Tuft and Needle wood bed frame and mattress in a bedroom with a big sliding glass door

What's the Biggest Bed Size and Its Dimensions?

June 13, 2023

Author: Josie Sivigny

MATTRESS SIZE DIMENSIONS GUIDE Compare Mattress/Bed Sizes Chart

MATTRESS DIMENSIONS
TWIN TWIN XL FULL QUEEN KING CAL KING
39″ X 75″ 39″ X 80″ 54″ X 75″ 60″ X 80″ 76″ X 80″ 72″ X 84″

 

The year is 1590(ish).

You and seven of your buds are looking for a place to crash while you travel from pub to pub in Ware, England, and you stumble upon the White Hart Inn. There’s only one room available, but you’re in luck—all of you—because upstairs, adorned with complex European Renaissance-styled carvings, stands a 10 by 11 foot masterpiece.

The Great Bed of Ware.

Built by carpenter Jonas Fosbrooke, the Great Bed of Ware no longer entertains scores of guests in Ware, but for a few centuries it garnered attention from around the country. It reigned as a popular site in many Ware inns until the early 1920s, when interest faded and it found its home in history. You can marvel at its sheer mass and see the names of Elizabethan visitors etched into the posters at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

If you aren’t wandering through 16th century England, but find yourself looking for the biggest bed possible, your modern-day options are a little different.

King size Tuft and Needle bed in a neutral room

King size bed dimensions

Traditionally the largest of the sizes, a King size mattress measures 76 inches wide by 80 inches long. Regular King size mattresses are sometimes referred to as an “Eastern King”, particularly by companies that have an international presence. Most standard King bedding and frames should fit a 76 by 80 inch mattress, but it always helps to double check the dimensions of products before purchasing. King size beds are typically large enough for a couple or two adults, but it isn’t the only option you have for a giant mattress.

California King size bed dimensions

Invented in the early 1960s to help celebrities make a stronger statement in their bedrooms, the California King actually has the exact same surface area of the standard King size bed, but instead of 76 inches wide, it is 72 inches wide, and the extra 4 inches is added to the length, make it 84 inches long. Basically it’s slightly narrower but taller—just like the state of California. This mattress is perfect for taller sleepers who won’t miss the extra 4 inches in width but would love a little extra length. Standard King size products won’t fit a California King mattress, so be sure to shop exclusively for California King sheets and bed frames. Duvets are often designed to fit both, so you’ll likely see “King/Cal King” size duvets and duvet covers.

Wyoming King size bed dimensions

Also called the “emperor,” mattress, the Wyoming King is the smallest of the oversized mattresses—and named for one of the largest US states. The Wyoming mattress is 84 inches by 84 inches, which puts it 8 inches wider and 4 inches longer than a King size mattress. This mattress is perfect for couples who want a little more space or if both are pretty tall (think: over 6 feet). You might also find a Wyoming or emperor mattress is pretty perfect for co-sleeping with one child. Since this mattress is 7 feet tall, you will want a good sized bedroom to fit it—at least 12 feet by 12 feet. Once you start into the oversized mattress realm, you’ll find you very often need to custom order sheets, mattress pads, and duvets to get them large enough.

Texas King size bed dimensions

Like how Wyoming is smaller than Texas, the Texas king is somehow even bigger than the Wyoming king. Everything’s bigger in Texas, right? The Texas King is a bit like the California, in that it’s designed to be longer and narrower. The Texas is 80 inches wide (that’s the length of a king size bed, FYI) and 98 inches long. Even though the California king is long, the Texas king is 14 inches longer. So if you’re looking for a lot of legroom or are really tall, the Texas king size bed might be for you. It’s also still plenty wide if you’re looking for a lot of space or to co-sleep with one child. Just make sure you have a bedroom that’s at least 14 feet long to comfortably fit this mattress.

