Twin vs. Full: What’s the Difference?

For solo sleepers looking for a new mattress, a twin or full size bed could be the perfect size for your living space. Both twin and full accommodates smaller bedrooms, including guest rooms.

In our article, we review the differences between a twin and a full, including price and recommended room space to help you find the best mattress.

What’s a Twin Size Mattress?

A twin size mattress measures 38 inches by 75 inches—the smallest standard size available on the market. Twin beds are the next mattress size children move to after “graduating” from a crib mattress. Twin size beds are compact, easy to move, and budget-friendly, making them an excellent choice for children’s rooms and limited living space, like studio apartments.

Twin mattresses are compatible with bunk beds, the perfect option for families with more than one child. Bunk beds utilize living space to create more play room.

Pricing

The cost for a twin bed varies depending on special features and materials, but potential shoppers can expect to pay between $100 to $1500.

Recommended Room Space

Smaller bedrooms, at least 7 feet by 10 feet, are best for twin size mattresses, with space for additional furniture and walking room.

Pros

• Easy to move
• Perfect for kids
• Budget-friendly
• Fits smaller rooms

Cons

• Too small for couples
• Too short for tall sleepers

What’s a Full Size Mattress?

A full size mattress, or double bed, is 54 inches by 75 inches, providing more room to sprawl out. Full size beds used to be the standard size for couples until the queen size mattress was created in the 1940s. Today, full mattresses are considered too small for couples; however, if you need a comfortable mattress for a teenager, a full fits the bill.

Full XL beds are also available, though not as accessible as a standard full. Full XL mattresses are the same size as a full, except 5 inches longer for more legroom.

Pricing

Prices range between $500 to $3000 for a full bed, depending on included sleep technologies and the number of layers.

Recommended Room Space

The room size for a full size mattress should be at least 10 feet by 12 feet to fit the bed frame, furniture, and allow walking space.

Pros

• More sleeping space
• Perfect for teenagers and single adults
• Fits small bedrooms

Cons

• Too small for couples
• Higher cost than a twin

Many shoppers like the idea of a natural mattress with contouring latex foam and other organic materials. These beds can be quite expensive when you’re looking at a larger size, but they’re quite budget-friendly if you’re considering a twin mattress. There are many natural latex mattresses with eco-friendly materials on the market, but our top recommendation is the Amerisleep Organica.

The first layer of the Amerisleep Organica is its fiberglass-free fire barrier of organic wool. This wool layer serves other purposes as well, boosting the bed’s overall comfort potential. The material also wicks away heat and cushions the body.

The second layer is Talalay latex foam, designed to flex under bodyweight for full-body pressure relief. The latex feels buoyant, minimizing sinkage while contouring to the body’s curves.

The pocketed coils of the support core are individually wrapped to maximize motion isolation. The coils along the sides are also thicker to increase support, making it easy to sit on the side or slide out of bed. The Dunlop latex foam base gives the coils a surface to push off from as they react to movements, allowing the coils to stand strong even after years of use.

These layers are surrounded by an organic cotton fabric cover. The weave of the cotton promotes heat dispersion, ensuring the bed feels cool and dry.

The Amerisleep Organica is backed by free shipping and returns, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 20-year warranty.

While a full mattress is far from the largest mattress size on the market, they can still represent a significant investment for budget shoppers. Particularly if they’re shopping for a hybrid mattress, one of the more costly types of mattresses. Shoppers who want to save their money while getting a great deal should perhaps consider the Vaya Hybrid.

The top layer is proprietary Vaya Comfort Foam, responsive material that’s quick to adapt to the sleeper. It feels light and eases pressure, staying cool as it hugs the body. Then the support core is pocketed coils on a foam base, with corner-to-corner-edge support.

All foams inside a Vaya Mattress are certified safe by CertiPUR-US®, a third-party organization dedicated to double-checking foam production for potentially harmful materials. A CertiPUR-US® certified mattress has a low amount of VOCs, decreasing the chances the bed will have that “new mattress” smell.

What if you don’t enjoy a bouncy mattress? aya also offers their original foam bed, the Vaya Mattress. It has the same type of comfort foam as the Vaya Hybrid, but with an underlying base foam for structural integrity and spine support.

The Vaya Hybrid comes with free shipping and returns, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

Other Mattress Dimensions

If a twin or full mattress feels too small for your needs, other mattress sizes, including twin XL, queen, king, and California king, might be better.

Twin XL Mattress

Twin XL size mattresses measure 38 inches by 80 inches—5 inches extra-long than a standard twin. Twin XL beds are common in college dorm rooms as bunk bed mattresses and are best for tall sleepers.

