Twin vs. Full vs. Queen: What’s The Difference?

Purchasing a mattress that is too small is a big mistake for many buyers. Conversely, buying a mattress that is too big may not fit your smaller bedroom size well. Mattresses are a long term investment, so it’s important to find a size that fits your body type and living space.

Some of the most popular mattress sizes sold today are twins, fulls, and queens—but what is the difference? Which mattress size is right for you depends on your bedroom size, sleeping arrangement, and stature.

In this post, we’ll cover the basics of these three mattress sizes—including dimensions, recommended bedroom sizes, and pros and cons—so you’ll know what to look for when making a purchase. Let’s start with the smallest of the three.

What is a Twin Size Mattress?

With dimensions of 75 inches by 38 inches, twin size mattresses are usually reserved for growing children and teenagers, although some adults will find that a twin bed fits fine. Smaller than a full or queen sized mattress, a twin bed can be a great transition from a crib to a larger bed. A twin’s smaller size makes them great for bunk beds, and they can easily fit in almost any bedroom.

Twin beds are great for growing children, small spaces, and vacation homes, and our favorite twin bed is the Vaya Mattress. Not only is the Vaya Mattress budget-friendly, but its medium feel and high-end materials are great for all types of sleepers. It’s excellent if you sleep hot, deal with chronic pain, or are just looking for something reliable.

The Vaya Mattress has a simple, streamlined design to keep prices low. The top layer of the bed is made from Vaya Comfort Foam, a flexible material built to relieve pressure without feeling overly soft. The bottom layer of the bed is made with Vaya Base Foam, which is sturdy, long-lasting, and promotes proper spinal alignment. 

Despite its low cost, the Vaya Mattress is both made in the USA and CertiPUR-US® certified. Even better, it comes with free shipping and returns, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty.

Types of Twin Mattresses

There’s more than one type of twin mattress available on the market.

Standard Twin

The standard twin, also known as a single bed, is the smallest conventional mattress size. At 75 inches long by 38 inches wide, they’re best compatible with a room size of 7 feet by 10 feet. Standard twins are large enough to fit most children and even some adults comfortably. They are ideal for day beds and bunk beds alike, and standard twin size mattresses are often what’s used as the next steps for children who have outgrown their cribs.

Youth Twin Mattress

Youth twin mattresses are slightly smaller than standard twins on all sides, measuring 66 inches long by 33 inches wide. These beds are considered to be a specialty size. Some parents opt to transition their toddlers from crib mattresses to a youth twin, since these mattresses can fit in smaller rooms and provide more floor space for play.

Whether you want your child to move from a crib to a youth twin or standard twin depends on how big your bedroom is. On one hand, youth twins are cheaper and allow for a transition that doesn’t involve rearranging your nursery’s layout. On the other hand, your child will eventually need a larger bed.

Twin XL

The twin XL size mattress has the same width as a standard twin, but they have an extra 5 inches in length. At 80 inches long by 38 inches wide, this mattress type is great for taller-than-average children, as well as some adults. The added length makes twin XL beds akin to the length of queen and king sized mattresses. Twin XL mattresses are what is often used in college dorm rooms — two can easily fit separately in a room that is at least 13 feet by 13 feet, and many bunk beds are available in the twin XL size.

Pros and Cons of Twin Mattresses

Benefits

Twin beds offer a variety of sizes for kids and adults alike. Their smaller size lets them fit into almost any room, and they are often cheaper than larger mattresses. Being a very popular mattress size—excluding the specialty youth twin size—finding accessories for a twin shouldn’t be a problem at all. They serve well as bunk beds and daybeds.

Drawbacks

Twin beds are not ideal for those who like to have room to spread out because they are quite narrow. These beds are too small for couples, and they may not offer enough legroom for taller individuals.

What is a Full Size Mattress?

Also known as a double bed, the full size mattress has the same length as a standard twin (75 inches) with an additional 16 inches in width. At 54 inches wide by 75 inches long, a full size mattress is able to accommodate kids and most single adults. Solo sleepers will find this mattress’s extra room to be plentiful without their bed taking up too much floor space. Even with its larger width, a full size bed can easily fit in most bedrooms.

Getting uncomfortably hot at night is an all-too-common issue, especially during the summer or if you live in warmer climates. However, you don’t have to suffer forever. The Zoma Hybrid is a breathable bed built to dissipate heat. As a full mattress, the Zoma Hybrid is a good choice for children, teens, athletic people, and solo sleepers who get hot or deal with any type of pain.

Inside the Zoma Hybrid is a gel memory foam comfort layer, springy Reactiv™ transition foam, pocketed coils, and base foam. Together, the bed relieves pressure point and pain without causing you to sink into your bed or feel “trapped.” The pocketed coils maximize air circulation throughout the bed so both you and your bed don’t get overly hot.

The Zoma Hybrid is made in the USA and CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning the bed is free of harmful chemicals and don’t off-gas. All Zoma mattresses include free shipping, free returns, a 100-night trial, and a 10-year warranty.

Pros and Cons of Full Mattresses

Benefits

Full size mattresses are ideal for solo sleepers who want a little extra room to toss and turn. These beds are even studio apartment-friendly and can fit into almost any sleeping area with ease—full beds can fit in a bedroom size of 8.5 feet by 10.5 feet or larger. If you’re a solo sleeper stuck on deciding between a full or a queen size bed, a full mattress is a more cost-efficient choice that should still allow for plenty of extra sleeping space.

Drawbacks

For many couples, a full size mattress may not provide adequate space. The 54-inch width only gives each sleeper 27 inches of room to move around, making it cramped for couples, especially those who share a bed with a partner who often tosses and turns in their sleep. Similarly, this mattress may not be suitable for taller individuals because it is the same length as the standard twin.

