Looking For a New Bed? Bed Dimensions Explained
With increasing interest in health and better sleep, among both millennials and baby boomers, more people are upgrading their mattresses. Usually that means a king size. In keeping with this trend, the mattress industry has moved to provide more options. Here’s an overview of what’s currently out there, starting with King and working on down to Twin.
KING SIZE, a plethora of choices
King size is the most popular choice for master bedrooms. This category has the most options, from sizes to special configurations or shapes. You’ll find king mattresses that are a little longer, ones that are built to allow separate movement on a power base and ones that are somewhere in the middles.
STANDARD KING, 76”W x 80”L
Pros: A king mattress provides an extra 16” of width (or 8” per person) more than a queen, for a more comfortable and less-crowded sleeping experience, particularly if you put the extra width between you. It is essentially the same size as two twin mattresses. Also great option if you have pets or children who like to climb in bed with you. Cons: Heavier and requires more room than queen size beds.
CALIFORNIA KING, 72”W X 84”L
Pros: At 84” long, California King mattresses are perfect for taller persons or anybody who wants more length in their mattress. It gives each sleeper 6” more sleeping width than a queen size bed. California King mattress size is nice for use with an adjustable base, because it provides extra length even with the head and foot elevated. If you’re taller or have a pet who likes to sleep at the foot of the bed, California King is a good choice. Cons: Takes up more space than a queen size, less width than a Standard King.
SPLIT TOP KING, 76”W X 80”L
Also referred to as a Split Head King and a DreamTop™ King, this is a newer entry into the market. Pros: It is built for use with a power adjustable base, with a split in the head section of the mattress about a third of the way down. This allows separate movement of head portion of the bed, which is the section that has the largest range of movement. The idea is to give an option to couples who like to cuddle while sleeping without the seam of a Split mattress. The foot of the bed, which rises less than the head, can still be operated separately, but is one piece. Cons: This bed requires special sheets, which can be harder to find, but are sold by some manufacturers who offer this mattress size, including Reverie.
SPLIT TOP CALIFORNIA KING, 72”W X 84”L
Also referred to as a DreamTop™ California Split King. Same as Split Top King above, except for the size, which is 4” longer and 4” less wide. Great for taller couples who like to cuddle while sleeping but who want the comfort options that a power base provides. Also good for couples whose pet sleeps at the foot of the bed.
SPLIT KING, 38”W X 80”L
(Two mattresses used side by side, for a total size of 76”W x 80”L)
An innovative newer option, Split King beds are made for use with power adjustable bases. Pros: They are great for couples who have different preferences for firmness in a mattress. They’re good for couples with different sleep preferences or schedules, allowing each partner to sleep in a different position, or one partner to read elevated while the other sleeps flat. They’re also nice for people who have different body temperatures; for instance, the partner who sleeps hot can opt for natural latex and the partner who sleeps cold might like a memory foam option. With a split king, you each get your own fitted sheet and can either sleep with one big flat sheet, or get your own completely different twin sheet sets and blankets, if one of you is known to steal the covers. If the power base has a massage function, each partner can use that separately, too, without disturbing the other. Cons: People who like to cuddle while sleeping sometimes find the seam down the middle bothersome.
SPLIT CALIFORNIA KING, 36”W X 84”L
(Two mattresses used side by side, for a total size of 72”W x 84”L)
Pros: A Split California King mattress gives ample space and length to each sleeper. When paired with adjustable bases, Split California King beds offer more comfort choices for couples who have different preferences in mattress firmness, sleeping positions or who keep different sleep schedules (see Split King description above). If the power base has a massage function, each partner can use that separately, too, without disturbing the other. Cons: People who like to cuddle while sleeping sometimes find the seam down the middle bothersome.
QUEEN, 60”W X 80”L
Pros: Queen mattresses are nice for couples with moderately sized bedrooms, bigger guest rooms, or couples who just like to sleep close together. Allows significantly more space than a full size mattress, with an extra 6” of width and 6” of length. This is also a good option for taller single sleepers who like to more space while sleeping. Cons: For couples with a bigger sleep footprint, queen size mattresses can feel cramped. A King mattress would give them an extra 12-18” of space.
SPLIT TOP QUEEN, 60”W X 80”L
Also referred to as a Split Head Queen and a DreamTop™ Queen, this mattress is built for couples with moderately sized bedrooms who want to maximize the comfort of their adjustable power base. Pros: Each partner can enjoy separate movement on his or her sides of the bed, sleeping or watching tv in different positions or perhaps using the bed massage function (or not). The top section of the mattress is split about a third of the way down, allowing separate movement of the head portion of the bed (which is the section that with the largest range of movement). The foot of the bed, which rises less than the head, can still be operated separately, but is one piece. Couples can sleep and cuddle in the middle comfortably. Cons: This bed requires special sheets, which can be harder to find, but are sold by some manufacturers who offer this mattress size, including Reverie.
SPLIT QUEEN, 30”W X 80”L
(Two mattresses used side by side, for a total size of 60”W x 80”L)
An option that is still available but starting to fall out of fashion. Split Queen beds are made for use with power adjustable bases. Pros: They allow individual movement of the bed for both partners, accommodating couples who have different preferences in a mattress in terms of firmness, sleeping position, body temperature or schedules. Cons: Splitting a smaller mattress all the way down the middle means having your separate territory can feel cramped at a width of only 30”. People who like to cuddle while sleeping sometimes find the seam down the middle bothersome. Sheets can be hard to find.
