Should I Get a Bigger Bed? 9 Reasons to Get One

If you have the available bedroom space and are waking up sore, have alignment issues, feel like you can't fully stretch out, or sleep with a partner, a bigger bed could be a worthwhile purchase.

On average, adult sleepers change positions anywhere from 20 to 45 times throughout the night.¹ A little tossing and turning is normal, but if a lack of bed space is waking you (or your partner) up or leaving you stiff in the morning, it might be time to upgrade your bed.

Should I get a bigger bed? We'll go over all the possible reasons you might want or need a larger mattress and the benefits of maximizing your sleeping surface.

How Bigger Beds Improve Sleep Quality, Comfort, Health, Relationships, and More

There are many reasons to think about getting a larger bed. It's a personal choice in the end, but here's why lots of people choose to upgrade their mattresses to the next size up.

1. More Room for Natural Movement

Larger bodies and folks who sleep with a partner need more room for natural movement throughout the night. Even just a few extra inches allows you to toss, turn, switch sleeping positions, and sprawl out without rolling off the edge or bumping into your significant other.

For those who sleep with a partner, a larger mattress size is associated with falling asleep quicker, sleeping for longer stretches, and getting more REM (rapid eye movement) and deep sleep.²

If you’re deciding between a king vs queen bed, both provide ample room for couples to move freely—but a king offers even more personal space. Larger beds like a king size or queen size bed provides ample room for couples to move freely. If you currently sleep on a twin or full mattress, switching to a queen or king can make a huge difference.

2. Reduced Partner Disturbances

Some research has suggested that a sleeping partner accounts for roughly half of nighttime awakenings.³ But other studies have shown that bed-sharing with a significant other can actually improve sleep.⁴

So, what gives? Disturbing your partner often has to do with sharing a too-small bed or sleeping on a mattress that lacks motion isolation. Motion isolation helps prevent shaking and wobbling on the other side of the bed when one person changes positions, sits on the edge of the mattress, or gets in and out of bed. Wider mattresses, in general, help minimize motion transfer, but certain memory foam and hybrid models are particularly good for this purpose.⁵

3. Better Spinal Alignment and Pressure Relief

When you sleep on a mattress that's too small, you may not be able to get into a healthy sleeping position that supports the natural curvature of your spine.⁶ Having enough space to stretch out and switch to a new position if anything starts to ache can make a big difference. 

By allowing for good sleeping posture and alleviating pressure on the hips, back, shoulders, and other joints, you might notice less back pain or joint discomfort.⁷ By the way, chronic low-back pain is a common reason people have trouble getting comfortable in bed or staying asleep.⁸

4. Improved Temperature Regulation

Keeping your thermostat slightly cooler at night can help you fall asleep and stay asleep—but that's only one piece of the puzzle. Research has shown that the heat of a mattress (whether from non-breathable bedding or body heat from partners sharing a bed) can lead to poor sleep quality.⁹

Having more personal space can help by preventing you from overheating, getting night sweats, and feeling uncomfortably stuffy during the night.

5. Extra Space for Kids and Pets

If you share a bed or occasionally snuggle with kids or pets (at night or during non-sleeping hours), a bigger surface can make everyone more comfortable. Think about getting a large enough mattress to accommodate visitors (furry or human) without crowding anyone else off the bed.

6. Comfort for Taller or Larger Bodies

Taller people and those with larger bodies need a mattress with adequate length and width to stretch out and change sleeping positions. All limbs should fit on the bed (not hanging off the edge or extending past the foot) to ensure full-body support and healthy circulation.⁸ A larger mattress, like a king or California king, will also usually have a higher weight capacity than a smaller size mattress.

7. Less Stress, Better Mood

Not to sound like a cliché, but you spend about a third of your life in bed, so it may as well be comfortable and conducive to good sleep. Getting high-quality shut-eye with a mattress that fits your needs can lower stress, reduce feelings of anxiousness, improve your day-to-day moods, and support overall better mental health.¹⁰

8. Balanced Intimacy and Personal Space

Sharing a bed with a significant other is among the most intimate things you can do. But it shouldn't be at the expense of comfort, restful sleep, or personal space. If you’ve been wondering the best bed size for couples, the answer often depends on how much space you both need to feel comfortable. Having the option to snuggle but also plenty of room to spread out and fall asleep on your respective sides fosters closeness and autonomy—both crucial for relationship satisfaction.

9. Longer-Lasting Mattress, Better Investment

When you have a larger mattress, the normal wear and tear will be spread over a larger surface. Size aside, a well-built mattress (like one from Casper!) made with quality materials and featuring Zoned Support will not only promote better sleep but also last much longer. If you ask us, it's worth the investment.

Casper Mattresses—Size Up for Better Sleep

Should you get a bigger bed? If you're not sleeping well, disturbing your partner at night, can't fully stretch out in bed, or are waking up stiff more often than not, a larger mattress could be the solution you need.

Casper has roomy fulls (perfect for teens and single adult sleepers), along with queens (the most popular option), kings (ideal for couples), and California kings (for tall sleepers who need the extra length). Our Zoned Support mattress designs promote proper spinal alignment, while edge support and motion isolation help prevent rousing your significant other. Whichever option you choose, your purchase is backed by a 100-night risk-free trial.

If you're upgrading your entire setup, check out our bed sheets, pillows, and other bedroom essentials. Our selection ensures you find the perfect match for your space and your family’s requirements. 

Sources:

1. Sleep Health. Breathe well, sleep well: avoid the supine and adopt the lateral posture. https://www.sleephealthjournal.org/article/S2352-7218(16)00032-2/abstract
2. Sleep Medicine. The association between mattress size and objectively measured sleep in 8,214 users with bed partners. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138994572200449X
3. BBC News. Bed sharing 'bad for your health'. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8245578.stm
4. Sleep Medicine Reviews. The association between couple relationships and sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079224001229
5. Perceptual and Motor Skills. Influence of Lateral Motion Transfer on Sleep. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pms.1999.89.1.209
6. Journal of the American Medical Association. In What Positions Do Healthy People Sleep?. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/238055
7. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature. https://jorthoptraumatol.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5
8. Journal of Sleep Research. Sleep disruption and sleep position: Increased wake frequency in supine predicts lateral position preference. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11744251/
9. Temperature on the Subjective and Objective Sleep Quality of Healthy Young Adults. https://chronobiologyinmedicine.org/upload/pdf/cim-2022-0021.pdf
10. Sleep Medicine Reviews. Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8651630/
11. Sleep, Behavior and Mental Health. Developing a tool to assess mattress satisfaction: the Boston Mattress Satisfaction Questionnaire. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sleep/articles/10.3389/frsle.2025.1509420/full
12. Mass General Brigham. How Satisfied Are You with Your Mattress? New Research Survey Aims to Find Out. https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/mattress-satisfaction-survey
13. Seoul National University College of Medicine. A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Mattress