When it comes to mattress sizes, nearly everyone has heard of the big four – twin, full, queen, and king. But did you know that there are a bunch of other mattress sizes and variations too? Read on for all you need to know about every size mattress under the sun, including mattress measurements, definitions and more!
Once Upon a Time…
Let’s start with a little bit of mattress history. Once upon a time, there were only two standard bed sizes. You likely know them because people still occasionally use their names. The single bed and the double bed. As you probably guessed, these names referred to how many occupants could sleep on the mattress comfortably. These mattresses were roughly equivalent to the twin and full size mattresses of today. As a result, some people use “twin mattress” and “single mattress” interchangeably, as well as “full mattress” and “double mattress”.
About fifty or sixty years ago, mattress shoppers began to show interest in larger beds. Thanks to better nutrition (and maybe a little excess), the average American was bigger and taller than their grandparents. So naturally, sleepers wanted a little more space to spread out. The market responded to this demand, and both the queen and king size mattress were born. As a result, twin, full, queen and king are the four standard mattress sizes to this day.
Standard Mattress Sizes (Twin, Full, Queen, King)
You’re likely quite familiar with these four sizes already. However, they are also the foundation that many of the other mattresses build upon. For that reason, it is important to at least know their mattress dimensions and ideal uses.
But before we get into specific mattress dimensions, we need to clarify that these measurements come with some wiggle room. Due to the use of different materials and tailoring methods within the industry, each mattress could be as much as 1.5 inches larger or smaller than the stated measurement.
“What Size is a Twin Mattress?”
Standard twin mattress dimensions are 38 inches wide by 75 inches long (38″W x 75″L). This size is best suited for kids, teens, or shorter adults, and is also used in specialty beds like daybeds, bunk beds, or trundles.
“What Are the Dimensions of a Full Size Mattress?”
Full size mattress dimensions are 54 inches in width and 75 inches in length (54″W x 75″L). These are best suited for a single child, teen, or adult sleeper. Full size mattresses can sleep two adults in a pinch, but aren’t really the ideal option. Which leads us to…
“How Big is a Queen Mattress?”
The queen mattress is the most sold size in the mattress industry – and for good reason. With 60 inches in width and 80 inches in length (60″W x 80″L), it fits nicely in most bedrooms and can fit two average-sized adults. Queen mattress dimensions make for a perfect happy medium for many couples.
“What Size is a King Size Mattress?”
Lastly, we’ve got the king size mattress – the largest mattress most people could ever want. King size mattress dimensions measure 76 inches in width and 80 inches in length (76″W x 80″L). Whether you’ve got kids, pets, or just want extra space to stretch out, a king size is great if you’ve got the room.
Specialty Mattresses (Twin XL, Full XL, Short Queen, Olympic Queen, California Queen, California King)
That leads us to some of the less common mattress sizes we see in our industry. As you’ll notice, many of these mattresses are variations on the standard sizes above. Beginning from smallest to largest…
“How Long is a Twin XL Mattress?”
Consumers naturally want to compare twin vs twin xl. But the first thing you need to know is that “xl” isn’t an abbreviation for “extra large”. Rather, it stands for extra long. While a twin xl mattress is the same width as a twin mattress, it is actually 5 inches longer (38″W x 80″L). This length is actually the same as a king or queen, which makes the twin xl mattress much more suitable for adults than a regular twin.
“What is a Full XL Mattress Size?”
Now that we know that “xl” means extra long, this mattress size should be self-explanatory. Full xl mattresses have the same width as full mattresses but have an extra 5 inches in length (54″W x 80″L). Full xl mattresses aren’t too common, but like the twin xl mattress above, the length is the same as a typical king or queen.
“What is a Short Queen Mattress?”
Mostly used in RVs, campers, or bedrooms with very limited space, the short queen mattress is a cross between queen and full. When comparing a short queen vs queen mattress, the key is in the name – because it’s exactly what it sounds like. While the short queen has 60 inches of width like a queen, it only has 75 inches in length like a full (60″W x 75″L).
“What Size is an Olympic Queen Mattress?”
Olympic queen vs queen. So what’s the difference? The Olympic queen mattress is another fairly uncommon mattress size. Think of it as a half-step between a queen and king. An Olympic queen has an 80 inch length just like a queen, but has an extra 6 inches in width (66″W x 80″L).
“What is a California Queen Mattress Size?”
If the Olympic queen takes a queen and widens it, and the short queen takes a queen and shortens it, the California queen takes a queen and stretches it by another 4 inches in length. The California queen mattress, sometimes known as a “queen xl”, is 60 inches wide and 84 inches long (60″W x 84″L).
“How Big is a California King?”
Customers always ask us, is a California king bigger than a king? Well, kinda. It just depends on how you measure it. By the measurements alone, it’s around the same size as a normal king size mattress (also known as an Eastern king mattress). In fact, if you compare California king vs king, you may not even notice the difference at first glance. Confused yet?
