Bed Size Guide: How to Choose the Right Mattress

The average person spends about one third of their life sleeping, so it's important to make sure you choose the best mattress size for your situation. When purchasing a new mattress and bed frame, consider the following factors.

1. 1. Size of the person sleeping on the mattress: Tall people should consider a mattress with extra length to give them the comfort they need. If you're over six feet, two inches tall, a standard twin size or full-size bed will be too small for your body length. If you have a wider build, you'll want at least a full size or queen size bed in order to sleep comfortably.
2. 2. Number of people sleeping on the mattress: Will you be sleeping in the bed with a partner, a child, or a pet? If so, the smallest size bed you'll want is a queen size. If you plan to share your bed with more than one other person or pet, you should consider an even larger mattress, like a king or California king. If you're a solo sleeper, you can get by with a queen, full, or twin XL size, depending on how much extra room you prefer.
3. 3. Room size: A large bed in a tiny studio apartment probably isn't the best use of a limited area, as it eliminates room for other furniture and walking space. When choosing your bed size, make sure it isn't so big that it overloads the room and restricts the rest of your available space.
4. 4. Room location: It can be difficult to physically transport a larger mattress into a room that isn't easily accessible. If your room has small doors, is only accessible by a narrow staircase, or isn't located on the ground floor, you may experience transportation challenges. One easy way to get around these limitations is to purchase a bed-in-a-box-style mattress that ships to you in a smaller size box and expands to its full size once you remove it from its packaging.
5. 5. Cost: The bigger the mattress size, the more money it's going to cost. Your goal is to choose a mattress that fits both your budget and your size requirements.

Before purchasing a new bed, it's important to double-check the mattress dimensions to ensure that it fits comfortably in your space and is large enough for your needs. Below are the six standard mattress sizes in order from smallest to largest.

1. 1. Twin (38 inches by 75 inches): A twin size mattress is the smallest standard mattress size on the market. It's primarily for children and teenagers, but it can also be an option for single adults who live in a small space and are average height or shorter. The majority of bunk beds use twin size mattresses.
2. 2. Twin XL (38 inches by 80 inches): A twin XL size bed is the same width as a twin bed, but it has an additional five inches of legroom. It's ideal for taller teenagers and single adults who have very limited space in their room. A twin XL bed is the most common size found in college dorm rooms.
3. 3. Full (54 inches by 75 inches): Also called a double bed, a full size bed is the perfect size for a single adult of average height or shorter who wants to free up floor space in their room. Two adults can fit on a full size mattress, but the bed's narrow width means there probably won't be enough room for both people to sleep comfortably.
4. 4. Queen (60 inches by 80 inches): A queen size mattress is the most popular mattress size available since it comfortably sleeps two people and fits adequately in most room sizes. A queen size bed is ideal for single adults who desire extra space to stretch out and for couples who want a bed that doesn't take up too much floor space in their room. Queen size beds are also a popular choice for those looking to purchase a bed for their guest room.
5. 5. King (76 inches by 80 inches): A king mattress is the widest available standard mattress size on the market, making it the ideal choice for two sleepers who also want enough space to share their bed with a child or a pet. While it's four inches shorter than a California king mattress, it's still plenty long for the majority of taller individuals and is a great choice for a home's master bedroom. Couples who prefer mattresses with different degrees of firmness or who are easily disrupted by their partner tossing and turning may want to consider a split king mattress. A split king is essentially two twin XL mattresses placed next to each other, allowing each sleeper to customize their mattress to their personal preference and avoid motion transfer disturbance.
6. 6. California king (72 inches by 84 inches): At 84 inches, the California king mattress is the longest standard mattress size on the market—but it's four inches narrower than a standard king size bed. The California king size bed is ideal for exceptionally tall single sleepers, for couples who desire extra space for their child or pet, or for anyone with a large room who simply loves to sprawl out. Like the standard king size mattress, a California king is also available in a split mattress option for couples who prefer different mattress types or who wish to eliminate motion disturbance.

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