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 a 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?

Queen mattresses are 7 inches wider and 5 inches longer than full mattresses. Full mattresses, also called doubles, measure 53 inches wide by 75 inches long. They total 3,957 square inches in surface area. Queen mattresses are 60 inches wide by 80 inches long, totaling 4,800 square inches. A queen mattress is 843 square inches larger than a full mattress.

Full vs. Queen Mattress Comparison

	Full Mattress	Queen Mattress
Width	53 inches	75 inches
Length	60 inches	80 inches
Surface Area	3,957 square inches	4,800 square inches
Ideal For	Kids, teens, guest bedrooms, single adult sleepers	Teens, guest bedrooms, single adult sleepers, couples
Ideal Room Size	10 x 10 feet or larger	11 x 10 feet or larger
Price	Starting at $699 at Nolah	Starting at $899 at Nolah

Who Should Go With a Full Mattress?

Full mattresses are a great value option. They’re ideal for growing kids or teens, guest bedrooms, single adult sleepers, and single adults who sometimes share their bed with a child or pet. You should also consider a full mattress if you’re furnishing a guest bedroom or want to conserve room in your apartment or other compact space. Full mattresses are not ideal for couples or individuals 6 feet tall or taller. 

Full Mattress Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Plenty of space for a kid, teen, or single adult sleeper	Not enough space to comfortably fit two adult sleepers
Great value for a guest bedroom	Not ideal for sleepers 6’ tall or taller
Fit well in apartments and smaller spaces

Who Should Go With a Queen Mattress?

Queen mattresses are highly versatile. They make a spacious fit for teens, single adult sleepers, single adults who sometimes share their bed with a child or pet, and guest bedrooms. They’re also roomy enough for couples and long enough for sleepers over 6 feet tall. However, couples who sometimes have children or pets joining them in bed may want to consider a larger option, like a king of California king. 

Queen Mattress Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Extra-spacious for a teen a or single adult sleeper	Cost more than full mattresses
Comfortably sleeps couples	Take up more bedroom space than full mattresses
Fits sleepers up to 6’5” tall

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! 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 other size comparison guides, such as King vs. Queen and King vs. California King.

 

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