PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

Measuring a mattress is helpful when you’re looking to buy bedding or bring a new mattress into your home. Luckily, measuring a mattress is easy and only requires a few simple tools.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Measuring the Dimensions of Your Mattress

PDF download Download Article
  1. You’ll get the most accurate measurements when your mattress doesn’t have anything on it. If you’re measuring your mattress for fitted sheets or a comforter, and you have a padded mattress topper on your mattress, leave it on when you do the measuring.[1]
  2. Use a tape measure or fabric ruler to do your measuring. Mattresses can curve outward on the sides, so make sure you’re measuring from the widest point on each side of the mattress.[2]
    • Write your measurements down on a piece of paper as you go so you don’t forget them!
    Advertisement
  3. If your mattress curves outward at the back and front edges, measure from the furthest point out on each edge.[3]
  4. If you’re measuring for fitted sheets or a comforter, and you have a padded mattress topper, include the mattress topper in your measurement. Otherwise, only measure the height of the mattress itself.[4]
  5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Using Your Measurements

PDF download Download Article
  1. There are 6 standard mattress sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king. Knowing the size of your mattress will help you choose bedding that fits. The different mattress sizes are based on how wide and long a mattress is.[5]
    • Twin mattresses are 38 inches (97 cm) wide by 75 inches (190 cm) long.
    • Twin XL mattresses are 38 inches (97 cm) wide by 80 inches (200 cm) long.
    • Full mattresses are 53 inches (130 cm) wide by 75 inches (190 cm) long.
    • Queen mattresses are 60 inches (150 cm) wide by 80 inches (200 cm) long.
    • King mattresses are 76 inches (190 cm) wide by 80 inches (200 cm) long.
    • California king mattresses are 72 inches (180 cm) wide by 84 inches (210 cm) long.
  2. This measurement is important because you need to know whether the new mattress will fit through them when you bring it home. Choose a mattress with a width that’s smaller than the smallest door or hallway you’ll need to carry it through.[6]
    • Check for any low-hanging light fixtures that might get in the way when you’re moving in your new mattress.
    • Measure the width and height of any staircases you'll use when you're moving the mattress.
  3. Bed frames are sized just like mattresses, but the sizing can vary between manufacturers. When you find a bed frame you like, measure the width, height, and length of the part of the bed frame your mattress will sit in.[7]
    • If the width or length is less than the width and length of your mattress, your mattress won’t sit in the bed frame properly.
    • If the part of the bed frame your mattress will sit in has a greater height than your mattress, your mattress will be too low in the frame.
  4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    My mattress measures 72W X 80L, which is neither King nor Cal King. I cannot find sheets that fit. Is there a measurement between King and CalifKing?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No. You may have to settle for deep-pocket King sheets. A search for "custom bedding" may yield something helpful.
  • Question
    I have a queen size bed. The mattress is a queen size mattress, but it seems to be ‘short’ at the foot of the bed. My box springs seems to be the same way. When I moved, did the movers set it up wrong?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Probably not. Mattress companies sometimes "shrink" their mattresses and box springs. They may have shorted you on the size.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Things You’ll Need

  • Tape measure or fabric ruler
  • Piece of paper
  • Pencil

You Might Also Like

Blow Up an Air Mattress & Keep It Inflated
Locate a Leak in an Air MattressLocate a Leak in an Air Mattress
Fill an Air Mattress Without a Pump6 Clever Ways to Fill an Air Mattress Without a Pump
Patch a Leak in an Air MattressThe Best Patch Kits and DIY Fixes for a Leaky Air Mattress
Dry a MattressDry a Mattress
Roll a Memory Foam Mattress Roll Up or Compress a Memory Foam Mattress
Get Urine Out of Memory Foam Mattress Clean Pee Out of a Memory Foam Mattress & Get the Smell Out
Repair an Air MattressLeaky Air Mattress? Simple Repairs for a Good Night's Sleep
Move a Mattress Move a Mattress: Simple Tips for Moving Without Professional Help
Stop a Mattress from SlidingStop a Mattress from Sliding
Cut Mattress FoamCut Mattress Foam
Rotate a MattressRotate a Mattress
Restore a Musty MattressRestore a Musty Mattress
Dispose of a Box SpringDispose of a Box Spring
Advertisement

About This Article

Kyle Hall
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Kyle Hall works on the content team at wikiHow. He helps manage our team of editors and creates content for a variety of wikiHow projects. Kyle continually looks for new ways to improve the content at wikiHow and make it more helpful and enjoyable for readers. He graduated from Eckerd College in 2015, where he majored in Political Science. This article has been viewed 50,196 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 7
Updated: December 23, 2024
Views: 50,196
Categories: Mattresses
Article SummaryX

Before measuring your mattress, take off any blankets, sheets, or pillows on it and then measure the height, width, and length of the mattress. If you’re measuring for new bedding, and you have a mattress topper on your mattress, include the topper in your measurements. When you’re buying a new mattress, measure any doorways or halls you’ll need to carry it through when you bring it home to make sure it will fit. For more mattress measuring tips, like how to tell what size your bed is based on its dimensions, keep reading!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 50,196 times.

Did this article help you?

Advertisement