How to Buy the Best Mattress

The ultimate guide to the best mattress types and brands.

california king mattress

Mattress Dimensions – All You Need to Know

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CC Flickr photo courtesy of beigephotos.

Shopping for a new mattress? A good mattress is an investment that should last for years so it is a good idea to learn how to choose a mattress before making that shopping trip. In finding just the right mattress, several things must be considered such as your physical needs, how much you want to spend and mattress size you require. Names, descriptions and the sizes of mattresses are different for each country. The sizes below represent measurements in the United States.

Bunk Mattress Dimensions

A bunk mattress is made to fit upper and lower bunk bed frames. The mattress in small size is well suited for young children but will accommodate an average sized adult in a pinch. The dimensions of a bunk mattress are 39” x 75”. The narrow bunk mattress is used to save a few inches of space and measures 36” x 75”.

Twin Mattress Dimensions

The mattress size called twin is also referred to as “single”. It measures a trim 30” x 75”. Twin beds are a good choice for small guest rooms. Two twin beds are also common when siblings are sharing a room since they don’t take up much space. Another consideration regarding how to choose a mattress is whether linens that fit are easy to find. The twin extra long mattress, which measures 39” x 80”, is one example of a mattress size you may have trouble finding linens that fit properly because of its odd size.

Full

A full size mattress is also known as a double mattress. This mattress size measures 54” x 75” and can accommodate one large adult or else two small adults or children comfortably. The full mattress leaves 27” x 75” of room for each person. It is commonly used in guest rooms as a medium sized bed that allows comfort without taking up too much room.

Queen Mattress Dimensions

Standard queen size mattresses measure 60” x 80”. Two average sized adults can easily have 30” x 80” of room a piece. When obtaining information on this type of mattress you may hear the salesman refer to “California queen” and “Expanded queen” mattresses. A California queen mattress is 60” x 84”; which is 4 inches longer than a standard queen mattress. The expanded queen mattress measures 66” x 80”, making it 6” wider mattress than the standard queen.

King Mattress Dimensions

If a bigger bed suits your taste it is easy to find out how to choose a mattress in a larger size. The standard king size mattress is 76” x 80”. The width of the mattress allows enough room for each sleeper to have 38” of space. This mattress size is not the largest available, however.

California King Mattress Dimensions and Grand King Mattress Dimensions

The California king is more narrow (72”) than the standard king but is longer (84”). The grand king is a whopping 80” x 98”, enough room for very tall or larger people. Linens for all sizes of king mattresses are readily available online and at bed and bath stores across the country.

Custom Size Mattress Dimensions

If you have an oddly shaped room, a very large or tiny room or simply want a unique bed, custom mattresses in all sizes can be tailor made to suit your needs. Many companies offer circular beds, geometric shapes and unique sizes. Take your ideas to the company and they will work with you and help you choose a mattress that will fit in with what you envision for your bed.

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King Sized or California King Sized Mattress?

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CC Flickr photo courtesy of calleephoto.

Everyone wants to have the perfect night sleep in a bed where there’s plenty of room without worrying about rolling over and bumping into the person sleeping next to them. The most commonly bought size of bed is a queen size bed. But in recent years, more and more people are choosing to go a little larger with the standard king sized bed.

These people who are choosing the larger bed are also finding that there is more than one kind of king sized bed and that it’s sometimes hard to choose between the types and styles. One slightly different style of king bed is the California king sized bed. The differences are slight but it makes knowing how to choose a mattress that is right for you that much more difficult.

Knowing how choose a mattress is something that you must be aware of before you head out to one. People often rush out and buy the most expensive mattress thinking that the higher price means a better bed, this is not the case at all.

A standard king sized bed is also known as an Eastern king and when you buy it you will get two twin size box springs to put under the king mattress. While the mattress is approximately sixteen inches larger than the queen mattress it is the same length. This is fine if you are not a tall person. However, if you happen to be more than 6 feet tall then this mattress isn’t as great.

The California king size mattress on the other hand would work just fine for a person that is taller than six feet. This is the longest mattress on the market today. It is four inches longer than the standard king making it perfect for a tall person. However, it does have its downsides; it is not as wide as the eastern king. It is in fact four inches narrower. While the bed is still larger than a queen it is not as wide as the regular king sized bed.

So if you and your partner are tall and thin, consider a California King. But if you’re a little wider and need more side to side room, stick with a traditional king sized bed.

Buying the Sheets for a California King or Regular Kind Mattress

Knowing how to buy a mattress is as complicated as knowing how to buy the best sheets for the bed. This is why there are several things that you should do before venturing out to buy sheets for your eastern king or California king bed. Even though you know that your bed is a king you should always measure the bed before buying sheets.

Some king mattresses are higher than others. This means that the mattress itself may be thicker than other mattresses and there is nothing worse than buying sheets that do not fit down around the corners of the mattress.

If you are just buying pillow cases then you must keep in mind that in order to create the perfect look on your bed you have to buy king sized pillow cases that should be used on kind sized pillows.

It is harder to find sheets for a California sized bed as this is not the most commonly bought size for a king bed. Carefully read the package when buying sheets for a California mattress as the flat sheet will work but you might run into problems if you do not buy the right length of fitted sheet. The dimensions of the sheets are written on the packaging. There are ways of knowing how to buy a mattress and sheets to ensure that you are getting everything you need for a great night’s sleep.