Crib

27” X 52”

Measuring 27” x 52”, a crib or toddler mattress is just the right size for your baby’s first bed. These dimensions are widely accepted to be the standard across the US, so this size will fit with any standard crib you bring home for your young one.

For safety reasons, crib mattresses are firmer than adult mattresses, and they fit most babies until toddlerhood, though exact timing is different for every child. Like adult mattresses, foam or innerspring crib mattress both work well depending on preference, and some crib mattresses are lighter for portability or easier to clean in case of spills.

Twin

39” X 75”

A twin mattress, with 38” x 75” dimensions, is the size bed most kids sleep on through childhood. While growth spurts later in adolescence may necessitate upgrades, a twin mattress provides adequate sleeping space for solo sleepers from toddlerhood through the teen years, though most adults find a twin too small.

Twin mattresses, also known as single mattresses, are slim in size, which makes them easy to fit side-by-side in shared kids bedrooms or stacked as bunk beds. Twin beds also work well in smaller guest bedrooms or odd-shaped spaces, and their smaller size makes them easy to move around as life necessitates.

Twin XL

39” X 80”

As the standard size for college dorm rooms, a twin XL mattress gives students room to stretch out with 38” x 80” dimensions. Since they’re made with saving space in mind, twin XL’s don’t offer any more width than a conventional twin, but they do give taller sleepers the leg room they need each night.

Whether you’re outfitting your college student’s dorm room or looking to give growing young ones more space to stretch out in a small bedroom, a twin XL’s added length gives it ample versatility for kids and students. Economical and maneuverable, twin XL mattresses are easy to move from dorm to apartment, but most adults prefer larger mattresses once circumstances allow.

Full

54” X 75”

At 54” x 75”, a full size mattress offers a notable upgrade in space from a twin. For single sleepers, this mattress size offers a good amount of space, but couples splitting a full will only have the equivalent width of a crib mattress to themselves, which isn’t always conducive to quality rest.

A full mattress provides a good compromise between twin and queen mattresses. Teens who have outgrown their childhood beds will welcome the added space, while young graduates appreciate the economical price and size when trying to outfit smaller apartments. A full mattress makes a great investment, as it can eventually be used in a guest bedroom once grown children move out.

Queen

60” X 80”

Queen mattresses are the most popular bed size in the US right now, and their 60” x 80” dimensions make it easy to see why. Providing couples with enough individual space to sleep comfortably while still fitting in smaller bedrooms, queen mattresses are perhaps the most versatile size.

Whether you’re a single sleeper or sharing your bed with a partner, a queen is a mattress size you won’t outgrow over time. Most master bedrooms can accommodate a queen mattress easily, and the queen size’s popularity means that accessories and bedding are widely available in a range of price points, materials, and styles.

King

76” X 80”

Offering a luxurious amount of space, king mattresses measure 76” x 80” and are ideal for couples or single sleepers who don’t want to compromise on sleeping area. In a king bed, couples each get the equivalent of a twin mattress to themselves each night.

If you’ve found queen mattresses lacking in space or you and a partner routinely share your bed with pets or young children, a king size mattress is probably a good fit for you. Though their larger size makes moving king mattresses more difficult, king beds sit atop two twin box springs pushed together to make maneuvering an entire bed into a room much easier.

Cal King

72” X 84”

California king mattresses take four inches of width from a conventional king and add it to their overall length, measuring 72” x 84”. This size suits taller sleepers, especially those over 6’, who need a longer mattress to sleep comfortably, and it still provides sleepers with 12 inches more width than they would get from a queen.

If your feet have always hung off the edge of a mattress while you’re trying to sleep, a Cal king will provide you with the length every other mattress size has been lacking. This size offers a wealth of space for couples to share, and its slightly narrower dimensions may make it fit more easily in certain rooms than a conventional king size mattress.