When designing and decorating a bedroom the bed will no doubt be the major piece. Depending on the size of the room and who will be using it, you might want either a twin, double, queen, king or other size mattress. So which is the best fit? Knowing the measurements will help make the decision a bit easier.
It's important to assess the needs of who will be sleeping in the bed as well as the size of the room before making a purchase.
Standard Mattress Sizes
These are the most common mattress sizes:
- Twin - 39 x 75 inches (or 99 x 191 cm)
- X-Long Twin - 39 x 80 inches (99 x 203 cm)
- Double - 54 x 75 inches (137 x 191 cm)
- Queen - 60 x 80 inches (or 152 x 203 cm)
- King -76 x 80 inches (or 198 x 203 cm)
- California King - 72 x 84 inches (or 183 x 213 cm)
Twin Beds
Twin beds (also known as single beds) are most commonly used in childrens rooms and small guest rooms or dual-purpose offices. Their small size allows them to fit in small spaces and they're also commonly used in bunk beds and for daybeds. They also occasionally have a trundle underneath (which can be pulled out to create a double bed..
Twin Extra Long Beds
Extra long beds are most commonly used in dorm rooms. The extra 5" makes them more comfortable for growing teenagers but the narrow width makes them great for small rooms. While they're increasing in popularity, finding sheets to fit can still be a bit of a challenge. That said, as the beds become more popular, so do the sheets.
Double Beds
Double beds are also sometimes called full beds. They are 15" wider than single beds making them very spacious. However, if two people share the bed the amount of space per person is only 27" (as opposed to 39" in a twin bed). They, along with twins, are also the shortest mattresses available on the market. They're also commonly used in guest rooms.
Queen Size Beds
Queen beds are very popular for couples. The extra space makes it fairly comfortable for two people. There's still slightly less width per person than in a twin, but they remain the most popular size bed. It's very easy to find bedding to fit queen mattresses.
King Size Mattresses
King beds (sometimes referred to as Eastern kings) are spacious and luxurious. If two people share it each one will have as much personal space as they would in a twin bed. A king size bed needs to be in a room with a lot of square footage or it will completely take over the space.
California King
California kings (sometimes referred to as Western kings) are the longest beds on the market and are ideal for very tall people. Note however that the width is less than that of a standard king.
There are a few variations of these sizes available on the market so be sure to confirm the mattress size before making a purchase.
Some mattress manufacturers will custom make beds that differ from standard sizes. These can be great for oddly shaped rooms (and people!) but remember that you may have difficulty finding sheets to fit them.
Measure Before Buying a Mattress
It's very important to measure the room before buying a mattress. Make sure the bed will comfortably fit and there will still be room for other pieces of furniture as well as good traffic flow.
Also measure the doorways and stairways (if applicable). Make sure the mattress can get through all the doors, up the stairs, and around corners. There's nothing worse than getting a new purchase home only to find that it won't fit through the door.
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