Buying a new mattress can feel like a big decision, and rightly so. After all, this is your sleep foundation where you rest and reset for many years. It only makes sense to treat your mattress as an investment in your comfort, sleep quality, and ultimately, your well-being.
There are many things to consider when buying a mattress, like firmness levels and mattress materials. Before you explore all the factors, there's one basic question you need to answer first: which mattress size is best for you?
Standard Mattress Sizes and Who They’re For
Choosing the right size starts with understanding what each offer and who they're best suited for. Rest assured, there's a size for every kind of sleeper. To learn which one is the ideal choice for you, here's a rundown of the most common options:
Twin and Twin XL: For Single Sleepers and Children's Rooms
Twin mattresses are an excellent choice for bunk beds and limited spaces like college dorm rooms. It's compact, budget-friendly, and easy to move around. A regular twin bed might be a little small for tall sleepers, though. If you need a little more legroom, go for a Twin XL. It gives you the same space in width but five extra inches of length.
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Twin Mattress: 38 inches wide and 75 inches long
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Twin XL Mattress: 38 inches wide and 80 inches long
Full Size: A Step Up for Young Adults or Guest Rooms
Sometimes called a double bed, a Full-Size Mattress is a roomy option for single adults who want to upgrade to a larger mattress from a twin bed. This size can even work for couples who don't mind a snug fit. It's an in-between size, more generous than a Twin, but not quite as space-occupying as a Queen or a King—a great option for a "grown-up" bed in a small apartment or the guest bedroom.
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Full-Size Mattress: 54 inches wide and 75 inches long
Queen Mattress: Popular Choice for Couples
The Queen is easily the most popular mattress size for good reason. It's a solid pick for couples to sleep comfortably with ample space for each side or solo sleepers who wish to sprawl and have room for a fur baby.
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Queen-Size Mattress: 60 inches wide and 80 inches long
King Mattress: Luxurious Space for Better Comfort
If you want a larger mattress to stretch in and have plenty of space for it, a King is the ideal choice. It gives you a whole 76 inches of space to sleep in, basically the size of two Twin XL mattresses. But keep in mind that with its size, it can be tricky to maneuver in narrow hallways.
You can take things up a notch and go for a Split King Mattress, which is essentially two separate mattresses that share a base. It's a good option for couples who have different firmness needs.
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King-Size Mattress: 76 inches wide and 80 inches long.
California King: Extra Space for Tall Sleepers
A Cal King offers extra room to accommodate taller people. Take note, though, that it's actually a few inches narrower than a standard king. Still, it's wider than a Queen bed, a good enough size for couples to get a comfortable sleep.
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Cal King Mattress: 72 inches wide and 84 inches long
Other specialty sizes offer even more generous space than a Standard King or a California King. For example, a Texas King is eight inches wider and 14 inches longer than a Cal King, at 80 by 98 inches, which may be a good size for really tall individuals. Perhaps the largest, commercially known size is the Alaskan King, which stands at 108 by 108 inches.
Of course, a larger bed requires more spacious bedroom dimensions. It can be a tempting thought to sleep all sprawled out as much as you like. But if you don't have the room for it, just stick to the common sizes available.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mattress
Aside from mattress dimensions, it's also important to consider how it affects your lifestyle, which can be any of these factors:
Bedroom Size
Ideally, the bed shouldn't swallow the entire room. Make sure the bed frame and mattress fit comfortably, leaving you with ample space to walk around, open drawers and closet doors, and set bedside tables on either side of the bed.
Sleep Habits
Think about how you really sleep. Are you a restless sleeper? Do you toss and turn a lot or prefer to stretch out wide? If you share a bed, do you and your partner tend to stay close, or do you retreat to your "personal spaces"? An inventory of your sleep habits, as simple as sleep position, can help you determine how much space you truly need.
Future Proofing
You also need to consider long-term plans. Do you see yourself moving into a bigger home? Are you planning to start a family? Do you find yourself wishing to have a pet near you? Sometimes, sizing up now can save you the cost and hassle of buying a new one again in a few years.
Budget
Larger mattresses often come with a higher price tag, not just for the mattress itself but also for the bed frame and bedding accessories like mattress protectors and sheets. While it's important to consider your budget, remember that a good night's sleep requires sufficient space to match your body size. Aim for the largest mattress that comfortably fits you, your space, and your budget.
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Once you find the ideal bed size for your space, the next step is exploring the materials, especially if healthier, more natural sleep is your goal. In that case, we highly recommend exploring our organic mattresses. Thoughtfully crafted for both comfort and support, these mattresses are made from materials that are kinder to you and the earth. Check our collection of organic mattresses here. Or, better yet, visit us to experience the difference for yourself.