Getting a good night of sleep can be a critical part of living a happy, healthy life. And one huge factor of being able to sleep well is the bed that you sleep on. But buying a mattress or bed that is the wrong size is a common mistake that people can make. So whether you’re looking at a memory foam or spring style mattress, you want to make sure that you get the right size.
Here we’ll discuss the various sizes of beds, what they are ideal for, and how they might fit into the bedroom you are intending to use them in:
Types of Bed Sizes
Here are the most common bed sizes that are used for beds all throughout the United States:
Toddler Size Bed 27 in x 52 in
Obviously used for toddlers, these beds are meant for use by children who have outgrown their cribs but may not be yet ready for a twin-size bed. This usually happens around the age of two years old. Not only are toddler beds smaller than a twin size, but toddler beds are usually lower to the floor, making it easier for a child to get in and out of them.
Toddler beds are a very affordable option for smaller children, and they take up less precious real estate in a small room, but children can obviously outgrow them very quickly.
One convenient aspect of a toddler bed is that the bed uses the same size mattress as a standard crib. This means that even if your child has outgrown their crib, you can simply move the crib mattress onto a toddler bed without having to buy a new mattress. For safety purposes, make sure that the mattress you buy for your crib or toddler bed is very firm.
Twin Size Bed – 39 in x 75 in
The standard twin mattress is just the right size for an average person to sleep alone. Sometimes referred to as a single bed, twin size beds work well for fitting two beds into one room. Technically, however, a single size mattress is just three inches narrower than a twin mattress (36 in x 75 in).
Often used in dorm rooms or children’s rooms, these convenient beds can be placed in a room that is at least 10 feet by 8 feet, but could be squeezed into a smaller room if needed—especially if it is used for a child’s bedroom.
Twin beds can also be stacked on top of each other in the form of bunk beds. Trundle beds are another useful option for hiding a twin bed out of site underneath another until it is needed for use. Daybeds will also fit a twin mattress, making it a convenient way to use a piece of furniture as a bed as well as a comfortable place to sit during the day when pillows and cushions are stacked about.
Twin XL Bed – 39 in x 80 in
Specifically created for extra tall people, Twin XL beds are the same size in width but give an extra five inches length. This makes them the length of a queen or king size mattress without the width. These beds are commonly used in college dormitories, meaning that some people need to purchase longer sheets when they go off to college.
Full Size (Double) Bed – 54 in x 75 in
Referred to either as a full-size bed or double bed, this bed is not ideal for couples who share a bed on a regular basis as it usually feels a bit small (just 27” of space for each person). Double beds are perfect for single adults, teenagers who are a bit too big for their twin beds, or even for a small guest room that won’t fit a bigger bed. A full-size bed will fit in a bedroom that is approximately 10 feet by 9 feet or larger.
Queen Size Bed – 60 in x 80 in
America’s most popular mattress size is the Queen. A bit bigger than a full size bed, but not quite as much of a footprint in the room as one of the king size options. Queen size beds are able to accommodate couples in a comfortable manner, without eating up precious real estate in a slightly smaller bedroom. This may be a particularly useful option for people who live in smaller urban apartments.
A room that is 10 feet by 10 feet will fit a queen size bed, but any room smaller than that would need to downsize to a full
King – 76 in x 80 in
Basically the size of two twin beds placed together, a king size bed is ideal for people who want to stretch out while they are sleeping. This is the widest mattress available in the industry. Most king size beds that have box springs are actually comprised of two twin box springs put together, with a larger king size mattress set on top.
In order to hold a king size bed, you’ll need to have a bedroom that is at the very least 10 feet wide by 12 feet long.
California King – 72 in x 84 in
Another bed designed for slightly taller people, California King size beds are just a bit longer but are not quite as wide. In fact, they are exactly the same total inches as a regular king size bed, but the size is distributed differently. Four inches are trimmed off of the width of the bed and placed at this end.
This helps a great deal as an option for people who love sleeping on a king size bed but find that they feet hand off of the end. This size of bed is particularly suited for anyone who is over six feet tall. Of course, it does take up a bit more space in length, which needs to be considered when looking at the dimensions of the bedroom you plan to put you California king size bed into. A bedroom that is approximately 12 feet long by 10 feet wide or more should be able to comfortably accommodate a California king size bed.
Bed Size and Mattress Size: Are They The Same?
When you purchase a mattress to fit a bed, the sizes should be standardized. If you have a “twin” bed frame, then a twin size mattress should fit just right. The bed frame might be just a bit larger than the mattress in inches in order to accommodate the mattress appropriately. But the lingo of twin, full, queen, king, etc. should work to fit any mattress to any bed frame.
Conclusion
Since people usually spend about 1/3 of their lives sleeping, choosing the mattress and bed size you want is an important decision! Being armed with the knowledge of bed sizes will help you when shopping for a bed that will ultimately lead to getting a much better night of sleep!