FULL, 54”W X 74”L
Full mattresses are great for tiny studio apartments, small guest rooms, single sleepers or children who need more space. Provide extra 16” of width over a twin and allows one sleeper to spread out comfortably as long as they aren’t too tall. Also, if you have a vintage bed, most of them are full size; people used to be smaller decades ago. Cons: At only 27” per person, full mattresses are a tight fit for two and they can be too short for some. There are no split power bases available for this size.
STANDARD TWIN, 38”W X 74”L
The smallest size mattress out there that can still fit an adult. Pros: Twin mattresses are the longtime standard size for kids, teenagers, bunk beds, trundle beds and daybeds. They are economical and fit most standard bed frames. Cons: It’s not a ton of room and most people outgrow them by the time they are adults. Obviously this mattress is only meant for one person.
TWIN XL, 38”W X 80”L
Twin Extra Long mattresses are great for teens’ bedrooms, college dorm rooms and small apartments. They don’t take much space, yet are suitable for young adults and guests that are too tall for regular twin beds. Cons: Even though they add 6” of length over a Standard Twin, they are the same width as a regular twin size mattress and still feel cramped for many adults.
What Mattress Size Is Right for Me?
There are many factors to take into account when you're buying a custom mattress. What kind should you get? What brand? How firm should it be? What kind of budget is reasonable? Among this overwhelming amount of information, it's easy to miss the forest for the trees (or... miss the bed for the pillows?) and gloss over one of the most basic questions: what mattress size should you get? Resolving this question might seem as easy as knowing whether your bed will be sleeping one person or two, but it's not that simple. In fact, the array of options requires a thorough mattress size comparison to ensure that the bed you purchase fits your specific needs.
Before you head to the mattress retailer or online store, it's important to do a self-assessment of your mattress size needs. First, think about the sleep footprint you'll leave. Will the footprint include one body or two? Are those bodies small? Big? Tall? Short? A combination? Take note of the amount of space you, or your and your partner, will take up, and then add some extra space - nobody wants to be right up against the edge of the bed feeling like they're about to roll off. If the person sleeping in the bed tends to move a lot during sleep, you should add even more margin. Also, keep in mind that mattress measurements are slightly less than the standard bed size, to ensure the mattress fits inside the frame.
Once you've gotten a firm sense of your needs, it's time to consider the options. Here's our rundown on the different mattress size options and what each one is best for.
Twin Size
Size: 38" x 74"
Good for: Kids' bedrooms, smaller guest spaces, daybeds
Pros: Twin mattresses, also called single mattresses, take up the least amount of space of all beds, making them great if you want to maximize space in a small room. They're also the perfect choice for a child's bedroom and the only choice for bunk beds.
Cons: Twin size mattresses don't leave a lot of room for kids to grow into.
Twin Extra Long
Size: 38" x 80"
Good for: College dorm rooms, small apartments
Pros: Extra-long twins are perfect for teens or young adults who are too tall for their twin beds but don't need to upgrade width-wise. As narrow as a twin, they also take up minimal space, making them ideal for college dorm rooms or for apartments where you're looking to save space.
Cons: Though twin extra long beds add 6" space, they're no wider than a twin-size mattress, and can still feel a bit cramped for many adults.
Full Size
Size: 54" x 74"
Good for: Small guest rooms, single sleepers who need more space
Pros: About 40 years ago, when homes and rooms were smaller, full mattresses were commonly used for two adults. Today, they provide a good option for two smaller adults who don't have the room for a queen. With an extra 16" of width over a twin, they also allow a single sleeper to spread out comfortably.
Cons: At only 27" per person (the size of a crib), full mattresses are a tight fit for two. Plus, they're the same length as a twin, which can be too short for some.
Queen Size
Size: 60" x 80"
Good for: Couples, guest rooms
Pros: The most popular bed size, queens allow a comfortable amount of space for couples who don't have room for a king or split king size bed. They're also great if you're looking to maximize the amount of living space in the bedroom. For taller single sleepers who need a lot of space, it's a decent option as the smallest width bed size that's longer than a twin or full.
Cons: For couples with a bigger sleep footprint, queens have the potential to feel cramped.
King Size
Size: 76" x 80"
Good for: Master bedrooms
Pros: With an extra 16" of width (8" per person), kings provide couples a more luxurious sleeping experience than a queen. They are also ideal if either partner gets hot or moves a lot during the night, or if you have pets or children who like to climb into bed with you.
Cons: Significantly wider than a queen, king size mattresses require a large room.
California King
Size: 72" x 84"
Good for: Large master bedrooms
Pros: Great for extremely tall people that just cannot fit on any smaller mattress. All the roomy benefits of a king size bed, with even more legroom. A California king size bed should provide all the space you need for family, pets, and general lounging.
Cons: Space limitations might become a real issue with this mattresses' massive footprint. Careful measuring is in order before buying one of these beds.
Split King
Size: 76" x 80"
Good for: Couples with different sleep preferences
Pros: With dual adjustability, split king beds and split king mattresses are the solution for couples who have different sleep position preferences. If your partner likes a different level of firmness, or one of you is often sitting in bed while the other reclines or lies down, there's really no other option.
Cons: Split kings take up as much space as regular kings, and are generally more expensive.
Of course, after you've considered all the options, be sure to go try a few out in-store, and, ideally, spend some nights sleeping on it before you commit. Some measurements and a description are often not enough to tell you if your sleep needs will be met—and beds are one thing where size really does matter.
