King Mattress Size

The dimensions of Cal King size bed are 72 inches wide and 84 inches long or 183 centimeters wide and 213.5 centimeter long.

The only mattress that competes with the undisputed stature of the king mattress is the Cal King or California King mattress. They are the longest beds of all and are 4 inches longer than a king size mattress. However, it is important to note that Cal king beds are 4 inches narrow when compare to a king size bed.

Now let’s just jump into the history. When we have a king size bed, why do we even need a Cal king size bed?

The Cal king beds were specially designed by David Bergeson from Concord, CA. He invented the Cal king bed in 1982 to accommodate his very long legs. So, the prime motive of a Cal bed is to fulfill the needs of sleepers who are over 6.5 feet tall(1).

Since then Cal King beds have been one of the major bed sizes that the mattress manufacturers produce. Cal King beds are ideal for tall and bulky couples or for couples who just want the extra leg room while sleeping.

We highly recommend going for a king mattress if you are a couple with kids, a baby, or loves to sleep with pets because king size mattress gives you extra 4-inch width.

The Cal King mattress has a premium luxury feel to it and it can be considered as the most preferred mattress by active sleepers due to the extra leg space in comparison to a standard king mattress.

Pros of Cal King Size Mattresses

• Perfect bed size for tall couples.
• Most suitable pick for active sleepers due to extra leg space.
• Ideal for sleepers who are looking for a premium level mattress but slightly longer.

Cons of Cal King Size Mattresses

• Cal King size mattresses are massive in size.
• Not practical to be used in a small room.
• Very Expensive as compare to queen size mattresses.

How to choose a Mattress Size?

The answer to this question, “Which bed size is best for me?” greatly depends on your preferences and needs. There is a number of things that you should ponder upon before choosing the bed size you should buy.

Let me help you by narrowing down the needs so that you can get to the bed that truly serves you.

Firstly, you consider the bed frame size that you have and if you have a small room we have a guide on bed frame ideas for small rooms.

You should also think whether you are an active sleeper or not? Are you the person who usually loves to move all over the bed while sleeping or fell out of the bed when sleeping on a small bed?

You should also keep in mind that how many people will be sleeping on the bed? Do you have a pet cat or dog that sleeps with you? A baby that will be sleeping alongside mum and dad? Or Do you keep a laptop and other things on the bed while sleeping? Well don’t tell anyone but I am the kind of person who likes his laptop, smart phone, and silky aka my pet cat laying on my bed while my mum gets angry every time.

Another thing that should be noticed is whether you are a tall or a short person? And is your room big enough for the bed that you are about to buy?

We highly recommend measuring your room before choosing which mattress to buy as it will give you an idea on how much space you have for the new bed.

Another thing that I just remember, if you don’t know the measurement of your bed frame, you should also measure the frame and see which mattress will fit on it by comparing the stats of the frame and the available mattresses.

Another key thing that everybody should do before buying a mattress is thorough research.

Do Research Before Selecting a Mattress Size?

Now you will surely, say buying mattress is a hectic process? Why I should do all these things I can just go to the market and can pick up some bed that will look most suitable.

The thing is that buying a new mattress is a significant investment. The mattresses in the market varies from $500 to $1500 and if you got a wrong mattress then you have to go through the return policy process which is time consuming, then you have to start all over again as you need a new mattress after all. So it is best to do some homework and research before buying a new mattress.

Final Thoughts

There are many standard bed sizes available in the market that makes it quite difficult for a buyer to make up mind.

As most people don’t likely to do research before buying a mattress, most of the time they end up buying a bed that is not suitable for them. Thus, they end up requesting a refund or return from the manufacturers. The mattress companies have a very effective return policy.  However, it takes a week or two to get your money back.

Nevertheless, it does not resolve the issue as you still need a new mattress. Again, you have to go through the entire process of buying and still there is a probability that you will get the wrong mattress size.

So, in order to get to the safe side, we highly recommend doing research before buying a mattress.

Hopefully, this blog would have helped you to make up your mind and give you an idea which mattres size is best for you?

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