What is the best size of mattress to fit you and your lifestyle? This is an important question to ask yourself before shopping for a new bed. Should you buy a size that is too small, you will regret the purchase for years to come. Conversely, if the bed you select is too big, it may not fit properly in your home.

This guide will help you decide on the proper size of mattress to aid your purchase decision. Bear in mind that for anyone other than a small child, single-sized beds are truly not appropriate.

Double Beds

For the single person, a double-sized bed can be just fine, but only if you are five and a half feet tall or less. The dimensions of a double bed are 53 inches wide by 75 inches long. This is very short, particularly for most men. Fitting two people on this size bed, which is only 15 inches wider than a single, can result in some very cramped sleeping quarters.

A double bed is a good option for children, as it will function perfectly from a very young age on up to the teens without need to replace it.

Queen Beds

At 60 inches wide by 80 inches long, a queen-sized bed is often adequate for couples and much more preferable to a double. Whilst it still may prove to be a bit crowded, especially if one partner is particular tall or large, queen beds offer a very good value to budget-minded consumers. They have the added advantage of being able to fit well into nearly any sized bedroom – perfect if you rent a small flat. This is also a good choice for guest bedrooms or singles who enjoy having a lot of space to sprawl out.

King Beds

King size, and the even larger super king, beds are the most popular for couples. They are sized at 76 inches wide by 80 inches long – which is about the same width as two single beds pushed together. Super kings are about four inches bigger on each dimension.

While kings provide the maximum personal space, they can be hard to fit into a very small bedroom. This extra size is also something you should consider as far as being able to fit the mattress through doorways, down corridors, and up and down stairs; it is best to make appropriate measurements before purchasing.

No matter what size proves to be the best option for you and your situation, always buy the largest size you can afford, both in budget and space. You will not regret going with the optimum in the first place and since most mattresses are manufactured to last a good ten or fifteen years, you want to ensure that you will be happy with your purchase for some time to come.