The importance of a quality night’s rest cannot be overemphasized; aside from providing an opportunity for the body to recover from the hustle and bustle of daily activities, quality sleep bolsters the body’s resistance to diseases and illnesses. Getting quality sleep is tied to a whole lot of factors; how comfortable your bedroom is, the type of mattress, your state of mind and body, etc.
One component of quality sleeping that is often overlooked, however, is the mattress Size. The Size of a mattress though seemingly trivial is equally as important as the type of mattress – too small and your legs are dangling from the sides, too big and you’re the proverbial needle in a haystack.
With this in mind, join us as we analyze the subtle differences between two of the more popular Sizes, the King and Queen.
The King Sized Mattress Dimension
When you take into consideration the length and the breadth of mattresses, the King Size like its name aptly describes, is the ‘King’ of it all. This type debuted the industry in the 1940’s when showrooms stacked up double twin beds in one single bed. This kind quickly gained popularity, and by the 1950’s it was the choice for Master bedrooms.
Dimension wise, standard kings are 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. A variation of this standard King base model known as the Western King also exists. This modified size, or more appropriately the California King, is four inches longer and four inches thinner than the base model.
Like it was stated earlier, King mattresses are essentially two Twin Size ones laid side by side. From this, it’s easy to infer that it can accommodate two separate individuals comfortably.
The Queen-sized Mattress Dimension
Again, the title ‘Queen’ gives an insight into the nature of this Size. Queen Size by virtue of length and width are second in command (Queen – second to King) in the overall mattress Size list.
Queen measures 60 inches in width and 80 inches in length, it is 16 inches thinner than standard King beds, but still, pack enough space to comfortably house two people. Like the King also, they have variations, three of which are known;
- The Olympic or expanded Queen; this variation has an additional 6 inches of width length (66 x 80) when compared to the standard Queen.
- The California Queen; Cali Queens for short were a formerly popular class of waterbed mattresses four inches longer than the traditional Queen Size Mattresses. Cali Queens are quite rare as very few mattress manufacturers still make them.
- Split Queens; literally split a standard Queen and what do you get? A Split Queen. Split Queen was made to ease up the process of moving or adjusting Queen ones.
What are the differences between a King and a Queen size mattress?
Now that you have a basic understanding of what the two types of mattresses are, it’s time to learn what sets them apart.
- Size
Size, as you might have already deduced, is the major distinguishing factor between a King and Queen. At 76 by 80 inch the standard King is 16 inches wider than the standard Queen at 60 by 80 inch.
- Comfort
Consequent of its increased width, King ones are more spacious than their Queen counterparts. And while comfort in a mattress goes beyond mattress, the additional space no doubt contributes to making the sleeping experience a more pleasant one.
60 inches in a Queen means each sleeping partner gets just 30 inches of sleeping space, and except we’re talking about two anorexic sleeping partners, there’s bound to some ‘space invasion.’
- Cost
The extra length and extra comfort in a King ultimately translate to extra costs. On the average, a price difference of up to 20% exists between King and Queen mattresses produced by the same manufacturer.
Of course, also expect to pay more for King beddings and other accessories. From sheets to mattress covers and even King pillows you’ll have to up your budget.
- Room Requirements
Because they are bigger, King beds invariably take more space than Queen ones. And depending on the proportion of the room in question, the difference in Size might actually matter.
The ideal setting for the King is the master bedroom. Queen beds are also suited for master bedrooms. Unlike King, however, they can fit into smaller bedrooms.
- Popularity
You would think that with the many advantages King has over their Queen alternative, it’d be more popular. Think again. As it turns out, Queen mattresses have more fame and appeal, and it’s easy to see why – they’re cheaper.
The difference of 16 inches, though significant is a sacrifice most buyers are willing to make in exchange for the extra 20%, it takes to buy a King mattress.
| King | Queen | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 76 x 80 inches | 60 x 80 inches |
| Comfort | More comfortable due to having more space for each partner | not as comfy since there is inevitably contact between the two individuals sleeping on it |
| Cost | More expensive –costlier bedding and accessories as well | cheaper |
| Room requirements | Need ample of space
Master bedrooms |
Can fit master bedrooms and smaller rooms as well |
| Popularity | Not as popular | Preferred due to being cheaper primarily (up to 20%) |
Which is best?
Why you should buy a King sized mattress
King mattresses were designed to cater fully cater for the sleeping needs of the two people without any compromise. The added space also means, your children and pets can join you on those stormy and scary nights.
If you’re in the market for a bed that gives you maximum flexibility with regards to space and you don’t mind shelling out the extra cash, then King mattresses are a perfect match.
Why you shouldn’t buy one
If you’re in the market for a bed that gives you maximum flexibility with regards to space and you don’t mind shelling out the extra cash, then King mattresses are a perfect match.
Why you should buy a Queen Size Mattress
You need to save cash, you don’t mind the thinner width, and most importantly you have a small bedroom. Queen beds pack all the features of a King bed save the extra width, and while this means extra contact with your partner, isn’t that what sleeping together is all about?
Why you shouldn’t buy one
We are going to take back our words at this point. Extra contact is not always a good thing, and some people do love their personal space. If you’re among this set of people, then Queen might be a bit of a compromise.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a basic rundown of the two most popular sizes in mattresses. While they can both cater for couples with great ease, there are distinct differences among them which were analyzed in this article, so it comes down to your personal taste and individual needs to decide which mattress Size is best for you.
Remember, that the size of the bed is an important factor which determines the quality of sleep you get, alongside other factors which you can find in our mattress buying guide. Whichever choice you make, we hope you are pleased with the bed you get and hopefully get all the rest you need.
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