Which Is Bigger: a Full Mattress or a Twin Mattress?

Twin Mattresses

• Twin mattresses (sometimes called "single") are usually used in a child's room, or as a trundle or daybed. A standard twin is 39 inches wide and 75 inches long. Long twins are 80 inches long and are commonly used in college dorm rooms -- the better to accommodate the longer length of some teenagers. While long twins are more comfortable for tall young adults, it might be hard to find linens for them.

Full Mattress

• Full mattresses (sometimes called "double") measure 54 inches wide and 74 inches long, which actually makes them 1 inch shorter than standard twin mattresses. The overall area of full mattresses is larger than twins, however. Full mattresses are often used in guest rooms or for an older child, but they can still feel too small for an adult couple to share. In fact, each person sharing a full mattress will be sleeping in about the same amount of space as a crib mattress.

Considerations

• Twin mattresses are ideal for small children, a single guest bed for a sleepover for your child, a trundle bed, a daybed or a hideaway bed. Full mattresses are a good choice for shorter teens who want to stretch out, or for children, because the wider size of the mattress allows a parent to snuggle in with a child who is sick, has a nightmare or wants to read a story.

Other Options

• Most adult couples choose to upgrade from a full mattress to a queen, which measures 60 inches by 80 inches. The extra inches may not seem like a lot, but they give the sleepers a lot more room, especially in the length. Each adult will also have 30 inches of width as opposed to the 27 inches per person that a full mattress offers. King mattresses offer even more room in width, with 76 inches. The length of a king mattress is the same as a queen mattress, however.