What is a Queen Size Mattress?

A queen size mattress is larger than a full in every way. With mattress dimensions of 60 inches by 80 inches, queen beds provide significantly more room to stretch out. Queen beds are one of the most popular choices amongst single adults. In fact, statistics show that more queen mattresses are sold in the United States and Canada than any other mattress size.

Many couples prefer the queen mattress, as well. With its bigger size, queens are recommended for rooms larger than 9 feet by 11 feet.

One of the most popular queen mattresses is the Amerisleep AS3. Couples sharing a bed should use beds no smaller than a queen to be comfortable, and the AS3’s medium feel is perfect for couples. Medium beds provide a balance of cushioning and support, which works well for couples with slightly different firmness needs.

The AS3’s comfort layer is made from plant-based Bio-Pur® memory foam, which is breathable, motion-isolating, and pressure-relieving. Next is Affinity foam is HIVE®, a zoned support system built to distribute your bodyweight and support your back. At the base of the AS3 is Bio-Core® foam, a sturdy layer which is resistant to sagging, growing soft spots, or getting lumpy.

Amerisleep mattresses are made in the USA and CertiPUR-US® certified. The AS3 comes with free shipping and returns, a 100-night trial, and a 20-year warranty.

Pros and Cons of Queen Mattresses

Benefits

Queen beds are perfect mattresses for couples who don’t need abundant space, as well as single sleepers who want plenty of extra legroom. The queen’s longer and wider frame comfortably fits individuals of most heights.

Drawbacks

Queen beds are a bit more pricey than their smaller counterparts. Their size also makes them fairly heavy, which means moving them through stairs and hallways can be tricky. These beds also demand a larger sleeping area, so they’re a tough fit for smaller bedrooms.

What Mattress Size is Right for You?

Children and Teens

Growing children and teens will find a twin to be a great fit. For families with more than one child, twin beds are the go-to mattress size for bunk beds. However, if you have the extra room, a full size bed will serve as a long term investment for your child.

Solo Sleepers

Some adults will find that a twin provides a sufficient amount of space. Still, a full mattress will provide much more room to stretch out, and it takes up a relatively small area. Full size mattresses are great for most solo sleepers. But if you have a larger bedroom and want the extra inches, a queen size mattress is definitely the way to go.

Couples

Twin and full size mattresses simply do not provide adequate room for couples. The queen’s extra length and width fit most couples of varying heights and weights well. If you are a couple that enjoys a healthy amount of personal space, a king or California king size bed may be a better option.

Room Size

Twins will fit in almost any size room but may look awkward in larger rooms. Twin beds are best fit for small rooms or rooms with 2 to 3 separate sleepers. Twins are recommended for rooms of at least 7 feet by 10 feet. The full size is larger, but still apartment-friendly, and it fits small to medium size rooms well. Fulls best fit in a room of at least 8.5 feet by 10.5 feet. Queens are great for larger bedrooms and fit best in rooms measuring 9 feet by 11 feet or larger.

Budget

When it comes to buying a mattress, you shouldn’t go with the cheapest option available. Still, you should stick within a budget that makes sense for your financial situation.

Twin size beds are an affordable choice for families with multiple children, as well as families with young children who have outgrown their cribs. Full size beds are a better long-term investment for growing children and solo sleepers. And if you are willing to spend more on space and comfort, queen size beds are a great option.

• Twin: $100 to $1800.
• Full: $250 to $2500
• Queen: $600 to $3000

To save on any size of mattress, we recommend keeping an eye out for one of the year’s big mattress sales:

• Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• 4th of July Mattress Sales
• Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Columbus Day Mattress Sales
• Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

Frequently Asked Questions

How much bigger is a queen size bed than a twin?

A queen size mattress measures 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, while a twin size mattress is 38 inches wide and 74 or 75 inches wide. This makes a queen mattress 22 inches wider and 5 or 6 inches longer than a twin.

We should note that the twin’s most common variation, a twin XL, is 80 inches long, same as a queen bed.

How much bigger is a queen than a full size mattress?

Queen and full mattresses are fairly close in dimensions, so close that you often find bedding labeled for queen and full mattresses. A queen size mattress is 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, while a full mattress is smaller, measuring 54 inches by 75 inches.

Despite their similar dimensions, we cannot recommend a full size mattress for couples. The simple six-inch width reduction can leave two partners feeling uncomfortably close and cramped.

Is a twin or full size mattress best for a teenager?

For many growing teenagers, a standard twin mattress can feel small and cramped. The twin isn’t all that comfortable for anyone over 6 feet tall, and many teens will surpass this limit during their final growth spurt. If parents need a mattress for a small bedroom, a twin XL can accommodate tall sleepers.

However, we must note that a full mattress is usually only slightly longer than a regular twin. So while it might be good for a teen under 6 feet who wants more sprawling space, a teen who’s on the tall side may need a queen mattress.

Is a full or queen better for couples?

We do not recommend full mattresses for couples. While a full mattress can suffice in a pinch if two people need a place to sleep, it is not good as a long-term comfortable solution. Each partner will have a space roughly as wide as a crib mattress on a full bed.

Queens are the better option for couples, though sleepers who enjoy their personal space may want to consider the benefits of a king mattress.

Can an adult sleep on a twin bed?

Yes, many single adults can comfortably sleep on a twin size mattress. However, the bed may feel short on legroom if an adult is over 6 feet tall. Taller people who want to save on space and funds with a small mattress should consider a twin XL mattress.

Conclusion

Mattresses are a long-term investment, so it’s important not to cut corners when you’re searching for the most comfortable mattress. If you are in the market for a new mattress, the biggest factor to consider is space. If you have a larger bedroom, consider a queen or even a king/California king bed. Contrarily, twin and full beds are perfect for those who are looking to conserve as much room space as possible.