Full vs. Queen-Size Mattresses

Full vs. Queen Mattress: Which Size Is Best for Me?

Table of Contents

What’s the Difference Between a Full and Queen Mattress?
Full vs. Queen Bed Dimensions
Considerations
Shop Nolah's Full and Queen Mattresses

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When looking for a new mattress, the first critical decision you have to make is choosing from the available mattress sizes. From there, you can continue on your mattress shopping journey, choosing the right materials and firmness level to improve your sleep. 

 

Thanks to their versatility for single sleepers and couples, queen-size mattresses are the most popular option in the United States. But that doesn’t mean you should count full-size mattresses out of the running. With a lower price point, they make an economical option for single sleepers who want to sprawl out in bed.

In this guide, we’ll cover the pros and cons of full and queen mattresses and help you decide which size best fits your needs. 

What’s the Difference Between a Full and Queen Mattress?

Full and queen mattresses fall in the middle of the mattress size spectrum. Full mattresses, the smaller of the two, are also called double beds. They measure 53 inches wide by 75 inches long, totaling 3,957 square inches in surface area. 

Queen mattresses are 7 inches wider and 5 inches longer than fulls, measuring 60 inches by 80 inches. They have a surface area of 4,800 square inches, 843 square inches larger than full mattresses. 

Full vs. Queen Bed Dimensions 

Size	Width	Length	Surface Area
Full (Double)	53”	75”	3,957 sq. in
Queen	60”	80”	4,800 sq. in

Considerations

For anyone torn between a full and queen bed, evaluating these five factors can help you make your final decision. 

1. Couples vs. Single Sleepers

Who are you mattress shopping for? Yourself, you and a partner, a child, teen, guest bedroom, or rental space? 

A single sleeper—child or adult—will have plenty of room on a full or queen-size bed. Both options give you the space to stretch out in either direction and even invite a pet into bed. 

For couples, we don’t recommend buying anything smaller than a queen as your primary mattress. Full beds work well for guest bedrooms or rental spaces occasionally shared by two people, but for your everyday bed, you’ll want more room to spread out. Couples may technically fit on a full-size bed, but they don’t offer enough personal space for a long-term sleep solution. 

2. Sleeper Height

Keep in mind that queen mattresses measure 5 inches longer than fulls, which can make all the difference for taller sleepers. For anyone 6 feet tall or taller, we recommend the additional length. Twin XL, queen, king, and California king mattresses all meet or exceed the 80-inch threshold we recommend for taller individuals. 

3. Room Size

The mattress size you choose affects how much open space you have in your bedroom. Remember, full mattresses take up 843 square inches less than queens. 

If you have limited bedroom real estate to work with, you may want to grab a tape measure and plan out where your bed will go relative to other furniture. With the head of the bed against the wall, we recommend maintaining at least 30 inches of clearance on the remaining three sides. 

4. Price

Naturally, mattress prices increase with size. Depending on the base price, the difference between a full and queen mattress of the same model is typically about $100 to $300. 

5. Bed Frame, Bedding, and Accessories 

Some bedding products are sized to work with both full and queen mattresses, but bed frames and accessories like mattress toppers and protectors typically require an exact fit. 

If you already own any of these items, you won’t have to replace them if you stick with the same mattress size you already own. If you plan to buy a new mattress and all new accessories, keep in mind that queen-size models cost a fraction more than their full-size counterparts. 

Shop Nolah's Full and Queen Mattresses

If you’ve thought through these factors, you’re ready to make your choice! It’s time to make a decision and move on to the next stage of the mattress shopping process: selecting a mattress type. 

Whether you decide on a full or a queen mattress, you have plenty of options at Nolah. We offer our kids’ mattress, the Nolah Nurture, in all sizes up to full. Our other four models come in all standard mattress sizes, from twin to California king.  You can also check out our additional size comparisons such as king vs. queen bed or king vs. california king.