Understanding Spatial Requirements of Mattress Sizes

Since our ancient ancestors, homes have grown considerably, allowing us to maximize our space with various fixtures and furnishings that improve our quality of life. Although recent years have seen this trend start to backtrack, with the cost of land and resources forcing people to start considering smaller domiciles.

Many people are happy with the idea of having a smaller house, as the extra space can seem like a luxury in the face of how much extra it costs to own and maintain.

We’re all familiar with the basics around mattress sizes, King beds are larger than Queens, and a Double is larger than a Single. Although when it comes to what suits you and your space, it can be hard to gauge the real differences in size and comfort. Before you go shopping for brand name bedroom sets, be sure to learn more about the spatial requirements of each mattress size.

Crib Mattress

While some people may remember the classic MTV show ‘Cribs’, this isn’t about our whole homes, but instead the beds in which we lay our babies. The quality of your baby’s mattress is as important as your own and should fit snugly within your crib. Unlike our full-sized bed frames and mattresses, cribs are typically passed on within families and between friends, due to how little we use them.

If you’ve been given a crib, you may want to replace the mattress depending on its quality, condition, and whether your baby has different requirements.

All cribs in North America adhere to a standard size of 51 5/8 to 53 inches in length and 27 1/4 to 28 inches in width. So be sure to measure your crib before going to get a mattress, and if necessary go smaller rather than bigger to avoid bunching.

Twin Mattress

Despite the name, twin mattresses are intended for single sleepers and are ideal for children’s rooms, small bedrooms, bunk beds, and guest rooms. They are also common pairs in hotels and motels as standard-sized bedding for pairs of people. Before buying a twin mattress for yourself or your kids, be sure to check that it gives enough space to move around during the night.

These mattresses typically measure 75 inches long and 38 inches wide, although there are Twin XLs that offer 80 inches in length for those taller people.

Full Mattress

These are the smallest mattresses that can fit two people and are ideal transitional mattresses for adolescents and young couples. A full mattress can still easily fit into a standard-sized bedroom while offering plenty of space around it. Although, because they are still limited in size, they may not be suitable for taller people or larger couples.

Full mattresses typically measure 74 inches long and 54 inches wide, so if you’re considering one for you and your partner, be sure to test one first.

Queen Mattress

The most commonly purchased mattress size, queen mattresses are a great balance between their spatial requirements and the space they offer to a couple. These can offer plenty of space for a couple to share, even leaving some room for a cat or small dog to join in. Unlike the smaller sizes, it’s common to find queen mattresses in brand name bedroom sets with matching dressers and drawers, offering a great way to save money.

A queen mattress typically measures 80 inches long and 60 inches wide.

King Mattress

If you and your partner need a lot more space than your current bed, or if your child is of the age that they want to join you two, then a king mattress may be best. These massive beds take up a substantial amount of space, so it’s important to measure the floor space as well as the doorways when considering one. Although nothing will beat the level of comfort you’ll experience, even with your partner, the kids, and the pets joining you in bed.

King mattresses measure in at a whopping 80 inches long and 76 inches wide, so be sure to check that they will fit through all the doorways in your home.

California King Mattress

Sacrificing a little bit of width for length means that these beds can fit into smaller spaces a little more snugly, and the extra length can be ideal for those very tall people. These are the perfect size if you’ve ever experienced your feet hanging off the end of your bed, so if you or your partner are tall, be sure to try one out. Unlike other mattress sizes, California kings can be quite specialist, so you might not be able to find them in your preferred brand-name bedroom sets.

California king mattresses are 84 inches in length, suiting people up to 7 feet tall, and 74 inches in width.