When shopping for a new mattress, there are multiple factors to take into consideration, including cost, thickness, texture, overall mattress type (coil, foam or hybrid) and mattress size, which is the optimal place to start.
In total, there are six standard mattress sizes from which you can choose. Aside from personal preference, there are several factors you should take into consideration prior to selecting the right size mattress for you.
How to Determine the Best Mattress Size for You
There is no one-size-fits-all mattress. Each is unique, benefiting different people, places and situations. To determine your ideal best mattress size, it’s important to look at a few different factors, says Russell Jelinek, director of product engineering at mattress company Casper. These include how much space you have available in your bedroom, how much space you prefer on the mattress itself and how many people—and pets—are sleeping on it.
Other factors worth considering, according to the Sleep Foundation, include your height (people over six feet tall might want to consider a bed at least 80 inches in length) and preferred sleeping position (as back and stomach sleepers may prefer more legroom).
Mattress Sizes
Mattresses typically come in six different sizes: twin, extra-long twin, full/double, queen, king and California king, says Mark Abrials, chief marketing officer and co-founder of Avocado Green Brands. Additionally, there are crib mattresses, which are generally considered speciality mattresses.
| Size | Dimensions | What You Can Fit on There | Ideal for | Not Ideal for |
| Crib | 28″ x 52″ | 1 very small human | Babies | Grown children, large pets |
| Twin | 38″ x 75″ | 1 small, short human | Solo, shorter sleepers who live in small spaces. | Couples, tall humans, people who like to spread out wide. |
| Twin XL | 38″ x 80″ | 1 small, tall human | Solo, taller sleepers who live in small spaces. | Couples, co-sleeping with large pets, larger solo sleepers. |
| Full/Double | 54″ x 75″ | 1 adult human or 2 small adult humans | Individual adults, couples who like to get cozy. | Couples who like plenty of space. |
| Queen | 60″ x 80″ | 2 humans and 1 small animal | Couples who want a balance between space and intimacy. | Couples with large pets. |
| King | 76″ x 80″ | 2 humans and 1 Labrador or 1 child human | Couples, small families, couples with pets. | Living in a small space. |
| California King | 72″ x 84″ | 2 humans and 1 Great Pyrenees or 1 child human | Tall couples, small/tall families, tall couples with tall pets. | Living in a studio apartment. |
Crib Mattress
The smallest of all mattresses, a crib mattress, is designed for use in a standard crib or toddler bed and measures 28 inches wide and 52 inches long. It’s suitable for babies up to toddlers.
Twin Mattress
A twin mattress, 38 inches wide by 75 inches long, is the smallest standard mattress size. It’s best for single sleepers, “mainly children or teens,” or for bunk or trundle beds, says Jelinek. Because it serves as the smallest mattress size, a twin costs less than other sizes. It also takes up less space, making it a better option for smaller rooms. Anyone over six feet will likely find their feet hanging over the end of this mattress.
Twin XL Mattress
A extra-long twin mattress is slightly longer (by 5 inches) than a twin mattress, measuring at 38 inches wide and 80 inches long, comfortably accommodating taller children or teens slighter taller than six feet in height.
“It’s great for kids/teens who might be growing quickly, for teenagers on the taller side or for adults with limited space to work with in their bedrooms,” says Jelinek. Twin XL mattresses are most commonly found in dorm rooms, where space is limited, but extra length is needed due to height.
As for price, the larger twin is slightly more expensive than a traditionally sized mattress, and bed sheets and frames can be harder to find.
Full Mattress
A full mattress, also called a double mattress, is ideal for individual sleepers with more space or for smaller couples who like to sleep close together, says Abrials. It measures at a width of 54 inches and height of 75 inches, making it five inches shorter than a twin XL.
“If you’re taller than six feet, we recommend a different mattress since your feet will hang off the bed,” says Jelinek. Full mattresses are also great for a guest room, where space might be limited.
Because full mattresses are similar in size to a queen and full-size sheets are harder to find, many people opt to use queen size bedding for them.
Queen Mattress
A queen mattress is the most popular mattress size. “It gives individual sleepers lots of space and, for most couples, the right balance of space and intimacy,” says Abrials. It’s also a great option for single sleepers who allow pets in their bed, adds Jelinek.
A queen mattress measures at 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, comfortably accommodating most people up to 6’2” in height.
Queen beds and linens are easy to find, and queens are typically priced similarly to full mattresses, “so if you have the extra space, it’s a good investment,” adds Jelinek.
King Mattress
A king mattress is 16 inches wider than a queen, measuring 76 inches wide and 80 long. It’s ideal for bedrooms that have a lot of space. “They’re great for couples who want maximum space and comfort in their bed, and also for parents who might have their kids and/or pets crawling into bed with them at night too,” says Jelinek.
California King Mattress
A California king mattress is very similar to a king mattress, but is four inches narrower and longer, measuring 72 inches wide and 84 inches long. “It’s just best for taller couples due to the dimensions,” says Jelinek. “This size is really ideal for couples that want plenty of extra space for themselves, children or animals.”
Other Mattress Sizes
Other specialty mattress sizes that many retailers offer include a split king and a split California king. These mattresses are ideal for people who have sleep partners that have different sleep preferences, whether temperature or sleep position. A split king mattress, for example, is a king mattress split down the middle—while it still measures 76 inches wide by 80 inches long, each sleeper has a dedicated 38 inches of width (the size of a twin XL).
Benefits of a split mattress include not waking up due to a tossing and turning partner, and many retailers allow you to customize each half with different firmness levels or other features. Splits, though, can be costlier in terms of accessories.