In this article, we will look at king and queen bed dimensions, their benefits, and considerations to help you make better choices.
King and Queen Bed Dimensions
Queen Bed Dimensions:
60 inches wide by 80 inches long
Suitable for single sleepers or couples who don't need much personal space
Ideal for solo sleepers or couples who don’t need a lot of personal space
King Bed Dimensions:
76 inches wide by 80 inches long
Offers extra space and is suited for couples who want more sleeping space
King vs. Queen Comparison Chart
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Other King & Queen Bed Sizes
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California King Mattress: 72” x 84” – Suitable for tall sleepers. It provides four extra inches of length compared to a standard king, but is narrower. It’s a good fit for longer bedrooms.
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Split King Mattress: Two twin XL mattresses (38” x 80” each) – Different from the California king. Perfect for couples who want separate mattresses with the same overall dimensions as a standard king. Great for adjustable beds.
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Olympic Queen Mattress: 66” x 80” – Offers six extra inches in width compared to a standard queen. It provides space for couples and fits in many standard bedrooms.
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Texas King Mattress: 80” x 98” – Large and suitable for spacious rooms and families who co-sleep. Provides both width and length for ultimate space.
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Alaskan King Mattress: 108” x 108” – The largest standard bed size available, perfect for very large rooms and families who co-sleep with multiple children or pets.
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Wyoming King Mattress: 84” x 84” – Square-shaped and more compact than a Texas or Alaskan king. It offers a spacious sleep experience and is slightly easier to fit into a large room.
Pros & Cons of King Beds
Pros:
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More Sleeping Space: A king bed offers 16 inches more width than a queen bed. This is important for couples who need extra room or those who share the bed with kids or pets. The added space allows you to stretch out without disturbing your partner.
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Perfect for Large Bedrooms: If you have a spacious master bedroom, a king-size bed can serve as a stunning piece and provide luxurious comfort.
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Comfort with Split Options: A split king bed allows each partner to select their mattress firmness and adjust their sleeping position. This is beneficial for couples with differing preferences or those who use adjustable bed bases.
Cons:
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Takes Up More Room: A king-size bed can overwhelm smaller rooms and make it difficult to fit other furniture like nightstands or dressers, and still leave enough space to move around.
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Higher Overall Cost: The king mattress is more expensive, and so are the accessories like sheets, comforters, and bed frames. Replacement costs are also generally higher.
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Immovability: A king-size bed's immovability stems from its larger size and heavier weight, making it difficult to move, especially in homes with narrow spaces.
Pros & Cons of Queen Beds
Pros:
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Balanced Size and Affordability: A queen-size bed offers a generous space, making it an ideal choice for many households.
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Space-Saving: It fits well in a wider range of bedrooms, including guest rooms, small master bedrooms, and studio apartments, offering a combination of comfort and space efficiency.
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Easier to Accessorize: Because it’s one of the most popular sizes in the market, finding queen bed sheets, duvet covers, comforters, and accessories is simple and often less expensive than those for king beds.
Cons:
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Limited Space for Couples: Couples who like their space might find a queen bed too confining, especially if pets or children sometimes join them.
- Potential for Disturbed Sleep: It can indeed disrupt sleep, particularly for light sleepers or those with different sleep schedules. This can lead to more frequent awakenings, difficulty falling back asleep, and a feeling of being unrested.
Impact of Bed Size on Sleep Disorders
Bed size can improve the quality of sleep for individuals dealing with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (RLS), or chronic pain. A larger bed, such as a king mattress, provides more room to reposition the body without disturbing your partner. This is important during episodes of discomfort or involuntary movement.
Those with restless leg syndrome often benefit from having space to move their legs freely. A queen bed may feel restrictive, while a king bed allows room for movement.
For people using devices like Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines for sleep apnea, having a larger mattress size helps accommodate the extra equipment and tubing without creating clutter. It also gives you more space to find a comfortable sleep posture.
Also, couples where one partner experiences disruptive sleep patterns, such as snoring, periodic limb movements, or chronic pain, can benefit from a split king mattress. This setup allows each sleeper to adjust their side independently. It also reduces disturbances and creates a more restful sleep environment.
Ergonomics and Posture: How Bed Size Supports Spine Health
Ergonomics is important in ensuring restorative and pain-free sleep. Note that your bed size can influence how well your body maintains proper alignment overnight. A larger bed, such as a king mattress, provides more room for you to shift positions without compromising posture, which is important for supporting spinal health.
People who sleep on their backs or stomach often spread out their limbs more than side sleepers, and a king-size bed accommodates this movement more naturally. More space allows you to adjust your position freely, reducing the risk of waking up with back or neck pain due to being cramped or misaligned.
More so, couples benefit from a larger bed ergonomically. On a queen bed, partners may unconsciously limit their sleep posture to avoid encroaching on each other’s space. This can result in unnatural body positions, such as curling or twisting, which put strain on the spine. With a king bed, each sleeper gets more space, encouraging better posture and fewer muscular issues.
Also, a split king can improve spinal support by letting each sleeper choose a mattress firmness and angle that aligns with their ergonomic needs. Adjustable bases or specific orthopedic mattresses with room to cater to your individual spine health needs are a major plus.
Choosing a Mattress: Things to Take Into Consideration
Room Size Bed
The size of your room is an important consideration when choosing a bed. A queen bed would fit comfortably in any space that's at least 10X10 feet. This would also allow for movement and other furniture to come in. The king bed requires a space of at least 12X12 feet, to ensure there is enough room for movement as well.
