The Basics of Bedding Sizes

The Basics of Bedding Sizes

Bedding can completely make the atmosphere of a bedroom, and getting the right bedding and sheets for your mattress is essential to creating a warm, cozy sleeping experience. But bedding sizes can be a little tricky, especially when you start dealing with the complexity of a bed that falls outside the standard mattress dimensions (we see you, twin XL beds and California kings).

To help you out, we’ve put together a quick guide covering the basics of bedding sizes so that you can create the sleeping experience of, well, your dreams. Here’s everything you need to know, right down to the most popular bedding and their sizes in inches.

Twin Bedding Sizes

Twin mattresses measure 39 inches wide and 75 inches long. They’re designed to fit one sleeper comfortably and are ideal for people who don’t need a lot of sleeping space. Twin mattresses are often used for bunk beds or children’s rooms. They’re also a smart choice for compact or shared bedrooms.

Twin bedding sizes in inches:

  • Fitted sheet: 39 inches wide and 75 inches long
  • Flat sheet: 75 inches wide and 112 inches long
  • Duvet cover: 68 inches wide and 90 inches long
  • Bed skirt: 39 inches wide and 75 inches long

Twin XL Bedding Sizes

Twin XL mattresses measure 39 inches wide and 80 inches long. Conjuring up memories from university, twin XL beds are commonly in college campus dorms. They’re slightly longer than standard twin mattresses and need specific bedding. However, twin-size duvets and comforters should still fit most twin XL beds.

Twin XL bedding sizes in inches:

  • Fitted sheet: 39 inches wide and 80 inches long
  • Flat sheet: 75 inches wide and 112 inches long
  • Duvet cover: 68 inches wide and 90 inches long
  • Bed skirt: 39 inches wide and 80 inches long

Twin & Twin XL Bedding

 

Full Bedding Sizes

Full-size mattresses measure 54 inches wide and 75 inches long. Also known as a double bed, these mattresses are ideal for people with limited living space (think apartment dwellers) who want more room to move around when they sleep. Full-size beds are also a solid choice for tweens or teens who have outgrown their twin-size beds. They’re also a great option for guest bedrooms.

Full bedding sizes in inches:

  • Fitted sheet: 54 inches wide and 75 inches long
  • Flat sheet: 96 inches wide and 115 inches long
  • Duvet cover: 90 inches wide and 90 inches long
  • Bed skirt: 54 inches wide and 75 inches long

Queen Bedding Sizes

Queen mattresses measure 60 inches wide and 80 inches long. They’re the most popular bed in the United States. While similar to a full-size bed, queen mattresses are slightly larger, providing more room for couples or individuals who want extra sleeping space. An added plus for upgrading to this larger size? Queen bedding sets are often designed with more luxurious materials.

Queen bedding sizes in inches:

  • Fitted sheet: 60 inches wide and 80 inches long
  • Flat sheet: 96 inches wide and 115 inches long
  • Duvet cover: 90 inches wide and 90 inches long
  • Bed skirt: 60 inches wide and 80 inches long

Full & Queen Bedding

 

King Bedding Sizes

King mattresses measure 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. Wider than a queen bed by roughly 16 inches or more, king mattresses offer plenty of room for people who want extra sleeping space or who share their bed with a significant other, child, or pet.

King bedding sizes in inches:

  • Fitted sheet: 78 inches wide and 80 inches long
  • Flat sheet: 110 inches wide and 115 inches long
  • Duvet cover: 90 inches wide and 105 inches long
  • Bed skirt: 78 inches wide and 80 inches long

California King Bedding Sizes

California king-size mattresses measure 72 inches wide and 84 inches long. While they aren’t as wide as a standard king bed, they offer more length for sleepers who want more foot room. California king beds also provide the pinnacle of luxury and are ideal for family cuddles and movie nights in bed.

California king bedding sizes in inches:

  • Fitted sheet: 72 inches wide and 84 inches long
  • Flat sheet: 115 inches wide and 115 inches long
  • Duvet cover: 90 inches wide and 105 inches long
  • Bed skirt: 72 inches wide and 84 inches long

King & California King Bedding

 

Split King Bedding Sizes

Like standard king mattresses, split king beds measure 78 inches wide and 80 inches long. But as their name suggests, they’re split into two sides, each measuring 39 inches wide and 80 inches long — essentially, two XL twin beds. Split king beds are ideal if you have a partner who prefers a different level of firmness or tosses in their sleep. These beds are also much easier to move if you’re prone to rearranging your furniture.

Note: Bedding for split king beds usually consists of two twin XL-size fitted sheets, one king-size flat sheet, and one king-size duvet cover. However, you can also follow Scandinavian practices and skip the flat sheet and put two XL twin-size duvets on each side of the bed instead.

Split king bedding sizes in inches:

  • Fitted sheet: 39 inches wide and 80 inches long (x2)
  • Flat sheet: 115 inches wide and 115 inches long
  • Duvet cover: 90 inches wide and 105 inches long or 68 inches wide and 90 inches long (x2)
  • Bed skirt: 78 inches wide and 80 inches long

 

Split King Bedding

 

How to Pick the Right Bedding Sizes

Knowing the dimensions of your mattress and standard bedding sizes is a solid place to start. However, there are a few other things to consider when choosing bedding sizes.

Mattress Depth

While measuring the length and width of your mattress is crucial for finding the right bedding size, it’s also important to consider the mattress depth. While most sheets will stretch to fit a variety of mattress depths, if you have a bed that’s extra thick, it might cause fitting issues. Fortunately, buying quality bedding can help address any depth problems. For example, our fitted sheets at Peacock Alley are sewn with a 17-inch gusset that fits mattresses up to 21 inches deep.

Bedding Care

Pay close attention to what the maintenance of your bedding requires. While washing your sheets can improve their life and quality, it may also cause them to shrink and not fit your mattress anymore if done incorrectly. Before purchasing bedding, check with the manufacturer to see what washing and caring for it entails.

Bedding Essentials

Take note of what's included in your bedding set, such as pillowcases and shams. Knowing what's in your set can save you time when picking out essential pieces to complete the look of your bedding and bedroom. Conversely, if you have a particular idea of how you want your bedding to look, you'll want to opt for a simplified set for more flexibility in choice.

Final Thoughts on Bedding Sizes

While sheets and bedding vary depending on their material and brand, they should still fit your bed as long as you stay within the perimeters of your mattress size. Knowing the different sizes of each type of mattress and each kind of standard bedding will make the task of finding the perfect bedding much more straightforward. That way, you can create your ideal place to rest.

When choosing sheets and bedding, know that Peacock Alley offers luxury bedding for everyone. From fitted sheets to duvet covers, we have exactly what you're looking for to create the right combination of curated comfort.

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