What size is my mattress? One of the first questions you may ask is "What size is my mattress?"  This section is designed to help you define what size you really need and how that time may potentially look on your bed.  Mattresses come in 5 basic sizes. Although there can be more, for our purposes here we will focus on the major sizes of bedding and the mattresses that match up to them.  The four sizes are: Twin, Full, Queen and King.  Lets Take a look at each one.                                                                                                          Size Mattress Width Mattress Length Twin Info 39 Inches 75 Inches Twin XL Info   39 Inches 80 Inches Full Info 54 Inches 75 Inches Queen Info 60 Inches 80 Inches King Info 76 Inches 80 Inches California King Info 72 Inches 84 Inches Twin Size Bedding Twin size mattresses are typically used for children today.  In the past, it was normal for couples to use twin beds; however, adult bedding has trended to larger size beds.  Twin mattresses also come in an extra long version that is sometimes shows as Twin XL.  Those mattresses are typically 39 inches wide by 80 inches long and are mainly seen in college dormitories. Bedding for twin size mattresses is typically 68x76 inches, which creates a hang of about 14.5 inches on either side of the mattress. Full Size Bedding Full size mattresses we at one time the choice for master bedrooms; however as America has grown in wealth this size has been supplanted by larger sizes. The full size bed is not more commonly seen in guest rooms and as a "step up" bed for children.  Statistically, this size is seen in a larger percentage of girls bed rooms than boys, but it is not uncommon for boys.   Soho King Bed Ensemble   $199.99 $149.99 My New Car Twin Sheet Set   $59.99 $49.99 French Tile King Quilt Sage   $129.99 $89.99 Ballerina Steps Twin Sheet Set   $49.99 $39.99 Bedding for full size mattresses can come in two formats.  The first is a true full size version measuring 76 inches by76 inches.  This dimension provides a 6-8 inch drop on either side of the mattress.  The second is a Full/Queen size that is typically 86 inches by 86 inches.  The Full/Queen size originated as the full size declined in popularity.  Because the decreasing demand, manufacturers found that making a single size to cover the full and queen size was more economical.  For the full size consumer that actually provides more drop length. Queen Size Bedding Queen size bedding is the current dominant size of bed.  This mattress has gained as the size of American homes has increased.  The mattress is a full 6 inches larger than the full size, but is still considerably less than the King size which is a full 16 inches wider. Bedding for a queen-size mattress typically allows for a 10 to 12 inch drop on either side of the mattress.  Also critical with the larger width is the addition of decorative items that use the added width with greater aesthetic impact. King Size Bedding The King size mattress is the growing size of mattress in America.  Driven by spacious master bedrooms and interior design, this size mattress is finding a place in more and more households.  The king size mattress is 16 inches wider than the queen mattress, making it a larger step in size than the step from Full to Queen.  The additional 16 inches has generated additional need for decorative pillows and and other accompaniments for the bed as the king width can actually make a room seem less appealing. King bedding can come in a variety of sizes, however the most prevalent is 100 inches wide by 90 inches long. California King Size Bedding The California King mattress is the newest of the sizes growing in popularity.  Initiated in California, this bed is not larger than the king size but is a different dimension.  This mattress is slightly narrower than the king at 72 inches wide but is longer at 84 inches in length.  Because of this difference in the dimension, the bedding consumer must be sure to pick bedding for the California King size Mattress when looking at fitted sheets and bed skirts.  Fitted sheets and bed skirts (also known as dust ruffles) are made to the standard mattress size and the California King bedding shipper needs to keep that in mind when purchasing those items.