Mattress Sizes | All You Need to Know!

As far as lifestyle and comfort upgrades go, buying a new mattress is usually low on most people’s lists. This is unfortunate because investing in a quality mattress is one of the best improvements one could make to the quality of their daily life. This is especially valid for buyers who’ve been sleeping on the same mattress for years. Finding the perfect model can take some time, but it’s definitely a worthwhile investment.

There are tons of options to pick from when it comes to size. Here are some things to consider if you’re confused about the ideal mattress size for your specific situation.

Most Popular Mattress Sizes – European and US Versions

Mattresses come in several standard sizes. Some of those are very popular and easy to find on the market, while others are more obscure and may only be offered by specific manufacturers. And while you’re going to find some similar names used in the European and US markets, you should keep in mind that the sizes behind those names can differ.

Size	EU Dimensions	US Dimensions	Malaysia Dimensions
Small Single	75 x 190 cm	30” x 80”	N/A
Single/Twin	90 x 200 cm	38” x 75”	90 x 190 cm
Double	140 x 200 cm	N/A	137 x 197 cm
King	160 x 200 cm	76” x 80”	182 x 190 cm
Queen	N/A	60” x 80”	152 x 190 cm
California King	N/A	72” x 84”	N/A

When searching for a mattress, it’s important to use the dimensions relevant to your region. As you can see, in some cases the difference can be quite significant, like the King size, which is noticeably thinner in the EU compared to its US version. The most popular sizes in Malaysia are similar to those in the EU, but only in name. The actual dimensions are different – in some cases significantly. If you’re shopping internationally, pay attention to the system used by the shop.

Various additional sizes are only used in more special circumstances. Those will probably not be relevant in your search unless you’re looking for a particularly large bed, in which case you might want to look into a Texas King, Wyoming King, or California King.

Tips for Measuring Your Bed Frame

Measuring your bed frame can be a bit trickier than it seems. If you have an outer frame around the bed, you must always take your measurements between the internal walls of that frame. Most bed frames are designed around one of the popular mattress sizes we listed above.

In some cases, there might be a small difference of a few cm/inches. If that happens, you should always round to the lower number. In other words, buy a slightly smaller mattress even if it would mean leaving a slight gap between it and the bed frame. Otherwise, you’re going to compress your mattress in an unnatural shape and this could impact the quality of your sleep.

Buying a bigger bed frame requires some careful consideration. When measuring your room, always leave at least 10 cm of extra room on all sizes of the area where the mattress will be. This will help accommodate any unusual bed frame designs and will also leave you with extra room for running cables for your night light, phone charger, and other devices.

Here are some general tips that could come in handy when you’re taking measurements:

• Use a hard tape measure. A soft tape measure might seem convenient if you don’t have a lot of room to work with, but it will actually make it more challenging to take those measurements correctly. Make sure to use a classic hard tape measure that’s long enough to reach across your whole bed without having to take multiple measurements for the same side.
• Move the bed away from the walls. Having the bed pressed against the walls can make it more difficult to make your way around it and take your measurements correctly. Move the bed away from the wall while you’re measuring it. Be careful not to bend the frame out of shape in the process. Once you’ve moved it back, check to make sure there is no slant.
• Try to leave some free room. Don’t try to measure for a perfectly fitting mattress. Instead, leave 1-2 cm of extra room to ensure that your mattress can settle properly over time without getting compressed. Otherwise, you risk compromising the strength of the bed frame if the mattress starts to push on it too much from the inside.
• Check if your bed has a middle supporting bar. If you’re planning on getting a heavier mattress, or if you want to use two separate mattresses, each with its own slat, you must ensure that the bed has a middle supporting bar. Otherwise, you’re going to get a slope towards the middle, and the slats will eventually break as they’re not supported properly.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Ideal Mattress Size

If you’ve never shopped around for a mattress before and don’t know what size would work best for you, some considerations should help steer you in the right direction.

