Mattress Size Charts

Navigating the World of Bed Sizes

Mattress size charts are just one of the things to consider when you are buying a bed.

Even if you find the right material, the perfect firmness, and a great price if your bed is too small you will still be uncomfortable.

That is why taking a few minutes to learn about bed sizes is so important.

Throughout history people have been making their own beds and mattresses. That meant that there was never a standard size for any kind of bed.

With the coming of industrialization and mass production came the world of standard bed sizes. Early standardized beds were much smaller than beds are today.

Most children would sleep on a twin bed or a trundle bed, an even smaller mattress that fit underneath their parents' bed. Couples would sleep on a full sized mattress.

If you look at beds in museums you'll see how much smaller they are than modern mattresses. Today people like their beds large.

Fortunately bed sizes range from small to very large. In the United States you can get beds up to the California king size, a whopping 72 inches by 84 inches.

However, mattress size charts vary between the United States and United Kingdom. If you intend to order your mattress online you should familiarize yourself with both charts.

In North America the bed sizes are as follows:

• A twin bed is 39 by 75 inches
• An extra long twin is 39 by 80 inches
• A full bed is 54 by 75 inches
• A queen bed is 60 by 80 inches
• A king sized bed is 76 by 80 inches
• A California king bed is 72 by 84 inches

North American Mattress Size Chart

The sizes are slightly different in the United Kingdom.

• A single bed is 36 by 75 inches, the equivalent of an American twin
• A small double at 48 by 75 inches
• A double at 54 by 75 inches and there is no queen size
• A king is 60 by 78 inches
• A super king is 72 by 78 inches

Even when you have the mattress size charts at your fingertips, you still need to know how to use the information.

First you should look at the length of the bed. Consider your height and then add another twelve inches for your pillow.

That will ensure that your toes don't hang off the bed during the night.

Then you should decide which standard bed size is right for you.

If you sleep alone you could do with a twin or a full sized mattress. Many adults prefer a full if they are sleeping alone because you still have room to move but the bed isn't too big.

Most couples find a full sized bed too small. In this instance you only have 27 inches, just over two feet, per person.

Instead, a queen bed is the most popular size. King beds are roomier, but they are also more expensive and tend to overwhelm all but the largest of bedrooms.

The best way to choose the right bed size is to go down to a mattress showroom and lay down on a bed with your sleeping partner.

Then you can be assured that you will have enough room. After that, since mattress size charts are standard across the country, you can confidently choose your mattress size, sight unseen, because the sizes will never vary.

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