Got questions about buying a new bed? We’ve heard ‘em all. Our Sleep Experts® are here to help with all the answers. Whether you’re curious about bed fillings, accessories, pillow lofts, under-bed options, or anything else in your bedroom, we’ve got answers. And there’s no question too small or too silly.
Matty Firm has an ear to the ground when it comes to common sleep questions and is crossing the country asking your best questions of Sleep Experts® from coast to coast so you can get your best night’s sleep on the right sleep setup for you.
First, Matty Firm asks Madisen Cornelius, Sacramento senior store manager and Sleep Expert®, the most common questions about mattress sizes.
Matty asks: First, what are all the different mattress sizes? What are the bed sizes from smallest to largest?
Sleep Expert® Madisen Cornelius: Mattresses most commonly come in the following sizes:
- Twin
- Full (also known as Double)
- Queen
- King
- California King
Twin mattresses are the most narrow and are a popular choice for kids’ rooms or smaller spaces, as they traditionally can accommodate just one person.
Twin mattress dimensions are 38 inches wide by 75 inches long.
Full mattresses (also known as Double mattresses) are 16 inches wider than a twin but the same length. They’re great for larger kids’ bedrooms and guest rooms, though the 75-inch length can be short for some adult sleepers. Full mattress dimensions are 54 inches wide by 75 inches long.
Queen mattresses are the most popular mattresses in the country. They’re six inches wider than a Full mattress, with an additional five inches of length.
Queen mattress dimensions are 60 inches wide by 80 inches long.
King mattresses are great for couples, as they offer an additional 16 inches of width from a Queen, giving each sleeper in a couple their own Twin-width sleep space, with 80 inches of length. Since the shape is almost a square, it’s possible to rotate this size of bed with quarterly turns to prolong its lifespan.
King mattress dimensions are 76 inches wide by 80 inches long.
California King mattresses are the longest of the commonly available mattress sizes, at 84 inches long. The bed is a bit more narrow than a traditional King, at only 72 inches, but it’s a great choice for tall sleepers.
California King mattress dimensions are 72 inches wide by 84 inches long.
Some special sizing includes:
Twin XL: 38 inches wide by 80 inches long
Full XL: 54 inches wide by 80 inches long
Matty asks: What is the most popular mattress size?
Sleep Expert® Madisen: The most common mattress size in the United States is the Queen mattress (60x80). The reason for its popularity is that it comfortably sleeps two without taking up too much space in most bedrooms. Solo sleepers also enjoy the perks of a Queen since it allows them room to spread out on their sleep surface without taking up too much width in their bedrooms. The Queen offers the same length as a King but is 16 inches narrower.
Matty asks: What is the single bed size?
Sleep Expert® Madisen: A “single” mattress is more commonly referred to as a Twin-size mattress (38x75).
The single mattress size was most popular between the 1870s and 1970s. Despite the term "single," it was popular for married couples, who would each have their own single mattress in the bedroom. However, by the 1960s, having two separate single beds was representative of a failing marriage.
After this stigma, the term "twin" mattress became increasingly popular since you could double up two twins, side by side, to create the width of a King, with just a few inches less length. Today, the twin is most known for solo sleepers and kids; in college dorms, a Twin XL is most common, at 38x80. If you combine two Twin XL beds, you’ll create what’s called a split King, which has the dimensions of a King mattress.
Matty asks: What is the biggest bed size available?
Sleep Expert® Madisen: Of commonly available mattresses, the two largest sizes are the King and the California King. At 76x80, the King is wider than the California King, with a slightly larger overall area (6,080 square inches). The California King, at 72x84, has a length that makes it preferable for those over six-foot-two. It has a slightly smaller overall area (6,048 square inches) than a standard King.
While these are the largest of the common mattress sizes, there are larger specialty mattresses, including an Alaskan King, which measures out to 108x108! If you are on the taller side, a Texas King measures out to 80x98!
Matty asks: Do camper mattresses come in different sizes than normal mattresses?
Sleep Expert® Madisen: There is a wide variety of sizes to accommodate a camper van/RV. These sizes are different from your traditional mattress sizes since most RVs have unique ways of maximizing the space within them, and the mattress may need to accommodate built-in furniture or other needs.
For one thing, RV mattresses are often less thick due to limited space within RVs.
The most common thing I hear when it comes to thickness is there are side tables or storage already installed where the mattress sits. This goes along with RV manufacturers wanting to maximize space and storage within the units so consumers can enjoy their time in them without feeling confined.
Most RVs come with a mattress that’s between 5 and 6 inches thick. However, savvy consumers opt for their own RV mattresses in order to maximize comfort. If room will allow it, I recommend going with a mattress 8 to 12" thick because the thicker the mattress, the more comfort layers are inside to help you get great sleep. You’ll find that, though RV mattresses share the same names as traditional mattresses, the sizing is slightly smaller for RV versions. For example, the RV King and California King are both the same width as a standard California King. The Full is an inch shorter than its traditional counterpart.
Short versions of the mattresses also exist to help with space issues in a camper or RV. The RV Short Queen and RV Short King are each 5 inches shorter than their 80-inch-long traditional counterparts.
Camper mattress sizes include the following:
- RV Bunk (42x80)
- RV Full (53x75)
- Three Quarter (48x75)
- RV Short Queen (60x75)
- Olympic Queen (66x80)
- RV Short King (72x75)
- RV King (72x80)
- RV California King (72x84)
It’s important to note that RV California Kings and regular California Kings share the same dimensions, 72 x 84. However, the RV California King typically comes with thinner-style mattresses to accommodate the space within the RV.
Likewise, an RV Queen is very similar to the RV California King due to the fact that an RV Queen shares the same dimensions as a standard Queen (60x80). However, there is an RV Short Queen, which measures out to (60x75).
Even with all this new information, you may still be wondering: How do I know which mattress size is best for me? Luckily, we’ve worked with our Sleep Experts® to put together the MattressMatcher® to help you discover the size that will help you get the perfect sleep.
