How to Pick the Right Size Mattress for Your Bedroom

When choosing a mattress, it’s important to find one that fits both your bedroom and your budget. Being to able to stretch out as much as you need to is key to waking up refreshed, without stiff muscles and joints. Having enough room is especially important if you’re not the only one who will be sleeping in the bed.

I’ve written a few essential tips for choosing a mattress that fits comfortably in your bedroom and provides enough room for everyone who will sleep on it. Follow my advice and you’ll have a bed that’s restful and relaxing—and not something you’re always stubbing your toe on.

Choosing your mattress size

Nobody wants to be smacked by an elbow in the middle of the night. A full-size mattress measures 53 by 75 inches, and while that’s room enough for a single sleeper, you’re going to want more room if you start sleeping with a partner, children, or pets.

With two people in a full-size bed, each person has only about 27 inches. That’s roughly the size of a crib, so if at all possible, you should aim for a queen.

Measuring your room for a mattress

The most important thing to consider when picking your new mattress is the size of your bedroom. Having a big bed is great but you need to make sure you’re leaving enough space to comfortably move around your room. You can always push one side of the bed against the wall but that can create an issue for pairs of sleepers since one person will have to get on and off at the foot of the bed or climb over the other person.

Start by writing down the dimensions of the bed frame your mattress will rest on, not the mattress itself. If there’s a headboard, make sure to account for it as well. Use painter’s tape to mark out the footprint of the frame on the floor where you plan to put the bed. Make sure you have at least 3 feet to walk around either side of the bed and the foot. Confirm that you have room to open any closet or armoire doors and to pull open any dresser drawers. If you have nightstands, make sure those will fit as well. Also consider whether you’ll be able to make the bed easily.

You don't want your room to be claustrophobic and you don’t want it to be cluttered. It should be a place where you can move freely and feel relaxed. If the space still feels like it’s going to be tight, you could go the next size down or consider getting a platform bed that allows for storage underneath and will let you eliminate a dresser or two. The Container Store Clear Weathertight Totes, Sterilite 74 Quart Underbed Storage Boxes, and Misslo Folding Breathable Jumbo Storage Bags are the under-bed bins we recommend in our guide to closet organization. They’ll keep things neat and dust-free.