Which Bed Size Is The Best For Me?
If it’s time for a new mattress, you may be wondering which size is right for you. There are many factors to consider, like who will be sleeping in the bed, how much space you will need, how much room is in your bedroom, and any specific health or sleep issues you might face.
Buying a new mattress is not a one-size-fits-all situation, so it’s essential to evaluate your individual needs. If you have a history of back pain or sleep problems, you may want a free trial period to help you make sure you’re comfortable with your new mattress.
Here are some other major factors you will want to consider when choosing a mattress.
Who Will Sleep In the Bed?
Will you be sharing the bed with a partner? Do your children or dogs typically sleep with you? These are questions to ask yourself before deciding on mattress size. Typically twin, twin XL, and full mattresses are meant for one person. On the other hand, queen, king, and California king beds are a good bed size for couples and any children or pets that wander into the bed in the middle of the night.
If you are going to sleep with another person, consider how close you like to sleep. If you both enjoy stretching out when sleeping, the extra room afforded by a king or California king size will be appreciated—and help you avoid any accidental thwacks if your partner rolls over in their sleep.
Your Room Size
The amount of space available to you should also be considered. A larger mattress will take up more space in your bedroom, as will any other bedroom furniture, so you will need to plan accordingly.
To help you decide if there is ample space for the mattress you’re considering for your room, here is a bed size dimensions chart in square inches and square feet:
- Twin: 2,925 sq. in./20.3 sq. ft.
- Twin XL: 3,120 sq. in./21.7 sq. ft.
- Full: 4,050 sq. in./28.1 sq. ft.
- Queen: 4,800 sq. in./33.3 sq. ft.
- King: 6,080 sq. in./42.2 sq. ft.
- California King: 6,048 sq. in./42 sq. ft.
Your Body Size
You should take your height and width into consideration when choosing a mattress. A typical twin mattress is 75 inches long, while a twin XL is 80 inches long. If an individual is taller than six feet two inches, a twin mattress is probably not for them. Instead, it’s best to go with the XL, full, queen, or king bed, all of which can accommodate someone who is up to 6 feet 7 inches.
Those that are taller than 7 feet should opt for a California king bed. For those who want more space on either side of their body, a full, queen, or king bed will be the most comfortable.
Your Sleep Position
When narrowing down your mattress size choices, consider how much space you’ll need to comfortably move around while you sleep. Do you toss and turn like a cowboy riding a bronco, or do you more closely resemble a hibernating bear who doesn’t move once you close your eyes?
You could be a side sleeper, a back sleeper, a stomach sleeper, or a combination of the three—most people are. If you know you do a lot of sleep-riddled moving and grooving as you sleep, a wider mattress might be a better choice for you.
Your Budget
The amount of money you are willing to spend on a mattress can also help you choose the right size. A king will cost more than a queen size, and a queen more than a full, etc. Buying a mattress that meets both your size needs and your financial needs is key.
Of course, there are other factors that determine the price of a mattress, including:
Materials – The materials that manufacturers use to make their beds play a big role in deciding the final price of a mattress. For example, innerspring and all-foam mattresses are a more cost-effective option if you’re on a budget. In contrast, latex and hybrid beds use more high-end materials and can cost twice as much but are more durable and provide ample comfort and support.
How you buy it – Nowadays, when it comes to shopping, many people prefer to make their purchases online. However, mattresses are often the exception to the rule because it’s helpful to get a real feel for the bed before you commit to purchasing it.
That said, there are also real advantages to shopping online. According to the Sleep Foundation, some brick-and-mortar stores actually mark up the cost of their mattresses by up to 900%. In contrast, online retailers have less overhead costs and can often sell their products at a more affordable rate, saving you some valuable dollars in the process.
What Are Some Less Common Mattress Sizes?
While six traditional mattress sizes may feel like plenty of options to choose from, sometimes you want something a little less traditional.
Perhaps you have very distinct personal preferences. Maybe the size and shape of the room you’re decorating requires something more unique.
Whatever the reason, there are numerous lesser-known mattresses (aka specialty sizes) available. From the “small single” to the gargantuan “Alaskan King,” here are some of the specialty mattress sizes and their bed size dimensions:
- A small single is 30 x 75 inches. This pint-sized bed is inches narrower than a twin-size bed. The small single bed is ideal for little tykes who’ve just graduated from the crib or for families trying to save space in a smaller room.
- A super single is 48 x 84 inches. While it’s not quite as wide as a full-size bed, its elongated length of seven feet is significantly longer than a full bed. Its length even outstretches a king-size mattress, making the super single the ideal bed for a taller-than-average teenager.
- A full XL is 53 x 80 inches. The XL full mattress offers the same width as a standard full but generously gives tall sleepers five inches of extra space to stretch to their full capacity.
- An RV Queen is 60 x 75 inches. Just five inches narrower than a standard queen, this is the perfect replacement for most queen-sized mattresses in an RV (where bedrooms often give the word “cozy” a new meaning).
