Are you looking to decorate a guest room? Is your teenager growing like a weed and needing a new bed? Are you downsizing your home? For whatever reason, you may be debating between buying a full or queen mattress size to meet your needs. Let us help explain the pros and cons so that you can make the best-informed choice for your home.
Full vs. Queen Mattress Size Comparison
First and foremost, the main difference is obviously the dimensions of the two mattresses. The size of the mattress can determine how comfortable the person sleeps in the bed and what size functions for the room with other furnishings. Both options are popular mattress sizes and readily available in most big box stores or online. A full-sized mattress measures 54 x 75 inches, while a queen sized mattress measures 60 x 80 inches. On paper, the size may not seem that significant, but full vs. queen could mean the difference between accommodating a couple or giving a room more floor space.
And to clear up any confusion, a full-sized mattress is often called a double bed. Mattress manufacturers initially created the universal bed sizes of double and single. As manufacturers started to standardize more mattress sizes, including California king, king, and queen, singles were referred to as twin beds, and double beds became full beds. A full and a double are the same size, both measuring 54 x 75.
When making your selection, it is wiser to choose the smaller option for smaller rooms to leave enough space to comfortably accommodate other necessary furniture pieces and leave you enough room to maneuver around the bed. As a rule of thumb, a bedroom that is at least 10 x 12 feet should be able to accommodate a full-sized bed with appropriately sized furniture. Anything less than that, you should consider a twin mattress and frame to allow for more room to move around the bed.
A bedroom with a larger footprint than 10 x 12 should work well for a queen sized mattress. The size of a queen is better suited for a larger primary bedroom. If your bedroom has space and you tend to move around at night, the extra length of a queen mattress may prevent you from waking up in the middle of the night with your feet hanging over the end of the bed. But if you do not have extra space in your bedroom, a full-sized bed is the ultimate choice—especially if you sleep alone.
If you are trying to accommodate a couple, thirty inches per person in a queen bed should be sufficient. Unless you sleep cuddled close all night, a full-sized option will be a tight fit. Also, keep in mind how tall the individual is who is sleeping regularly in the bed. Full-sized mattresses are five inches shorter than queens. Your growing teen might find their feet dangling off the end of the bed each night which can be uncomfortable. And if you have the space, a queen sized bed is excellent for a guest room, providing you with the most flexibility for whoever might be spending the night, including couples.
A full-sized mattress is suitable for all ages, from teens to adults. It may be the preferable size for single sleeping adults and those who have downsized their living spaces.
Sometimes a restful night’s sleep for older adults goes beyond the size of their bed. At Dawn House, we offer a holistic sleep system that supports a good night’s sleep while providing a snapshot of your health every night. Our adjustable bed base with innovative safety features and health monitoring sensors pairs with any mattress under fourteen inches. We also offer luxury Dawn House mattresses that work seamlessly with the base. Our mattresses and bases are offered in king, split king, queen, full, and twin long. For a quality night’s sleep, our reactive memory foam contours to the body for optimal support and comfort in any sleeping position. Our mattresses include a cooling gel poly foam and a flex-air channel base that regulates body temperature and improves breathability. And our patented firm edge feature supports stable seating on the edge of the bed to ease getting in and out—without affecting the comfort of the mattress. This steady edge helps support the individual as they lean against or walk around the bed and can be especially beneficial to those with mobility issues or who are assisted by a caregiver.
Pros and Cons of a Queen Mattress
If you are considering a queen-sized mattress, there are a few advantages and disadvantages to weigh when making your choice.
The Pros:
- If you are sleeping as a couple or perhaps with a large dog or your child or grandchild likes to snuggle with you, you will have a little more sleeping space to accommodate everyone.
- Queen-sized bed accessories are easy to find since this size of mattress is very popular.
- For those with longer legs, the additional five inches of length in a queen-sized mattress will give you more space to stretch your toes.
- If you move around frequently in your sleep or prefer to stretch out across a bed, the extra space and length may prevent you from waking up at night.
The Cons:
- Depending on the quality, the queen mattress will cost more than a full-sized mattress of comparable quality.
- Because bed linens, comforters, and duvets are larger and made with more material, the bedding can cost more than full-sized bed accessories.
- If you are moving your queen bed to a third-floor apartment with no elevator, the queen beds can be heavier to move and lift—definitely a two-person job.
- For a single sleeper, a queen-size mattress may be overkill if you do not have the space in your bedroom to maneuver around it easily.
Pros and Cons of a Full Mattress
Let’s uncover the pros and cons of a full-sized mattress and whether that option fits your bedroom or guest room.
The Pros:
- A full-size bed gives you substantial sleeping space but is compact enough to fit in smaller rooms without taking up much real estate. It will work in most bedrooms with space to maneuver around it easily.
- Finding bed linens, comforters, and duvets is easy because this size is quite common, and the prices are typically more affordable than the queen-sized counterpart.
- You have room for an additional pillow or two!
- Full-sized mattresses are very affordable and less expensive than a queen mattress.
The Cons:
- A full-sized mattress does not accommodate a couple well. And you may not get a restful night’s sleep if your large dog is sharing your bed.
- A full mattress is five inches shorter than a queen, so tall people’s feet may hang off the end and be less comfortable.
The two most important takeaways to consider are: Will the mattress fit or fill the room appropriately, so the room is not too cramped or too empty? And second, will the person or persons who regularly sleep in the bed be comfortable with the sleeping space of the mattress? Both bed sizes are very popular and can be found at any big box store or purchased online, so availability shouldn’t be an issue. At Dawn House, we are the experts in a comfortable night’s sleep. We hope this information has been beneficial as you decide which mattress size will work best for you.
Featured image credit: Pixaby-pexels