If your room is multi-functional, that is, you use it for both a bedroom and an office, you might prioritize space over mattress width.
Sleeping Partner
Supposing you share your bed with a partner, think about how much personal space each of you needs. A king-size bed offers more space for couples who toss and turn or have different sleep schedules. A queen-size mattress, while still sufficient for many couples, may feel tight for those who prefer more room. Also, a larger bed is perfect if you're sharing it with pets or young children.
Budget
A queen bed is cost-effective when compared to a king bed. Its setup, mattress, bed frame, and bedding are less costly than those of a king bed. A king-size and a queen-size both offer great value without compromising comfort, but at different costs.
Ultimately, your budget will determine what you eventually go for. It all depends on your pocket.
Bed Frame
A king bed frame is large and pricey. It requires more effort to assemble and move than the queen bed frame. Queen bed frames are versatile and easy to manage. They are readily available, giving room for options with flexibility in design and style preferences. This means that you have many designs to pick from.
The king bed frame doesn’t come with many options to choose from. Even though you can get it made to your specific preferences, it’s not as flexible as the queen size.
Mattress Market Availability
Queen-size mattresses are readily available, making it easy to find what you want. They also offer a broader range of styles and price points, whereas king mattresses may have fewer options and slightly higher costs. Also, accessories like sheets, comforters, mattress toppers, and protectors are more abundant for queen-size mattresses.
Future-Proofing
If you're furnishing a master bedroom you plan to use for years, investing in a king-size bed may provide longer-term comfort as your lifestyle evolves. You may be anticipating adding a partner, welcoming pets into the bed, or simply having extra space. A king bed can adapt to your changing needs.
Sleeping Position
If you're sharing your bed, consider the habits of your sleeping partner. Do they move a lot during the night? Do you both have similar firmness preferences? A split king bed or two twin XL mattresses may provide better sleep if one partner is restless or has different support needs.
Stomach and back sleepers often benefit from more width to reposition themselves comfortably throughout the night. A king mattress offers you room to move without disturbing your partner or feeling restricted.
Temperature Preferences
If you and your partner have different temperature preferences, a split king setup allows each side of the bed to be customized to suit individual preferences. This setup works well with dual-zone heated blankets, different bedding materials, or even adjustable bases with individual climate control. It ensures both of you stay comfortable all night long.
Comfort & Support
When selecting a mattress, prioritize comfort and support beyond size. Consider your preferred sleeping position and body weight to determine the best firmness level (soft, medium, or firm) for optimal spine alignment and pressure relief. Memory foam, hybrid, and innerspring mattresses each offer different benefits in terms of comfort and support.
Mattress Online Reviews
Before purchasing, read online reviews for insights into durability, firmness levels, edge support, and mattress dimensions. Real customer feedback can help you find the best match for your specific needs.
Custom Mattress Sizes
For unconventional spaces, specific health conditions, or unique bed frames like a Murphy bed, a custom mattress might be the ideal solution. It ensures a tailored fit and personalized comfort level that standard sizes may not provide.
Doze Bedding: The Easy Way to Duvet
At Doze Bedding, you can upgrade your bedding and make laundry day a breeze. With our patent-pending, three-sided zipper duvet cover and corner snap system, making your bed has never been easier. It's also the coziest bedding around. It comes with a duvet cover, duvet insert, pillow sham(s), and dust bag. You can get our duvet bundles here.
FAQs About King and Queen Beds
Is a Queen or King-size Bed Better?
The answer depends on several factors, such as the size of your bedroom, your budget, and your sleep preferences. A queen-size bed is often better for smaller rooms or solo sleepers who want a bit of extra room. It's also a cost-effective choice. A king bed, on the other hand, is fit for couples who want more space to spread out and sleep without disturbances. It’s the better choice for larger rooms and a luxurious sleep experience.
Is a King or Queen Bed Better for Couples?
A king-size bed is usually better for couples who have different sleep habits or those who share their bed with children or pets. The extra space reduces sleep interruptions. A queen bed can still work well for couples who don’t need much space or are limited by room size or budget.
How Much Bigger is a King Bed Than a Queen?
A king bed is 16 inches wider than a queen bed, providing more horizontal space for sleepers. Both beds are 80 inches long, so they offer the same length. This additional width in a king bed can improve sleep quality for those who need more space.
What is a Queen-size Bed Good For?
A queen-size bed is highly versatile. It’s great for single sleepers who want extra room, couples living in apartments or smaller homes, or for use in guest rooms. It strikes a balance between comfort and space efficiency, making it the most popular mattress size on the market.
What Size Sheets Do I Need for Queen and King-size Beds?
For a queen bed, use queen-size sheets measuring approximately 60” x 80”. A king bed requires king-size sheets, typically 76” x 80”. If you have a split king, you’ll need two twin XL sheets to cover each half of the bed individually. Always check the exact mattress dimensions before purchasing sheets to ensure a proper fit.
Final Thoughts on King & Queen Beds
When choosing between a king and queen bed, your decision should reflect your room size, sleeping habits, and budget. A king-size bed offers enough space and is perfect for couples who prioritize comfort. A queen-size bed, on the other hand, is versatile and cost-effective, fitting well in most spaces. Either way, investing in the right mattress size is a step toward improving your sleep.
For a perfect finishing touch and to protect your new mattress, consider the wide selection of sateen and percale duvet covers available at Doze Bedding. Looking for Dorm Room Bedding specifically? We've got that, too! Or, check out our comforters collection here.