- An Olympic queen is 66 x 80 inches. At six inches wider than your average queen-size bed, this mattress is perfect for couples who want more space but may not have a big enough room to comfortably fit a king-size mattress.
- An RV King is 72 x 80 inches. Like its royal companion, the RV queen, the RV king is a sound choice if you’re looking to purchase a new mattress for your RV that more comfortably complements the small bedroom where it’ll reside.
- A Texas King is 80 x 98 inches. They weren’t lying when they said everything is bigger in Texas—and that includes mattresses. For sleepers interested in sprawling from head to toe (and then some), the Texas King may be the bed you never knew you needed. At a little over eight feet long, it also wins the honorary title of “longest specialty bed”.
- A Wyoming King is 84 x 84 inches. While it may not be as long as the Texas king mattress, it is a perfect square at exactly 7 x 7 feet. Because of their perfectly symmetrical shape and large size, placing them in a bedroom with a minimum of 12 x 12 feet will offer a more comfortable and contemporary fit.
- A Vermont King (also called an Alberta King) is 96 x 96 inches. As a perfectly square, 8-by-8-foot mattress, it splits the difference between oversized kings and the widest family beds—great for co-sleeping couples who want extra room for kids or pets. Its symmetrical footprint also looks sharp in larger, squarer primary bedrooms. Just make sure your space (and bed frame) can handle the extra width and length comfortably.
- An Alaskan King is 108 x 108 inches. The Texas king has nothing on this mammoth of a bed. At 9 feet wide and 9 feet long, it’s a picture-perfect mattress for an enormous-sized room. Whether you have a big family who loves movie nights in bed or you’re looking for a visually-pleasing solution to an extra (extra) large master bedroom, an Alaskan King certainly won’t disappoint.
- A Family Bed is 120 x 80 inches. Built for co-sleeping, it gives parents, kids, and even a pet or two ample elbow room. Some brands also offer a Family XL up to 144 x 84 inches for truly wall-to-wall comfort. Just make sure your bedroom (and bed frame) can handle the extra-wide footprint.
How to Find the Right Bedding for Your Mattress
Once you’ve found a mattress that checks off all of your must-have boxes, it’s time to treat yourself (and it) to bedding that pairs perfectly with your bedroom’s current aesthetic.
But what exactly does bedding consist of?
Generally speaking, the term bedding includes some of the fundamental accessories for your bed, like:
- Sheets
- A bedspread (usually a comforter, quilt, or duvet)
- Pillows
- Pillow covers
- Extra blankets
- A mattress cover
- A bed skirt
Sometimes our need for instant gratification gets the best of us and we buy the first duvet and set of sheets we come across. But you can ensure your new sheets are the perfect fit for any mattress by considering these helpful tips and tricks to find the bedding that’s right for you:
- Breathability – Think about your current weather conditions and climate. If you live in a warmer environment or are prone to becoming a human furnace while you’re sleeping, a set of Hyperlite sheets allow optimum breathability so you’ll sleep like a baby feeling cool and comfortable all night long.
- Comfort – While you may have heard that a higher thread count makes for softer and more luxurious sheets, the ideal thread count for high-quality cotton sheets sits between 200 and 400.
- Hypoallergenic – You may be tempted to purchase the same all-natural 100% down duvet that your best friend can’t stop raving about. But if you have allergies or are sensitive to certain materials, a duvet filled with alternative stuffing, like the Down-Alt Duvet filled with 100% polyester, might be more your style.
- Quality – Rather than clicking the “buy now” button only to realize too late that there’s no turning back, think long and hard about the quality of bedding that piques your interest. Just because you laid eyes on a comforter that complements your bedroom’s wall color doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right bedspread for you. Instead, here are some aspects of your potential bedding’s quality to consider before making the final decision:
- Material – Whether you’re shopping for sheets or a duvet, the quality of your bedding once again comes down to the thread count of the material. Somewhere around 250 is the sweet spot.
- Filling – If you’re shopping for a duvet, look for options with more fill power (aka, more down or more alternative down). They often last longer than those made with smaller clusters of fill.
- Weight – Some duvets are significantly heavier and therefore more insulating than others. When purchasing new bedding, consider your current climate to make sure you’re buying materials that aren’t too hot and aren’t too cold—they’re just right.
Find a Mattress Made Just for You with Casper
Finding the perfect mattress isn’t as easy as picking a new button-down for an upcoming date night. Like any relationship, it takes time, patience, and an understanding of what you want to find the one.
Whether you ultimately decide on a full-size, a king-size, or something in between, Casper is here to provide you with a mattress you’ll love just as much in five years as you do the day you bring it home.
You can choose from a variety of high-quality mattresses available in sizes ranging from twin to California King to fit your room no matter its dimensions.
Browse our collection to find your perfect match today.