Queen Mattress

Queen size mattresses are 60 inches by 80 inches, one of the most popular mattress sizes among single sleepers. Queen size beds provide extra space to stretch out and are a popular mattress for couples.

Queen beds are also great mattresses for guest bedrooms. They can comfortably accommodate visiting while smaller sizes cannot, and a queen bed fits into a smaller bedroom for guests better than a king bed.

King Mattress

King size mattresses measure 76 inches by 80 inches—the largest standard mattress size. King size beds are best for couples, allowing 38 inches of personal space. Split king sizes (two twin XL beds placed side by side) are also available for customized comfort and support.

California King Mattress

California king size mattresses are 72 inches by 84 inches—the same area as a standard king, except longer and narrower, perfect for taller couples. Split California king options are also available, though not as accessible as a king bed.

Other Things to Consider

Aside from mattress size, you also want to consider mattress firmness and types of mattresses before buying a new bed.

Mattress Firmness

When it comes to choosing the right mattress firmness for your needs, you want to look at what your favorite sleeping position is:

• Mattresses for side sleepers need to offer soft to medium feels.
• Mattresses for back sleepers should have a medium-firm to firm feel.
• Mattresses for stomach sleepers should be firm to minimize sinkage and the spinal misalignment it can cause.
• Mattresses for combination sleepers should be medium to medium-firm to best support different positions.

Mattress Types

There are four main types of mattresses to consider—memory foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrid.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses are made of high-density polyurethane foam that conforms to your body shape and provides pressure relief. These mattresses have a reputation for being soft and comfortable, with many people claiming that they sleep better on memory foam mattresses.

Memory foam mattresses are also known for their ability to isolate motion, which means that you won’t feel your partner’s movements while you sleep. One potential downside to memory foam mattresses is that they can retain heat, so if you’re a hot sleeper, you might want to look for a mattress with cooling features.

Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses are made of natural or synthetic latex and are known for their durability and support. Latex mattresses are often more buoyant than memory foam mattresses and provide a more responsive feel. They are also naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and other allergens, making them a good choice for people with allergies.

Organic latex mattresses can be more expensive than other types of mattresses. However, their longevity and comfort may make them worth the investment.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are the most traditional type of mattress, made up of a coil support system and a comfort layer of padding on top. These mattresses are known for their bounce and responsiveness, and they are often more affordable than other types of mattresses.

Innerspring mattresses also provide good airflow, which can help regulate temperature while you sleep. However, some people find that innerspring mattresses don’t offer enough support or pressure relief.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses combine the best features of memory foam, latex, and innerspring mattresses to create a balanced sleep surface. These mattresses typically have a coil support system with a comfort layer of foam or latex on top. Hybrid mattresses can provide the pressure relief of memory foam or latex while still offering the bounce and support of an innerspring mattress.

Hybrids also tend to have good airflow, which can help regulate temperature. Hybrid mattresses can be more expensive than other types of mattresses, but they may offer the best of both worlds when it comes to comfort for some sleepers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a single and a twin bed?

A single mattress is also referred to as a toddler bed. It’s slightly larger than a crib mattress, at 30 inches by 75 inches, and as its name suggests, built for toddlers. A twin bed is 38 inches by 75 inches—8 inches wider to fit larger children and teenagers.

Can a full bed fit two people?

Full beds were commonly used by couples up until the 1960s, but queen mattresses rose in popularity, making them a better fit for couples. Since then full size mattresses are considered better for single sleepers. Full size mattresses are also a good option for adults who like to co-sleep with their child or pet.

What is the difference between a twin and a twin XL?

Both a twin and a twin XL mattress have the same width (38 inches), but while a twin size is 75 inches long, a twin XL bed is 80 inches long—5 inches longer. Twin XL beds are excellent choices for taller sleepers who need more legroom to stretch out—they’re also commonly found in college dorm rooms to accommodate any body height.

What month should I buy a mattress?

May is often the best month for mattress shopping. New mattress models are usually released in June, so mattresses are discounted in May to clear out stock and make room for the new models. If it’s past May, you can still find good deals by shopping online mattresses or by waiting for the next big sales day.

Which mattress is best for back pain?

Size is usually not a factor when it comes to relieving back pain. The more important considerations are materials and the bed’s firmness. Studies suggest that the best choice is a medium-firmness mattress for back pain.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bed size is a significant factor in finding the best mattress. The right size accommodates couples and single sleepers while leaving open space for a pleasing aesthetic look for the bedroom. A twin or full mattress may be the best choice for a good night’s sleep.