Mattress Sizes

Also known as a single, this is the perfect mattress for small children, daybeds, trundle units and hideaways. The width of a twin is the minimal amount of space needed for a single person to sleep comfortably each night.

Pros: Great for children who are transition from their crib to their “big kid bed.” Also great for small guest bedroom.

Cons: Not ideal for two adults to sleep on.

Also known as Twin XL, this mattress is most commonly found in college dorm rooms. The twin XL offers an additional 5″ in length compared to a Twin mattress.

Pros: Great for single adults who are taller. Most common size found in college dorms. Great for small spare bedrooms and take up minimal space.

Cons: Bedding can be harder to find for this size.

Full mattresses, also known as a Double, are 15″ wider than a Twin bed and 5″ shorter than a Queen bed. Good option for a guest bedroom to accommodate to adults without taking up a lot of space or a step-up mattress for an older child.

Pros: Fits in smaller rooms and sheets are less expensive to buy  than a Queen or King sized Mattress. You have the option of using Queen size sheets for the mattress to add more drop length.

Cons: Many people find a Full is too narrow for 2 adults and it may be too short for some people to sleep on every night.

Full Extra Long mattresses, also known as a Full XL, are 15″ wider than a Twin bed and the same length as a Queen bed. Good option for a guest bedroom to accommodate two taller adults or narrow bedrooms.

Pros: Fits in smaller and/or narrow rooms and sheets are less expensive to buy  than a Queen or King sized Mattress. You have the option of using Queen size sheets for the mattress to add more drop length.

Cons: Many people find a Full is too narrow for two adults. Bedding is also limited and can be harder to find.

The Queen size mattress is the most dominant sized mattress in America. It is large enough to sleep to adults on comfortably with 6″ inches wider and 5″ longer than a full.

Pros: Queens are great for small master bedrooms or guest bedrooms. Bedding is easy to find and less expensive than King sized mattresses. You can buy King sized bedding though for extra depth and draping.

Cons: Couples who like a lot of space in bed to move around, may find the Queen size to still be too narrow for comfort. Full/Queen sized  bedding may not fit the mattress or may be too snug depending on the height of the mattress.

King mattresses are growing in popularity. The King is 16″ wider than a Queen bed but still the same  length. A King mattress is the only bed to give each person the same width as a Twin bed. In fact you can even push the two together. A King mattress comes with two Twin sized box springs to be more manageable when moving.

Pros: This is the widest standard bed available. Roomy enough for 2 large adults. The length is standard an accommodates most averaged height adults. Bedding is easy to find and generally labeled, “King.”

Cons: This is a very large mattress and may not fit easily up stairs or in smaller rooms. All bedding is most expensive with King sizes. You need 3 standard pillows or 2 king pillows for the width of the bed.

Also referred to as Cal King or Western King, this bed is 12″ wider than a Queen bed but adds 4″ of length. This is a better choice mattress for tall adults. A Cal King mattress comes with  two Twin sized box springs to be more manageable when moving. Bedding will be labeled as “Cal King” or “Western King.”

Pros: A Cal King mattress is roomy in width for two adults but also is the longest standard bed available to accommodate taller adults.

Cons: This is a very large mattress and may not fit easily up stairs or in smaller rooms. Bedding is more commonly found on the West Coast but may be harder to find in other parts of the country. Needs 3 standard pillows or 2 King sized pillows for the width. All bedding is most expensive in King sized.