Queen vs Full Size Mattress

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think there’s all that much difference between a queen size mattress and a full size mattress. But a few extra inches can be the difference between sleeping comfortably and being cramped all night long. The best mattress for you offers the space you need for a good night’s rest.

The bigger queen is one of the most popular mattress sizes for couples and taller sleepers, but it might be too big if you’ve got a small room. Meanwhile, the full doesn’t suck up much space, but it also doesn’t provide a lot of sleeping surface either. Below, we’ll talk about the dimensions of each mattress and the best ways to use them.

Queen Size Mattress

At 60 by 80 inches, the queen mattress is usually considered the smallest mattress size suitable for couples, as they give each partner 30 by 80 inches of sleeping area—enough room for the average couple to sleep comfortably.

Pros and Cons of a Queen Size Mattress

Pros

Queen mattresses are suitable for most couples and most single sleepers under 6.5 feet tall, making them an ideal purchase for guest rooms, small master bedrooms, or couples who don’t have the budget for a king. The queen also offers plenty of wiggle room for combination sleepers who like to roll around throughout the night, and it also has 5 inches of extra legroom for those sleepers who are just a little too tall for a full.

Since they’re longer and wider, they also take up more space, which means they fill out most size rooms and give them a more furnished and complete look.

Cons

Queen mattresses are more expensive than fulls, and by extension, their comforters, sheets, bed skirts, and bed frames are also normally more expensive. If you’ve got a limited budget, buying the mattress and all its accompanying accessories can stretch it.

The fact that queens are both wider and longer than full beds can make them a lot tougher to move, meaning if you relocate a lot, getting them around corners, through doors, or upstairs can be a pain. Queens also take up extra space, which means you can’t fit them in every bedroom.

Ideal Room Dimensions for a Queen Bed

To ensure you have enough space to move around your bed, you’ll need about 2 feet of clearance around 3 sides of the bed, and if you want to put other furniture in the room (like a dresser or vanity), you should increase the clearance at the foot of the bed to 4 or 5 feet. That means the minimum room size for a queen is 9 by 9 feet if you don’t want any furniture and 9 by 11+ feet if you do.

Make sure to take note of the size of your bed frame, since it could add some inches to your overall bed size and increase your room-size requirements.

Queen Mattress Cost

While you can pay as little as $300 or as much as $5,000 for a queen mattress, there’s really no reason to go to either of those extremes. If you want a quality queen mattress, you should expect to pay between $700 and $1,500.

Full Size Mattress

Coming in at 54 inches by 75 inches, the full or double size mattress offers 6 inches less width and 5 inches less length than the queen. The size of the full is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness, allowing it to fit in rooms the queen just can’t go in but also meaning it isn’t the greatest option for couples or even larger single sleepers.

Pros and Cons of a Full Size Mattress

Pros

The full sized bed is more budget-friendly than the queen—as are its accessories. If you relocate a lot, the full size mattress is easier to carry and maneuver, and the full size bed frame is easier to break down and transport.

The smaller full size bed is also great for kids’ and teens’ rooms, especially if they like to keep other furniture like desks, chairs, or a TV stand in their bedrooms. A lot of the time, full mattresses are a good compromise if you want two beds in one room, but your kids are getting too big for a twin mattress. Full size beds are also an excellent option for studio apartments because they only take up 4,050 square inches compared to the queen’s 4,800.

Cons

While single sleepers of average height probably won’t notice a difference between sleeping on a full and a queen, if you’re particularly tall, the 75-inch full could leave your feet hanging. Couples also will likely miss the extra 6 inches of width; with its 27 inches of personal space apiece, the full offers two adult sleepers the same width as an infant’s crib—not exactly the roomiest of options. Also, if your room is larger than 10 by 10 feet, a full will likely leave it looking empty and unfurnished.

Ideal Room Dimensions for a Full Bed

Since full beds are so much smaller than queens, it’s easier to make them fit in smaller rooms. The full is only 4.5 feet wide by 6 and a quarter feet long, so you can get away with a room as small as 8.5 by 8 feet as long as you don’t want to put any furniture in the room other than a night table.

Full Mattress Cost

It’s very easy to find a quality full size mattress for under $1,000. If you’re buying a bed for limited use—like in a guestroom or as a short-term solution—you can get away with paying as little as $300, but if you’re looking for something to sleep on every night for years to come, you should expect to pay closer to the $1,000 mark.

FAQs

Do we need to upgrade to a king bed?

That depends somewhat on your personal preferences (as a couple) and sleep styles (as individuals). The queen is the most popular mattress size for couples because most average sleepers don’t need much more room than the 30 inches of sleeping space offered by the queen mattress dimensions.

However, if one partner is particularly large, rolls around a lot, or loves to sprawl out, the standard queen size mattress might not be enough space. Also, if partners have different firmness requirements or one needs an adjustable bed base for better sleep, a king size bed frame will offer you the option of doing a split king by using 2 separate twin XL size mattresses.

Another thing to consider is your height. If you’re well over 6 feet tall, the 80 inch queen and king may not be long enough for you. If that’s the case, you’ll probably want to consider a California King.

Is it possible to get full size bunk beds?

Yes. Bunk bed frames can accommodate both twin and full mattress sizes. If you go for full-over-full bunk beds, they’ll be a good bit more expensive than twin bunks. However, if you’ve got a pair of growing teenagers and only one room to put them in, the expense of a full bunk bed definitely won’t outweigh the cost of renovating your house or finding a new place.

Are fulls and doubles the same thing?

Yes. A double bed is just another name for a full bed. They call it a double bed because 2 people can technically sleep on it if they have to—though it’s generally considered too small for couples to use on a continuous basis.

Which is better for children’s rooms?

These rooms tend to be smaller, so the full is a good choice to put in the kids’ rooms if you want to upgrade from twin beds. The full offers plenty of space to growing teenagers without breaking the bank or taking up their whole bedroom. However, with the full, you do run the risk of kids growing out of their beds if they wind up being taller than 6 feet. If you also want your kids to be able to take their beds with them to their own homes someday, a queen might be a better solution.

Is a futon full or queen?

You can get a futon in a variety of sizes, including both queen and full.

• Queen bi-fold futons (futons that only fold into two sections) are 80 inches from arm to arm and about 37 inches wide when folded.
• Full bi-fold futons are 75 inches from arm to arm and around 37 inches when folded.

You can get tri-fold queen and full futons, though the bi-fold is by far the most common frame type.

Bottom Line

Both the queen and the full can make excellent beds. However, because of their divergent sizes, they’re better suited for different purposes. Queens are great for couples and master bedrooms. Full beds are best for single sleepers and kids’ rooms. Depending on your needs and budget, both a full and a queen can be great additions to your guest room. Whichever size you choose, the best way to guarantee yourself a great night’s sleep is to invest in a high-quality mattress suited for your sleep needs.