At 72 inches wide and 84 inches long (72″W x 84″L), the California king mattress size is both 4 inches longer and 4 inches narrower than a typical king mattress. So what you lose in width, you gain in length. Since both king and queen mattresses are the same length (80 inches), the California king finally gives taller sleepers an option with more leg room. However, because it’s not technically any bigger in overall square inches, we don’t consider this to be an oversized mattress.
“What Is A Split King Mattress?” | “What Is A Split Queen Mattress?”
One quick aside about split mattresses. While technically not a “size”, these mattress variations are also important to note.
So, exactly what are split king and split queen mattresses? As adjustable bases have become more common, some mattress makers have begun selling mattresses that are split lengthwise head to foot. This allows sleepers on either half of the bed to adjust their side independently. As it relates to today’s topic however, we should note that the measurements of split king and split queen mattresses are identical to normal king size and queen mattress dimensions.
Split king mattresses are increasingly common, and there’s an obvious reason for this. A split king mattress actually consists of two twin xl mattresses (38″W x 80″L) set side-by-side in the same frame. When put together, they form a king mattress (76″W x 80″L). By contrast, split queens are quite rare. This is because each half of the mattress is a very slim 30 inches, which is not a standard size and is too narrow for many adult sleepers.
Oversized Mattresses (Wyoming King, Texas King, Florida King, Alberta King, Alaskan King)
Finally, we come to the behemoths. As we mentioned way up at the beginning, there’s been an uptick in demand for larger and larger mattresses for a few decades now. While king size or California king mattress dimensions are plenty large to accommodate almost any sleeper, some shoppers simply want something even bigger.
Why? Well, whether you co-sleep with your kids or you have a house full of pets that like to hog your bed, there are a few reasons why someone may be interested in these oversize mattresses. So how big are we talking here? Let’s have a look…
Wyoming King Mattress
If a king size mattress isn’t big enough for you for some reason, the next stop is the Wyoming king mattress. At 84 inches wide and 84 inches long, the Wyoming king mattress is a perfect square (84″W x 84″L). It’s just as long as a California king and 8 inches wider than a standard king mattress.
Texas King Mattress
The next step up in size is the Texas king mattress. Although the same length as a typical king size mattress, this mattress is a whopping 98 inches wide – that’s almost two feet wider! The overall Texas king mattress size is 98″W x 80″L.
Florida King Mattress
So just how big is a Florida king bed? Frankly, it’s humongous. A Florida king mattress is just like a Texas king, but wider by another 10 inches. This makes the Florida king mattress’ size 108″W x 80″L. Don’t ask us why a Florida king mattress is bigger than a Texas king mattress. It just is. Go with it.
Alberta King Mattress
But wait, they get even bigger! The huge Alberta king mattress takes its name from the sprawling Canadian province north of Montana. Like the Wyoming king mattress, it is a perfect square at 96″W x 96″L, or 8 feet square.
Alaskan King Mattress
This beast of a mattress is something else. Considering it’s named for Alaska, you know the Alaskan king mattress has got to be massive. So just how big is it? How about 9 feet wide and 9 feet long (108″W x 108″L)! That makes the Alaskan king mattress over 32 inches wider than a king, and 28 inches longer.
Family Beds, Double Kings & Custom Mattresses
Believe it or not, there are even larger beds and mattresses on the market. Many times you will see these called “family beds” or “double kings”. However, these mattresses are almost exclusively custom order or are so uncommon that they don’t have industry-established dimensions.
In closing, oversized mattresses aren’t super practical in our opinion as they come with some very real drawbacks. They are typically expensive, hard to find, a hassle to move, and difficult to fit into any but the largest master bedroom. As with most non-standard mattress sizes, it is also much harder to find sheets and bedding.
Mattress Dimensions for Your Reference
Come See Metro Atlanta’s Mattress Specialists at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet!
You can find a number of the mattresses we discussed today right here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet. In addition to our selection of twin, full, queen, and king size mattresses, we also have California king, split king, and twin XL mattresses readily available! However, oversized mattresses and non-standard mattress sizes are often only available from specialty mattress manufacturers or by custom order. Regardless, if y’all are asking about it, it is our duty to answer!
Stick around on the blog for even more answers to furniture and mattress FAQs asked by customers like you. If you enjoyed this content, check out our other helpful mattress resources below…
- Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic: Which Premium Mattress Is Best for Me?
- Tempur-Pedic vs. Memory Foam: Is There Really a Difference?
- Understanding Sleep Cycles & Why They Matter
- How Often You Should Flip Your Mattress – If At All!
- “Who Are The Best Mattress Stores in Atlanta / North Georgia?” (Reviews/Ratings)