• Will the bed be shared by heavy sleepers? Several mattress sizes can comfortably fit a couple. Even a regular Double can be enough for couples who sleep close together and don’t shift around too much in their sleep. But for people with more difficult sleeping patterns, it’s often a good idea to invest in a larger mattress that provides more room for moving around during the night. This will be especially beneficial for buyers in an area with hot summers, as people usually spread out even more during heat waves.
• Single vs double mattress? Just because you have a double bed doesn’t mean you should automatically go with a double mattress. For some users, using two single mattresses side by side can be a better option. This includes couples with different sleeping preferences, who can invest in two completely different mattresses, and those who want to reduce the effort needed to clean around the bed. A double mattress is very bulky and can be difficult to lift and move around, while single models don’t have that problem.
• Can you easily find sheets that fit your desired mattress size? Buying a less common mattress size won’t just make it more difficult to find a matching bed. It can also limit your options for bed sheets. It’s easy to find sheets that will fit a Single, Double, Twin, or King size bed, but things get trickier with sizes like Single Extra Long, Super King, California King, and the various other larger models. In some cases, you might need to invest in custom-fitted sheets, which can get quite expensive after ordering several sets.
• Do you plan on having kids soon? Buying a smaller mattress can make sense if you’re planning to have kids in the near future because you can then easily upgrade to a larger model and let your kids take over your old mattress. This can help you optimize your budget while also relieving you of at least one detail associated with preparing your home for children. In this case, you might also want to pick a mattress that’s soft enough for a child. Some models designed for adults might not be suitable for newborns.
• Are you buying this mattress for the long run, or do you expect to replace it in a few months? Another situation where it could be useful to buy a smaller mattress temporarily is if you’re planning to eventually upgrade it. Maybe you’ll be moving out soon, or maybe you’re going to shift things around in the house and you’ll take over a larger room from one of your housemates. A smaller mattress can be easier to get rid of, no matter if you’re planning to sell it, gift it, or throw it away. You also won’t be attached to a smaller, less expensive mattress as much as you would be to a larger one that you spent a good chunk of money on.
• Do you like to decorate your bed? Some people like to have their beds as clear as possible, leaving only the bare essentials they need for sleeping. Others love the idea of decorating the whole bed with small pillows, stuffed toys, and other items. If you’re in the latter category, going with a larger mattress is often a better choice. This will give you more freedom to decorate the bed exactly as you want it, without feeling too cramped when you lie down to sleep in it.
• Do you want to clean and wash your bedding as easily as possible? Smaller mattresses are easier to clean, and the same goes for the bedding you would use with them. A larger mattress usually means more maintenance in the long run for this reason. If you split a larger mattress into two smaller ones, you can relieve yourself of some of the burden associated with keeping it clean. Especially if you’ll be sharing the bed with a partner, and they have a different sleeping schedule than you. In this case, it can be useful to have two separate sets of bed sheets that you can wash individually.

FAQ

Q: Should I always get a double mattress for a large bed?
A: Getting a mattress large enough to fill the whole bed frame alone may seem like the obvious choice in every scenario. In some cases, however, it can be smarter to go with two smaller mattresses instead. Accommodating the different habits of your sleeping partner is a common example. Splitting the bed can allow each partner to purchase a mattress with their own preferred hardness and other properties. Using separate slats can also be useful, for example, if one person likes to adjust their head height.

Q: Is a larger mattress more difficult to clean?
A: One of the downsides of going with a very large mattress is that it’s more difficult to clean. Its bulkier design will make it more difficult to move around, and it may even be too heavy for you to pull out of the bed alone. A smaller mattress also means smaller bed sheets, which will also contribute to making your laundry less bothersome. They will take up less space in the washing and drying machine and will be easier to fold and store.

Q: What should I do if my bed size is not common?
A: If you have a bed in one of the common sizes from the table above, you’re in luck. You will have plenty of different options to choose from when you’re searching for a mattress, and you can easily adjust the different parameters of your model according to your preferences. While you may not have as much variety when you’re shopping for a mattress for a more unusually shaped bed, you should still be able to find something that fits, at least roughly. Remember, it’s okay if there’s a 1-2 cm gap on either side. It’s the opposite that you need to be careful about.

Q: Can two people fit on a standard single mattress?
A: You don’t necessarily have to buy a large double mattress if you’re shopping for something for yourself and your partner. For some couples, a single mattress can work just as well. It’s all about your sleeping habits and how you sleep together. If you and your partner have no problem being close to each other through the night, you should start your search with one of the smaller sizes and work your way up from there until you’ve found something comfortable enough. But in some circumstances – like living in an area with particularly bad heat waves during the summer – investing in a large mattress with enough room for both people can make more sense. The same goes if you have any pets that like to climb up into your bed occasionally.