Do you know what is really funny? If you happen to read a novel written back in the late 60’s, early 70’s, you’ll often see a line such as: “the big full size bed”, or “the large double bed”. Back then, a full size bed was considered big and a Queen mattress was considered really big. In fact it wasn’t until the late 90’s that the Queen became the most popular mattress size. That is, until now. Seems folks are once again going up a notch. They want to claim their personal space. And boy-oh-boy that can be a wonderful thing when you are sleeping!
I’m not sure how my husband and I slept on a Queen Size for so long. Now that we are on a King Size, I love having that bit of extra space. When we were sleeping on a Queen mattress, he’d roll over, right into me and my space. Yessiree… I miss the adventure of waking up a few times in the middle of the night with his elbow poking into my eyeball. But that has all changed….
When people ask me if I have a “MYSPACE”, I tell them: “Yeah, in my king size bed”. Many of our “coupled” customers are also claiming their own “space” because our best-selling natural latex rubber mattresses are being purchased in King size over the Queen.
Here’s some tips and guidelines to consider the next time you’re purchasing a new mattress:
Full beds, sometimes still called “double,” are 53 inches wide, which is just 15 inches wider than a twin size (single). That leaves each partner only 27 inches of personal space, or about the width of a crib. Both twin and full sizes are approximately 75 inches long, which may be too short for some adults, especially men.
Recommendations: Full size is only enough space for a single sleeper and only if under 5 feet 5 inches tall. Parents are increasingly choosing full size over twin for teenage bedrooms, and even for younger children in order to give parents a more comfortable place to rest when reading together at tuck-in time.
Queen beds are 60 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – 6 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full size mattress. These added inches can make all the difference in comfort, especially for couples, and have made the queen today’s most popular mattress size. However, with 30 inches of personal space, each adult still has 9 inches less width than if they slept alone in a twin bed.
Recommendations: Queen size is a good choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples who prefer close quarters. It’s also a great choice for single sleepers who are also “sprawlers.”
King beds are 76 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – about 18 inches wider than a queen. This is the closest a couple can come to having as much personal space (38 inches) as each would have on a twin bed. In fact, two twin extra-long beds pushed together are about the same size, an option that can offer a flexible arrangement for a guest room.
**For consumers on the west coast, there is also the “California King,” which is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long – 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than a regular king.
Recommendations: King size is the best choice for couples that want maximum personal sleeping space. It’s also the best bet to accommodate that time on Sunday morning when children may pop into bed – or if the pets in your house have mattress privileges! However, size can be a problem. Even with a “split box spring” – two twin-size foundations to support it – to make a king set more manageable, it may be too big for some bedrooms or too bulky to navigate through some corridors, doors and stairwells. It’s a good idea to break out the tape measure if there is any doubt.
Mattress size chart
| California King | 72″ x 84″ |
| Eastern King | 76″ x 80″ |
| Queen | 60″ x 80″ |
| Full (“double”) | 53″ x 75″ |
| Twin | 38″ x 75″ |
(All dimensions may vary by +/- one half inch)