Twin-to-King Mattress Conversion

Connector Straps

• While you can always place two beds next to each other to form a larger sleeping area, this idea works best when you use a mattress connector. Mattress connectors are available in several designs, one of which is a connector strap. This strap extends around the perimeter of the pushed-together beds to hold the mattresses together and often also includes a foam insert that fills the gap across the top of the bed where the two mattresses meet.

Foam Inserts and Mattress Pads

• Some mattress connectors include only a strip of foam that fills in the gap between the two twin mattresses, while others feature a foam mattress pad that extends across the entire bed surface, with extra foam padding down the middle to fill the gap.

Bedding

• Once you've installed your mattress connector, place a king-size fitted mattress pad and fitted sheet over the mattresses to help hold the mattresses together and further disguise the gap between them.

Measurements

• A king-size mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, while a twin mattress is 39 inches wide by 75 inches long. Therefore, when you connect two twin mattresses, the result is a mattress that is 78 inches wide and 75 inches long. Because these dimensions do not perfectly match those of a king mattress, king sheets and other bedding will not fit perfectly. However, they will fit well enough to suffice. Those who are quite tall might want to position themselves sideways on the bed to give themselves an extra 3 inches of head and foot room.

Travel

• Once you have purchased a mattress connector and have used it a time or two, you'll see how easy it is to install and uninstall and how handy it can be. It's a good idea to permanently store it in your suitcase. That way, you'll always have it if you find yourself unexpectedly assigned to a room with twin beds instead of a king.