Alaska King size bed dimensions

If you thought the Wyoming and Texas mattresses were big, wait until you see this one: the Alaska King. Alaska is the largest state in the US, so you can bet that the Alaska King is the largest oversize mattress out there right now. While this mattress doesn’t sleep 8 adults like the Great Bed of Ware, it is so big that three adults can sleep on it comfortably. The Alaskan is 108 inches by 108 inches. For those of you who don’t want to do the math, that’s 9 feet tall and 9 feet wide. In square inches, this mattress is almost double the size of a king size mattress. This mattress is a great option for people who want to co-sleep with two or three children or have a lot of extra space to spread out or not disturb each other. Alaska Kings will usually have to be custom ordered, and you’ll have to find custom bedding to put on it. Your bedroom should also be at least 16 feet by 16 feet to fit this mattress.

Oversized custom bed on a gold bed frame in a bedroom

Custom oversized beds

If none of the large mattresses suit your needs, you can always custom order one that does. Nowadays, with the rise of the internet, it can be pretty easy to find a company that makes custom size mattresses and bedding. If you do order a custom mattress, especially as co-sleeping takes on popularity, remember that all of your current bedding will need to be replaced, and you’ll likely need custom furniture to fit it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Mattress Size is Good for Couples?

Many couples find a regular sized King mattress meets most of their needs for space and practicality. King size beds are easy to find frames and bedding for, and the size is large enough that most couples find it reasonable. But that being said, each couple is unique, so different couples might have specific needs a King size mattress can’t meet. If you are pretty tall (or you’re both tall), a longer mattress might be better—like a California King or even a Texas King if necessary.

You may also want to take sleeping habits and schedules into account. If you and your partner have very different schedules and are regularly disturbing each other’s nightly rest, you might find a larger mattress to be beneficial. Or if you both like to spread out or sleep starfish style, a larger mattress (like a Wyoming) might be beneficial. Overall, mattress size will depend on individual needs.

What’s a Double King Size Bed?

A double King size bed is an extra wide bed designed for a lot of extra roominess and is different from the other types of oversize mattresses. The double king is 152 inches wide and 80 inches long. It’s the same length as the regular King, but it’s almost double in length. To make a double king work, you’ll need to make sure your bedroom is wide enough because this special mattress can easily fill an entire room.

What Is the Biggest Bed Size?

The biggest bed size that’s sold is the Alaska King. Potentially someone could somehow special order a mattress that’s bigger, but usually the largest size you could find on the market is the Alaskan.

Is Co-Sleeping Okay?

Co-sleeping used to be extremely popular. Historically, many families put all of their children in the same bed or slept with their children in their bed. Nowadays, most parents sleep separately from their children, but there’s been a rise in interest in co-sleeping. But with this increase, many people wonder if co-sleeping is okay or safe to do?

In general, co-sleeping is pretty safe. Some people believe it can improve the bond between parents and children as well. Co-sleeping is especially safe if the child is a toddler or older. The risk to consider is co-sleeping with infants is that it does increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). New parents, if you want to co-sleep with infants, you’ll want to research and proceed with caution.

What Size Bed Should a Tall Person Get?

Like George Washington before them, really tall people can sometimes struggle to find a mattress that meets their needs. Unlike Washington though, tall people now have more options than getting a mattress designed for them. Oversized mattresses are a way to find the extra length you’re looking for. In general, most tall people are good to go with a California King since it’s designed to be extra long and give you a bit more leg room. If both partners are taller than 6 feet, it could be more comfortable to go even larger, though. A Wyoming mattress can be a good fit for extremely tall couples.

The Bottom Line

There are a lot of options to consider when looking for a big bed. As you weigh the pros and cons of each mattress size, you’ll also want to keep in mind that you’ll want to put the mattress on a frame, most likely, and you’ll need to be able to find a frame that’s large enough. Always make sure you’re prepared to raise a mattress and put bedding on it before choosing that size.

Overall, most people’s needs are met by the King size bed and California King, which is why Tuft & Needle only sells up to these sizes. We offer these two sizes with our amazingly comfortable material to help you get a good night’s rest. Shop the Tuft & Needle mattress collection to find your mattress today.

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