Skip to main content. Home Guides Home Home Improvement Troubleshoot, Fix and Repair The Standard Height of a Bed and Mattress From the Floor A bed high off the floor is easier to clean under. While mattress lengths and widths are standardized, how high your bed sits off the floor is not. The depth of your mattress and box springs combine with the height of the bed frame to determine the height of your bed from the floor. Standard Dimensions Typical mattress pocket depths vary from 8 to 18 inches, and box springs usually measure 8 to 12 inches deep. “Bunkie boards” allow for a lower bed height, since they measure only 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches deep. Standard bed frames raise box springs and mattresses 7 1/2 inches off the floor. Different Bed Heights The average bed height today is about 25 inches. At this height, your feet can reach the floor when you're seated on the edge of the mattress. Built 36 inches off the floor, an antique bed is quite high, while a modern platform bed is typically only about 18 inches high.
Benefits of Various Bed Heights Higher beds may provide more storage room, assuming a taller-than-standard bed frame contributes to the height. Lower beds have a more modern look and may provide the aesthetic you like. Lower beds are also appropriate for children since they are easier to climb into and offer a shorter distance to fall if the child rolls out of bed. Older people sometimes like higher beds since they're easier to get in and out of. /Getty Images Suggest a Correction Individual comfort is key when deciding the right size mattress. Let us help you discover the many other factors that contribute to finding the perfect mattress to fit your room and your comfort needs. This is the most common size found in children's rooms, and is used on daybeds, trundle units and hideaways. The width of a twin mattress (39") is the minimal amount of space needed for a single person to lie comfortably each night. Full size beds are 15" wider than Twin beds and 5" shorter than a Queen bed.
This size is a good option for a guest room or as a child's step-up mattress. Currently the dominant size bed in America, Queen Beds are 6" wider (and 5" longer) than a Full size bed. These added inches can make all the difference in comfort, but each adult still has 9" less than the width of a standard Twin bed. However, it's a good choice for guest rooms and smaller master bedrooms. Can use standard pillows or the slightly larger queen size pillows. Approx. width per person: 30" Learn More. King beds are growing in popularity. King is about 16" wider than a Queen bed. Both are about 80" long. The Eastern King is the only bed to give each person the same width as a Twin bed. In fact you can push 2 Extra-Long Twin beds together to be the same size as an Eastern King. This is a good way to have a versatile guest room (use 2 twins separately or push together to make a king bed for couples). An Eastern King bed comes with one mattress and two half-width boxsprings to be more manageable when moving.
Approx. width per person: 38" Learn More Twin XL, or extra long, is the most common mattress size found in college dorms. The additional 5" in length (compared to a twin sized mattress) accommodates taller sleepers. Twin XL mattresses fit comfortably in smaller rooms because they take up minimal space. California King is 12" wider than a Queen bed but adds 4" in length. This may be a better choice for taller adults. This size is sometimes known as the "Western King". Bedding may be labeled either "California King" or "Western King". A California King bed set comes with one mattress and two half-width boxsprings to be more manageable when moving. Approx. width per person: 36" Learn More There are so many ways to stay supported, and the right foundation is the best way to keep your mattress in great shape for years to come. The foundation is the ying to the mattress’s yang. They just work better together. Find the foundation that best matches your mattress and your space needs.
The standard profile box is the most common height for a foundation. 4 1/2" x 5 1/2"Approx. width per person: 36" Foundation consisting of two different boxsprings. Can be standard or low profile height. All king−size mattresses require split boxsprings for easier maneuverability. In these cases, two twin boxsprings are used. If you are moving a queen−sized mattress into a small living space, you may also require a split foundation ("custom queen").Must have center support in King and Queen sizes.Lowers height of mattress so as not to cover a low−sitting headboard. Also makes it easier to get in and out of the bed. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOUNDATION/BOXSPRING It is strongly recommended that you purchase a boxspring/foundation that is specially designed to match your new mattress. A mattress and foundation are engineered to work together as a set, and the foundation takes a lot of the nightly wear and tear, and contributes to the bed's overall comfort and support.
Putting a new mattress on an old foundation, pairing it with a foundation it wasn't designed to work with, or adding a board between the mattress and foundation will impede comfort and reduce the useful life of your new mattress. It may also affect the manufacturer's warranty. WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED A SPLIT BOXSPRING Split boxes are foundations made up of two (2) separate boxsprings placed side-by-side, and are especially for delivery to places where a normal whole boxspring will not fit, such as through tight doorways, staircase or around narrow corners. All King size mattresses use Split boxsprings. Queen size boxsprings are available in two (2) types: Whole and Split boxsprings. Split Queen boxsprings are two 30 inch X 80 inch boxes that equal the size of one (1) whole Queen. If you think you will require a Split boxspring, you should make sure to order your Queen mattress with a Split boxspring. This can be found in the size selection under (Split Queen Set) or (Custom Queen).